MHGA Chapter 298: Adults Have Ambitions and Justice!
After discovering the scale dust, Tanjiro Kamado didn't look even slightly pleased.
Gore Magala really had left traces in this world… Tanjiro carefully collected soil samples near the footprint into a vial, making sure to include some of the scale dust.
He also clumsily used the provided photography device to capture the footprint.
With a mask covering his face, Tanjiro couldn't rely on his sense of smell to track the Frenzy Virus. Kairo Retsu had warned him repeatedly before departure: absolutely do not try using his nose to follow the virus once he spotted signs of it. Kairo also hoped Tanjiro would exercise utmost caution in any future battle with the virus's source.
After all, the Frenzy Virus and its scale dust would seriously impair Tanjiro's keen olfactory senses and his use of the Breathing Techniques.
Without wasting time, Tanjiro returned to the Assembly and met Kairo Retsu just as he finished showing Madoka Kaname and Hibiki Tachibana their respective anime series.
While Tanjiro explained his findings to Laios—who was currently studying Gore Magala's ecology—Kairo kept an eye on Madoka and Hibiki, both visibly shaken by their futures.
"I'm really going to turn into that someday!?" Hibiki rubbed her own face and even pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "Way too much happens in my future!"
"So that's… what magical girls are like in our world?" Madoka murmured, her mindset clearly shifted after viewing her story. "Mami-senpai, Sayaka, and Kyoko too…"
Madoka was deeply affected—practically crushed—by her own narrative. Her thoughts spiraled into dangerous territory, wondering if she really ought to follow that path, become a magical girl, and try to save all the witches.
But being suddenly faced with such truths, she clearly wasn't ready. Her heart was heavy with grief.
"Hibiki, your world—like we saw—has its own special kind of enemy," Kairo said, turning to Madoka. "But through your strength, you slowly managed to get things on the right track."
"But the bigger problem… is you, Madoka."
Kairo leaned forward, choosing his words with care. "Let me be honest—Madoka, I don't want you to become a magical girl."
"I love your story. I do. I understand that once you become a magical girl, you truly achieve the Law of Cycles, and sacrifice yourself to end the tragic fate of magical girls turning into witches. But…"
"Even though your wish rewrote the universe's rules, magical girls in your world still remain sorrowful existences. All that happened was that the final step—becoming a witch—was instead taken on by the Law of Cycles… which is you, from the future."
"But if I don't do that… then those magical girls—those witches…" Madoka's thoughts were in turmoil.
Despite her fear, the desire to help those girls took root after seeing their fates. The Madoka of this moment was full of compassion but emotionally unprepared.
"That's exactly why…" Kairo sat up straight. "I want you to give us a chance."
"We want to save people too. If we ignore what's in front of us, then we're dooming a young girl to carry tragedy on her back—and that's you, Madoka."
"Give us time to find a solution," Kairo said, direct and resolute. "There's still a whole month before Walpurgisnacht. We Hunters won't give up on anyone."
"'Magical girls are the embodiment of dreams and hope.' That's what you said at the end of your story." Kairo smiled. "In that case… maybe believe in us adults for once."
He pounded his chest with a loud thud. "We adults have ambition—and justice!"
"You, Mami Tomoe, Homura Akemi, and every other magical girl in the world… I swear on my title as Guildmaster: we will fight to save you to the very end!"
With a dazzling smile and clenched fist, Kairo declared, "Miracles and magic are real! I just can't use magic myself… so I'll just have to punch out a miracle with my fists!"
"Really… is that okay?" A trace of hope flickered across Madoka's face. "But… don't you all still need to stop the Frenzy Virus? There are so many worlds that need your help, not just ours…"
"I won't just stand by either!" Hibiki suddenly grabbed Madoka's hands, staring straight into her eyes. "That thing… that Kyubey or whatever—it's awful! If I ever see it, I'm gonna punch it straight into the stratosphere!"
"Nice one!" Kairo gave an approving look. "That thing is a depraved beast disguised as something cute! Should be thrown into a furnace!"
"If I get the chance, I'll introduce you to more magical girl allies. Kyubey… that thing is a blight on humanity!" Kairo spoke with fire in his eyes. "Don't fall for its lies. It exploits loopholes in logic and words to commit the most disgusting acts!"
While Kairo passionately denounced Kyubey the depraved beast, a Winged Lion who had been pacing around the Assembly for digestion stumbled upon a particularly appetizing scent.
Following the trail with paws behind its back, the Winged Lion soon arrived at Kairo's location. At first, he thought his sense for "desire and emotion" was malfunctioning.
But then he saw the two girls sitting across from Kairo.
"!"
The Winged Lion dropped to all fours and crept up behind Madoka and Hibiki, sniffing the aura coming from them.
Just as Kairo was mid-rant about Kyubey, he noticed the Winged Lion crouching behind them curiously.
"?"
Kairo stopped mid-sentence, walked over, and grabbed the Winged Lion by the scruff of its neck. "What are you doing here?"
"I smelled something… tastier than Tanjiro or Himmel," said the Winged Lion with total honesty. "You know I'm a gourmet now."
"This kitty is…?" Madoka tilted her head curiously, noticing the Winged Lion behind her.
In its Felyne-like disguise, the Winged Lion looked quite adorable.
Its lion's mane had become a plush, oversized fluff resembling a giant pillow. Amid its golden fur were two tiny wings fluttering gently.
"Uh…" Kairo scratched his head awkwardly. "A reformed… mascot?"
"Meow~" The Winged Lion cheerfully struck a pose at Madoka and Hibiki. "I'm the Winged Lion. I'm a demon."
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