MHGA Chapter 374 – Let's Form a Contract
After school finally arrived—amid the anticipation of many.
Because of her earlier disappearance, Madoka needed to hurry home. After saying goodbye to her, Homura noticed Uno Saki and Hibiki leaving together with Mami Tomoe and Sayaka. She then used time-stop to vanish from Mitakihara Middle School, clutching the bag of Madoka merch tightly.
Homura's first destination was her room—where she solemnly arranged all the Madoka merchandise Kairo Retsu had given her. She placed the posters precisely on the walls, aligned the Madoka badges with millimeter-level care, and positioned the chibi Madoka figure at her bedside.
Only now did she finally have time to examine just how much merch Kairo had shoved into her hands.
She even found notebooks with images of herself and Madoka mid-transformation, bracelets, artbooks, keychains…
Gazing at all these items printed with Madoka's likeness, Homura suddenly began to understand what those "otaku" felt.
An urge welled up inside her—
She wanted to collect even more Madoka merchandise and decorate her entire room with it!
But first—she needed to find Kairo Retsu.
That Hunter Guildmaster who knew the entire future… and respond to the offer he had made.
Homura turned to leave her room—but before she did, she looked back and carefully picked out the bracelet in Madoka's color scheme. She gently fastened it around her wrist, then transformed and vanished from the room.
Kairo Retsu wasn't hard to find.
Tracking potential Witch appearances, Homura quickly spotted him emerging from a Witch's barrier.
Unlike the goofball she'd met before—the one who'd begged her to autograph his ita-shirt—this version of Kairo still had Witch blood evaporating off his armor. When he saw Homura appear before him, he casually tossed something her way.
Homura caught it—and to her surprise, it was a Grief Seed.
"I happened to find this Witch," Kairo said with a sigh. "I lured it into the barrier and took care of it."
"This Grief Seed… it used to be someone's Soul Gem, you know."
"…" Homura was silent for a moment as she held it. "You're giving this to me?"
"Keep it as a backup," Kairo said bluntly.
"A magical girl who's become a Witch is no longer that person."
"Once Kyubey harvests the energy born from hope turning to despair, the soul inside that Soul Gem is already gone."
"So might as well make use of it," he said, waving his hand. "It's probably the only thing left that these Witches can still offer."
"I thought you might object—because they were magical girls once."
Homura didn't refuse. She stored the Grief Seed in her left-hand shield space.
"A Hunter's hunt is all about using every resource available. Otherwise, how could we take down monsters?" Kairo grinned. "Oh, right!"
"What'd you think of the merch I gave you? Did you store it in your shield space or…?"
He trailed off when he noticed the bracelet on Homura's wrist—Madoka-colored.
"Looks like you liked it. That's great. Took me a while to get that stuff."
"I've got a Madoka figure pre-ordered, too. Want one? I can bring it over later."
He snapped his fingers. "Stick it in your room—bam! Law of Cycles supremacy!"
"…" Homura stared at him for a long moment before replying.
"When you say things like that, it really makes me feel you're not from our world at all."
"I just want to make you feel a little better," Kairo said, still grinning.
"A cheerful atmosphere helps reduce negative emotion. I feel the same about you, Madoka, and the other magical girls in your story—I want all of you to break free from the fate of magical girls."
"Also…"
Kairo narrowed his eyes and rubbed his hands together. "You're really into Madoka, right? So… want that figure?"
"…"
Homura was quiet for a while. Then, glancing away at a dusty corner, she nodded.
"If it's possible… thank you."
"No problem."
Kairo beamed. "That's good enough. Wanting something—that's the flip side of hope. As long as there's something you still want to do, there will always be room for hope in your heart."
"Now, let's move to the main point."
Homura cut him off.
"About your earlier proposal—I accept."
"I'm willing to work with you. And I'm also willing to try becoming what you called a Dungeon Master ."
"Very decisive."
Kairo nodded. "Then come with me. At the very least… I want you to understand exactly what kind of contract you're about to form."
"So first—"
He held up one finger.
"Start by imagining… what pure infinity looks like."
———
"Are you two… sure you want to help us hunt Witches?"
Mami looked at Hibiki Tachibana and Uno Saki with some hesitation.
"Even if you're… 'magical girls' from another world (questionable), Witches are still dangerous opponents…"
"No worries!"
Hibiki flexed with a strongman pose. "We brought lots of healing potions! And Sayaka's coming too, right? It's better if we help protect her!"
"Sh-should be fine, I think…"
Uno Saki lacked confidence, but she still followed along with the others.
After all, in terms of actual age, she was the oldest one present. No reason to back down now…
"I'll protect you all!" Uno Saki clenched her fists.
She'd made sure to bring her magic wand (the physical kind) this time.
Though she had no other offense aside from brute force, if Homura could defeat Witches with firearms, then surely she could beat them down after transforming… probably!
None of the group noticed the red silhouette watching them from a nearby rooftop.
That figure, biting into an apple, furrowed their brows as they observed the four from afar—
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