Episode 13 : Troublesome errands keep popping up in quick succession

　Just like that, it was about 30 minutes after Koyomi and I took a selfie that all the special class magical girls were together.

　On the official account, there were mainly reactions such as ``Cute'' and ``What store is this?'', but when I thought about it, I realized that the address of this store was not listed in the profile section, it was ``Maki-ya''. account.

　I wonder if it's okay if it's the official account of a coffee shop, but I guess it's fine since they're not doing it for profit.

　Aside from me, I hope that those who are attracted to Koyomi's maid outfit will do their best to reach this store that is literally a hideout.

　Mayu finished checking the ingredients, Yukina, who didn't have anything special to do, did her usual rounds of social games, and Hazuki checked the flyers she was planning to hand out today.

　If you ask me if these peaceful days will continue today as they were yesterday, unfortunately the answer is no.

　The stern look on the store's manager's face, the colonel, who came in through the front door instead of the back door just before opening time, spoke volumes about this more than anything else.

"Manager, it's too late for an executive to come to work."

"I'm sorry, but I have a little busy schedule at MAGIA... That's why we're temporarily closed today. Chihaya Saijo is on duty at the door. It would be helpful if you could close the door."

"I affirm and understand."

　The fact that a store is declared to be temporarily closed even before it opens is proof that work behind the scenes is still going on.

　I flipped the wooden sign on the front doorknob from ``OPEN'' to ``CLOSE'', wrote the words ``Temporarily closed today'' on a piece of copy paper, and taped it to the small window with sellotape.

　The fact that there is no information or notice that a special state of emergency has been declared means that it is not something related to critical beasts, but rather a dark side job carried out by magical girls...or rather, knowing this event, I knew it was bound to happen.

"It would be bad if this story leaked outside, so please everyone change into uniforms and gather in the briefing room."

"roger that! "

　After saluting the colonel in unison, we ran toward the locker room.

　Another mission that the magical girl takes on is not only the subjugation of the unknown threat of the critical beast.

　It may be no different from the subjugation of critical beasts in the sense that it involved national security, but in terms of the darkness behind it, it was on a whole other level.

◇◆◇

"Now that we're all here, let's get straight to the point. Regarding this mission, it's related to the 'Akatsuki no Sora', a terrorist organization marked by both the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defense."

　The colonel said this while projecting the image from the projector onto the screen.

　The screen shows records of the atrocities they committed in the past and how magical girls prevented them from happening.

　Akatsuki no Sora, an extremist terrorist organization. Coincidentally, it was an armed group that appeared around the same time as the appearance of magical girls, and they were a nuisance who were active under the slogan of ``recovering the true Japan'' or something like that.

"If it's related to terrorist organizations, wouldn't a second-class magical girl be in charge?"

　As Yukina pouted, the dark side work of magical girls includes attacking such extremist terrorist organizations and anti-social forces.

　Simply because the magic barrier possessed by magical girls can easily repel bullets.

　The reality is that magical girls are also sent out for interpersonal missions because it is more reasonable to send in magical girls than to send in special forces because the survival rate is higher and more reasonable.

　However, as Yukina said, this is a case that is exclusively handled by 3rd to 2nd class magical girls, and we, who are special class, are rarely approached.

　──On the other hand, the fact that this story came to us means that the colonel has come to us with an extremely troublesome matter.

"Oh, that's right."

"Is that so?"

"That's right, Mayu Nanri. In fact, four third-class magical girls and one second-class magical girl were involved in this project."

　In response to Mayu's question, the colonel replied in a tone that belied his usual easy-going, somewhat elusive demeanor.

　That's what past tense means.

　Did they die in the line of duty, or was they seriously injured? I would like it to be the latter if possible, but the fact that they skipped the 1st class and came to talk to us, special class, makes it much more likely that it's the former.

"Simply put, this case is an unprecedented situation since the inauguration of the secret agency MAGIA. Did you watch the news yesterday?"

"If I recall correctly, there was a subway derailment accident and the rails were severely distorted, so it will take more than a month to recover..."

　Hazuki answers the question from the colonel.

　Ah, that's right. On the surface, the story went something like that.

　It's the Ministry of Defense, MAGIA, and public security. It's a cover story concocted by three public authorities working together, and it's not the truth.

"Actually, it was terrorism. Akatsuki no Sora uploaded a statement of responsibility to a video site, but they deleted it as soon as it was uploaded."

　I don't know how much money is going on behind the scenes, but the existence of magical girls is an extremely powerful diplomatic card that can put pressure on foreign-owned companies.

　It's an extreme opinion, but if the five of us special-class magical girls come together, we can neutralize even intercontinental ballistic missiles, and even more powerful ones.

　On the other hand, in a large city or a small country, it would be easy to turn an entire area into vacant land.

　That's why the existence of magical girls is strictly under the control of the state.

　Putting that aside, whether it's unreasonable or not, the fact that something happened that had to be hidden behind a hastily created cover story inevitably means that it's an issue that could shake the country. .

　If you compare it with the previous story, the answer is simple; the truth of this case is that a magical girl was killed in the line of duty or seriously injured by a terrorist organization.

"...That's...how do you say that..."

``...The other day, two third-class magical girls who responded to a threat of a shooting targeting the subway were killed by ``Akatsuki no Sora.''''

　Fortunately, the body was recovered.

　The colonel shrugged his shoulders, but with fierce anger welling up in his eyes, he told us the truth of the matter.

　The fact that they were able to recover the body could only be described as a blessing in disguise. However, people are still dying.

　Also, why is it that a magical girl with a magic barrier that can easily repel normal bullets and withstand machine gun fire depending on its output is nothing more than a terrorist organization? could have killed her?

　Even if she were a third-class magical girl, it would be too much to take on a normal human. But why?

　While the four of us were suddenly in a state of unrest, I just watched the scene displayed on the screen.

"With that in mind, please watch this video. It's a record brought back by a surviving second-class magical girl."

　The projector now shows something mixed with noise, a complete change from the clear image that was shown earlier.

　It was probably automatically recorded on the device the magical girl was wearing, but the reason the noise was so bad was because it was damaged during the battle.

　Still, the image of a bad man was clearly reflected there.

"Human...? I feel like it's big for that."

"It's three meters long."

　Yukina and Hazuki tilt their heads in unison.

　``It'', which was clad in a black trench coat, was indeed human-shaped, but as Hazuki had estimated, it was nearly three meters tall.

　Faster than she could shoot out magic, faster than she could use magic conquest, the three-meter-long Hitogata inorganically pointed his fingertips at the magical girls and spit out lead bullets.

"...Magic barrier..."

"What does this mean...?"

　What was recorded from then on was a scene that even the four special-class magical girls couldn't believe.

　The lead bullet that was spit out from Hitogata's fingertips had indeed penetrated the magic barrier of the third-class magical girl, who had apparently died in the line of duty, and had shot right through the heart without missing a beat.

　impossible. Those words, murmured to no one in particular, spread the turmoil like ripples.

　But we know.

　I knew there was a way to counter magic barriers, and that it was something I was used to on a daily basis.

"...Magical weapon, huh?"

"I don't want to think about it, but that's probably the case. Saijo Chihaya."

　The colonel quietly confirmed my words.

　Magical weapons. It is a weapon developed by ``MAGIA'' that simulates a magical conquest by imbuing matter with magical power donated by 3rd to 2nd class magical girls.

　When it comes to a clash of magical powers, the one with the stronger magical power wins. In other words, that Hitogata has power that exceeds that of a third-class magical girl.

"...The Ministry of Defense believes that there is a whistleblower within the organization, but that is premature. If there is, you guys would be candidates. "MAGIA" is aware of it.

"…Do you think there is someone outside who can reproduce magical weapons?"

"I don't know. It might be within the Ministry of Defense, or within MAGIA or public security. But there is no doubt that the killing of the magical girl will give the Akatsuki no Sora a boost."

　──As your mission, for the time being, unless a special state of emergency is declared, your first priority will be to secure the ``Akatsuki no Sora'' and the Hitogata that they possess.

　The colonel declared so, and this time he played back the deleted archive of the ``Akatsuki no Sora'' statement of responsibility.

``True Japanese people! Our long-cherished wish is one step closer to fulfillment! Magical girls are puppets of a corrupt government, and now that we have the means to fight against them, we will continue to purge them! Believe that this will lead to the true liberation of Japan! It's almost time for us to raise our glory in the dawn sky! Be inspired! Resonate! Magical girls are nothing to be afraid of! In order to truly liberate Japan, we will continue to purge the rotten power hounds! "

　Purge, right?

　The words may sound fine, but in reality they are just speeches saying vague things.

　I can't bear to let people like that do whatever they want anymore.

　I clenched my fists and glared at the person who was wearing a skull headgear and was supposed to be the mastermind of ``Akatsuki no Sora.''