Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Congratulations on Your Magical Girl Debut
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"Wow..."
An exclamation slipped out of me before I knew it.
The recent opinion on Bella in the community had been brutal. She'd lost her edge, she was just cleanup duty, wasting mana by only throwing basic punches, and so on.
Even I had gotten swept up in it, thinking her aging curve had finally hit.
But that was my mistake.
Look at that reaction speed. The disaster alert had barely gone off a full minute ago when the monster popped out.
And she was already on site, rescuing civilians and facing off against it?
Unless she just happened to be nearby, that meant she was always on high alert, ready to save people at a moment's notice.
Sob sob. I had no idea.
I reflected on it. And made a resolution.
From now on, if I see any trolls flaming Bella on the Magical Girl Gallery, I'll dive in and keyboard-war personally.
Even if it means getting dragged to a police station meetup. I'll defend my hero's honor myself. Loyalty loyalty.
As Bella grabbed my hand, she added,
"How about it? Can you move?"
"Y-Yes! I'm fine!"
"Good thing. You almost got hurt there."
Then she puffed out her cheeks and whispered,
"But... why didn't you reply to my message? Your senior was waiting."
"S-Sorry...! So much happened all at once, I didn't know what to do..."
"Hehe. Just kidding. It's your first time, so that's understandable."
She winked at me playfully.
"Don't worry. From now on, this senior will help you out."
Is this what it feels like to be a superfan? Getting fan service from Bella this close up was a first, and my heart started racing.
This might not be the right thing to say in this situation, but if not now, when?
"Um, I've always been a fan of you, Bella! Could I get an autograph?!"
"...Really? My new junior's a fan? That's an honor. But..."
Bella casually brushed back her hair and turned her gaze toward the monster.
"Autographs later. Remember this: Taking down monsters for justice and peace is a magical girl's job."
"...Yes!"
"Perfect timing. For my fan junior, I'll give you a special show. The textbook way magical girls fight."
She extended one arm toward me, shielding me behind her back.
Her orange dress skirt filled my vision.
Such a reliable back.
No matter how much of a rookie she called herself, she was five years in. To a two-day newbie like me, she was the ultimate veteran.
"Watch closely. How a magical girl fights."
Right. I had a weapon and mana.
I'd just flailed around because I didn't know what to do. Newbie problems!
I'd been needing a live demo, and now I get a front-row seat to a magical girl battle.
Amid my pounding heartbeat, Bella said,
"First, analyze the enemy's traits. Mantis form, insect-type monster. Usually, insect-types have weak joints."
At that moment, the mantis monster swung its foreleg and charged at Bella.
But she seemed focused on me and hadn't noticed the attack.
"Watch out!"
"That's why, when you spot an opening... like this."
But then.
Riiip!
"...?"
In an instant, with a tearing sound, one of the mantis monster's forelegs flew through the air.
"Grab the joint and twist, and it separates from the body easily. See? Pretty simple, right?"
Bella had straight-up ripped off the monster's arm.
Then she winked again.
'...That's the textbook magical girl fight?'
No, how do you even do that?
Unfortunately, my poor dynamic vision couldn't catch a single detail of what just happened.
All I saw was Bella doing some whoosh-whoosh against the charging monster?
The monster itself seemed just as clueless, staring blankly at the stump where its arm used to be, not even registering it was gone.
Eh? Wasn't my foreleg right here?
Once reality sank in, a shriek erupted from the monster's mouth.
"Kiyaaaaak!!"
The scream came a beat late.
Is this what magical girls do in battle?
No... that's just physical beatdown... My innocence...
Meanwhile, Bella pounced on the monster and mounted it.
"Insect-types are stronger than they look."
She grabbed its collar and continued her patient explanation.
"That's why you disrupt its center of gravity and claim the top position. Makes subduing it way easier."
The monster, three times her size, flailed helplessly under her butt, unable to budge.
Strong where exactly?
"Of course, don't try this yet. Without core strength, you could get counterattacked. Build up your basics first. Got it?"
I was starting to get confused.
Is this really magical girl advice?
Why does it sound like something from the gym?
"Let... go... you crazy bitch...!!"
The writhing monster finally spat out a curse.
Then.
Slap!
Bella's palm smacked into the monster's cheek.
"Guhk...?"
Its head snapped 90 degrees, and it rubbed its cheek with its remaining arm.
"You vile monster. Class is in session—where'd you learn that foul mouth? Kids these days pick up bad words so fast."
Crunch!
Before she finished, her fist slammed into its face.
That was the signal for a one-sided beatdown.
Thud! Pow! Crunch!
Flesh sprayed, purple blood splattered everywhere.
Swearing's off-limits, but showing this is fine? I was about to think kids learn bad actions faster than words when...
"I... sur... ren..."
The monster, spirit broken, raised a trembling hand to surrender.
But Bella gently covered its mouth with her hand.
"Shh. Class in session."
Wham!
With the final blow, the monster went limp, nearly dead.
The ground was soaked in blood, impossible to tell if this was the school gate or a blueberry hot spring.
"How was that? Helpful?"
Bella's beaming smile was utterly beautiful.
Apart from her gauntlets and dress skirt being caked in monster guts and blood.
Why is it that even though she beat the monster, she seems scarier than it?
My legs, which hadn't budged during the first encounter, backed away on their own.
Whether she read my mind or not, Bella dragged the half-dead monster over to me by the arm.
Purple paint trailed on the ground.
"From here, special senior service. This guy's at least B-rank. Yours now. First time, so you're short on Imagine Points, right?"
"I-Imagine... Points...?"
"Yeah. You get points for beating monsters. Buy stuff at the Magic Castle with 'em... Huh? You didn't hear about this?"
News to me.
The mascot faked identities like a pro but skipped the absolute basics?
The more I thought about it, the madder I got.
"N-No, I didn't..."
As I mumbled sheepishly, Bella made an "oh no" face.
But it was fleeting. Her lips twitched upward.
"Hehe. So much to teach you. Plenty of time today... Your senior will cover it all, from one to ten!"
She nudged the monster's head with her foot.
"So, senior handles cleanup? Cool?"
"Ah... Sure."
"Thanks."
Without pause, she aimed her gauntlet at its head.
The gauntlet looked like a hydraulic press.
One smash, and its skull would burst like a watermelon. Fight over.
The moment I saw it...
'Wait.'
The blood of the dormant magical girl otaku boiled inside me.
That's the real 'Bella' right there.
Even if she's a physical therapist now, she was once a fire-wielding magical girl.
She's offering a prime front-row seat to her finisher, and it ends with a punch?
No romance in that.
I wanted to see her elegantly finish it with fire magic!
"Head still. Move and you die painful. Stay put."
"Y-You witch..."
The mood felt right; maybe she'd say yes if I asked.
But to seal it, I needed the right bait. Something she'd love.
'Both Bella and the others seemed desperate to give me stuff.'
Oh. Perfect idea hit, and the inner Seol Ha-yoon whispered.
'Hey, no, that's not it.'
No? Shut up and stay put.
I boldly shoved Seol Ha-yoon's ego into a corner of my brain.
I'm not Seol Ha-yoon now.
Eight-year-old cutie, Seol Ha-rin.
I took a deep breath, put strength into my eyes.
The most innocent expression in the world.
"Be-Bella unni! Pretty please!"
The moment I spoke...
Stop.
Bella's fist halted mid-air.
Screech.
Her head turned toward me.
"Um... I have one favor to ask unni...!"
"...W-What is it?"
"I wanna see unni finish the monster with your signature move!"
"Sig-Signature...?"
"Yes! You know, 'Ignite, flames of justice and fairness!' and boom!"
I flailed my arms dramatically. Cuter this way?
Cringe? Embarrassing? Who cares.
Bella's right in front of me!
"Can you show me... unni?"
Unni. Those two letters slammed into Bella—no, Ha-neul's—mind.
Lee Ha-neul, 22, only child. Her lifelong dream: a little sister.
How bad? Around eleven, she'd fake snoring at 9 PM every night, praying.
For her parents to get busy in the master bedroom and produce a cute sister.
It improved their marriage, but no results. Bedroom prayers: failed.
Then she signed the magical girl contract.
Ha-neul secretly hoped: Wouldn't the magical girl world be full of cute little sisters?
Result? Well.
Sure, not zero younger magical girls.
Just one: her senior Pluto. Sadly, that bitch wasn't sister material.
In her barren life, this was the first time another magical girl called her unni.
And from such a cute, adorable, protective-instinct-triggering white-haired beauty!
'I'm losing it.'
Her rationality teetered on the edge.
Tsunami urge to grab those cheeks and go iluwaa! Wafafafa!
But she desperately held back. She's the cool senior idol right now!
Couldn't ignore our cute Neph-chan's plea. Plus, rack up some goodwill for later.
"Alright. If my Neph wants it... this un! Ni! will show you special!"
A signature move is a magical girl's identity, her finisher.
Hers: A vortex of flames from her magic wand.
Marea Ignea.
Why that name?
At 16, deep in some BLXchi phase, she dug through a Spanish dictionary for it.
If time travel? She'd yell at past self: 'You idiot! Just do Fire Whip or something.'
Embarrassing name aside, real issue:
'...How long since I used the wand?'
Surprisingly, Bella's main wasn't gauntlets or fists—it was a magic wand. Standard back then.
Training revealed: Swinging fists faster than wands.
Where's her wand now?
Her balcony drying rack. Laundry overflow.
This morning, rushed out with damp panties on the tip.
She could summon it. Magical girl weapons from subspace anytime.
But summon now? Unni dignity plummets with the panties.
'No catalyst, no mana control.'
Ha-neul's eyes darted frantically, seeking fire control aid.
Rummaging pockets, cold plastic touched her fingers.
'Lighter.'
Tch. Forgot it after smoking transformed last time.
'Light it and done.'
Gripping the lighter, Ha-neul struck solemnly.
Click. Fff.
Low gas: a few duds.
Fff.
Tiny flame flickered up.
"Unni? Where's the wand?"
"Veteran magical girls can do signatures without weapons. Remember that!"
"Yes... Uh...?"
Ha-neul brought the lighter flame to her gauntlet.
Tiny spark hit mana-infused metal—erupted into fierce blaze.
"Whoa...!"
Ha-neul opened her mouth.
"Ignite, flames of justice and fairness! Purge the evil! Dancing crimson lotus tsunami!"
⟨ Marea Ignea ⟩
With the incantation, she thrust her flame-wrapped fist at the monster.
"Marea Ignea—!!!"
Kabooooom!
Flames burst from the gauntlet like a dragon, swallowing the monster.
Already on the brink, it vanished to ash in the fiery wave, no scream.
Pop! Bang! Fwipwhipbang!
The skyrocketing flame vortex exploded like fireworks.
Bodily fluids and chunks incinerated—no trace. Just orange embers painting the sky.
"Whoaaa...!"
"Look! Fireworks!"
"? Fireworks at lunchtime?"
Escaping college kids and civilians stopped, gazing up.
Clueless that those beautiful sparks were monster corpse fireworks.
From the center of falling embers like snow, Ha-neul slowly turned.
Neph stared skyward, entranced.
Seeing that, Ha-neul truly felt like a senior now.
'Gotta give cool advice, right?'
Unlike the hell Pluto put her through, she wanted this kid on the flower path.
'What to say? Let's do our best?'
Ha-neul had lists of advice for future juniors.
But facing a real newbie, one memory surfaced.
Before Pluto became a bitch.
When she was the clueless newbie, Pluto's one line to her.
Which Pluto heard from her own senior.
'Didn't wanna admit it... but yeah, that's best.'
Ha-neul approached the dazedly staring Neph.
And hugged her tight.
"...Eh?"
Neph's flustered voice brushed her ear, but Ha-neul didn't stop.
Whoosh!
She rocketed into the sky, Neph in arms.
Landed on the school building rooftop, out of civilian sight.
Set down the bewildered Neph, gently stroked her messy hair, smiled brightly.
"Congratulations on your magical girl debut!"
Click!
Unaware of someone snapping their photo.