Chapter 26

I wonder if he’ll be okay…

I stared at Reiya Toujou’s retreating back.

I kept watching until he was completely out of sight.

I was worried about him.

Toujou-san probably said what he did so we wouldn’t worry unnecessarily.

But even for him, he must have used up a fair bit of stamina after coaching so many magical girls.

Toujou-san is strong.

He shouldn’t lose so easily to a monster.

But I was still worried.

For example, if multiple monsters stronger than Orochi appeared, wouldn’t even Toujou-san have a hard time?

There was no guarantee that whoever was creating the monsters wouldn’t send several powerful ones just to defeat him.

He said he’d be fine, but was it really okay to let him go alone? The doubt crossed my mind.

“I’m so sorry, Saionji-sama. It’s because of us…”

“Will he… Will Toujou-san be alright…?”

“If Toujou-san is defeated by the monster, how could we ever take responsibility…?”

The magical girls looked down, their faces grim, clearly feeling guilty for asking Toujou-san to train them and draining his energy.

I placed a hand on their shoulders to encourage them.

“He’ll be fine. That man is strong. Far stronger than we can imagine. He will definitely come back alive. We just have to believe in him and wait.”

“Yes!”

That’s right.

Toujou-san promised he would return safely.

All I have to do is believe and wait for him.

Telling myself this, I started to head back to the grounds.

It was at that moment.

“Monster alert! Monster alert! Multiple monsters have appeared! Please evacuate immediately. I repeat. Multiple monsters have appeared. Please clear the area immediately.”

“What!?”

A monster alert suddenly blared.

The source… was right where we were.

I looked up at the sky.

“Saionji-sama, look…!”

“Student Council President!! Look at that!!”

The magical girls pointed upward.

I saw them clearly.

Countless black shadows were flying through the sky, heading straight for us.

Even from this distance, I could feel a powerful presence and a malevolent aura from those flying objects.

There was no mistake.

Those are monsters.

“Request backup, now! All magical girls, assume combat positions! Monsters have appeared!!”

The moment I realized what those countless approaching shadows were, I immediately gave orders to the magical girls around me.

“Roger!”

“Yes!”

“Everyone, gather up!! Monsters are here!!”

“It’s an emergency!! Call for backup right away!!”

“Tell the girls who went back to the dorms, too!!”

“Got it! I’ll go!!”

Following my orders, the magical girls sprang into action.

The magical girls at this school probably won’t be enough.

To deal with that number of monsters, we’ll need to call for backup from outside.

Dammit… What terrible timing…

I cursed our bad luck.

Why did this have to happen the moment Toujou-san left?

If only he were here, I would feel so much more confident.

Wait… don’t tell me…

I glanced in the direction Toujou-san had gone.

That was… a decoy? To lure him away…?

A horrifying possibility surfaced in my mind.

Why did a horde of monsters show up the instant Toujou-san left?

What if the first monster alert was a trap to lure him out?

What if their target, from the very beginning, was the Magical Girl Training Academy, left defenseless without him?

This is bad… this is really bad…

A cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

Can we hold out?

Until Toujou-san gets back?

He’s not an idiot… He should realize what’s happening when he hears the second monster alert.

If this was all a strategy devised by the monsters, then we’ve fallen completely into their trap.

Toujou-san will realize it too when he hears the second alert.

We have to protect ourselves from those monsters until he returns.

Please, Toujou… get back here…

I whispered it like a prayer.

“Saionji-sama! Combat formation is ready!”

“We sent someone to fetch the magical girls in the dorms. A request for external aid has also been sent.”

“I see…”

I looked over the magical girls gathered around me.

“Listen up, everyone!! Now is the time to endure!! It will be impossible for us to defeat that number of monsters on our own. Our mission is to defend this place until reinforcements arrive from the outside. It is to reduce the number of casualties by even one!! Engrave that in your hearts!!”

“Yes…!”

“Do not give up hope! Remember your daily training!! I know we can overcome this ordeal!! All units, to battle stations!!”

“Transform!!”

At my command, the magical girls all transformed at once.

Colorful outfits enveloped their bodies, dramatically increasing their power.

“Transform! Magical Girl Koharu Saionji!!”

I transformed as well, becoming a complete magical girl.

Power surged through my entire body.

“Let’s go, everyone!! Follow me!!”

“Yes!”

I floated up, rapidly closing the distance with the monsters approaching from the sky.

The other magical girls followed after me.

“Unleash your magic!! Commence attack!!”

“Yes!”

The magical assault began at my command.

Magic attacks from several dozen girls were fired at the horde of monsters approaching from above.

KRA-KABOOOOOOM!

An explosion erupted in the sky.

The magic struck the monsters, and the sound of the blast echoed.

“Did we get them…?”

Someone muttered.

The combined magic we all unleashed should have had considerable firepower.

Even if it didn’t wipe them all out, it should have inflicted significant damage on the monsters.

I waited for the smoke to clear.

“What… the hell…”

The smoke cleared, revealing the result of our magical barrage.

“Unscathed… No, that’s impossible…”

The horde of monsters was, for all intents and purposes, completely unharmed.

Not faltering in the slightest from our magic attacks, they were instead picking up speed, heading right for us.

Our attacks aren’t working.

Don’t tell me… are all of them as strong as Venom, Gotees, or Orochi?

If that’s the case, we don’t stand a chance…

“D-Don’t falter!! Prepare the second volley!!”

“Yes…!”

Aware that I was the one panicking and most terrified of all, I still gave the order for a second attack.

“Fire!!”

At my command, magic was once again unleashed toward the sky.

Flashes of light tore through the air, striking the approaching horde of monsters.

But the monsters’ advance didn’t stop.

As if our magic attacks had no effect whatsoever, they steadily closed the distance between us.

“W-Why can’t we beat them…?”

“You’re kidding…”

“We’ve never seen monsters like this…”

“No, stay away…”

Seeing that their magic was completely ineffective, the magical girls began to panic and show their fear.

I clenched my fists, suppressed my own terror, and dedicated myself to the role of commander.

“What are you cowering for!? The monsters are almost on top of us!! Prepare for close-quarters combat!! I will lead the charge!! Everyone, follow me!!”

“Y-Yes…!”

Inspiring the magical girls as best I could, I steeled myself for melee combat.

I know we can’t win.

But we have no choice but to fight.

We have to buy time.

Until reinforcements arrive.

Until the relief squads get here from the outside.

Until Reiya Toujou comes to save us.

(Toujou… please, save me…)

As if praying to a god, I screamed Toujou’s name in my heart.