Raise Magical Girls and Leave Them With Eternal Regret

10. Magical Girl Firebird

“Hmm…”

Even trying her best to stand up, Wuyue found herself completely unable to do so.

On the contrary, because of her reckless attempt to escape, more and more red seeped out from behind her.

“Is it… already hopeless?”

Watching the giant bat draw closer step by step, Wuyue seemed to glimpse her past in a daze.

Is it a lantern show? She pondered in her heart.

“So those things in the animation… were all real, huh…”

But… to be honest, she didn’t want to see this thing.

Wuyue closed her eyes.

Seeing this meant she was not far from death.

“If only miracles were real… that would be great.”

It might sound a bit ridiculous, but at this moment, she suddenly hoped for a “miracle” to appear, even though she had never believed in such things before.

Now, she wished for those “miracles” from the stories to come and save her from death.

After all, she didn’t want to die.

Whether it was her past self or her current self, the thought remained the same.

Because she had promised her grandmother to live well, and promised Youyu to do what she was supposed to do during this time and lead a good life.

However, in reality, “miracles” do not appear, and the final result is the most “realistic” death.

Really… is there no one who can save her?

“Sure enough… just like Youyu said, I really am a fool who disregards everything for others…”

She mocked herself in her heart.

In the end, at this most critical moment, there was no “miracle” to appear, and no one to help her.

But… it’s not so bad; at least she saved that little girl.

So, even if she died, she wouldn’t have too much regret, right?

The only ones I feel sorry for are Grandma and Youyu…

“I’ll *kill you*!”

“?!”

However, just as she accepted her own death, accepted that she was about to be killed by the giant bat, a powerful and eloquent voice suddenly rang out!

That voice was so familiar, filled with an anger that ordinary people could hardly imagine.

With a sudden jolt, Wuyue opened her eyes and saw that person—it was Youyu! At that moment, he was holding a fire extinguisher he had somehow acquired, rushing towards her at an incredible speed.

He then pressed the lever, and white gas spewed from the nozzle, mixed with some unknown purple gas, charging towards the giant bat’s face!

“?! Hiss!”

The giant bat, after getting sprayed in the face with the gas, suddenly let out a terrifying roar and began to retreat, seemingly trying to escape!

Seizing the opportunity while the giant bat was backing away, Youyu didn’t hesitate. He dropped the fire extinguisher, turned his back to Wuyue, crouched down, and urgently said:

“Get on! You’re hurt, right? We need to leave now!”

“Youyu?! Why are you… No, this isn’t the time to talk about that…”

Looking at Youyu’s tense expression, Wuyue, though her thoughts were chaotic, knew what needed to be done. She shook her head, doing her best to stay conscious despite the pain.

After telling herself dozens of times in her mind: I must survive.

Enduring the pain, she struggled to place her arm over his shoulder, and he grabbed her legs, hoisting her onto his back.

Once Wuyue was on his back, Youyu didn’t hesitate any longer. He glanced at the giant bat, which was gradually recovering, and instantly turned to run in the opposite direction.

As he ran, he comforted Wuyue, who was on his back:

“Don’t worry! Although I don’t know what that beast really is… I won’t let it hurt us.”

“Both you and I must survive!”

“…Mm.”

“We must… survive…”

“…”

Had they escaped death?

Facing the rain, feeling the sound of the wind, Wuyue thought:

“Miracles,” had they really appeared? Did they truly exist?

Had someone really saved her?

“Miracles…”

If Youyu was her miracle.

Then let her keep believing!

“…”

—

And just after they finished speaking, the giant bat that had recovered was staring at them, its eyes suddenly turning red as it spread its enormous wings.

Then, with a powerful flap of its massive wings, it soared to a height of over 40 meters in an instant.

The previous attacks… were merely its playful antics.

Now, it was time to get serious!

————

Thus, after the giant bat exerted its strength.

“Reality,” it once again…

Shattered the so-called “miracle.”

“Ugh!”

On the now deserted street.

Invisible sound waves, like blades, shot out from the mouth of the giant bat above, spinning rapidly and precisely, slicing into Yuyou’s right ankle.

A strong will could not withstand the pain of the body, and Yuyou understood this all too well.

So, after enduring dozens of injuries, both big and small, he finally could not hold on any longer and collapsed forward onto the ground.

Before falling, he flipped his body, repositioning Wuyue, who he had been cradling, back to where she had been, allowing her to use his body as a cushion and avoid injury.

“Yuu—”

“Pfft—!”

After Yuyou fell to the ground, red blood gushed from various wounds on his body, pooling on the ground, washed away by the heavy rain.

Some of it… splattered onto Wuyue.

The immense pain coursed through his body, forcing him to close his eyes.

“No… no! Yuyou! Yuyou! Don’t fall down… I’m begging you, I’m begging you… wake up, wake up?!!! You’re acting so strange… really strange?!”

Kneeling beside him, cradling him in her arms, Wuyue, with her hair in disarray, cried out, her voice hoarse and trembling.

Now, not only was Yuyou, who lay on the ground, in a dire state, but she was not faring any better.

Her voice had turned raspy, shaking with emotion.

After all, following a long chase, her initial “hope” had gradually been extinguished.

Just moments ago, during their escape, when the giant bat began its ranged attacks, Yuyou had cradled her in his arms to prevent her from suffering further harm.

The cost was… all the injuries were borne by him alone.

So, she watched as blood continuously sprayed from Yuyou’s back, heard his cries of pain, and saw his complexion worsen, all while desperately pleading for him to let her go, only to be met with his repeated refusals, a cycle that never seemed to end.

That time was the hardest to endure; despair and guilt filled her mind, making her feel nauseous.

The “miracle” was shattered, and “hope” turned into despair.

Until now… they had received the worst outcome—

He was going to die because of himself.

“Please… I…”

“I don’t want you to die… I don’t want you to die!!!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! It’s all my fault! My fault, my fault, my fault, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Wuyue cried out in an extremely humble, almost pleading tone.

Even though she knew it was already unlikely.

After all, “miracles” and such… those things simply don’t exist!!

This time, it was her selfishly wished “miracle” that led to Youyu’s death.

This time, it was her foolishness in acting on her own that led to Youyu’s death.

Everything, everything, was her fault!

If the outcome was destined to be this way from the very beginning, then it would be better if she just died.

At least then, he wouldn’t be involved.

“…”

“…You’re not at fault, Wuyue.”

At that moment, Youyu struggled to open his eyes, looking at her face, wet with either rain or tears, and forced a smile as he said:

“Still… I’m the useless adult here…”

“Even something as simple as ‘staying alive,’ I can’t manage to do.”

“…”

“So… will you listen to my last wish, okay?”

“Stay alive… with all your might.”

“I will also do everything I can to buy you time.”

“…”

“No…”

She didn’t want to do that.

“If it’s your fault, if you’re useless…”

I hate adults like you who don’t keep their promises the most.

So, I don’t want to, and absolutely won’t, leave you all alone.

“Then I’ll have to lock you by my side, even if you die, you can’t leave…”

“…”

“So, is that your wish?”

A voice emanating from deep within her asked this question.

And her answer was—

“…Yes.”

“…I see, I understand.”

“The longer, stronger, and heavier the wish, the more powerful the force it unleashes.”

“…You are qualified to become a magical girl.”

As that mysterious voice faded away.

In the next moment, a giant bird engulfed in flames suddenly appeared from the sky, piercing through the chest of the giant bat, igniting its body.

“Roar?!!!”

Amidst the giant bat’s anguished wails, the giant bird pounced on Wuyue, transforming into a massive fireball that enveloped both Wuyue and Youyu, isolating them from the outside world.

“Boom——!”

Two minutes later, when the fireball exploded!

What appeared before the giant bat was—

A magical girl, Firebird, glaring at it with eyes full of hatred!

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