Chapter 7

As soon as I returned from the Mascot Headquarters, I flew straight to the shopping district upon detecting an Earl-Class demon signal.

There, a demon with a tiger-dragon hybrid appearance was gathering energy in its tail and firing off something repeatedly.

“…This is another weird one.”

First, I need to stop whatever it’s shooting. That seems to be its main technique for destroying the surroundings.

“Grrr…”

Its growl really sounds like a tiger. More importantly… it’s gathering energy in its tail again. Let’s take a closer look at what it’s firing.

“…Oh, it’s actually physical.”

This guy is crystallizing the energy in its tail and firing it as bullets. No wonder there’s so much damage when it’s launching such massive things at high speed. Tsk, maybe I should’ve gone to the Magical Girl Store later. It seems like it’s been rampaging the whole time I was away. Well, might as well test a technique now.

“……”

Hmm… I’d like to name it in English, but what’s the English for [Nuclear Fission Bullet]? Ah, whatever… just fire it. …Gotta limit the range though. If I mess up, this whole area could get wiped out.

“…Oh.”

I guess this counts as a success? The energy bullet fired from my finger landed properly, and the explosion was contained within the limited range… So, a magical nuke? Common Magic is really convenient. Combining it with my unique abilities lets me overkill without causing collateral damage. Maybe I should look into other useful Common Magic.

…That said, I should probably ditch [Nuclear Fission Bullet]. It looks more destructive visually, but [Energy Blast], which scales with magic power, is actually stronger since it creates phenomena rather than just raw destruction. I made it for variety, but [Energy Blast] is still the superior technique. Well, [Gamma Ray Burst] is stronger, but it’s equally impractical. It’s just another phenomenon-creating technique with a long delay.

But relying on just one technique feels off. Should I create a new one? Though [Energy Blast] is already overpowered to the point of being excessive… Still, I should think about it.

“Chubby. Does the Mascot Headquarters have a training ground?”

“Huh? Yes! Many magical girls use it to train their unique techniques or basic movements!”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well… Rampage-san is so strong… I thought it might be pointless…”

“Sigh…”

This guy is the epitome of laziness. How can a support mascot be like this?

“…Whatever. Open a [Gate] tomorrow after breakfast.”

“Got it!”

Time to head home. It’s already evening. I missed lunch, so I should eat a big dinner. Maybe order some makguksu? Nah, I want meat, so let’s get jokbal. …Actually, let’s order both.

So, on my way home, I opened a delivery app and ordered makguksu and jokbal. I usually go out to pick up food to save money, but using the app without worry feels nice. Is this what luxury feels like? Nah, calling delivery a luxury is just dumb.

“Maybe I’ll play some games while waiting for the delivery… Oh, a new game came out.”

It’s been a while since I played an RPG… and it’s a proper 3D action RPG. This is how RPGs should be.

“Chubby. By the way, any updates on the medal?”

“Nope! Not yet!”

Is it really taking that long? In manga, they usually figure things out instantly, but I guess that’s all nonsense.

“Ah, using a controller is better than a keyboard for this.”

Speaking of which, this game was clearly designed for controllers. It fits perfectly in my hands. So that’s why they sell their own branded controllers… Clever.

…Oh, the delivery’s here. I’ll eat first. It came faster than I expected, probably because it’s early evening.

“Hmm, this place is good.”

I brought the delivery to the living room and started eating. The jokbal and makguksu… especially the makguksu, is really good. The broth, the seasoning… or was it called dadegi? Anyway, both are incredibly flavorful. The noodles are chewy too, so I’m satisfied.

“This and the jokbal…”

“Rampage-san! They just contacted me that part of the analysis is complete!”

“Really?”

They’re analyzing it much faster than I expected. It’s amazing they’ve figured out part of it already. How are they even analyzing it?

“The medal contains something strange related to the power of monsters, but that’s all we know for now!”

“I see. So, we still have no idea what to do with it?”

“Right… Oh, and besides the one you found, they’re being discovered worldwide, so we’re collecting them as quickly as possible!”

Hmm… But, you know… they’re not just on Earth, right? Are they planning something in the Fairy Realm too? …No, the monsters from the Demon Realm are targeting Earth. I don’t know the exact reason, but if they were after the mascots, they would’ve invaded the Fairy Realm already. It’s been 20 years since the invasion, so this must be a new approach. The question is, what’s their plan?

“By the way, can the medals be destroyed?”

“Huh? Yes… They can be destroyed, but they’re quite durable, so only powerful magical girls can destroy them!”

If they can be destroyed… then from now on, if we find any medals, we should destroy them on the spot unless there’s something special about them. It’s better to eliminate potential risks early. Since they’re appearing worldwide, we can’t eliminate them all, but minimizing their numbers will reduce the damage.

“Then tell the mascots to destroy any medals they find. If they can destroy them on the spot, do it.”

“Got it!”

Ugh, I’m so full. I should finish the makguksu… I’ll put the jokbal in the fridge for later.

“…By the way, what’s that news saying now?”

“Uh… It’s that thing again. Magical girl gender discrimination, human rights, blah blah blah.”

“Idiots… Without magical girls, who’s going to protect humanity from demons and monsters? Besides, becoming a magical girl is voluntary, and you can’t even do it without talent.”

“Exactly…”

Those guys, aren’t they the same ones who always blame men for everything? Right now, it’s just protests, but if they start harassing or harming magical girls…

“…Hey, Chubby.”

“Yes?”

“If those guys… harm magical girls, how far can we go in response?”

“It depends on the severity, but since our primary duty is to protect the human world from the Demon Realm, magical girls, as the means of protection, take precedence over the protected humans. So… if they interfere with battles, at worst, killing them wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Is that so?”

Lately, there have been more demons, and they’re sending an unusual number of fragments… If those idiots cause serious problems… We’ll have to discuss with the Mascot Headquarters how to deal with them. If they interfere, we’ll kill them without hesitation or isolate them… There are plenty of ways.

“Besides, those idiots who fall for such stupid logic and fight among themselves are also a problem. And the politicians who suck up to them for votes.”

“Why is humanity going down this path…?”

“How should I know? I’m not an analyst or a philosopher. But one thing’s for sure: only idiots do that kind of thing. If you have a brain, you wouldn’t believe or engage in such nonsense.”

Come to think of it, in the U.S., after the massive casualties from demons and monsters, those idiot groups disappeared. At one point, they were causing chaos everywhere, ruining movies, games, and laws, making it seem like everything would collapse. But there, the respect for those who protect the country is immense, so the magical girls’ words carry a lot of weight. Compared to that, our country…

“……”

“Rampage-san…?”

“…Hey. Do you remember what I said when I first became a magical girl?”

“Ah, yes! You said… ‘I hate the idea of becoming a magical girl, but if it means becoming a hero and protecting everyone, then it’s worth it!'”

“Right. But lately, seeing those idiots makes me lose that motivation.”

“Eh…”

That statement wasn’t just a childish sentiment; it’s a belief I’ve held onto and acted on until now. That’s why I’ve continued even after becoming an adult and getting a job. Demons and monsters don’t just destroy buildings; they kill people. So, even if I have those feelings, I can’t just abandon them. Of course, when I heard I couldn’t return to being a man, I thought I should’ve retired, but I never gave up on the desire to protect.

Back then, the government didn’t pay magical girls; it was all passion. Only those who genuinely wanted to protect became magical girls, risking their lives desperately. Elementary, middle, and high schoolers—kids who should be playing, not facing such harsh realities. Sure, most retired as they grew up and pursued their own lives, but they kept going because they wanted to protect. But what about those idiots? They don’t understand any of that and are trying to exploit the magical girls who’ve fought and are still fighting.

Moreover, even now, we’re short on magical girls. Emergency dispatch requests come in frequently. That means we lack the manpower to take down Earl-Class demons and monsters. In this situation, one side is ranting about gender discrimination and women’s rights, another is mindlessly criticizing magical girls for their outfits, and another is complaining about the funds allocated to magical girls while doing nothing…

If the mascots weren’t repairing the damage, I’m sure those trashy people would be demanding compensation for their property. They have no idea who’s protecting them. Truly… useless human trash…

“…Bring me a beer.”

“Yes, got it!”

Even so, when retired magical girls were active, they took down threats before they caused major damage… But asking someone in their mid-20s or 30s to keep being a magical girl is a bit much. It’s social suicide to keep doing this as an ajumma, and retiring before gaining powers outside the Mascot Headquarters’ control prevents future problems. Fixing all magical girls in a youthful form would require immense energy and resources from the Fairy Realm… And if they die quickly or retire after a few years, it’s a huge loss. That’s why they only reconstruct talented boys into girls’ bodies and fix them… Well, part of it is because boys transform into female outfits, which is a problem. If crossdressing doesn’t suit them, it’s practically forcing them to commit suicide, right?

Sigh… Well, I have to keep going. …Magical Lunatic Poison… for my late senior. Really, why did they burden me with something like this…

“Rampage-san? I brought the beer!”

“…Thanks.”

*Chug*… My role is clear. As usual, I’ll take down demons and monsters, and if any group interferes with magical girls, I’ll eliminate them, even if it means killing.

“Chubby. Tell the mascots supporting magical girls to provide mental care so their charges aren’t swayed by those idiot groups.”

“Got it!”

Looks like I’ll have a lot of annoying things to deal with for a while…