MHGA Chapter 356 – Madoka's Uncertainty (4)
Madoka, having only just become a Hunter and still lacking sufficient strength, possessed no special powers of her own. Thus, she remained in the operations room, observing the battle unfolding inside the Birdcage through the broadcast feed.
Having never been part of a battle before, Madoka felt completely lost as she watched everything taking place before her eyes.
At the same time, she began to think about her own future.
Kyubey, Incubators, Homura Akemi, Magical Girls, Witches, Grief Seeds, the Time Loop, and… the threads of karma entwined around her.
Her future had always been unclear due to all these things. It wasn't until the very end that she made her decision… But now, watching the future story that depicted herself, Madoka couldn't even imagine what her future self must have felt.
What kind of resolve must she have had… to make such a wish?
Even though Kairo Retsu had told her that he and the other Hunters would prevent that kind of future from happening, was destiny really something that could be changed so easily?
Madoka was lost in confusion—but what troubled her the most was…
Why didn't Kairo Retsu seem to share that same uncertainty?
She had witnessed the sudden appearance of the Shagaru Magala with her own eyes.
Not just the people in the Birdcage—even those in the operations room had fallen into confusion, despair, and hopelessness in the face of this crisis.
Madoka had also seen that fleeting moment of panic on Kairo Retsu's face.
But that panic hadn't lasted long. In the blink of an eye, Kairo Retsu had already made up his mind—rallying every bit of strength he could muster to fight back.
Not just Kairo Retsu, but even the monster they had once believed to be the very source of calamity—the Gore Magala.
That dragon had, of its own will, rebelled against the Shagaru Magala. Even with no future left to speak of, it had still chosen to burn what little remained of its life, sacrificing it for Altair, pouring everything it had into the battle against the Shagaru Magala.
Sacrifice…
Madoka clenched her hands into fists, watching the broadcasted battle before her—but unable to think of anything she herself could do.
A storm of emotion swirled within her heart—and that emotional turmoil… attracted something else to her.
The creature known as the Winged Lion, an embodiment of magical energy, was drawn in an instant by the resonance of the broadcast array—shifting from the Birdcage into the operations room, where it immediately sensed that peculiar aura emanating from Madoka.
From the moment it laid eyes on her, it had been captivated by that scent clinging to Madoka.
The scent of the soul itself.
If the Winged Lion had to describe it, that scent was like a flavor that, no matter how bitter or despairing the circumstances, remained unchanged even over near-eternal spans of time.
But now, that pure scent was shrouded in a layer of confusion.
That haze of uncertainty was like a sheet of foil wrapping up a delicacy—locking away the aroma of the soul.
So… the Winged Lion transformed into an Felyne, its preferred form, and quietly landed beside Madoka in the operations room.
Its sudden appearance startled everyone present. Meteora even prepared to launch a spell, worried that something might have gone wrong.
But Madoka recognized the Winged Lion and quickly stopped the others from attacking.
She hurriedly picked up the Winged Lion and brought it to a corner of the operations room, then whispered to it:
"Why… Why did you come here?"
"Because this isn't my true body."
The Winged Lion extended a paw. "I just like this form the most… because it brings me the most comfort and satisfaction. That's why I appear this way."
"I am magic itself. Space and time hold no special meaning for me. The reason I came here… is you."
"Madoka, are you lost?"
The Winged Lion's eyes stared directly at her. "Your desire and will… they've been clouded by your own hesitation. It seems like you're still unsure."
"You…" Madoka lowered her head, looking at the Felyne-like creature curled up in her lap like some kind of therapist, and recalled what Kairo Retsu had said about it. "You were really once a demon that endangered the world?"
"I was," the Winged Lion said, rubbing its head against Madoka's hand, curling up in her arms as if everything happening in the world meant nothing to this little cat. "Because of my runaway desires, I became a demon… and thus, a failure."
"Maybe from the very moment I had desires… I was destined to fail." The Winged Lion spoke of itself without hesitation. "Are you thinking about your own world?"
"…Yeah," Madoka hesitated, then answered. "I… reread that story the Guildmaster gave me."
"But the more I read… the more I don't know what to do."
"I can't think of any way to change that kind of future. Even though the Guildmaster promised he'd change things… I can't stop myself from wondering, does such hope even really exist?"
Madoka's voice trembled. "Are we sure… nothing will go wrong? Homura kept repeating everything again and again because she couldn't find a way, right?"
"Even if I don't become a Magical Girl, what about Homura, or Mami-senpai, or Kyoko…"
Clutching her chest, Madoka gripped her clothes tightly and continued, "What will happen to them? Will they still end up bound by that fate and become Witches? If that's the case…"
"Then I…"
Madoka's words were suddenly cut off by the Winged Lion's raised paw.
Its Felyne paw pad pressed gently against her lips, stopping her from breaking down or saying anything further.
"I understand. Right now… what's causing your confusion is responsibility and sacrifice."
"Ahhh—no wonder your soul's scent is so intoxicating to me." The Winged Lion sighed with resignation. "Perhaps… your desire, your emotions, your ideals… are the most delicious I've ever encountered."
The Winged Lion didn't hide its desire for Madoka, and continued without pause:
"I… once asked you to become the Master of the Dungeon. Do you know why I wanted to do that?"
Madoka was startled by the question. She paused to think, then replied, "Because you used to be… a demon?"
"Hmm?" The Winged Lion's mouth curled upward. "That might not be wrong, but… there's another reason."
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