Chapter 1: Young Lady, Enter a Pact with Me

"The world is facing a cataclysmic crisis. Young girl, do you wish to save it?"

"No, I do not."

"But if you refuse, you may die."

"Hmph, so you've finally shown your true colors?" Wakaba gazed at the mysterious creature before her: a silver, chubby, cartoonish spider, its voice childish and oddly endearing.

They were inside an iron cage, within a shipping container. The light was dim, the air thick and foul. The metal floor was rusted over, slick with a yellow-black, murky liquid that reeked faintly of urine and blood, nauseating to the point of sickness.

When Wakaba awoke, she found herself in this hellish place.

After surveying her surroundings, she realized she had transmigrated, now inhabiting the body of a delicate, fragile little girl.

This body was truly frail—only slightly better than the chronically ill body she had endured in her previous life, confined mostly to a hospital bed.

The cage was small, just as wide as the container itself, about four meters across, but only a meter high. The iron bars were as thick as an adult's thumb, corroded in many places, yet impossible to bend by human strength.

Inside were a dozen or so young girls, none able to stand, forced to crouch, kneel, or lie down.

At this moment, the girls clustered together on the far side of the cage, huddled in terror, their faces pale and frightened, keeping as much distance from Wakaba as possible.

Seeing this, Wakaba could only wonder… Why are you all so far from me?

I'm scared too!

Fear had already taken root deep in her heart.

She had noticed dark stains smeared across the container's walls—were those dried blood?

Although she had lived for over a decade in her previous life, most of it had been spent bedridden. At heart, she was still a gentle, timid girl.

"Are you truly unwilling? You possess a magical girl talent unlike any before. If you sign a pact with me, you can skip the apprenticeship and become a full-fledged magical girl," the silver cartoon spider persisted, addressing Wakaba.

It seemed the other girls in the cage could not see it.

"Becoming a magical girl—does that mean I get a wish granted?" Wakaba looked up at the strange creature, her voice youthful and airy, tinged with sarcasm.

Did it really think she hadn’t watched Madoka Magica?

A being that specializes in luring desperate girls into making pacts, turning them into cosmic entropy-reducing laborers doomed to tragedy.

Having transmigrated, she refused to become a soul-drained worker!

"Er… Isn't saving the world the highest spiritual pursuit of humankind? Why would you need a wish?" the cartoon spider asked.

"Heh heh heh~" Wakaba rolled her lively eyes in a grand gesture of disdain.

She had seen through this world’s Q-type creature—it was truly wicked.

Not only did it want her to work for it, it even embezzled her one and only wish.

Dark! Truly dark!

Wakaba’s resolve hardened: she would never, ever become a magical girl.

The other girls in the cage glanced furtively at Wakaba, who seemed to be talking to the air.

They sighed inwardly. Such a celestial beauty, her looks enough to spark envy… what a pity, she must be simple-minded.

"I just consulted my superiors. They want to know—what wish do you want to realize?" the cartoon spider suddenly said.

Wakaba instantly understood. Q-types were a civilization unto themselves; it was only natural they had superiors.

Hearing that her wish could be granted, Wakaba took a deep breath and whispered, "I want to become the end of time, the ultimate of the universe, the limit of all dimensions, the root of all concepts… a god! I want divinity!"

The spider fell silent.

Its eyes resembled those of a teddy bear—emotionless, but Wakaba sensed it was looking at her as if she were an idiot.

"Didn’t you say my talent was extraordinary? Can’t you even grant me godhood?" Wakaba asked, as if it were only reasonable.

The spider shook its head. "Your request is utterly unrealistic. Choose another."

"You're talking about reality when there are magical girls…" Wakaba retorted.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed outside, shaking the entire container.

"Ahhhh—!"

The girls screamed, terrified.

Wakaba’s breath caught, her heart pounding wildly.

More chaotic noises followed, mingled with gunfire.

After a time, all was quiet.

The girls in the container gradually calmed.

Creak, creak!

The container’s iron door opened.

Their eyes, adjusted to the gloom, struggled to withstand the dazzling light outside.

Still, they forced their eyes wide, hoping their saviors had arrived.

But when they saw who entered, their faces blanched, bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Several men strode in, all dressed in black suits.

Their hair was cropped short, faces cold and severe, eyes glinting with malice, radiating a chilling aura.

Once inside, they scrutinized Wakaba’s face intently, their expressions revealing awe and greed, as if beholding an unparalleled treasure.

The other girls received only a cursory glance.

Wakaba shivered under their gaze—their eyes marked them as ruthless killers, likely with many deaths to their names. True demons.

If she fell into their hands, Wakaba could imagine dozens of horrific fates awaiting her.

‘No, I don’t want to die! I must escape…’ she howled inwardly.

The men carried in the mutilated corpse of a boy, along with five more bodies, all dressed in black suits.

They tossed them carelessly into the corner and left.

As the container door closed, Wakaba faintly heard voices outside.

"… The commotion caused by that brat before he died can't be concealed anymore. The boss has ordered us to clean up all traces before the Security Bureau arrives, and ship the goods overseas."

Hearing this, Wakaba was seized by despair.

If they shipped out, her chances of rescue would dwindle to nothing.

She had hoped, just moments ago, that the newcomers were their saviors.

But reality was not so: heroes rarely arrive in time to save victims in peril.

Most often, only the victims’ bodies are found.

Rumble.

The container shook, then began to rise.

Wakaba realized it was being hoisted, likely onto a ship.

The girls screamed again. Actually, since the bodies had been brought in, terror had pushed many to the brink.

Bang!

Another massive explosion resounded outside.

This was far stronger than the last. Wakaba heard something collapse.

Then the container jolted violently, tilting sharply.

The girls were forced together in a heap; the six bodies rolled to one side with the shifting container.

Thud.

A sudden sense of weightlessness overtook Wakaba—she knew the container had fallen.

Fortunately, it wasn’t far from the ground.

It landed instantly.

Inside, another round of violent shaking ensued, accompanied by the girls’ shrill screams.

Wakaba was thrown about, her head slamming into the iron bars.

Pain, pain, pain…!

At that moment she felt death was not so distant.

"Girl, sign the pact with me. Become a magical girl and you’ll gain the power to escape immediately," the silver cartoon spider said, appearing once more before Wakaba.

"How do I sign?" Wakaba asked, resigned to trying anything.

"It’s simple," the chubby spider replied, pausing. "Just eat me."