Chapter 59

About a week after bringing Diamond Dust, things started to fall into place.

What I mean is, furniture started coming into Diamond Dust’s room, giving off that new furniture smell, and on the desk, there’s a brand-new computer with a graphics card the size of a brick.

Seeing her completed room, Diamond Dust is just staring at it with sparkling eyes.

It’s only natural she’d react like that since her room turned out exactly how she wanted it.

Plus, Diamond Dust’s family wasn’t exactly wealthy, so being able to decorate a room without worrying about the cost is pure happiness from her perspective.

It reminds me of when I bought an apartment after extorting some money…

Back then, I was soaking in happiness all day in a much larger and nicer home.

—

“You’ve been working hard as a magical girl, so consider this an early investment. You’re at Grand Duke-Class now, so only take on Marquis-Class or higher.”

“Okay…”

—

Diamond Dust still struggles to even jump, but she’ll probably be fine in about a month.

Even so, controlling her rapidly increased power will still be tricky, so she’ll still be a bit clumsy.

So… once her rehabilitation is done, we’ll start with mana control and basic combat training.

Well, we should probably help her recover mentally first.

She seems to be dealing with depression and other issues.

These things are hard to notice since she keeps it all bottled up in her room…

Of course, she seems to have improved a bit since staying at my place, but mental illnesses don’t recover that quickly, so we need to keep an eye on her.

—

“Meow.”

“Ah, it’s Max.”

“…Mew.”

“Ah…”

“Guess you’re still awkward around her.”

—

Max turned her head away from Diamond Dust and came over to me.

Then she flopped down in front of me.

We’ve gotten really close in such a short time.

Plus, she doesn’t mind when I rub her belly…

But if Diamond Dust tries to touch her, she immediately hisses.

It’s not like they’re close; she’s trying to touch her right after meeting her…

You have to slowly approach her with treats first.

—

“This snack is delicious.”

“You’re eating snacks before breakfast?”

“I don’t gain weight, and I don’t have to worry about nutrition, so it’s fine, right?”

“That’s not the point…”

—

Well, as long as she doesn’t skip breakfast entirely, it should be fine.

By the way, it’s only been about a week, but she’s already acting like she’s at home.

Her adaptability is incredible.

—

“By the way, has the furniture smell in your room gone away yet?”

“There’s still a bit, but it’s bearable.”

“Do you know today’s the day to get a new human-world ID from the Fairy Realm?”

“Yes.”

—

Anyway, after breakfast, the plan is to get Diamond Dust’s ID.

Starting today, she’ll have an identity as the magical girl Diamond Dust, separate from her human identity, Heo Ayun.

Because of the distortion caused by her monsterization, recognition distortion doesn’t work, and with her appearance, she won’t be treated as human whether she’s transformed or not.

—

“Let’s go once you’re done eating.”

—

After breakfast, we opened a [Gate] and went to the Fairy Realm.

Then, we got Diamond Dust’s ID.

Actually, I’ve also gotten an untransformed ID here before.

Ever since I started living fully as a magical girl.

Without it, you can’t get a driver’s license, buy alcohol… there are just too many inconveniences.

—

“This is… a magical girl ID…”

“Keep it safe. It costs points to reissue it.”

“Huh? How much?”

“1,000 points.”

“Eek!”

—

1,000 shop points is quite a lot.

So keep it in your wallet at all times.

Don’t carry it around separately and lose it.

She’s not that careless, right?

—

“After rehab, we’ll go home and study. Today’s math, right?”

“Ugh…”

“Study, you idiot. Even if you don’t go to college, you should at least graduate high school above average. Even if you forget everything later, the thinking skills you develop there will last a lifetime. And you’re living at my place for three years because of this.”

“Okay…”

—

If she wants to go to college later, I can send her, but if not… she’ll have to prepare to be independent.

Still, if she just takes out Marquis-Class enemies until graduation, she’ll have plenty of starting funds.

As long as she doesn’t waste money, she could live comfortably for life.

—

“Ugh…! Haa, haa…”

—

After getting her ID, we went to the Rehabilitation Center.

The purpose, of course, is Diamond Dust’s rehabilitation.

…But for something like that, she’s doing something that looks like strength training with a face like she’s about to poop.

How is this rehabilitation…?

—

“Everyone here is making such weird noises.”

“It can’t be helped!”

—

I heard why they do this.

Because their personalities have reattached to their transformed bodies, using their muscles helps them adapt… but honestly, I don’t get it.

By the way, that looks like magical girl equipment, but how much does it weigh?

—

“300 tons…? Is this correct?”

“Diamond Dust is currently at Grand Duke-Class specs… so this should be enough to stimulate her muscles, right?”

“…I don’t know the standards, so I’m not sure.”

—

Meanwhile, Katanu is cheering like a cheerleader on the side.

No one likes an animal doing sexy poses and dancing, so cut it out.

…Wait, in Europe, there are cases of people doing stuff with sheep or orangutans… so maybe there’s a demand…?

—

“By the way, how far does this go?”

“Currently, we have up to 10,000 tons here!”

“10,000 tons? This?”

“Yes! …As expected, Rampage is beyond imagination…”

—

What the… 10,000 tons?

Well, I can feel the weight, but I can lift it easily with one finger.

I can adjust the strength intuitively, but I can’t grasp how much it actually weighs.

But whatever… as long as I can control the strength, there’s no point in figuring it out.

—

“How much can you lift, Rampage?”

“Hmm? I’ve never really checked my lifting strength. Should I try some things with my Third Ability released?”

“…I feel like something scary will happen, so maybe not? Also, today’s rehab is done! You’ve taken your medicine too!”

“Alright. Then let’s go back and study. It’s annoying that I have to study high school stuff again.”

“Can’t you just skim through it and understand everything?”

“That’s because I studied hard before and haven’t completely forgotten it. If I were over 30, I’d have to start from scratch and it’d be tough.”

“I see!”

—

Hmm… but something feels off.

I don’t think I had this level of comprehension before.

But since I’m not understanding everything at a glance, it doesn’t seem like my intelligence has increased.

Maybe it’s just my imagination…?

—

“Ugh…”

“Get up.”

“It’s hard…”

“Then I guess I’ll eat the ice cream alone.”

“I’m up!”

“…Good.”

—

Jumping up at the mention of ice cream reminds me of Pretty Heart…

Well, girls really love sweets, so it makes sense, right?

By the way, don’t eat it lying down; sit up.

—

“Huh? Big sis~!”

“Huh? What, Pretty Heart? Why is Typhoon with you?”

—

I tossed Diamond Dust some ice cream and was eating mine when Pretty Heart and Typhoon showed up.

I have no idea why they’re here.

There’s no reason for them to come here…

—

“We couldn’t reach you, so we thought you might be here!”

“We were refining techniques at the training ground and ran into each other, so we came together.”

“…Is that so?”

—

Did they just come to see me…?

By the way, Pretty Heart is hugging me more openly than before.

Is she trying to show off how close we are?

With anyone else, maybe not, but with Pretty Heart, it’s entirely possible.

Pretty Heart is the type to do that.

—

“Huh? What are you all doing here? Oh, are you making a harem?!”

“Crazy Heart… I don’t know why you’re here, but shut up.”

“Why am I here? Well, one of my juniors wanted to get stronger and ended up monsterizing, so they’re bedridden here~.”

“What, your junior too?”

“Yeah! I don’t get why they don’t realize that fighting all day makes you stronger~.”

—

…Well, for a battle maniac like Crazy Heart, fighting is pure joy.

On the other hand, I gritted my teeth and went out to hunt monsters with the mindset of killing them all.

Anyway, without motivation, it’s impossible to keep going out to fight.

But when greed gets involved, the mentally weak or easily swayed end up taking poison.

Still, magical girls can keep getting stronger as long as they put in the effort, so it’s much better than other options.

Of course, physical aging after growth is a problem unless you reconstruct your body.

—

“…Big sis. By the way, I heard you’re living with that big sis now. What’s going on?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Why her and not me?!”

“Ah, no… she got kicked out by her parents, so I took her in. I couldn’t just let someone who could be a good asset to the Fairy Realm commit suicide.”

“Ah… I’m sorry…”

—

Honestly, this kid’s jealousy is getting more and more obvious…

It’s not like we’re in a romantic relationship or anything.

What am I supposed to do with this kid…?

—

“Then… I want to live with you too!”

“No.”

“Why not?!”

“First of all, you need to live under your parents’ protection. If you at least graduate high school and become an adult, you can take responsibility for your actions, but you’re still in middle school.”

“Sniff… Then, can I just stay over for one night…?”

“…Get permission from your parents first.”

“Okay…!”

—

This kid is really something.

She wasn’t like this before, but when did she become like this?

I need to figure out how to rein her in, but I’m not sure how.

At this rate, she might really pounce on me.

Sigh~… She’s only in middle school, is this really okay?

The future looks really dark, so dark…

—

“Ah, is this a magical girl training camp?”

“…? What camp?”

“Somehow, it feels like I should be staying at your place too, senior.”

“…Sigh, fine. If you want to come, come.”

“Really? Then I want to come too!”

“…You too?”

“Of course! You can’t leave me out!”

“Ah, alright…”

—

Crazy Heart too…?

Did they all take something today…?

By the way, we should be thinking about countermeasures for Pandora, but is it okay to be doing this?

…Well, since there’s no immediate answer other than continuing to grow stronger, it should be fine for now.

Ah… so peaceful…