Escalation Heroines

**Escalation Heroines** is the second story episode of Beat Wars ~MGCM Heroines~.

## Plot

The next day in the Karaoke Room, Escalayer reintroduces herself to the rest of the magical girls and the demon kings. Iroha is ecstatic to meet another magical girl, although Dia and Invidia immediately deny that she is one. Hanabi thanks Escalayer for saving them the previous day, and Ao asks her to share her background with the rest of the group.

Escalayer hesitates, before revealing that she arrived from a different world. To her confusion, the girls aren't surprised and instantly belief her. Akisa explains that the magical girls frequently travel to other worlds themselves, so this isn't out of the ordinary for them. Luxuria asks how Escalayer fights, since she doesn't use magic power. Escalayer explains that she can convert arousal into battle power, which immediately triggers Invidia's scientific curiosity. She immediately starts asking Escalayer questions, but is interrupted by the other girls. They ask why Escalayer came to do, and she tells them she is looking for new recruits to take back to her world. She's also a bit hesitant to explain how exactly one becomes an Escalation Heroine.

Iroha declares that the magical girls will assist Escalayer with her search. The other girls immediately contradict her - much of the horde of demons they battled the previous day escaped, meaning it's likely that the girls will be battling large amounts of demons over the next days. In this case, they won't have the time to help Escalayer. Escalayer volunteers to help, saying she can't exactly leave them to struggle, and it would be easier to move around with them anyway.

At this point, Gula points out that they actually haven't resolved anything about Escalayer's inability to release her transformation. Since she draws attention when she goes outside, the girls are stumped, but Kaori claims to have a solution. Since Escalayer's outfit is similar to cosplay, they can resolve the issue by having the rest of the girls dress up as well. Ao is skeptical, and asks if they can't have Escalayer something else on top of her outfit, but Iroha absolutely refuses to hide a magical girl outfit. Marianne volunteers her house, since she owns multiple cosplay sets, courtesy of her mother.

Just as they plan to head over, a demon alert begins ringing out. The group decides to go to Marianne's afterwards, and the group leaves for battle.

## Transcript

*(In the Karaoke Room)*

Aka
—So basically, you seem to be having problems not being able to release your transformation.
Escalayer
I see some faces I haven't seen before, so let me introduce myself again... I am Escalayer.
Ah ha ha... Sorry to trouble you all...
Iroha
But look at you! There's no mistaking that outfit! You're a magical girl after all, aren'tcha?!
Dia
I already told you she's not...
Envy
What Dia said is correct. While she's no ordinary person, she's neither a magical girl, nor a demon.
Hanabi
You saved us yesterday. I wanna thank you again for that.
We are magical girls. Those black and white baddies we fought yesterday... They're demons we're fighting.
These demons kidnap and eat humans... I guess you could say us magical girls are fighting to maintain peace.
Ao
Escalayer. Would you mind sharing your background once more with everyone?
Escalayer
Sure. Though I'm not sure if they'll believe me...
Actually, I-......
I came here from another world!
Kaori
So are you telling us you came to this world through a flux or a Fool's Clam or something?
Eliza
I think it'd be reasonable to think so!
Escalayer
U-, umm... But aren't you surprised?
Akisa
We often visit other worlds... or parallel worlds, strictly speaking. So sorry, but we're already used to that kind of thing.
Escalayer
...This certainly is a different world, so it's not so crazy to think there would be people like that... I guess?
Luxuria
So, what are you, exactly? You don't use magic power, so just how do you fight?
Escalayer
I am an Escalation Heroine. I use arousal as my power... In other words, I turn my feelings of excitement into strength.
Envy
Oh, so you turn your emotional arousal into energy... How intriguing...
You seem to be a perpetual machine that can be supplied inexhaustibly as long as you're alive. How's conversion efficiency? And the conditions—
Luxuria
Okay, let's stop before you go off on a tangent.
Hanabi
What did you come to this world to do?
Escalayer
I belong to an organization called Daibeat. We fight our enemies for the sake of peace.
We're looking for organizations or ordinary people to join us... I'd be wrong if I said we had enough fighting strength—
Meanwhile, we detected some girls in this world with high aptitude who could become Escalation Heroines.
Kaori
So then, Escalayer, you came here in search of those girls with high aptitude, huh.
Hanabi
So if you find them, you're saying you're going to take them back as Escalation Heroines?
Escalayer
I wouldn't force them, of course. I only plan on going back with them if they properly consent to it.
Besides, in order to become an Escalation Heroine... there's, umm... a certain act......
Akisa
Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you speak a bit more clearly?
Escalayer
S-, sorry! Actually, don't worry about it!
Iroha
Alright! Then it's settled! We'll all gonna help you carry out your mission, Escalayer!
Iko
Wait, hold on a second. Nothing at all has been decided.
Hanabi
We fought a huge horde of demons yesterday, didn't we? And half of them even escaped.
Iroha
Yeah. So?
Akisa
That means there's a high probability that the same amount of demons as yesterday, maybe more, could attack again.
Iroha
Th-, that'd be a big problem!!!
Cocoa
Yeah, we need to hurry and form a plan of engagement. Which is why, unfortunately, we do not have the time to help Escalayer—
Escalayer
Umm... Could I help you with that as well?
Hanabi
Hey now, this is our situation to deal with. Surely, there's no merit in you helping us.
Escalayer
I wouldn't exactly say I could never abandon someone in need... But I can't just let them suffer.
Besides, it would be convenient being with you magical girls if I'm to get around in this world.
Eliza
He he! I've no reason to do refute that!
Hanabi
Thanks for the help, Escalayer. We'll be counting on you.
Eliza
And we promise to help you with your mission once we're able to wipe out all those demons!
Gluttony
By the way... We still haven't figured anything out as far as Escalayer's inability to release her transformation is concerned, have we?
Aka
Right. And it'd put us in a tough spot if she's unable to walk around outside...
Lilly
I mean, if she's going to be helping us exterminate demons, we will have to go outside.
Kaori
He he, you can leave all that to me! I have a secret plan in mind!
Ao
Oh! That's our Kaori! So what's this secret plan, exactly?
Kaori
The details are exceedingly simple...
We just need to all cosplay as a group!
Ao
Oh! Cosplaying, huh!
......Cosplay, really?
Marianne
Yeah, there are definitely people walking around in cosplay in places like Ikebukuro!
Kaori
That's right! So the problem isn't with how she looks. It's the attention she'd draw walking around on her own.
But if we all cosplay together, then Escalayer herself shouldn't really draw much attention!
Ao
Is that... the solution we're going with? Like, we could dress her in some other clothing or—
Iroha
We can't take her out of this cute costume and have her wear something else! I absolutely won't allow it!
Escalayer
Th-, thank you... I guess?
Marianne
I have loads of cosplay costumes at my house! My mom does love cosplaying, after all!
Cocoa
I've even actually made a few outfits based on the magical girl motif! I can bring 'em right away!
Iroha
Alright then, let's hurry over to Marianne's and meet up there!
*(Dynamisphere alert goes off)*

Dia
Egh, a demon alert... How troublesome.
Kaori
We can pick out our outfits after we've beaten those demons.
Hanabi
Escalayer. Are you ready to jump right into action with us?
Escalayer
Yes, of course!