Episode 17 : We are ready to intercept

　Up until now, I hadn't studied very well, so it was refreshing to listen to the lecture again.

　However, when I was forced to do an endurance run in gym class, it was a bit troublesome to pretend that I was breathing.

　After all, we're just ordinary students...we're higher-level international students, but today we're finally saying goodbye to a life where we have to keep acting like we're just that level.

　A week had passed since then, and on the day of the attack, we were on high alert guarding Eichiin Academy.

　As I have shared my predictions about the timing of the attack with the colonel, Hazuki, Mayu, and the mobilized second-class magical girls are waiting outside the school.

　And inside the school, me, Koyomi, and Yukina are ready to jump out of the classroom and transform at any time.

　We are fully prepared, and since there has been no advance notice of the attack by the "Dawn Sky" in the last six days, I assume that this event is proceeding according to the original story.

　And we were finally about to reach our fateful moment.

　In the middle of the third period, a message from "MAGIA" is received on a wristwatch-shaped device.

　Taking that as my cue, I attached the communication device I had hidden in my uniform pocket to my left ear, excused myself to go pick flowers, and ran out of the classroom.

``Saijo Chihaya, can you hear me? "

"I agree. There are no signs of an attack here yet."

``Currently, an arson and shooting incident occurred at a private house near the Metropolitan Expressway. We are sending second-class magical girls to deal with the situation, but...''

　The colonel spits that out in disgust.

　But I also knew that.

　Their strategy is three-stage: first, they cause a terrorist attack near the Metropolitan Expressway to reduce the number of mobilized magical girls, and then is to destroy traffic routes.

"...It's probably a diversion. My guess is that the favorite is Eichiin Academy."

``Perhaps the plan is to make a big fuss and reduce the number of magical girls who deal with it...That's highly likely.Please approach with extreme caution.''

"understood"

　Give a short answer and end the conversation.

　And the second arrow prepared is a head-on attack.

　The nightmarish scene of more than a dozen trucks rushing toward the school's main gate, assuming that their numbers will be reduced by the special forces of Mayu and Hazuki, is hellish, but that alone is enough to make Akatsuki The plan that "Sora no Sora" came up with will never end.

"Dress up!"

　There shouldn't be any problems, but I still feel a little bit of guilt as I rush into the women's bathroom and quickly transform into a magical girl.

　From here on out, it's all about how I can do it.

　If Saijo Chihaya had been alive in the original story, she might have been smarter in destroying the enemy's plans.

　But now I'm Chihaya Saijo.

　If I am the embodiment of what would have happened if Saijo Chihaya were alive, then of course I would be responsible for that.

　So I have no choice but to do it. Whether it's smart or forced, there's only one thing to do now: screw up their plans.

　I transform into a magical girl by wearing a Gothic Lolita magic costume formed in a cocoon of light, and immediately rush out from the women's bathroom on the third floor to the back gate.

　They launched a three-stage strategy prepared by "Akatsuki no Sora", and the last thing they decided to do was force their way in from the back gate.

　By deploying our forces to the front, we can send in our favorites while focusing our attention in that direction.

　Although he is an enemy, he uses his wits.

　It's a complicated strategy.

　In the original story, Koyomi, who had no choice but to go to the front, hurriedly returns to the rear, but the story was that the attack had already begun, but she doesn't let that happen.

　I could definitely hear the sound of gunfire coming from the back gate, although it was suppressed by a silencer.

　Perhaps the security guard was shot.

　I have no choice but to pray that he's still alive, but I know that the chances of that happening are hopeless.

　If they had acted a little smarter, the security guard who was shot might not have died.

　This is just my lack of strength. But now is not the time to look down.

　While regretting the loss of one life, I had just landed in front of the back gate where a group of terrorists disguised as a food delivery company's truck had boarded.

"It seems like you did whatever you wanted."

"What... a magical girl!? You idiot, why did we decide on this plan...?"

"There is no obligation to answer."

　I said there would be no contestants, but I'm sorry, that was a lie.

　I knocked out the masked driver, who appeared to be the field commander and was trying to give instructions to his subordinates in the truck, with a single rifle bullet that smashed through the windshield.

　The number of subordinates who rushed out from the loading platform was around 15.

"My opponent is a magical girl, what should I do!?"

"The captain...!?"

"Okay, you guys, finish activating the Golem!"

　Even in the chaos of losing their captain, it seems that there are some people who are still able to think clearly.

　If it was that captain, he would have been in so much pain that he would have died, and he would have passed out from the slow-acting anesthesia, but there were other people who were calm, and if the "golem" was activated on top of that, it would be quite troublesome.

　Golem. That was the official name of the autonomous weapon that we at "MAGIA" called "Hitogata", and there was only one weapon stationed at the back gate just in case.

"Wow, for the true liberation of Japan!"

"Die, magical girl!"

"As long as we have a golem, we don't need to be afraid of the powerful dogs!"

　A group of terrorists jumped out from the loading platform and aimed at me with their finger on the trigger of an assault rifle, but all of the lead bullets were blocked by a magical barrier and fell to the ground with a hollow sound.

　I'm sure you've been fooled by the idea that you can afford it as long as you have a golem.

　That only applies to second-class magical girls. The reason why the job was given to us special class, bypassing the first class, was only because we were exposed to the wrath of our superiors and to maintain the defense system of the capital.

"...Raiden Dontsui(blunt hammer)"! "

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ! ! "

　Walking leisurely through the hail of bullets, I made sure all the terrorists were within range and chanted a spell.

　The order from the headquarters is not to let them live or kill them.

　I have adjusted the magic power so that even if they get hit by the lightning I just released, they will only be knocked out.

　The 15 people who were defeated all at once and the unconscious driver can be tied up with ropes, but the problem is probably the golem that has already activated.

　For a moment, the thought of blowing up the whole truck crossed my mind, but since it would cause damage to the surrounding area, that was not an option.

　If that's the case, I have no choice but to put a timer on.

　I thrust the tip of the magical conquest "Raikiri" at the golem that broke through the truck bed and stood up.

"Let's declare it, we'll be stuck in one move."

``It's amazing how much you can do...''

"...Or not to! Shiden Shunsen(instant flash)! "

　Before the golem could fire the magic bullets loaded in its arms, I charged the "Raikiri" in its sheath with magic power and unleashed it in one breath.

　The white blade was swung horizontally, and along with the lightning strike, the golem's body, which was made of a special alloy, was cut in half, and its upper and lower bodies were separated in tears.

　If it's no use telling the machine that this bastard took the lives of my friends the other day, then I'll just scrap it.

　That said, the higher-ups at MAGIA are probably desperate for data on this guy, so I'll leave the original model intact to some extent.

　If you're going to pay your respects, there'll probably be a golem stationed at the main gate. That's the way to vent my frustrations.

　I tied up the terrorists with ropes formed with magical power, threw them into the bed of a broken truck, and then sprinted towards the main gate.

　Koyomi and Yukina, as well as Mayu and Hazuki who were waiting outside, were probably dealing with the situation.

　The sounds of gunfire, explosions, and what appeared to be the screams of students could be heard intermittently from the main gate.

　I need to quickly meet up with Koyomi and the others and clean them up.