Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Night Passes
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Night had passed.
A pitch-black night where even shadows were swallowed up.
The private quarters of the Magical Major General, lit by a light.
"Hoo..."
There, Lee Seobin let out a sigh heavier than the silent air.
For two reasons.
First, she hadn't been able to uncover even a shred of information on the identity of the informant Jin Soa had asked about.
Of course, she'd expected it wouldn't be easy.
That's why she'd volunteered to handle it.
But.
'No, how is there absolutely nothing?'
This time, it was too extreme.
It wasn't like she hadn't done anything. She'd gathered what scant info there was and wrung out every possible inference and guess to sketch a rough outline of the informant's tracks.
But that was it.
No further results.
When dealing with a human, there should at least be some tiny traces left behind—but there were none.
'What kind of person is this?'
No, was this even a person? She seriously pondered that. The opponent was that bizarre.
And it wasn't just that. Desperate for any clue, she'd carved out time from her packed schedule to visit Magical major criminals, but it hadn't yielded anything meaningful.
No, if anything, it was a loss.
It had added one more worry.
'Why did they all end up like that?'
Just a little while ago, these Magical major criminals had been fine, but when Lee Seobin visited them, every single one was suffering from Magical intelligence degeneration.
— "Tteol... tteol..."
— "Uuu... uu... rice..."
— "If I buy 100 coins at a 7% discount on recharge, it's like they took 7 from me, so I'm the smart one?"
— "Food..."
Even recalling it now, it was utterly bizarre.
'What the hell happened?'
That's why Lee Seobin was so troubled now. It felt like she'd hit a wall she couldn't overcome for the first time.
But the reason for her sigh wasn't just the limits of her abilities.
There was another solid cause.
'I hope Soa's okay.'
She was worried about Jin Soa.
Obviously, not about her physical safety as a Magical Girl.
She wouldn't be the victim in any prank— if anything, the other side would be the one to worry about.
No, her concern was whether Jin Soa was actually following Lee Seobin's Magical advice.
The advice itself was nothing special.
While patrolling the Magical dorms this time around, sneak into Kim Siyul's Magical bed in the middle of the night and make a bit of a Magical appeal.
Not just that—transform fully while doing it.
'Might as well make it a done deal.'
The so-called Magical night raid.
Even if it didn't cross any lines, it would be plenty to make Kim Siyul aware of Jin Soa.
Pretty extreme Magical advice.
But Lee Seobin had no choice.
For one, Jin Soa and Kim Siyul didn't have many Magical points of contact. There weren't many plausible excuses to get them together.
And pouring on Magical privileges to grant leave? That wasn't easy either.
Kim Siyul had never taken his official first leave, so it violated Magical regulations.
In simple terms, his lack of Magical seniority made it impossible to send him out even if she wanted to.
'Who knew regulations would snag us here...'
Normally, she'd ignore them and push ahead, but not this time.
That Magical regulation was one she'd created herself in the past.
She'd made it using her Magical connections to restrict Magical Girls who abused privileges before even taking their first leave.
Now, it was applying to Kim Siyul the same way.
If she, the creator of the regulation, ignored it, her Magical integrity would come under suspicion.
'If I'd known...'
She should've made it a bit looser. Lee Seobin ruffled her hair in regret.
That's why she'd given Jin Soa that uncharacteristic, radical Magical advice. In the end, after hesitating, Jin Soa had agreed.
But she was still worried all the same.
'Please let it go well...'
Because she knew Jin Soa so well.
Honestly speaking, even as her friend, Lee Seobin saw Jin Soa as someone with many flaws.
A timid person who hid it behind rough speech and sharp attitudes, only for those habits to stick permanently—a fool.
Not sociable enough to get along with everyone, yet not brazen enough to deceive or exploit others—an in-between mess.
Someone who would unhesitatingly sacrifice her own if it disadvantaged others, endure injustice herself, but charge in recklessly if someone else was wronged—a stupid, pathetic person.
That was Jin Soa.
'That's why I want to help her more.'
Lee Seobin still remembered it clearly.
Back when she'd just awakened as a Magical Girl, the moment those barely-worthy-of-being-called-colleagues abandoned her as bait to the Monsters and fled.
They'd even issued orders to withdraw since rescuing her was impossible, with warnings of severe punishment for defiance.
'Sounded so noble.'
She later learned there had been plenty of resources to rescue her.
They just didn't want the hassle for one Magical Girl.
'That's why they meet with 'accidents.'
Of course, back then, Lee Seobin hadn't known the truth. She was too busy facing the crisis head-on.
A horde of countless Monsters.
One isolated Magical Girl.
It was as good as dead.
Her magic power was depleted, so escape or even suicide was impossible. She could only give up on life and wait endlessly for death.
But.
There was one person who never gave up on her life, even when Lee Seobin herself had.
Yes. Jin Soa.
Jin Soa ignored the barrage of orders and warnings over the communicator, taking on that massive Monster horde alone without backup.
Of course, Lee Seobin hadn't seen it clearly. Terrified of the impending death, she'd lost her mind, shedding endless tears.
By the time she came to, it was all over. Aside from her, the only living being on the ground was Jin Soa.
At that moment, Jin Soa dazedly extended a hand to the stunned Lee Seobin.
— "You okay? Not hurt?"
But instead of taking it, Lee Seobin asked Jin Soa something else.
Why did you save me?
'That was the wrong thing to say.'
Even thinking back, it was embarrassing. Instead of thanking her life-saving benefactor, why had she spat out something so stupid?
But Lee Seobin couldn't help it.
She was just that curious back then.
She and Jin Soa weren't friends— they didn't even know each other's names. They vaguely knew they'd awakened around the same time, that was all.
Practically strangers.
So why had she burned herself out like that to save Lee Seobin? When it was obvious she'd suffer losses, no gains?
And back then, Jin Soa wasn't the overwhelming force she was now. Talented, yes, but not fully bloomed as a Magical Girl.
Every part of her body was wrecked except her right hand gripping the magic wand.
Calves shredded to the bone, left arm twisted grotesquely, blood pouring from everywhere. Every breath spewed bloody clots.
Meanwhile, Lee Seobin was unscathed. At worst, a scrape from when the other Magical Girls shoved her aside.
Who was suffering more? Who was worthier of worry? Lee Seobin had no such value.
So she asked again.
Why did you save me?
Why go that far?
Was there a reason?
But Jin Soa's answer was simple.
— "If you can save someone, you do. What else?"
Calm words, as if stating the obvious.
A smile so forlorn, yet so beautiful.
— "That's what being a Magical Girl means."
That was it.
Suddenly, Lee Seobin recalled how Jin Soa had thanked her not long ago.
'Who's thanking who?'
I'm the one who's grateful. Lee Seobin smiled softly.
Then, she turned her gaze toward the Magical dorms where Jin Soa should be now.
'Do your best this time, Soa.'
Hoping Jin Soa would have a good time.
And at that very moment.
Jin Soa, who should have been spending good quality time with Kim Siyul in his Magical bed...
"Are you insane?"
...was spending time with two F-grade Magical Girls instead.
Obviously, it wasn't good time.
Not for Jin Soa, nor for the Magical Girls.
"Who shines high beams when waking someone up?"
"Th-the Magical Girl Black Kitty told me to, so I had no choice! I had no choice but to fire the Magical high beam as ordered!"
"N-no, absolutely not! It wasn't this girl! The blue half-inferior breed led it!"
Sora and Nakji spoke in tones dripping with injustice, as if they'd never imagined Jin Soa would appear like this.
But they weren't the only aggrieved ones.
Jin Soa felt the exact same.
'What the hell.'
Following Lee Seobin's advice during her Magical dorm patrol, she'd slipped into Kim Siyul's Magical bed, but he wasn't even there.
'Where did Siyul go?'
Kim Siyul's sudden Magical disappearance.
In the end, Jin Soa had quietly waited under what was more Magical thin blanket than proper covers.
She'd waited a long time like that, only for blinding Magical high beams to hit her eyes.
'Fuck.'
How could she not feel wronged?
"Both of you, shut up."
"Ack, hi!"
"Yorokonde inu desu wa!"
And so, the three Magical Girls' shared sense of injustice deepened further.
Until morning came after the night passed.
Last night was lucky.
I'd only stepped out in the middle of the night because I was hungry for some ramen, but I dodged night watch duty.
Thanks to Sora and Nakji, probably.
They must've stood in for me.
In the military, with few dorm mates, I didn't notice, but having buddies like this is great—I learned that this time.
Though my bed smelled unusually thick, different from usual.
From the ramen, maybe.
Not bad, anyway.
I was truly grateful to Sora and Nakji for covering my watch. Thanks to them, I could start the day refreshed.
I figured I'd repay them by grabbing something.
Coffee, since they'd be tired.
With that in mind, I bought drinks at the Magical cafe and headed back to the dorms.
And exactly 30 minutes later.
"Is your mom perhaps not home?"
"Yes?"
I was politely attending to customers.
"Watch your words wa. It's not that your inferior mother is absent— she might've gone to paradise wa."
"Yes???"
Alongside Nakji, who wore a gentle smile.