The Origin of the Witches

(Bai Ziye)

"Miss SpiCa, I brought them."

"Yin Lu, please excuse yourself for now."

"...Huh? Yes!"

Although she was not part of the Tactical Division, as a low-ranking liaison officer, Luer did not dare disobey SpiCa's instructions. She winked at Ceruno and me before turning to take the elevator downstairs.

"Come with me. Since you've fought a Witch, there are some things you should know... Who is this?"

SpiCa froze for a moment when she saw the tablet in Ceruno's hands.

"She's Heat Haze, a Magical Girl who lives in the same district as us."

"So it's that girl. I barely recognized her without her Battle Dress."

SpiCa nodded at Heat Haze, then said, "She's your mentor now, correct? Then she must have watched that battle earlier. This operation is classified. There was no livestream, and the video recording will not be uploaded. Likewise, you must not discuss it in public."

"We understand."

The fact that Magical Girls could become Monsters was something the public should never learn.

The treatment facility occupied a vast area, so each floor was enormous. Yet the sections were carefully divided. The closer we got to the center of the floor, the fewer people dressed as researchers we saw, and the higher the required clearance became.

As the head of the Tactical Division, SpiCa clearly possessed the highest level of authorization.

After passing the laboratories containing the Lava Monster and Tiger Monster, she led us to a stop before a large door.

I asked, "That Monster... that Witch, is she in here?"

SpiCa nodded with her eyes closed.

"Then, did she know Miss SpiCa before this?"

SpiCa fell silent for a moment at my question.

But after a brief pause, she answered, "Yes. After all, I was the one who sent them there... You both know about that failed expedition seven years ago, don't you?"

We did.

There was probably no one who did not.

Seven years ago, humanity's arrogance had cost it thirty of its strongest Magical Girls. Since then, no one had dared to actively probe the Other Side again. We could only remain on the defensive, as we had until now.

Ceruno thought for a moment as well.

"This Witch is Chuanlang Bojiang, the Shark Princess Witch?"

"Yes. Bojiang's magic is the ability to manipulate water. Ceruno, you know quite a lot about Magical Girls."

"My old dream was to join the Tactical Division led by Miss SpiCa... But I knew I wasn't good enough. I was already satisfied just being able to work for the Association and become a helper like Miss Luer, someone who could interact with Magical Girls."

This fool always placed her former self far too low.

SpiCa asked, "...Then how does it feel to become a Magical Girl yourself?"

"At first, I was excited. But after calming down and thinking about it, I don't think I'm qualified to be a Magical Girl."

"Trust the Star Crystal's choice. Do not doubt yourself for no reason. Besides, your magical power comes from your convictions. No one is born a warrior. Before becoming Magical Girls, everyone was merely an ordinary person."

SpiCa pressed her hand against the identification device by the door, opening the final gate to the core area.

But beyond it lay another long, dim corridor.

The corridor's walls consisted of separate movable panels that could seal the passage when necessary. They were probably meant to prevent the containment failure of the imprisoned Shark Princess Witch.

While I studied the surroundings, Ceruno continued their earlier conversation.

"What did Miss SpiCa do before becoming a Magical Girl?"

"Me? I'm from Esperia. Twelve years ago, I was just an ordinary elementary school teacher."

"Oh! What a coincidence! I lived there when I was little too! But as one of the first people chosen by the Star Crystal, you can't possibly be called ordinary, can you?"

Miss SpiCa gave a bitter smile and continued, "I really was ordinary. When I first fought as a Magical Girl, I was a burden who relied on Sirius and the others for everything. I was called the 'Strategist Saint' only because I was weak and had to rely more on my mind in battle... Ceruno, my magic lacks offensive power just like yours."

"How is it the same? You directly made the Shark Princess Witch lose her ability to fight!"

"When I arrived at the scene, she had already exhausted every means at her disposal."

SpiCa's words sounded unbelievable, but there were clues to support them.

The original seven Magical Girls had an unofficial ranking. The positions in the middle might have been debatable, but the first, Sirius, and the seventh, Spica (SpiCa), were almost certain.

So Miss SpiCa's strength might truly not have been particularly overwhelming... Of course, that was only by my standards.

Ceruno merely gave a wry smile.

"What do you mean? Mental Overlay is obviously an incredibly powerful ability, isn't it?"

"A Magical Girl's growth comes not only from accumulated combat experience, but also from developing her own magic."

"Even if you say I should develop it, I... Mm!"

Ceruno suddenly fell silent.

We had reached a circular room at the end of the passage. The bound Shark Princess Witch lay before us on an advanced-looking medical bed, surrounded by scanning devices. Someone outside was likely monitoring her physical condition at all times.

This containment method was much rougher than I had imagined.

"So this is... a prison."

"More or less. As long as she lacks sufficient water, she is less destructive than an ordinary Monster. She has no ability to break out of here."

The floor and ceiling were both reinforced alloy steel, and the passage we had entered through was filled with mechanisms. It was almost impossible for the Shark Princess Witch to escape.

"But will she just be kept here like this? Doesn't she need food delivered once a day or something?"

Ceruno asked.

"No. Witches are more unusual than other External Invaders. They no longer have any physiological needs. They do not need to eat, sleep, excrete, or even breathe. They rely solely on the Star Crystal within their bodies to provide the energy necessary to sustain themselves..."

Miss SpiCa's answer was rather horrifying. This could no longer be considered a living creature.

What exactly had the Magical Girls who went to the Other Side experienced?

"If I had to classify them... Witches are biological weapons in the truest sense."

Ceruno cautiously moved closer to observe her. I raised my guard to the highest level as well, but the Shark Princess Witch on the bed did not react at all.

It was Mental Overlay.

Virgo's magic could create a personality of her choosing and use it to overwrite an enemy's mind.

I had not expected Mental Overlay to remain effective even after its user had transformed back. What terrifying magic.

Ceruno asked, "Miss SpiCa, she was brainwashed by the enemy, right? Can't Virgo's power turn her back?"

"No. This goes beyond brainwashing. It is a complete and utter transformation... Even her Star Crystal has been contaminated. If even that has been corrupted, then human consciousness is beyond saving. There is no way to turn her back."

SpiCa's voice was filled with helplessness.

Through the screen, Heat Haze also looked at the motionless Witch on the bed.

She asked, "What exactly did they encounter on the Other Side?"

"I don't know."

"There have already been cases of Witch invasions... haven't there?"

"Including Bojiang, seven Witches have appeared around the world. Their combat abilities have all been restricted, and they are being held in treatment facilities in their respective cities."

"Seven have appeared, so there are probably another twenty-three," I said.

"Yes. The next time you encounter a Witch, please try your best to capture her alive. If you cannot do it alone, call for support... There is no way now, but I will definitely find a way to turn them back. Please."

SpiCa lowered her head to us.

She possessed more emotion than her cold exterior suggested.

As the initiator of that plan seven years ago, she had borne unimaginable pressure over these past seven years. Her exhausted appearance was likely related to that burden.

"Leave it to me!"

Ceruno patted her chest, looking quite confident.

"If it's only capturing them alive, my ability can help too!"