Chapter 69 : Deus Ex Machina

“What a truly unreasonable power…”

Doctor, standing on the scale plate, muttered weakly. Not the recitation of someone fallen into despair, but the disappointment of a child whose prepared game was completely ruined.

“…Why don’t you reign as everyone’s god with such power? There seem to be many easier paths.”

“Because I’m human, not a god. And because I want the world where my precious people live to remain.”

“Isn’t that rather irresponsible? Despite acting more like a god than anyone.”

Grooooowl

The sound of the battle between the beast and magical girls intensifying could be heard from far away. Even with their connection to Doctor cut off, tens of millions of puppets were autonomously attacking the magical girls.

‘Dorim said she’d try her best to block the nuclear launch orders, but…’

I was also worried about the situation in China where I had sent Ichika. I needed to get as much information as possible from Doctor quickly. The sense of unease I realized only after killing Alex.

“What did you hear from that apostle?”

“Kihihihi, do you think I’ll answer obediently…”

“You’re mistaken if you think I’m doing this because I can’t force an answer out of you.”

“…Well, you’ve even manipulated human cognition and emotions. It’s an ability similar to mine that can control humans.”

Doctor spoke while looking at Moscow’s sky for a moment, recalling memories. As if looking back on a time farther than a lifetime combined, though it was just a few months ago.

“…Humanity’s era will soon end. Before the next era comes, plunge the world weakening with false peace into chaos in your own way.”

“Weakening? What do you mean by weakening? Magical girls grow stronger through dreams!”

“Animus said that’s a method only one out of the four goddesses overseeing the trial agrees with.”

Animus… the magical girl of [War]. And the Scavengers first appeared in Europe.

It seemed Animus had somehow informed the Scavengers in Europe about the future situation and encouraged them to rampage before destruction came.

‘And the likely messenger is probably Emily Hopkins…’

And a word I’ve never heard before.

‘Four goddesses?’

In <Magical Girl HAZARD>, there were only three evil gods… and to think born 3-star magical girls are related to goddesses.

“This trial itself is a fake trial barely achieved through the sacrifice of that one goddess.”

The girl who played with everyone spoke with a laugh truly mocking the world. The utmost respect for an opponent who had played along with her puppet show, though it ended boringly.

“…Anyway, the remaining three goddesses administering the trial only present two choices: humanity changing or perishing.”

A world made to perish anyway.

All fates led to destruction.

So that they would fall so weakly with just a little temptation and ignorance…

“…”

“Suddenly, I’m curious about something.”

“I’ll answer just one thing before killing you.”

“Why are you trying to save the world? Is this world worth saving to that extent? It seems much more fun if it perishes.”

The world.

Actually, I’ve been having this thought often lately.

‘Isn’t this enough? Couldn’t at least my precious people survive with this much?’

Is there a need to try to protect all of humanity in this world?

Most magical girls are already under my protection. In the worst case, I could gather as many people as possible to the areas where domains have been spread to avoid demons, and have them live on the miracles of magical girls.

It would become a precarious world dependent on magical girls, but isn’t this world facing destruction anyway?

“…”

Doctor’s question felt like it was poking at that.

‘Isn’t this… enough.’

I awakened the magical girls.

I checked Fujimoto.

I created a place that could protect everyone.

I spread domains in Korea, China, and Europe.

I was maximizing the potential of magical girls.

The remaining threats until the Trials were [Sword], [Revenge], and [War].

‘It’s also my duty to persuade [Death] to revive dead magical girls, but…’

Just by gathering and preparing what was left in my hands now, I could achieve a victory incomparable to what Yuki had accomplished.

Victory.

Victory…

‘Is it really victory?’

Hana and the Sato couple, who didn’t appear in the original work, became my reliable pillars of support.

Yuki, who returned from a time that didn’t appear in the original work, became my precious connection.

Kang Dorim, Park Saebyeok, Li Meilin, Laura…

The more I got to know people I didn’t know.

The more I learned about places I didn’t know.

My world was still endlessly expanding, and they gathered to become my new strength.

They love me, cherish me, and help me.

In the cafe I first visited in this world, I met another father.

-Were you hungry? Eat slowly.

-Thank… you…

From the first day I came to this world, I was loved by this world.

And…

“…Because I love this world.”

Because it’s a strange yet familiar world, not just a place to pass through before returning to my mother.

Because it’s the world loved by the characters in the light novel that gave me strength when I was young.

“…I came to want to protect it.”

Because I decided that after realizing the love I received from this world.

Doctor’s eyes widened hearing my answer. Then she slowly raised the corners of her mouth and laughed with relief.

“Kihihihi, I thought it was pointless to praise someone else’s toy box they’re playing with. But it doesn’t feel bad.”

“Don’t treat others like toys.”

“Kihihihi, this is unavoidable. Just like you treat others with love because you were loved. If you’re treated like a toy, you can only see others as toys.”

“…”

“Ah… but it wasn’t bad compared to letting it perish recklessly. It’s fresh. That perspective.”

Now I have to kill Doctor.

Whatever circumstances this girl has, whatever perspective she holds.

The crimes this girl committed don’t disappear.

Shing

I put the silver sword to Doctor’s chest.

“Kihihihi, I’ll give you one gift for showing me a puppet show more fun than gods, though boring. I was going to show it as a surprise during the puppet show originally. But I saw a more interesting ending.”

“…What?”

“Kihihihi, the nuclear launch button. I already pressed it a few days ago. I deleted all the stop codes and set everything to manual launch so they would definitely launch even without puppets.”

“Stop it now.”

I hurriedly applied cognitive manipulation on Doctor, but even after her cognition changed, Doctor only showed an apologetic expression.

“Kihihihi… so this is cognitive manipulation. But since I knew [Cyberbrain] was on your side, I prepared for months to execute it, so it really can’t be undone.”

“Stop it now.”

“I’m sorry. Originally I was going to aim only at America and prepare to fire in advance for a surprise show once the puppet show ripened…”

“I said stop!!!”

“I’m sorry. But it’s not bad to become a real god in a world without nukes, right? With magical girls’ power, radiation or nuclear winter should be…”

“I said stop!!!”

Rumble

All the ground in Moscow shook.

Buildings began to tremble as if terrified.

To fire the divine punishment created by humans.

As if mocking humanity that only stopped war after putting knives to each other’s throats.

Beyond the battle sounds of magical girls fighting the beast from earlier, another huge explosion sound was echoing.

And hundreds of lights rising beyond the plains.

[Unnie!!! Nukes!!! Over hundreds are all being launched!! They’re all switched to manual so the stop codes aren’t working!!]

[The, the US government has detected the nuclear launches and says they’ll retaliate, so get away from the site as much as possible…]

[An urgent communication came in that the defense team in charge of China has all fallen into combat incapacity due to the magical girl of [Sword]’s attack!! They’re requesting immediate support!!]

“1200. They were all supposed to hit major US cities, and now is exactly the set time.”

Doctor spoke while giggling as if this whole situation was just funny. Another toy she discovered. It wasn’t the destruction of humanity, but…

“Looks like Li arrived in China well too. She’s a maniac not easy even compared to me, so it’ll be tough.”

My mind went blank.

No.

‘No!’

I just stared blankly at Doctor.

Doctor looked at me like that and smiled with satisfaction.

“If Russia and America are all destroyed, you’ll have no choice but to become the god of a new world. Congratulations.”

As soon as I heard those words, I swung the silver sword. On the trajectory drawn by the clear silver blade, fluorescent green hair and blood bloomed vividly.

Shing

The silver blade rushed in and the girl’s neck slid, spewing hot blood. As the hot blood fell on the frozen ground, the puppet show recreating the coming time of destruction also ended.

But the malice she had set as the finale of the play was just beginning.

Rumble

The automatically moving puppets were still fiercely attacking the magical girls. And the final malice she had scattered was now revealing itself.

[Unnie!! Dodge!! America launched nukes to retaliate!! Russia and America are done for now!!]

The hundreds of lights crossing the sky with a roar were still there.

The ending desired by the girl who saw the world as a huge puppet show.

Destruction.

And a gift for the playmate who stopped her so excellently.

A new world.

It was approaching before my eyes.