Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku - Volume 1 - Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

COSMOS FLOWERS BECOME THE BATTLEFIELD

The Magical Kingdom’s talent discovery department tended to hate office work, and the stronger the mage, the more obvious this was.

For this reason, the digital fairy familiars that lived in supervisor magical phones and took care of desk work were prized far more than the orthodox familiars of old, like black cats and owls. About 80 percent of the department had such familiars.

Fav was an older familiar, even in the talent discovery department. But despite his long tenure, he held no passion for his job. He couldn’t remember whether he had lost that spark somewhere along the way or if he’d just never had it. Most likely he was defective. He had grown tired of the selection tests and bored with his masters, continuing on as a familiar purely out of habit. Until he met Cranberry.

In Cranberry’s first selection test, a summoned demon had gone berserk and massacred the master and other applicants because Fav hadn’t checked to prevent such accidents like he was supposed to. This exceptional situation blew away the same old, same old selection test and excited Fav, but watching the nine-year-old girl defeat the demon by herself excited him even more.

The look in her eyes, the way she spoke, and her unusually belligerent attitude said she was clearly off her rocker, but Fav’s report to the higher-ups mentioned no problems at all. Surely she would be able to create a fascinating selection test. Though he had just lost his previous partner, Fav named her his master right away.

As it turned out, Fav was correct. Cranberry ended up being the best supervisor and partner he could wish for. No other magical girl would actually participate in the test to slake a thirst for blood, after all. Cranberry got to enjoy her death matches, and Fav got to enjoy the thrilling spectacle.

The normal selection tests were no fun to watch at all. They looked for qualities that had nothing to do with magic, like courage, wit, and personality, and only one of the applicants was chosen to become a true magic user. Those who failed simply had their memories erased and returned to their normal lives.

But Fav and Cranberry’s tests were different. They bent the rules to end the lives of the rejected applicants, encouraged them to kill one another, and ensured that only the strongest would end up victorious. Sometimes Cranberry even forgot herself and killed the “strongest.” Her bloodlust was glorious, but she did tend to go overboard.

The Magical Kingdom firmly believed that all people were inherently good, which to Fav was completely stupid. He did everything in his power—messing with the winners’ memories, sending fake reports—to keep the wool over their eyes, and so far, they were none the wiser. Naturally, the winners were also stronger, so the superior results of their selection tests actually helped Fav’s and Cranberry’s reputations.

Talented practitioners strengthened the Magical Kingdom, which meant Fav and Cranberry could call themselves proud patriots compared to the masters who held orthodox selection tests and fostered incompetence. Fav was fond of Cranberry, but he wasn’t sentimental enough to mourn now that she was dead. If he needed a new master, he would swap in a heartbeat. Swim Swim’s motivation was difficult to determine, and she even rejected Fav’s help, so she was hardly a good master. She would need to be eliminated.

La Pucelle had sworn to protect her.

Sister Nana had tried to find a peaceful solution.

And Hardgore Alice.

That girl who lost her key had been Hardgore Alice.

While the end of the game was a relief, Snow White also wondered why only she had survived. She was a crybaby, a weakling, a coward, and above all, fearful, always shaking in her boots. Yet she was the only one to survive.

The lone thought in her mind was, Why am I alive? So when another surviving magical girl proposed a meeting, she agreed without hesitation.

She’d thought of them all as friends. As people important to her. Yet she was more relieved to be alive than sad that they were dead. It made her want to kill herself. She wanted to ask the other survivor how she felt, now that everything was over.

Nothing she ate had any taste, and nothing she imagined scared her anymore. She was simply numb.

The girl waiting at the steel tower by the beach was nothing like she’d imagined. She seemed like neither a veteran hero nor a blood-crazed murderer—the aura around her was more lonely than anything, and a sadness darker than her black clothes hung over her. But there was a brilliant glow in her almond eyes. A strong will burned within.

“Good evening…”

“… Good evening.”

Ripple. That was the name of this other survivor.

“Swim Swim…”

“Huh?”

“If you know anything about her… I need you to tell me.”

Why was she asking about Swim Swim? As if reading the question on her face, Ripple spoke.

“I have to… kill her…”

“Huh?”

“To avenge… a friend…”

“B-but they announced that the game’s over.”

“If you know anything about Swim Swim… I need you to tell me…”

The end had already been announced. They didn’t need to kill or compete anymore. Snow White desperately searched for a way to convince her of this. Ripple, on the other hand, saw Snow White’s silence, sighed, and turned her back to her.

“Well, bye…”

“Wait!”

Snow White had had enough. She didn’t want to see or hear about anyone dying anymore.

“The scary competition’s over! We don’t have to knock each other out of the running now.”

Ripple looked back over her shoulder.

“Let’s just stop. I hated how we had to hurt others in order to survive. And now there’s no reason to do any of that. If you kill someone now, you won’t be acting as a magical girl… You’ll be a murderer.”

“I don’t care… I’ll just be a murderer, if I have to.”

She didn’t need to repeat herself. Her words and eyes communicated her iron will, and Snow White took a half step back.

“But I did once want to become a magical girl… like you, Snow White.”

Ripple turned her back once again. Snow White realized she could not stop her. Nothing she could say would change her mind.

Everyone associated with Swim Swim had died—Ruler, whom she supposedly followed; Cranberry, who had gone to see her; even the Peaky Angels and Tama, who had been part of her team. Ripple would certainly die as well. She couldn’t beat Swim Swim.

Snow White had never made a choice, had only let things happen as they did. But Ripple was making a decision. She knew it was the wrong path—that it would lead to her death—but it was her choice, and she would see it through. Ripple had said she was not a magical girl, but that was wrong. Ripple was a true magical girl. Snow White didn’t want her to die.

“Swim Swim’s weaknesses are light and sound, pon. She can pass through all matter, but not light or sound, pon.”

A voice echoed from both of their magical phones at the same time. The high-pitched synthetic voice continued confidently in stereo.

“Well, if you aren’t satisfied, Ripple, we can continue the game, pon. It’ll be part of the competition, not a grudge match. So who will blame you, pon? Simple as that. Well, good luck surviving until the final two, pon.”

Snow White glared at the phone in horror. Fav’s cheerful tone never successfully masked the hellish things he spoke of.

“Fav! What’re you—”

“Thank you… I’m grateful…”

Ripple thanked him and leaped from the steel tower. Snow White reached out her hand but only swiped at air, just inches from her red scarf.

“Girls like her will do what it takes even if you leave them alone. It’s easier to just give them a push in the right direction, pon.”

“Why… why did you encourage her?”

“Normally, Swim Swim would be my new master, pon. She killed Tama, who killed Cranberry, so she’s more than qualified, pon.”

“What are you talking about?”

“But she’s just no good, pon. She’s got too many fried circuits in important parts of her brain, so Fav can’t partner with her. She has talent as a killer, but she’s a failure as a master, pon. So if Ripple is itching to kill her, then Fav doesn’t mind helping her out.”

Snow White tore the magical phone from the makeshift leather utility belt at her waist, grabbed it with both hands, and raised it in the air. She glared at the holographic black-and-white mascot.

“Why are you angry, pon? Isn’t this what you wished for, pon? If Ripple and Swim Swim take each other out, you’ll be the only one left alive and the absolute winner! You’ll become Fav’s new master and win an invitation to the Magical Kingdom, pon!”

She let go with her right hand and balled it into a fist. She raised it up, then slammed it down. Her enhanced strength was enough to snap it in half, and the screen darkened.

“Oh dear. What a waste, pon. There’s no point doing that just to cheer yourself up. Destroying your phone doesn’t mean Fav goes anywh—”

The projected image faded.

Hardgore Alice had said that as long as Snow White existed, the town would always have one magical girl. Even on death’s bed, she had thought of Snow White. Her own life had been about to disappear, yet she was thinking of others.

Snow White no longer considered herself a magical girl, but she’d rather die than disappoint Hardgore Alice.

She knew what she had to do. And with that in mind, she dived from the top of the steel tower.

They could have met anywhere they wanted. All the super-territorial magical girls were gone, and the city was littered with empty locations at night. Swim Swim chose Koujimadai Dam only because it was near her home—nothing more complicated than that.

The meandering mountain path suddenly opened up to the dam. About a hundred yards from the entrance was a hollowed-out circle, paved with stone and filled with wooden benches. People used them during the day, but at night it was another story.

Rolling mountains lay to the east and beyond the dam to the west. This area was created so people could enjoy the scenery. Though it was near the town, the mountainous terrain got very dark at night. The cosmos flowers blooming on one side were practically invisible.

The air had been humid, warning of the rain to come. The downpour wasn’t particularly heavy. Droplets dotted the concrete with little spots of black that slowly connected and spread. The surface of the reservoir rippled. But no matter how strong the rain was, it never wet Swim Swim. It simply passed through her and splashed against the ground.

Swim Swim was now a master. She didn’t know exactly what that meant, though. Fav had given her a lot of documents filled with words she still didn’t know how to read, so she’d asked him to write out how to pronounce them and left it at that.

She had become a leader of all magical girls, just like Ruler had wanted to be. But she’d lost the Peaky Angels and Tama in the process. Ruler would have been able to become a master with everyone still alive.

Swim Swim looked up at the sky. The rain was about to get worse.

When Fav had told her Ripple wanted to meet, Swim Swim had accepted easily. Ruler had always said that a leader was not a leader without followers. They didn’t have to kill each other anymore, and she needed followers.

Footsteps echoed through the rain droplets, rhythmic splashes of water. Whoever it was, she was at the entrance about one hundred yards away. She was like shadow—black clothes, black hair, black eyes.

Fifty yards. She seemed familiar. Swim Swim had seen her somewhere before.

Twenty. She was wearing a coat.

Ten. The wind whipped at the coat. Something was written on the back. The kanji characters were too difficult to read.

Five. She stopped. The light in her almond eyes was sharp enough to cut her when she met her gaze. Swim Swim remembered who she was. She flicked a pill into the air with her thumb, caught it in her mouth, and swallowed.

She didn’t intend to waste time. The moment Ripple attacked, she glimpsed Swim Swim’s magic. Everything passed through her, like a blade slicing through air. The first time they’d fought, she’d sunk into the building like it was made of water. She could pass through matter, so even if there was a time limit to her magic, Swim Swim could still escape easily.

There was only one way for Ripple to counter her.

Swim Swim produced her enormous weapon and slashed. Ripple attempted to dodge by spinning a half step to the right, but failed. Swim Swim’s blade was faster and stronger than she’d expected. She was a different beast from when they’d fought atop the hotel. The left side of the ninja’s face burned, and her vision turned red.

Ripple clicked her tongue. Stripping off Top Speed’s coat, she threw it over Swim Swim. The coat met no resistance and simply fell to the pavement. By the time she realized Swim Swim had sunk into the ground, she could feel a thirst for her blood behind her.

She twisted around and sensed a rush of air coming at her—a blade. She glimpsed Swim Swim as something translucent to her left attempted to chop her in half. The weapon was almost invisible—there was no dodging it. Instinctively, she pulled back her arm. Something yanked at her skin, and pain soon followed. The wound was deep. But that had been her goal—she’d created her own opening.

Ripple kicked at Swim Swim’s head, but not to damage her. Covering the other girl’s eyes with the sole of her foot, she reached into the four-dimensional bag hanging from her hip—Calamity Mary’s item.

Swim Swim couldn’t pass through everything. According to Fav, there were some things she was weak against, like light and sound. Ripple’s only choice was to take the mascot’s advice.

With her magic, the weapons she threw always hit their mark. Even with a deep wound in one arm and a crushed eye, as long as she threw them, they’d land. She pulled the pin and gently tossed the stun grenade. It seemed to fly through the air in slow motion. Her ability made sure it hit the target, and it slid into her body.

The stun grenade was a specialized hand grenade for situations where casualties were not an option. It was a nonlethal weapon to render targets helpless with the intense light and sound it emitted when detonating. The temporary loss of sight and hearing caused its victims to panic and freeze. This was one of Calamity Mary’s weapons, and though she was dead, it was still boosted with her magic.

Even with Swim Swim to cover the explosion, Ripple was so close that the impact nearly knocked her out.

The sound of the rain was gone. The world spun, and her feet felt unstable. There was a terrible ringing in her ears, and her vision was completely black. She almost fainted. But this was nothing compared to what Swim Swim was experiencing. Once she’d passed out, her magic would have no effect, and she’d lose her invincibility.

She focused her screaming senses to find Swim Swim—and felt a presence. Though she couldn’t find her with light or sound, instinct served just as well. She raised her sword and hurled it.

It connected. She heard something collapse into a puddle and a violent, continuous spray. A large amount of liquid splashed against her. Blood, possibly. The rain washed away the warm mystery liquid.

It was finished. She’d finished it.

What would Top Speed say? She’d probably be mad.

Ripple was glad she got to meet Snow White. She’d been the kind of magical girl who lived to protect others—the kind Ripple had wanted to be. If she got another chance, she wouldn’t click her tongue. She’d be a proper hero.

The energy from the blast made her stumble back a few steps. She tripped on the curb and fell into the bushes. The bleeding was heavier than she’d first thought. She needed to rest. The rain began falling harder, and the cold droplets pelted her body.

Her consciousness dimmed. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Snow White crying. As far as visions on your deathbed went, this was pathetic. Ripple tsked, then closed her eyes.

She’d been too late. Snow White sank to her knees in the middle of a puddle.

To one side was a girl who looked to be in early elementary school, skewered by a Japanese sword. It ran through her back, out of her chest, and into the pavement. The girl was, without question, dead. A cross between a pole arm and a hatchet lay nearby, and farther away was a magical phone. This device was double the size of Snow White’s.

On the other side, Ripple lay in a bed of flowers. Strands of skin and muscle barely held her right arm together, and the pool of blood flowing onto the pavement from her body was as big as the one from the skewered girl. It gushed out like a red river, slowly thinning as the rain came down.

“Congratulations.”

Head bowed, Snow White ground her teeth until the voice made her look up. The oversized magical phone projected a holographic image into the air.

“Swim Swim and Ripple are gone, leaving only you, pon. Snow White, you are officially the winner, pon. Boy, to win without ever dirtying your own hands? Should have expected as much from you, pon.”

Fav’s tone was brighter than ever before.

“Things would get a little inconvenient for Fav without a master, pon.”

“I won’t…”

“Hmm?”

“I won’t become a master.”

“Why?”

Snow White stood, letting the rain and tears flow down her face. Silently, she approached the image.

“I can hear you… You said if I don’t become a master, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Well, in a sense, yes, pon. But—”

The sound of splitting pavement cut off Fav’s speech. Snow White stomped on the magical phone, breaking the surface beneath it. She didn’t stop, driving the device into the concrete.

Wham! Wham! Wham! The smashing sounded through the rain.

“What are you doing?”

“I can hear your voice…”

“Huh?”

“You’re saying you’ll be in trouble if this master phone is destroyed…”

“Oh, that explains it.”

Fav snorted.

“Right, you can hear the voices of those in trouble. Seriously, you’re wasting your time.”

Snow White retrieved the device from the hole in the ground and slammed it against the asphalt. It bounced thirty feet into the air, then as it fell, she smashed it into the ground again. She threw it, kicked it, wailed on it, bashed it, ground it underfoot.

“It’s seriously no use, pon. The master phone is built tough, pon. It’s not like the cheap knockoffs you all use. This is a super version people in the Magical Kingdom use every day. You’re not nearly strong enough, Snow White.”

Snow White panted with effort. Her target, however, was unharmed.

“Personally, Fav would like to be on better terms with you. So go ahead and hit the phone all you like. Once you’re done, we can talk. Okay?”

Snow White sank to her knees before the device. She beat it relentlessly—left fist, right fist, over and over and over and over. Her knuckles split and blood covered her fists, but still she continued.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! When will you learn that it’s pointless?”

She didn’t care. She just needed to destroy this thing, no matter what. She ripped up a piece of pavement and bashed on it. She hurled a bench at it. Not even a piece of the stone around the flower bed had any effect. Did she have anything that would help? A flower hairpiece, a broken magical phone, an armband—nothing. She dug through her pockets and brushed against something soft. Pulling it out, she saw that it was the rabbit’s foot.

“Magical girls have a bad habit of thinking they can solve anything and everything, pon. If La Pucelle and Hardgore Alice had realized that, they wouldn’t have died like dogs. Even Top Speed, after all she did to survive, just died like a fool—”

“Shut up…”

Neither Snow White nor Fav had spoken. A shadow fell at Snow White’s feet. She looked up to see a wounded girl, ready to collapse at any second, leaning on a staff of some kind.

“Ripple? You’re alive, pon?”

“Don’t laugh at Top Speed…”

Ripple shakily raised her support—not a staff, but the weapon that had been lying on the ground earlier. The pole arm–hatchet combo. The projected image flickered. Fav flapped his wing faster, scattering more scales than before. Snow White could hear his innermost thoughts.

The weapon Swim Swim was using…

From the Magical Kingdom…

That could be bad…

Really bad…

Gotta talk Ripple out of this somehow…

“Hold on, Ripple. You’re mistaken, pon. Fav isn’t making fun of Top Speed, pon. Fav respects all magical girls, pon. Maybe it seemed like Fav was picking on you, but it was all under Cranberry’s orders, pon. She threatened Fav into helping her and made Fav do all the dirty work, pon. It was all her orders; Fav got these abilities to stop rampaging magical girls, but she used them to break the rules—”

“Don’t listen to him!”

Snow White yelled as Ripple stepped back and swung.