The background of the cover was gears symbolizing time, and Homura Akemi was the sole protagonist. Clearly, Homura Akemi's story would be officially unveiled in this volume.
Turning to the beginning of the fourth volume, the first page revealed a preface—I will be with you forever.
"Forever together? Does it refer to Sayaka and Sakura Kyoko, or Madoka and Homura Akemi? It can't be that, as everyone predicted, Kyoko will also..."
Kousaka Kirino 's heart grew tense as she turned to the first page.
Usually, such prefaces are related to the plot and are not without purpose, and the outcome would differ depending on the designated target.
The initial plot continued from the end of the previous volume. After the soul gem was completely blackened, a huge change occurred at the scene.
This sudden change left Sakura Kyoko bewildered, but her first priority was still to embrace Sayaka's body and, with the help of Homura Akemi's ability, escape the barrier.
Then, Homura Akemi explained the truth of the soul gem to Madoka and Sakura Kyoko.
The ultimate fate of a magical girl is to become a witch.
Madoka immediately broke down, crying on Sayaka's body.
Although Sakura Kyoko didn't show overly sad actions, her anger towards Homura Akemi's indifferent attitude also expressed her feelings.
For Sakura Kyoko, Sayaka was more like two sides of the same coin; that pure girl, so much like her old self, actually ended up like this.
This was truly absurd!
"As expected, it's a tragic ending, with no plot twists..."
Kousaka Kirino couldn't help but shake her head upon seeing this, a wave of sadness washing over her.
She had completely fallen in love with this character, a girl with such genuine emotions, daring to love and hate.
Although Sayaka wasn't mature and her personality wasn't particularly endearing, she possessed an essence that was even more precious.
"If this were a meruru anime, she would probably be the protagonist, right?"
She muttered to herself, then suddenly gave a bitter smile.
In the meruru anime's setting, the dumber a person, the higher their magic power, the more of a genius... isn't such a judgment a bit too disparaging?
She continued to read on.
A self-isolated Madoka was chatting with Kyubey; she couldn't hold back anymore about the series of recent events and wanted to expose Kyubey's malicious side, but she received a set of high-sounding, righteous explanations.
"Are we consumables? Do you want us to die for you?"
Madoka questioned.
However, she and Kyubey were just talking past each other, completely unable to understand one another.
"Your human values are what give us a headache to understand. With 7 billion people and one person added every second, why are you so agitated over the death of a single individual?"
Kyubey couldn't understand.
"If that's what you think, then you... are indeed our enemy."
Madoka had completely categorized Kyubey as an enemy.
"...If you wish to die for such a universe, you can come to me anytime. I'll be waiting for you."
After the conversation, Kyubey turned and left with composure.
"Damn it! Is that even human language?! Kyubey, that dog, is too much of a beast! And it's even afraid of people actively dying! Wow! This is the most disgusting character I've seen in years, I'm so annoyed! Saying such righteous but utterly nonsensical things, who the hell are you, demanding humans sacrifice for you?!"
Kousaka Kirino gripped the pages of the book tightly with both hands, continuously muttering colorful language.
Clearly, she was beyond furious.
Kyubey's trash talk just now made her blood pressure skyrocket.
As a reader, her perspective was, of course, on the side of the magical girl, and she naturally couldn't understand what Kyubey said; she was even more filled with anger than Madoka.
The same situation also occurred in Sawamura's room.
"Bastard! How disgusting! How can the character Kyubey be so disgusting? If this was your goal, Chihiro, I admit you succeeded...! Senpai and Sayaka died so unfairly!"
Eriri clenched her fists, forcefully resisting the urge to tear off that page.
"What kind of writing is this?!"
With a 'thud', the light novel was thrown onto the bed.
"Eriri, what's wrong? Why are you so angry...?"
Sawamura Sayuri entered, carrying a cup of hot mulled wine, and seeing the girl's furious expression, a playful smile immediately appeared on her face.
"Oh, isn't this the light novel you just bought? Could it be that the plot Chihiro wrote doesn't suit your taste? If that's the case, there's no need to torture yourself and force yourself to finish it..."
She placed the tea tray beside the desk, then walked to the bed and sat down, reaching out to touch the light novel.
"I'm still going to read it! If you want to read it, wait until I'm finished!"
Eriri snatched the light novel into her arms first.
"Who cares? I'll just buy my own copy."
Sawamura Sayuri snorted softly.
"I'm leaving."
With that, she swaggered downstairs.
And after Eriri's mood calmed down, she continued to read the plot below.
...
"Of course, it's impossible to understand. Even between people, mutual understanding is difficult. You treat her as a classmate, but in her eyes, perhaps you are just a speck of dust. Such malice is only too common, let alone with Kyubey, whose setting makes them more advanced and possesses technology far beyond human capabilities. Their malice towards humans doesn't even need a reason."
Regarding the conversation between Madoka and Kyubey, Kani Nayuta didn't feel angry, only slightly melancholic.
In the revelation of all false masks, the pure and kind Madoka felt Kyubey's undisguised malice.
The key was that Kyubey showed no awareness of such malice, as if it were a natural law.
Just as she had once felt malice, those people would not think they were doing evil; they would only enjoy the pleasure of being superior.
Compared to such people, Kyubey was, of course, more detestable, because humans might repent and understand their past mistakes after growing up, but Kyubey would not. As it said itself, it was a completely emotionless creature.
Such a creature should be destroyed!
This time, under Izumi Masamune's description, the readers' resentment towards Kyubey finally completely surpassed that of him, the 'mastermind' hiding behind the scenes.
This also showed that his writing skills were improving.
However, the next important sacrifice plot didn't provide him with a character to draw hatred away from him...
It was believed that after this day, the internet would once again be filled with lamentations.