Edo.
Winter Mercenary Company employee dormitory building area. After getting up and washing, Minase Kaori began dressing.
The girl in the mirror put on a white shirt with a blue jumper dress over it. The pleated skirt's straight lines rippled with her twisting waist movements. Then she tied a red necktie at the collar, wearing a school badge on her chest. Overall Western-style design was fitted yet capable, youthful and lively, smart and cute.
Minase Kaori made peace signs at the mirror with a smile, exquisite features showing full beauty, fair skin and proportioned body curves comparable to celebrity artists.
After awakening magical girl power, even looks improved—so wonderful.
"Too bad I can't live at home..."
Winter Mercenary Company made her live alone in employee dormitories under protection pretense, but she'd gradually adapted, and agreed for Miss Pasha's sincere sake.
She looked directly at her black hair with inner red highlights in the mirror—living alone with all expenses covered was great, even having time to dye hair. But after looking a while, Minase Kaori sighed, knowing this was just using entertainment to numb nerves.
The reason for moving to premium employee dormitories was Eagle Mercenary Company's constant pressure demanding people, claiming not letting anyone go.
Pasha transferred her only awakening-stage magical girl to heavily guarded areas as posturing.
Minase Kaori also felt pressure.
Unfortunately, what could a middle school girl do? Just go with the flow, hoping the Salvation Church would act soon... No, those big sisters should have their own affairs—after all, they'd just shone brilliantly on Island 24. Actually she had intuition: currently formed magical girls should be quite rare. Even organizations might not have much combat power.
She shook her head, throwing off those distractions, then sat back at the dining table, turning on TV while eating blueberry jam bread, listening to news reports:
"According to reports, Island 24 defense construction proceeds smoothly. Military forces have achieved recapturing 4 island reefs in Pacific fallen zones. Operation Commander Colonel Li Yingge stated they'll enter rest periods for next offensive rounds."
"Cutting-edge scientific breakthrough! Five-Color Narcissus Medicine launched infection disease special medicine, currently small-scale testing. Product operations officer promises large-scale production next year."
"Media exposed Eagle Company illegal human experimentation scandals—accused party has no response yet."
"Three quarters of 1990 nearly over, current Disaster Beast statistical intensity shows obvious rising trends, causing some unease..."
"Arctic Ocean region attack intensity continues climbing."
"Experts emphasize: conspiracy theories about catastrophes are inadvisable—everyone needn't hoard goods."
Listening made Minase Kaori's head hurt, feeling worldwide warfare. Previously she didn't care about these, but now being involved had to watch news—result was increased anxiety. Can't you reporters pick some good news?
She felt breakfast in her hands wasn't fragrant anymore—or rather, appetite kept declining, seemingly inverse to magic power growth. Even Pasha couldn't detect reasons.
"What do you all think?"
The girl glanced at demons and monsters huddled in room corners. They shook heads cluelessly, even raising hands en masse as if begging for food. Of course, summoning magic products required magic power feeding. Don't look at them eating little—they didn't work daytime either, mostly listless and slacking.
No wonder it's called Hundred Demons Night Parade—these bodyguard gangs all became useless under sunlight.
After overcoming daytime weaknesses they should be stronger, but currently Minase Kaori had no leads, continuing free-range management.
But at least understood some mechanisms:
Summoning magic's most significant characteristic was summoning specific items with autonomous attributes—definitely concrete forms, not summoning "a gust of wind." Additionally, could share senses with summons, even extending mental power scanning range. Moreover, didn't share status with masters—like previous frightened soldiers firing anesthesia darts could be blocked by materialized kappa. Though it exploded on the spot, fortunately Minase Kaori was fine. After consuming magic power for days, the little guy was lively again.
Her mind also held other self-awakened memories like healing spells, hypnosis spells and other basic knowledge. Magic is divided into 8 major types, theoretically no strength differences.
So Sister Hyacinth should be time system magic.
Miracles witnessed worldwide were undeniable. Though officials also had power to kill Boss Disaster Beasts, methods mattered more. Mysterious, unfathomable time magic forcibly raised Salvation Church deterrence—many bad intentions couldn't arise, invisibly reducing troubles.
Minase Kaori inserted a videotape into the TV, screen beginning to play Island 24 real-time battle footage.
Rumble!
Explosion sounds continuously came, accompanied by miraculous powers appearing in turn. Many details ordinary people couldn't understand had new explanations for magical girls:
Undoubtedly, the massive golden dragon should be mythical magic. Because the main body wasn't seen yet emphasized defense and large size, distinguishing from summoning—this was mythical characteristics. Starry spheres belonged to domain systems—surprisingly the user showed enclosure, deformation usage, quite sophisticated. Remaining sky-filling cherry blossoms making volcanic meteors avoid was unknown principle—blind guess causal magic.
Salvation Church was truly talented, one battle bringing out 4 different magic type users.
Definitely to avoid single-type targeting—very thoughtful.
Returning to Hundred Demons Night Parade magic, future development directions were somewhat clearer for Minase Kaori—strengthening quantity scale, individual strength. Someday might utilize specific demon abilities—promising future.
Click!
After the video finished, the girl carefully removed it. Don't look at just minutes—market already hyped this footage to high prices given historical significance.
Just as Minase Kaori stored it, several demon shadows emerged from walls, stammering reports in language only she understood about dormitory building inspection results, even greeting fellow magic talent holder girls—fulfilling "dorm supervisor" responsibilities.
Winter Company discovered she wasn't the only special one—some girls showing hypnosis, telekinesis were similarly housed in dormitories.
That marked single awakening—magic power derivative technique phenomena.
She counted as double awakening—could somewhat apply magic.
Minase Kaori didn't share this intelligence with mercenaries or military, incidentally comforting and reminding these new friends. Perfect for utilizing Hundred Demons Night Parade magic's convenience—over time she was revered as dorm supervisor, gaining Pasha's approval. Everything smooth.
"Today's another peaceful day."
If implementing empathy with Hundred Demons Night Parade demons, then Minase Kaori could communicate with targets through this—after confirming companions were fine through visiting rounds, that worked.
About time for school—delays might miss the bus.
The girl left her apartment room, carefully locking up. Meanwhile, neighbors included several magic talent girls going to other schools—they greeted each other, chatting about "watching TV together tonight," "let kappa perform backflips next time," "can tengu carry people flying" and such.
Potential magical girls were naturally very interested in magic.
Minase Kaori also wanted to chat carefully about this, but she hadn't figured things out either. Perhaps only the Salvation Church had systematic materials.
"Goodbye."
She waved and left the apartment building, bidding farewell to compound guards, atmosphere harmonious.
Winter Mercenary Company premium dormitory buildings were already heavily guarded. After Pasha adjusted security levels, all changed to fully armed personnel—each carrying live ammunition, vigilant expressions. With Minase Kaori's current perception, she could even identify some having fusion surgery traces.
Yesterday 23 people, today 28. Heavy weapons from 4 machine guns to 6, blast shields also increased... Probably the guard room had become an armory.
She frowned slightly, always monitoring armed personnel intelligence.
The girl never forgot agreements with Pasha were cooperation—mercenary companies at most provided protection. This was negotiation results she led magic talent girls to achieve. So mercenary gun muzzles' directions really weren't certain—or was Eagle Company pressure causing increased vigilance? If others coming to your territory made you so tense, that was really ugly. As backing, were they qualified?
Minase Kaori boarded buses to school with doubts, using demons as eyes throughout without finding abnormalities.
School gates.
Bright sunshine, bustling voices—boys and girls rushing to school created peaceful scenes, finally relaxing her.
In a sense, her alma mater counted as the place she met Magical Girl Hyacinth—extraordinary for her, a major life turning point. Who could imagine a middle schooler experiencing these? Truly anime atmosphere.
She strode into classrooms, sitting in back-row window seats, taking out textbooks and pencil cases from her backpack—on top was a photo of herself making heart signs with both hands.
When parting, Sister Hyacinth had also learned this gesture to comfort girls surviving ordeals. For Minase Kaori it held commemorative meaning, representing salvation and knocking on new era doors.
Jade hands gently wiped the photo, storing it properly, then class bells rang.
Minase Kaori entered focus mode, listening carefully—after all, studying hard to improve grades might help magical girls. Couldn't neglect academics.
Salvation Church should count as Fortune 500-level enterprises—with such aspirations, must double efforts.
Time passed minute by minute...
The girl looked at still eloquent teachers and couldn't help yawning—even post-Magical Girl Awakening she felt drowsy. Quite strange.
Wait! Thinking this, Minase Kaori suddenly jolted, body tensing, chilled throughout. Looking around, every student sat properly, listening carefully—gazes bright but all showing the same performance. Different faces yet displaying identical atmospheres—eerie feelings enveloped the entire classroom.
Probably too late. When she noticed abnormalities, drowsiness intensified—eyelids fighting, limbs weak.
Abnormal status skills, yet unavoidable.
Minase Kaori forced herself to look up at the podium. Somehow the teacher had become a golden wavy-haired foreign female student. She adjusted round glasses apologetically, then sighed and chanted:
"Eternal Classroom domain permits entry. Welcome, Chief Quincy—"
Creak!
Classroom doors opened and a camouflage uniformed man entered—bald head wearing masks covering his lower face, muscular body even wind coats couldn't hide.
Quincy stepped onto the podium, patting the girl's forehead while tugging her electronic collar, saying quietly: "Well done, Kelly. But you could have been faster—don't play tricks, or this thing immediately explodes, taking your head. Understand?"
After listening, the girl nodded tremblingly.
He then looked at Minase Kaori, gritting teeth against drowsiness at her desk, directly grabbing her neck and lifting her up.
"Hundred Demons Night Parade magic is interesting—you're a natural scout, even capable of one-person armies. Really hit jackpot."
"...You bastard won't be arrogant long—definitely won't die well."
Quincy had heard threats countless times—simply grating, not one word entering his cold heart. Infamy didn't matter—nothing could change his determination collecting weapons. Only better tools could reduce sacrifices, preventing units being reduced to just him. Magic represented new eras—must be grasped regardless, even if competing with entire North America War Zone.
Just as he prepared knocking out Minase Kaori, classroom corners suddenly swarmed with female ghosts, clawing toward him.
"Scram."
Low roars through face masks like thunder tore summons to pieces—one strike so terrifying, but still bought precious time for the girl.
Minase Kaori rolled back to her seat, pressing alarm devices. Instantly, magic power, mental power, radio waves and different energy types transmitted signals to Winter Company headquarters—surveillance for the first openly awakened magical girl, unexpectedly useful now.
"Little girl, don't get cocky."
Quincy put handcuffs and shackles on her. Upon contact, Minase Kaori discovered they were poisoned—some invisible paralysis force made her magic body lose function.
Really regrettable—blamed herself for neglecting training, otherwise higher-level magical girls should resist this power... But no time to think. Already mentally exhausted, Minase Kaori was about to lose consciousness.
Even at this moment she wore smiles—no matter, general trends were irreversible. Magical girls were torrents sweeping everything.
Suddenly Quincy shouted: "Kelly, immediately cancel domain—"
Crash!
Eternal Classroom glass windows shattered almost simultaneously. The podium girl bled from seven orifices, covering her head while kneeling—undefended domain magic struck by external forces caused severe backlash. She should have reserved some power to avoid 100% backlash, but inexperienced Kelly immediately lost combat ability.
The intruder wore blue nun robes—exactly Pasha.
Clearly in unfamiliar battlegrounds, but battle-hardened instincts made this body instinctively act: self-destruct!
Every nun clone undertook specific tasks—like forced domain intrusion assault hands already exhausted, so her choice was understandable—
Rumble!
Explosion shock waves didn't emphasize destruction but used gentle yet irresistible force pushing Minase Kaori, Quincy, Kelly ten meters away. Surrounding classrooms also became ruins—teachers and students panickedly began evacuating.
After leaving domains, Minase Kaori finally wasn't suppressed by drowsiness—body slightly lighter.
She immediately wanted to retreat, but hands were cuffed behind her back, ankles chained—most importantly, paralysis poison still invaded.
Desperately, the girl rolled off destroyed teaching building edges.
Minase Kaori closed her eyes, preparing to be beaten black and blue, but next moment her body was steadily caught—another Pasha clone had arrived. Though veiled, she still felt approving smiles: "Such quick thinking for a child is excellent enough. Rest quickly."
"Leave it to you..."
However, the next moment a tall figure blocked their path. Gallup waved hello: "This is the chief's order."
"If it were peacetime I'd gladly say welcome back, but this time you need to get lost."
"I won't make it difficult for you two. Gallup only handles guerrilla warfare—to confront you in away games requires me personally." The bald man stood at the building gap ruins, touching his mask, gaze like an eagle that never releases prey once targeted.
"Chief Quincy, don't let things become irreparable."
"Go die—"
No sooner spoken than a force gripped the clone, then exploded into blood mist. Seeing this, Minase Kaori turned pale with fright, but no time to immerse in fear—the next moment Gallup stepped forward, lightly tapping the girl's nose tip. She peacefully fell asleep, at least having good dreams until awakening.
"Last time I seemed to get killed by the Church for failed trafficking. How did I end up as a kidnapper again going in circles? This world is really fucked up."
Before finishing, his peripheral vision suddenly caught black shadows attacking—too fast to metallize his body before directly experiencing intense impact. The force echoing through his organs threw Gallup into the air. The surprise attacker also leaped up—a gorilla-shaped Disaster Beast, but for the face covered by characteristic veils, one might think monsters had invaded Edo.
Too fast, completely unable to resist.
Thud! The top-down attack embedded the man into the ground, covered in wounds, blood spattering.
Gallup completely ignored injuries, instead showing bitter smiles: "Damn, with such strength why didn't you bring this out when dealing with the Abyssal White Whale?"
"Silly boy, the more excellent you are, the more tasks you get. Better to be mediocre, save time for yourself, then make stunning debuts."
The gorilla added another punch, making him see stars.
Nearby Quincy frowned—he'd indeed activated sonic impact just now, yet this clone actually withstood relic power and beat the highly defensive Gallup like this...
This bastard was probably acting. For him, missions ended once Minase Kaori lost resistance—extra work he absolutely wouldn't undertake.
Completely unreliable.
"Pasha, you're quite willing—actually fusing so many Disaster Beast remains into one then removing neural limits. But reserves definitely aren't much."
Almost as he spoke, invisible force enveloped the gorilla composite beast—this was destructive sound waves' next stage characteristic, more like spirit words activated through specific ancient incantations, just very brief so requiring quick battles.
Simultaneously, Eagle Company special forces arrived, carrying Minase Kaori and Kelly onto helicopters.
"Wooden man."
Quincy's recitation became force binding the composite beast, instead leaving support time.
In the few breaths he wasn't paying attention, surrounding buildings already had several clones approaching, along with Winter Company mercenaries aiming rocket launchers at helicopters—both sides entered standoffs.
"Quite the spectacle—actually opposing me to the end. Did you promise some big shot?"
"No agreement can bind me." All Pasha clones said in unison: "If forced to say, I promised this future big shot to protect her."
"Don't worry, I won't harm this child—after all, she's grown up and doesn't need stimulation."
"Your promises are worthless."
The lead nun suddenly spread her arms, then removed her veil—a girl's youthful face inscribed with runes, not destroying beauty but adding transcendent atmosphere. She began singing hymns, all clones clasping hands devoutly singing melodies. Every monastery choir in the city played music—incomparable magic pressure made tens of thousands feel hearts gripped, no one in the school daring to move.
Each beat added purple inscriptions to Pasha's skin, densely interwoven in brilliant light crowning supreme power.
Quincy thought trouble—with his knowledge he naturally understood colleagues' second relic: Sacred Song Inscription Body. One character corresponded to one amplification, upper limits unknown. Further strengthening would definitely cause disaster.
"You're wrong, Pasha. Your biggest mistake was underestimating my determination."
Rumble!
Suddenly explosion clouds rose throughout the city—chaos everywhere.
Not finished—the previously dead Gallup suddenly pushed away the composite beast, putting on masks and spitting clouds. Instantly including the school, an entire street became pitch black with zero visibility. All perception methods encountered fog blockades—both mercenary forces confused.
For Pasha this had no effect, but other opponents existed. Quincy silently removed his mask, revealing mechanical prosthetics covering chin to neck.
Deeper relic fusion represented higher-level power. Sure enough, the next moment roars stirred storms sweeping all directions.
Sky darkened, thunder rolled, ground churned and tore, lifting houses, vehicles, pipes—destructive power worthy of top-tier large-scale attack relics. Seeing this, Pasha had to stop singing or her prepared choirs and special clones would all be scrapped.
Helicopters sped away.
Unfortunately only she could see them, and cities trapped in electromagnetic storms could hardly deploy intercepting forces—sending fighter jets would mostly be futile.
Making such commotion fearlessly definitely had strong support.
"I should be viewed as pro-magical girl faction, or pro-Salvation Church. With support comes opposition—political entities excluding new forces have begun acting."
So she ultimately didn't pursue with full strength, being somewhat constrained. Holy Relics had to follow rules—smoothing background forces mattered more than chaotic battlefield fighting.
Wait!
"Why give up so easily while convincing myself? Rule relics..." Pasha touched her forehead's fine sweat.
Just hesitating, demons handed over a photo of Minase Kaori making heart signs, with a line written on back.