Saved by My Senior
My dear senior, I sometimes look back on the past. When you're stuck in this boring director position like I am, you start chasing those fun old memories. And especially my encounter with you, Senior Seol-hyun—it's probably the most intense memory of my life.
Back then, I was a rookie magical girl who had just started not long ago. Fifty years ago, incidents were spiking out of nowhere, and we were desperately short on manpower. So even someone like me got thrown straight into the field with no handover or training. That was why the magical girl mortality rate shot up.
And naturally, I got caught up in it too. I was grabbed by some filthy monster, on the verge of being devoured. If I'd been alone, I probably would've been eaten alive right then. Or maybe violated, turned into a breeding vessel. It was a future too horrific to imagine, but terrified as I was, all I could do was cry.
-Kieeeek—!!
"S-stop…! Sob… please…!"
My magic power had run dry ages ago. I wanted to run, but tentacles had me wrapped tight—I couldn't move an inch. The seniors I'd come with were already dead. My mascot… it had exhausted itself and fallen asleep. My transformation had undone itself too.
The overwhelming terror that I'd end up just like them. Faced with that primal emotion for the first time in my life, I could only tremble.
And then, in that moment, my senior appeared.
—Kwachik! Boom!
"Hah… haa…! S-save—"
"Hey there?"
"…?"
"You're safe now. I just killed that monster."
Tears blurred my vision. My senior approached and gently wiped them away, letting me finally see the face of the benefactor who saved me.
'A… magical girl?'
She had to be one—someone this strong surely was. That's what I wondered back then.
And it made sense. Because my senior's appearance was truly unforgettable.
Even as a magical girl, she wasn't transformed. She was wearing a black hoodie, casually munching on candy while surveying the surroundings… without a weapon or mascot in sight.
"Look at this kid. I save her, and no thank you?"
"…Huh? Oh, uh! I—"
"Heh. Kidding, kidding. You did great holding out through all that fear. Want some candy?"
She said it while petting my head with one hand and offering candy with the other.
It was mint candy—the kind I'd come to love most in the future.
"Hmm. Looks like you're the only survivor. …I was a bit late."
"…"
"…Tch. Those government bastards. I specifically told them to wait, but they never listen and get themselves killed. Ugh…"
Her petting grew rougher. She seemed really pissed. Then she looked at me and flashed a faint smile again.
"Anyway, shall we go? …Whoa, your bottom's soaked… You must've been really scared, huh?"
"I-I…"
"Cha Seol-hyun. That's me. Just call me Senior Seol-hyun, nice and casual."
"…Ah. Yes. Senior Seol-hyun."
"…Good! You look low on magic, so I cast a cleaning spell for you. Now let's head out."
With that, she helped me to my feet and carefully led me out of the building.
Every bit of it felt so warm to me. Even though we'd just met that day, she seemed to cherish me more than my own parents ever had.
…Maybe that's why. After Senior Seol-hyun saved me, I started following her around like a lost puppy.
.
.
.
To be honest.
I had no sense of responsibility or duty as a magical girl. I'd wanted to be a teacher, but I suddenly awakened as one. Under my parents' forceful demands, I gave up my dream and became a magical girl instead.
…Maybe I wasn't that passionate about it either. From a young age, I'd started resembling my parents more and more. A little more authoritative. A little higher up. Somehow, always climbing higher.
I began walking the same path as the parents I despised. Selfish, prioritizing only what benefited me. I probably wouldn't have changed even after becoming a magical girl.
"Hello, Senior Seol-hyun."
"…Oh, hey. We meet again."
"Because I get to work with you, senior!"
"…I see. Candy?"
"Yes!"
That's why I wanted to stay by her side even more. She was dazzling and amazing—completely unlike someone like me.
Most idiots didn't seem to realize it, but my senior was truly strong. My senior… was so beautiful.
Her languid expression was adorably crazy, and when serious, she was cooler than any guy. She was my idol.
Someone I could never become, which made me crave her presence even more. Closer. Right by her side, watching her.
That selfish desire welled up uncontrollably.
…I probably still hadn't realized it then. That under the pretext of helping her, those feelings were just ugly selfishness for my own sake.
.
.
.
Time passed, and eventually, disaster struck.
The highest-grade monster appeared off Korea's west coast. By then, I'd nearly 30 years of experience as a magical girl. All thanks to Senior Seol-hyun's guidance.
An emergency summons went out to magical girls across Korea. We all gathered at the west coast.
And amid it all, I—
"…Don't go?"
That's right. They'll put an experienced one like you on the front lines for sure, and it's the highest-grade monster. You'd be at risk of dying.
"…"
It made sense. But their call wasn't out of worry for me. Of course not—they enjoyed massive perks through me as a magical girl. Losing that would be unbearable for them.
I knew what kind of people they were.
But.
"…If I don't go, there'll definitely be backlash against me, right?"
Don't worry about that, sweetie. Mom and Dad will handle everything.
A battle where I could lose my life. But no repercussions for skipping it.
The part of me that took after my parents couldn't resist their offer.
'…Senior.'
She'd gone overseas a few days earlier. No contact because she was busy, so she probably wouldn't make it for this.
No reason to hesitate anymore.
"…Got it. I'll do that."
Good choice, daughter. We'll talk later.
"…"
—Click.
…Years later, I regretted that choice like mad.
Did I know back then? That my senior would rush back from overseas in a single bound. That thanks to her, no civilians died. …That she cried at the graves of the magical girls who fell in that incident.
Dull, stupid, selfish, greedy me… I probably had no clue. And since I retired like a coward, running away…
Shin Nari smiled for the first time in ages. Maybe because she'd been walking around with a stiff face lately—it felt a bit awkward. But it had been a good day. She'd finally met Senior Seol-hyun again after so long.
An unexpected reunion, but it felt wonderful. My senior… remembered me. That joy nearly brought tears surging up, but she held it back, weighed down by past guilt.
She always regretted it. That choice she'd made that day. Those utterly vile, base feelings.
And she missed it. The moments meeting her senior. Receiving her teachings. Fighting monsters side by side.
'…What shamelessness. I haven't changed a bit.'
She laughed again. For a different reason this time.
How do I deal with this brazen bitch~
Self-loathing welled up.
"…Director? Are you alright?"
The voice snapped her from her thoughts. Looking up, she saw a familiar middle-aged man. Her smiling face naturally hardened.
"Ah, yes. I'm fine."
"Well then… shall we proceed as is?"
"Yes. Go ahead with that."
"…You're an unusual one. Who donates this huge sum anonymously to everyone?"
The man adjusted his glasses in admiration. Probably because of Senior Seol-hyun's donation amount.
"Can you handle donating this money through the organization on behalf of my junior?"
"…This much?"
"Give this portion to Jeong Hanbyeol, and invest the rest in all the students."
"…"
"I'll be sending regular donations, so no need to feel burdened."
She recalled her recent talk with Senior Seol-hyun.
…As expected. Even retired, senior was the same.
"Then I'll be going."
The man stood and bowed. …A man from the scholarship foundation tied to this school. His intentions were painfully obvious.
"One thing I need to make clear."
"…Pardon? What—"
Thud!
"Guhk…!"
The man's body slammed into the floor. She looked down at him coldly.
"All the donation money you've been siphoning off in secret."
"…!"
"Did you think I didn't know?"
"…Hng, uh… that's…"
To be frank, his embezzling hadn't been her concern. The amount was trivial compared to the total, and it hadn't hurt her directly.
But.
Woooong—!
The air grew heavier.
"If you touch even a penny of this donation."
"…Hng, hiiik!"
"You'll die by my hand."
Absolutely. No one could be allowed to touch anything of her senior's.
'…I've already committed an unforgivable sin against her.'
So if she could help her senior like this, even in this way… that was enough satisfaction.