Chapter 7: Proof.

What did she just say…?

“Treat you like an older sister?”

When I asked, Yusia calmly sipped her coffee.

“I’m older, aren’t I? It feels a bit weird saying this to my savior, but I’d like you to respect that. Even though magical girls call each other casually, we act normal when untransformed.”

I don’t know that tradition.
I can’t even untransform.

That’s not the point right now.

“Why are you the older one?”

I heard the third generation debuted five years ago.

In reality, I should be older.

“Magical girls typically contract in their teens. Sixth generation or not, you’re probably late teens at most.”
“I’m first generation. Scarlet Lily is just a new name.”
“Scarlet’s dead.”
“I told you, I went to the demon world.”
“It’s an interesting story, but I can’t believe it. Are you saying Spica lied?”

Oh, right…

No body was found, but it’s public knowledge that Scarlet died in the final battle.
I asked Spica to cover it up.

During our first meeting, Frozen Princess thought I was a transformed monster.

Meticulous, or rather, her suspicious nature seems well-known among fans.

The word of a living Spica would be more trusted than a dead Scarlet.

“I didn’t want to shatter their innocence, so I hid the truth.”

I decided to be honest.

We won against our nemesis, but I lost a teammate.

Burning with rage, I jumped into the closing gate and spent ten years in the demon world.

“People found hope in us. I couldn’t say I stormed the enemy’s lair for revenge.”

I planned to take down every monster.
At least until my life ran out.

In the end, I failed.

“…You’re really Scarlet?”
“Yeah, I’m Scarlet.”

Did my honest confession finally get through?

I thought so, but it was a bit different.

“What’s Scarlet’s favorite food?”

A quiz out of nowhere.

“Uh… strawberry cake?”

When magical girl hype was peaking, a kid cheering for me asked the same question.

I avoided saying something like spicy chicken stew to keep it wholesome.

“Correct. Next question: what food does Scarlet hate?”
“Broccoli.”
“What’s Scarlet’s hobby?”
“Walking, I think.”
“Why so unsure?”
“Tastes change with age.”
“Ugh… correct.”

She looked frustrated for some reason.

Then, she hit me with a high-difficulty quiz.

“When did Scarlet debut by defeating her first monster?”

Isn’t that too hard…?

“I don’t remember exactly.”
“You don’t know that monumental day?”
“It was the day I was forced into a contract, more like bad luck.”
“Scarlet never said that.”

Of course not.
I became an idol to countless kids without realizing it.

I had to skip the depressing stuff.

“You know a lot about me. Are all magical girls like this?”
“No, I’m just a Scarlet fan.”
“A fan…?”

Yusia nodded.

“Watching Scarlet made me dream of being a magical girl. And a miracle happened.”

She became Frozen Princess, carrying on the legacy.

Contracting with the mascot was an honor.

“I still have fans.”

I was genuinely happy.

Seeing my used figurine sold for cheap had bummed me out.

“Speaking of.”

Maybe I could prove I’m Scarlet.

But do I have to…?

“What’s wrong?”

Yusia looked puzzled as I hesitated.
…Should I go for it?

If Yusia’s really my fan, it might be worth it.
Embarrassing enough to want to die, but I steeled myself.

“Watch closely.”

I stood up.

“With the light of justice, I’ll deliver judgment! Magical Girl Scarlet, appear!”

I struck a dynamic pose and shouted.

A classic anime catchphrase, or “entrance line.”
Similar to what magical girl streamers use as openers.

Yusia’s jaw dropped.

…I want to die.
The stares from other customers on this floor sting.

Say something, please.

“It’d be cool to have something like this, so Stella, Spica, and I brainstormed it.”

Back then, I was a teen physically and mentally.

It was so cringey we scrapped it immediately, so only true fans might know it exists.

“I finally… met you.”

Tears fell.

Yusia was crying.

“What’s wrong? You okay!?”

Panicking, I didn’t know what to do. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

“You’re exactly like before. It’s really… you, Scarlet…”
“Yeah, it’s me. So stop crying.”
“I’m sorry for doubting you. So sorry… wahhh!”

She started sobbing loudly.

The cool-headed Frozen Princess, showing an unexpected side.

Is staying quiet the right move here?

After a few minutes, she calmed down.

“I believe you.”

That was her first word.

“That I’m Scarlet?”
“Yes. No matter what others say, I’ll believe you. I’ll help you reveal the truth!”

Yusia was a diehard fan, apparently.

Aside from saving her life, she wanted to call out a fake.

“You don’t have to do that.”
“Why not?”
“I’m planning to retire quietly anyway.”
“Retire…?”

Scarlet died ten years ago.

Reincarnation stories can be fun, but I didn’t feel suited for it.

“The juniors seem dedicated, and things feel fine as is.”

The era of desperate battles is over.
Compared to my active days, it’s much more peaceful.

There’s been some commotion, but it’s stabilizing.

When things settle, that’ll be my cue to step off the stage.

But first.

“I have one favor to ask.”

*

We’re on the rooftop of a tall building.

“Armo should come here.”

The blue-haired magical girl.
Yusia, transformed as Frozen Princess, spoke with a tense face.

“Didn’t we say no formal speech between teammates?”
“Oh, being with the esteemed Scarlet made me slip…”

Esteemed, huh.

That’s a bit much for teammates.

“Why do you need Armo?”

I asked Frozen Princess to call the mascot.

For some reason, my old contact methods didn’t work.

“I have some questions.”

It felt like asking permission, which I didn’t love, but if I’m retiring, I should inform the mascot.

Soon, a white, cat-like creature flew through the sky.

“You called me, mo?”

That distinctive “mo” at the end.

It’s the Armo I know, but… it looks different?

“Who are you?”

I echoed what Frozen Princess said to me on my first day back.

“I’m Armo, mo.”
“You look different from the one I knew.”
“Maybe you met the first or second-gen Armo, mo?”
“What’s that mean?”
“The previous Armos returned to the celestial realm, mo. I’m the third-gen, in charge of this area, mo.”

Apparently, mascots have generations too.

“Can’t you call the one that went back?”
“That means they’re dead.”

Frozen Princess added from the side.

“Dead…?”
“There was a corrupted second-gen magical girl. She held a deep grudge against the mascot and took cruel revenge.”

Unfair contracts and harsh treatment.
A poor girl who couldn’t handle it caused trouble.

Guess she got divine punishment.

I cursed them plenty, but now that they’re dead, I feel a bit bad…

“By the way, the one who sent the second-gen Armo back was a fourth-gen magical girl, mo. Even-numbered generations always cause issues, so I’m scared to contract with the sixth-gen, mo…”

Armo shivered.

I feel for it, but with what they’ve done, consider it karma.

“Tell me what you know about me.”
“I’d love to, but I know nothing, mo. I’ve got more questions for you, mo.”
“Like what?”
“I’ve never heard of self-awakening, mo. How’d you make a contract, mo?”

They didn’t even get a proper handover.

Well, if they were killed, when would there be time?

“I’m not telling. I really hate mascots.”
“That’s harsh, mo!”
“Tell me where Spica is, and I’ll consider it.”

The only surviving teammate.
I want her to know I’m alive.

But her address and phone number had changed.

“I don’t know, mo… Spica vanished shortly after the second-gen contracted, mo.”

Back then, the mascot was second-gen Armo.
So this guy in front of me knows nothing.

Useless.

“Then we’re done. Stay well, and let’s never meet again, tteokkeol—”

I stopped mid-sentence.

Ten years is no short time.
Countless slang terms came and went.

Even nicknames for cats changed, and “tteokkeoluk” is pretty outdated.

A lot’s come up since…

“I’ll do things my way, so keep that in mind.”

I thought about teasing it but decided against it.

A magical girl should use beautiful, dignified words.