NOVEL NEXT Chapter 127
July 27th
I was discussing the strange occurrences happening at the cracks emerging across the world with Dorim at the Elysion Observatory.
“Recently, we’ve been receiving reports that the Magical Girls approaching the cracks are quickly consuming their Starlight.”
“Has the [Plague] Magical Girl been spotted?”
“No, only regular Monsters have been coming out of the cracks, and as usual, if we manage to tidy up the Monsters to some extent, they close up just the same.”
“…Then there’s a possibility that someone is keeping an eye from beyond the cracks?”
Dorim thought deeply for a moment before shaking her head like a whale.
“I can’t say for sure. It was said that even your sister and Hecate don’t know what’s going on beyond the cracks.”
Feeling something was amiss about the ongoing unusual situation, Dorim continued to deploy silver observation vessels that can observe the appearances beyond the cracks through the Cyber Brain world. Of course, to ensure the cracks don’t close, the Monsters spilling out were being drawn in by Ichika, who is among the most capable in battles.
– Uwaah! The Monsters just keep coming out! How long do I have to keep this up?!
– Just hold on a little longer! Ichika! We need to get 19 more in!!
– How many have we gotten in so far?
– 5!
– Aargh!!
Thanks to Ichika’s desperate struggles, we managed to get all 24 observation vessels prepared inside the cracks, but…
“Every time we reach a certain point, it’s always surrounded by a red, black, and golden aura, making it impossible to see.”
“It seems like Starlight’s Will is interfering.”
“Starlight’s Will… So those three Goddesses we are obstructing want to go back, huh?”
“Yeah, the Wounds of the Stars are places that even the three Goddesses couldn’t reach properly. So, they probably can’t interfere there.”
All Goddesses except for the Goddess of [Start] were born from the mingling of Starlight’s Will and Humanity’s Will.
Bound entirely to the Throne of Nihility due to humanity’s will rejecting the age of gods, they seek to destroy humanity to return themselves to freedom and go back into the flow of the stars.
“So, it’s like how we permitted Animus to be the overseer of Trials; we can assume that the [Plague] was also incorporated into the Wounds of the Stars after completing some contract?”
“Yep.”
“Phew… This is complicated. Just managing the three Goddesses is already a headache, and now Starlight’s Will is expanding its affiliates on its own.”
In fact, there’s not much known about Starlight’s Will.
The distant chaos of ancient times.
The Goddess of [Start] had selected only beautiful things for the children who followed her, which is the world where humans live on the surface of this star. Even the [Start] Goddess was said to regard the true flow of the stars hidden in a deep dimension within this world as just chaos.
“If the malice bursting forth from the Wounds left by the first humans could diminish humanity, would it then accept even the fragments left by the first Goddess?”
The malice emitted by the Wounds of the Stars.
The daughter of the stars and the Goddess of [Start].
Even though it comes from two contrasting beings who exhibit completely different attitudes towards humanity, if it serves the purpose of diminishing humanity, it accepts anything.
“Something… feels different from the godly beings like the Goddesses.”
I felt a sense of discomfort at the way the Wounds of the Stars, hostile toward humanity, readily embraced the Apostle that was born to protect humanity.
“…”
“…”
That was it.
We couldn’t find out anything more.
To lighten the heavy atmosphere, I hurriedly brought up another topic.
“Oh, by the way, how’s the situation in Korea these days?”
“Huh? Well… Everyone’s doing fine.”
Dorim seemed to catch onto my hidden thoughts and gave a slight smile, showing her desire to temporarily set aside the headache.
“The White Wing Unit is busy as always… Ah, I heard Hong Na-yeon has been diligently participating in training lately.”
“Captain Hong?”
“Yeah. I heard she shone in the battle against the Sea Serpent last time, and since then, she seems to have gained complete confidence in using her powers, actively simulating battles in Busan for training.”
“Hmm, that sounds like confidence, but…”
She probably wants to be a Guardian of Busan just because she doesn’t want to go overseas.
“Other than that… the Olympics got canceled, and regular citizens are feeling disappointed?”
“Ah.”
“Apparently, with the great Sea Serpent expected to wreak havoc right in front of the country where it’s supposed to be held, the public sentiment to cancel it has certainly increased.”
Thinking back, 2012 was the year the Olympics were supposed to happen.
From earlier this year, it’s been all about nuclear wars and humanity’s destruction, making everything seem so disorganized. I had completely forgotten about anything concerning the world outside Elysion.
“I didn’t have those athletes I knew from my history, but…”
Even though the major history might be similar to the Earth I originally lived on, the countless events within it have slight differences. Disappointments have been frequent when I looked for them.
Even so, I felt regret about the need to cancel such a large event as the Olympics.
“Though I remember the Olympics being canceled… uh, postponed on the Earth I lived on.”
In fact, there weren’t many people around me interested in sports, so I didn’t have any particularly memorable feelings of disappointment even in the previous world. Thinking about it, it didn’t seem like something to feel disappointed over.
“That’s right.”
“Exactly.”
Dorim and I nodded nonchalantly.
“Dorim, and about what we talked about before.”
“Ah, the change of alias? I still can’t do it.”
“Got it.”
The change of alias.
Another alias given to those Magical Girls who have transcended the fate inherently tied to the Glass Star.
I hinted to the fully bloomed 3-Star Magical Girls about their own destinies and had them try it out, but…
– I don’t think it’ll work.
– I’m sorry, but I have no idea.
Dorim and Himari attempted for hours but failed completely without even a hint. The doubtful glances they cast questioning whether such a thing even existed made me feel a sense of guilt.
– Huh?! I’m now the Magical Girl of [Friendship]! I’m so excited!… but what changed, Hikari-chan?
– Oh, [Trust]. But what is this?
– [Responsibility]… Hmm. I don’t think anything particularly changed. It feels just like I’m being called by a different name.
Hana, Ichika, and Sumire succeeded so effortlessly and blandly. They commented that it felt like finding an extra candy they had forgotten inside the pocket of their coat.
“But nothing really changed.”
What could this difference be? What was the dramatic change achieved by Animus, Yuki, and me?
“Ha.”
Excluding the fully bloomed 4-Star ones where divinity got involved, this alias change might be the last hurdle for a Magical Girl, veiled in uncertainty just like the fourth star.
“Even if we found out this difference, it might not result in any starlight changes like with Sumire, Ichika, and Hana.”
It would be nice if, amidst proceeding through every Trial without sacrifice, the means to respond to Starlight’s Will, which has been showing increasingly strange movements, could grow.
“Then let’s conclude today’s meeting here.”
“Yeah, I’ll head back to Korea now.”
“Alright, send my regards to Team Leader Oh and President Yang. Especially tell President Yang to stop visiting already.”
“Ah? That Yang guy? Okay.”
Dorim delightedly chatted about the lame duck state of President Yang and various scandals before heading back to Korea.
‘Should I ask Hecate again about the cracks?’
I left the Elysion conference room and crossed the plaza heated by the summer sunlight, heading toward the lighthouse located at the very center of the city. I knocked on the door of the top floor.
Knock knock
“Hecate, I have something to say.”
“No… No thanks.”
Knock knock
“Hecate, I have something to say.”
“Please… Please leave.”
Knock knock
“Hecate.”
“I won’t do it.”
Knock knock
“Hey.”
“……”
“Open up.”
Creek
The shabby wooden door opened, and Hecate, wrapped in a white blanket, looked at me with suspicious eyes. In one hand, she held a grape juice pack, and in the other, a portable game console, as she quietly spoke.
“Successor. Did you not promise to guarantee my rest time?”
“I’m just here to really talk for a bit.”
“I heard from Yuki that conversations with superiors are considered a form of business consultation.”
“Yuki doesn’t really know about social life.”
“If that’s the case, then wasn’t the successor also lacking social life?”
“Who do you think has been collecting rent every month?!!”
As I raised my fist slightly, Hecate hesitated and clutched the blanket.
“I had no choice but to hide you to prevent interference with the movements of the stars.”
“…Anyway, I’ll just take a moment to talk, so please let me in.”
Creek
“Wow, you really can’t clean up at all, can you?”
The room was a total mess.
Everywhere on the floor were various gaming consoles, printed guides, and grape juice packs scattered all over. While Dorim also lived messy, at least she pretended to throw things away; Hecate truly coexisted with garbage.
“I see you still enjoy your games?”
“Hmm, it’s fun.”
Bleep
Seemingly accepting that I was about to start a serious conversation, Hecate turned off her handheld game and plugged it into the charger connected to the power generator.
Sitting down on the blanket she spread out on the floor.
“So, what’s the matter?”
“Please tell me everything you know about the Wounds of the Stars and the cracks.”