Chapter 149: Magical Girl Vivid Cure Star (2)
Chapter 149: Magical Girl Vivid Cure Star (2)
"Chris? What did you say his name was?"
"Smil!"
The room was filled with the lively chatter of girls.
"Can I try touching him?"
Perhaps her curiosity was piqued by the animal, as Baek Si-hyun reached out a hand.
"Of course! Here... uh... I mean..."
Chris held out the hawk perched on her hand, but she seemed to stumble over her words.
"Baek Si-hyun. Just call me Si-hyun!"
"Yes! Si-hyun Unnie. You can touch him! Oh, but please don't stroke his feathers the wrong way. He hates that."
"Got it!"
As the brief exchange ended, the hawk named Smil carefully loosened his talons and hopped onto Baek Si-hyun’s arm.
"Wow."
Si-hyun reached out toward the hawk with practiced care.
I expected the bird to throw a fit, just as he had when he spent the entire mealtime struggling and flapping on top of my head, but—
"Chirp."
With a short cry, the hawk tilted his neck, shifting his posture to make it easier for Si-hyun to pet him.
"He’s smart, isn't he?"
"He is! He finds enemies for me even if I don't ask!"
...Then why did he grab my head and shake it? What was it about me that the hawk found so offensive?
"Do you have others besides Smil?"
"Yes! I have a fox and a bear too!"
"Really? Ah, but it might be a bit cramped in here. Show me later!"
"Okay!"
They looked like they were having fun.
To think she could get along so well with a child nearly ten years younger than her. Maybe it was because their mental ages were similar.
"...Heh."
The thought brought a bitter smile to my lips.
Mental age, my foot.
If it were truly a matter of mental age, then Han A-bin shouldn't have been able to get close to her either. But hadn't Han A-bin befriended Chris as well?
It was simply because I was too twisted.
When I saw magic that looked like it belonged in an old-era Magical Girl anime, the only thoughts that crossed my mind were these:
Can I use that to fight?
What is the combat power of that summon? Surely it’s not just a regular hawk?
Is this truly a Story bestowed by an Existence of The End? What is it they want?
I couldn't purely enjoy the magic for what it was. I didn't even find it wondrous. I simply, stoically, calculated the tactical value of that magic.
...I wondered what the version of me from before I became a Magical Girl would have said upon seeing this.
My fragmented train of thought was interrupted.
"You look like you're deep in thought," Han A-bin chimed in.
"...Just. I was contemplating that magic for a moment."
"In what way?"
"...That it's a style I've never seen before."
I figured it was best to keep my doubts about its combat effectiveness to myself.
"Aren't there quite a few like that? Even the Lord of Infinite Castles..."
"True. Between Espers and Magical Girls, there are plenty with unique, personal powers."
Like your Blood Magic, for instance. Though she didn't seem to realize she possessed such power herself.
"Then I don't think it's something for you to worry so much about, Senior..."
Hmm. How should I explain this?
Pop.
I watched a cat manifest out of thin air and fell into thought for a moment. By the time the cat had climbed up Baek Si-hyun’s body and settled on her shoulder, I had organized my thoughts.
"Powers that don't fall into the Standard System have one major problem."
"The Standard System?"
"Reinforcement, Telekinesis, Precognition, Healing. Things like that. Regardless of the details, unique powers like hers don't fit into those standard categories. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but..."
"Umm... is there a problem with that?"
Perhaps because I trailed off, Han A-bin asked back quietly, her voice tinged with a hint of gravity.
It wasn't actually that serious, though...
"A-bin. Can you predict how that power fights or how strong it is?"
"...Uh... it’s probably stronger than a normal animal, right?"
"Then can you quantify it? Anything will do. Like how those airheaded Transformation Squadrons put on their suits and claim their transformed strength is a million horsepower."
For the record, that was something I actually heard on a broadcast. Million horsepower, my ass. They were so flimsy a passing horse could probably knock them over.
Hiss—!
Did Baek Si-hyun grab its tail? A sharp sound erupted from across the room.
"Couldn't we at least gauge the strength of that cat's scratch?"
"We can't measure the intensity of the power Chris herself possesses."
"...I suppose that's true."
"That's the point. You can't know exactly how much power she has, there's no curriculum on how to strengthen it, and you don't know how to coordinate it with other Heroes. Oh, I'm not saying she's weak. As you can see from Oxymoron or the Lord of Infinite Castles, having a unique ability doesn't mean you can't grow."
It just meant she was unsuitable for use as a soldier.
I laid out my complaints under the guise of a lesson, but Han A-bin’s response was indifferent.
"I don't think it's a problem you need to think so deeply about, Senior."
"..."
"Chris isn't your disciple... and she's progressing through her Story just fine. It's not like she has a reason to become strong like we do."
"..."
"In that case, isn't a cute power like that better? Violent power wouldn't be good for a child's mental health anyway."
At those words, I couldn't find an answer.
I felt a clear line drawn between her and me. An intuition that even after a long debate, our opinions would never overlap.
Therefore...
"...I suppose you're right."
I licked my lips and spat out a lie.
"Anyway, aren't you interested in animals? Why don't you go play with them like Si-hyun?"
I spoke quickly, changing the subject to hide the deception.
"Just watching Si-hyun play with them is entertaining enough."
Is it?
Well, seeing her covered in animals as she moved was indeed quite a sight.
A hawk on her wrist.
An owl on her head.
A cat draped over the back of her neck.
Birds I didn't even know the names of on both shoulders.
A deer licking her right hand.
And clinging to her left hand was...
"...A hamster?"
Do hamsters even live in the Siberian wilderness?
"He looks like Un-ho."
"No, he definitely does not."
I reflexively retorted to Han A-bin’s comment. Un-ho? Comparing that... cute creature to Un-ho?
There are some things you just don't compare.
"What's wrong with Un-ho?"
"No, that's a huge insult. There's a gap between that creature and Un-ho as wide as the distance between Earth and the Otherworld."
I felt like I should apologize to the hamster right now. To compare a normal living thing to one of the most—if not the most—disgusting beings on the planet.
"...Senior, you really need to improve how you treat Un-ho."
I thought I was treating him well enough.
The fact that I hadn't thrown him out with the food waste was proof that my patience and generosity were as vast as the universe.
"You've seen how Un-ho acts. That level of treatment is exactly what he deserves."
"...Keep that up and your mascot might run away."
Where would he even go? He’s the one who said his capacity was full just dealing with me.
I let out a brief smile at the thought, but it quickly vanished.
Because of the gloomy aura I felt beside me.
...Wait. No way. Did I step on a landmine?
"...Uh... A-bin?"
"Yes, Senior?"
"Just a hypothetical question... but your mascot..."
"Senior?"
"...Yeah?"
"Let's drop that subject."
Leaving only those words, Han A-bin moved toward Baek Si-hyun. Likely to pet some animal fur.
* * *
Last night was truly quiet.
Contrary to my expectations, there were no special sorties. The Defense Force members didn't bother us, and there was no loud thunder of artillery.
The only thing that happened was a small incident where Chris almost changed clothes in front of me, apparently not understanding that I was a man.
For the record, I swear by the Thunder God and Linshua, I bolted out of the room before anything could be seen. Baek Si-hyun and Han A-bin probably gave her a good talking-to afterward.
Regardless of that, I headed to the first assembly with the hope that this Mobilization Training would be more relaxed than expected.
* * *
In the auditorium, which I was visiting again just a day after the induction ceremony, greetings were being exchanged everywhere.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Li Shuguang of the Martial Alliance's Simin Sect. I look forward to working with you."
And there was one such person in front of us.
A man in casual clothes with a spear strapped to his back, marking him as a Martial Artist. As he bowed his head—
"We look forward to working with you!"
The five remaining people behind Li Shuguang bowed as well.
"Nice to meet you!"
"We look forward to it."
"Likewise."
"It's a pleasure!"
We returned the greetings. We didn't bow as deeply as they did, but we showed enough sincerity.
Once the introductions were over and they raised their heads, Li Shuguang spoke immediately.
"However... I have a proposal."
"What is it?"
"Ah, are you the representative?"
"I am."
"Ah, then this is even better. It's about... the squad composition."
He swallowed hard, his hands moving awkwardly as if he were choosing his words carefully.
"If it's not too rude, I was wondering if we could split the training—the six of us and the four Magical Girls separately. Of course, we would move as a squad during calls or operations, but for the training itself..."
Ho. Quite an interesting proposal.
I nodded at the suggestion and scanned the five people behind the man.
Unrefined qi and crooked postures.
Hmm. I think I get the gist.
"I have a rough idea why, but may I ask the reason?"
"Haha. It seems you've already noticed... regarding the five behind me..."
The man trailed off, looking a bit awkward.
"They are my disciples, but they are still unpolished... It might be hard for Magical Girls to understand, but for a Martial Artist..."
Just as I thought.
Should I cut him off before the story gets too long?
"I'm familiar with the training methods of martial artists. A comrade of mine is one, so of course, I should be considerate of that."
Familiar? Your commander-in-chief is a friend of mine.
"Thank you so much!"
Was my answer that pleasing? Li Shuguang bowed even deeper than before, expressing his joy.
A bit excessive.
"Ah, there's no need for such gratitude. Heroes should help each other out."
"No. As a Martial Artist, I have received a favor, so it is only right that I repay it. Is there anything you desire?"
Hmm. Something I desire.
I racked my brain for a moment to answer.
Money? Don't need it.
Labor? Don't need it.
Ask him to buy a meal? That’s a bit...
As I continued thinking, a good idea struck me.
"Ah, would something like this be possible?"
"What might that be?"
"You know, the squad duties. Like the duty logs, patrol records, and inventory ledgers."
"Yes."
"How about you take full charge of those during the mobilization period?"
Well, this seemed appropriate. No money changing hands, not too burdensome, and a compromise both sides could understand.
To be honest, it was because that kind of paperwork was a massive pain in the ass. Even after gaining powers, the things I fundamentally hated hadn't changed.
"Are you sure you're okay with just that?"
"Heroes should help each other out."
"Thank you truly!"
And once again, a roar erupted.
What were they so happy about? Shouting at the top of their lungs while bowing. Pouring out all their emotions.
This is why I dislike martial artists.
It wasn't about their humanity or anything like that. It was their straightforward, upright behavior.
It always, strangely, rubbed me the wrong way.
"Then, I look forward to working with you."
I said, extending my hand.
Li Shuguang stared at it blankly for a moment while still bowed, but he soon understood.
"I look forward to working with you!"
He gripped my hand and shook it vigorously.
With a bright smile.
As I thought. They're uncomfortable to be around.