I, a ship girl, am the savior of civilization.

Merkel had almost completely forgotten what happened that day. No, rather than forgetting, it would be more accurate to say that Merkel was in a daze the entire time.

Only vague, indistinct memories remain in Merkel's mind.

Merkel was just a child, and although she was required to believe in Allah from a young age, the long-term war and poverty made her not a devout believer.

But Merkel's brother is different. Having embraced his faith for over a decade longer than Merkel, he firmly believes in a better future and that God will bring him the life he desires. Even if he dies prematurely, he will be reborn in Paradise.

If Merkel's behavior must be examined, it could be said that she betrayed most of the six fundamental tenets of Islam. Therefore, Merkel was severely punished by her brother.

"This is blasphemy against God!"

"Then why can't God save you?"

"I'd rather you hadn't saved me!"

"Then don't come back to life!"

This was originally just Merkel's angry remark, but what Merkel didn't expect was that because of her almost blasphemous vow, she would gain a special ability after becoming a magical girl.

Words become law, or perhaps... the power of words.

The extent and intensity of this ability's interference are limited by Merkel's magic; it cannot be omnipotent, but it is not a problem if it is only aimed at an ordinary person.

Unexpectedly, yet logically, Merkel's brother has returned to the embrace of God.

Merkel, meanwhile, wandered aimlessly in a state of mental confusion. The magical girl's body, which didn't require food, meant Merkel didn't have to worry about survival; her biggest problem, however, was her mental state.

After realizing that she had unintentionally caused her brother's death, Merkel's eyes lost their luster, and the Soul Stone was corrupted at an incredible speed.

The Soul Gem is the core of a magical girl. If it is completely corrupted by darkness and turbidity, the magical girl will give birth to a witch, betraying her original mission and spreading despair everywhere.

Just as the dragon slayer will eventually become the dragon himself, magical girls can never escape the fate of becoming witches. This is the conclusion that the Kyubey civilization has drawn from thousands of years of civilization in the main world of Earth.

And it will be the same in another world.

“Without the Seed of Lamentation, the corruption of the Soul Stone would be irreversible.” Looking at Merkel, who was like a walking corpse, Kyubey tilted his head slightly. “However, now is not the time for you to become a witch… Merkel.”

--split line--

New York, Bronx

Just like any other morning, after breakfast, Laura and Mami strolled along the tree-lined path, enjoying a rare moment of peace and tranquility.

However, this tranquility was soon shattered.

"Good morning, Mami and Laura."

A cute voice rang out, and before Laura could react, she felt a weight on her arm. Looking at the little pink and white ball of fluff in her arms, Laura smiled slightly, then reached out and tickled Kyubey.

"Chubi, it's rare to see you out in the morning."

Feeling the gentle touch on his abdomen, Kyubey shrank back, rolled around in Laura's arms, and stared at Laura with his red eyes before turning to Mami:

"I sense a new magical girl has arrived in this city. Shall we go check her out?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Laura's eyes, while Mami's smile slowly faded. Laura might not understand what a new magical girl meant, but Mami knew very well.

"Kyubi, do magical girls exist in this world too?"

Kyubey nodded, making no attempt to hide anything: "That's right. Although there are incredibly few humans in this world with the potential to become magical girls, there are still a handful."

Casually nuzzling Laura, Cupid continued, "And this one is one of the few who are qualified."

Asami seemed to ponder this, and then made a decision in her heart:

"Then let's go take a look."

Although Kyubey said there are no witches in the Marvel universe, Mami always remained wary. After all, there were no magical girls in this world before her.

No one can guarantee that a witch won't suddenly appear one day.

Therefore, it's especially important to make contact with other magical girls beforehand and prepare for any potential conflicts. Besides, this girl might be the only magical girl Mami will ever encounter in the world, and Mami wants to see what's so special about her.

Therefore, under the guidance of Choupie, Mami and Laura finally appeared in front of Merkel.

Looking at Merkel, whose situation was clearly not good, Mami and Laura exchanged bewildered glances.

His filthy clothes, his distraught state of mind, and the soul gem that was so murky it was practically nothing but a shard...

"Hey, are you alright?"

Laura gently squatted down, ignoring the unpleasant smell emanating from Merkel, and then poked Merkel's cheek.

Sensing the movement beside her, Merkel merely glanced coldly at Laura before burying her head between her legs again.

With her eyes slightly narrowed, Mami picked up the Soul Gem that had been carelessly tossed aside beside Merkel, then sighed: "With the Soul Gem, I'm not surprised, you're a magical girl too."

Upon hearing the words "magical girl," a flicker of emotion flashed in Merkel's eyes. She slowly raised her head and stared blankly at the almost entirely black Soul Gem in Mami's hand.

"It seems so." Looking at Merkel's expression, Mami nodded slightly. "What's your name?"

"...Merkel."

Merkel remained silent, but her desired response was transmitted to Mami and Laura's minds through Kyubey's mental network.

"Sister Merkel?"

Laura stood up, bent down and extended her hand to Merkel: "If you don't have anywhere to go, you can go back to Laura and Mami's house."

Staring at Laura's flawless white hands, then at her own dirty hands, Merkel felt somewhat lost. Thinking of her brother who had died because of her, a shadow of sadness crossed Merkel's eyes.

"Is it okay? For someone like me..."

Hearing Merkel's seemingly self-talk, Laura blinked, took Merkel's hand, and gave her a gentle smile: "It's okay, there's always a place for you, Merkel, at home."

"After all, Laura and Mami's house is quite big..."

5. The lives of magical girls are often just this simple and unpretentious.

"It's so big..."

Arriving at Laura's house, Merkel, barely managing to muster her spirits, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Having lived in Syria for so long and coming from a humble background, Merkel had never had the chance to see such a luxurious villa.

However, thinking about everything she had done, Merkel's mood plummeted again. The Soul Stone was nearing its limit, and if it weren't for Kyubey's reminder and help, Merkel would probably have fallen into utter despair.

Even though the corruption of the Soul Stone had been brought under control, Merkel remained trapped in a long period of self-loathing and doubt. During her time as a wanderer, Merkel learned how to use her powers, but the desire to resurrect her brother remained just a fantasy.

Therefore, Merkel completely closed herself off, and even Laura and Mami, who were also magical girls, could not pry open a crack in her heart.

"In any case, Merkel, please stay at our house for now."

Shaking her head, Mami felt that she had a long way to go in her work. Through Kyubey's explanation, Mami basically understood the reason why Merkel had become like this.

He's such a pitiful child...

Mami couldn't help but think back to the time when she had just become a magical girl. Because of that, a car accident pushed Mami's entire family to the brink of death, leaving them on the verge of death.

When Kyubey appeared, Mami made a wish to live. While it can't be entirely attributed to Mami, it's undeniable that she was the only one who survived at that time.

For a long time afterward, Mami found herself in a similar situation to Merkel. So, whether out of sympathy or a sense of shared experience, Mami ultimately chose to take Merkel in.

"However, I'm afraid Merkel won't be able to use magic for the foreseeable future."

Holding Merkel's Soul Stone, Mami felt a pang of regret. To be honest, even without knowing the specific direction of the Marvel universe, Mami could sense the danger lurking beneath the surface of the world simply from television news and the existence of organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D.

Especially in New York, a fierce battle took place at Stark Tower just a few months ago.

In this situation, being able to use magic to protect oneself is naturally a good thing.

However, what's done is done. Although Mami didn't know the consequences of the Soul Gem turning completely dark, she knew it wouldn't be a good thing.

At the very least, once the magic power is exhausted, magic can no longer be used.

"Khubby, what will happen after the Soul Stone turns completely dark?"

Using Kyubey's mental network, Mami quietly asked.

Kyubey tilted his head and looked at Mami, saying, "The magic will be completely exhausted. Just as you thought, Mami, if possible, it's best not to let the Soul Gem become completely tainted."

Kyubey answered Mami directly, while skillfully avoiding potential questions. Although Kyubey could have simply told Mami the whole truth, that would only hinder their plans.

Never lying is a characteristic of incubators, but Kyubey can selectively conceal parts of the truth. Moreover, from a psychological perspective, Kyubey believes this is also a good thing for Mami.

Compared to lingering on the road to despair, moving forward with hope may be the future these magical girls yearn for.

Nodding slightly, Kyubey's answer further confirmed Mami's guess. Placing the Soul Gem on the table in front of Merkel, and sensing the unusual odor emanating from her, Mami frowned slightly.

While the odor might not be enough to deter Merkel, it's still necessary to clean her up.

"Lola, could you please prepare an outfit for me, and also get some cake and black tea? There should still be some left in the kitchen. I'll take Merkel to take a bath first."

Then, Mami pulled Merkel up and led her to the bathroom on the ground floor.

Pushing open the door, the luxurious design and decor once again challenged Merkel's worldview. Even though Merkel had already experienced Laura's house's opulence upon arriving at the villa, the living rooms conveyed a sense of order and cleanliness, which was far less impactful than the bathroom.

Traditional European classic design, European retro home decoration style, large areas of mirrored surfaces, detailed carvings, and even a dazzling crystal chandelier...

Numerous European-style elements are concentrated in a mere 80-square-meter space, yet it does not feel cramped. The circular multi-person bathtub sits in the center like stars surrounding the moon, complementing the shower area not far away.

A bathroom with white as the main color brings not only simplicity, but also harmony and purity.

Catching a glimpse of Merkel's surprise out of the corner of her eye, Mami chuckled, tossed Merkel's tattered clothes aside, and then led Merkel into the bathtub where the water temperature had already been adjusted.

The bathroom was originally built to bring people relaxation and tranquility, and Mami also hoped to provide temporary relief to Merkel's sad heart.

The music of the fifth track from Karastengus Phantom's album slowly began, with the melody of violin and piano playing in the background. Surrounded by warmth, Merkel felt a rare moment of relaxation.

"so good……"

Asami couldn't help but think. No matter how many times she experienced it, this feeling of complete relaxation was truly something she never tired of. The life of a magical girl was often so simple and unpretentious. All it took was a warm bath to feel the tranquility of her soul.

After washing up and feeling much lighter, Merkel felt a wave of languor and weariness wash over her. Before she knew it, she was holding Mami and had fallen into a deep sleep.

Sensing Merkel's unusual behavior, Mami looked at Merkel in her arms with some surprise. A faint smile appeared on her face as Mami led Merkel out of the bath, carefully drying her body, and then returned to the bedroom.

Gently setting Merkel down, Mami, dressed in a yukata, entered the living room and immediately saw Laura preparing cake and black tea.

"Where's Mami-neechan? Where's Merkel-neechan?"

Seeing that only Mami came out, Laura asked with some confusion.

"She fell asleep halfway through, what a lovely child." Thinking of Merkel sleeping in her arms, Mami couldn't help but smile. "I took a bath and I'm a little tired too... Laura, I'm going to take a nap too."

Watching Mami disappear at the top of the stairs, Laura stared blankly at the cake and black tea she had just placed down.