Ch.8686. Vines and Citrine (7)

When we arrived at the lake, it was around the time when dusk was beginning to fall.

The time when the sun, having risen from the eastern sky and now returning to its resting place, bids its final farewell.

A peaceful space where that warm greeting reaches everyone equally, even causing the lake to ripple in response.

“It’s peaceful.”

“Indeed. Though I can only recall fighting here…”

“Really? I don’t even remember. I had more good memories than bad ones, you know.”

“Usually, bad memories tend to linger longer, don’t they?”

In my conversation with Hyewon, one question arose.

Bad memories remain for a long time, eating away at people.

Even when the source of those memories lies in one’s own sins, karma, or mistakes.

People tend to be precise and detailed about incidents where they were victims, sometimes even exaggerating them to the point of gnawing at their psyche.

It’s natural that bad memories remain more vivid, intensifying their presence and feeding on good memories to expand their influence.

Yet, how could Hyewon, who claims good memories come to mind more easily, have managed to overlay those memories?

…Is it because she was on the winning side, beautifying her memories?

I, who was defeated, wouldn’t know.

No, I can still turn things around in the end.

When that time comes… will I be able to understand Hyewon?

In a future where Eden rises again victorious, if I could show such mercy to Hyewon, Blanc, and the other magical girls.

Well. I plan to “dispose” of the magical girls as per the boss’s orders… but perhaps, using my authority as a Legion Commander, I could make their “karma” disappear.

If I must accumulate more evil deeds in the process, that would be the sacrifice of this insignificant cow named “me” for the greater cause. It doesn’t matter.

I can resolve that karma later myself.

Such thoughts are still too distant to contemplate.

I haven’t even succeeded in turning the tide of defeat yet. I shouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch. Right.

If I get too ahead of myself, I might fail from the start… I need to be careful about this.

“Bine, you say that but you’re smiling.”

“…Ah, was I? I wasn’t doing that.”

I thought I was hiding my expression.

“Hmm… Bine, your smiles are quite noticeable. When you always have that expressionless, blank face, even small changes become obvious, you know?”

“What? What do you mean? Bad memories kept surfacing at this lake. The smile you saw might have been me recalling those moments when I won despite everything. I’m capable of reflection too, after all.”

“Is that so? Well, if that’s what you say.”

“Yes, that’s right. Ah, I fought with Citrus here. I remember it was quite a long time ago. It must have been before I recovered my past memories.”

“I see. Ah… I’ve been a magical girl for quite a while too, so it’s hard to remember everything. Here, hmm… Ah, was it that open space over there?”

“Yes. On the opposite side… there’s the park now.”

“It’s under the sun.”

“It might be too bright. There’s no need to look for it specifically. The battlefield was in the sky above this lake anyway, wasn’t it?”

“Was it? Ah, I remember now. In that night sky with the full moon high above.”

“Yes. Energy Efficiency Experiment #232, Testing Negative Emotion Formation Reactivity through the Lake Monster.”

“Really, how do you remember such things?”

“Well, I have a good memory.”

When I made this self-praising remark, Citrus’s eyes narrowed, but whatever. I really do have a good memory.

“Well… everyone knows you’re smart. But hearing you say it yourself is a bit…”

“What’s wrong, Citrus? Hyewon often boasts about her own powers too…”

“Really? Our Hyewon did that?”

I divert Citrus’s gaze from me. And at the end of that gaze, I place a similar person to remain in her memory.

No matter how right I was, I couldn’t keep enduring Citrus staring at me like that…

If I had left it alone, Citrus’s perception of me would have surely become strange.

As sisters, she must know what her younger sibling is like. What if I dropped information that could give her a fresh shock?

The aftermath unfolded right before my eyes.

“N-no, I never did that! Bine is lying…!”

“Heeh… is that so, my little sister?”

“Aaagh…! That’s not true…!”

Pfft. I wouldn’t miss the chance to tease her sister.

Time passed as I watched the two bickering.

While they were making a commotion, I decided to enjoy some more contemplation.

The peaceful park and people taking walks. A space where one would never think villains and magical girls once fought fiercely.

A space where a giant monster had once clawed through, now neatly cleaned up with no trace remaining.

As if wanting to exchange one last word from that sky, the sun casts a red glow behind us, while the moon, now shining brightly in the darkness, hangs in the sky to gently illuminate the lake.

Citrus and Hyewon, who had stopped their commotion and joined me in contemplation.

“…It’s getting dark.”

“That’s because the sun is setting.”

“We always worked in darkness, didn’t we?”

“Hmm… not necessarily. I remember attacking several times during the day.”

“Hmm… but usually it was during the dark night, right?”

“That was because it was the best time to stir people’s emotions. But now that Eden is gone, does it matter whether it’s day or night?”

“I guess so… True, I’ve been rushing out more during daytime shifts too. Sigh… still better than the old days when I’d exert myself at night and then be tired and listless at school the next day.”

“Anyway, my point is that we didn’t always work in darkness.”

“Well… still, darkness suits you better than light, don’t you think?”

“Darkness does suit me. But you’re on the light side, aren’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right. There’s light and there’s darkness. And beside us is, hmm… extinguished light?”

“Hey, what do you mean ‘extinguished’? I’m still shining, you know?”

“Ah, well. You retired, didn’t you?”

“Tha-… Ah, sigh… Really, anyway, your sister is still shining, okay?”

“Yes, yes. Bine too. Well… let’s call you light for now.”

“I am darkness. Thoroughly darkness. Darker than the pitch blackness between stars.”

“Why, there’s light even between those stars, you know?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, whatever. Light or darkness. As long as it’s peaceful, that’s all that matters. Now, it’s dinner time. We shouldn’t have Western food again, right? I’ve made a reservation at a good Korean beef restaurant.”

“Korean beef… sounds good. I’m asking this now, but is your wallet okay with spending so much money…?”

“You know. I get support funds from the Association, and salary comes in occasionally. There’s also a magical girl allowance. Plus, sitting next to us is my sister. She’s a building owner…?”

“What? What kind of owner?”

“Building owner. That bakery building belongs to her.”

“What…?”

“The building next to it and the one behind it too. They’re all buildings my sister owns. She bought them with support funds and compensation money…”

“Wait, do support funds amount to that much…?”

“She lost the use of her legs for life. Of course they should give her that much. The Association Director ensures proper compensation. Besides, they also provide various support in the world where the mascots live.”

“…So this was my fault too.”

“Here we go again. It was an accident, I told you. If my sister forgave you, it’s over. I don’t have any feelings about it anymore either.”

“…The reason you’ve been a magical girl all this time was to get revenge on me.”

“I continued working as a magical girl even after you went to prison. Do you think revenge was my only reason for being a magical girl?”

“I see.”

“Yes. Ah, the time. I made a reservation. Let’s hurry. It would be troublesome if we’re late, right?”

In response to Hyewon’s words, I answered by standing up and pushing Citrus’s wheelchair. Let’s go. Quickly.

I’m urging them.

Absolutely not because I have nothing to say.

By the way, the Korean beef we ate at the restaurant was the most delicious beef I’ve ever tasted.

Hyewon, after tasting it once, ordered more meat, making the final bill even higher than I had expected.

After filling our stomachs, we parted ways with Citrus.

She said she needed to return before it got too late to check on her store.

She said it would take too long to get there on her wheels, so she needed to leave now.

Even though Hyewon and I offered to take her home, she refused until the end and left alone.

Really, like sister, like sister. Both stubborn as mules.

Is it because their hair is yellow?

* * *

Before returning, Bine and I stopped by the lake again.

To aid digestion after our meal. While looking at the lake at night.

The lake under the moonlight was shimmering peacefully, emitting light even in the darkness.

Finding a suitable bench in the park, Bine and I sat side by side. In a spot where we could see both the moon and the lake.

“It’s quiet here.”

“Indeed.”

There wasn’t much else to say. But I still wanted to say something.

As the time to get closer to Bine was running out, ending it like this seemed regrettable. Truly.

I felt like I was just beginning to understand her. Like we could finally open up to each other.

“Why, do you have something to say? A place like this on such a dark night. It makes me want to have some ‘fireworks.'”

“The fireworks you’re talking about are different from what I know, right?”

“Of course I meant the grand exchange of firepower between magical girls and villains… Sigh, well, I suppose that’s possible. Powerful firepower and hot flames… Ah, alright, please stop looking at me like that…”

Pfft.

Really, she still pretends to think like a villain, but does she realize her actions are completely different from back then?

“Right. Even if not the fireworks you’re thinking of, regular fireworks would be really beautiful here. Reflecting on the lake, or with the city lights in the background.”

“Hmm… I suppose so.”

Bine seemed to be imagining such a fireworks scene.

Looking around, glancing at the lake, taking in the night view of the city, the trees, the park streetlights, and the people.

“It would be beautiful. Incredibly so.”

“Yes, it would be.”

“Hey, Bine.”

“Yes, Hyewon?”

“…Did you enjoy today?”

I hoped it wasn’t just me who enjoyed the day.

I hoped she had enjoyed today enough too.

And, selfishly,

I hoped she would remember today, as I asked my question.

Perhaps I asked with a concerned expression, because Bine lowered her head as if thinking deeply before looking straight at me and answering.

“Of course I did.”