Chapter 19

Time passed, and the day to go to the sea finally arrived.

Early in the morning, after finishing my personal training and returning, the Fairy Queen paid me a brief visit.

“…Rampage-san.”

“What?”

“I heard about that magical girl… Magical Lunatic Poison’s Crystal Stone.”

“…And?”

The reason was because of what Chubby had let slip.

The fact that I had the senior’s Crystal Stone.

Considering the Fairy Queen’s level, she probably already knew, but she might have deliberately stayed quiet until she heard it directly.

“Originally, the Crystal Stone should be retrieved by us. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

“But I heard everything. That Lunatic Poison… personally extracted the Crystal Stone and gave it to you.”

“So, are you going to take it from me?”

“…No. Since she personally extracted her own Crystal Stone, I want to respect her will.”

…It seems she didn’t come to retrieve the Crystal Stone I have.

Then why did she suddenly bring this up?

“However, using another magical girl’s Crystal Stone… is extremely dangerous. Yet, she must have trusted you enough to hand it over.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s why I came to tell you why using another magical girl’s Crystal Stone is dangerous.”

“You could have just told me through the mascot.”

“Oh my, have you forgotten Meriol’s personality?”

“Ah.”

This Chubby, even if she heard it, she probably brushed it off as a hassle and postponed it.

So that’s why the Fairy Queen came herself?

“A magical girl’s Crystal Stone… also has the function of sealing everything about the magical girl when she dies.”

“I know that.”

“It contains the magical girl’s power, the extent of her talent’s bloom, and even her soul… everything is stored.”

“I know.”

“Using such a Crystal Stone means absorbing not only another magical girl’s talent and state but also her soul. Just the former could cause problems, but absorbing the soul… unless it’s a perfect match, you could lose your life. Humans have small vessels for souls, and even minor things can corrupt or rot them. Unless you’re a special being.”

“Losing your life… I didn’t know that.”

“Collisions between incompatible souls… imbalances during talent fusion leading to collapse… whatever it is, it’s extremely dangerous. Of course, if the compatibility is good or if you have a special constitution, you might be able to absorb it without any problems…”

“Whatever, it’s fine. No need to talk anymore. I won’t use it anyway.”

“…I hope so.”

In the end, it’s just that.

It’s really dangerous, and only to be used as a last resort when there’s no other option.

I won’t use it anyway, so don’t worry.

To come all this way just for this… you’re worrying too much.

…But what’s this about a special constitution?

“Well, I should get going soon, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Yes, please do. I only came to make a point, but it got a bit long.”

“Right. You take care too. Oh, but let me ask one thing.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“…You were actually hoping for someone like me, who breaks free from control, to appear, weren’t you?”

“…You caught me.”

Originally, if someone breaks free from control, the normal thing would be to desperately try to eliminate them, but instead, you’ve been accommodating, even rewarding them.

Not interfering otherwise, treating me as usual, and even warning me in advance about using the Crystal Stone…

So, there must be some reason for all this.

“Why is that?”

“Actually, in principle, beings who break free from control should be eliminated. So, long ago, we tried to eliminate a magical girl who broke free from control… but we accidentally let her escape. Hundreds of years have passed, but we still haven’t found her.”

“Really? But why did you try to eliminate her? You’re not inflexible idiots, so you wouldn’t try to eliminate someone just for breaking free from control.”

“…She had been deceiving us the entire time she was active as a magical girl. Of course, her activities themselves were outstanding, she was cooperative, and she was a child who loved her mission. With the testimony of her responsible mascot, no one suspected her. So, we thought she was an essential force for the Fairy Realm… but the moment she broke free from control, she revealed her true nature.”

“So, you left me alone because you need someone who has broken free from control to eventually subdue her? You could do it yourself, right? You’re ridiculously strong.”

“That’s part of it, but fundamentally, it’s also because of Rampage-san’s character. So, even if it weren’t for that, I would have left you alone. And… I’m not that strong. Someday, Rampage-san will surpass me. In terms of power, that is.”

“My character… my character isn’t that great.”

“No, Rampage-san’s character shines brighter than anyone else’s. Please don’t belittle yourself.”

“……”

Where exactly is my character good when I’m the type to kill first and ask questions later if it’s an enemy…

Well, the Fairy Realm might have a different way of thinking, so let’s leave it at that.

Anyway, it’s really time to go.

“…Anyway, I’m really leaving.”

“Yes. Have a good vacation.”

Alright, I’ve packed my swimsuit and tons of snacks from the Magical Girl Store…

Ah, I should also pack a bunch of canned beer in the cooler.

And ice cream… hmm, done.

Now, let’s head out.

“Pretty Heart.”

“Ah, Rampage unnie.”

When I stepped outside, Pretty Heart was already waiting.

She came faster than I thought.

But, more importantly…

“…Isn’t it a bit much to keep calling me that even in everyday life? If someone hears, it could be a problem.”

“Right…?”

“I’m Jeong Da-bin. Call me that.”

“I’m Yunari.”

Nari… that’s a nice name.

Anyway, it’s about time for the others to arrive… oh, here they come.

…What the hell is that?

The front looks like an SUV, but the back… it’s like they chopped it off and attached a camper or something.

This is beyond modification, you crazy bastards…

“What the hell did you do to the car?”

“Nothing much. Just extended the trunk. Anyway, get in. Is that the one we talked about last time?”

“Yeah. She’s still a kid, so if it seems dangerous, block it with your lives.”

“Even so, our lives…”

“Real…”

“Is our junior more important than us?”

“Well…”

“Just get in. I’m just saying.”

Me and Pretty Heart… Nari got in, and the SUV(?) driven by my friends slowly started moving.

Looking back, I see they’ve packed a ton of stuff, but I have no idea what they’re planning to do at the beach.

Are you guys going to the beach or setting up a base?

“So, Dabin is your magical girl junior? You didn’t treat her harshly, did you?”

“Huh? Ah, no… she’s been really kind…”

“You think I’d treat kids like that?”

“You worked three newbies to the bone for a month last time, didn’t you?”

“That’s that, this is this. Are local juniors the same as kids from other regions?”

“Wow… defending your region is so boomer-like.”

“Boomer~.”

“Boom boom boom.”

“These bastards…”

Look at them ganging up on me…

Whatever, I’ll just eat my ice cream.

Getting mad at this stuff only hurts me.

“Here, eat.”

“Thank you.”

“What about mine?”

“Me too.”

“And me?”

“You guys get nothing. If you don’t like it, take back calling me a boomer.”

“I take it back.”

“I’ll take it back too, so give me one.”

“Me too.”

“Bastards.”

Ah~ eating ice cream with the AC on is pure bliss.

Nari seems to like this ice cream too.

Well, with chocolate cookies and almond chocolate coating, who wouldn’t like it?

“Wow~ but it’s really the first time going to the beach with you.”

“Real. Did you prepare a swimsuit?”

“I did. She even picked it out for me.”

“You didn’t pick it yourself?”

“You expect me to have fashion sense?”

“No.”

“Not at all.”

“Of course not.”

“Then don’t ask.”

Really, they’re always looking for ways to tease me.

…Huh? Why is Nari staring at me like that?

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, nothing… it’s just, you seem so manly. It’s fascinating…”

“Really? Don’t mind it. The world has all kinds of people.”

“Is that so?”

“She’s been through some serious stuff in the past, so that’s why she’s like that. Just be understanding.”

“Right. Her mental state isn’t great, so don’t poke at her.”

“Fresh seaweed.”

“What do you mean understanding? And my mental state is fine!”

They’re treating me like I’m some kind of lunatic.

Sure, I’ve been through a lot in the past, but I’m acting perfectly normal…

Honestly, isn’t this level still within the range of normal?

“Don’t you remember how you were in middle and high school? You looked like you were about to kill someone at any moment.”

“Real. Every time we went somewhere, your expression would change so suddenly, it was terrifying. But then I heard you were a magical girl, and it all made sense.”

“That was shocking in a different way. Who would’ve thought you were a magical girl?”

“…Did I really make such scary expressions back then?”

“You were terrifying. Don’t even talk.”

“Real human butcher face.”

“That’s not an expression a student should have, what are you talking about?”

I made such scary expressions…

Did I really make those expressions I made during terror back in middle and high school?

If that’s the case, then it makes sense they’d say that.

“So… what happened in the past?”

“…Do you want to know?”

“I’m curious.”

“It’s not a pleasant story. Stories about losing someone important and killing people aren’t exactly fun to hear, right?”

“Uh, uh…? You… killed someone…?”

“You might not know, but there were idiots in the past who tried to sell out humanity to monsters to save themselves. So, the Fairy Realm and a few magical girls worked together to root them out and kill them all.”

“That’s… horrifying…”

“Right? So just forget what you just heard. It’s not a good story.”

After that, the idiots who tried to cooperate with monsters disappeared, but recently, they’ve been crawling back out.

But now, the mascots are handling it, so it’s a relief.

Magical girls don’t have to experience killing people anymore.

“But… what about losing someone important?”

“…This is also an old story, but not long after I became a magical girl, a Duke-class monster appeared. At the time, even Marquis-class monsters were taken down by parties, so it was a real calamity.”

“Really…?”

“While everyone was hesitating, only two seniors and I stepped forward. The strongest magical girl at the time, Magical Lunatic Poison… that senior died then.”

“Ah…”

“We dealt a fatal blow, but the monster’s special ability was bizarre… a moment of carelessness, and she was hit with an attack that was almost instant death. She was a senior who was really kind to me. Well, she was a bit crazy though.”

“Then… what happened after…?”

“Like I said, she died. But the thing is, I don’t remember much after that. When I came to, I was covered in blood, and the monster was dead at my feet.”

In the end, it must have been because the senior dealt the fatal blow that I could finish it off.

I don’t know how I, who was just supporting the senior, managed to do it.

Maybe I awakened my Third Ability then.

After that, I could use my Third Ability for some reason.

But its destructive power was too great, so I sealed it.

“Well, that’s the story.”

“After that, she went around killing Marquis-class and Duke-class monsters, so our country became really peaceful.”

“Really, after that, the damage nationwide decreased a lot. Seeing how she kept skipping classes, it seems she was constantly on missions or something.”

“Now, there’s almost no loss of life. Even now, if there’s an emergency dispatch or something, she rushes out without hesitation.”

“…Stop praising me, it’s embarrassing.”

“Wow… you’re amazing…”

Why did this suddenly turn into a praise session…

Oh, we’re almost there.

The beach is coming into view… time to get ready.

“We’re here! Everyone, get out!”

Arriving at the beach, we each grabbed our luggage and got out of the SUV.

This time, my friends were disappointed they couldn’t fully utilize the SUV, but you can’t drag this thing onto the sand, so it can’t be helped.

“Nari. While they’re unloading, let’s go ahead and secure a spot.”

“Okay~.”

Then I’ll take Pretty Heart and go claim a spot.