This Isn't Tempest, It's Tampering!
"Ooh, this is made by senpai herself."
"I did about half of it, though."
Aris, who had been gazing at the food with an almost ecstatic expression, turned to Seong-yoon with the steam visibly deflating from her face.
"I didn't ask?"
"Chefs usually tell their customers how the dish was prepared, right?"
"You're a chef?"
"Ehehe. My skills might be lacking, but you're an honored guest, so I figured I'd at least play the part."
Hmm. This heartwarming vibe. Nice and toasty. It reminded me a bit of the old days. We saw this a lot back in Prisma.
The viewers' reactions were pretty intense. Japanese chats were starting to pop up now that the broadcast news had reached Japan—hope this doesn't kill the mood.
"But it's kinda awkward for an adult to butt in when the kids are playing."
"In our line of work, the ones who brawl end up being the closest in the end."
Magical girls are all like that. The really tight-knit ones even share ultimate spells and barrages.
"Well, they are pussies, aren't they?"
If you're jealous, go do a TS yourselves. Oh wait, I'm already rocking the ultimate gender cheat. Plus with this body type, even if I accidentally sexually harass someone, they just think it's cute and rub up against me instead.
...Anyway, enough joking around.
"Kids! Please, for my sake! Don't fight!"
I guess I should try to stop them. Can't exactly showcase industry traditions at a nationally certified event—too stuffy for that.
"Y-Yes, sorry."
"Sorry...!"
"Abuse? What abuse?"
Japan must be releasing info now—Japanese chats were popping up too. Can't have them bashing me when the overseas pure fans get shocked.
"Our senpai doesn't do that stuff!"
See? Our pure junior #2, Aris, was so shocked she flung away her well-behaved chicken wing.
"Senpai was so kind. Haaa... That feeling of her stroking my head back then, it was just... Kyaaa~"
Huh. Something's off. Aris let out a dreamy, sloppy laugh. I don't remember doing anything that special for her... Don't look at me like that, Seong-yoon. More importantly, is the content okay? Kinda spoilery. The interpreter seemed fine with it, though. Guess it's getting public anyway.
"So please don't insult senpai."
"But why's it only 'senpai' for seniors?"
Seong-yoon tossed out the question, her face full of things that bugged her. Yeah, that part was kinda weird compared to the rest.
"I did my homework. Turns out overseas, they prefer calling it 'senpai'."
"Ehh, isn't that a bit prejudiced?"
"Is it?"
At Seong-yoon's point, I glanced at the chicken on the table—the menu pick from 'Korean dishes Japanese people like.' Nah, it's not bad. The interpreter and Aris were eating it fine.
"I-I think it's fine. It's unique."
"Hehehe. Then senpai stays senpai. I won't use it for anyone else."
"No need to go that far."
"No, senpai is really, really amazing. When I saw the barrier over this city and the mountains... I thought I'd lose my mind."
Barrier. Ah, the barrier....... I hid my slight fluster behind a smile as Aris sparkled with praise. Even Seong-yoon was nodding in agreement.
I couldn't exactly tell them that the 'barrier' they meant was really called Disinfection. Too late now—you're stuck with barrier as your name.
"Yeah, it does."
Not a big deal. No real difference from me sensing them myself. The auto part has some merit, though.
"Huh? It detects gates?"
"Gates? I-Is that even possible?!"
My casual answer drew in the juniors and even the interpreter. What's with everyone?
"...Everyone senses mana, right? Why the shock?"
Kids, I'm the confused one here.
"We can, but... monsters, yeah."
"Not gates though~"
"Huh."
I took a moment to sort my thoughts at their answers. Makes sense—gates are harder than monsters (the new international official term). They're basically spatial rifts, and thinking back, they have pretty good concealment too.
"Hmm. Yeah, tricky for beginners?"
I sense them so naturally, it never crossed my mind. My detection spell was honed against demon terror teleports and midnight incubus raids... Yeah, tough to replicate.
"Meowng... Don't get down, mung. You couldn't do that with basic practice anyway, mung."
"I can't detect gates myself-popo. Comparing to that is weird to begin with-popo."
The mascots were comforting the sulky juniors next to me.
"...Alright, I'll make it simple for you. Cheer up?"
"You can do that?!"
"If it's specialized for gates, sure......"
Not like high demon teleport terror or succubus night raids. A basic gate-detection spell? Even my hacky theory can whip that up.
"Senpai wouldn't bluff."
Chats were blowing up too. Especially the Japanese viewers—they were fiercer. Lightning's domestic, so overseas is tough, but their Japanese output was outpacing Korean. Makes sense; overseas is hellish. Some were even scolding Aris for coming abroad.
"Then could you share it with other awakeners too......?"
"Hmm. Putting annoying restrictions on teaching juniors? Totally un-magical-girl-like."
"Good heavens."
Honestly, I was a bit surprised. I don't plan to hog the spotlight, and it's not great for humanity, but... not even having basic countermeasures? The lack of foundation is brutally fatal.
Scattering decent spells or techniques would help humanity's self-reliance.
"As I felt on the flight here. That vast soul! Even I'd humbly retreat from the land where senpai stands."
"...Nah, not that much."
More like, what does she know? Her eyes were faintly glowing with mana—maybe she really sensed my Soul Rank.
Search says she's a wind spirit magical girl. Mythic name in her transform, sensitive too—spiritual talent?
"That's how amazing senpai is!"
"Uh, yeah. Anyway, everything okay while you were away? It was serious, right?"
My face itched a bit, so I changed the subject.
"Yup. Still serious. But gates have been quieter since then, so I could come meet senpai."
Aris explained her country's situation with a somewhat weary face. Strong patriot, or hardened by harsh reality? Unclear, but the interpreter signaled.
Time to kick off the real announcement since she brought it up.
"Yes. You've all been wondering, I'm sure. Our country had tons of questions too. It was a tangled mess, so we could only reveal it now after overcoming the crisis."
Exactly. Too small a screen, too modest a setup, not enough attention for a national announcement. Japan accepted all that—not just romance.
"Not long ago, Japan... perhaps the world... stood at the crossroads of survival. A massive, overwhelming gate at our sacred Mt. Fuji—that was the crisis."
"I was there. For over a full day, we fought endless monsters... and shamefully, I broke when facing the final one. Me, my comrades, everyone there."
A few toxic chats got sniped by the manager. Uncomfy seeing aggro on my junior, but Aris stayed firm and serious.
"It was despair. We sensed doom. Even the sun above wouldn't shine. And in that deep darkness, we met our salvation."
Not even I, dubbed overprotective by the mascots, could butt in.
"I, magical girl Susanoo Tempest, Ichinose Aris of Japan, stand here representing my country. To express gratitude to the savior who banished that day's despair."
Susanoo Tempest's transformation released. A declaration to me. See me not as your junior, but as a Japanese citizen.
...Ichinose Aris. 18. Shrine maiden at a certain shrine. Basic search info.
Already famous pre-transform, she bowed quietly toward me in her normal form.
"Magical girl, Elice Calamity-nim."
The interpreter too. Probably the waiting staff as well. Fitting for the occasion. Even unrelated Seong-yoon subtly bowed—the atmosphere was solemn.
"Thank you."
I hate this vibe, though.
[Kid. No matter how much you hate solemnity, you can't skip the courtesy. It's an insult to our fight and crushes the spirit of repaying a debt.]
...Memories of getting scolded back then. Can't go virtual in this mood, and apology stream reruns won't cut it. I quietly chanted "Magical Change", transformed, bowed to my junior, and replied.
"No need."
Then immediately released. How many are purely grateful? Probably just Aris among the government-packed entourage.
I eyed the exploding chat in English, Chinese, Arabic, you name it.
Tsk tsk. How long to normalize this heavy mood......
Ah, server crashed. Served me well.
About 15 minutes after server recovery.
"So we must invite senpai to Japan, the magical girl homeland!"
"What?! Finally showing your true colors! Take that back!"
Surprisingly quick mood reset.