MHGA Chapter 383 – Development (1)
Homura Akemi had assumed that Kairo Retsu had sought her out to find Kyoko Sakura for something important—perhaps to guide her, or to change her perspective.
Instead, once they arrived, Kairo donned his Demon King-like outfit, told her to time-stop and place him behind Kyoko, and even instructed her to assist him mid-action…
And then came the part where, during the time stop, the Winged Lion helped move Kyoko Sakura two steps backward…
As Kyoko took another step forward, Homura paused time once more.
The miniaturized Winged Lion crouched on Homura's shoulder, conjuring a massive hand of pure magic that gently picked up Kyoko and placed her two steps farther back, as if insulated from the rest of the world.
"?"
Kyoko looked at her new position in disbelief, unable to comprehend how the other party had done it.
Was that guy a magical girl? …No way! He didn't look the part at all!
Back when she made her contract, Kyubey had specifically said only girls could become magical girls.
Besides, weren't magical girls supposed to be fighting Witches?
Why the hell had a "Demon King's Army," straight out of a classic RPG, suddenly appeared?!
"I definitely just stepped forward…" Kyoko was growing uncertain of her own reality.
But Kairo Retsu didn't let up, continuing his theatrical, operatic tone.
"What's wrong? Still hesitating, Kyoko Sakura?"
"Hesitation means fear, doesn't it?"
He teased her. "Or maybe… you were trying to come closer, but you were so scared that your body subconsciously stepped back?"
"No way! That's impossible!" Kyoko yelled, leaping several steps forward.
But just as she moved, her vision blurred—and she found herself right back where she started.
And the man? He hadn't moved an inch.
"Who the hell are you!?" Kyoko shouted, crouching slightly and gripping her spear, ready for combat.
"Me? Heh heh heh… HAHAHAHAHA!!"
Kairo let out a villainous laugh and declared, "I am the Grand Marshal of the Demon King's Army! A man who even knows your future! If you join now, I shall benevolently reveal your destiny to you!"
"What kind of insane nonsense is that?! Who would join a sketchy group like this?!" Kyoko turned to flee.
But as soon as she spun around, Kairo was already there—blocking her escape.
She still couldn't figure out how he moved so fast.
Kyoko gritted her teeth and charged, gripping her spear.
If there was no escape—then she'd blast her way out!
Her gaze locked on Kairo's armor, searching for a weak spot.
Scarlet afterimages trailed behind her as she gave everything she had in a headlong assault, driving her spear toward his chest—
—and her eyes went wide.
Her spear actually pierced through his chest, and blood sprayed out of the wound, splattering across her face.
"Magical girls really do have impressive attack power…"
She heard his voice near her ear—and the next thing she saw was a small shield crashing into her forehead.
Then… everything went black.
"?"
Homura arrived soon after—only to find Kyoko unconscious on the ground, Kairo still bleeding from the chest with a spear sticking out of him.
"I've just wrapped things up here," Kairo said casually upon seeing her. "Magical girls really are glass cannons—high offense, low durability."
"…You took a direct hit to the vitals, didn't you?" Homura was still worried, but Kairo—despite having a spear sticking from his chest—seemed totally unfazed.
"A flesh wound."
He yanked the spear from his chest and tossed it aside. Then he fished a Potion from his backpack and chugged it straight through his helmet.
The gaping, blood-gushing wound on his chest vanished in an instant, leaving Homura dumbfounded.
"…Doesn't that hurt?" she asked, confused.
But as he turned his back to her, she noticed his arms trembling slightly behind him.
"No pain!!" Kairo ground his teeth. "I'm wearing this armor—it's the face of a Hunter! There's no way I could be in pain!"
Homura stared at him, eyes narrowing in deep suspicion.
His face, hidden under the helmet, was contorted in agony—but through that firsthand experience, Kairo now had a solid grasp of Kyoko Sakura's combat capabilities.
Though Kyubey seemed naïve, the Incubators' technology had truly produced potent magical girls—at least in terms of raw attack.
"Homura," Kairo said once the pain had faded, stooping to sling Kyoko over his shoulder, "if you really want to change things… you need to fully master the power of the Dungeon Master."
"If you truly don't want the future you've seen to come true…"
"I won't let Madoka become the Law of Cycles." Homura replied coldly, her expression unreadable. "That future… is not fit for her."
"But I have one question." She took a deep breath. "The Shah Dalamadur you're trying to hunt… won't it bring massive destruction to Mitakihara City? Can we really stop it?"
"That's exactly why Hunters exist—to preserve the balance of life. To stop creatures who disrupt the natural order."
Kairo looked off into the distance. "And you know… I'm glad."
"…?" Homura blinked.
"I'm glad you have time to care about things other than just Madoka," Kairo chuckled. "Wanting her to live and wanting her to live happily—those are two very different things."
"But I digress."
He suddenly burst into laughter.
"I've been shipping you two since forever! I'm an old-school otaku, after all!"
"…You know, the mood would've been a lot better if you'd left out that last sentence."
"Really? What if I told you I've got tons of Madoka merch and fanbooks? All drawn by top-tier artists…"
"…I suddenly don't think being an otaku is so bad. Hey… mind sending me some of those?"
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