episode_0014

My mother was mentally ill.

Was it because my father died early? Or was it because she had fought battles for her life too often since she was young?

For whatever reason, she confused my father with me.

Typical delirium.

My mother, who should have been recuperating in a psychiatric hospital under normal circumstances, fell for the Association’s trick.

“You guys, who can’t function properly without magical girls, are really good at gaslighting.”

“…Gasp.”

“You’ve been doing that for 100 years. So now you’re experts, huh?”

Why did my retired mother go to a place where death was certain?

Until then, I thought she went to fulfill her duty.

In fact, the Association’s explanation was also like that. Until then, I only thought she was sacrificed because of this irrational system.

[Operation Name, Orion’s Revenge]

Turns out, it was planned murder.

Why did they do that? For what reason did my mother have to fall into a trap and die?

The reason was written at the beginning of the document.

[First-class magical girls with unstable minds have a high possibility of going berserk. In Artemis’s case, there is a risk of causing continental plate collapse, thus immediate action is required.]

They saw my mother as a time bomb.

My mother, who simply loved flowers…

“I won’t reveal what you have done to the world.”

Because then public opinion would be divided. I don’t want to see strangers debating about my family.

“But you won’t be able to die as a righteous Association executive, as you wished. I’ll organize each of your wicked deeds and spread them on the internet. Until the people you know are ashamed of your name.”

“Ke… Heuough! Heuugh…”

“Before that, I mean.”

Antikythera has various functions. It’s excellent for combat, but what’s particularly noteworthy is its delicate and rapid tentacle needle.

“I’ll have to torture you until you beg to be killed instead.”

[Common Knowledge: Humans can die if 1000cc (approx. 20%) of blood is lost.]

There was no need to worry about that. The tentacle needle was as thin as a hair. And it also had a function to avoid vital areas.

[Question: What is the most severe pain a human can feel?]

[Answer: Burning pain. This unit, Antikythera, can implement it by manipulating the nervous system.]

That statement was proven by 10 minutes of torture.

***

The first-class magical girl, Pink Star, was deeply displeased. So she said nothing, with her arms crossed. The uncomfortable atmosphere lasted for 2 hours.

“Um, over there…”

“Tsk.”

“Ah! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

The Association staff member who spoke to Pink Star, who had responded to an unwanted summons after about 10 years, had to bow deeply and grovel.

‘This is bad. She’s clearly angry. Which idiot called Pink Star-nim anyway!’

Officially, Pink Star is known to have gone into seclusion for ‘training’.

Therefore, calling her is interfering with her training, which was tantamount to provoking a vengeful spirit.

‘Ah, I came without seeing the trending posts. Tsk… Should I just go home now? It’s starting to get annoying.’

However, the unofficial truth was truly miserable.

“How many hours have you been setting this mood?”

At the sharp tone, gazes focused on one place.

Only one person dared to say such a thing to Pink Star.

It was ‘Blaze’, a magical girl from the same generation as her.

“Long time no see. Saw you once about 40 years ago, right?”

At her appearance, all the Association staff realized they were attending a historical moment.

‘First-class magical girls gathered in one place! Has this ever happened before?’

There are two magical girls who can easily deal with any enemy even with just one.

If there was a safest place on Earth, it would be here.

“Seniors. Nice to meet you for the first time. My active name is Scarlet.”

And they realized it was too soon to be surprised.

“…Who was that?”

“She’s the newcomer who joined after Artemis died.”

“Oh really? Seems young, but already reached first-class.”

The youngest magical girl, Scarlet. A woman famous for the anecdote where she compressed a 300m titan to the size of a bead using psychokinesis.

“Looks like three of you are gathered… What about the other two?”

“Couldn’t reach them, so they weren’t called.”

At that, Pink Star greatly regretted giving her contact information to the Association.

‘I want to relax at home with the air conditioning on and browse forums. If I were to say I’m going back now, I’d completely lose face…’

The reason she didn’t storm out right away was because she enjoyed the gazes of the Association staff.

It was an impure hobby where weak humans filled her self-esteem by revering her, a first-class magical girl.

‘Ah, annoying. I want to go home.’

When two magical girls with similar strength appeared, and she could no longer enjoy that hobby, Pink Star had to face mental distress.

“So, why did you gather us here? It’s not like a Myth-class Titan appeared, is it?”

“Perhaps it’s a danger even greater than that.”

The Association executive with deep scars around his eyes displayed materials on the monitor with his deeply wrinkled hand.

“As a result of the investigation, it has been revealed that the recent large-scale Titan incident occurred due to a generation change.”

The highest-grade Titans that appeared worldwide were old individuals who had gone into seclusion decades ago.

“So, the old ones came out to hunt down the young ones, huh? It sounds like you’re pointing fingers at someone specific.”

“Ah, that…”

“Why don’t you tell me to step up like Artemis? That would be just great. Right?”

“Pink Star.”

The air suddenly became heavy. The battle of wills between the first-class magical girls emitted an aura that stimulated something fundamental to life.

‘Hehe.’

Seeing the trembling faces of the staff, Pink Star laughed gleefully inwardly. The reason she was being difficult was precisely because of this.

“Ahem… The Association suspects that the root cause of this disturbance was committed by a group called the Witches’ Assembly.”

“What’s that now.”

“According to Gold Rose, this Witches’ Assembly is a group composed of perverts.”

*CRASH*—! A glass flew past the Association executive’s face and embedded itself in the wall. Thrown too hard, it created a massive hole in the thick concrete.

“Perverts? Well said. According to rumors I’ve heard lately, there’s been a significant increase in cases where juniors go crazy and become criminals.”

“I apologize.”

It was Blaze who threw the glass. She, who had gone into seclusion for training, was one of the magical girls who didn’t like the corrupt Association.

The reason she maintained the current situation without destroying the Association was because she didn’t feel like it.

Furthermore, if the current system were to collapse, ordinary people, if not magical girls, would fall into chaos. This would mean the collapse of social order.

“I misspoke.”

The Association executive, whose ear was grazed by the too-fast glass, maintained his composure.

“I will apologize.”

Not stopping there, the executive pulled out a dagger from his pocket and cut off the joint of his ring finger without hesitation.

‘What the, he’s not even Yakuza.’

Pink Star thought that and felt a sense of regret. If she had reacted a little faster, all these fearful gazes would have been hers.

“Quick response, huh? The staff lately are quite quick-witted.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“I’ll let it slide this much today. Continue with what you were saying.”

“Understood. First, it has been revealed that this Witches’ Assembly, composed of ‘fallen magical girls’, has accepted the power of Titans.”

The explanation that followed was quite surprising.

It is said that magical girls who merely belonged to Team 5 have appeared, becoming as strong as top-tier Titans.

This was a category that could barely be stopped by at least one person from Team 2 or five people from Team 3.

“The current number of fallen magical girls identified by the Association is 110. Excluding those whose location is definitively known, there are about 50. If you reduce that for other reasons, the definite number is 20.”

It was practically saying that at least twenty more top-tier Titans had been added.

“And this is just speculation, but the same generation as Pink Star-nim and Blaze-nim…”

“Ah, did they jump into this Witches’ Assembly or whatever too? They’ve caused a hell of a lot of trouble. They really have.”

Since a magical girl belonging to Team 5 became as strong as a top-tier Titan, if those with even greater power were to fall, it would be an even bigger crisis.

“So that’s why you called us here? To start working from now on?”

“Yes.”

“Hmmm. Well thos…”

*WHIZZ*—!

Just then, the door opened and a man entered the conference room.

“Mr. Mascot!”

A living welfare item for first-class magical girls. It was Mascot.

“Hyunseong! You’re finally here. Are you alright? I heard you were attacked by a Titan…”

“Ah, I’m alright. I wasn’t injured.”

Hyunseong subtly turned his head.

‘Pi, Pink Star!’

He felt something ominous approaching. The pink magical girl was staring intently at him.