NOVEL NEXT Chapter 138
A massive white trajectory moved forward, containing the power of every connection a girl had changed in this world. Within it, countless dreams shone so vibrantly that even the might of the gods wielded could not touch the force of [Greed].
Sparkle, sparkle!
The light of fate, glittering white,
Red,
Yellow,
Green,
Lavender,
Was yearned for too dearly.
The warmth of a newly forged world, free from the embrace of stars and gods, was overwhelmingly comforting.
The forces of [Greed] and [Plague], under Erebus’s command, lost track of their march towards the Throne of Nihility, mindlessly reaching out toward the approaching light like it was their salvation.
[What is this…]
Having once been extinguished but donning a pale, dark aura, another Lena witnessed an incredible sight within that light. She saw ‘Lena’ living in a changed world.
The scenery illuminated by lavender starlight.
A warm home,
Friends’ laughter.
Once lost comrades sharing a table with the one they once empowered, eating together.
– Hahaha!! Kaede, can you even use chopsticks?
– Nyuuhuhuhu!! At your age, it’s just shameful!!
– S-Shut up! Be quiet before you get ‘jealous’.
– Pfft…
– A-Err…
– Woah, it’s the first time I’ve seen the boss laugh while eating!
A mundane daily life,
A trivial peace.
But for a wandering soul alive in a dying world, that light felt like the greatest longing.
Borrowing the body of an Apostle, the flickering illusion that longed to snatch away the warmth.
Ah…
The fake Lena desperately tried to clutch it. But that light was hotter than the sun for her dirty, cold self, causing her body to melt away.
The light was forbidden for a cursed wretch, tainted by the fate of destruction and fallen into the tranquil swamp of death, left only with memories.
Fizzle…
As her body slowly scattered, leaving behind green starlight instead of black fragments,
She possessed ‘Lena’s memories, yet she was someone else in that beautiful scenery.
[……]
Once again, under Erebus’s command, she should advance towards the Throne of Nihility, even if it meant sacrificing herself. Yet, she felt an overwhelming desire to remain in that light, refusing to be reborn again.
– Hahaha!
– C-Cut it out!
– Puhuhuh!
[Forces of Greed, rise again!! The Throne of Nihility is right before us!! Divide!! Multiply!!]
Just a bit more.
Having finished breakfast, the girls went to their rooms to do their tasks. Lena, wearing a hoodie, approached Sumire and Kaede, who were going to work even on the weekend, with a smile.
– Boss! Let’s go to work together today!
– Sure, Lena.
– Hehe, isn’t it fun going together like this?
– Of course, we’re friends!
Just a bit more.
[Forces of Greed…!! Do not be deceived!!…!!]
Just a bit more, I want to see.
Not to snatch, just to look.
It was too beautiful a scene to grasp.
Just like this…
Fizzle…
Fizzle…
One by one, as the forces of [Greed] were erased, the white trajectory advanced toward Erebus hidden within waves of numerous Magical Girls.
Fizzle…
Fizzle…
The stains of Greed, which seemed like they would eternally regenerate, gradually melted away within the warmth of dreams. Erebus, watching the event unfold, felt the divine usurpation that had come close before slowly drift away while screaming.
[Uwaaa!! No!! To think it would stop here!!]
Among the radiant starlights swirling within the white trajectory, one green starlight jutted out, touching the heart of some girl who had not been able to leave Erebus’s halo.
Laughter,
Friends.
Within a world nearing destruction, echoes of warm daily conversations ignited a girl’s fighting spirit.
– Kyoko! This coffee tastes weird, it’s sour!
– Ew?! Captain! That’s high-quality coffee, what are you talking about, you coffee fool!!
– Ichika is just taste-blind!
– What’re you saying? You brat, Sato!
– Ouch?!
In a fancy cafe, Ichika slouched carelessly in her chair while Kyoko, wearing an apron, joyfully chatted away. That sight seemed to shine brighter than herself desperately swinging her fist. So, she quietly shut her eyes.
[…….]
Fizzle…
The hatred once possessed by the forces of [Greed] and the [Plague] magical girls that seemed to burn eternally melted away futilely under the warmth of the shining world.
The Magical Girls, the emptiest and most deficient, yet the most susceptible to being filled.
As they slowly began to fade away, they forgot even their own curse amidst the warmth shown by the destiny the starlight was creating.
“Unbelievable…”
Finally, the only one remaining was Erebus, who had run away to the very bottom of the stairs. Even though she had finally shed the curse of division and multiplication, under the white miracle, she could not rejoice.
She had brought with her a force that could threaten even the gods to overcome her curse, but she could not surpass the warmth of this world, shining brighter than the yearning dream.
She had convinced even the will of the stars to gain power to overcome the gods, yet had become an entity that could no longer coexist with those living in this world.
“……”
But it wasn’t over yet.
The stairs forged from miracles pulled from chaos were intact.
Having only one left, Erebus decided to focus on an obsession she could never abandon.
In her pale hand was the memory of destruction she had pulled up from the will of the stars.
＊
After performing the miracle of the world filled with our dreams, I gazed at the still trembling remnants of the Goddess of [Death]. Pathetically, she was shaking in fear before the overwhelming power we displayed.
Because I couldn’t seek help from the will of the stars, I couldn’t attack the gods preparing some enormous curse within the Throne of Nihility.
Yet, she remained terrified of me.
“Not like I’m specifically protecting you.”
[…….]
“No matter what curse you prepare, no matter how much you try to hinder us.”
[…….]
“We will overcome and we will live.”
[So you are the Goddess of Start?]
“No, my alias is [Hope].”
I declared confidently to the deity’s avatar, who gazed at us blankly.
“The gentle lies that illuminate tomorrow, and the beginning of today.”
[…….]
“This world…the world where ‘we’ live is the Magical Girl that will change it into the happiest destiny.”
[…Even so…]
“I will return.”
It felt like those words echoed.
The Goddess of [Death] had finally lost the right to meddle in this world, hastily being expelled even though she was but an avatar.
Through that sight, I realized an important fact.
‘The power left to the three goddesses is weak.’
Having lost the right to intervene in the world, the fallen gods were only enormous in their authority.
It appeared that the three goddesses had twisted hearts and used vile tricks because they had become too weak to counter the world’s fate.
‘To the point where the Goddess of [Death] descends in an avatar, scrambling to stop a single 4-Star Magical Girl…’
As I pondered that, I heard a voice.
“Leader…?!”
“Hikari-chan!! Ahead!!”
Erebus approached with a crazed smile. As she enveloped the sources of all [Greed] and [Plague] curses, the Thousand Bloom 3-Star Magical Girls froze momentarily. Even my starlight flickered and was repeatedly snatched away.
‘You intend to fight till the end, huh.’
I charged at Erebus, swinging the white scythe. The massive blade shone brightly, creating waves of white. The chilling dread that seemed ready to sever even souls rushed toward Erebus’s body.
Swish――!!
Erebus did not avoid it, and her body was instantly split in two.
Erebus, with her soul and starlight shattered to bits.
I was taken aback at the sight.
“W-What?!”
“Just one.”
The remaining upper half of Erebus looked toward the Goddess of [Death].
In the hand that was left, a golden aura floated.
“Just one is enough.”
Erebus murmured softly, firing that aura towards the Throne of Nihility.
The golden aura moved in a straight line.
Watching the Goddess of [Death] gradually fade away within the regenerating borders, she was horrified.
[No way!!!]
Fwoosh――!!
“My white starlight and the attacks of the Thousand Bloom Magical Girls, yet the golden memory advances leisurely. It finally seeped beneath the Throne of Nihility right before me and vanished.”
Phew, haha!! I felt a familiar… cough…aura inside.
“What…?”
“No matter what you do… no matter what you summon… the memory of destruction… will never aid the gods…!”
Tears streaming down her face, Erebus laughed.
“Cursed us…the gods…curse…!”
The last remnants of [Greed], leaving behind black shards, vanished.
Her ambitions, futilely blocked.
She who sought to usurp this world, the [Greed] Magical Girl.
What she desperately aimed to achieve was revenge.
The end of revenge.
The shadows of the Goddess of [Death] and Erebus vanished simultaneously.
“……”
– Alert from the Elysion Observatory! The third trial has been defeated!
– Waaaaahhh!!
Through the radio, I could hear the cheers of the Magical Girls who triumphed over the struggles against the formidable monsters.
However, we, fighting at the trial site, remained silent, filled with an indescribable sense of unease.