4. You Should Have Thought About the Consequences (End)
Luggage had been left in front of my assigned private quarters.
A white bag. The name written on it was Peregrine.
The Association's mark was stamped large across the top of the bag.
It looked like military supply gear, which somehow made it feel familiar.
"I just had a horrifying thought."
I'd lived my whole life as a man, so it was only natural for a thought like that to cross my mind.
But if I was going to play the part of Peregrine..., I'd have to be careful about thoughts like that too.
I resolved to be more mindful from now on.
With a grunt, I picked up the luggage and went inside.
The private room was cleaner than I'd expected. And, surprisingly, spacious.
This had to be the Association's way of showing respect to a Magical Girl with standing.
Or maybe it meant: we'll treat you this well, so do a proper job of pretending to be Peregrine.
I leaned against the balcony railing and stared blankly for a while.
The physical examinations would keep coming.
I'd have to adjust to a body that was different from before.
On top of that, I'd be living the life of a Magical Girl, something I'd never done before.
All of it would trail behind me as I flew, like a contrail stretching on and on.
Things I'd never once experienced.
"My head hurts...."
If I were still Yu Seong-woo, I could shout that I didn't want this and shake it off.
If it came down to it, I could throw it aside and refuse, or shove it away, or do something.
But now that I'd become Peregrine, that wasn't an option.
Far from using my abilities to hurt anyone, I didn't even properly understand my own abilities right now.
"...."
Yu Seong-woo.
What the hell were you thinking when you made this contract?
They say you became a Magical Girl because you wanted to atone, but if that was the case, you should have done it yourself.
Wiping your own memories and suddenly dumping it all on me is just too much.
"Did I just think of Yu Seong-woo as a third person? No, no. Stop it."
I turned on the news on my terminal. I wanted to clear my head, which had gotten too tangled up.
"Peregrine's past interviews, huh."
While scrolling, one video caught my attention.
[Thank you all for believing in us and waiting! If you ever need my help, I'll come running at top speed, anytime!]
Peregrine shone as she approached the citizens in a dazzling outfit, smiling brightly.
A hero who protected the citizens' dreams and hopes, with a bright smile and a cheerful personality to boot.
If this wasn't an idol, then what the hell was it.
But Yu Seong-woo? No, Yu Seong-woo, who had become Peregrine?
He was currently in a situation where he could barely even take care of his own body.
Being a Magical Girl really wasn't something just anyone could do.
"I'm sorry, Peregrine. I don't know why my past self took your name, saying he wanted to atone."
Becoming a shining idol like you is probably asking too much, isn't it?
Whether she knew my private circumstances or not, the Peregrine on the screen made a V sign with her hand.
Tomorrow too.
The day after too.
Anytime. Anywhere!
If you're ever in danger, I'll fly to you faster than anyone!
Everyone, please believe in us and love us to the very end!
The citizens cheered for Peregrine as she spoke in a raised voice.
Somehow, watching her, I felt like even I was being comforted.
I mimicked Peregrine's V sign with my hand, then burst out laughing.
"Heh...! Where in the world would you find a gloomy Magical Girl like this."
The sun was starting to set.
It was the moment when only the terminal, its flash reflected in the dark balcony, was flickering.
[Message received alert.]
[An Gi-yeon : Hello, Peregrine. Good work on your first examination at the Association!]
Perfect timing.
[Reply : You didn't tell me there'd be an examination like th──.]
I was about to reply to An Gi-yeon's message.
[An Gi-yeon : Have you checked all the orientation documents? Depending on the traits of the Aberration you contracted with, you'll undergo periodic changes, Peregrine.]
[An Gi-yeon : Once your Partner is assigned, please report all physical changes to your Partner. Understood?]
[Reply : Piss off.]
I revised my reply, sent it, and turned off the screen.
Why is that the first thing she says to me the moment I arrive.
Instead of that, she could ask whether I'd had dinner, or whether I was feeling all right.
Or give me a brief briefing on tomorrow's schedule. She could do any of that.
As if I'd throw away my last shred of human dignity like that. Not a chance.
[An Gi-yeon : If it's really your first time and it's hard to ask, please check the documents. There's a method listed for alleviating the symptoms without a Partner! I'll see you in the consultation room tomorrow!]
With a beaming emoji holding an OK sign, An Gi-yeon's messages stopped.
"Who does she think she is...! I never agreed to accept some guy like that as my Partner in the first place?!"
[If problems arise, how about entrusting your body to a Partner with a criminal record?]
[Yes / No]
Who in their right mind would pick Yes here.
No one. I can guarantee it. There is no one who would pick that option.
And if, by some one-in-a-million chance, someone like that appeared before me, I'd talk them out of it.
"Ugh."
These perverted bastards at the Association....
Ah. Because of all these headache-inducing thoughts, my stomach was somehow throbbing too.
I hadn't even eaten anything, but I was already coming down with stress-induced gastritis or whatever.
They say it's practically an office worker's constant companion, but getting it on my first day at work after being possessed was ridiculous.
I went back to my seat with the interview still playing and spread out the documents I'd left untouched.
Reading long, pedantic documents wasn't my thing, but I still had to read them.
There was no one around to help me anyway. And An Gi-yeon, that woman, wasn't exactly trustworthy either.
And this Park Won, the temporary Partner who'd be arriving soon? I trusted that guy even less.
"A Magical Girl is a Tactical Weapon who has contracted with an Aberration. Through the contract, they gain the Aberration's power, but in exchange, they come to share the Aberration's habits and behaviors."
So, in other words, Peregrine, who contracted with a peregrine falcon, would take on avian traits.
The habits of a peregrine falcon....
I remembered watching some documentary once.
[The peregrine falcon is a carnivorous bird that hunts not only medium-sized birds but also small rodents, mammals, and even insects. They are masters of aerial combat, snatching prey from the air with their talons or hunting by diving at high speed.]
So then, what about the Magical Girl Peregrine?
[Ah, Peregrine has taken flight after evacuating the citizens! Peregrine is diving toward the Aberration! She's coming down! Like a shot! She pierced the Aberration precisely! Peregrine snatches the Aberration Core precisely and soars back up!]
"No..., at this point, isn't she just a falcon that became a person?"
I compared the documentary I'd recalled with the Peregrine in the video.
Peregrine glided through the sky in a white dress with black accents, her ribbons fluttering.
Every time she took flight, a vivid yellow afterimage trailed from her pupils.
Especially, whether she was conscious of it or not..., that distinctive bent-wrist pose she used to grab the core looked like a talon at a glance.
She wasn't even trying to hide what she was.
So I was supposed to at least imitate this Peregrine from now on.
Ah. Ahem. Ahem ahem.
Cough. Ahem.
"Tomorrow too, the day after too."
A bit stiff.
"Anytime. Anywhere!"
Was it something like this...?
"If you're ever in danger, I'll fly to you faster than anyone! Everyone, please believe in us and love us to the very end!"
....
"Hmph."
I looked in the mirror and tilted my head once.
Awkwardly, I forced the corners of my mouth up.
It wasn't that I'd come to admire Magical Girls. Nor was I interested.
But from what I could tell, the citizens were waiting, and there had to be a reason I'd contracted with Peregrine's body.
And I had nothing to do right now anyway. Right, and the fact that I wasn't Peregrine was classified, apparently.
"You'll do well, Peregrine."
I said it to myself once more, looking in the mirror. But the Peregrine in the mirror only repeated what I said.
Is this really going to work out?
───
Bzzt.
Bzzt.
Bzzzzzzt.
At the sound of the alarm, I got up, scratching my head roughly.
The morning sun had risen again.
Yesterday I'd stayed up looking into the documents, Peregrine, and all sorts of things, so only getting to sleep at dawn had been a mistake.
I was tired. At full power, tired.
After scratching my stomach and getting out of bed, I moved toward the bathroom.
A familiar routine, but still unfamiliar footsteps.
Just when I thought I was walking fine for a couple of steps, I let out an oof and stumbled.
Then I grabbed the wall, got back up, and walked to the bathroom again.
And then, I did my business.
Trickle.
"Whoa, wait. Hold on...."
I held back the stream that was about to flow and collapsed onto the toilet seat.
This time..., safe. Habits are terrifying.
Trickle.
Along with the sound of water droplets, I was nodding off.
I'd been sleeping more. It felt like fatigue had latched onto my body.
Even after I finished, I kept tilting over on the toilet for nearly three minutes.
I sat there drunk on drowsiness for a long while before finally managing to get up.
Once I was up, I brushed my teeth.
After that, I showered in this unfamiliar body.
Now, once I got dressed, that was it.
I couldn't find a running shirt, so I skipped that.
Perfect. Yu Seong-woo, the diligence from your Grade 1 Partner days is still alive.
A crisp white dress shirt and black semi-formal trousers. A neat blazer.
I'd ended up like this after picking from the clothes I'd been given.
It didn't really suit a Magical Girl, but whatever. I actually felt more at ease dressed like this.
I'd be arriving at the Association soon, so first I'd find An Gi-yeon and lodge a complaint──,
"Hngk...?!"
Once outside, I let out a high-pitched yelp and clamped my hand over my mouth.
Ignoring the looks that said, What's wrong with her? I raised my hand.
And then, I laid it lightly over my chest.
It was seriously itchy. No, rather than itchy, stinging might be the right word.
"...."
After glancing down at my chest for a moment, I hunched over, clutching my blazer.
"Ah...."
Tsssss....
It's showing....