laulau20
patreon
Chapter 1: New Mesa
🕑 Added 2024-02-28 05:33:08 +0000 UTCFrom my dreary classroom, I gazed outside, tuning out the chatter of my classmates. Beyond our city, far out in the ocean, lay heaven—a sanctuary city crafted by the Zenith, embodying safety, comfort, and justice. Despite the distance, the megacity's transparent shield sparkled, visible even from here. Yet, we do not reside in that paradise, suspended on its floating island by the Zenith. We dwell on Earth, in the burgeoning frontier city of New Mesa.
"Yuri-sama! Please, could you help me with my homework?" whether it was a genuine admiration or a subtle mockery of my background, people sometimes attach my name with a -sama honorific.
"Of course. I won't do it for you, but feel free to ask any questions, okay?" I replied as I glanced over Nana's homework. She was known for her lack of diligence. Dragging her chair to my desk, she initiated a gathering of other curious students.
"Thank you! You're such an angel, no, a goddess. I wonder why you aren't a magical girl yet," Nana exclaimed as she clutched her books, her eyes shimmering with happiness. The sentiment was echoed by the others, their smiles supportive and warm.
"Well, even in Eden, the largest sanctuary island megacity with a population of 100 million, there are barely a thousand magical girls. What chance does New Mesa, a frontier city with a mere population of 10,000, have? Becoming a magical girl or Magical Guardian is rarer than winning the lottery," I responded with a smile.
"You're right. It seems like such a pipe dream to become a magical girl, huh?"
"But Alice was a magical girl, and she went to our school! She is not here today, though. It must have been busy becoming a magical girl."
"Guardian Command from Eden assigned her a mission to protect this frontier city, along with two other magical girls," I explained.
"I see. How generous of Guardian Command to lend us three magical girls in a frontier city like this!"
"Yeah, I always thought those magical girls were solely tasked with protecting the sanctuary cities."
"Of course not, you silly. Magical girls and guardians are protectors of humanity, not just sanctuary cities!"
"Say, Yuri-sama, if you became a magical girl, would you go to the sanctuary cities?"
"I don't know. I don't think I'll ever become a magical girl," I replied.
As my friends continued their idle chatter, I opened my phone to catch up on the news. These days, 90% of the news coverage seems to be about magical girls. It was hard to ignore the stories detailing their heroic acts, protecting districts or families. I skimmed through the articles absentmindedly until the school bell rang, signaling the start of our lessons. At the end of the school day, a driver from my father's company escorted me to a luxurious car.
Yes, I am Yuri Shirayuki, the daughter of a major shareholder of the Shirayuki Group. As part of a branch family, my father was appointed as a project director for New Mesa. This city is a frontier outpost beyond the sanctuary islands, established through a concerted effort by multiple corporations and governments to reclaim what the Anathema had taken from humanity.
The Reconquer Project was ambitious, creating over twenty frontier cities, including New Mesa. However, four of these were overrun by anathema attacks and destroyed, costing tens of thousands of lives. Following these losses, a unified government imposed a population limit on frontier cities and halted the creation of new ones until the safety and security of these communities could be assured.
"Greetings, Miss Yuri. I have been tasked with taking you to lunch with your fiancé, Jonathan."
"Yes, thank you for your efforts, Mr. Edward. Please take me there," I smiled.
"Yes," he bowed, and I returned the gesture.
"It's rare for an aristocrat like you to show such courtesy to drivers like me. It's refreshing to see someone as kind-hearted as you amidst the often greedy and sociopathic CEOs and investors."
"Whether rich or poor, we're all human, right?" I said, smiling.
"Thank you, Miss Yuri."
As I gazed out the car window, our vehicle came to a halt. The streets were blocked by multiple Magical Soldiers. Magical Soldiers, or MS for short, are warriors equipped with magitech weapons provided by the Zenith or magical girls. Just as I was about to ask Edward why the MS had blocked the streets, it became clear they were engaged in a battle against an anathema. Four hound-like creatures leaped from a building onto the street. Then, around ten Magical Soldiers opened fire with their rifles, but the Anathema continued its assault, lunging at one of the MS and severing his legs.
"Yuri-sama, you might want to close your eyes. Don't worry, this car is bulletproof. Those anathemas won't get near us."
"Relax, Edward. I've heard that the Magical Soldiers in our region have been equipped with Zenith weapons, including silverbane bullets. They'll prevail."
Then, another MS drew a silver revolver from his holster and aimed. The weapon appeared mundane, but the bullets were anything but. He fired a shot at the head of an anathema, bringing it down instantly. He then searched for another target. While the others fired their assault rifles indiscriminately, he took careful aim with his shots. Another hound lunged at him, but he seized the opportunity to shoot it in the face, killing it instantly, even as it left a gash on his Kevlar armor.
After surveying the scene, it was clear the remaining two hounds were dead. While conventional weapons could indeed kill Anathema, their effectiveness paled in comparison to the specialized armaments provided by Guardian Command. The scarcity of these advanced weapons boiled down to cost. Such armaments could only be acquired through Guardian Command or directly from Magical Girls, who were hesitant to distribute them due to the points required for purchase from the Zenith. The exact cost in points was unclear to me, but the monetary price could soar to $200 per bullet.
Following the skirmish, the Magical Soldiers (MS) tidied the battlefield, removing both the wounded and the corpses of the Anathema, before lifting the blockade. Recognizing the vehicle, they saluted me as I stepped out to thank them.
"Thank you for your hard work. How will the wounded soldier fare?"
"He'll survive, Miss Yuri. He's to assume clerical duties until the monthly visit from a blue magical girl, who may regenerate his legs or arrange for a prosthetic," he responded with a smile.
"Your dedication to New Mesa is deeply appreciated. I mourn for your losses."
"There's no need, Miss Yuri! Your concern alone is a great comfort. We, the Magical Soldiers, are committed to reclaiming our home, our Earth, from the invading Anathema. We stand ready to sacrifice everything for this cause!" His fervor was evident in his passionate speech. After offering a bow in return, I re-entered the car, which resumed its journey to the meeting with my unwelcome fiancé. As we accelerated, a black cat watching from the sidewalk caught my eye. It stared at me, while meowing.
"I wish the Anathema had won. Why hasn't the world been destroyed yet?" I murmured under my breath. Echoes of Nana's and my classmates' whispers haunted me. Why wasn't I a magical girl? I had always strived to be kind, believing it made me deserving of such a fate. Yet, the realization dawned on me that my kindness was not genuine. From a young age, my strict parents molded my behavior, guiding me to act in ways that pleased others.
This facade of benevolence was starkly highlighted when I encountered a magical girl six years prior. Their radiance was undeniable. In their presence, I sensed genuine kindness and concern for me, a stark contrast to the performative gestures I had mastered. That moment solidified the impossibility of my dream; I could never emulate their luminous essence. Despite outward appearances of kindness, I acknowledged the darkness within me. As I matured, these dark thoughts intensified. Why was I sent to this perilous, remote location? Why did my father choose Jonathan as my fiancé?
Deep down, I knew the answers, fueling my self-loathing even further. I understood that New Mesa represented humanity's hope, necessitating sacrifices. Marrying Jonathan would secure additional funding from his company for the Shirayuki Group, which led the project. And that funding could be used to enhance our soldiers' armaments. This realization confirmed my selfishness; I was unworthy of becoming a magical girl.
"Yo. Let's eat!" a tall, blonde man called out as I entered the restaurant. His suit was half-open, revealing his muscular chest as he lounged on the sofa, casually embracing another girl.
"Greetings, Mr. Jonathan. May I inquire who this lady is?"
"Ah! Well, let's not fuss about it. We're just marrying for the money, right? You're free to do as you please, as am I. I provide you with assistance, and in return, you lend us your company's popularity and support in Eden, Avalon, and Arcadia," Jonathan explained before dismissively sending the woman away. "Come, let's dine and then go our separate ways. You're free to leave afterward."
I struggled to maintain my composure, unaccustomed to being treated merely as a means to an end. Yet, witnessing such blatant disregard for decorum was a first for me. How did someone with such an overtly disrespectful attitude ascend to the role of a CEO's son?
"What? We need to stay connected; you're going to be my wife, aren't you? If that displeases you, feel free to leave. I can always entertain myself with other daughters from the Shirayuki Group," he smirked.
"As you wish. Let's dine," I responded, taking a seat to partake in the sumptuous meal before us. He poured a glass of wine for me, but I firmly declined, citing my underage status—a pretext that would soon expire with my impending seventeenth birthday. I pondered whether surrendering to my fate as his pawn was inevitable. It seemed no one was on my side, save perhaps for the Anathema. Secretly, I found myself wishing for their victory, hoping it might liberate me from this unwelcome future.
Comments
laulau20
thank you.
laulau20
So, I have got permission from Mikasane to write this fanfic since January. I hope you enjoy it. The original is in the description or here. Or you can simply visit Royalroad: https://www.patreon.com/Mikasane
pelya
Your grammar has improved
