Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Magical Wrap-Up, Afterwards
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By the time the Magical cigarette I'd stuck in my mouth had burned down to the filter.
The Magical Girls suddenly appeared and dragged away the neutralized futanari.
"We're the Magical Military Police. You've all worked hard. We'll take it from here."
I wondered if "Magical" really needed to be slapped in front of "Military Police," but I decided to let it slide.
Honestly, I was too tired to nitpick anymore.
They'd probably just say "Magical" this and "Magical" that no matter what.
"Sure, she's all yours."
They hadn't even been contacted separately, yet the Magical Girls had shown up this quickly, which meant the Magical handcuffs must have some kind of tracking measure built in.
Probably auto-transmits the location when slapped on a Magical major criminal. That's why they warned not to accidentally cuff yourself.
In any case, the handover process was straightforward.
They checked whose handcuffs were whose, then asked me—the least banged-up one—for a rundown of what happened.
I gave them a vague account.
"Magical Girl Gold Retriever handled it all by herself. Magical Girl Blue Fox and I were out of commission. I just managed to cuff them at the end."
Most of the Magical MPs bought it.
From the results alone, only Gold Retriever's cuffs were on the Magical major criminals, and the only wounds were from her magic.
"What kind of Magical damage is this?"
"A person did this?"
"These bastards really are scum."
They examined the futanari's wounds with grim expressions, but it all went smoothly enough.
Of course, a few sharp-eyed Magical MPs raised some pointed questions.
"Circumstances suggest Magical Girl Gold Retriever got hit with the Magical aphrodisiac too. How'd she pull it off?"
"Bitches in heat go rabid regardless of who or what. It was kinda like that."
"Ah, got it."
No further doubts after that.
A tiny handful still shot me suspicious looks, but they didn't press me anymore.
"If Siyul says so, it must be true. Anyway, it's late—haul 'em out quick."
Thanks to the white Magical Girl.
She was among the reinforcements and shut down the whole situation in one go.
The power of three stars was no joke.
One word from her, and everyone fell in line.
Then the white Magical Girl turned to me.
Not the cold orange eyes she'd had while watching the criminals get dragged away, but warm ones filled with worry and relief.
I must've had her seriously concerned.
"Siyul, you okay? Not hurt anywhere?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Good."
Honestly, I was grateful but a bit uncomfortable.
I wasn't used to someone showing me such straightforward kindness.
It felt awkward as hell.
Our first impression had been the absolute worst, yet ever since I joined the unit, she'd been looking out for me left and right. I had no idea how to respond.
Maybe she felt sorry and was trying to make up for it, but it was starting to feel burdensome.
Why was she doing this?
I couldn't figure it out at all.
So I just smiled politely and called it a day.
"Anyway, thanks for worrying. I'm heading out."
"Okay! Get some rest!"
And so the filthy, sordid day ended on the white Magical Girl's beaming smile.
Everything after that went smoothly.
Gold Retriever—the one who'd hogged all the credit, or rather, had it thrust upon her—got special leave, and the rest of us in the barracks, including me, were promoted.
It wasn't overnight, but for Magical Girls in a military setup, the processing was remarkably fast.
The white Magical Girl's mascot probably pulled some strings. Or so I figured.
In any case, my rank was now Magical Private First Class.
Just two ranks to go until Magical Sergeant.
Discharge was one step closer.
Fortunately, Gold Retriever didn't question the sequence of events.
"Dunno what happened, but hey—leave!"
She was just thrilled about the special leave.
"Thanks a ton! For cuffing them with my Magical handcuffs!"
She kept thanking me profusely too.
Seeing her so happy made me glad deep down that I hadn't killed the Magical major criminals at the end.
Of course, killing them would've been easier.
That's how I'd always lived.
To be honest, I'd briefly considered wiping them all out right then.
But I chose mercy for reasons of my own.
First off, to funnel the credit to Gold Retriever for her leave, I didn't cross that final line.
Sure, even if I'd killed them, she could've still gotten leave. Just say her magic finished them off.
Results matter, and I'd make sure it looked like she played the decisive role.
But.
I didn't want her bearing the karma of my kills.
I didn't want blood on her hands without her even knowing.
Even if she wasn't all there, she was still a Magical Girl.
Murder doesn't suit Magical Girls.
That's for guys like me.
And.
I didn't want to commit murder in this world either.
Sure, killing is one of the easiest ways. I can say that confidently after a decade of slaughter. It was everyday conversation in that other world.
But if I kept killing here like I did there...
I might lose myself entirely.
Lose that last thread of humanity.
Become a completely twisted monster.
That dread made me hold back from murder.
In that world, it was unavoidable. Not a choice, but a necessity. Had to kill to survive.
Spare one, and ten come back; trust someone, and they stab your spine to pieces. Killing was inevitable.
But here, it's different.
I can survive without killing.
So.
No need to go that far.
Of course, if it ever becomes truly necessary, I'll cross the line—but not now.
That's why I spared them.
Anyway.
I was a little worried about Gold Retriever, though.
From her perspective, she had every reason to suspect something, but she didn't at all. Her brain must really be lacking. Dog thing, I guess.
Still, personally, this was better.
At least she wasn't the suspicious type.
"Senior, what really happened?"
The annoying one was Sora.
Even though days had passed since the incident, she kept hounding me.
"I told you already—your sister handled it. Though she blacked out and doesn't remember."
"What about the Magical hair?"
"Oh, that?"
Correction.
This time it was about the hair.
I thought it'd slipped by everyone, but Sora was the only one picking at it.
"Things were so hectic I didn't think to ask then, but it just hit me now."
"It's not weird, though, right?"
Even if she said it was, I'd stick to my guns.
This was a symbol of my memories, after all.
"Yeah, I guess. The old style was fine, but personally, I like this one better."
Thankfully, Sora took it well.
She sidled up next to me and twirled a lock of my hair around her finger, clearly quite taken with it.
"It looks like a thin Magical fox tail. So nice."
She hummed appreciatively with a sly smile—a perfect seductive vixen.
Lesbian, my ass—why the flirting?
She looked like she had a slight headache.
Then it hit me.
"Oh, right. Got a question."
"What is it, Senior?"
"Wut? What's up?"
Sora perked up at my words, and even Gold Retriever—wriggling around happily by herself—paid attention.
"Who's the rest of the barracks?"
The battalion commander Magical Girl had mentioned it before: two were away. One on dispatch, one on leave.
"Isn't one due back soon?"
"Yeah."
"Probably today, even."
Unlike other Magical Girls who moved in groups of four or five, we always stuck to three.
During Monster outbreaks.
During the Magical major criminal bust.
So I got curious.
"Figured you two knew them, unlike me."
What were the other Magical Girls like?
Obviously, all raving lunatics.
Undeniable fact.
But with varying flavors, right?
Gold Retriever was a dim-witted racist bigot before we warmed up.
Sora was a scheming, inscrutable operator.
Any Magical Girl bunking with these two had to be miles from normal.
Simple example: Gotham villains.
If surrounded by Joker or Two-Face types, the rest are at least Scarecrow level. All equally dangerous.
So better to know who they were ahead of time for minimal prep.
A good, normal Gotham citizen like me had no choice.
"Well, one is a Magical lesbian."
"And pretty serious about it."
One was a lesbian, apparently.
Serious enough that Gold Retriever called it intense.
Which meant.
"Sora, you'd get along great. You're a lez too."
But Sora made a disgusted face at my words and stuck out her tongue.
"Senior, not all Magical lezzes like every girl. Besides, mine's a totally different kind of 'lez'."
"Is that so?"
Honestly, what was the difference?
All lezzes were the same, weren't they?
Regular lesbian vs. hard-core lesbian, maybe.
Anyway, I got it.
Gays don't like every guy, so lesbians don't like every girl.
Maybe she was closer to normal, in a way.
"No need to worry that much, though. She's not the one coming back today."
Small mercy: that Magical Girl wasn't returning today. Probably the one on dispatch.
We'd meet eventually, but later was way better.
"Then who's the other one coming back today?"
"Uh... she's kinda complicated and serious to explain."
As if there's anyone as complicated and serious as you two.
Of course, I didn't say it aloud. Just thought it.
"Senior, don't tell me you're thinking something dogshit."
"Bet it's penis thoughts."
"No way."
Sisters with killer instincts.
Psycho intuition, probably.
Anyway, calming my surprise, I slowly voiced my doubt to Sora.
"What's so complicated and serious about this Magical Girl?"
"Her Magical speech pattern aside, she's a devout Magical zealot... it's a bit much. Better to see for yourself than hear me explain."
Now I was genuinely worried.
Sora wasn't normal, but she was good at describing people.
If even she struggled...
Could a normal guy like me handle it?
With real concern, I glanced at Gold Retriever. Maybe she'd spill something.
"Whitey, what's this girl like?"
But Gold Retriever whipped her head away.
Like a dog hearing "bath time."
"Not one thing about her suits me, Magical Girl-wise."
As if any Magical Girl suits you.
Of course, I didn't say that. She wasn't racist to me anymore, no need to rile her up.
"What doesn't suit you?"
"Everything. Just all of it. Sora's sugarcoating it—she's straight-up crazy."
"Huh."
Still didn't click.
What kind of psycho made these two psychos recoil?
Right then, the barracks door burst open.
"The painful void of this Magical barracks ends now!"
A Magical Girl stepped in through the open door, perfectly at ease like it was her own home.
"From this moment forth."
Right.
"This girl shall stand above the Magical Girls!!!"
One of the two missing Magical Girls had returned.