Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Stormy High School Girl
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Tok, tok.
She'd just become a high schooler, hadn't she? A girl decked out in her brand-new uniform was tapping away at her cute magical girl keychain—precisely, her phone with Seriel's keychain attached—with a serious expression inside the car.
【Magical Girl Review Even Florida Understands, Robelia Edition】
The screen she was watching featured a video from a streamer that had recently been all the rage among magical girl fans.
"Miss Yu-na. We've arrived."
"Ah, thank you!"
Right then, as the car pulled up in front of a building... the driver in his suit opened the door for her himself. Yu-na turned off her phone screen, slipped it into her uniform pocket, and flashed a bright smile as she expressed her thanks.
"No need for that. We're in no position to receive thanks from a magical girl like you, Miss Yu-na."
Was it still awkward seeing the man bowing at the waist to see her off to the very end? Scratching her head sheepishly... Yu-na, freshly minted as a high schooler, headed toward the building's basement with familiar steps anyway.
"Teacher. I'm here."
Not long after, she arrived in a vast cavern beneath what appeared to be an ordinary building—so spacious it was hard to believe. Waving her hand as she approached a magical girl in a fluttering white doctor's coat who was stationed in a casual spot, seemingly unaware of her arrival.
"You're early. High school's gotta be a breeze these days."
Hearing Yu-na's voice, the pink-haired magical girl with dark circles etched deeply under her eyes adjusted them... She'd figured it would take more time, but she reached out with a soft smile, patted the head of Yu-na—who had bowed in greeting—and spoke.
"I was about to say, 'Shall we start today's lesson?'... but it looks like you've got something on your mind?"
"Yes!"
"Alright. You've been working hard lately, so I'll hear you out. What's on your mind?"
Maybe she liked the head-patting. Beaming as she settled beside her teacher—the pink-haired magical girl, Aruel.
"There's this organization that Senior's with right now, right? Crown, was it? I heard you took them down before... I wanted to hear what they were like."
"Hmm... Of all things, that. I shouldn't have spilled the info if I'd known."
"Ehehe... Can't you tell me?"
She started acting cute, clinging to Aruel's side as the latter averted her gaze awkwardly.
"......"
Letting out sighs of distress nonstop... but eventually making up her mind? Aruel quietly pulled Yu-na to sit beside her, gazed at the distant ceiling, and said,
"Fine. I've told the others anyway, so it won't hurt for you to know."
It happened right when she was the same age as Yu-na. Tok, tok. She patted Yu-na's shoulder in her uniform and continued.
"You're part of the enforcement division now, even if you're still in probation."
A tale from what was now a distant past, but one so vivid whenever she closed her eyes.
After the fight with Helena, Bell had subtly threatened her with no scenarios for a while as punishment for her impulsive actions back then... leaving her to endure an utterly boring daily life.
Ding-a-ling.
The only exception: her part-time hours cut to twice a week because of magic lessons.
"Welcome."
"Don't order me around. I'll take my time."
There was a middle school right nearby. It had been vacation until now, and school started this week. One a day? No, at least ten crazies showed up daily.
"That'll be 13,400 won total. Need a bag?"
"Cash okay with coins?"
"Pardon?"
The ones dumping out piggy banks the size of my torso full of 10-won coins on the counter were at least somewhat tolerable.
"Hey—!! That's not instant ramen for the microwave—!!"
Guys who tried destroying or blowing up the microwave at every opportunity.
Crash!
Idiots horsing around and knocking rows of soju bottles from the fridge to the floor.
"...What kind of school lets this many escapees run loose?"
Even mild-mannered me couldn't hold back curses as these insane brats turned the convenience store upside down at random intervals.
"Peaceful, huh..."
Still, this much was cute. Compared to the monkeys she'd seen on magical girl duty, they were downright adorable.
"Miss Ha-yul. Your eye's twitching."
"Shut it."
"Whew. You're gonna snap one of these days."
With that, she jabbed the side of the manager—who was standing by the counter, glancing nervously at her while claiming to worry— with her finger.
"Anyway, are you sure it's okay for you to wander around like this?"
When she asked Bell, who was casually strolling despite his face from a 20-year-old photo—barely changed—being plastered everywhere.
"Still fine for now. For now."
As if asking if she'd forgotten who made the bracelet on her left arm, Bell stretched nonchalantly and replied.
"I've got an ace up my sleeve if things get dicey, so don't worry too much."
With him saying that much, she had nothing more to add and awkwardly started rearranging the disheveled shelves.
Ding-a-ling...!
The convenience store door, quiet from a lull in customers, opened to reveal one new patron.
"Haaah, so tired..."
A high school girl in a uniform she'd never seen around the area.
"...Hic."
The moment she saw the girl's face, blood drained from her body, and she hiccuped involuntarily.
"Huh? New part-timer? There was a tall sister here yesterday."
Thank goodness she'd amped up the perception-blocking bracelet's output lately. Unless someone knew in advance, even old acquaintances wouldn't recognize her... thanks to the creator's bold claim. She snapped back at the girl's puzzled question and frantically shook her head.
"N-no, I'm the regular, but I've been under the weather so... had a sub."
Ugh, seriously. Why am I stuttering, Ha-yul? If she picks up on anything weird and gets suspicious... No. It'll be fine. Right, Bell?
"......"
Glancing at the counter to hide her pounding heart, the manager—who'd been slacking moments ago—had already fled somewhere.
"That bastard..."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, nothing!"
Fleeing back to the counter from where Yu-na— who looked startled, having overheard her mutter while picking a drink— she returned.
"Hehe... School's kinda far, but I started going to an academy nearby recently. Guess we'll see each other a lot."
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Good. For. You."
Forcing her earthquake-shaky eyes shut against Yu-na's beaming "Looking forward to it!" The manager's laziness meant no name tag on her vest—truly a blessing.
"Oh, right. I'm Shin Yu-na. We'll probably run into each other often, so let's get along, sis!"
Unlike the usual punks who mistook her height for kid status, did she assume I was older just from the job? Holding back near-tears of emotion at the angelic girl calling her "sis" with an innocent smile, she replied,
"Suuure... Let's... get along..."
"Aw, only I introduced myself?"
But it wasn't over. Giggling mischievously as she closed in, asking for her name too—like a seasoned cop's leading questions tightening around her neck— all she could do was sweat bullets and rack her squirrel-sized brain.
"Ryu... Yu, Yu-hyan."
"Whoa, pretty name too. Hehe. Feel free to drop the formalities! White Sis!"
And so, in that brief time... Yu-na, who swept through her heart like a massive storm, left the store with a "See you later."
"......"
Meaning she'd see this every shift from now on? Turning quietly at the thought, she eyed the manager—who'd hidden in the back until it was safe, now peeking out cautiously—and said,
"...I'm quitting."
"Denied♥"
Unfortunately, his flat refusal of "Absolutely not."
"Hey... This is seriously dangerous...!"
"That's why it's a no."
"Why...?"
"You chat her up great on first meet, then tomorrow 'Miss Ha-yul quit♥'? Yeah, that wouldn't raise suspicions at all, right?"
Bell explained: No matter how nice someone is, who'd stare that intently and exchange names on first sight? She was already on guard; vanishing right after would scream suspicious.
"No choice—you gotta tough it out, Miss Ha-yul."
"Ha..."
A sigh escaped naturally. Never dreamed she'd run into Yu-na here of all places.
"Kuku, what can ya do. Here, I'll even get you a name tag. Miss Yu-hyan♥"
For starters, since the manager was clearly enjoying it, she decided to shut him up with a few punches to the gut.