Chapter 26

“Living in such a splendid house, huh~?”

“It’s just an apartment, not particularly splendid.”

“By my standards, it’s splendid~.”

A few days after the training for Magical Typhoon ended, a really annoying person showed up.

Shiny black hair, a face that looks like she’s in her early 20s despite being in her 30s, and glowing skin.

One of the original Magical Girls, Magical Paladin… in other words, one of my seniors.

Even though she’s an ajumma, she’s still acting as a Magical Girl, and among the few seniors, she’s the only one worth tolerating.

“So, what’s this about you causing a ruckus in the Global Zone~?”

“I didn’t cause a ruckus. That jerk Revolver started it first, so it just turned out that way.”

“Oh my~ As expected of the top-ranked Magical Girl. Even though you’re an ajumma now.”

“…Isn’t it a bit early to call me an ajumma?”

“You’re totally an ajumma~. Even though you’ve completely turned into a girl! Hehe.”

“If you’re here just to tease me, can you leave now?”

“You’re so mean to your senior~.”

This senior suddenly returned from Canada to Korea. To sum it up briefly… she’s just an ajumma who’s a Magical Girl with decent talent.

Despite how she looks, she’s a powerful Magical Girl who can easily solo Duke-Class enemies.

…Or should I say, a Magical Ajumma?

“By the way, why are you active in Canada, senior? You could make money in Korea now.”

“Well~ I got married, so I have no choice.”

“What, you got married?”

“Yep~. I even have two daughters.”

“Really…? You don’t look like a married woman with two kids.”

It’s only been about two years since she went there, and she already has two kids…

Does that mean she got married and pregnant right after arriving?

What a crazy woman… to think she’s my senior.

No matter how fast you are, that’s way too quick for a marriage and pregnancy route.

“…By the way, you’re a bit weird.”

“What is it?”

“Why do you only use punches that don’t even suit you? I really don’t get it~. Even though you can manipulate energy.”

“…It’s fine. I’m more comfortable with this.”

“Comfortable my foot~. There must be a reason you gave up on that, right? Isn’t that so? Am I wrong?”

“I said it’s fine.”

“Well~, if you say so. I can roughly guess though~.”

“……”

Tch, she’s still as annoying as ever.

If she’s going to poke around like that, I wish she’d just leave.

I’ll just lie on the sofa and eat some snacks.

“By the way, it’s about time you started using it again.”

“What are you talking about?”

“…The thing unfolding over China.”

“What about it?”

“It’s obvious you’ll be in charge, so why are you so calm? Even for you, wouldn’t it be tough with just punches?”

“Whatever.”

“Ah~ You’re so stubborn~. Fine, I get it~. You’ve changed so much since then, you’re not cute at all~.”

She’s really being a bother, this ajumma.

Whatever, I’ll just watch TV.

And stop rummaging through my fridge and drinking my wine.

“Mmm~ This is good wine.”

“Why are you drinking my wine without asking?”

“It’s fine, right? Isn’t it?”

“Sigh… whatever, ajummas are naturally thick-skinned.”

“…I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that~.”

Oh~ She’s really grown up, even my senior, to endure such direct hits.

She used to pull my cheeks whenever I said something that hit a nerve.

“By the way, this country is still a work in progress, huh?”

“What is? That?”

“Yeah~. Those bundles of contradictions who use righteousness as a shield to do unrighteous things~.”

“That’s true, but as long as they don’t mess with Magical Girls, I don’t care.”

“…You’re still the same.”

Honestly, they’re so disgusting that just looking at them makes me want to curse, but I’ve already thrown everything away except being a Magical Girl… so I don’t want to waste my emotions on that.

I ignore everything unrelated to Magical Girls, that’s my stance.

Well, my senior knows that too, so she doesn’t say anything more.

“Still, it’s good to see you’ve become much more mature since we last met~. Good, good.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“…What do you mean? You… don’t you remember having a look in your eyes that could kill anything in front of you instantly…?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Really, you’re so unaware~. Still a kid, a kid.”

Hmm… my friends say the same thing, and now my senior too… they all say the same thing.

Is that why I had such a hard time finding a job?

Honestly, when others say it, I get it, but I still don’t really understand.

No matter what, people don’t walk around with that kind of expression all the time.

“…Oh, right. About what we talked about earlier~.”

“What is it?”

“The thing over China, I think an incident will happen within a week, so I hope you fight in your original form~.”

“……”

…Well, I know she’s genuinely worried.

She’s probably saying not to just recklessly punch and get beaten instead.

This time, it’s not just a Duke-Class… it’s at least a Grand Duke-Class.

But hey… I can take down Duke-Class enemies with just punches, so there’s no way I’d lose.

And, it’s a perfect opportunity to gauge how strong a Grand Duke-Class is.

If I just slash them with a light sword the moment they appear, I won’t be able to gather any data.

“Anyway, I know you won’t listen, but it’s still my advice.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t worry about you… but there’s always a ‘just in case,’ right? I hope you use your original form in emergencies.”

“…Got it. I’ll consider it.”

Anyway, seniors always talk about that original form thing whenever we meet.

I’m fighting like this because I want to, so what’s with all the talk?

…Actually, I do understand why they say that.

If you’re a Magical Girl who can manipulate energy, doing that would make you much stronger no matter what.

It’s practically a privilege.

“So, when are you going back, senior?”

“Me? Hmm~ I’ve set aside a week, so I’ll probably go back around then. How about traveling around the country with this noona… no, unnie in the meantime?”

“No thanks. Traveling alone with an ajumma…”

“…Patience is a virtue, three times over.”

So, the senior came for a trip…

And what kind of trip is it to travel with an ajumma?

I have no idea what she’s thinking making such a suggestion.

“Sigh~ I just made a joke, and you react like that, so mean~.”

“Your jokes don’t sound like jokes, senior.”

“Actually, I’m here on a family trip, so there’s no place for you to join.”

“Then why did you suggest it? Are you crazy?”

“I said it was a joke~ A jo! ke!”

Ugh… No matter how youthful she looks, it’s a bit much for an ajumma to use that pose and tone.

But I’ll let it slide since she looks young.

“Rampage~!”

“Oh my~ This copycat is still the same~.”

“Same my foot. She’s a current slave who almost got me executed by making me look like this for life.”

“Now’s not the time to tease her! The exact time for the summoning over China has been set!”

“…You can even know that?”

“It’s in 5 days!!”

“See, I was right?”

“5 days, huh…”

This ajumma, why is her intuition so sharp?

Anyway, 5 days… I thought it would take longer since it’s so huge, but it’s faster than I expected.

…Whatever comes out, I’ll just beat it to death.

No need to be nervous.

“…This kid, getting all serious and filled with killing intent again.”

“Why again?”

“Didn’t I always tell you to get psychological counseling? I thought you’d become more mature and healthier~, but you’re still the same~.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Anyway, maybe because of that senior’s request, she’s being overly protective.

…By the way, where did that quiet mascot go?

“By the way, senior. What happened to the mascot?”

“Mascot? Since Magical Girl activities are on hold for the trip, there’s no need for it to stick with me, right? So it’s with my husband~.”

Ah~ That makes sense.

If that’s the case, it’s fine without the mascot.

By the way, this ajumma already finished a bottle.

Was her real purpose here to see my face and casually drink my alcohol?

“You’ve finished the wine, so go home.”

“So mean~.”

“…Go home.”

“Sigh, fine~. But I’ll come again before I leave, so prepare some delicious things~.”

“No.”

She’s so shameless even when leaving…

Anyway, it’s finally quiet.

Now I’ll take off my clothes and have some beer.

“Chubby. Beer.”

“Yes!”

“…Ugh~ That ajumma finally left~.”

“Do you dislike her that much?”

“…It’s not that I dislike her. Despite how she acts, she was the closest to that senior. She was there all day at the senior’s funeral.”

That’s why I tolerate her nonsense.

If it were any other senior, I would’ve kicked them out for barging in and acting up.

“By the way, was that senior’s gaze back then?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I felt a gaze in the Global Zone.”

“That wasn’t her gaze! The magical energy was different!”

“Really? Then whose was it?”

Hmm… I have no idea who it was.

Well, I’ll find out someday.

“By the way, Rampage.”

“What?”

“After hearing about her, I’m curious. Why do you only use martial arts?”

“…Are you that curious?”

“Yes!”

“……People grow when they’re uncomfortable and weak. On the other hand, if you have strong power, you tend to rely on it.”

“Is that so?”

“Someday, if a way to break into the Demon Realm appears… I’ll go in and kill them all. To do that, I need not just overwhelming power, but also the skill to wield it. To do that, I need to build a solid foundation. Right? That’s why I train every morning.”

“Scary thoughts you have there…”

Actually, it was just a vague goal, but recently it’s become clear.

That guy I missed… he’s probably the ruler of the Demon Realm or something.

Given that there are patterns I’ve never seen before, it’s surprisingly possible.

So, killing that bastard is my first goal, and killing the main bodies of the monsters invading this place to stop their invasions is my second goal.

I still don’t know why I haven’t been able to open a gate from the Fairy Realm to the Demon Realm, but I’ll definitely invade someday.

“…Ah, what should I eat?”

“…? Aren’t you drinking beer?”

“I’m talking about a meal, not a drink.”

“Ah.”

“Do I look like I survive on beer?”

“No!”

Hmm… Eating is good, but I’m not really in the mood.

I’ll just order delivery today.

…Yeah, chicken sounds good, chicken.

Delivery is best with chicken… but 30,000 won for just one fried chicken with delivery fee? What kind of bastards are they?

Are they crazy… I’ll pass on that.

“…Still the usual place, huh?”

“What do you mean?”

“Chicken.”

I’ll just order from the usual place.

Fried… one.

I won’t be able to finish it all anyway, so I’ll air-fry the leftovers.

“…Ah! I almost forgot!”

“…What?”

“Later, the Fairy Queen has something to say!”

“When?”

“After you defeat the being summoned there, she said!”

“Really? What does she want to talk about…”

Sigh~… I don’t know what’s going to come out, but it’s definitely a Grand Duke-Class.

It’s longer than a Duke-Class but shorter than I thought.

And if it’s a Grand Duke-Class… I should be able to defeat it without using the Third Ability or the Second Ability.

So… I’ll somehow defeat it using only the First Ability, with just punches.

Ah, should I seal that too? …No, I should keep it in mind just in case.

“Ah, the chicken’s here.”

I’ll eat the chicken first and think later…