CH 49

Beautiful Sunny Day

Translated by LyraDhani

Edited by LyraDhani

Tsugumi took off his soot-stained sunglasses, inserted them into the pocket in his chest, and pulled the hood deeper over his head.

In fact, it would be more convenient to wear sunglasses to hide his face, but it would be bad for his vision. If it got out of hand, everything would be ruined.

Then Tsugumi squatted down on the spot and took off his sneakers and socks. When he transformed to use Invisibility, his body inevitably became one size smaller. The clothes were not an option at this point, but if he ran and fall down in shoes that didn’t fit, he’d be blindsided.

…As for the side effect, he would just have to put up with them. The side effects for Tsugumi – intense nausea and terror that ran through his body – were heinous. But that didn’t mean he’d die. If that was what it really took, he’d endure it all the more.

Mibu took off her clothes to let the heat escape, and Suzushiro peeled off her own fingernails to suppress sleepiness. If he were to complain about a little bit of nausea, he would be a laughing stock.

–In the end, I’m not that different from them.

Thinking so, Tsugumi smiled bitterly.

It could be for someone important – God, or for yourself. For the sake of that special someone, he would not hesitate to take a step into a dangerous place. Tsugumi understood this noble mentality. The only thing that mattered was whether or not he could carry out that intention.

Tsugumi sat up quickly and held the sword in the opposite hand. Then he took a deep breath to calm his mind and stared at the back of the Ogre’s head.

“Exterminate the Ogre, huh–I am not Momotaro.”

As he jokingly said that, Tsugumi smiled a little and started running. A moment later, Tsugumi’s image blurred and instantly vanished from the scene. He had activated his skill.

“–Ku, kuh.”

The discomfort came immediately after the transformation, as if worms were crawling under his skin. Desperately enduring it, Tsugumi ran along the path of the cold flame. The distance to the Ogre was about a hundred meters. It felt like an eternity.

–The sensations in his body, his tender nerves, were messed up. If it weren’t for this situation, he would have thrown up everything in his stomach and shamelessly rolled around on the ground.

The only reason he could endure such torture was because Chidori was waiting ahead. Only the fear of losing her sustained his spirit.

Twisting the spasms of his body through will alone, he continued to run, paying no mind to the soles of his feet that had been cut by gravels. Only the faintest trace of blood, dotted with spots, marked his path.

–Five meters to go.

A few more steps and he would be able to reach the Ogre’s head. The flame of death had not disappeared yet. Tsugumi restrained his feeling of urgency and looked for the right moment.

The moment the Ogre swung its only remaining left arm toward Chidori, he slid around to the Ogre’s right side. At the same time, the skill and transformation were released, but once he reached this position, the Ogre could no longer react to Tsugumi’s actions.

The flames around the Ogre’s neck were roaring and burning. With a prayer, Tsugumi took one more step and swung the kodachi at the wound on its neck.

–The blade sank into the hard flesh. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a surprised look on Chidori’s face.

Tsugumi smiled to reassure her and put strength into his hand. –Now, Chidori wouldn’t have to fight anymore.

“This is it! It’s the end!”

The blade was thrust deep with a forceful sideways cleave. Blood like reddish-black sludge splattered around the area, and the Ogre let out a shrill roar. By all accounts, it was a fatal wound. –Probably a final decisive blow.

“Gee, gaaaahhhh!”

As the Ogre writhed in pain, its body crumbles roughly from the end.

–Ah, it’s finally over now.

Just as Tsugumi turned away to leave the scene with a staggered body in relief–the Ogre threw the gold bar at him with its last ounce of strength. Involuntarily, he opened his eyes wide.

“Huh?! wha-“

Tsugumi quickly jumped sideways to avoid it, but even that couldn’t stop the impact. The thorns on the bar snagged his forehead, and a lot of blood spurted out. Tsugumi rolled around on the ground and clicked his tongue loudly.

–Damn, I let my guard down.

He stared abominably at the place where the Ogre had been, but there was nothing left besides a large lump of ash. Only the white, murky, angry-looking head was staring at Tsugumi. No matter how irregular this Ogre was, it was not likely to get up again. Tsugumi had won.

“Tsugumi! Are you okay?!”

Chidori rushed over to Tsugumi who was lying on his side with limbs stretched out. The Magical Girl attire was already undressed and he was back to wearing normal clothes.

Chidori took out a handkerchief and gently pressed it to Tsugumi’s forehead. The white handkerchief instantly turned red, and the severity of the bleeding was obvious.

But there was nothing to worry about. The gold bar only grazed him and did not hit him directly on the head. The heavy bleeding made it look like a serious injury, but in reality, it wasn’t so different from a scrape.

“It hurts, be more gentle.  …Don’t worry, even a small wound to the forehead can cause a lot of bleeding.”

Tsugumi said to Chidori as he raised her aching body. The blood had gotten into his left eye and it hurt like a tingle.

“Why did you do such a reckless thing…!”

Tears streamed down her face as she approached Tsugumi. The expression on her face was a complex mixture of relief, confusion, and apology. Chidori probably never thought that Tsugumi would come here.

And as a result, it was Tsugumi who had cleaned up her mess. –If she had properly defeated Ogre, then Tsugumi would not have been injured. She probably thought like that.

“That line, I don’t want to hear it from Chidori.”

Tsugumi exhaled quietly and looked straight into Chidori’s eyes.

The barrier was being lifted and a rustling sound could be heard in the distance, but he had to say this before anyone else arrived.

“Chidori made a contract with God to become a Magical Girl, right?”

“…Yes.”

“I understand that Chidori was trying to help me. –But still, I didn’t want you to become a Magical Girl…!!”

He clutched Chidori’s shoulder as if to cling to her. The handkerchief fell off and the blood dripping from his forehead soaked his clothes.

‘I don’t like it because you promised you wouldn’t leave me. –You can’t be a Magical Girl. You’re definitely not suited for it. You’ve learned that from the fight, haven’t you? You’re not cut out for this, so get out of this contract immediately. …Please.”

When he told her so, Chidori shook her head with a sad look on her face.

“I know I’m not good enough as a Magical Girl. But I can’t decide on my own. I have to fulfill the contract.”

At Chidori’s answer, Tsugumi bit his lip in frustration. He knew she was going to say that. Tsugumi, likewise, was bound by a contract with Bell. Unless God canceled the contract, the fate of the battle couldn’t be escaped. And because he knew that, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

“Tsugumi, I’m sorry. …I am really sorry.”

Chidori put her hands on Tsugumi’s back as if to hold him. –Her hand was trembling. Warm drops of water dripped down her neck. She must be crying.

…Even Tsugumi knew. It’s not that she’s a bad person. It wasn’t Chidori’s fault. She had no choice but to follow the path of a Magical Girl because Tsugumi was lacking.

“…Wrong. It’s wrong. It was all my fault.”

He gently laid his head on Chidori’s shoulder. He didn’t want her to see his pathetic face, covered in blood and on the verge of tears. His vision was distorted from the loss of blood, but he couldn’t lose consciousness just yet.

-Tsugumi hadn’t told Chidori the important thing.

“I should have said this first. But my head was all messed up and I could only say terrible things, I couldn’t help myself. –You know, Chidori.”

“What is it?”

“–Thank you for saving me. Thanks to Chidori, I’m alive now”

At his words, Chidori’s shoulders trembled. She clung to him tightly and sobbed as if she couldn’t bear it.

“Hu, uh, huaa, I’m so glad that Tsugumi didn’t die…!”

Chidori cried as if her cords were broken. Even Tsugumi, which had been through a fair share of hardships, was at his limit. It was a miracle that Chidori, an ordinary girl, was able to endure this harsh situation until now.

The back that was being squeezed tight felt a little painful. But the pain made him realize that he was alive.

Just as Tsugumi was afraid of losing Chidori, she, too, was afraid that Tsugumi would die. The feeling was surely the same.

“Hey!! Are you guys safe!? Answer me!!”

From a distance, someone dressed like an ambulance crew called out. Apparently, the rescue had finally arrived. Tsugumi gently raised one hand and gave a small wave.

–Ah, it’s finally over.

He looked up at the sky, letting out a sigh of relief. –It was a beautiful blue sky, not a cloud in sight.