The Magical Girl’s Journey ~It Seems the TS Magical Girl Has Bad Luck~

The Tears of Magical Girl Taragon and Marin’s Thoughts

The time to begin the operation had arrived, and as Taragon found herself alone with Inny Flowering, she felt her chest tighten at the sight of the expressionless girl before her.

What could she possibly be thinking, standing on the brink of death when she hadn’t even lived half as long as Taragon herself?

The time shared between Taragon and Inny Flowering was fleeting. They had met for the first time during a tea party and later engaged in fierce combat during a simulation.

Even though Inny may have held back somewhat, it was clear that by the end, Taragon had fought with all her might—and still, Inny managed to deal severe injuries.

Even if those injuries were self-inflicted, Taragon couldn’t help but feel astonished.

Unlike other top-ranked magical girls, Taragon, having actually fought against Inny Flowering, believed she had gained some understanding of the girl’s true nature.

Most likely, during their simulation battle, Inny had placed defeating Taragon as her sole priority, disregarding every other factor. Though it was only a simulation, the pain inflicted was no less real.

In that moment, whether her arms or legs were blown off, Inny approached Taragon without changing her expression even once.

Too calm to be called a mad dog, too cold to be considered human—some kind of being shaped like a young girl.

Still, through it all, Taragon sensed a burning passion within her.

That’s why Taragon entrusted this mission to her.

Even if it meant erasing Inny’s future altogether… surely, she would carry out this task successfully.

So at least, Taragon wished to be hated. To choose the survival of everyone else at the cost of one life—it left her feeling utterly powerless…

“I’m sorry things turned out this way. Please hate me.”

“I don’t hate you. I’ll leave it in your hands then.”

From Inny Flowering’s unchanging blank expression, Taragon inferred that she bore no resentment.

As if methodically carrying out an assigned task, her attitude resembled that of a composed adult.

Her eyes seemed clouded, as if she had already given up on everything.

Despite the unchanged demeanor from their previous simulation battle, Taragon felt both loneliness and sadness welling inside her.

Then, resolving to do what she could, Taragon steeled herself.

“Let’s go! Be careful not to throw up!”

With Inny Flowering in her arms, Taragon took to the skies.

And thus began the interception by M·D·W.

Taragon was initially surprised by how quickly the interception commenced compared to the estimated distance and the sheer volume of the barrage.

(This will likely reach the three others at the rear. If they can hold out until I return, that’s all I ask.)

Though Taragon had only expected nominal defensive measures, she now felt grateful for taking precautions. Entrusting mere babysitting duties to the three wouldn’t have sufficed; getting caught in stray fire from the barrage without defenses could have been catastrophic.

Not flying at full speed, Taragon advanced carefully, weaving through the barrage while leaving room for counterattacks.

The largest and fastest projectiles from the barrage loomed toward Taragon.

After smoothly sidestepping them, she proceeded cautiously, minimizing movements and avoiding damage wherever possible—all in the name of delivering Inny Flowering as quickly as she could…

“Wind, carve my path!”

Taragon heard Inny Flowering chant a spell while cradled in her arms.

It was a spell cast to alleviate Taragon’s burden as much as possible.

Even amidst such dire circumstances, Inny Flowering steadfastly provided support, causing Taragon to smile just a little.

(Hmm. You’re quite a kind child after all.)

Feeling a warmth unlike her own emanating from Inny Flowering, Taragon gently tightened her grip on her, determined not to forget that tenderness.

As the time for parting drew near…

While dodging the intensifying barrage, the distance to M·D·W closed to under 15 kilometers.

“It’s almost time to let go. Are you ready?”

“Yes, I’m ready anytime.”

At this point, meeting again was unlikely regardless of the mission’s outcome. Taragon didn’t believe Inny Flowering would survive.

“…I won’t tell you to come back alive. Please… please die for us.”

These final words were for herself as much as for the departing girl—to ensure her responsibility and bear all the blame.

“As a magical girl, I shall fulfill my duty. Upon my name, I swear it.”

(How strange and mysterious you are, yet so cool.)

A single tear escaped from Taragon’s eyes, brimming with emotion.

“Ah! …I’ll leave the rest to you!”

Shouting loudly to hide her tears from Inny Flowering, Taragon wanted to put on a brave face as a senior magical girl, at least this once.

If Inny noticed her crying, she’d surely laugh.

And so, using her ability, Taragon launched Inny Flowering forward.

Without looking back at Inny flying away, Taragon made a U-turn and returned to the ruins where the three other magical girls awaited.

By now, Taragon understood all too well that this M·D·W was far from ordinary.

There was bound to be trouble at the rear as well.

This operation could not afford more than one casualty.

Thus, Taragon hurried onward. For the sake of not letting Inny Flowering’s sacrifice go to waste, she had to move fast…

The barrage of projectiles had passed over the designated defense point, resulting in minimal damage.

However, something even more terrifying was unfolding at the defense location.

The three who had seen off Taragon waited at the position she had specified.

Before the operation began, Taragon had created an underground space to evacuate civilians. She stationed the three at the entrance to defend it.

“What is that? Flying through something like that? Isn’t it too dangerous?”

Watching the distant barrage, Blue Colette voiced her thoughts.

They finally understood the meaning behind Taragon’s earlier claim that they couldn’t handle such attacks.

Approaching M·D·W while deflecting such barrages was impossible.

(Are we really capable of defeating something like that?)

A stray projectile struck a distant ruin with a loud noise, showcasing a destructive force that could render anyone combat-incapacitated upon direct impact. Watching this, Marin grew increasingly anxious.

Prepared for stray projectiles at any moment, the three stood vigilant—but something equally challenging awaited them.

“That’s… no way! Monsters! Taragon never mentioned anything like this…!”

Several monsters emerged from the ruins, summoned by M·D·W. One of its characteristics was to incorporate monsters and magical girls into its power.

With perfect bait conveniently within reach, there was no reason for M·D·W not to act.

“We must defeat them since they’ve appeared. I’ll take the front lines; please provide support.”

Ignoring the shock on the faces of the other two, Marin moved forward against the suddenly appearing monsters.

Swinging her sword lightly as if testing the waters, Marin was easily evaded. Her follow-up attack was blocked by another monster.

(Fast! And strong too…)

Even slashes that should have easily defeated lesser foes were avoided, raising Marin’s estimation of the monsters’ danger level while inducing cold sweat due to the worsening situation.

Had there been only one or two monsters, it wouldn’t have been a problem. However, the monsters swarmed toward Marin and the others like ants drawn to sugar.

Marin shifted her strategy from conserving energy to enduring until Taragon’s return.

Gripping her sword tightly, Marin encouraged herself: if she didn’t protect them, Inny Flowering’s sacrifice would be meaningless.

“Arched Moon!”

“I won’t let Marin have all the good looks! Cluster Bullet!”

“The skirmishing is mine. Spiral Spear!”

Star Nail covered from afar, Blue Colette created openings, and Marin finished them off.

This was the fighting style devised by Shirokigawa of the North Kanto Branch for the three of them.

Marin dealt heavy blows but struggled with continuity.

Star Nail boasted shooting speed and range but lacked firepower.

Blue Colette had decent firepower but faced difficulty against higher-ranked foes, excelling only in rapid strikes.

Though tensions existed beforehand, the presence of the monsters united them in battle.

To survive, they had to fight. To avoid being killed, they had to defeat the monsters.

Such was the world they lived in…

But this time, their opponent was formidable.

While Inny Flowering faced A to S-Rank threats, the strongest foes Marin and her companions encountered were B-Rank at most.

Even so, these were beyond the capabilities of average magical girls, compounded by their numbers.

The first to falter was Blue Colette, who was hit in the abdomen by a spear of earth emerging from beneath and blown backward, unable to move afterward.

Next, Star Nail ran out of magic power, allowing a monster to wound her arm.

Marin wasn’t in great shape either.

Though the battle duration wasn’t long, the enemies’ quantity and strength exceeded their expectations.

Fortunately, the underground shelter housing civilians remained untouched by the monsters, though that might change soon enough.

Whether any of the three could survive until then was uncertain.

Fighting alone, Marin recalled battling a spider-like monster.

That fight was unforgettable for Marin.

Back then, she had merely been saved. That such a thing could happen was extraordinary…

Cloudy-eyed, Inny Flowering, the magical girl who had saved Marin’s life, was now fighting an even more desperate foe.

Back then, Marin had given up. This time, she wouldn’t.

(I…)

Exerting her remaining magic power, Marin swung her sword.

(I!)

She had promised. To wait for their return. To believe they would come back.

The blade shattered upon striking a monster, as if mirroring Marin’s heart…

At that instant, the thought of death crossed Marin’s mind…

The broken tip of her sword clattered to the ground.

The monster reared its clawed arm, aiming for Marin…

(Not yet! I can still fight! I will never break again!)

That resolve worked wonders.

Marin knew…

For magical girls, nothing was impossible—she had learned that from her.

“I won’t lose. I can’t afford to lose yet!”

Responding to her cry, a luminous blade extended from the broken sword.

Marin’s black hair turned white, and the fading embers of her magic power reignited.

Reversing the blade she had previously pointed downward, Marin bisected the monster.

“Lies… Marin, you…”

“She’s awakened…”

Shock painted the faces of the two injured companions.

Her appearance was nothing short of extraordinary.

Marin had ascended to a new stage as a magical girl.

It was known as Enhanced Form.

A special state achievable by only a select few among the elite magical girls.

For a rookie like Marin to achieve it was nothing short of miraculous.

…Or perhaps, it was an inevitability born of her determination.

It was at this moment that Taragon joined them.

Having confirmed the monsters from above, Taragon eliminated the surrounding ones with an explosion and reunited with Marin and the others.

Surprisingly, Taragon saw the fallen two and Marin’s transformed figure.

Protecting civilians from the monsters was impressive, but Marin’s transformation shocked her most.

Taragon hadn’t anticipated Marin reaching this form.

Enhanced Form wasn’t something easily attainable, and Taragon knew this well.

Curious about how Marin achieved it, Taragon reflected that more pressing matters required attention.

“Leave the rest to me. The three of you head underground.”

“I’ll stay. I want to honor my promise to her.”

Taragon pondered. In her current state, Marin wouldn’t fall to B-Rank monsters, but reckless actions were concerning.

(Promise, huh…)

Stronger feelings led to stronger magical girls. Perhaps Marin could replace Inny Flowering. Testing her here might prove interesting, Taragon thought, confident she could intervene if necessary…

“Don’t push yourself. Likely, the bombardment will cease, and the monsters will disappear. Let’s endure until then.”

Based on M·D·W’s traits, Taragon deduced that the monsters appeared because it had spare capacity to target magical girls as prey.

Once that capacity diminished, the monsters would stop appearing.

Thus, it all depended on Inny Flowering.

“Yes! I’ll take the vanguard.”

“Good. Show me your strength.”

The ensuing battle differed greatly from the earlier one involving all three.

Whereas previously Marin needed her full effort to defeat a single monster, now she could decimate several at once, with Taragon covering what Marin couldn’t handle.

Their fight continued until the bombardment ceased.

Suddenly, the numerous monsters disintegrated into dust.

“So the monsters have stopped coming after all.”

“Haa… haa. Was it Inny Flowering who did this?”

“Likely. All that remains is for her to destroy M·D·W…”

Indeed, destroying M·D·W would trigger its self-destruction, inevitably ensnaring Inny Flowering.

Marin understood the implications of this…

“It’s fine. Surely… surely, she’ll return with a nonchalant face.”

Destroying such a powerful artillery platform was an incredible feat for a magical girl.

Marin doubted she could weave through such barrages and destroy the platform even in her current state.

Tears streamed freely from Marin’s eyes as she gazed toward where Inny Flowering battled M·D·W.

(Since we made a promise…)

Her vision blurred, and as her Enhanced Form dissipated, Marin wobbled toward the underground shelter.

Alone on the surface, Taragon waited for the final phase of the operation.

The bombardment had stopped. Now, all that remained was for Inny Flowering to destroy M·D·W.

As Taragon looked skyward, an enormous magic circle spread across the heavens.

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