So You Want to Be a Magical Girl? - Chapter 6

For the next several minutes, Michael subjected Sariel to a merciless, comprehensive scolding in his capacity as elder brother.

The charges included, but were not limited to: intimidating classmates with force, in violation of angelic humility; failing to befriend his classmates, in violation of angelic gentleness; and neglecting his duties as student council president, in violation of angelic diligence.

At last, Michael’s gaze returned to Sariel’s hand, still clasped firmly around mine.

“Most important of all: restraint. Sariel, Heaven has no need for a seraph who cannot control himself.”

I frowned.

Michael’s accusations had probably come from classmates whispering complaints while requesting his autograph.

Had he condemned Sariel after hearing only one side?

Even I knew how exaggerated those complaints were, yet Sariel did not defend himself once.

He merely apologized and fell silent.

That only made Michael angrier. “What are you thinking? Sariel, I do not understand. I have never met another angel like you. Not even Lucifer before his fall was—”

Even in peacetime, comparing Sariel to a fallen angel was too much.

Michael realized it and stopped, but Sariel had already lowered his head, his face bloodless.

I knew I should not interfere in another family’s affairs. But the sight of poor, shattered Sariel ignited every protective instinct I had and burned away my awe of the Archangel.

“Lord Michael, I believe your judgment is unfair.”

Gritting my teeth, I stepped in front of Sariel. “You say he lacks humility, but I have never seen him treat anyone discourteously. You call him ungentle, but when I first arrived, Sariel was the only person who helped me and the only one willing to be my friend.

“As for diligence, he moved all his work to the evening just to help a struggling student like me. He would rather exhaust himself than disappoint anyone.

“I do not believe this Sariel is the immoral angel you describe. His classmates fear him and are prejudiced against him. Whatever he does, they assume the worst. But as his brother, shouldn’t you judge him with your own eyes?”

Michael’s gaze moved slowly toward me.

At that moment, I remembered the biblical account of him annihilating one hundred and eighty thousand soldiers in a single night.

Oh, damn it.

What had I just done?

I had shouted. At a humanoid. Atomic bomb.

I crushed the scream rising inside me and maintained an expression of calm confidence.

Internally, I was calculating the odds that Sariel could save my miserable life if Michael flew into a rage.

“You…” Michael began.

I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong.

“Do you truly believe that?”

Huh?

Michael looked startled, as though it had never occurred to him that I might defend Sariel.

“In all these years, you are the first… But perhaps you are right.”

He turned thoughtfully toward Sariel. “The past may indeed have left me with certain preconceptions. For that, I owe you an apology.”

An archangel praised in scripture for millennia was hardly going to be a petty villain.

“Miss Xie Ying makes an excellent point. I should assess your character with my own eyes… Yet there is one matter I must still emphasize.”

His hand shook as he pointed.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Sariel had wrapped his wings tightly around me.

“Restraint, Sariel! You are an angel! Learn restraint!

“Release Miss Xie Ying! This is entirely improper!”

Once Michael had delivered the blessing and disciplined his younger brother, he soon returned to Heaven.

Sariel withdrew his wings, but invisible bubbles of happiness still seemed to float around him. Even his perpetually flawless smile had gone silly.

I clapped in front of his face. “Come back to earth.”

Sariel blinked, then failed to suppress another foolish grin. “I am your only friend?”

Was one sentence really enough to destroy a dignified angel’s entire image?

I felt amused and, for some reason, a little heartsore. “Sariel, you’re a wonderful angel. The others simply haven’t discovered it yet. One day, you’ll have many more friends.”

He shook his head without hesitation. “I won’t.

“I am… unusual. No one has ever truly liked me. From Heaven to the human realm, you are my first friend. Thank you, Ying.”

Me: “…”

Fine. If it made him happy, I could live with a nickname that sounded like Sakura.

The mood was perfect—until a beautiful, acidly sarcastic voice spoke behind us.

“Well, well. Filming an idol drama out here? You two really think the dorm is your private home?”

Siren lounged on his extravagantly appointed wheelchair-throne, twirling a strand of dark blue hair around one finger.

It must have been a special day if even this secluded “young lady of quality” had emerged from his bedroom.

He raised a hand to cut Sariel off.

“Stop. I’m not wasting time on your nonsense. I came to remind you of one thing.

“Three nights from now is the sixteenth night of the moon again. Tie yourself up beforehand or ask that mighty archangel to watch you. I don’t care which. Just don’t disturb my sleep.”

The sixteenth night? What was he talking about?

I stared at the riddling merman in confusion.

Noticing me, Siren gave an exaggerated exclamation.

“Ah, I nearly forgot the human.”

He smiled meaningfully and pointed one sharp nail toward my heart.

“Since you refuse to withdraw, let me see how this ‘friend’ of yours protects you.”