“Those are flares, meow. Wuhua’s idea is really interesting, meow.”
“I see… That makes finding the source much easier.”
“Hehe, not really.” Faced with the fairies’ admiration, Wuhua smiled shyly.
At best, she had simply thought of something that existed in reality and then simulated it using Miracle Power.
As for the specific process, it was like a habit engraved in her instincts, completed unconsciously.
‘As expected of a Magical Girl… or rather, as expected of me.’
“Now, let me take a look.” Wuhua flew midair, at about the height of the bridge arch, looking down—
With the visibility provided by the flares and the advantage of height, at the center covered by Black Mud, in a place where it shouldn’t be, there was a blurry figure, swaying unsteadily.
Even with the torrential rain and unknown interference, Wuhua could still confirm it.
“…Hmm. What’s that?” Wuhua cautiously approached in that direction. “Someone there—that shouldn’t be.”
With curiosity and caution, Wuhua decided to go down and investigate. Either way, it was the result she needed right now.
—
“Hmm hm hm hm hm~”
On the wide bridge deck that could normally accommodate several large trucks, a petite girl was sitting duck-style by the roadside.
She held a fairy tale book in her hands, humming a nursery rhyme tune as she enthusiastically read its contents.
She completely ignored the changes around her and the Black Mud that was about to seep under her skirt.
Her indifferent attitude and peaceful scene formed a stark contrast with the chaotic background.
“A little girl about my age?” Wuhua landed not far away. “Why is she here…”
“Hm? Someone’s here.” Before Wuhua could get close, the little girl spoke up. “You came to play with me, right? Sit down.”
The girl’s vibrant golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, even spreading across the ground beside her because it was too long. Even under the cloudy sky, it emitted a faint shimmer. She had a pair of clear deep-blue eyes and a gaze that always seemed to carry a smile. She wore a dress with many ribbons, bows, and lace edges, much like something a doll or dress-up doll would wear—a very designed outfit.
Her delicate and cute face possessed both the innocence of a minor and the ornate quality of makeup—appearance aside, she seemed like an ordinary child, but Wuhua felt an indescribable strangeness.
“Eh, ah. No, that…” The sudden invitation left a flustered Wuhua frozen in place.
“Come on. I’ve already prepared a spot for you.” Seeing her hesitate, the little girl patted the spot beside her with some dissatisfaction, making room.
“Mm. Alright, alright…” Unable to refuse the girl, Wuhua, to stabilize the situation, had no choice but to sit beside her. “Um, what… what’s your name? Why are you here?”
“Hm? Just call me Hanna.” The girl answered lightly. “I’m here waiting for a friend to come play with me.”
“A f-friend?” Wuhua looked around. Although the Anomaly hadn’t discovered them yet, they were definitely not “friends.”
“Alright, alright, no talking. The story is about to start.” Hanna forcefully interrupted Wuhua’s thoughts and flipped open the fairy tale book in front of her.
—
“Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. She lived in a castle in the kingdom and lived happily every day with the handsome prince.”
Without paying much attention to Wuhua sitting beside her, Hanna began flipping through the storybook and patiently explained it word by word.
“But one day, a terrifying dragon suddenly attacked the kingdom. It brought disaster and panic to everyone, and—oh my, it even took the princess away, back to its distant lair.”
“To rescue the princess and protect the kingdom from the dragon’s harm, the prince met trustworthy companions and embarked on a journey to slay the dragon with them.”
“Alright. Do you want to know what happens next and the ending?”
Feeling it was enough, Hanna stopped flipping and deliberately paused, asking Wuhua for her opinion with interest.
“More than that, Hanna.” Finally having a chance, Wuhua urged in a hurried tone. “We need to leave now. It’s very dangerous here. I’ll take you to a safe place and find your parents together.”
“No, no, I haven’t had enough fun yet.” As if hitting a sore spot, Hanna hugged the storybook tightly and began to thrash around like a tantrum.
“O-okay, listen to big… sister. Naughty kids don’t get candy.” Wuhua coaxed gently while inwardly lamenting that she always ended up meeting little girls who needed care in dangerous places.
However, the girl’s stubborn refusal gave Wuhua a headache. With no other choice, she reached out to grab the girl’s wrist—
But at the moment of contact—
“Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble…” A huge and heavy roar sounded, and the entire bridge began to shake violently.
The bridge deck where Wuhua stood cracked, broke, and eventually completely collapsed, as if an earthquake had struck.
“D-damn…!” Wuhua instinctively reached out to grab the girl, but she couldn’t keep her balance and stumbled, falling to her knees.
When Wuhua looked up again, the Black Mud surged toward her like a tsunami, completely separating her from the girl’s figure.
“Wuhua, get out of there!” Ruibi urged urgently.
“Tch!” Clicking her tongue, Wuhua had no choice but to fly into the sky. However, the Black Mud seemed to have locked onto her as a target.
It tracked and continuously drove Wuhua away from the central area until she retreated to near the warning line at the other end of the bridge, only then did it stop.
—
“What… what just happened?” Breathing heavily, Wuhua stopped to rest after barely escaping danger.
She looked around and found that every corner of the bridge, including the cables and pillars, was covered in thick Black Mud.
“The pitch-black sludge seems to be rejecting any contact between you and that girl.” Ruibi analyzed, looking uneasily into the distance.
“If this continues, she’ll definitely be in danger! …I have to go back.” Saying that, Wuhua prepared to move.
“Wuhua, wait, meow.” Miao Ke said. “The more critical the moment, the calmer you need to be, meow. This Evil won’t let you pass easily, meow.”
“…Then I’ll fight my way through.” Wuhua summoned her weapon in her hand, ready at any time.
“Wuhua. The cat is right.” Ruibi rarely chimed in to persuade. “The situation is more serious than we thought. It’s time to ask for help from our companions.”
“Companions, you mean?” Wuhua thought of the first Magical Girl she had met and interacted with during this time.
“That’s right, meow. I’ll go get reinforcements too, meow. Until then, you and the rabbit be careful, meow.”
Leaving these words, Miao Ke vanished before Wuhua’s eyes.
—
The girl in danger, the elusive enemy, the anxious and thorny predicament, and the overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
‘Even as a Magical Girl, there are things I can’t do, huh.’
This was a realization Wuhua had after becoming a Magical Girl.
“Haah…” Letting out a heavy sigh, Wuhua calmed down again and reached into her pocket.
Perhaps her real battle had only just begun.