Chapter 114

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 114

Chapter Title: Mascot Unit (5)

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For a moment, I couldn't comprehend it.

Not that I didn't understand the words themselves. After all, wasn't "Hero" something I knew better than anyone?

The problem was that those words had come from someone else's mouth.

Sure, I'd been introducing myself as a Hero all this time, but how had people reacted?

No one had ever called me a Hero seriously. Whenever the word crossed their lips, it was always laced with mockery or ridicule.

As if Heroes didn't exist.

As if I was less than a mere clown.

And yet.

This mascot had looked right at me and called me a Hero.

It wasn't to tease or insult me. It had simply stated it plainly, matter-of-factly, without a hint of emotion.

If I'd introduced myself as a Hero to the mascot, that might have been different. But aside from complaining a bit, I hadn't said a word to it.

And this mascot had only met me today. It had no idea I was a Hero.

So why had it called me one?

Something felt off.

At the same time, a sudden wave of disgust washed over me.

The instant the mascot spoke, an inexplicable sense of unease hit me. It felt like I should back off right now.

But my curiosity burned even hotter.

What did this mascot know? If I poured more mana into it, what would it say next?

Two choices lay before me.

Stop here.

Or take one step further.

The decision came quickly.

I poured mana into the mascot again. Every last drop, except for the bare minimum I needed to move.

It was an excessive amount. I hadn't expended this much since my isekai days.

Honestly, I was starting to regret it. Fatigue from the backlash was already creeping in.

But at least it worked.

The mascot, now infused with mana, fixed its gaze on me and opened its beak once more.

Except...

"Wh-what the fuck. Slow down."

The mascot had glitched out a little.

Because I'd flooded it with mana so quickly, it started shaking its head and spewing random, unrelated words.

It was too fast— the only thing I caught was "Hero" again.

The words came with some gaps at least, but that didn't make them comprehensible. I couldn't even guess what it was trying to say.

And it didn't stop there.

The mascot tilted its head side to side in a creepy manner as it stared at me. It looked like it might snap under its own weight.

"Hey, wait. Hold still."

But it ignored me and started thrashing wildly instead.

It twisted its body roughly, flailing the claws on its three legs everywhere.

In the chaos, I got scratched a bit.

"Ow, fuck. That stings."

My grip loosened for a split second. The mascot seized the chance, flapping its wings furiously to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠escape my hand.

And just like that, it soared into the sky.

Still spouting nonsense.

I stared blankly at its retreating form before snapping out of it and giving chase.

In the direction ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it had flown, naturally.

I had way too many questions.

"You're fucking dead, you little shit."

The mascot was top of the list.

"Fuck."

Long story short, it was a waste of time.

It was a fool's errand from the start. How was I supposed to catch up to a mascot flying that far away?

I considered physical enhancement, but I was out of mana. If I'd known it'd bolt like this, I would've rationed it better.

In the end, all I could do was watch it shrink to a dot and vanish completely.

"Sigh."

I trudged back empty-handed.

By the time I returned, the barracks folks had scattered, leaving only unfamiliar Magical Girls and mascots in sight.

"Hm?"

That's when I spotted a pretty big bat in my field of view. Pink fur— had to be a mascot.

It noticed me staring and looked back.

Interesting.

Back in the isekai, animals reacted to me in one of two ways the moment they saw me.

Terrified flight.

Or drooling attack.

A pure, untainted gaze like this? First time.

That sparked my interest.

I might be out of mana for more, but I could probably manage some rapport, like that Magical Girl mentioned.

Maybe feed it something.

Conveniently, I had just the thing— smuggled in on the sly.

I pulled out the fire ramen and offered the noodles to the little bat. Noodles only, no sauce yet.

"Wanna eat?"

It even talked! The bat mascot's eyes sparkled as it started crunching the fire ramen noodles.

Looked like it liked them.

Time to show it the real deal, then.

"Hey, hold on a sec."

I drenched the noodles in sauce.

Generously, till it overflowed. That's the only way to get the true flavor.

"This is the real stuff. Gotta eat it like this to taste it right."

The bat nodded and chomped down on the sauce-slathered fire ramen noodles.

Was it that good?

The bat mascot's eyes rolled back as it glared at me. It had gone from fine to feral beast in seconds.

"Tasty, right?"

Now it was baring its fangs.

Incredible. Who knew the concept of "tasty" could degrade a mind this much.

It was like that water intoxication scene from some movie. Except this was fire ramen sauce, not water.

Anyway.

I didn't feel like dealing with it anymore. The bat was obsessed with the intense flavor and kept lunging at me— specifically, my sauce-covered hand.

Even playing has its limits. Especially when I'm drained from burning all my mana.

Only one thing left to do.

And it was simple.

I bolted toward the cluster of Magical Girls and mascots.

Perfect timing— the frizzy-haired Magical Girl from earlier was there, chatting with a yellow lion draped in a red cape.

That had to be her mascot. Their vibes matched, somehow.

"Anyway, I don't remember much from back then. It's all so hazy."

"Thanks for the encouragement."

She noticed me approaching and tilted her head.

"Huh? You're..."

Truth be told, I didn't like her. If I had to pick, she fell squarely in the dislike camp.

But not today.

"What brings you here so suddenly...?"

I ignored her question. Instead, I slyly smeared fire ramen sauce on the back of her neck.

Clever enough that she and her lion wouldn't notice.

But perfectly visible to the bat.

"What did you just do...?"

"Nah, nothing much."

The frizzy-haired girl looked puzzled, but that was it. My old isekai neck-slashing stealth worked wonders here.

Bonus: The bat's bloodshot glare shifted from me to her neck.

Then I slipped a packet of fire ramen sauce into her pocket. Again, obvious to the bat.

The bat forgot all about me giving it ramen, fixating solely on the girl's movements.

Mascots were beasts at heart, after all.

To forget me over something this petty.

Whatever.

Not my problem anymore. She'd entertain it from here.

I patted the frizzy-haired girl's shoulder with a bright smile and walked off.

"Thanks. You've worked hard. Keep it up."

Terror filled her face as she fired urgent questions at me.

"Pardon? Why say that all of a sudden?! No, what the hell is going on?!"

Anxiety dripped from her expression and every word.

Like a soldier hearing rare kind words from a trash-talking commander right before battle.

"I don't know what it is, but tell me! It's scary! Please, just explain─!"

But the frizzy-haired Magical Girl didn't get to finish.

She couldn't.

The bat mascot lunged.

"...Huh?"

Caught off guard by the bat's sudden assault, the frizzy-haired girl froze.

Not for long, though.

A few seconds at most.

But that was enough.

Enough for the bat to sink its fangs into her neck.

- Squish!!!

Maybe because she wasn't transformed, or the sauce softened her skin, but the bat's teeth sank deep.

"Gaaaaah─!!!"

Blood gushed from the frizzy-haired Magical Girl's neck under the ambush.

It was a hell of a show.

The red-caped yellow lion caught on to the commotion, bristling its mane at the bat.

The lion moved so fast even I almost lost it, swatting the bat with a front paw.

Wham! A heavy whoosh echoed. The bat got smashed unceremoniously into the ground.

The lion mascot packed more punch than expected.

I'd pegged it as a Superman cosplayer from the cape and "super" talk, but its strength outdid mine.

Or maybe it forgot to hold back in the heat of the moment. Mascots were beasts deep down, after all.

But the lion wasn't unscathed either.

Blood dripped from its paw. Probably bitten while smacking the bat.

Self-inflicted, really.

WWE turning into UFC? Gotta take the hits.

Plus, the bat wasn't done. It shuddered from the impact but dragged itself up.

Eyes still locked sharply on the sauce-wielding frizzy-haired girl.

Really took a shine to it.

Might bring more later.

Then the bat leaped at the girl again. The lion bristled to intercept.

The lion swatted it again.

The bat screeched, tumbling pathetically. In a final spasm, it bit the lion's paw.

Rinse and repeat.

One difference this time, though.

The lion suddenly foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

Breathing ragged and faint, like it couldn't get air.

Unexpected twist, but figuring out why the lion lost to the bat didn't take long.

"Ah."

What kind of animal is a bat, anyway?

A rodent.

Even a lion goes down after two bites from a rat.

That's why the lion dropped after the second chomp.

And calling itself Superman? Big factor too.

Think about it. Lion's Superman? Bat's gotta be Batman.

But not just any bat— a pink one.

Not plain Batman. Bat-Gayman.

Bat wins, obviously.

Everyone knows Superman always gets his ass kicked by Batman.

Sure, this is Bat-Gayman, not Batman, but same result.

No matter how Superman-y, getting hit with Bat-Gayman's kryptonite dildo leaves you helpless.

Matchup mismatch. Lion lost.

Meanwhile, battered as it was, the bat crawled toward the frizzy-haired girl.

And punctuated it with a bite.

"Gaaaaah─!!!!!"

The small, brutal game reached its end.

Afterward, a notice went out: No fire ramen for mascots.

Supply stocks were recalled, and fire ramen got banned from the Magical PX.

Reason: Magical animal abuse or whatever. Honestly, I didn't get that part.

Whatever.

Source of the issue: fire ramen.

Policy: Destroy it all.

Overkill to the point of stupidity, but that's Magical Girls for you.

Today, they were peaceful as ever.