Episode 21 : Stop saying things like the barrier is invalid against the barrier

　In a social game that I played fairly well in my previous life, there were times when the type of boss that would rip off all the buffs appeared one after another, probably because I didn't like it because the bosses used a lot of buffs and punched me. .

　Naturally, there was a backlash from the users, complaining that they had a remorseful spirit and that they were being arrogant, and I remember that what they released in an attempt to quell this was a ``technique that nullifies the technique that removes buffs.'' .

　At the time, I thought to myself, ``It's not like an elementary school fight,'' but I got used to it, and before I knew it, that kind of criticism had calmed down just as it was intended.

　Regardless of such circumstances, the critical beast that we have to fight this time is a so-called barrier-ineffective opponent that can penetrate magic barriers.

　Although it has been strengthened with magical power, it has an attack that can break through the barrier that protects the body of a fragile maiden, and it personality is beyond bad.

　Critical beast Gratnail. This is how the barrier-nullifying gimmick of this individual, so named by ``MAGIA'', is as follows.

　By emitting special vibration waves from its claws, it obstructs the combination of magical powers and nullifies the magical barrier itself.

　It's impossible to notice something like that at first glance. If you look closely at his actions, the strategy book says that the only attack that nullifies the magic barrier is the claw attack, but it's just water.

　After all, most of the attacks are based on that claw attack pattern, which means you should give up on defense and give up.

　The critical beast that landed in the middle of the pedestrian paradise of Akihabara, which is called a sacred place in many ways, has an odd shape that can barely be called humanoid, but its arms are swollen like that of a monster. was.

　It's about 10 meters wide.

　Buildings are collapsing, cars are being trampled, and people are being evaporated as they shoot out beams of light from their mouths and brandish their deadly claws, causing a catastrophe combined with the fact that it's a holiday.

　In the game, the deaths of nameless people are swept away with just a few descriptions and text.

　However, it is true that in this world, everyone is alive, even if you don't know their names or have never met or talked to them.

　As if to show this, someone whose name I don't know, trapped under the rubble that fell from a collapsed building, calls out to me as I descend onto the pedestrian zone.

"…Ah, ah…magic, girl…"

"...I agree. This is a magical girl."

"...defeat him..."

　Those were the last words of a woman I didn't know the name of who was talking to me.

　Judging from the pool of blood that clearly wasn't for one person, there was no family or lover, and perhaps someone important to her was crushed under the rubble.

　The outstretched hand gave out and collapsed.

　Ah, that's right.

　That's right, we're all living in this world, we're all living.

　When I picked up the bloody hand that had fallen to the ground, I could feel the vivid sensation of death as the body's body temperature was being lost.

　There is someone whose life is taken away unreasonably.

　According to the setting, I have the strongest power.

　Even with such power, I can't help but feel frustrated and frustrated that I can't grasp a future where no one dies.

　There was a time when I looked down on this world thinking it was a game world.

　There was definitely a part of me that was saying, ``I don't want to die if I don't want to die,'' but I was completely oblivious to the people living in this world whose names I didn't even know.

　Let's admit it. I'm weak.

　Even as she quietly prayed with her eyes lowered, her hands grew colder and colder.

　Even if I didn't know if there was a place where my prayers would reach, even if it was meaningless to pray, I couldn't help but do it. Because there was nothing else I could do.

　As if to ridicule me, the Critical Beast Gratnail raises an unpleasant voice and tramples over the pedestrian paradise with a self-possessed look on its face.

"Gullllll…Booooo…! "

"…You…you…!"

　I put my hand on the handle of the magical conquest "Raikiri" and glared at Gratnail.

　It's not enough to tear this guy into pieces, but it can't be helped if she loses herself in anger.

　Stay calm. Even if my heart is burning with passion, if my head is not as cold and clear as ice, I too will become his prey.

"Rip it apart…!"

　The magic power of lightning is imbued in the blade of the ``Raikiri'' blade that I pull out from its sheath, and by swinging it sideways, I send a slashing attack towards Gratnail.

　However, it seems that the enemy isn't stupid enough to attack me without hesitation.

　Gratnail kept the damage to a minimum by using the vibration waves of his claws to drown out the lightning that was wrapped around the "flying slash" that she fired at the torso.

　You can't even do that.

　It glares at the enemy, who is needlessly versatile and has the wisdom for a critical beast, and despite its enlargement, it is as flexible as a whip and quickly evades the blows of its claws.

　I don't know how this guy's joints and other structures work, but at least he seems to have a pretty deep understanding of how to use his weapon, his claws.

"Senpai, I'll support you!"

"...Oh, please... please hit me...!"

　Yukina's two 50-caliber handguns, which are her magical conquest, and Koyomi's chain gun, which is her magical weapon, fire a volley of fire into Gratnail's defenseless back.

　The support of Yukina, who has a gun magic conquest, and Koyomi, who has a magic weapon, is reassuring.

　However, it is sensitive to attacks from a long distance, which is a promise against opponents who attack with this type of physicality.

"Yukina, Koyomi! The 'claws' are coming! Mayu!"

"Yes...! Let's go, 'Gravity Syringe'!"

　It seems that this guy was also sensitive to long-range attacks, as he changed his target in an instant after receiving an attack on his back.

　But, is it that easy to get people to do what they want?

　I urged Yukina and Koyomi to evacuate, and asked Mayu for support, and before the ``claws'' that were swung out with great force reached them, the syringe that Mayu threw was able to reach Gratnail's arms. pray.

"Booooo…! ? "

　With a roar like a falling meteorite, Gratnail's arms and "claws" sank into the concrete.

　If he is blocking the combination of magical power with the vibration waves of his "claws", even if he can break down the magical power from the outside, he cannot prevent it from flowing inside!

　Gratnail struggled to lift both arms, as if the value of gravity had increased, but they didn't move at all.

　As the name Gravity suggests, the gravity on his arms is increasing - but rather, it is simply injecting a powerful neurotoxin with a high immediate effect, which is how the Gravity Syringe works. .

　The drawback is that the effect time is short and it breaks down quickly in the body, but if you can use something like that permanently, Cheat would be a good idea.

　Anyway, now that the "claw" is effectively sealed, all that's left to do is Hazuki and I.

"Don't miss this opportunity, let's go, Hazuki!"

"Okay, Senpai!"

　Hazuki readjusts the sword mace she was carrying on her shoulder, her crimson Gothic Lolita dress showing off, and leaps towards Gratnail's head.

　In that case, I'll just crush your heart.

　Quickly, before Mayu's neurotoxin breaks down and you are intercepted.

　The magical power poured into the blade of the magical conquest "Raikiri" is amplified by storing it in the sheath, and I use the magical power as a foothold to run through the sky in the manner of a shukuchi.

　I'm not saying that I don't sympathize with Gratnail, who is still suffering in agony because he can't use both of his arms, but you've done too much.

　As entrusted to me, as I received my wish, I unsheathed my white blade and drew the curtain with an iaide that reached the realm of divine speed.

"...'Shiden Shunsen'!"

"'(flame hammer)Entsui (Star Break) Seisai'! "

　Gratnail's head and heart were crushed at the same time by a blow from Hazuki's sword mace, which contained the magic power of fire in its brain, and by a slash from me, whose body contained the magic power of lightning, and it was allowed to scream in death.

　The enemy was avenged. Still, that doesn't mean the woman whose name I don't know will come back to life.

　Even if that were the case, was it at least a good thing that she fulfilled her mission as a magical girl?

"...senior?"

"...It's disgusting. Even with our power... there are lives that we can't save."

"...I agree"

　Hazuki and I both muttered as we glanced at the scars of the tragedy spreading below us.

　If I had gotten rid of this guy as quickly as possible, I might have saved lives. That's definitely true.

　On the other hand, there were lives lost in the time it took to sortie. That alone cannot be overturned.

"But we have no choice but to shoulder that burden and move forward."

"Hazuki?"

"That's not like a senior. I think that's what it means to face life."

　It may be a story premised on sacrifice. However, as Hazuki says, if we only focus on the lives lost, we will surely break down.

　It takes a long time for the heart to accept even a single death, so if it contains countless things, it will naturally be drawn to the dead.

　Ah, that's right. That's right.

"...It doesn't look like this place, huh? That's right. I feel like I just woke up, Hazuki."

　Thank you, I said, and put the Raikiri back into its sheath.

　As if ringing a funeral bell, clouds cover the sun.

　We, the magical girls, move forward, determined to at least take revenge. But that was it.