Chapter 15

These days, what I do is watch Diamond Dust, a first-year magical girl, hunt demons from the air.

The appearance of Earl-Class or higher demons and monsters has suddenly decreased, leaving me with so much free time that I end up doing stuff like this.

I don’t know why their appearance rate dropped so suddenly, but since lower-class demons are still popping up, the total number hasn’t changed.

And the number of medals dropping remains the same.

What are they even trying to achieve by scattering so many medals…?

“……”

Diamond Dust… After transforming her weapon into a spear, her speed at hunting Baron-Class demons has noticeably increased.

Of course, the biggest factor is that she’s started using her abilities properly.

She’s sweeping through demons with a wave of sharp blades, taking them down steadily.

If they try to dodge or block with their abilities, she attacks with her spear to disrupt them.

Luckily, she’s doing well, just like I taught her.

At this rate, in about a year, she’ll probably be able to take down Viscount-Class demons… but even if she does, she’ll retire in a few years, which is a bit sad.

Well, as long as she doesn’t die before retiring, that’s good enough.

She’s just a kid, so not dying is the top priority.

“By the way, watching these kids fight like this… it’s really unsettling.”

“Why do you feel that way?”

“Think about it. Even if it’s normal when you’re young, as an adult, seeing kids risking their lives to fight demons and monsters… how would you feel? Everyone’s used to it now, so no one thinks it’s strange, but logically, magical girls are essentially sending kids to the battlefield.”

“…That’s true. But you know there’s no other choice, right?”

“That’s the problem. The very structure that makes it the only option.”

Kids becoming magical girls and having to fight… that’s a truly cruel story.

But it’s unavoidable due to the unique growth structure of magical girls.

If kids don’t become magical girls, there won’t be enough manpower to take down higher-class demons and monsters.

Sure, adults can become magical girls too, but their growth rate slows down significantly, so it would take at least 10 years for them to become proper combatants.

Plus, there are very few magical girls who fight with a sense of duty, so expecting all adults to do the same is laughable.

Who would even do it? If things go wrong, you’ll end up looking pathetic, and if you just want to earn money at a normal company job level, it’ll take 3-4 years of grinding.

And even if you do become a capable fighter by then, you’d already be old and worn out. Would you even feel like continuing without a sense of duty?

That’s why most adult magical girls are either men who become magical girls or those obsessed with a sense of duty.

Even among them, exceptional magical girls are allowed to operate outside the control range.

…But if a regular magical girl goes outside the control range, would they reconstruct her into a girl’s body?

Hmm… I guess they would.

It would be weirder if they didn’t.

They’re a lifelong asset, so even if the initial body reconstruction takes a lot of resources and energy, not doing it would be a loss.

“…?”

Wait, now that I think about it, why do they provide so many conveniences even if you go outside the control range?

From what I know, the Fairy Queen is unimaginably strong.

Is there some other reason?

Come to think of it, the Fairy Queen has been working on something for a while… what is that?

…Never mind.

For now, let’s just check if Diamond Dust is hunting properly.

“Sigh…”

More than that, I wish there were more magical girls who fight with a sense of duty or conviction…

That one difference can determine whether they overcome the situation or end up traumatized and retiring.

That’s why I’m not particularly interested in Diamond Dust, who seems to have become a magical girl just for the appearance and guts.

Ah, it’s not like I’m criticizing kids who become magical girls for such reasons.

It’s just… without a firm conviction, they won’t last long.

Plus, she started as a third-year middle schooler, which is already late.

Without any conviction… by her third year in high school, she’ll definitely retire.

Who would pay attention to someone who only lasts three years?

She’ll probably just hunt demons at her level and have fun, so training her would be a waste of time.

Still, as long as she doesn’t die and can return to her normal life, that’s good enough.

At least she’s active as a magical girl and returns to her daily life safely.

…Yeah, returning to daily life safely is a really good thing.

Experiences like being pushed to the brink of death, watching someone precious die in front of you… not having those experiences is a big deal.

I know very well how shocking and life-destroying each of those experiences can be.

So… even though she’ll retire someday, unlike me, I hope she can leave without those experiences.

You shouldn’t start your life with regrets or trauma, right?

Life is long, and living that long in pain would be too pitiful.

But if she continues being a magical girl, protecting people despite all that… well, that’s welcome too.

Still, magical girls who do that usually have a strong obsession.

They become excellent assets, so it’s not a bad thing.

But the chances of that happening aren’t high, so it’s hard to expect.

“Rampage. Rampage? It’s already mealtime!”

“…Already? I must’ve gotten lost in useless thoughts again.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. Let’s go back.”

“Okay!”

I didn’t used to be like this, but lately, I keep getting lost in these pointless thoughts.

Sigh, am I already getting old?

I’m only 24, I shouldn’t be talking like an old person.

And with this tiny height, saying stuff like this is just…

“…Chubby. What’s for side dishes?”

“Pork cutlets!”

“Really? You couldn’t make them before, what changed?”

“I’ve improved my skills!”

“Is that so?”

When I get home, I immediately transform back and just wear a T-shirt and underwear.

The most comfortable state at home is just wearing underwear and a T-shirt.

Of course, if guests come over, I should at least wear pants.

…Surely, I wouldn’t open the door in just underwear in front of guests.

I’m not that thoughtless.

“By the way… did I waste money buying a sports bra?”

“What’s the matter?”

“Well… I heard it hurts if it’s loose, so I bought a sports bra, but my body’s so tough I don’t feel anything.”

“External stimuli… Rampage, you don’t really need a bra, do you?”

“Right?”

Damn… having nipples with such strong defensive power, imagining it is just weird…

I could probably stab monsters to death with my nipples.

…It’s worse than that character who kills people with their tongue.

At this rate, I might even shoot nipple beams.

No, nipple beams might be going too far.

“Anyway, is the food ready?”

“Yes! You can eat now!”

“Oh… looks decent.”

…Still, since it’s a girl’s body, I should at least wear something when going out.

I’m not completely shameless.

Even if I say there’s nothing showing, it’s slightly noticeable, so it’s a bit awkward.

Plus, even as a guy, wearing just a T-shirt made my nipples stand out, which felt weird, so as a girl, it’d be worse.

I do care about my appearance, after all.

Ah, thinking about clothes reminds me of suits.

I should get a suit soon.

At this age, there will be events like weddings or funerals, so I need a suit.

You can’t go to those in casual clothes, it’s just not proper.

We’re not kids, adults can’t show up in casual clothes.

“Oh, the pork cutlet’s good!”

“I was deciding between Western and Japanese style, but I went with Japanese!”

“Really? Both are good, but the Japanese one has really thick meat.”

“Right?”

“But Western style goes better with rice. From now on, serve Western style with rice.”

“Okay!”

This is just my personal preference, but Western style probably goes better with rice.

Not that the thick Japanese style doesn’t go with rice, but I’m more used to Western style…

Still, those paper-thin Western-style cutlets are just wrong.

What is that, goat meat? Or just fried paper?

“Phew… I’m full.”

It’s a shame my stomach’s still small, so I can’t eat much.

You should be able to eat delicious food to your heart’s content.

I should be able to finish a whole chicken, but I can only eat half.

It’s such a shame.

All the calories from food just convert into magic power, so I don’t gain weight, but why did I end up a light eater…?

…Compared to that, I’m jealous of Pretty Heart, who eats a ton.

If I had her metabolism, I could really eat to my heart’s content…

“Sigh…”

Anyway, since I’ve finished eating, I should go get a suit.

Like it or not, I need to get a suit soon.

So I need to find a place that makes suits.

…Oh, this place looks good.

It’s a bit expensive, but clothes are worth the price.

And if I don’t spend money on this, what else would I spend it on?

“Chubby. I’m going to get a suit, so do the dishes later.”

“Okay!”

But should I get pants or a skirt for the suit?

Honestly, I’m not sure which is better.

But the basic is pants regardless of gender, so maybe pants?

Wait, do they even sell suits for 137cm?

…If not, I’ll have to get it custom-made.

“……”

Anyway, I decided to go to a suit shop and get a suit.

When I got there, for some reason, the employee’s dazzling tongue convinced me to get a skirt suit.

As a result, I ended up buying heels and pantyhose, which I hadn’t planned on.

You can’t wear a skirt suit with bare legs and shoes, after all.

…Well, it’s only for formal events… it’ll be fine.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Rampage in a suit later!”

“Don’t get your hopes up. As long as it’s not awkward, it’s fine.”

“But it’s a suit!”

“Shut up.”

By the way, I wish there weren’t any events that force me to wear such clothes.

…Ah, saying that will definitely make such events happen.

……Whatever, as long as it’s not an investigation, it’s fine.