Regarding Becoming a Magical Girl

She panted lightly, gripping her spear tightly as she stared toward where the silver pillar of light had appeared.

Efnir knew that pillar of light all too well. It was the anomaly triggered when an agent underwent First Synchronization and entered Exile Form.

But... why here...?

And who could it be?

If the fall of a shooting star marked the silence of a wish, then agents were born alongside the prayers of countless people.

"Efnir!"

However, Shinomiyami Nami's anxious voice suddenly came through the earpiece.

"Efnir! Headquarters has finished verifying the energy reaction type and signal wavelength... The corresponding 'Beacon'..."

"Is the stolen..."

"'Fifina.'"

The Resolve to Fight

During First Synchronization, a compatible candidate underwent a painful and prolonged process. It was the process of their body being completely transformed as it first accepted the Order Force.

That silver pillar of light was the energy flow overflowing when the power of Order ran wild and Synchronization was first initiated.

Simply put, it was the most primordial form of the Order Force, and before Synchronization, the most violent form that agents could not make use of. Such a pillar of light would last for nearly a minute, and the immense power of Order would indiscriminately affect any life nearby. Rashly approaching it was not a wise choice.

"Fifi... na?"

Efnir looked at the dazzling silver pillar, her expression shifting from shock to cold resolve.

"So... that's how it is? Looks like... it's an enemy..."

This new compatible candidate was not on the organization's side.

Every Beacon was unique and corresponded to a compatible candidate with a unique wavelength. Like gears of differing sizes and specifications, a compatible candidate could only Synchronize with the Order Force after obtaining a Beacon compatible with them. Only then could the "gears" turn and transmit kinetic energy.

The relationship between an agent and a Beacon was a two-way choice.

Compatible candidates were exceedingly rare. The Orderkeepers had screened every person in the city, and anyone judged to be a potential compatible candidate was placed under observation.

In short, if there had been another compatible candidate for Fifina, Efnir should have known about it long ago.

"I really don't want any more trouble at a time like this, but I'm not someone who backs down so easily. If it's an enemy, then I'll deal with her—Nami, can you tell me the details about the stolen Beacon you mentioned before?"

"Huh? Y-yes... Our database was destroyed in the attack five days ago, and the key information stored within it was leaked as well... The Beacon was preliminarily estimated to have gone missing forty-three minutes ago, which was when you met with Yukina. Right afterward, we received the emergency report that a Whale-type Corruption Entity had suddenly appeared..."

Shinomiyami Nami spoke quickly through the earpiece.

"I'm terribly sorry! We didn't tell you about this immediately, Efnir... Because... because it involved Fifina, so... we hesitated..."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. In any case, if we can confirm that she's an enemy, then this is simple."

Efnir paused.

"More than that, I'm concerned about who this Fifina is, what faction she belongs to, and what her objective is... If she came here prepared, then our situation may not be very pleasant."

"Y-yes... Headquarters should begin investigating as quickly as possible too... If she's Fifina's compatible candidate, perhaps there might be clues in the database..."

"There won't be."

Efnir shook her head, interrupting Shinomiyami Nami.

"I've never heard of Fifina having another compatible candidate. For Fifina—even in all of Xijing City, Fengling Shiyin was barely the only compatible candidate we managed to find. So this person probably came from 'outside,' and..."

Suddenly, someone's figure appeared in Efnir's mind, and the rest of her words caught in her throat.

Her younger sister... Shiomi Yukina.

She was a rare Absolute Compatible Candidate. According to what "that person" had said, Shiomi Yukina should have possessed the ability to Synchronize with any Beacon.

If it was her...

"No... impossible..."

Efnir muttered, denying her own suspicion.

Yukina had already been escorted to a shelter. Before the disaster warning was lifted, the shelter would never allow anyone to leave. There was no way she could be here, and besides, Yukina could never have obtained the Beacon Fifina.

"Efnir... did you... say something just now?"

"Nami... there's something I want to confirm with you."

"Huh? If it's something I know, please go ahead."

"It's about Yukina... You personally escorted her and saw her enter the shelter, right? Until you left, she didn't do anything unusual, did she?"

"Huh? Y-yes. I took Yukina to the shelter and only left after speaking with her for a few moments. At the time, Yukina even asked about you. She was worried about you."

"Is that so..."

Hearing Shinomiyami Nami's answer, Efnir let out a breath and relaxed slightly.

"Did something happen? Why bring up Yukina all of a sudden?"

"There are just some things bothering me..."

"Did Efnir discover something?"

"Something minor... More importantly, Nami, erase our conversation after the battle. I'll personally report this matter to the commander."

"Yes."

Efnir stared expressionlessly at the silver pillar of light. By then, it had already begun to fade.

That meant the mysterious thief was almost done with her First Synchronization, and Efnir's gaze grew increasingly sharp.

"Though there are things that concern me... I'm not about to turn tail before I find out."

Of all things, it had to be Fifina.

Fengling Shiyin was still lying in a hospital bed. Before she knew it, Efnir had tightened her grip on her spear.

"I need to confirm the enemy's identity."

"Please wait, Efnir. Headquarters hasn't issued an order yet. If she's an enemy, going over there so rashly is far too dangerous..."

"I know, but wouldn't ignoring it be more likely to cause problems? If she's an enemy, then we should deal with her while she's at her weakest. That's the simplest and most practical approach. No matter what, Shiyin fought to the very end as Fifina. The title of Fifina isn't something just anyone can take. I absolutely will not turn a blind eye to this."

Efnir drew a deep breath and looked toward the pitch-black sky.

Thanks to their efforts, the enormous floating island overhead and the countless Crows had eased their assault somewhat.

The crowd had also completely evacuated from this area.

The enormous shadow above let out a bizarre howl.

Efnir pressed her lips together and stared at the slowly vanishing silver glow.

"All right, we'll talk about the rest later. It's about time I got moving."

"...Ayse, Canary! Can I leave this side to you for the moment?"

Efnir shouted into her earpiece.

Ayse and Canary were the juniors dispatched this time to support Efnir. As Xijing City's current agents, their seniority was second only to Efnir's. Together with Efnir, they were the strongest fighting force the Orderkeepers could currently deploy.

At that moment, one of them kept a close watch on the Whale's movements, while the other confronted the Crows.

"If it's only ten minutes, there won't be a problem..."

Ayse's voice came through the earpiece, followed by a piercing roar.

A burst of starlight exploded in the air.

Canary leaped down from above and landed beside Efnir. She was panting, a willow-leaf-like blade held in her hand.

"Whew... Forget ten minutes—if you don't come back soon, Senior, I'll take all the credit over here!"

Though the Crows were numerous, more than half had been defeated under the encircling assault of Efnir, Ayse, and Canary.

She flashed Efnir a broad grin.

"Well, I'm joking, haha. Anyway, Senior, please give that counterfeit Fifina a proper beating. I can't approve of someone taking a comrade's things."

"Thank you for helping me... Then I'll leave this side to you and Ayse. I'll go meet that counterfeit."

"Mm, we aren't very good at fighting people, so even if you called us over, we might not be of much use."

Canary spread her hands, the corner of her lips curving into a faint smile.

Efnir turned around.

"Well... Also, even if the crowd has completely evacuated, don't go overboard. After eliminating the Crows, just keep an eye on the Whale. Make sure it doesn't escape. And finally... don't push yourselves too hard."

"Okay. Then the same goes for you, Senior. Please retreat if you're in danger. I wish you victory."

Brushing past Canary, Efnir faced the opposite direction and leaped down from the steel framework.

Thick smoke and scorching wind swept across her cheeks.

"Efnir... are you planning to find her...? But we have no idea why she appeared here. Isn't going there like this too reckless...?"

"Mm, perhaps... There are many things I don't understand either. In that case, I just need to see for myself."

"Please be careful, Efnir."

"I will. As for Canary and Ayse, I'll have to ask you to keep a close eye on them."

"Leave it to me!"

Efnir raced all the way to the eastern venue. The silver pillar of light was nearly gone, right in front of her.

The third floor there... was the preparation room.

But...

The air seemed quieter than she had expected.

The Answer

Yukina was immersed in a void of memories.

Countless fragments flashed before her eyes: snow-white, icy walls; her brother's reassuring smile; bone-chilling metal locks; the soft palm of someone's hand... What exactly had that felt like? Silver light swallowed and dissolved that black mire inch by inch... turning into starlight.

Her body would not move.

Surrounded by searing heat and agonizing pain, the resentment and despair filling her chest fermented. It was as if something had been stuffed into her heart, while an unnamed throb pulsed within her chest.

Yukina did not know how long she had wandered through that haze. When she came back to herself, she was standing blankly before the empty preparation room. The silver light and the black Corruption Entity were like bubbles from an illusion, leaving no trace behind.

The scene from just moments ago gradually returned to her awareness.

A cold, heavy sensation came from her palm. Her wrist felt as though something had locked around it, and her hair had been blown loose by the wind, cascading behind her down to her waist.

Her vision had never been so clear.

The lingering scent of mango and lime in the air, the delicate sound of the breeze slipping past her ears.

At that moment, the world seemed to have become bright and transparent. Even without consciously trying to sense it, every sound and movement around her reached her without missing a thing.

Yukina had never experienced anything like this before. It was as though...

She was no longer herself.

Yukina lowered her head blankly and looked at the longbow clutched tightly in her hands.

Her feet unconsciously shuffled backward.

What on earth was this...?

"When are you planning to keep standing there like an idiot?"