Chapter 121
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: The Prelude to a Small but Great Battle
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I got bit.
Not in stocks—physically.
By a mere animal pup.
Of course, it wasn't a hard bite. Just a single drop of blood. I'd thought it'd chomp down recklessly, but it seemed to control its strength.
Still, my mood was shit.
This was our first direct conversation, and its greeting was to sink its teeth into me?
"Siyul, you okay? All good?"
"No."
Meanwhile, Sora jumped in shock and scolded the fox mascot.
"W-what the hell was that?!"
The fox mascot, naturally, couldn't care less.
It just cocked its head as if puzzled.
I was dumbfounded. Who the hell verifies a person by biting them right off the bat?
"Sora, can I kill this little shit?"
"S-senior! I'll apologize for it! Please hold back!"
"Why? Once it tastes human blood, it should be put down."
Sora clung to me desperately, trying to calm me down. But the fox mascot ignored her completely, just narrowing its eyes.
"What, you saying I'm not human, you fucking mutt?"
"Holy shit."
I was pissed, but I couldn't even argue back.
I really was a mom-fucker.
So of course it'd taste like that.
Its palate was spot-on.
Even a mere animal pup was still a mascot, huh? Tougher than expected.
Couldn't put it down now. It hadn't tasted human blood—just mom-fucker flavor.
"Hoo."
My head throbbed.
Even while bantering with this little beast, time kept ticking faithfully away. I should've been scarfing down cup ramen instead.
What the hell was I supposed to do?
Handing it all off would be perfect—
"Hm?"
Then it hit me—a brilliant idea.
A way to deal with the endless pile of cup ramen.
Not salvation for everyone.
But at least I'd survive.
"Sora. I just had a great idea."
"What now?"
Sora replied with a hint of unease.
I opened my mouth confidently.
"Let's have the mascots fight—for the cup ramen."
Like a bet.
Back in my military days, I'd bet on fights between a general's mutt and the camp's veteran tiger.
Obviously, I bet on the veteran tiger.
The general's dog was something to salute, which I hated, and the tiger had an impressive record anyway.
19 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses.
The draw was against me.
Thanks to that, I scored some gains betting during service. Well, until the company commander caught on while "nourishing" himself.
Anyway.
Sora nodded like she got it.
"Oh, you mean a Magical Mascot Battle?"
I hadn't expected Magical stuff even here, but good things were good. No need for long explanations.
"But senior."
"Yeah?"
Then Sora shot back sharply.
"Do you even have a mascot?"
The key element of my proposal.
"You need a mascot for a mascot match, right?"
Fair point. Magical or not, mascot battles required mascots.
I wasn't a Magical Girl, hadn't adopted one this time. Sora's jab was totally valid.
But.
"Of course I do."
"Huh? Really?"
Today, I got a mascot too.
Temporary, but still a mascot.
"Hetero, you have a mascot? First I'm hearing of it. Anyone else know?"
"This girl heard it today too."
They all eyed me curiously, shocked I had one.
"Wha...? N-no way! You told me you wouldn't make one for me!"
Whitey was the most negative—betrayal and despair mixed, denying reality.
Couldn't figure why.
I could make a mascot easy.
Whatever.
I flashed a bright smile and proudly showed off my mascot.
"Here."
This oughta convince them.
But.
"Ha? What the fu...?"
"...You're insane."
Instead of awe, the barracks crew gave me cold stares.
"Sigh."
Whitey seemed relieved, but still chilly. Everyone thought the same.
Sora voiced it.
"Senior, that's just a stag beetle."
Just a stag beetle...
Fair enough.
But this wasn't just any stag beetle.
Call a name, and the form blooms—right?
Same here. The moment I deemed it my mascot, my pet stag beetle became a true one.
"What're you talking about? This is my mascot."
"Where'd you even get it?"
"It was trapped in a tight space."
Not wrong.
Locked in a tiny cage.
"Ha... Does it have a name?"
"Obviously."
This stag beetle was temporary, but right now, fully my mascot.
Name...
Yeah, perfect.
"Dark Tank Emperor."
Stag beetles were the tanks of the insect world.
With its glossy black sheen, 'Dark' fit perfectly.
"..."
Sora's gaze turned icier.
A venomous look I hadn't seen in ages.
"...Hah."
Sora clutched her face, expression complicated.
Felt bad being dismissed, but I'd hold my tongue.
They'd see soon enough.
How awesome Dark Tank Emperor was.
Meanwhile, Sora spoke up, conflicted.
"Cut it out. Normal mascots sense their Magical Girl's psyche somewhat, but this stag beetle knows nothing about you."
Unexpected info from Sora—even the mascot unit hadn't mentioned it.
Mascots read their girls' inner states.
I froze at the surprise, and the fox mascot backed her up.
Then it sneered.
Sora's eyes turned serious.
"Senior, if it's real, channel some magic power into it."
"Why suddenly?"
I replied hesitantly.
Sora pressed harder.
"Unless the Magical Girl herself severs the Magical Link, you can't adopt it. Charging it with magic will connect you—and make it talk, so we can check."
Then she glared.
"You didn't steal someone else's, did you?"
"No."
That, I answered firmly.
I could swear to it.
I didn't steal.
Just relocated the stag beetle briefly.
From a suffocatingly tiny cage to the safest pocket in the world.
Bonus: I learned stuff I hadn't known, unintended.
One.
Mascots sense their girl's inner world—deeper in crises.
Two.
One-way: from girl to mascot.
The fox came sniffing because it sensed something off with Sora—deduced from our first chat.
Three.
Magical Link breaks on girl's death or voluntary release.
Now adoption conditions clicked.
Two cases: girl dies, or releases it.
Both leave orphan mascots.
I.e., severed Magical Link.
A linked mascot was like a pet with an owner.
Can't adopt by feeding scraps—same logic.
Wait.
That means last time—
"Senior, why'd you go quiet?"
"Sorry."
I snapped back, focusing.
"Whatever. Just channel magic. Gotta confirm it's yours."
I pondered her urging. Should I now?
Then the stag beetle suddenly stood tall in my palm.
Middle legs crossed like arms.
Front legs spread like shoulders back.
"Dark Tank Emperor?"
It nodded.
Faint motion, but I felt its will.
Fighting spirit.
My intent connected—no magic needed. Bonded as master and servant.
"Sora, this enough?"
"No way it's a real mascot. What the hell?"
Sora muttered, clutching her head.
Genuinely baffled.
Not my problem.
"So, mascot battle? I'll bet everything on mine winning. Lose, you take it all."
"Tch, Magical Captain's on Magical patrol today... but fine. If you're in, I'll bet on mine."
Sora looked half-resigned, but her eyes sparkled faintly.
Excited at clearing the ramen pile in one go.
Didn't matter. She agreed—battle on. I was winning anyway.
But I wasn't stopping here.
Go big or go home.
"Who you all betting on?"
Instant replies.
"Me...? Sora... sorry, Siyul."
"This girl bets on the half-inferior. No way a mere stag beetle beats a mascot."
"Sora, obviously."
Whitey hesitated briefly, but everyone backed Sora's mascot.
Octopus and Rez especially gung-ho.
"Junior, no begging later. This is Magical no-retreat. Like signing Magical surrender papers."
"Hetero, includes the cup ramen in my Magical onahole. Got it? Kinda tangy."
Rez's words spooked me a bit, but fine.
Couldn't trust myself, but Dark Tank Emperor? Absolutely.
"Sweet. Let's do it."
One snag, though.
The fox refusing.
Didn't see that coming? Or ramen chance vanishing? Sora pleaded desperately.
"P-partner? Why?!"
"Please, just once."
Bad.
No battle, no ramen relief. I couldn't stomach more.
For real.
"Hey, you really not doing it?"
Blasé reply, like nothing I said mattered.
No choice.
Time for hardball.
"If not, I'll outsource your hentai and blast it everywhere. Cool?"
"Duh. Doubt me?"
Funds were fine.
Could commission a few hentai outsources. Probably.
The fox smirked, half-amused, half-mocking.
"Who said Sora's hentai?"
Its grin vanished. Thick confusion remained.
"Yeah."
It was hentai, sure.
"Yours."
Just not Sora's.
I beamed at the dumbfounded fox.
"Boobs or paizuri?"
"Go!!! Dark Tank Emperor!!!"
"Partner, you can't lose!!!!!!!"
A colossal colosseum of cup ramen.
There, our fateful Magical Mascot Battle began.
A small, but great Magical Mascot Battle.