Magical Girl with Demonic Time Magic-Chapter 70: Angel

Chapter 70: Angel
Today is the 10th and something curious is happening, Septarion appeared in my room for a conversation before I go to school.
"Good morning, Ayane, how are you today?" He asks excitedly.
"I’m great! I’m making a lot of progress, I’ve gotten stronger and can use barrier magic better! I can even use the healing branch, though only a light cure," I say, excited about the progress.
"That’s great..." Septarion gets serious, as if he has something important to say, but is unsure.
"Is there a problem, Septarion?" I ask.
"Haaa...Ayane, I’m going to be honest with you, I have a proposal, I can’t force you to accept this, but I’d like you to accept it as soon as possible and I must be honest," he says rigidly.
"...Did I do something wrong?" I ask because of the seriousness, did I do something stupid?
"Something wrong? Hahaha, of course not, if you had, I wouldn’t even be making this current proposal, it’s something good, but complex," Septarion says a little restlessly as he flies up onto the little table in front of me.
"Ayane...do you want to be an angel?"
"Huh?" I’m 100% confused when he says that.
"Let me explain better, Ayane, you have all the qualities, magical ability, and purity to become an angel, although you still need to get stronger, you’ve shown the potential for it."
"Becoming an angel will not only make your power much greater, your magic will have some changes, and most importantly, you’ll be able to save many more people. I’ll give you a brief explanation about angels, listen carefully."
"Angels can’t do things freely on Earth, there are rules tied to the balance of the divine and mortal plane, so angels can only create magical girls to affect the Earth, which is the current case."
"I give power to girls, and they use these powers to fight evil, but there’s no payment from my side and I regret that it’s that way, but as I said, I’m extremely limited."
"I can’t even come to the human world with my true body, having to use the bodies of animals to manifest, but an angel created directly on Earth would have 100% freedom."
"If you become an angel, no rules would apply to you, you would be the bridge that connects the human plane to the divine plane, and with you being an angel, monsters would not be a problem."
"You could use divine power directly and defeat any monster, it’s a difficult and lonely task, but you would keep the planet Earth completely safe, having the strength to defeat any monster that exists."
"Wow, t-this is incredible!!" I say, alarmed. This reminds me of the promise I made to Setsuna, to become so strong that I could defend the whole world. Who would have thought I’d have such an opportunity so soon.
"Ayane, don’t accept it hastily. First, if you become an angel, you can never become human again. If you become an angel, you’ll forever bear the burden of protecting this world."
"Angels don’t age, angels have unlimited life expectancy. If you become an angel, one day you’ll be lonely because you won’t have your friends with you anymore. Magical girls already have an elevated lifespan due to divine influence."
"If you become an angel, one day only you will remain among all the people you know. If you accept this agreement now, you can never go back."
"There are benefits, but there’s also the unfortunate malady of loneliness, so I ask, are you willing to be an angel and defend the people of Earth?"
"...I..."
"Ayane, it won’t be now. As soon as you accept this agreement, your body will slowly begin to go through the change, but it will take a good while. You’ll continue your normal life with friends and the other magical girls."
"No one will know about this agreement, and one day you’ll fully succeed my position, being the only one with the right to decide how life on Earth proceeds."
"I don’t know...it seems...difficult, am I really fit for this?" I ask with uncertainty now that he’s said these things.
"Yes, in all my life I’ve never found a human more fit. If you refuse, I won’t have anyone to offer this to. Your rapid improvement, your purity, and your determination to protect others are rare and difficult things."
"Many girls reach some requirements, but never all of them, a mix of purity, magic, and talent that is rare to arise. If it’s not you, it won’t be anyone from this generation or the next."
"Will my life change a lot?" I ask with doubts.
"In the present, no, only in the future when you awaken as a full angel. For now, you’ll just be a normal magical girl, but with divine power inside your body waiting to bloom."
’...’ I think about Setsuna and our promise. This means I’ll be leaving her behind. One day she’ll die and only I and my duty will remain, but in compensation I’ll help billions of people.
"Can I protect those who are important to me?" It’s no use for me to accept this if I have to distance myself from those I care about. I want to defend others, but those who abandon the important people in their lives are no longer suitable to protect other people.
"No, you don’t have to abandon anyone. Think of it as a promotion. You’ll be like the boss of the magical girls. You’ll create and lead the new generations. You’ll be a symbol of hope."
"You’ll save people from monsters and have the power to do whatever you want. You don’t have to abandon your current life. You can maintain both lives."
"As long as, of course, you keep absolute secrecy. No magical girl should know about this for now. The creation of angels is not something done lightly. I myself was unsure about offering this to you until I noticed that you had an absurd advance as a magical girl in 1 month."
"But don’t feel obligated to accept, Ayane. It’s not your obligation to do what you don’t want. Follow your heart."
’Setsuna broke an arm to protect me. She motivated me and fought for me...she’s an incredible heroine.’ I think about how kind Setsuna is.
"I accept! Septarion, I want to be an angel...I just ask one thing, my public life must not be affected." I can’t sacrifice my normal life. Mom, Dad, and Setsuna wouldn’t like that.
"Now? Won’t you think about it more?" Septarion asks with doubts, as I accepted too quickly.
"No need, I accept. I want to defend people, I want to be a symbol of kindness and hope that calms everyone." I may be rushing, and it may be just a stupid teenage impulse, but I want to try.
"I understand, don’t worry, I’ll spend more time with you teaching you the ways of an angel. I promise in my name that your normal life won’t be affected," Septarion says as he extends his wing to me.
A great white light and a flash of light occur, blinding my vision as I feel light and a pleasant, gentle energy when I grip his wing.
"W-What was that?"
"Pure divine power awakening in you. It seems quite immature, maybe I was too hasty and made this deal too early, but you handled it well, and as I imagined, your affinity for divine power is enormous, even greater than mine."
"Keep doing good deeds, that will help the divine power in you fully awaken," Septarion says, pointing his wing at me with a tone of voice full of pride.
"Septarion, if it was too early, why did you do it?" I ask with doubt now.
"...It’s just that...I hate to say this, but the monsters are increasing in number rapidly. I think more attacks are happening in various places with frequency."
"I’m overloaded with work, I need immediate help, and you’re perfect for it. Even if you don’t do any of that for now, just your motivation to help others will be comforting."
"Why not tell the others?" I ask.
"I told Ophelia, but Ophelia told me that telling everyone would cause collective hysteria. In the end, you’re all human. A sudden threat would leave everyone tense and paranoid."
"Ophelia said the amount of monsters has increased by 20% since last year, but incredibly, all of you have done such a good job that the problems have remained at the same level as last year, showing the evolution of the current magical girls."
"Telling them could have the opposite effect and worsen what is stable for now, but we don’t know how long it will remain stable, so Ayane, please get stronger quickly."
"Don’t worry, Septarion! Setsuna and I will get a lot stronger...is there a problem?" I ask when Septarion seems uncertain about something.
"No, no problem...you really like that girl, don’t you?"
"Yes, Setsuna is my best friend, even though we’ve only known each other for 1 month, she’s cool and kind."
"Septarion, do you have a problem with her?" I ask with uncertainty and concern.
"Actually, no, it’s just that I’m almost absolutely certain I didn’t give power to Setsuna. I remember all the magical girls I’ve empowered and each of their abilities."
"But Setsuna...is a mystery. I don’t remember her, and I don’t know where she came from, but so far you and she have done a great job, and she’s been kind as far as you’ve seen."
"Maybe I’m just too worried about the monsters, but if you, Ayane, trust her, then I guess I trust her for now. I’ll let you judge what you think of Setsuna. Now go to school or you’ll be late!"
"I may have been a bit hasty in offering this at this time, but I thought you’d take a few days to accept, but I’m proud of your work. I hope for great things from you."
"Okay, okay, thanks and I’m going, Septarion," I say enthusiastically. I wanted to tell Setsuna that I’m going to become an angel, but I have to keep it a secret. I just hope she’ll be impressed on the day I can reveal it.