Chapter 111
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Mascot Unit (2)
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Finally, we arrived at the mascots' space.
However, unlike the military dog platoon I'd initially compared it to, the sight before my eyes was quite unfamiliar.
Apart from several slightly rundown buildings, chain-link fences, and walls, the surroundings were nothing but trees and a lake.
It felt even more blended into nature than the front lines, which were supposedly close to the wild.
In a nice way, it was pastoral.
In an extreme way, neglected.
Honestly, if it weren't for the grass laid out on the ground, I'd have thought it was completely abandoned.
And in that place, there were countless animals.
Since animals with normal colors were rare, those were probably all mascots. For some reason, their numbers seemed greater than the Magical Girls'.
At that moment, the officer-level Magical Girl who had escorted us spoke up calmly.
She flung open the entrance gate in the chain-link fence.
"Alright, now go ahead with your Magical reunions."
No sooner had she finished speaking than the Magical Girls rushed into the space and started chatting away with their respective mascots.
It felt just like watching an animal encounter at a massive zoo.
Especially since mascot-exclusive snacks were being sold right next to it, which only deepened the impression.
"Partner, how've you been lately?"
[Don't even ask. Every day is Magical Hell. I wanna get out ASAP.]
"Don't worry. We'll be out soon enough."
Well, sure, it looked like an animal encounter, but it was really more like a prison visit straight out of the movies. Handing over snacks was basically just passing contraband.
Anyway.
The folks from our barracks were enjoying their reunions with their mascots too.
"I'm here! You been good?!"
[Master!!! So glad to see you!!! Come here!!!]
"The girl has arrived. I hope you've been well?"
[Something's off, girl. Feels like a touch of Magical Mara has slipped into you. Tell me what happened.]
Whitey was romping around with Baldy, while Octopus started up a calm chat with the black cat.
"Sorry! I've just been swamped lately!"
[No worries, Ibo. So, how's that Magical plan you mentioned going?]
"Finally got some real Magical progress!"
[No way?! Spill it!]
"Yeah yeah! You bet!"
In Sora's case, her usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be seen as she excitedly poured out words.
"Hey, got anything decent lately? Something solid."
[Hmm, haven't stirred much lately, so not sure. Wanna do some real Magical legwork for once?]
"It's cool. I'll scout it out myself."
I couldn't tell if the lesbo bitch was talking to her mascot or haggling with a human trafficker.
Anyway.
Everyone seemed to cherish their mascot reunions.
Well, it made sense.
Mascots were Magical Girls' partners, even if they lived apart. They could talk and got along great.
That's why everyone looked so happy.
Just having someone to lean on brought huge comfort to everyday life.
Right then, an animal padded up beside Whitey's mascot. A yellow-furred Shiba Inu.
Though it was kinda iffy if it counted as a mascot.
[Oh yeah!!! Master!!! I made a new friend!!!]
Whitey's mascot introduced the Shiba Inu as a friend, but the Shiba Inu just barked back.
Acting like any ordinary beast.
But Whitey, unlike me, didn't bat an eye. She even grabbed a nearby Magical Girl from the mascot unit and started talking.
"Auntie! What's the breed on this one?!"
Those words were pushing it, though.
I got why Whitey said it—the woman had a seasoned vibe that no youthful Magical Girl looks could hide.
But "auntie"?
Wasn't that a bit much?
Still, the Magical Girl hadn't wasted her years; she responded to Whitey's rudeness with a measure of patience.
"Doesn't matter the unit—you can't call people that. Say 'unnie' in cases like this. Got it?"
"Okay!"
Whitey nodded vigorously, and the Magical Girl gave a soft smile.
"Auntie! What's this unnie's breed?!"
"Hey!!!"
Though that smile didn't last.
"Uh...... sorry......"
Whitey quickly apologized to the Magical Girl.
But it was pure lip service. She still had no clue what she'd done wrong and looked a tad indignant about it.
In that case, time to clue her in.
"Hey, you have no idea what you messed up, do you?"
"Yeah......"
Some folks might wonder.
It's just calling someone from another unit—what's the big deal?
But Whitey was definitely in the wrong here.
How you address someone really matters.
A person's whole impression can flip based on that alone.
Let's run a hypothetical.
You're a researcher right now.
Project lead on a research task.
Not just any research, either. How it wraps up could totally reshape your future—high-stakes stuff.
Your whole life riding on it.
Say there's a stunning Chinese researcher colleague named Xing Hua.
After years working together, she's your ideal coworker.
But she pushes for more than that—flirty, touchy-feely, openly showing her pure crush.
Just on you.
And get this: she straight-up proposes marriage, saying she'll support you, just bring your body.
Heart-pounding, right?
You'd be spinning, ready to say yes on the spot.
But.
Even someone this perfect can come off totally different.
All because of how you say her name.
More precisely, how you pronounce her Chinese name, Xing Hua.
Check it out.
Xing Hua (properly: Sing Hwah)
→ Flirts cutely to steal your heart.
Xing Hua (mocked: Ching Hoo-wah)
→ Flirts cutely to steal your research.
See? Same person, same actions. But one little pronunciation shift, and the vibe changes completely. All her behavior takes on a new spin.
The first? Your lifelong Chinese soulmate.
The second? A damn chink kid out to wreck your life.
So yeah, watch how you address people. It can flip everything.
Same deal right now.
You don't call someone "auntie." Like I said, the impression swings to extremes.
"Who calls a person 'auntie'?"
"If not auntie, what do I call her?"
Easy.
"Call her 'ajumma.' Got it?"
"Aha! Okay!"
"Auntie" was just too curt, wasn't it?
You gotta stretch it out for elders.
"Good job? Ajumma?"
"No! I'm not!"
Yet despite my politeness, the Magical Girl just shrieked anyway.
As an A-rank, I found the whole scene absurd.
She was from another unit anyway—nothing to do with me. I'd called all the visiting generals from other units "sir" without issue.
Magical Girls really were an inscrutable bunch.
The military was way simpler in that regard.
"What manner of Magical disgrace is this?"
Right then, Octopus approached, her voice dripping with utter disdain.
She'd just finished talking with her mascot, it seemed. No idea what was said.
"How can one lack even basic Magical etiquette? Truly lamentable."
Her words hit a nerve, and I snapped back.
"Then what do you call her?"
"The girl shall demonstrate."
Ignoring me entirely, Octopus flashed a bright smile at the Magical Girl.
"Fair maiden. Might this humble girl learn your name?"
"Don't call me maiden either! And it's not this dog—it's me!"
Not that what came out of her mouth didn't sound like something from a barbaric era.
Still, we fared better than the lesbo.
"Hey, you—"
"Shut your trap, you crazy bitch!!!"
Who seemed straight out of some other world's hardboiled noir.
Complete with gritty thug vibes.
Ray got smacked by the Magical Girl's magic mid-sentence and knocked out cold for a bit.
No worries. She'd bounce back fine soon enough.
Just one lingering question, though.
"Mind if I ask one thing?"
"What?"
The Magical Girl answered curtly, clearly annoyed, but didn't shut me down. I quickly voiced the doubt I'd been holding.
"Are these really all mascots?"
Every animal here a mascot?
Sure, they looked the part. Most had colors you'd never see on regular animals, mutations or not.
But.
"Of course they're mascots. That's why we keep them all in the Mascot Unit."
"Then why are there dumb beasts that can't even talk mixed in if they're mascots?"
Why didn't the mascots talk?
Take the Shiba Inu hanging with Whitey's mascot—it understood words fine but never spoke once. Just reacted like any animal.
Mascots should talk, though.
"Huh? Just to check—are you new to the Mascot Unit?"
"Yeah."
Luckily, she nailed the source of my confusion right away.
"Ah, that explains it."
She nodded a couple times like it all made sense, then jumped straight to answering.
"First off, to be clear: everything here is a mascot."
With that, the Magical Girl continued.
"There are two reasons Magical Girls visit the Mascot Unit."
She held up her fist and extended just her index and middle fingers.
"One is the Magical reunion with your mascots."
She folded her middle finger.
"You have to periodically bond with them on a Magical level and recharge their mana. Think of it like charging a Magical battery."
I'd figured it was just a jail visit, but there was actual purpose. Made sense enough.
Then she folded her index finger too.
"The other is for Magical adoptions."
This time dropping something harder to grasp.