NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 30
“Walpurgis’…Dream…?”
“What is that…?”
“More importantly, are we having a meeting among ourselves?”
“Yes, the affairs of Magical Girls are decided by Magical Girls.”
Paat!
The first rule was etched onto the Glass Star of the girls.
[The affairs of Magical Girls are decided by Magical Girls.]
“That is the first rule of the Magical Girls living in my territory.”
“Territory?! You mean the whole of Japan covered in that glass-like… veil?!”
“Yes, that is my territory.”
I replied to the flabbergasted girls with a confident smile, carrying the spirit that the Master once taught me.
“……”
“……”
As the enormous scale of the story burst forth, the color drained from the girls’ faces.
One girl, unable to quench her thirst, gulped down the tea in front of her.
I instructed the domain to fill the empty teacups and spoke.
“Uh, I really don’t understand what you’re saying. Why must the Magical Girls act outside the bounds of the constitution?”
“I’m not saying to be completely isolated from society.”
I turned my gaze from Himari to meet the eyes of the fearful girls one by one.
“All matters concerning Japan that involve the powers of Magical Girls… should be decided through meetings in the ‘Garden.’”
“What if we don’t abide by what is decided here?”
“You will lose the twinkling of stars in my territory.”
“Are you saying Magical Girls who don’t want to hear your words should leave for foreign lands?”
The girls, who had been listening to the exchange between Himari and me, wore expressions of horror.
“No, as I mentioned from the start.”
I spread my arms and reached out toward the Magical Girls gathered in the center of the garden.
“I appoint all of you as members of the ‘Walpurgis’ Dream’ meeting.”
“Walpurgis’ Dream…”
“You can meet regularly there and decide on matters pertaining to the Magical Girls.”
“We, we have such a heavy responsibility…”
“[Start] Magical Girl, then what exactly will you be deciding?”
Sumire was still pale, but she was quickly regaining composure with deep breaths.
“I’m merely someone who sets the rules of this domain and lends the place.”
“So, does that mean the council members can freely operate a self-governing organization?”
“Second rule.”
I replaced my answer to Sumire’s question with a proclamation of rules.
[The correctness of a meeting is based on one’s own beliefs.]
“Votes of approval and opposition should be decided based on your own beliefs, not on matters outside this ‘Garden.’ No one can enter here unless they’re a Magical Girl.”
Paaat!
Hundreds of stars of various colors were etched into the glass veil surrounding the garden and soared into the sky.
“Keep in mind that in this ‘Central Garden’ where Walpurgis’ Dream takes place, any Magical Girl can observe as an audience or jury.”
Seeing that each star in the sky was watching them made some girls lower their heads, feeling a chill.
“Since an angry Magical Girl might rush in if there are objections to the meeting, let’s prohibit any displays of force in the ‘Central Garden.’”
“B-but even if we decide here, will the company people accept it…?”
I heard the worried voice of a Magical Girl, likely picked out from the family of subsidiaries.
“Third rule.”
[All Magical Girls can request help from the Garden.]
“Even outside this Central Garden, the ‘Dream Garden’ is connected to an endless dream space.”
As I spoke, I could feel a few stars in the sky trying out the space directly.
“If you feel threatened or oppressed, please request my help. But I can ‘feel’ your intentions here. Please do not test me falsely.”
[The affairs of Magical Girls are decided by Magical Girls.]
[The correctness of a meeting is based on one’s own beliefs.]
[All Magical Girls can request help from the Garden.]
“What direction is this meeting heading toward?”
“Hope… because Magical Girls are beings that give dreams and hopes.”
Some girls agreed with my words, while others dismissed them as nonsense.
But if they could ‘talk’ through the beliefs they held rather than being puppets of society, perhaps they could truly become a hope for this world.
“I would like to give a gift to you, who respect the rules I have established.”
Pat!
The letters M.M floated above the three etched rules on the girls’ Glass Stars.
Magical
Merchandise
“M…M…?”
“What is this…?”
“This is a system where you can receive useful gifts containing the dreams of the girls through the restoration of magical power that leads others to dreams.”
In my territory, using magical power gained through plunder is prohibited.
When I concentrated a bit of magical power on the Glass Star, a small macaron appeared.
Some pulled out teddy bears, while others drew bouquets.
“We will guide our destinies toward hope as dreams.”
I gifted the small macaron to Tsugumi, who was standing there dumbfounded.
“The dreams of Magical Girls don’t always flow kindly toward others. I’ll leave that to you.”
“Ah, yes…”
“And with that, let’s conclude the inauguration ceremony of Walpurgis’ Dream.”
Pat!
Pat!
Light began to emerge beneath the feet of the girls as they started to return to the meeting place they originally occupied.
From the next meeting onward, they would have to build it by themselves.
Before long, all the lights etched into the ceiling faded away.
The garden inside the glass sphere quietly filled with silence.
Only one girl remained before me.
Fujimoto Sumire.
“……”
If I were to change my destiny, she was the first person I had to confront. However, I realized I didn’t really know her well.
In the original story, she appeared sporadically in the first volume, only to die with the end of an era.
[I… wanted to protect… not the name…!]
Now, having made up my mind to save everyone living in this world from the fate of destruction…
‘Let’s give her one chance.’
“Fujimoto-san.”
“Yes.”
“This world will be destroyed by great evils next year.”
“…Yes?”
“The reason Magical Girls were born, [Magical Girl HAZARD], and the Red Broadcast… all are born to bring about the destruction of this world.”
Upon hearing the words I said, Sumire’s eyes shook violently.
She was probably confused as to why I was telling such things to her, a human of Fujimoto.
“The reason I do not destroy Fujimoto, and the reason I presented all of this, is to prevent that from happening.”
“Wh-why are you telling me this?”
“Fujimoto-sensei… your father’s will is not what defines you; it is your fate as a Magical Girl, [Guardian].”
I brushed a blue ribbon onto Sumire’s finger, subtly revealing her fate.
The clue to blooming.
The fate she must go toward.
Sumire gazed blankly at the blue ribbon.
Gradually regaining her stability, her thoughts about the meaning of [Guardian] rushed toward certainty.
Perhaps this moment was the turning point changing her from the version of herself in the original story.
“…What should I do?”
“Please lead the Magical Girls toward hope in Walpurgis’ Dream.”
“That won’t be easy. Many will resist.”
“If it’s not Fujimoto’s way, but the way of Magical Girls, then it can be done.”
“……”
Sumire slowly nodded and gazed at her lavender-colored Glass Star.
“[Guardian]…”
Sumire murmured while stroking the blue ribbon tied around her finger.
“It’s something my… little sister told me.”
For the first time, her consistently sharp expression softened into a faint smile.
“I couldn’t protect… so now I think I know what I should protect.”
Pat!
Taking a moment to murmur, Sumire quietly disappeared, enveloped in light, back to where she originally was.
“……”
Silence.
Now the only person left in the Central Garden was me.
I slowly walked toward the glass wall.
I messed up.
Now to protect this domain, I must engage in [War] with my life on the line.
The [Revelation], which had shown little interest in humans, and the [Death] and [Plague] that occupy places where humans do not live, weigh on my mind.
[War] will surely come to reclaim this domain where the Magical Girls gather.
‘If I lose, the garden will be a battlefield, and Walpurgis’ Dream will turn into a duel ceremony.’
In June of next year, upon awakening in accordance with the cycle set by the Evil Gods, I had to definitely defeat them.
‘I need companions. Those who can overwhelmingly win [War] and fight against monsters…’
I can no longer look after each of the 1-Star girls sprouting like seedlings.
Having isolated Japan’s Magical Girls from the threat of Fujimoto, I must bloom strong and reputable characters who appeared in the original story and were trustworthy.
Since the born 3-Stars haven’t awakened, I must actively expand the territory at this point, living together with the Magical Girls.
‘In the original story, the protagonist Yuki escaped Japan, heading to the land of [Death] on the northern edge while encountering foreign Magical Girls; I must fold them in as well.’
Since [Magical Girl HAZARD] was a light novel set in Japan, I assumed Japan was where 70% of the Magical Girls reside. But having lived in this world, I began to wonder, ‘Is it really just because it’s Japan?’
The mention of the land where [Corpse of the Goddess] fell also struck a nerve.
I feel uneasy.
I feel fidgety.
I feel uncertain.
There is so much to prepare.
If it would lead to this, I should have resolved my mind faster.
No,
It’s not too late.
Now I just have to do my best to prepare.
From now on, I will win against [War] and save the entire world from monsters.
‘To do that, I must first go to where the [Sea] and [Dream] reside.’
I want to capture the protagonist Yuki first, but as of January next year, there hasn’t been any mention of her in the original story.
‘There are 10 months until [War] awakens, no time to waste on uncertainties.’
The [Sea] and [Dream], who appeared as strong figures from abroad, were the first country of origin the protagonist encountered as she fled to the land of [Death].
I found it amusing.
The choices I turned my back on to take a selfish path now appear before me.
“It seems I can visit my hometown after a long time.”
To the Korea of this world, not the one where my mother resides.