REAPER SCANS

Mr. Magical Girl

[Translator –  goguma]

[Proofreader – ilafy]

Chapter 28: Extermination Records 『Shadow Artist』 & 『Canvas Breaker』

The small room could have existed anywhere.

Despite the overly bright lights eliminating any darkness from the corners, the place held the Association’s secrets and sins.

The individuals gathered there weren’t assigned to any department—a precaution so that their identities could be kept hidden.

I taped two photos to the whiteboard and handed each member a document. "A-Rank humanoid monster, Shadow Artist. A-Rank Hero, Canvas Breaker. Those are our targets today."

At the word “target,” the crew immediately began murmuring.

"We’re assassinating a hero? What did she do for us to resort to this?"

‘These bastards haven’t even read the documents I just gave them.’ I thought to myself before saying, "After falsely reporting that her story had ended, she ran off with the final boss of her story. That was two years ago."

I taped a map and the results from a regular checkup onto the whiteboard. "During a routine checkup, we discovered she still had her powers. That’s when the Association launched their investigation."

I pointed to another photo in the document—a photo of a couple chatting affectionately while shopping. "We’ve obtained pictures of them living together in a house in the civilian district."

"They look nothing like they do in the first photo."

Finally, I had a question worth answering.

"Shadow Artist has the ability to disguise itself and conceal powers from the Otherworld. This was confirmed in combat reports submitted by Canvas Breaker herself."

‘Again, the information is in the documents you should’ve read. Read them.’

"There’s also the Association's report on the increasing concentration of Otherworld power in that area. Turn to page four."

For the first time, I heard the sound of turning pages. Their eyes quickly locked onto the graph.

The energy concentration had spiked dramatically. Though it had slowed in the past six months, it had far surpassed the saturation point.

“The Association predicts an Otherworld’s corrosion within a month. While it slowed down, it’s already teetering on the edge.”

The murmurings grew louder. A corrosion in the heart of the city… Everyone understood the gravity of the situation.

“As a result, the Association dispatched three S-Rank heroes. This is unprecedented.”

“Three S-Rank heroes?”

“Then why do you need us?”

‘We need you because there are specific tasks only you can handle, dumbass.’

“The only one engaging in actual combat will be me. The other two will block off the area to prevent any escapes and suppress their powers so they can’t move.”

Though I’d be the only one fighting directly, the fact that three S-Rank heroes were involved showed just how seriously the Association was taking it.

Even the lineup was impressive… Crimson★Hammer, Infinite Castellan, and Librarian. Every available S-Rank hero had been mobilized for the mission.

“What about permitted weapons?”

“Everything. Infinite Castellan will seal the area himself, and Librarian will restore it afterward. Nothing will leak—no matter what happens.”

“How do we handle the aftermath?”

“We’ll stage it as a gas explosion. In other words, you guys have full clearance to use the explosives you love so much.” After the briefing, I scanned the room, gauging their reactions. “Any objections or questions?”

As usual, everyone remained silent—until a blond, biracial man raised his hand.

“Henry, go ahead,” I said.

“It’s not a question about this mission, specifically. Is that alright?”

“It’s fine.”

“From what I understand, situations like this have happened multiple times. Does the Association plan to assassinate them every time?”

“As you know, the higher-ups recommend we try our best to persuade them to return to the Otherworld.”

“Even so, how many of them actually accept the offer? Isn’t a more fundamental measure—”

He just had to bring up the painful truth. “Henry, I know, but this is the best option we have right now.”

“Humanoid monsters have their own personalities. If we could suppress the Otherworld’s power…”

“That technology is still in development. If you have complaints, then take them to the researchers.”

Did he think I was doing it because I wanted to? I’d seen countless people break down in tears while accepting offers to go back and others who had chosen death instead.

Being sent back wouldn’t kill them, but there was no guarantee they’d ever return to our world. The Otherworld invaded countless places simultaneously, so the odds of them finding Earth again in the vast universe were…

“Who will be doing the persuading?”

“Me.” The room’s atmosphere grew heavy. “If they refuse the offer, Librarian and Infinite Castellan will limit their mobility, and combat will begin.”

“It’s over for them.”

“I hope they accept the offer.”

Whispers floated through the room. Henry, seemingly no longer having any questions, sat back down in silence.

“Alright, if there aren’t any more questions, we’ll move on to the mission details.” I removed the photos from the whiteboard and replaced them with a large map. In case negotiations failed, we needed to make sure I could kill them, no matter what.

* * *

“I'm going in now. Start as soon as you get the signal—if you get one.”

“Too much talking, brat. Just make sure you convince them.”

“Confirmed.”

Why did the old man always have to get the last word?

‘Just say “Confirmed” like the rest of us.’

Fuu.

I took a deep breath to steady myself before ringing the doorbell.

Ding dong.

“Who is it?”

The mission began.

“I’m from the Association, Ms. Canvas Breaker.”

“Why would the Association come here?” She tried to sound calm, but I heard a faint tremble in her voice.

“I’m sure you already know. It’s about Shadow Artist.”

“…”

I pressed on through the silence. “Please don’t attempt to run. You’re already surrounded.”

“…” Her breathing grew heavier, echoing through the intercom, distorted by the electronic hum of the doorbell speakers.

“We can still resolve this peacefully. Please open the door.”

“Okay…” Filled with resignation, she finally responded, and I heard slow footsteps approaching.

The door opened, revealing a human and a monster, holding hands.

“I’ll get straight to the point.” I cut off any protest, and began one-sidedly speaking. “The Association predicts an Otherworld’s corrosion in this area soon. I’m sure you know the cause of it, don't you?”

The woman glanced at the man beside her.

“The Association can transport Shadow Artist back with a spell. If you accept, Ms. Canvas Breaker will not be held responsible for any of this.”

‘We want to end this quietly, too.’

They seemed peaceful, as if they had expected the day to come. Though the news clearly weighed on them, they remained composed, without any emotional outbursts.

If it stayed like that, I thought it might go smoothly.

The two held each other’s hands tightly, clinging to the last bit of warmth they could share. After a moment, the humanoid monster spoke. “Could I ask a question?”

“Yes, as many as you’d like.”

“Can the spell also be used on people from Earth?”

It was a question I’d heard many times. If they were going to be sent to the Otherworld, they wanted to go together.

“It can’t. The spell doesn’t work on anyone from this world. While we’ve confirmed the eventual possibility, with the Association’s current technology…”

‘Bloodlust.’ I immediately pressed the button, signaling the others.

A black spear and a painting spell shot toward me. I deflected the black spear with my hammer and dodged the spell before swinging my hammer down.

I felt contact, but… was it just a scratch?

My hammer barely grazed the tip of the monster’s legs. I’d managed to counterattack, but the situation felt off.

Why? Everything had been going smoothly just a second prior. In fact, it almost always worked when the mood was like that.

Somehow, negotiations had failed.

“Negotiations failed!”

Their movements slowed as a strange sensation surged through the space.

Infinite Castellan’s spatial control…

Librarian’s reality shift…

With the battlefield sealed, a barrage of bullets whizzed in—supportive fire from my team.

“Don’t kill the monster! He has to die to Canvas Breaker’s attack!” The Otherworld’s powers must’ve already hit the critical point. If the monster died at another person's hands, a hole would surely form.

“Confirmed!”

Countless black spears shot out from the house, knocking away most of the bullets. The few that got through were blocked by a blue layer of paint surrounding the house, shielding it from the explosion.

They weren’t trying to escape—they had chosen to fight back.

“It’s a small house! Watch your fire and don’t hit each other! Move in, now!”

“Confirmed!”

With that, the battle began.

* * *

I watched their final moments. Their skin was covered in festering burns and riddled with countless bullets—a tragic mess.

The couple met their end after having their powers slowly chipped away, but they’d desperately struggled until the last second.

Canvas Breaker, moments before reaching her limits, had been mentally manipulated into stabbing her lover. Normally, it would have been impossible, but her exhausted body and mind couldn’t resist the spell.

The command she was given? ‘Kill the person closest to you by any means necessary.’

Her magic sword, without a master, slowly slid from her grasp. The sword, made of paint, was embedded in the monster’s heart.

Her final memory was the act of stabbing her lover with her own hands. The moment the monster was confirmed dead, countless bullets tore through her body.

I knew how terrible it was. We had orchestrated the situation, forcing a couple deeply in love to destroy each other with their own powers. 

Humanity wouldn’t have survived if we hadn’t.

There was still a chance a hole could form after the monster’s death, so I sent my team back and stayed behind to watch over the corpses.

Were their two years together filled with happiness? Even if they were, what did that happiness mean when their end was so cruel?

I stood over their bodies, lost in thought, when I noticed something strange.

In their final moments, they had fallen in the same direction—their hands reached out toward something, but it wasn’t toward the door. It wasn’t like they had wanted to escape. In fact, it was the complete opposite direction.

Were they trying to protect something? Had they defended the house with their lives because something was there?

It was probably just a coincidence. There was no way. What could be more important than their own lives…?

Despite thinking it was just a coincidence, I found myself walking toward where their hands had reached out to.

If it wasn’t chance, if there was something more… I needed to know what they had protected so fiercely—what was worth dying for.

Their hands pointed toward a closet. At first glance, it seemed like any ordinary closet, but something felt off. Despite the chaos—explosions, gunfire, destruction—nothing had damaged it except for a light coating of soot.

It was clear. They had done everything in their power to shield it.

I took a step, just one small step, but that single step changed everything.

Even someone like me, insensitive to the Otherworld’s powers, could feel it. It was an overwhelming energy—enough to trigger a corrosion at any moment.

‘O-Rank… An Otherworld entity?’

I picked up information with my five senses—a weak breath. A small life.

How had I missed it? Why hadn’t I noticed?

I stepped over their bodies and opened the closet, where I felt the source of the faint energy.

Inside was a small child. Her black hair had just started to grow, and she had a small, black horn and pale skin.

She was fast asleep, hugging an Otherworld seed as if it were a toy.

I understood why the couple had refused to be transported. They knew… They knew the Association would kill the child.

This child was born of our world, so she couldn’t be sent to the Otherworld.

The child had to die.

The Association would never allow a child like that—a seed of a disaster—to live. Despite the kid’s innocent appearance, I felt an overwhelming amount of energy radiating from them.

They had a perfect ability to disguise themselves. So perfect that I hadn’t noticed until I was standing right in front of her.

Slowly, I raised my hammer. There was no way I could make my team bear the burden of killing a child.

They had already suffered enough.

This sin had to be mine.

I, who was already broken…

We, the first heroes…

Us, the filthy Awakeners who created the Association with all our sins…

“Awu?” The child stirred, opening their eyes. Violet, shimmering like the night sky filled with countless stars instead of pupils—a clear sign they were not of this world.

The child looked at me with innocent curiosity, without the slightest hint of fear.

‘You have to do it, Haram. End it.’

“Kya.” She reached out a tiny hand, smiling.

I swung my hammer.

* * *

I slowly stepped out of the house, cradling a small lump of blood in my arms. I held it close, making sure no one would notice.

“Blow it up.” I gave the command through the radio.

“Confirmed.”

A massive explosion roared behind me, the fire swallowing everything.

All the evidence burned away in its wake.

“Dismissed.” I issued the final order, turning off the radio without waiting for a reply.

As the blaze lit up the night, I quietly slipped into the shadows.

I wasn’t alone.

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