MHGA Chapter 400: Kyubey's Conspiracy
Madoka wondered if perhaps she was worrying too much.
From every perspective, the situation wasn't bad at all; the hunters even held an advantageous position.
The hunters had prepared plenty of hunting tools to deal with Walpurgisnacht and Shagaru Magala. Before the hunt, Kairo Retsu had specifically arranged a secure location.
Kyubey's target was herself—Madoka deeply understood this after seeing her own "story."
Because Homura wanted to save her, through repeated timelines, the karmic destiny accumulated on Madoka had grown to terrifying proportions.
If she made that wish, Madoka could sever all witches' pain and sadness, from past to future.
If she sacrificed herself, the Law of Cycles would manifest in the universe, guiding all magical girls who would otherwise turn into witches.
She could do it at any moment. The ultimate solution had already appeared before her through that future story.
Yet, she now understood how desperately Homura wished to avoid that outcome.
Could Madoka truly disregard everything Homura had done and selfishly wish for the Law of Cycles?
Carrying these doubts, Madoka continued helping city residents inside the gymnasium refuge.
Due to extreme weather outside, the refugees were anxious, especially the younger children.
Madoka could only do her best under such circumstances.
Soon, a group of children gathered around Madoka.
Many citizens watched Madoka with gratitude. Their children had been restless and crying, but Madoka quickly soothed them.
Elsewhere, Kyoko Sakura and Hibiki were busy helping move supplies, easily surpassing nearby adult men carrying boxes.
A nearby school gym teacher watched in awe as Kyoko Sakura and Hibiki dashed around with heavy loads, calling them women who could shoulder the future of athletics.
"Madoka, I'll help you!"
After running around assisting others, Sayaka noticed Madoka overwhelmed by children and quickly approached to help.
"Sa...Sayaka..." Madoka weakly called out, submerged by kids. She hadn't expected the children to cling so fiercely. Only when Sayaka helped disperse a few did Madoka escape from drowning in a sea of kindergarteners.
"You sure are popular with kids, Madoka," Sayaka sighed, watching Madoka frantically handling them.
"Maybe because I've spent a lot of time with my little brother?" Madoka responded, holding a toddler dozing off, "If we don't comfort them now, it might leave psychological scars."
"Besides…" Madoka didn't finish.
Sayaka, Mami-senpai, and the others didn't know about Walpurgisnacht.
Thanks to the hunters deliberately hiding it, they believed it was just a normal disaster.
"Hmm…"
After a while sitting quietly beside Madoka, Sayaka couldn't resist asking, "Madoka, if… you could make a wish, what would it be?"
"…" Madoka's eyes widened, but she shook her head without answering.
She couldn't, mustn't, shouldn't wish—those thoughts filled her gesture.
Sayaka continued softly, "If I could wish, I'd want to heal Kyosuke's hand."
"!"
Madoka's heart shook.
Indeed, that was Sayaka's wish.
Madoka opened her mouth, unsure whether she should say anything.
Should she advise Sayaka to abandon that wish? Or urge her not to become a magical girl this way?
Ultimately, someone like Sayaka, as long as Kyubey remained in this world, would inevitably make a wish for others and become a magical girl, wouldn't she?
Madoka struggled internally with these thoughts, while atop the gymnasium, Laios, having just finished his Felyne Meal, stood rubbing his full belly.
"Meal finished! Time to get back to Shagaru Magala!" Laios's eyes shone brightly.
Having enjoyed a meal made from dragon meat, he was exhilarated at returning to hunt a mighty Elder Dragon. Such was the life Laios loved!
Yet as Laios stood up, he suddenly noticed something unusual far away.
It wasn't from Shagaru Magala's direction, but another entirely.
From this distance, Laios could only vaguely see some commotion, unsure what exactly was happening. He took out binoculars and spotted… witches.
"Eh?"
Laios froze.
Weren't magical girls, witches, and Kyubey blocked outside Mitakihara City by Winged Lion's magic? Why were witches so close?
Laios barely had time to wonder before realizing something was wrong—those witches seemed to be heading straight toward them.
Quickly referencing his map, Laios pinpointed the maze created by Winged Lion, the gymnasium's location, and compared them to the direction the witches appeared from.
The witches had emerged at the nearest entry point into the maze leading straight toward the gymnasium.
They were targeting the gymnasium refuge.
"This must be Kyubey's doing!" Laios immediately concluded.
From dissecting witches earlier, Laios understood precisely what witches were: beings of pure instinct and despair, hardly even creatures at all.
Normally, witches couldn't breach the magical maze, so...
Laios's expression turned complicated.
Attacking elsewhere might have posed problems since the hunters couldn't be everywhere at once, especially with their forces tied up.
But the base was right here. Palicoes might not actively hunt, but they'd operate mechanisms and defend camps.
Still, Laios decided to inform Kairo Retsu first.
"Huh? Those damned Kyubey bastards attacked the gymnasium?!"
Fighting furiously, Kairo Retsu roared through the communicator, "Laios, forget about coming back! Go chop those damned Kyubey bastards with a Switch Axe!"
"Those animals came knocking at our door looking for death!"
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