MHGA Chapter 367 – Keen-Sensed Homura Akemi
Atop the city, as Homura Akemi calmed herself, a winged lion cub suddenly appeared before her—and in an instant, it expanded into the size of a full-grown lion soaring through the sky.
Instinctively, Homura drew a handgun from her shield and fired at the strange, suddenly-materialized creature.
However, unlike with Kyubey, the bullet passed straight through the Winged Lion's body, losing momentum before falling downward.
The Winged Lion itself lunged directly toward Homura's left hand, aiming for her Soul Gem.
Knowing full well that her Soul Gem was the true weak point of a magical girl, Homura attempted to evade—but the Winged Lion was faster than she expected. It opened its mouth and encompassed her entire left arm, including the hand, Soul Gem, and shield.
A sensation of nothingness, tinged with numbness, stretched out from deep within her.
The fear of losing her ability to save Madoka blossomed within Homura's heart. Without hesitation, she aimed at the Winged Lion's head and fired several rounds, trying to wrench her arm free to check if she was still alive.
But to her surprise, the Winged Lion hadn't bitten down.
Her arm slid out of its mouth effortlessly.
No wounds.
The Soul Gem was unharmed.
Not even saliva remained.
"How does it feel?" The Winged Lion reverted to its cub form, floating before Homura and licking its lips. "I sensed a kind of corruption akin to that in Soul Gems starting to brew… When I came, I realized—it was you."
"How wonderful."
The Winged Lion stared directly at Homura. "That desire on you… that flavor born from intertwined emotion and yearning—it's fantastic. The flavor I've longed for, day and night."
"What did you just do?!"
Realizing what had happened, Homura instinctively backed away and pulled a rocket launcher from her shield, aiming it at the Winged Lion.
"What did you EAT just now?!?!"
She had never seen a creature like this in any of her loops.
"I'd like to chat more, truly. But unfortunately, I'm just a Felyne who followed a Hunter into this world, and I've got plenty to do." The Winged Lion licked its lips again. "You noticed it, huh?"
"Don't worry—I just briefly consumed the disordered emotions within your soul. And… did you sense a sweet taste?"
The Winged Lion smiled. "That's my favorite flavor. A taste I learned from Granny Felyne—honey, made by Honey Bugs. It can restore the soul."
"I noticed you were close to becoming a Witch, so I rushed over to stop it." It wore a troubled look. "If I weren't busy right now, I'd stay and chat longer."
"I'd love to make you the Master of a Dungeon someday," the Winged Lion muttered with admiration.
Only now did Homura realize her Soul Gem had returned to a clear, pure color.
Yet, when the Winged Lion had her Soul Gem in its mouth, for that brief moment, she'd felt her entire will to live—her resolve to save Madoka—vanishing into a void.
That feeling… was terrifying.
"Relax, relax," the Winged Lion said to the wary Homura. "Kairo Retsu wants to speak with you in person, so I won't get ahead of myself."
"Also, don't let despair take root again, or you really might become a Witch." The Winged Lion floated toward her slowly. "Mmm… Negative emotions born from positive desire… now that's a unique flavor too."
"The Madoka you're searching for has already returned home." Its words sent a jolt through Homura's chest.
Now hovering right before her, Homura finally saw it clearly—within the Winged Lion's pupils glimmered a symbol of infinity: ∞.
"Kairo Retsu will meet you later, but before that… just a personal request," the Winged Lion bowed its head and nuzzled her shoe, "If possible, please let me explain next time… what it means to be a Dungeon Master."
"I think we could be good friends."
And with that, the Winged Lion vanished from Homura's sight—like the entire exchange had been nothing but a hallucination.
Yet her now-purified Soul Gem proved the Winged Lion's presence had been real.
"..."
Homura immediately paused time and moved alone to Madoka's home.
There, to her shock, she found that Madoka—missing for an entire day—had indeed returned.
The feeling of regaining something thought lost made her heart pound.
"Kairo Retsu… and that Winged Lion's so-called Hunter—just what are they?"
"Please have some tea," Mami Tomoe said, bringing three cups to the table, one for each person.
Kairo Retsu thanked her, picked up the cup, and without hesitation, chugged the tea like a hot beverage.
Sayaka Miki's eyes widened in astonishment.
That was tea Mami had just brewed. The water had still been boiling when she poured it!
Was this man's mouth made of steel?
"HUNTER PHYSIQUE, LITTLE LADY!"
Kairo Retsu proudly raised his nose. "Of course! Good kids below college age shouldn't try this at home!"
"Even college students can't drink boiling tea like that!" Sayaka shouted. "And you can see Kyubey too?! Are you sure you're human?!"
"Of course! Fundamentally, I'm the same as you—we evolved bit by bit from ancient times." Kairo Retsu put his hands on his hips. "This is the power of a hunter's body, forged through endless training!"
"No amount of training could explain this!" Sayaka groaned, feeling like she'd somehow become the designated straight man in a comedy duo. Helpless, she turned to Mami. "Right, Mami-senpai? You think so too, right?!"
"Hunter-san, are you… by any chance a magical girl too?" Mami asked with some hesitation, still trying to piece things together. "No, maybe not… Perhaps, like us, you've formed a contract with someone…"
She fumbled for words. "Umm… Magical Boy? Magical Youth? Magical Uncle? No, wait… Magical Hunter?"
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