Chapter 19: Cleaning rather than fighting.

Seoul had become a battlefield.

Sirens blared incessantly from speakers, and screams erupted from every corner.

All terrestrial channels halted regular programming, switching to emergency broadcasts.

[We’ve heard gates opened almost simultaneously in multiple locations. What’s the situation on the ground?]

The screen cut to a reporter as the anchor spoke.

[Gangnam Station is already overrun by monsters. Thanks to the Gate Detection Agency’s swift response, damage has been minimized, but it’ll take time to stabilize.]

The reporter stood in the heart of a bustling district, now eerily empty of people and cars.

Police barricades lined the area, with magical girls fighting fiercely beyond them.

The camera barely captured a fraction of the chaos.

[We hear explosions intermittently—are bombs being used?]

[No, those are from magic.]

[We’ve been told the number of magical girls deployed depends on the monsters’ rank and quantity. How many are out there now?]

[At least ten have been confirmed.]

[Won’t all of them need to mobilize like last time?]

[With gates opening in other areas, that might be tough. In times like these—]

One hurdle after another.

Just when it seemed the worst was over, another wave of monsters struck.

One trait of gates is they’re more likely to appear where people gather.

Seoul, packed with jobs and infrastructure, has one of the highest population densities globally.

Including the broader capital region, monster hotspots are predictable.

But the capital area spans over 10,000 square kilometers.
Even with more magical girls, handling such an emergency perfectly is near impossible.

“The gates really opened…”

The previous letter only gave a date, but this time it specified the hour.

This meant the organization had sensors more precise than the Detection Agency’s—or could deliberately open gates.

Reaper Mors pulled out the Dark Magical Gem.

Its crystal had grown murkier.
Now fully black, it oozed sinister magic.

“There was no mention of a time bomb…!”

Left alone, it might activate on its own.

What happens at critical mass is unknown.
Scarlet Lily said to use it ASAP.

But at the designated time and place.

“I don’t know! I just followed orders!”

Activating the Dark Gem, the gate before her rippled violently.

Zzzzt!

A sound like sparking electricity.

Cracks tore through space vertically.

Over five were visible.
Across a wider area, likely many times that.

“Groooar!”

“Grrrr!”

Monsters emerged from the rifts.

Ranks E to D.
Not strong, but their numbers demanded team hunting.

Reaper Mors bolted from the scene.

“Why me…?”

She thought being a double agent just meant spying, not using the Dark Gem.

Now that she’d done it, cold sweat dripped.

Am I this spineless? Acting tough like I’d join an evil group.

She let out a bitter laugh.

“…Scarlet Lily, let’s see what you’re planning.”

Not entirely honest with herself, Reaper Mors silently cheered.

Hoping the nation’s revered magical girl could resolve this crisis.

When it rains, it pours.
The Magical Girl Support Team was in chaos.

“New gates opening? There was only one in that area earlier!”

Taehyun Kim raised his voice at a subordinate’s report.

“Twenty-three more appeared. New monsters are emerging, and evacuation alerts are out.”

“Twenty-three without warning…”

Even normally, this many gates don’t open.

A disaster like an ambush.
Even the usually calm Taehyun felt a headache coming.

“Should we redirect magical girls there?”

“Only contact those in calmed areas. Don’t push too hard.”

“Understood.”

Taehyun stared at the massive wall monitor.

A map marked with magical girls’ and monsters’ positions.

Monster signals had dropped, giving brief relief, but now spiked again.

“Initial response was solid…”

The support team hadn’t been slacking.

After past failures, they’d overhauled the detection system and checked it meticulously.

Or so they thought.

“…Angelic Luna?”

A call came to Taehyun’s phone.

A magical girl inactive for a while.

Why now?

“Magical Girl Support Team, Taehyun Kim.”

“Uh… it’s Angelic Luna. I need to talk…”

Tension laced her voice.

“Sorry, we’re busy. If it’s not urgent, keep it short.”

“It’s urgent! It’s about the duplicated gates…”

Taehyun’s eyebrow twitched.

“Duplicated?”

“Exactly. Uh, a video might explain faster.”

After a brief talk, Taehyun pocketed his phone.

“What’s up?” a subordinate asked.

“Nothing. Keep working.”

Angelic Luna confessed recent events and her actions.

Not something to brush off, but no time to dwell.

“Huh?”

A subordinate’s voice made his heart sink.

She stared blankly at the monitor.

“What’s wrong?”

“Monster signals are vanishing! Crazy fast!”

True to her words, the surging monster signals plummeted.

“Who’s there?”

“No idea. No magical girls have arrived yet…”

Everyone in the support room locked eyes on the monitor.

“Did they turn off GPS?”

“Maybe, but…”

The speed was astonishing.

Nearly 100 monsters dropped to half in moments.

An unknown figure tore through the city, erasing signals in their path.

Not fighting—cleaning.
Like a high-powered vacuum sucking up debris.

“There’s one magical girl not linked with us.”

“Oh!”

Taehyun’s words clicked with the team.

Her position wasn’t on the monitor since she didn’t use the app.

“All monsters in the sector eliminated!”

Cheers filled the support room.

A smile finally cracked Taehyun’s stern face.

“Scarlet Lily… I knew she was something else, but this?”

I prefer Scarlet Beam for a few reasons.

First, it’s reliably strong and simple.

As a basic spell, its max power isn’t top-tier, but it’s perfect for small fry.
Unless it’s a boss monster, Scarlet Beam’s unmatched.

It’s clean.

Holy magic vaporizes monsters.
No gruesome corpses left behind.
Kids are watching; no need for gory techniques.

Lastly, it’s flashy.

Not for attention, but the cooler the effect, the better.
It’s fun to watch and use.
Quintessentially magical girl.

“Kyaaa!”

“Groooar!”

Firing Scarlet Beams mid-flight, death cries echoed.

No time to stop and fight.
Evacuation’s done here, but if monsters scatter, cleanup’s a mess.

“Phew, done.”

A glance showed no monsters left.

No civilian casualties.
Time attack success.

“Worked up a sweat.”

I had Reaper Mors use the Dark Magical Gem.

In an empty area.
I prepared thoroughly to wipe out the monsters before they could rampage.

Reckless, maybe, but I had a basis.

Last time showed the volume of monsters.

I figured I could handle it.

I also hoped to spot the mastermind, but no suspicious activity nearby.

I thought they’d be watching Reaper Mors, but they’re cautious.

Tough break, but oh well.

Time to check on Reaper Mors.

“Angel Slash!”

A white sword aura cleaved a monster in two.

The caster was a girl in black.

“Go, unnie!”

“Her magical girl outfit’s cool!”

“Keep it up!”

Cheered by kids, she kept fighting, quickly clearing the monsters.

“Even as Reaper Mors, your skills are still angelic?”

“Eek! Don’t sneak up like that!”

Reaper Mors jumped in place, startled.

“Thought you’d be slacking, but you’re working hard.”

“Obviously! I don’t always just watch!”

Her sudden diligence was amusing, but a young girl approached her.

“Are you a magical girl too? What’s your name?”

“I’m Reaper… no, Angel… uh…”

Embarrassed to say a villainous name to a kid, she hesitated.

Then, clenching her fist, she declared:

“I’m the reaper of monsters, Reaper Mors! Remember it!”

She struck a pose with an improvised, cool line.

The kids clapped.

That’s how she rolls, huh?