Chapter 38: "Mother's" Victory

In school fantasy stories, the academy attended by the protagonists often features an "old school building."

And within that "old school building" lies a mysterious underground cavern.

Chapter 38: "Mother's" Victory

The signal from the ultra-small GPS transmitter hidden in Maria's pendant is working without a problem.

Mima was rushing to the location indicated by the signal, leading eight Exorcists, including Sougi and Kanaya.

Mima and the others were all clad in revealing, dress-like suits, which are Spiritual Armaments.

Each of them held a staff that enhances the power and directionality of their magic.

At first glance, they looked like nothing more than a group of glamorous beauties, but in reality, they were a fully armed squad of Exorcists.

Even while moving at high speed, their readiness for battle was perfect.

Within the vast grounds of Kikuchigami Academy, on the outskirts—the old school building, currently closed to the public.

The transmitter signal pointed to the location of this closed facility, near the school where Maria and Tomoe would be enrolling in the elementary division from April.

There was no time to explain the situation in detail to the school staff.

Mima, brandishing the name of Madozono, half-threatened the school's security guards and forced her way into the old school building.

Then, by tracking the presence of the Genkon's 'Living Corpse' residue in conjunction with the transmitter signal, she discovered a secret door hidden within the old school building.

Beyond the door was a long staircase leading underground.

Leaving the surprised security guards aside, Mima and her companions hurried down into the underground despite their hesitations.

The stairs led to a massive cavern.

Pale blue flames, created by magic, lit up the cavern walls, illuminating the path leading further in.

Mima began to rush down the path, ready for battle, but from within, she sensed an evil presence rapidly approaching.

There was no mistaking it; it was the presence of a 'Living Corpse'.

The presence of the hateful, bastard culprit, Genkon.

"He's coming.... Proceed as planned.... Get ready!!"

At Mima's command, Sougi and the other Exorcists scattered, leaving Mima behind.

Mima, carrying the Phoenix Staff wrapped in silver cloth, waited for Genkon's arrival.

She concealed the Phoenix Staff in silver cloth to prevent Genkon from knowing its presence until just before attacking.

Soon, just as she had sensed, Genkon, transformed into a black mist, approached Mima in a straight line from the end of the road.

Although he seemed to slow down slightly along the way, Genkon, still in black mist form, accelerated and charged towards Mima.

"Now!!!"

But before Genkon could get close, Mima's voice rang out.

Using the Invisibility spell to optically conceal themselves, the Exorcists, positioned to surround the center of the road from all eight sides, simultaneously activated their Barrier spells.

Instantly, eight streaks of magical light swiftly surged, forming a barrier.

An eight-layered barrier magic to seal away the evil Kaima.

Even the mighty demon could not move against this powerful barrier magic.

"Aghhh!!! What is this...?!"

Trapped within the barrier, Genkon raged and roared, remaining in a black, mist-like form.

"How does that feel? To be caught in the trap of a 'woman' you've looked down on so much!"

Mima tried to provoke him, but in truth, she harbored concerns about whether even the eight-layered barrier would be enough to contain Genkon.

The result was that her plan had succeeded smoothly.

While relieved by this, Mima also felt suspicious and observed Genkon intently.

Sealed within the barrier, his thrashing about seemed to indicate a lack of mental composure, as if he were lashing out in anger.

Genkon was always a lowlife who mocked women and behaved in a vulgar and despicable manner, but he possessed an aura of transcendence that emanated from him, a result of having lived for over a thousand years.

However, there was not a trace of that aura emanating from Genkon now.

Genkon's rampage within the barrier seemed like erratic movements born of desperation.

"Where is Maria!?"

Mima bluntly asked the most important question.

"Maria!? That little brat!!! Mima!!! Was it you!?

Did you raise her!? How on earth did you create such a Monster!?!?!?!"

The reply was a chaotic stream of words.

Nevertheless, Mima understood instinctively.

This man, Genkon, had fled from Maria, the Saint.

Perhaps it was the overwhelming power he witnessed.

That's why he called her a "Monster."

Mima already harbored anger and hatred towards Genkon.

And yet, Genkon calling Maria a "Monster" touched a further raw nerve in Mima.

(Ah, surely, she must only appear as a "Monster" to him.

The figure of the child standing before him, wielding unparalleled power.

"Created"? No.

That child, Maria, is simply striving to be strong.

I have only offered a little help over the past six months.

That girl's strength is the result of not only talent, but also tireless effort.

I have been watching her all this time.

Knowing her 'Destiny' that she might lose her life, she continued to strive to protect me, her cousin, and other girls she didn't know yet.

The nobility of that young girl.

...And you called that noble girl a "Monster"!!!)

"Genkon!!! I will never forgive you!!!"

With a mother's furious rage, Mima released the Phoenix Staff from its cloth.

"....!?!?!?!?! Impossible!!! Could it be....!?!?!?"

Genkon cried out in astonishment just from seeing the golden staff.

"Yes, this is the Phoenix Staff!!! Maria, that girl resurrected it, the Sacred Treasure of the Madozono family!!!

Genkon!! You will be destroyed by the power of that girl, the Saint!!!"

Mima declared, chanting an ancient magic incantation.

In response, the Phoenix Staff immediately began to emit a golden glow.

"W-Wait, Mima--! S-Stop it...!"

Inside the barrier, Genkon cried out in protest, moving his right hand to try and manipulate the 'Mark' he'd implanted inside Mima's body.

But when he didn't get the reaction he expected, he was utterly stunned.

Mima, having finished chanting her mantra, saw this and let out a mocking roar.

"Too bad for you!! I've long since gotten rid of your dirty thing!!"

"Argh! You...!"

As Genkon groaned, the golden light emanating from the Phoenix Staff swelled and spread like a pillar of fire.

It was a golden, massive inferno.

It began to take on a gigantic form.

The divine beast—it takes the form of a Phoenix.

"Ugh...!?"

Genkon recoiled within the barrier.

He understood that the golden phoenix that had appeared before him was something that would destroy him, something he had no way to escape.

"Sougi!!!"

"Yes!!!"

Responding to Mima's call, Sougi, who was responsible for forming the barrier, released a portion of the barrier in front of Mima.

"Phoenix Purifying Flame!!!!!!!!"

Mima unleashed the golden phoenix towards Genkon within the barrier.

As the golden phoenix flapped its fiery wings, it transformed into a torrent of explosive flames like a raging storm, attacking Genkon.

"GUHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!"

With no escape, Genkon was blown away and burned by the golden flames.

The Exorcists, including Sougi, who were continuing to form the barrier, were overwhelmed by its immense power.

They had to muster all their magical energy to prevent the barrier from shattering.

If the phoenix flames leaked outside the barrier, it would inevitably cause unnecessary secondary damage.

The formation of the barrier had been undertaken with the destructive power of the Phoenix Staff's magic in mind.

"DAMNNN YOUUU!!! SAINTTT!!!!"

After Genkon let out a scream that seemed to curse the Saint, only the roar of flames continued to reverberate throughout the cave.

Eventually, nothing remained within the barrier where the golden flames had subsided.

The presence of the Living Corpse could no longer be felt.

Genkon, who had transformed into the black mist—the mist of Kaima—had been completely incinerated by the purifying flames.

Here, the demonic being who had been operating in the darkness of Madozono's Family for over a thousand years was vanquished.

"I did it... I did it... Onee-sama, Okaa-sama..."

Mima closed her eyes in prayer.

A flood of emotions welled up in Mima's heart at having finally defeated her sworn enemy.

But it was only for a moment.

Mima opened her eyes and began giving instructions to Sougi and the others.

"Sougi, just to be safe, I'll leave you and Kanaya here to watch out for enemy reinforcements.

The rest of you, follow me!"

There was no time to bask in the afterglow of defeating Genkon.

They had to reach Maria as quickly as possible.

Mima and the others cautiously pressed onward into the depths of the cave.

However, to their surprise, there were no enemies in sight.

And then they reached what seemed to be the deepest part of the cave, a vast open space.

"What in the world is this....?"

Mima was bewildered by the sight illuminated by the pale blue flames of magic.

Dozens of men in black, wearing snake masks, lay scattered on the cave floor.

Most appeared to be dead, but some were still breathing.

Beyond the corpses of these men—in front of a dark, empty space—lay a small, white figure.

Mima's heart nearly stopped.

"Maria!!"

Screaming, Mima leaped and ran towards the small figure, Maria.

"Maria!!! Maria!!!"

Mima shook Maria's body and called out to her frantically, but there was no response.

She immediately checked Maria's breathing and found it was slightly irregular.

Mima immediately cast a healing spell on Maria.

As a top-ranking Exorcist, Mima's advanced healing magic should have been clearly effective, but Maria showed no sign of waking up.

Suppressing her impatience, Mima spiritually retracted the Phoenix Staff, and quickly lifted Maria's small body into her arms.

"We're going back to the mansion. Everyone except Sougi and Kanaya stays here and
restrain the men who are still alive!

Cast healing magic on them, don't let them die, and make them confess everything that happened here!!!"

"""Understood!!!"""

Having given the order, Mima began to literally fly back the way she came using flight magic.

(It's alright, it's going to be alright!

This child won't die! Absolutely! I won't let her die!)

Mima gazed at Maria's unconscious face, continuing to believe this with unwavering determination.

To Mima, Maria was not just the beloved child her Onee-sama had left behind.

(Maria is also my daughter!)

The fact that Maria was a "Saint," or her "Destiny," was not in Mima's mind; she simply worried about her precious daughter, soaring through the sky with unwavering concern.

Mima, in every sense of words, is truly a Mother.

AN:

A mother's strength is immense...

Anyway, is Maria alright? (←feigning ignorance)