A Lesson in Close Quarters

“So, what should we do first?”

Chloe was curious about the hunting process of a powerful Magical Girl like Tia, wondering if all Magical Girls followed the same routine. Locate the monster, confront it head-on, undergo a dazzling transformation while inexplicably shouting their name, then defeat it.

“Melee-type and ranged-type Magical Girls have vastly different fighting styles,” Tia explained. “I have little to teach you about archery, so instead, I’ll instruct you in close-quarters combat.”

Huh? A marksman like me fighting in close quarters? Chloe mused. Magical Girl archers were unlike their muscle-bound normal counterparts; her slender arms drew bows and fired arrows with magic, granting her no advantage whatsoever in melee.

“But… I’m completely unskilled in close combat…” Chloe voiced her skepticism. Engaging in close combat would mean abandoning her primary advantage.

Tia, hands clasped behind her back, paced back and forth with closed eyes, much like a seasoned instructor.

“First, you must understand,” she began, “I’m teaching you how to protect yourself when danger arises during a hunt, not how to overwhelm your enemies with sheer advantage.” She stopped before Chloe, their golden and violet eyes meeting. Chloe felt as though her very soul had been laid bare.

“What makes you think an enemy will meet you head-on, specifically choosing to fight where you excel?” Tia challenged. “Humans know to exploit weaknesses, animals instinctively target a prey’s vulnerable throat, and monsters are certainly not foolish in combat—let alone those witches.”

“Your weaknesses are the last line of defense for your life’s safety,” Tia continued, her voice sharp. “Have you already forgotten your battle with that tentacle monster? If I hadn’t been observing from the shadows, you’d already be pregnant and hollow-eyed, laying eggs for that tentacle beast in some dark, damp corner.”

‘Lay… laying eggs…’

Chloe, imagining the horrific scene, felt her face flush then pale instantly. But then again, would Tia’s tentacles make me lay eggs? Chloe anxiously touched her stomach. She said it was just some impurities, just energy. There shouldn’t be any other side effects, right? Right?

Noticing the sudden fear clouding Chloe’s expression, Tia mistook it for an understanding of the importance of close combat for an archer. She nodded, then continued, “Therefore, learning close combat is absolutely essential. Now, lead the way. Let’s find that monster.”

“Ah… oh, right.”

Chloe, jolted from her reverie about tentacles, quickly regained her composure. She hastened a few steps ahead of Tia, following the path she remembered from her sensory search. The unfinished building blocked out large swaths of sunlight. Stepping into its shadows, a dry, desolate scent assailed them, as if they had entered another world entirely.

“Look.” Chloe crouched before the staircase, turning her head to signal Tia to approach. Most of the stairwell was thick with dust, yet patches of it remained curiously clean. “The center is broad, and there are fine scratches on the surrounding cement,” Chloe observed, pointing. “The claws are very sharp. It appears to be a beast-type monster.” Chloe thoughtfully stroked her chin, analyzing the clues. “It could be a wolf—a wolf-shaped monster.”

“Hmm… a good analysis,” Tia affirmed with a nod. “Beast-type monsters rely on physical prowess. If it’s a wolf, its speed will be exceptional, and it will be cunning. We must be wary of surprise attacks.”

Tia offered a small, approving smile. This unexpected display, however, unsettled Chloe. Such a look of gratification, as if genuinely pleased for me. Was this truly an expression Tia was capable of?

Chloe stuck out her tongue, then stood up, winking playfully. “Then you’d better keep a close eye on me, okay? Don’t let me get snatched by a wolf~” With that, she skipped playfully up the stairs.

“Don’t go so fast!” Tia’s voice echoed through the stairwell. Chloe’s lips curved into a smile, and after confirming that Papertreat was still securely tied to her waist, she continued her ascent.

“Third floor… fourth floor…” Panting as she climbed, Chloe sensed she was nearing the monster and gradually slowed her pace. “Fifth floor… this is it.”

Light filtered in from various openings in the abandoned building, yet numerous corners remained shrouded in shadow. Following her memory, Chloe approached a room. Her small leather shoes crunched on some construction debris, creating a sharp sound that startled her. She instantly pressed her back against the wall like a frightened rabbit, her chest rising and falling rapidly. The sound was audible throughout the entire floor, yet no other movement followed. This meant the monster was aware of her presence, either deliberately avoiding her or, more ominously, waiting for her to take the bait.

She swallowed nervously. Chloe gathered her magic, and the golden dagger materialized in her hand. A thin white pattern, previously unnoticed, now adorned the blade. Chloe merely assumed she hadn’t paid enough attention before, dedicating her full concentration to her surroundings.

She moved cautiously, peeking inside from the doorway, but found no trace of the monster.

“Strange,” she muttered. “It was definitely here.”

Entering the room, Chloe puzzledly scratched her head. “Papertreat, do you know what’s going on?” Chloe squeezed the doll at her waist, but received no response. Papertreat’s button eyes were staring intently upwards.

Why is Papertreat looking up?

A surge of ill premonition swelled within her. Chloe stiffly turned her head to look above the doorway, and a dark shadow suddenly lunged into her vision. Instinctively executing a roll, Chloe barely evaded the ambush, her body now covered in dust.

Indeed, it was a “wolf” covered in black fur. Besides being several times larger than a normal wolf, its sharp claws were surprisingly made of metal, leaving deep gouges where Chloe had just stood.

Sweat drenched me…

Chloe, her right hand trembling, gripped the dagger. As the wolf lunged again, she stepped forward and simultaneously sidestepped, intending to slash it while dodging. Yet, despite its massive frame, the creature twisted away from her strike with feline agility, instead tearing a small piece of fabric from Chloe’s skirt. The monster’s blood-red eyes narrowed slightly, as if mocking her incompetence.

Quickly creating distance, Chloe confronted the monster, her breath unsteady. Anxiously, she took the offensive, thrusting her dagger forward. Suddenly, the wolf kicked off with its hind legs, its entire body launching toward the wall, then darting downwards from the side. Chloe, whose lunge had missed, had not yet recovered her balance and could only watch helplessly as the sharp claws lunged toward her.

Chloe closed her eyes in terror. Too careless! Knowing my close-combat skills were abysmal, how could I have dared to charge in so recklessly…

However, the tearing pain she imagined never materialized.

“Bang.”

The sound of a heavy impact echoed in her ears. Chloe timidly opened her eyes. The wolf now lay against the wall, the concrete behind it riddled with cracks. The fury in its eyes was almost palpable.

Wielding a straight sword, Tia stood in the doorway. She cast a reproachful glare at Chloe before her gaze settled back on the monster.

“Watch closely.”

The monster coiled, preparing to leap. Before it could, Tia’s sword had already thrust forward, her body twisting in place to dodge. The monster, its attack anticipated, was too slow to evade, and the cold, white blade plunged deep into its skin. Tia’s eyes hardened. With a sharp flick, she pulled the blade free, sending crimson blood splattering onto the gray concrete wall. The monster’s heavy body was flung aside by the slender sword, falling still as the warmth drained from its form.

Throughout the entire battle, Tia had not moved from her initial standing position. With a flourish, she swung her sword, and the blood-stained blade shimmered, returning to its pristine silver-white.