Tatsuya's eyes fluttered open. His breath was heavy, chest rising and falling as he gasped for air. His vision blurred for a moment before slowly coming into focus, scanning his surroundings.
Yellow walls. The soft glow of the evening orange sky streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the floor. Blue curtains swayed slightly from the breeze. A tall bookshelf stood against the wall, filled with neatly arranged books. On either side of his bed were two nightstands, each holding a blue lamp.
"This is… my room?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. A dull ache pulsed in his head, making him dizzy. "How the hell did I get back here?"
As he sat up, something else caught his attention.
"My clothes…" He looked down at himself, eyes widening. His uniform was completely restored—not a single tear, burn, or bloodstain remained. Even the wounds he remembered having just moments ago were gone.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
Was everything I just experienced real? Or was it just a dream? And if it was a dream… how did I end up back here?
[No, it was not a dream. Everything you experienced was real.]
Tatsuya's body tensed. He recognized that voice—it was the same one that had spoken to him during the fight with the monster.
Which meant…
Everything that happened—the attack, the monster, the destruction—wasn't a dream.
It was reality.
Tell me, what the actual hell is going on?! And how did I end up in my room?
[As for your room, I teleported you back home. Then, since you were unconscious, I took temporary control of your body and told anyone who asked that you were just feeling dizzy.]
Tatsuya shivered slightly at the thought.
[Relax, I didn't do anything questionable or perverse. Though, I must say, you have quite a big sword down there for someone your age.]
His face twitched. Can we just skip that and get to the main point?!
[For that, sleep and open your eyes.]
The voice's words puzzled him. What did it mean by that? But instead of questioning it, he sighed, lay back on his bed, and closed his eyes.
And then, he opened them.
To his surprise, he was no longer in his room. Instead, he stood in an endless meadow, stretching infinitely in all directions. The vibrant green grass swayed gently as a soft breeze passed through, making it ripple like waves in a vast, emerald ocean.
"What is this place?"
A voice echoed from behind him. "It is my domain, my plane of existence, where I am free to do whatever I desire."
He quickly turned around—and froze.
Before him stood an astonishingly beautiful woman. Her skin was pale, almost luminous, and her long green hair was styled into twin faux braids, adorned with a crystal-like leaf crown. Her striking emerald eyes held a mysterious depth, and her slim figure exuded elegance.
She wore a flowing, ancient-style gown that draped effortlessly over her form. The fabric was soft and lightweight, layered with delicate, semi-transparent veils that shifted with every movement. Gold embroidery traced intricate patterns along the edges, shimmering subtly in the light. The dress cinched gently at the waist, emphasizing her slender form, while the loose, flowing skirt cascaded down to just above her ankles. Thin straps rested on her shoulders, leaving her arms bare, and the neckline dipped modestly, revealing just a hint of her collarbone.
She stood with an air of regal grace, her bare legs only adding to her ethereal presence.
"Who are you?"
"I am the voice you were hearing, dum dum!" the woman said, pouting playfully.
"Wait, really? You look kind of..." He paused, trying to find the right words.
"Kind of what?" she asked, tilting her head.
"A goddess. A beautiful goddess whose beauty can't be matched," he answered honestly. The woman standing before him was the most breathtakingly beautiful being he had ever seen. Even the most stunning supermodels would look utterly average in comparison to her.
"Obviously, dum dum! I am a goddess—and the most beautiful one," she declared, placing her hands on her hips with a confident smirk.
"So, what's your name?" he asked. "Sorry if I sound impolite, I actually don't know how to talk to an actual goddess."
"It's fine, dum dum!" the woman said cheerfully. "Anyway, my name is Aiag, and I am the goddess who reigns over the domain of life."
"Aiag, the goddess of life... Never heard that name in any known mythology," he said, furrowing his brows.
"Well, I come from a lesser-known civilization, one that hasn't been discovered even today," she replied. Then, her expression grew serious. "Anyway, let's get to the main point."
She took a step closer, her emerald eyes locking onto his. "Tatsuya, do you know what Magical Girls are?"
"Magical Girls...?" He blinked. "Yeah, I've seen a few anime. I have a decent idea—they wear frilly outfits and believe in things like the power of friendship to defeat monsters and villains, or something along those lines."
Aiag sighed. "Well, you're right about the frilly outfits. But forget the power of friendship nonsense."
"Wait… are you telling me that Magical Girls are real?!" he exclaimed, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Huh, you just realized that now..." Aiag said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I did," he replied, rubbing the back of his head. "Can you continue what you were saying?"
"Ah, right." Aiag crossed her arms. "Magical Girls are beings who are born as girls or women and awaken their powers in response to a deep need—one that stems from their broken selves. The reasons for this vary greatly."
She paused, then added, "And don't ask me what those reasons are. It would be best if you figure them out yourself."
"Figure that out myself?" Tatsuya repeated, frowning.
"Yeah, through interactions and other experiences, you'll figure it out," Aiag said dismissively. "But back to the main point—the job of Magical Girls is to protect humanity from monsters. These creatures embody the concept of Extinction and exist solely to wipe out humankind."
"And why do they want to do that?" Tatsuya asked, narrowing his eyes.
Aiag sighed. "Because the world itself sees humanity as a pest, a poison."
Tatsuya blinked. "What?"
"For the world, humanity has been a constant source of defilement. Pollution, deforestation, destruction of ecosystems—humans have been harming it for centuries. The world is in pain, and to end that pain, it gave birth to monsters. Their sole purpose is to eradicate humanity, to purge the world of the suffering inflicted upon it," Aiag explained. "Even if it means total extinction."
Hearing that, Tatsuya furrowed his brows. "So, Magical Girls are some kind of protectors of humanity?"
Aiag stopped and let out a small laugh before answering, "Sort of, but I'd rather not go into that right now. Besides, the reason I'm telling you all of this is because you are going to be the first Magical Boy—someone who will stand alongside humanity against the monsters."
"Wait, me?!" Tatsuya's eyes widened in shock.
"Yes, you," Aiag confirmed casually. "This is how it should be. The more important details will be given to you by the Magical Girls once you meet them."
"Okay," he said.
Then Aiag added, "But there are a few things you will not say to them."
"Huh? Such as?" he asked.
"Number one—my existence," Aiag said.
"Your existence? Why?" he asked.
She turned around and said, "We gods are not allowed to interfere with what happens in this world after our banishment."
"Banishment by whom?"
"Not important," she said, turning back. "The second is this." She snapped her fingers.
Suddenly, a figure appeared near them—a boy, tall and imposing, with long white hair that flowed in uneven layers, slightly messy yet effortlessly elegant. His pale skin contrasted sharply with his striking red eyes, which held an unreadable intensity. He was dressed in a Summer Fall High school uniform, identical to Tatsuya's.
"Who is he?" Tatsuya asked.
"He is a guy known as Ezakiel Graciór," Aiag answered. "Once a student at a school, an ordinary-looking guy… now expelled." She paused before continuing, "He is the greatest threat to all that exists."
"Huh?" Tatsuya blinked in confusion.
Aiag snapped her fingers again.
In an instant, the figure before them began to shift. His flesh withered away, his form stretching unnaturally until he became a towering skeletal figure, draped in flowing layers of tattered black robes. Blue flames flickered within the hollow sockets of his skull, burning with an eerie, unrelenting glow.
"This guy is actually a monster," Aiag said, her voice laced with disdain. "A walking disaster. Cruel, evil, merciless. The concepts of love and kindness are completely foreign to him. He does whatever he wants, without hesitation or remorse. Last time I checked, he even used mind control to force himself on his own mother."
Tatsuya's stomach twisted in disgust, but Aiag continued.
"He is something no Magical Girl is ready to face. If evil had a physical form, it would be him."
Tatsuya frowned. "Wait, if this guy is that much of a threat, then why shouldn't I tell the Magical Girls about him?"
"Trust me," Aiag said, shaking her head. "Just don't. They only know what he looks like in his monster form, and they're making a grave mistake by trying to hunt him down. He knows about them. About me. About you. About all of us."
Tatsuya swallowed hard. "So... how do we deal with him?"