Light and Darkness (7)

Light and Darkness (7)

“Why? Is there a problem?”

After the dimensional gate commotion during the day, there hadn’t been any strange signs yet. However, it was unexpected that Renée called to see me.

Since she wouldn’t call for nothing, I put up with the inconvenience and went out. The meeting place was, like last time, high up in the sky where airplanes would fly, with the city spread out below.

“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t find an answer, so I came to you.”

“Hmm, are you talking about what happened this afternoon?”

“That’s right.”

Renée, who was slightly watching my reaction, nodded with a stern face.

“Don’t worry too much about the dimensional gate. Didn’t the mascot tell you? They said it could occur naturally too. Of course, the possibility is low.”

I, who honestly didn’t think much of it, picked my ear and told her to relax. I understood her anxiety. Renée herself could close dimensional gates but couldn’t open them. However, from my position of waiting for prey, I didn’t want to disrupt the situation unnecessarily.

“It doesn’t really matter, right? It’s your job to beat up whatever comes crawling out of there. So, how are things going?”

“…We plan to start with this country first and gradually expand our influence.”

I changed the subject. Renée, who went along with it, nodded. Seeing her like that, it seemed that direct intervention from the fairy company against the magical girls was indeed difficult.

“Yggdrasil won’t take back their power unless you break fundamental and major rules. If you consistently show results, the company won’t have much to say either. Isn’t that performance-oriented mentality what they’ve been cultivating so diligently?”

I smirked and looked back at Ren and Fluffy, the mascots. Of course, they couldn’t say anything.

“So, what are you planning to do to bring this country under your control?”

“As announced to everyone, proper justice and judgment.”

Renée’s eyes, which had been full of worry, sparkled when this topic came up.

As she snapped her fingers, screens composed of glowing magic circles began to appear in the air.

“Our organization, Casilena’s Magical Girls, is actively working to hear the voices of those who have been wronged and not protected by the laws of this land. Based on the information they bring, we will dispatch inquisitors with appropriate levels to execute proper judgment.”

“…Huh.”

Rene, who had even created a proper organization name, had already established a system within that organization. The name Casilena clearly refers to the Sage of Light and the primordial magician who existed in the ancient human empire. Rene intends to make this Magical Girl organization a pillar of the world.

“Everyone participates in gathering information. They use the tools of the human world to find those who have been wronged.”

On one screen, a Magical Girl was shown browsing the internet on a smartphone. Some Magical Girls were even using their invisibility abilities to infiltrate police stations or extract confidential files from courts.

“Inquisitors are dispatched to listen to the victims’ stories, and they determine the truth of the cases.”

Another Magical Girl was seen flying across the sky, secretly entering a house. The criteria for judgment were simple. There was no need for Rene to use her vassal confession magic; the Magical Girls could judge the perpetrators just by looking at them with their eyes.

“If judged to be evil, immediate execution on the spot. The punishment criteria: as much as the victim suffered!”

Rene smiled faintly.

In this entire process where perpetrators were brutally ‘beaten to death,’ all laws and regulations of this country, South Korea, were ignored.

And Rene didn’t even try to hide such activities. For a political monster like her, there are no actions without reason. Naturally, each of these actions was imbued with meaning.

“You, are you imitating me? The way Demon Lord Takillas rules the Demon Realm. Moreover, some aspects of its form strangely resemble those angel bastards’ order, which makes me… uncomfortable.”

I couldn’t help but snort in disbelief. Rene, however, didn’t lower her raised corners of her mouth.

“I merely referenced what was worth referencing, but it’s not at all the same. I just realized how efficient overwhelming fear can be. I will act to make the name Casilena an object of fear here.”

Now her blue eyes glinted with desire. Eyes full of passion and vitality. At least, it’s an incomparable flame to the powerless, dead eyes she had when confined in the Demon Lord’s castle. This must be the true nature of the human Seria Rene Laosera.

However, while it’s good to see her lively appearance, she’s still immature by my standards. I wonder if she might slip up someday… I’m slightly conflicted about whether I should help her then or not.

“Well, do as you please.”

Of course, it was entertaining to watch. Now her name was mentioned more often than mine.

*

‘If something really big happens, I won’t just stand by. She likes this world more than I do. So I just need to continue what I’ve been doing. Interference? There will certainly be some. But I’m no longer running away.’

In the dim night sky, Rene watched as Takillas departed.

My feelings towards Takilas were still ambiguous. The fear that contrasted with her beautiful and cute appearance that I wanted to embrace right away, and the confusion about the fact that her true identity was the Demon Lord who had become my spouse.

‘…Are you not interested in a woman’s body?’

Rene, who landed on the rooftop of the building, scratched her head for no reason. Honestly, if it were a night with a tentacle monster, she might bite her tongue no matter how much she steeled herself, but she didn’t mind if it was such a cute girl.

“So. Are you going to continue this crazy activity? The company’s situation is a mess right now.”

“Motivated magical girls are actively moving according to their beliefs and accumulating quality achievements. Tell me. In this process, is there anything you have to complain about? If there is, it would be the part where magical girls break free from your leash. Is that morally right?”

“Ugh… Even if they’re magical girls, most of them are still children. We need to take care of…”

“Our Casilena doesn’t force participation. Only those with conviction and strength can join us, so your excuse doesn’t work. And honestly, if there’s no interference, I don’t care about your circumstances. Just one piece of advice, don’t be afraid of innovation. It’s right that outdated practices that can’t adapt and only cling to past glory should be destroyed.”

Rene crushed the grumbling Fluffy with words and logic. Like Takilas, she had no intention of bending her will from the start.

“A message has arrived.”

At that moment, a glowing butterfly crossed the night sky and flew towards her.

Rene had built all systems using her own magic. With otherworldly magic that neither humans nor fairy companies could decipher.

“Rene-nim. I’ve found one of the cases you requested. Shall I report?”

“Go ahead, Ria.”

The face that appeared on the rippling screen that appeared when the butterfly burst was another magical girl named Ria. She was one of the magical girls who had joined to support her cause and was actively participating.

“…It’s a case related to a juvenile offender. The one appealing for injustice is the victim’s father.”

“This is a law I simply cannot understand.”

Rene frowned at the mention of juvenile law.

For Rene, who was accustomed to the imperial custom of punishing or executing even young criminals without any mercy, it was nonsensical that they bore no responsibility just because of their young age.

“How could this be…”

“I came to hear a more detailed story. I am Rene, the inquisitor of Casilena.”

Renée immediately headed to the victim’s residence. The victim’s father, who had posted a plea online, came out to the kitchen with a haggard face and froze upon seeing her standing on the terrace railing.

The magical girl, shining with her own radiant golden light, appeared sacred beyond beauty with her hair, clothes, and fair skin.

“Ah…”

Especially if he was the one who, more than anyone else, desperately wished for salvation.

“Evil malice from another world has been unleashed and is roaming this world. Moreover, the evils that have grown in this society are overflowing. We will purify them. But remember one thing, falsely accusing others with false information is a more petty and mean-spirited act than murder and rape, and it will return to you and your family with eternal retribution.”

Slowly descending onto the terrace, Renée teleported past the locked door and stood before him as he stumbled and fell, showing him the brand she had carved into her own arm.

It was the mark of Casilena that she had chosen, a symbol that would be engraved in people’s minds as judgment and salvation.

“So if you’ve understood, now tell me. The names of those who haven’t paid their just dues and their crimes.”

“I understand… I understand! Absolutely!”

She relaxed her expression and smiled gently.

That smile had power. The power to inspire a powerless father who had despaired and hated the world after seeing the criminals who had left his son completely paralyzed walk free.