chapter 109

“Maria… chan?”

“Maki… ane?”

It was a Magical Girl dressed in purple clothes with her once fresh skin .

Unlike earlier, her eyes are different and now they are carrying a firm and dignified will .

“Is it an effect of the forced Second Burst? … Or possibly, is it because the time of my death has not been that long . Or possibly it’s both? Either way, right now I can maintain my sanity . ”

“Maki… ane?”

The two were quiet for a bit and I hugged Maki-ane as hard as I could .

“Maria-chan? Before I knew it… you’ve reached the same height as me . ”

“Yeah . Since the time Maki-ane has used Full Burst has been a little more than half a year . ”

“You’re a fast grower, aren’t you? You’ve been walking the path of night alone for half a year…”

Then Maki-ane pulled me away from me hugging her and then she gently caressed my head .

“I’m sorry . I am… I really burdened you with something that I shouldn’t have . ”

“But, there’s nobody left but me . In that case, I have no choice but to do it . Besides, it’s not something Maki-ane should do . This is about all Magical Girls . ”

Maki-ane tried to hold her tears in her eyes but they trickled down uncontrollably on her cheeks .

“I’m sorry . I’m really sorry . Hey, do you remember? In that hospital that I saw your manga . ”

“No way I’ll forget that . ”

Maki-ane makes a smile while crying .

“Honestly speaking I thought it was clumsy . ”

For a moment I was confused, however— Even so, I talked to Maki-ane with a smile from the bottom of my heart .

“Isn’t that mean?”

“Yeah, it’s mean, isn’t it?”

*Haha* We both laughed and then Maki-ane made a serious expression .

“Keep drawing . ”

“…?”

“After this, continue living and keep drawing . ”

“…Eh?”

“It’s okay to be clumsy now . But, your effort will not betray you . Someday, you will entertain someone . Draw mangas like that . No, it will be bad if you do not draw . ”

“What do you mean?”

“You have a dream . But, that’s already beyond us . That’s why, you have to survive— And then, absolutely chase your dream!”

“Maki…ane?”

“You must survive . Whether you spit blood or go through mud, you have to survive . ”

“……”

I was quiet for a bit and just as I was to ask— Maki-ane with a gentle expression said .

“Your reply?”

“……”

“… Your reply is?”

“Yes”

“Un . ” Maki-ane nodded and once again caressed my head .

“Escape from here . ”

“They’re strong people from local organizations— But, those two won’t last too long . They’ll lose their power before they reach Himiko . Right now, not all of Himiko’s power is focused on you, but focused on those two . If it’s now then you can escape . ”

“Even if you’re telling me to escape…”

“The dimension’s escape is blocked . But, if it’s you you can do it . The only one who has the power to interfere with the System is you . No, it’s wrong— If it’s you who can use Magical Girls Hand Combat techniques then definitely you’ll be able to do it . ”

“Shifting the magic point and action?”

“Originally, we live in the middle of the System’s dimension blur . That’s why I was able to establish the Magical Girls Hand Combat techniques due to that gap . ”

“Un . ”

“Use the magical energy of the Magical Girls Hand Combat techniques at the exit . Immediately after closing the door there is a small gap and if it’s this moment, you can do it . ”

I understand what she is saying, if it’s the method she presented now, I understand how I should use my magical power .

And then, surely… I can do it .

Originally, opening the dimension’s door is not something really difficult .

That’s right, it’s immediately after the door is closed .

“It seems I can’t hold my sanity for too long . ”

Maki-ane’s expression changes to a noh mask .

It seems, this is really goodbye .

“I’ll repeat again . You must live . You don’t have to end this system anymore . I burned you with an unreasonable duty… I’m sorry . Only you need to survive . Live for everyone . You have that responsibility . ”

“……”

“Your reply?”

“…… . ”

“Your reply is?”

“………… . ”

“What is your reply?”

“… . . Sorry, Maki-ane . ”

The remaining Magical Girls are a bit over 30 .

The momentum of those two is obviously falling, even if they are not fatal wounds they have received some injuries .

“Sorry… What do you mean Maria-chan?”

“I can’t do what you tell me . ”

“Did you become attached to those two? And because of that you intend everyone to suffer?”

“… . You’re wrong . I don’t know those two very well, but in the first place it’s not that cheap of a story?”

“Wrong? What do you mean?”

I screamed from the bottom of my heart as much as I could to Maki-ane .

“Because I chose to end everything! Maki-ane’s enemy— I have no choice but to shoot! It’s only now in this place I can do that!”

Maki-ane opened her eyes wide in surprise .

“Besides, my brother’s name was spoken— Just because I am brother’s sister— There is no way I can abandon those two who just for that reason are putting their lives on line . ”

“Maria-chan?”

“I was not raised by my father and mother to be such a cheap and shitty woman that throws everything and runs away!”

For a while, Maki-ane was thinking something and caressed my head strongly .

“Excellent . Really, upstanding reply . ”

“Un . ”

And then, Maki-ane withdrew the hand she caressed me with and just like that placed her hand on her head .

The two of us are nearly the same height .

“Jeez, we’re about the same height . No… I’m wrong . Despite that you were so small, before I knew it you had really grown . ”

And then, Maki-ane smiled at me with strong emotions .

“You decided to struggle . No, you had decided . In that case fight to the end, and then— Be sure to survive!”

“Un . ”

Maki-ane picked up the sword that had fallen .

And then, she smiled .

“It’s already the end for me here . Soon my consciousness will be taken by Himiko . I’ll point my fangs at you . That’s why…”

And then—-

Maki-ane pierced her heart .

“Why…?’

“Haha, serves it . Many things happened however, but in the end I managed to get out of the system . ”

“But, that… that is…”

“My life . I can’t choose my means of death! *Cough*… You definitely have to survive . Cross and go beyond our corpses…”

“Maki…ane…”

“Reply?”

“Yeah . ”

“Un . Good reply . ”

And then, Maki-ane collapsed on the spot with the expression of attaining nirvana .

At the same time, something hot lit in my heart .

Until now there were many things .

We’ve been furiously swayed . No, we are still being swayed .

Everyone—and then, me .

I’ve received important things from Maki-ane’s life .

Certainly, something is lit hot in my heart and it becomes a flame, my blood becomes hot and it circulates in my veins .

“I’m sorry, Maki-ane . I can’t keep the promise to continue drawing… Full Burst… Currently I don’t have remaining chakra . I’m sure my soul will burn without going through the steps of an older woman . ”

But… I think .

“That’s right, after all… Everyone’s feelings… wishes…”

Nearby is the fallen Magical Girl Maki who’s a shadow of herself .

That’s right .

This is a baton relay of wishes spun in everyone’s memories .

I was always protected by them .

But, I haven’t been able to do anything for them .

“It’s not such a good story that I only will survive . There’s no way I can survive at the end in the safety zone… There’s no way I can do that . ”

Hot blood runs through my body .

I have things to do from now .

That is to do what I can without thinking back and forth .

Basically, it makes no difference if you say it’s the lament of the soul .

Besides, I can see the preparation of the body is done .

Everyone’s wishes were covering me in an aura of souls .

That’s right, the thing I can do is!

It is to end this here!

And then, I screamed .

“It doesn’t matter to burn out here! That’s why— This is fine! I’ll fight! I definitely received the baton, Maki-ane!”

The changes start beyond the point Magical Girl Second Burst .

The overly defensive magic clothes have been removed and specialized in half-naked attack style without regards to defense— I changed to Kamikaze style .

And then, I prepared my bow to do what I can… I released all my magic .

“This is the first and last Full burst of Magical Girl Morishita Maria! I convert all of my existence into power to become an arrow that illuminates the darkness— Here I go!”