A Core Too Precious and a Girl with a Death Wish

The Elephant Manager snatched the Core with his trunk. He scrutinized it meticulously, letting out a sigh of admiration.

"...You've brought back something even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠better than last time."

"I got lucky."

"This isn't the kind of thing one or two people clinging on could hunt from a beast. Looks like at least C-grade."

The manager carefully set the Core down. A soft blue glow rose gently, filling the room.

"A Core like this could spark infighting among magical girls themselves. And they just handed it over to you without a fuss?"

"...As I said, that part was pure luck."

I bowed my head.

The magical girls there seemed to take turns dividing up the spoils. Not all magical girls were like that, of course. Some probably fought over who got what. But these ones didn't. And I hadn't gotten involved at all. In that sense, I'd been incredibly fortunate to meet good people.

"...Even if you're that humble, I can't give you much."

"It's true, though..."

"Junior, you know what karma is?"

Bear Teddy Senior chimed in slyly.

"Maybe your karma's stacked up to attract people like that."

"That stuff's actually real?"

"Well, we got an afterlife-like world here. Makes sense it'd exist."

"...Fair point."

At that moment, the manager sighed and tapped his desk with his trunk. Thump, thump.

"I'll be straight with you. I really didn't expect you'd bring something like this."

The manager rubbed his forehead with his trunk.

"Securing a Core this quickly would normally mean an immediate special promotion. I could talk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the president, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and it'd happen right away, but..."

"Whoa, then he'd be the same rank as me and Junior in no time?"

"You, stay quiet."

Wham. Senior got smacked by the manager's trunk.

"Anyway, you've only been with the company for a day, haven't you?"

"...A whole day already?"

I was caught off guard by the unexpected words.

"No nights here, always daytime... and no sleep, so it feels like you're still a total newbie..."

"That's why we can't promote you yet."

Senior patted my back.

"Higher rank means more responsibility, right? Say a new hire comes in. As the current assistant manager, it's my job to train them. But you?"

Senior pointed at me.

"Could you explain this world to a newbie right now?"

"Uh... no?"

"Exactly. That's why it's tricky. We don't have the bandwidth to take on more responsibility, and promoting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you out of nowhere would just tire everyone out."

"No precedents like this since the company started... explains the hiccups."

The manager chuckled softly.

"And even though our company isn't big on internal chit-chat... a promotion this fast would probably stir up bad rumors."

"Ah."

"Assistant manager in one day? People would think less 'talented' and more 'must've pulled some shady strings.'"

It made sense. Unrealistic power or results always drew suspicion. I'd gotten used to it as a hunter, but it was never a welcome gaze.

"Plus, it'd probably violate company policy... and interworld laws."

"Policy and laws..."

"Ah, we'll add that to your files separately. Check it when you have time. Knowledge is power, after all."

The manager pointed at my smartphone.

"Anyway... I'm sorry your achievements outpace what we can offer."

The manager bowed his head.

"...No need, sir. It's not like you planned this. No apologies necessary."

"Still, it's your rightful reward and achievement. If the boss can't handle that, he's unqualified."

The manager waved his trunk dismissively.

"Anyway, for settling this Core... we'll apply it more to raising your rank than your position."

"Understood."

"In exchange... I'll put in a good word with the directors to bump your rank a bit higher than usual."

"Yeah, gotta get that bonus somehow. Otherwise, it'd be a raw deal."

Senior slapped my back.

"Oh, right, Manager. With a Core this good, doesn't that unlock it?"

"Unlock what?"

"Temporary Human Form transformation."

My gaze immediately shifted behind me.

"Human form transformation?"

"Huh? Oh, not permanent, but maybe temporary access now."

"...Ah, right. I'd forgotten about that."

The manager snapped his trunk-fingers with a click.

"Nearly overlooked it... Good thing you reminded me."

"I'm fine either way..."

I said quietly.

Turning human? Nice if it happened, whatever if not.

"Ah, I guess I didn't explain it properly."

"Explain what, sir?"

"Transforming into human form... I phrased it like a product or perk before, but technically, it's like company gear for fieldwork."

"Pardon?"

The manager nodded.

"Staying in the Human World long-term in our mascot forms... it's impossible."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, the world rejects us."

Mascots and monsters were foreign entities to the world, so it instinctively repelled us.

"Taking human form lets the world accept us, enabling long-term stays."

"...I see."

"Newbies like you wouldn't qualify normally... but hunting Cores means you'll face irregular high-level threats repeatedly."

"You mean location-types or phenomenon-types?"

"Exactly."

The manager grimaced.

"Dealing with them drags on forever. Biological types have a clear end—death. But those? No defined kill method; you have to figure it out."

"Ah..."

"They're often ultra-long missions, power-hungry. Easier and cheaper to grant temp human forms instead."

Senior shrugged.

"Yeah, deputy or section chief level gets semi-permanent human forms. Watch out in the Human World—some 'people' turn out to be mascots."

"...I get it, but I'm not sure I need it yet."

I tilted my head slightly.

"My Human World stays aren't that long..."

"Hey, showing off your talent like that, huh?"

Senior lightly tapped my back—playful, not hard.

"You never know. Prep for when your magical girl hits a location or phenomenon-type out of nowhere."

"...True."

I sighed softly.

Old habits from my past life lingered. Discard uncertain weapons boldly—it cluttered the mind. But now, I wasn't the frontline warrior. I was support for magical girls. More cards in hand, the better.

"...And just like that, you seem like a newbie again."

The manager pointed at my smartphone.

"Thank you."

"That's my line. How's the so-called senior slacking more than the newbie..."

"Hey, why pick on me? It's not like I want to dodge work. He has to call me first..."

That was when it happened.

"Another call?"

"Yes. I'll head out."

"Go get 'em, Ace."

The manager waved his trunk like a hand. Playful tone.

"...Even you, sir?"

"Fits, doesn't it?"

"Bring back some Melona on your way."

Senior held out his paw jokingly.

"...You can have some."

"Obviously."

"Don't hold up the busy one."

With that, I hopped through the portal.

I arrived at the Frog Cafe. A cozy cluster of people in an otherwise empty cafe. A hand shot up from the biggest group.

"Over here! Here!!"

Wave, wave. A woman waved at me with a beaming smile. A familiar face.

"Hello."

"Come on in, our mascot!"

"You're here?"

"Welcome!"

The gathered magical girls waved at me. Then they swarmed, petting and squeezing my body, pulling me close.

"...Welcome."

Pink Star gave a small wave, her face more relaxed than usual.

"Um... so, what did you need me for to—"

"This guy's the one?"

A cold voice came from the side. I turned to see a woman with a haggard, shadowed face.

"The mascot your sisters hyped up... him?"

"Yeah, that's him!"

"Finished your hot chocolate? Want a refill?"

"No refills here... It's fine. Don't spend your money, sisters."

Our eyes met. Her face pinched slightly, full of distrust.

"...Doesn't look like much."

"You should've seen it!"

"Right? He's back there calling shots, telling us exactly what to do~ Kyaa, seriously..."

The magical girls crowded her, poking her cheeks and stroking her like they did me. She looked flustered but didn't resist, just sat there.

"...Anyway, you're... y'know, capable?"

Pink Star nodded toward her subtly.

"Thought you might help her out... If not, no biggie."

"...What do you need help with?"

"Forget it."

She muttered, eyeing me.

"You're all the same. Just like the others."

I met her gaze. Cynical tone, eyes rotten like spoiled meat. Memories from my past life flashed—every type of human I'd met as a hunter. Some wanted to kill others. Some didn't want to live.

She was both.

"...You."

Flap, flap.

I flew right up to her face.

"What are you out for revenge on?"

She flinched. Her hand snapped out, gripping me tight.

"...How'd you know?"

"How isn't the issue. You."

Squeeze.

I didn't look away. Her grip was iron-strong, but no pain.

"...You're planning revenge, then death. Right?"

"Eh?"

The magical girls froze in unison. Their eyes locked on her.

"...Hah."

She didn't deny it. Just let out a short, hollow laugh.

Looks like I'd stumbled into quite the mess.