Since my Useless Working Sister and Other Troublemakers Became Magical Girls, I have no Choice but to Support Them. - Chapter 1-36: Tsumugi's Headlong Rush

Chapter 1-36: Tsumugi’s Headlong Rush

Immediately, I heard a man’s scream nearby. Someone had either failed to evade or didn’t escape in time.

A cameraman was lying on the ground. His precious camera was tossed aside, and a black feather was embedded in his ankle, with blood flowing from the wound.

The feathers, scaled to match the enlarged crow, were clearly potent weapons.

He must have tried to get a clear shot of the monster and failed.

“What should we do? Should we drag him over here?”

“No, it’s not safe here either.”

If this car can keep acting as a shield against the feathers, we should stay hidden. But the enemy can fly freely in the sky, so the shield won’t be effective for long.

“You see now, don’t you? That thing is dangerous. If you let your guard down, you’ll get hurt. Stay back.”

I got close to the man who seemed to be the director and spoke firmly. He finally seemed to understand that continuing to film was not a good idea.

“Y-yes, understood! Everyone, fall back!”

Once the order was given, the crew moved quickly. Each of them nodded to us as they returned to the car.

“Thank you for protecting the town!” said the female announcer, still holding her microphone, as she got into the car, which then drove off.

For the moment, that was good. Including the injured, they should be able to escape safely.

In the meantime, the crow launched another volley of feathers, but these were also blocked by the car’s roof.

On the other hand, new troublemakers arrived.

“Yuuma, a crowd is gathering,” reported Rafio. You’ve got to be kidding.

Beyond the path where the media van had driven off, a large number of people were approaching. Some were in cars, others on bicycles, and some on foot, drawn by the commotion.

Many held up smartphones, and among them seemed to be other media personnel.

These people. The original residents of this area had all taken shelter inside their homes. They might be watching us from inside, but at least they’re safe.

But these onlookers were dangerously exposed, with no means of protecting themselves.

As expected, the Fear-Eater turned towards them.

“Damn it! Humans!”

“I know, I know. It’s not your fault, Yuuma! Most people are sensible!” 

Rafio, who had come from another world to help humans, cursed under his breath as he dashed towards the thoughtless crowd.

The Fear-Eater paused in its advance and launched more feathers into the dense group, injuring several people before diving in with its talons and beak.

The onlookers hadn’t anticipated that they would be in danger. It was only after the attack began that they realized the threat to their lives and scattered like frightened spiders.

Rafio’s warning was no longer necessary.

One woman, her leg pierced by a feather and unable to move, was left behind. She still held her smartphone.

The Fear-Eater jabbed at her back with its sharp beak. Its movements were swift, and by the time Rafio reached her, her back was riddled with holes.

She might die. I had no means to heal her, and no doctor would arrive in time. No one was around to carry her to safety.

“Get lost!”

Rafio leapt over the woman’s prone body and lunged at the Fear-Eater. The crow, of course, evaded by flying higher.

“This damn thing! Such a nuisance!”

The Fear-Eater tried to escape to a height beyond our reach, but Rafio chased it, leaping along the walls and rooftops.

“Be careful!”

I warned Rafio, but he had no time to listen.

The Fear-Eater launched feathers at Rafio while he was still airborne.

This is bad. In the air, he couldn’t move or defend himself. There was no way to dodge. Both Rafio and I were on a collision course with the feathers.

Unless someone intervened.

“Rafio!”

An intervention did occur. Luckily for me, but maybe not so much for Rafio.

A young girl dashed in from the side and slammed into Rafio’s side. We all tumbled to the ground together, the feathers embedding harmlessly in the empty space where we had been.

We ended up lying on the edge of the road.

“Rafio! You’ve gotten so big! Amazing! You were already fluffy, but now you’re even fluffier!”

“Hey! Who is this kid!? Get off! Get off!”

“Let’s get out of here, Rafio! Tsumugi, come with us!”

“Riding Rafio? Awesome!”

“I don’t want this! I don’t, but… Oh, whatever!”

I picked up Tsumugi, the elementary school girl who loved fluffy things. Rafio took off to escape the Fear-Eater’s pursuit. We headed in the opposite direction from where the onlookers had fled, towards Saber and the others who were following us.

“Are you two okay? Wait, Tsumugi!?”

“Hi! I was following a fluffy trail and found a huge Rafio!”

“Uh, good for you!”

“No, no. I’ll get Tsumugi to safety. You handle the Fear-Eater, big sister.”

“I’ll try my best, but it might be tough!”

“Just make sure the onlookers don’t get hurt any further, please.”

“Having to protect those who came here on their own is annoying, but…”

“Big sister! Is now really the time for that?”

“Alright, alright. I’ll do something.”

Saber changed her mind as she glanced at the woman’s body lying nearby.