8. With the Senior (2)
8. With the Senior (2)
There were no particular issues while showering. Surprisingly, there wasn't even a "that kind of" situation.
When I first saw it, I made such a fuss about how lewd it was. I guess I've already adapted.
"Oh, it's here. I'll go get the Malatang."
Senior-nim, who had been fiddling with her smartphone, went to the entrance to get the Malatang.
I didn't say it out loud, but I was currently lying on the floor of the training camp lodging, memorizing the patterns on the ceiling with my eyes. There was no particular reason.
I was just really bored.
If it were Dori, he probably would have said something here, right? Like, "What kind of Magical Girl are you?"
But still. I'm only Prima-class, after all.
"Ugh, what are you doing lying on the floor! You just finished showering. Do you know how precious your hair is!"
"Doesn't it get fixed anyway when I detransform?"
"That may be so, but it's about your behavior!"
Senior-nim placed the Malatang on the table and shouted at me, who was lying on the floor.
Somehow, it feels like Senior-nim is nagging me instead of Dori.
Is this a case of "a substitute for the real thing"?
Ah, no. Hmm, I don't know. No need to put it into words. We understand each other through vibes anyway.
"By the way, where did that Dori go?"
"Him? Hmm. Come to think of it? Where did he go?"
Where did he really go? Didn't we come together?
"But well, he disappears so often. He probably went back to the Mascot Kingdom alone or is just goofing off at the Management Bureau."
"Is he originally like that?"
"Yeah. As someone who contracted with him, I can tell you, he's always been like that. Other contractors besides me probably think so too, right? Like Sweet Chocolat-nim."
"Did that Senior-nim also contract with Dori?"
I didn't know this. Wait, what? Then does that mean I've become the contractor of the same mascot that contracted with the Magical Girl who saved me?
"Dori, he actually has quite a lot of contractors."
"Is that so?"
Hmm. Thinking about it now, it's a bit strange. Isn't a Magical Girl's mascot usually assigned one per Magical Girl?
Perhaps that's just a frame created by the media.
"That's how many contractors of his have died. In extreme cases, some died on their first day, even while on their way to the Management Bureau to get their rank assessed."
"Uh...."
The atmosphere suddenly became heavy. Is this déjà vu? It was a situation where I felt I needed to say something to break the awkward atmosphere. Fortunately, unlike last time, Senior-nim opened her mouth first this time.
"Well, we held proper funerals for them."
No, no, you made it heavier, Senior-nim!
"Your expression has stiffened, our junior?"
"Th-that is!"
"Well, it's fine. It happens. Let's just eat the Malatang. It'll get cold now."
I got up and sat in a chair. My mouth watered automatically at the appetizing red broth of the Malatang.
She said it was fine, but the atmosphere was still dark. No, is Strawberry-sunbaenim really a champion of the "Atmosphere Killer" championship? Well, such a competition probably doesn't exist.
"I'll eat well."
"Yeah, sure."
I decided to stay quiet for now. I had absolutely no idea what to say here.
I mean, there's a formidable opponent right in front of me who turns everything into a dark atmosphere no matter what I say...
"Ah, it's spicy."
"Se-Senior-nim?"
Every word Senior-nim says looks even spicier... Setting that aside.
Senior-nim stuck her tongue out and started fanning it with her hand. As if it were truly spicy, her cheeks turned red, the same color as her hair.
"Senior-nim?"
"It's spicy! Uh, th-that, water, bring me some water!"
I immediately ran to the fridge and brought water. As soon as she received the water, Senior-nim poured it into her mouth.
Is, is it that spicy?
"Haa... They say kids these days like this kind of thing... I don't get it."
"Yes?"
"Ah, no, it's nothing. Ah, it's still spicy!"
I brought her more water, and she poured it into her mouth again.
Hmm.
"Phew, now I feel a bit better."
"Um, is it that spicy?"
"Hmm. Yeah. A lot."
I swallowed hard and looked at the Malatang. Can I defeat the spiciness that defeated Senior-nim?
No, spicy or not, as someone being treated, being a picky eater isn't right.
I picked up my chopsticks and shouted "I can do it" in my heart. A strange spiciness grazed my mouth. I haven't even eaten it yet?
It must be because of my imagination.
It was a tense moment.
Of course, if one could view this scene from a third-person perspective, one might call it a rather comical situation. But I was serious. Probably.
"Th-that, if you think it'll be too spicy, you don't have to eat it. We can order something else."
"Ah, no. Still, I'm being treated, so being picky is a bad thing. More than anything, you have to eat well to grow well."
"Malatang doesn't seem like such healthy food, though... Well, if you want to eat it, I won't stop you."
Spoon in my left hand, chopsticks in my right. I scooped up some broth with the spoon and picked up something that looked delicious but whose name I didn't know with the chopsticks.
And,
Slurp. I shoved it into my mouth.
Every time I moved my teeth, the unknown ingredients being crushed and the strong, spicy scent of Mala combined to torment my tongue.
Ah.
It's spicy.
It's spicy!!
&&&
"Hehehe."
"Sigh...."
Only after being toyed with by the Malatang and shedding all my tears and snot could I regain my senses. Of course, my tongue was still numb.
I stuck my tongue out and pulled it with my finger. There was no reason. It was a habit I'd had since long ago.
Even though my body changed, this didn't. Is that... fortunate?
"That's why I told you that if you didn't think you could eat it, you didn't have to."
"But, since you bought it for me, how could I leave it?"
"I told you it's okay to leave it if you can't eat it!"
Senior-nim pulled my cheek. My soft cheek stretched helplessly, widening my mouth.
"Ugh, stohp it..."
"......."
Senior-nim's face stiffened for a moment. Then she let go of the cheek she was pulling. My cheek, which suddenly returned to its original shape, stung.
"D-don't look at me with those eyes."
For some reason, Senior-nim's face turned red. What is this? This isn't a normal reaction. Ah, no way.
"Senior-nim?"
"Uh, uh why? Why are you calling me?"
"Th-that, you're red."
"I, I'm originally red. My hair is, and my eye color is too. You, why are you suddenly saying that?!"
"Senior-nim, surely not. Right?"
I didn't have any intention of doing that in the first place, but it seemed difficult to sleep in the same place as Senior-nim.
Of course, I would respect Senior-nim's tastes. But my chastity is also important.
"You're not thinking anything weird, are you?!"
"No. Yes. Why would I think anything weird?"
"Your eyes are suspicious!"
Ah, this was also one of the habits that hadn't changed. I probably couldn't keep a poker face because of this.
"Anyway, it's not what you're thinking, so don't look at me with those eyes!"
Senior-nim. You've already figured it out.
-Magical Girl dispatch requested! Magical Girl dispatch requested!
Just then, a notification rang from the smartphone. Checking it, it was a signal requesting dispatch. Senior-nim and I reacted simultaneously.
"It's not far. Let's leave quickly."
"......Yes."
"Are you worried? It's okay. You have me, right? Even if I look like this, I'm high-ranking OP-class!"
"......Yes."
"It's okay, it's okay. I checked the information, and we only need to deal with the minions."
The face that had been red until a moment ago was gone, replaced by a face that was quite serious but trying to smile somehow. It was different from the strictness during today's practice. Usually, people are stricter in actual combat, though.
That's peculiar.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Senior-nim and I shouted our transformation simultaneously.
&&&
I look down from a large building.
A city center without a single person. I can't help but widen my eyes at the sight. Even though cars remained, filling the roads, not a single person was left. It was proof that everyone had evacuated to shelters.
I can fight with peace of mind.
There won't be any problems this time, right?
Senior-nim and I threw ourselves off the building at the same time. As we fell and reached the ground, hero landing.
"Magical Girl of Love and Justice, Strawberry, appearing!"
"Magical Girl Theresia, appearing!"
For some reason, Senior-nim's entrance line was long.
Hmm. A bit cheesy?
Still, well. Since it must be a line she devised herself, it felt wrong to say anything bad about it.
Senior-nim and I simultaneously cast acceleration magic and ran out. The target was the Witch's minion, the same entity we had subjugated last time. Of course, I don't remember it.
"Burning Fire!"
Senior-nim coated her fist with fire magic and struck the howling Witch's minion.
With a strong poeok sound, the punch landed, and the Witch's minion staggered as if it couldn't regain its senses. At the same time, the fire spread and began to burn its entire body.
-Kieeeeek!
Towards the Witch's minion, which was crying out and resisting, I created a spear in the air and stabbed it.
Its blood splattered vividly. It was instant death.
Senior-nim looked at me and gave a thumbs up.
"Well done. 10 more to go."
"Yes."
One down.
I'm not scared anymore. Is it thanks to Senior-nim?
Probably.
It was that moment.
[Quick, quickly dodge!]
Just then, Dori appeared. He gestured into the air, busy as if telling us to run away.
"Dori?"
"Where were you, you idiot."
[This is no time for that. The Witch, the Witch has appeared.]
"What?"
[The Crimson Flame Witch!]
"The Crimson Flame Witch?"
The moment I had that doubt.
My vision went black.
Huh?
&&&
It's been a while. The Crimson Flame Witch, huh.
Theresia, the first Witch you will face is the Crimson Flame Witch.
It's okay. You have me.
However, this time, I don't want you to entrust your body entirely to me.
So, I will leave it entirely to your judgment?
You must survive, okay? You really must.
Don't die. Struggle to live. That is your fate and destiny.
Only then can you accomplish everything.
My beloved Theresia. I really, really love you.
To the point of madness.
So, you must live. You must remove death from your options.
From the one who loves you, to you.