Chapter 46: Clash of Ideals and a Crisis of Faith

“Rat Mask, Ox Mask, Tiger Mask, Dog Mask. According to the confessions, the Saintess and the Holy Relic should be with Ox Mask.”

“However, they remain unaware of Ox Mask’s true identity. More critically, even this information might be a fabrication released by Dragon Mask.”

Ethereal Gem, the Magical Girl, held the report in her hand. Her gaze fixed upon Rainbow Jade, the Magical Girl standing before her.

“Had you not killed Dragon Mask back then,” Ethereal Gem stated, “we might have acquired more intelligence.”

Rainbow Jade met Ethereal Gem’s gaze calmly. “That’s precisely why my first strike wasn’t intended to kill them.”

Her words carried a subtle, sardonic edge. “As it turns out, for these monsters, there’s no need to judge their sins. Immediate execution on the spot is the only correct decision.”

“If my initial attack had directly eliminated Dragon Mask, the others would never have escaped.”

“Based on the circumstances, we lack evidence of them committing murder or devouring flesh and blood. Even if we were to kill them, they should first undergo a trial.”

“We are Magical Girls, the embodiment of justice, not bloodthirsty maniacs who indiscriminately slaughter people! Therefore, killing them is not an option.”

“You are right,” Rainbow Jade simply replied. “So, what do we do now?”

“The remaining four could, at any moment, be controlled by that extraordinary power. Each of them is an ordinary person, resenting their transformation into monsters, yet desperate to survive.”

“How can you possibly expect them to uphold high moral standards? Their current lack of action is nothing more than fear of me, a fear that will gradually fade within them.”

“They will begin to believe I am not so formidable, that I am not without weaknesses, and then they will emerge to harm others.”

Rainbow Jade’s eyes, shimmering with rainbow light, fixed upon Ethereal Gem.

“Because we cannot rashly judge them, must we wait until they have killed people, until they have devoured the flesh and blood of the innocent, before we put them on trial? Why can’t we act preemptively?”

“Why must justice always be a step behind? If we wait for people to die before punishing evil, can the deceased truly be revived, no matter how severe the punishment?”

Her tone grew heavier. “Answer me, Nun! Can the omniscient and omnipotent Lord you believe in bring the dead back to life?”

“Or rather, no, the equivalent exchange for dead life, resurrection, merely allows one to substitute their own life for the life that was lost.”

“Surely you don’t believe that by performing a mass and uttering ‘May you rest in peace in heaven,’ those who have passed will truly find solace there? Such words will never convince me.”

Ethereal Gem knew it was impossible to persuade Rainbow Jade; the Magical Girl had always been this way.

“I don’t care about the specifics of this situation right now. You are no longer able to extract sufficient intelligence from those masked individuals.”

“I cannot tolerate the remaining few escaping justice.”

Ethereal Gem frowned slightly, looking at Rainbow Jade who had just spoken.

“You have already obtained enough information from Dragon Mask. These masked individuals no longer hold any value.”

“You should know what these masked individuals have done.”

Ethereal Gem frowned slightly. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“A city-wide lockdown!”

Rainbow Jade provided the answer directly. “Implement a city-wide lockdown. I will use my power to sweep the entire city. Give me three days, and I can ferret out all these pests, unless they have already fled the city!”

“Impossible!”

Ethereal Gem’s objection was swift. “How could we possibly do that? Do you have any idea how much damage that would inflict upon Clear Sky City?”

“No matter the damage, as long as we can subdue and kill the monsters, it will be worth it! Nothing is more precious than human life!”

Magical Girl Rainbow Jade’s resolve was virtually unshakeable.

Ethereal Gem wanted to say something, but she knew she couldn’t stop Rainbow Jade.

Rainbow Jade, despite representing the official Magical Girl authorities for years, could disregard anyone’s words in Clear Sky City. This was because she was simply too powerful.

She was so formidable that it made others feel helpless, so strong that she seemed utterly without weakness. This strength was not only evident in her power but also in her unwavering resolve.

She was so steadfast that even if her parents were held hostage as a threat, she would not hesitate to enact her own brand of justice. She was less like a living human and more like justice incarnate in the world.

“I… I will try to communicate with the higher-ups, but there isn’t much hope.”

“You go communicate. If it doesn’t work, I will find a way to solve it myself.”

“What are you going to do?”

Ethereal Gem was deeply worried by Rainbow Jade’s statement.

Rainbow Jade scoffed. “You don’t need to worry so much. I wouldn’t resort to coercive measures directly within the city. I am not a monster—I am a Magical Girl who can help. Just make sure those masked individuals don’t die.”

‘It seems she’s not entirely reckless, but…’

She quickly called out, “Rainbow Jade! If such a method exists, why don’t you ask for help now? It’s surely better than a city-wide lockdown?!”

Rainbow Jade, however, did not answer her. She transformed into a streak of rainbow light and vanished from the spot.

****

Ethereal Gem sighed softly and deactivated her transformation. She then returned to the church.

‘Rainbow Jade is not cute at all! And the stronger she gets, the less cute she becomes. She was such a cute girl in the beginning. How did she become like this!’

She opened a dictionary, intending to read the scriptures to keep herself vigilant, when Liu Yun, looking utterly distraught, entered the church.

“Eh?! Liu Yun! It’s only been one day! What happened to you?”

Ethereal Gem, the nun, and Zhang Jingna, completely failed to understand why Liu Yun, who had happily confessed to Lin Han just yesterday, was now so utterly dejected upon arriving.

‘Could she have been rejected? She doesn’t know much about romance.’

However, comforting Magical Girls was one of her duties. “Matters of the heart, you see… sometimes they just don’t go as planned. Don’t dwell on it too much.”

“It’s not about romance. Or perhaps, it’s somewhat related to romance.”

A bitter smile appeared on Liu Yun’s face. The nun even glimpsed a hint of shame within it. ‘Shame? Can I truly see such an emotion on Magical Girl Amethyst?’

“Can you tell me what happened specifically? I will listen carefully.”

Liu Yun had come precisely to talk to someone, so she recounted the entire affair to the nun.

The nun listened, then fell silent for a moment. “So, Ink Crystal means you are no longer suitable to be a Magical Girl. Between the safety of the public and maintaining secrecy from the person you admire, you chose to keep it a secret from your beloved. Therefore, you have been disqualified as a Magical Girl?”

Liu Yun looked up. “Perhaps I told Lin Han my identity because, deep down, I already realized this, but I refused to admit it, mistaking it for honesty. I might, indeed, be unworthy of being a Magical Girl. I cannot bear the responsibility of this role.”

The nun realized the core of the problem. This wasn’t because Ink Crystal’s words were particularly skillful, but because Ink Crystal still remembered the events of that day. Liu Yun was ashamed of her own subconscious decision.

“This is indeed a mistake. Especially for you, for Teacher Liu, for Magical Girl Amethyst, it is a mistake.”

“If I were to tell Amethyst that it wasn’t her fault, she wouldn’t accept it. But there is no one in the world who doesn’t make mistakes, even Magical Girls.”

She smiled. “Do you know what I was just discussing with Rainbow Jade?”

‘Rainbow Jade?’

Liu Yun shook her head.

“She believes she should have struck to kill the moment she encountered the masked individuals, rather than attempting to leave them alive, which is why they managed to escape.”

“And I, on the other hand, argued that we lack the evidence to prosecute those masked individuals. Therefore, even if they are currently in prison, we can only use them as bait.”

“Yet, we are unable to bring them to trial and declare their guilt. In fact, what they have done, in a sense, only amounts to civil offenses, requiring monetary compensation.”

She spoke of her discussion with Rainbow Jade. “So, did Rainbow Jade and I make a mistake? As Rainbow Jade said, those monsters are actually very dangerous; we cannot leave them unchecked.”

“Acting out of foresight, we should have killed them all before anything terrible happened. But I still question whether this truly constitutes justice.”

“Among those masked individuals, there might be good people.”

She continued, “My ideas might also be flawed. Perhaps, it is precisely because of my way of thinking that sacrifices occur.”

“Magical Girls are Magical Girls; they are not omniscient, omnipotent gods who can do anything.”

Ethereal Gem gazed at Liu Yun. “If it is by your own will that you no longer wish to be a Magical Girl, then I respect your decision.”

“However, if you are wavering and contemplating abandoning this path because of that mistake, I hope you will reconsider. You are a teacher.”

“If a student makes a few mistakes, do you deny them the chance to correct themselves, refuse to guide them, and simply expel them? I believe that is not a teacher’s mission. A teacher’s true mission is to correctly guide students and educate them.”

“Are you such an excellent teacher, yet you are forcing yourself into a dead end?”

Ethereal Gem knew better than anyone that a student’s mistakes and a Magical Girl’s mistakes were two different matters.

A student’s mistakes could be arguing, stealing, cheating, or even some vulgar and indecent acts, with extreme cases even leading to one or two deaths.

However, a Magical Girl’s mistake could result in dozens, even hundreds, of innocent lives being lost. Even an analogy couldn’t quite capture the difference.

But she didn’t want Liu Yun to fall into such despair. ‘Magical Girl Ink Crystal… come to think of it, I haven’t met her yet.’

‘Does Liu Yun know Ink Crystal’s identity?’