Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Magical Helpcall
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A Magical Captain suddenly showed up at the dorm.
"Everyone, transform immediately and head straight to the Magical Battalion Commander's office."
She dropped those words more abruptly than the door opening.
I didn't even get to hear why.
She left after saying that much.
Thanks to her, we were all busy exchanging puzzled looks.
"Did you hear anything about this?"
"Nope. Nothing."
"Me neither."
"The girl knows nothing of it."
But there were no clear answers.
In the end, we headed to the Battalion Commander's office without knowing what was going on.
Even after we got there, the mystery remained.
"A Magical Helpcall just came in, so I need you all to deploy right away."
It was because of the Battalion Commander's out-of-the-blue statement.
"A Magical Helpcall?"
"Yes, that's right."
At least coming to the Magical Battalion Commander's office had resolved one fundamental question.
What the Magical Helpcall was about.
"Oh, it's a request because of monsters, of course. The Magical Girls from the other unit are struggling."
But that was as far as it went.
I was clueless about everything else.
Things were moving so suddenly that my thoughts couldn't keep up.
Maybe that's why.
Three questions popped into my head.
Just then, Sora voiced one of them.
"For a Magical Helpcall, the requested number seems small. Is there a reason?"
First. Why only call so few of us?
I got that they needed help, but if the front lines were being pushed back, they'd need a lot more Magical Girls.
In that case, sending as many as possible would be better than just four of us.
Fortunately, the Battalion Commander gave a clear answer.
"The monsters are holed up in a building holding hostages, so we need to infiltrate."
That made sense.
If a large group showed up, the ones barricaded inside might take more extreme actions. Like harming the hostages.
This wasn't just true for monsters—it applied to humans too.
So that's why they were sending a small team.
Infiltration worked best with a few people anyway.
Still, Sora picked up on something odd and quickly followed up.
"Wait. Monsters took Magical Girls hostage?"
"That's what I was told."
"Hmm... I see. That's unexpected."
Sora was right.
Monsters normally acted on instinct and just attacked humans.
They were far from capable of scheming.
But this one had taken hostages.
In other words, it wasn't blindly harming civilians—it was smart enough to use them for an advantage.
Intelligence paired with a monster's superior physique.
Definitely a tough opponent.
Meanwhile, the octopus girl reacted to the hostage situation not with doubt, but anger.
"As expected, all kidnappers must die!"
"...Can't you just call them monsters?"
It felt a bit off.
Especially coming from the octopus girl of all people.
"Humans with tentacles are kidnappers—what's wrong with that? The girl is right!"
"Well, no, but..."
It wasn't entirely wrong, so rebutting her was tricky.
"Monsters can't be forgiven. America Maho Shojo must deliver judgment."
The white pup trying to reenact some ancient founding history was also a bit concerning.
Anyway.
Separate from that, one question still lingered. Coincidentally, Sora brought it up now.
"Then why not have the Magical Girls from that unit form their own Magical Special Forces team?"
Second. Why not use their own separate team?
A single unit had plenty of Magical Girls. Just the last time we deployed, a huge group had gone out together.
Did they really need to ask us?
"Maintaining the standoff is the best they can do right now. Too many Magical Girls are out of commission."
Well, that was understandable too.
If they were short-handed, what choice did they have?
"I've already arranged the gate, so head over as soon as you're ready. It'll drop you near the Magical Girls who called for help."
The Battalion Commander Magical Girl had everything set up. We just needed to go.
Even so, one last question remained.
I asked her directly.
"But why us?"
Third. Why pick us specifically?
Setting aside the octopus girl's magic for a moment, the white pup's and Sora's weren't suited for infiltration.
Why had the Battalion Commander singled us out? Was there some special reason or plan?
She answered this one too.
"Just because."
"Pardon?"
But this time, it wasn't clear.
"I just picked you."
So vague it was absurd.
No special reason, no plan. Basically, she felt like it.
But arguing back? Her eyes were off-putting.
Her face smiled, but her eyes didn't. Those pale irises flickered with clear killing intent and anger.
And she was staring right at me.
Practically glaring.
This crazy bitch.
"What? Got a problem?"
"Yes."
Of course I do, you fucking bitch.
"Go."
"Fuck."
Not that I could refuse.
In the end, we headed to the gate as the Battalion Commander Magical Girl ordered.
After a quick prep, of course.
"I'll grab some standard-issue magic wands and Magical handcuffs before we go."
Grabbing standard-issue wands was smart. They could sub in for the Moonlight Sword until I drew it.
They were also a deception. If a monster saw me unable to use one, it'd let its guard down—and I'd strike then.
Normal monsters wouldn't fall for mind games, but this one was intelligent. It'd work.
"Handcuffs? For bondage play?"
"No, you psycho."
"But Senior, those really won't help this time. They don't work on monsters."
"Better to have one more option."
The handcuffs were just my compulsion.
I'd survived by filling every gap like this.
Once prepped, we finally moved to the Magical Gate.
It was called a gate, but with separate rooms labeled Magical Gate Dispatch Office and Magical Gate Maintenance Squad, it was basically a transport unit.
"Look over there. That Magical Officer is hustling with those crates. Respectful, right?"
"Sis, that's Magical embezzlement. That's why the Magical Transport Officer is working hard."
"Ah."
It felt even more so with the transport officer blatantly embezzling in broad daylight.
"I don't get why there's so much Magical embezzlement lately. Why is everyone acting like money's made them crazy?"
"Yeah."
It was weird.
What was going on that had them embezzling so openly?
Lost money in stocks?
No way.
I'd given them the essence of stocks. Lose money on that? They'd have to be complete idiots.
Worst case, just cheese it with leveraged ETFs. Impossible to lose if you tried.
"Anyway, let's go. I'll report that bitch later."
We'd been walking a while when we ran into a Magical Girl.
"You must be the Magical Girls Magical Girl Pale Crow told me about. This way."
From her words, the Battalion Commander had arranged her in advance.
She led us to the gate.
"Could you wait a sec? Sorry, I need to handle something quick."
"Sure, no worries. Go ahead."
"Thanks. See you soon."
While our guide chatted with Sora and left, I checked out the gate.
"Oh."
Pretty intriguing.
I'd imagined a circular portal like in other novels, but this was totally different.
A slightly oversized, ordinary swinging door.
Yet it felt familiar.
Brand new, but weirdly nostalgic.
Like I'd seen it before.
Why?
Maybe in that other world.
Honestly, no clue. Back there, most senses except touch were wrecked.
Vision barely made out shapes, hearing rang constantly. Balance was shot too.
If I recalled that body's state, maybe it'd click—but no need.
I was a walking corpse then. Barely alive. Not worth dredging up vague memories.
Anyway.
Maybe because of the familiarity, I reached for the handle without thinking.
"Hm?"
The handle, which I'd thought locked, turned smoothly.
Unexpected.
Wonder if it'll open.
Curiosity pulled the door.
"Oh."
It swung open silently, just like the handle.
Beyond was pure white—nothingness without depth.
Then Sora's voice hit my ear.
"Huh? Senior, did the Magical Gate open?"
"Seems like it."
If Sora was right, this meant it was working properly.
"What now? Wait for that Magical Girl?"
Sora tilted her head.
I pondered briefly, then shook mine.
"Nah. Let's just go."
The Battalion Commander bitch said the destination was set, so no crashing in weird spots.
Plus, I didn't want to sit idly waiting. Better to wrap it up quick than waste time.
"Alrighty."
Sora stepped forward lightly, followed by the white pup and octopus girl.
"Mahou Shojo shall shine once more!"
"Merciful Magical euthanasia for all kidnappers. That is the only true Magical salvation."
Each muttering something oddly ominous.
Whatever. At least they were pumped.
Not slacking off, anyway.
Thinking that, I followed.
The Magical Girl who'd been our guide returned about ten minutes later.
Breathing hard, she vented her Magical woes.
"Sorry! The Magical Transport Officer kept embezzling, so I went to check and got delayed! I'll turn on the Magical Gate power right—!"
But she cut off.
"Huh...?"
The four she was supposed to guide per Magical Girl Pale Crow's orders were gone.
Her only audience was the powered-down, closed Magical Gate.
No one else.
"...Where'd they go?"
No one to hear her question.
No one to answer.
No one.