Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Magical Major Criminals
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The words of the white Magical Girl were too abrupt.
"We're going to go catch some Magical major criminals now."
A Magical Girl telling us to go catch criminals.
Not just any criminals, but Magical major criminals.
Yet surprisingly, it seemed like this kind of thing happened fairly often. The mascot, Sora, and all the other Magical Girls showed no signs of finding it strange.
I was the only one wearing a baffled expression.
At that moment, the white Magical Girl glanced at me and slowly opened her mouth.
"You all probably know this already, but since it's important, I'll explain it once more."
She must have noticed in that short time that I had no idea.
This explanation was probably her way of being considerate.
"As you know, Magical major criminals are, quite literally, Magical Girls who've committed heinous crimes."
Now I understood why Magical Girls had to step in.
It was a kind of unwritten rule: corrupted Magical Girls were to be dealt with by other Magical Girls. Normal methods wouldn't work against them anyway.
"Simply put, they're Magical Girls who've abandoned their duties and fled while in possession of their personal magic wands."
Ah, so we're just going after some AWOL soldiers.
Armed AWOL soldiers, at that.
At that instant, a different emotion seeped into the white Magical Girl's impassive, slightly hollow gaze.
Viscous disgust and sharp killing intent.
"They're scum who don't deserve to be called Magical Girls."
No one called out her extreme statement.
They simply remained silent.
Some even nodded in agreement.
It might have been because of her high rank, but it felt more like they all shared her sentiments.
Otherwise...
"Sora, everyone looks pretty pissed off, huh?"
...the atmosphere wouldn't have been this tense.
"Of course they're angry."
"Why?"
"If it weren't for those bastards, a lot fewer Magical Girls would have gotten hurt and been forced into Magical retirement or died in the line of duty."
"Ah."
"Plus, Magical regulations wouldn't be this strict."
This was definitely enough to piss anyone off.
The ones responsible for all the disadvantages Magical Girls faced were still out there, living scot-free. Of course they'd be angry.
"So they're pieces of shit we'd love to rip apart."
"Exactly. Anyway, focus. This is your first time, so you probably don't know much."
Right on cue, the white Magical Girl began her briefing.
"Magical major criminals will use their magic without hesitation to avoid capture. So we'll deploy without restrictions, just like before."
Thanks to multiple Magical arrests, there are only eight left now, but that means their resistance will be fiercer, so everyone be careful!
Two things were clear from that.
First, Magical Girls had their magic restricted in normal situations like leave or outings into society.
"They put magic restrictions on when going on leave, huh."
"Ah, yes. That's right. We take our magic wands out, but with Magical restrictions so we can't use magic."
It made sense when I thought about it. What could be crazier than unleashing mentally unstable magic users into society without any checks?
But right now, everyone was deploying without restrictions.
Meaning this was no ordinary situation.
"But how do they apply the restrictions?"
"Ah, that'll be explained later."
Second, the fiercer resistance meant they were more likely to resort to extreme measures.
We pretty much had to treat them like murderers.
"Is catching those bastards tough?"
"It's not easy. They fight dirty."
Or like dealing with otherworlders.
As I quietly mulled it over, the white Magical Girl's briefing shifted to the main operation details.
"Of course, our top priorities are minimizing civilian casualties and apprehending the Magical major criminals."
The white Magical Girl suddenly held up a bracelet.
It was too thick in diameter to really call a bracelet.
"We'll neutralize them the same way as before: slap on the pre-adjusted Magical handcuffs. Size adjusts automatically, so arms, legs, neck—whatever. Just don't accidentally cuff yourself."
I'd assumed they were just Magical-tagged regular cuffs, but they were actual magic items.
Probably used to restrict magic power during leave. Or to neutralize targets like now.
"Sora, doesn't it feel uncomfortable wearing those on leave? And what if something urgent happens for real?"
"The Magical fit is comfortable, so no issues. The ones for leave are set to release in emergencies."
"Ah, so for these major criminals, since we have to apprehend them, they're adjusted to a stricter level?"
"Yes, exactly."
At that moment, the white Magical Girl set down the Magical handcuffs and added in a low voice.
"If push comes to shove, arms or legs can go. We can heal that much, as you all know."
The white Magical Girl paused, closing her eyes.
When she opened them again, sharper killing intent gleamed in her stark orange irises.
"If it's a truly dire situation and there's no choice, just kill them. No matter what, the safety of the Magical Girls here comes first for me."
As soon as she finished, the white Magical Girl gazed steadily at me.
Her orange eyes, filled with killing intent moments ago, now held only concern.
"We'll ambush from assigned positions. If things go south, feel free to retreat. No one will blame you for it. If anyone does, I'll handle them personally."
Especially that last part—it felt aimed squarely at me, even though it was for everyone.
She was probably worried about me joining the op without any magic.
But honestly, I thought it was unnecessary.
Monsters weren't as threatening as I'd expected. Did I really need to worry that much about ex-Magical Girls turned criminals?
Sure, having the Moonlight Sword would make it better. But even without it, I figured I could manage.
I don't lose to psychos.
Not even close.
"I won't be participating this time, but there's someone dispatched from Magical Girl Purple Snake, so you should be fine cooperating with her."
No wonder there were way more Magical Girls gathered than when the monsters appeared before. The dispatched one must have been with us.
Still, the numbers seemed excessive.
"But do we need this many people?"
"Magical Girl Purple Snake always sends a lot whenever they help our Magical General."
"They've been super close forever."
"Yeah, that tracks."
Otherwise, why would they do joint counseling sessions?
They'd seemed tight during the psych eval before, too.
"Anyway, do your best, sunbae."
"Nah."
"Huh? Why?"
But separate from all that, I just wasn't motivated.
"Feels like a hassle."
I'm a Magical Girl in name only, with no magic. And I don't have the Moonlight Sword right now either.
I could probably hold my own, barely, but was there any reason to risk it? Especially with so many people around.
There's an old saying for a reason.
Lay low in the army—that's the best.
Probably the same for Magical Girls.
"With this many, they'll handle it fine without me."
"No sense of Magical duty, sunbae?"
"You're still a Magical Girl. Gotta step up."
"I'm a Hero, not a Magical Girl."
No need to dive into danger for no reason.
Oh, right! For this dangerous Magical op, any Magical Girl who plays a decisive role gets special leave, and everyone in her Magical barracks gets a Magical promotion!
Sometimes you gotta seize opportunities in life.
"Looks like Magical Girl Kim Siyul's gotta step up."
The mascot and Sora shot me cold glares, but I ignored them.
I had no choice.
What was my goal here again?
Right. Discharge.
I could get discharged after two years rubbing shoulders with psychos, or with Magical sergeant stripes.
Either way, discharge.
So promoting faster would get me closer to that goal.
In other words, shorten my Magical Girl stint.
"For my promotion, you two work hard."
"Sunbae, you know you're trash, right?"
"Not even human. Just garbage."
"Shut your mouths, both of you."
If that was the case, I could endure their icy stares just fine.
"Anyone who needs to prep, do it quick. Grab your Magical handcuffs and head to your assigned spots. Location's close, so no gates needed."
Perfect timing—the white Magical Girl gave the order.
"You two don't need prep? I'm just grabbing a supply magic wand and done."
"I'm good."
"Me too. Got plenty of Magical cigarettes."
"Then let's go."
After grabbing the supply magic wand, we headed straight to our assigned spot.
"Um, Siyul."
Then the white Magical Girl called me.
"Yeah?"
"That..."
She fidgeted for a moment, then looked at me with worry-filled orange eyes.
"Be careful. Don't get hurt."
"Don't worry."
"Okay!"
Only then did she flash a bright smile.
"I'll be back."
"Yeah, come back safe!"
With that, I set off, leaving her send-off behind.
To take down Magical major criminals.
For my Magical discharge.
"Ha."
Fatigue was already crashing in, and we hadn't even been here long.
Actually, I'd been tired before we arrived.
"Sunbae."
"What now."
It was all because of Sora.
"What's your deal with Magical Girl White Phoenix?"
"I've said a million times, nothing."
For some reason, Sora had been grilling me nonstop from before departure until now at our spot.
"No way. I've never seen Magical Girl White Phoenix smile like that. Calling you by name all sweet and stuff."
"Maybe she's just happy lately. Why you harping on it."
"It's weird, that's why. There has to be something. Spill it honestly."
She called it asking nicely, but it was straight-up interrogation.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be half-glaring like that.
And it wasn't just questions—she threw in slander midway.
About the white Magical Girl, naturally.
"And don't go grinning like an idiot just 'cause Magical Girl White Phoenix smiled at you. Keep your head straight if you don't wanna get hurt."
"That's what you need to hear."
"You know she's a 47-year-old Magical spinster in a kid's body? Total Magical hag. No telling what she'll do."
Even when I snapped back, Sora just kept spewing her piece.
She's a total psycho bitch.
Juniors can dislike superiors, but airing it this blatantly? Overkill.
"Even if you hate her, isn't that too much? She doesn't seem like the type to do anything."
"Why don't you get it! That's why I'm asking what your Magical relationship with Magical Girl White Phoenix is."
Then back to interrogating me.
Honestly, it was getting old—bordering on nauseating.
To the point where fighting otherworld psychos sounded more relaxing.
"Tell me straight now, and I'll reduce those three slaps I was gonna give you to one."
"Talking about slapping a guy who'd die to a Magical Girl punch? You psycho bitch."
"You're not answering, so."
What was her problem?
Was Sora hitting her crazy cycle?
And she'd admitted to being a lesbian herself. So why this obsession with my private life?
"Quit prying. You'll bury someone at this rate."
"Wanna start with you, sunbae? Huh?"
"Sorry."
But I couldn't push back more.
Her eyes were half-rolled; she might actually bury me.
Psychos with power are scary like that.
Ray even paused her Magical cigarette to calm Sora down.
"Enough, Sora. Calm down. Chill out."
"Unnie, you're not tense? This matters more to you than me!"
"Relax. What's to be tense about? We're in the backline anyway."
"No! That's not what I'm talking about!"
Sora stomped in frustration at the miscommunication.
I had no clue what her deal was either.
"Sora, mind rolling me a Magical cigarette?"
"Tempted 'cause I'm pissed, but nah."
Separately, as the mascot said, we were indeed in the rearmost position.
Our job: mop up any Magical major criminals that slipped past the main force.
Only...
"Aren't we too far back, though?"
"Yeah... you're right, sunbae."
We were excessively rear.
Position was correct—I'd double-checked multiple times.
But even accounting for rear, we couldn't even see the main force.
We were completely isolated.
Was this really the rear guard?
More like exile.
"Eh, whatever. Great for smoking, at least."
The mascot was chill, enjoying her Magical cigarette.
"Think positive, sunbae. Maybe 'cause you can't use magic and we only have three people, they put us somewhere safe."
"Maybe."
I could swallow it as consideration, but it still grated.
What if this tanks my promotion?
That worry bubbled up.
I opened my mouth to voice the growing dissatisfaction.
"Still, this feels a bit muc—"
But I couldn't finish.
"Ah...?"
I'd suddenly collapsed.
No idea why. Vision dropped, and I realized belatedly I'd fallen.
No strength in my body at all. I instinctually gripped the supply magic wand, but even that sensation was faint.
All I could manage was barely opening my mouth.
"Hey... something's... wrong..."
But despite my labored words, neither the mascot nor Sora responded.
I soon understood why.
"Ugh... ugh...!"
"Ah! Augh... ngh..."
They'd collapsed too, same as me.
But worse—they couldn't comprehend or speak, from the looks of it.
Barely conscious, even.
What the hell happened to us?
Who did this?
Then.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
A raucous laugh pierced my eardrums.
"You really were here!"
Couldn't turn my head to see who spoke.
But.
- Thud. Thud. Thud.
Multiple footsteps approached slowly.
Soon.
- Tap. Tap. Tap.
The steps stopped right in front of us.
I strained to lift my eyes toward the uninvited guests.
"Wh... o...?"
"Who?"
Faintly, several silhouettes imprinted on my retina.
"Obviously, we're Magical Girls."
Yeah.
"The kind you Magical government dogs are after."
We'd come face-to-face with the Magical major criminals.