Chick Lessons Begin
"Hoo."
The chilly morning air greeted me. It was perfect for shaking off my groggy mind.
Nom.
I bit into a freshly bought, steaming-hot bungeoppang. The sweet red bean paste melted away the cold. Bungeoppang in winter really is a delicacy.
Decades later, and it still never gets old~
This is what they call soul food.
I strolled through the pre-dawn streets before the sun had risen. This hour, when no one was staring, was great—no need to hide my face, just walk easy.
Before long, I reached the meeting spot with Jeong Hanbyeol.
A small city near the capital area. In a pretty out-of-the-way corner sat an old playground. It had a rundown vibe, but no buildings or people around, and it was pretty spacious.
Used to be bustling back in the day...
Back when I had business in the neighborhood, I'd swing by this playground on regular walks. I remembered lots of kids playing then.
But accidents and redevelopment elsewhere had drained the population.
...Well, ten years changes everything but magical girls.
Feeling a strange bitterness, I stepped into the playground.
Surprisingly, someone was already there before me.
"What? Why're you here so early?"
"O-Oh, you've arrived! Cha-Cha... Seol-hyun Gra-Grand Senior!"
Snap—she threw a crisp salute, like always.
Teresa stood mannequin-still in the empty playground.
...But her face was deathly pale. Her speech was off too.
"Junior Teresa."
"Y-Yes, ma'am...! You called?!"
"How long you been waiting here?"
"Si-Since two... two in the morning, ma'am!"
"......"
Over four hours in this freezing cold, outside?
Magical girls are superhuman, sure, but this was clearly too much for her body.
"Just come on time next time. Why do this?"
"Th-This is normal for me, ma'am...! And Captain Iris said, 'Train under Grand Senior Cha Seol-hyun with utmost diligeeeeence—'"
Achoo!
Teresa sniffled hard.
Huh? A magical girl catching a cold? Her condition must be wrecked.
This was a bad sign.
I hurried over and pressed my hand to her forehead.
"...Hmm. No fever."
"I-I'm fine, ma'am!"
"Quiet, kid. Hold still."
"Mmph—"
I stuffed a hot bungeoppang into Teresa's mouth. Eat that and wait a sec.
Just a quick check.
I channeled magic through my hand on her forehead.
Couldn't diagnose precisely, but anomalies in mana flow usually meant real problems.
But—
...What the hell? Why's her body like this?
Thought I felt wrong, so I checked again.
Teresa's body was a walking time bomb. Mana clumped and jammed everywhere, locked in place—like it was suppressing something.
Can she even use mana like this?
"Junior."
"Yes, ma'am! You called?! Cha Seol-hyun Gra—"
"Iris say anything for me?"
Teresa was here on Iris's request. If I had time, could I take her? Special Response Strategy Team 1 was dispatched overseas for a bit.
...Leaving her behind, apparently.
Just two years in, and she'd made Team 1. Talented magical girl, no doubt.
But for some reason, no deployment on this mission.
...Her unique magic control was immature.
I'd heard about it from Iris. Seemed interesting at the time.
Handing her to me specifically? They think I can fix it?
Wouldn't dump her blindly.
Maybe Iris gave her a heads-up.
"Hmm... Nom nom. ...Oh! Right, Captain Iris said to pass this note, ma'am!"
"Yeah? Lemme see."
[Please train this one like crazy.]
[Even if all her limbs break, it's fine.]
[Just block her unique magic so she can't use it.]
—Iris—
"...Hmm."
Short version: Toughen her up, old-school style.
Perfect timing.
Planned similar for Hanbyeol anyway. Same curriculum? Roll 'em together.
I smiled at Teresa.
"......? Hehe...?"
She mirrored with an awkward grin.
Yeah. Smile while you can, kid.
"Uh... Who's this?"
"Introduce yourselves. This is Junior Teresa—she'll train with you under me for a bit."
"Hellooo, ma'am! Name's Teresa!"
"...Ah, hi. I'm Jeong Hanbyeol."
"Jeong Hanbyeol, ma'am! Pleased to train with you!"
The juniors exchanged awkward greetings. Well, Hanbyeol mostly.
They'd warm up soon enough.
I'll make sure of it.
I grinned, thinking of the training ahead.
"FYI, Junior Teresa's with the Association. Two years in?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"...Oh. You're the senior, then."
"Call me Teresa casual-like, no problem!"
"But you're still a senior..."
"We'll conquer hardships as comrades-in-arms, right?! I'm totally fine with it!"
"Hardships...? Uh... Then... Teresa... miss...?"
"Yes'm! Teresa here!"
Her blonde twintails bounced.
...Teresa was way more enthusiastic than expected.
Her friendly vibe's just like Nureong-i at home.
The two trainees shook hands. I clapped lightly.
"Alright, greetings done... Time to train."
"......! Training...! Super excited, ma'am!!"
"...Um, but. We training here?"
Hanbyeol glanced around.
Public spot probably bugged her.
"Not here, obviously."
Magical girl training ain't normal gym class. Public place? Complaints galore. Facilities wrecked, duh.
Usually rent a magical girl gym.
But no need for me. Open space beats cramped rooms.
"Set coordinates here."
"......?"
Snap!
A massive magic circle bloomed on the playground floor.
"Wh-What's that...?"
"Ooh...! That's the super-tough basic spell—"
"Yeah, yeah. Good eye, Junior Teresa."
The circle spun fast.
Last words to the soon-to-be-gone duo:
"First task today."
Snap. I pointed skyward.
"No mana. Reach the summit. One hour."
"......?"
Flash—!
"Heave-ho~"
"...Ah, Teacher. You made it?"
"Yeah, Ari. How's it going?"
I'd split from the kids and reached the peak first. Park Ari—Team 3 Captain, Purple Hound—was waiting.
She petted her mascot.
"Like you said, Teacher. Released my weakest summons."
"Good, good."
Pat pat. I stroked her hair softly.
Hmm. Her hair's silkier than most. Nice feel.
"...Hehe."
"Mind if I watch too?"
"Sure! ...Rico, pretty please?"
Grrr... Woof!
Rico, the Doberman-like pup mascot, barked loud.
A translucent screen popped up, like Shin Nari showed at school.
On screen: Hanbyeol and Teresa fleeing something fast.
Giant hounds like Ari's mascot charged their trail. Purple flames blazing—her summons.
"Summoning, huh... Mascot power?"
"Yeah. Rico's ability."
Woof.
"Rare to command summons. No wonder you're famous."
"...Ehehe. All thanks to my mascot."
She rubbed her head bashfully at the praise.
I eyed the screen again.
...Hmm. Looks like they can't handle the summons.
Told 'em no mana before splitting. Expected.
Even her weakest were 20-year vet level.
"...Hey. Teacher. Even so... Isn't this too harsh? Heard they're all newbies... Reaching here in an hour—"
"Impossible, obviously. I know."
"If it's not rude... What's the point?"
"Gotta die once."
"...Pardon?"
"You were still a student then, so I went easy."
Not these kids.
I smiled, petting Ari's head.
"Kill the lazy past self. Reborn anew. Right?"
"......"
What if they don't make it?
I reminisced on old days, wings of happy imagination spreading.