episode_0022

Magical girls are basically minors.

Although society demands from them social responsibilities beyond adulthood such as soldiers and police, it does not force them to work enough to violate existing laws.

Unless it’s an emergency, most magical girls don’t get called in after solving one case for the day.

There are rare cases where a Class A magical girl catches one Class E villain and says, “Today’s job is done,” taking advantage of this.

But since most of them are diligent and kind, they don’t resort to such slack behavior.

Instead, adults should also not overstep their boundaries.

Sending a tired magical girl home is basic, giving them time to recharge for tomorrow is a principle and an unwritten rule.

In that sense.

“Seiya has gone home, but Mumei, you need to return to headquarters with me.”

“Yes?”

“Not all our team members have returned yet.”

7 PM.

I still haven’t left work.

“I’ll pay you for overtime.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“?”

“?”

For a moment, our gazes crossed.

“…Mumei, have you lived abroad? Or worked at a foreign company?”

“I prefer not to talk about my past, but I don’t plan on working for free after 6 PM. It’s stated in the contract.”

“So you’re offering overtime pay.”

“Don’t I have the right to refuse?”

“You do, but I doubt you would, Mumei.”

Team leader Misaki shook his smartphone.

“We’re not here to do paperwork or unnecessary overtime; we need to take care of magical girls’ mental well-being.”

“If that’s the case…”

It’s overtime that can be readily accepted within the scope of work.

“What is it?”

“Persuading a team member.”

“Weren’t we going to do that tomorrow?”

“Seiya may be ready, but there are still two magical girls who need to talk.”

Is he trying to cut off the bull’s horn while it’s short?

No.

“Team leader, do you divide your time into morning, afternoon, and evening?”

“Somewhat, yes.”

“When do you leave work?”

“10 PM. I get home by 10:10. The officetel in front of the office is my home.”

“Wow…”

Misaki was a workaholic who could be considered a top ace even within a black company.

“I’m not willing to go to such lengths. I don’t intend to burden you excessively either, Mumei.”

“But?”

“Everyone has different strengths. I handle superiors and official documents well, but I lack finesse.”

“I’m not particularly delicate either.”

“More than me?”

“…….”

“It’s a bit sad not to deny, but when it comes to work skills, you’re better at this than I am in that area. That’s why I wanted to pick you as soon as I saw you.”

It seems this woman didn’t just choose me as a road manager level employee.

In fact, it includes managing the mental state of magical girls in work.

“If Mumei insists she can’t do it, I’ll do it alone…”

“Got it. Just make sure to take care of weekly wages.”

I pointed to the changing light.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Vroom.

The wheels turn.

I hadn’t set the navigation, so I silently followed Misaki’s direction, but—

“Just a moment. Isn’t this our house right here?”

“…Really?”

“You knew we were coming here?”

“No. Is there a parking lot there?”

Misaki’s eyes sparkled as if things were going well.

“There is a parking lot, but the registration…”

“Great. Park there for now. I’ll contact the owner to explain the situation.”

“Um, I don’t have the owner’s number…”

“If you call the police for cooperation. I have that much authority.”

“……”

It might be a privacy invasion, but I decided to keep my mouth shut.

“I wonder if the old lady’s attitude will change.”

It may be amusing to express an attitude towards a grandmother who is much older than me as “attitude,” but still, it’s one way people live comfortably.

“So why around here…?”

“That.”

Masaki Team Leader pointed ahead while making a phone call with his smartphone somewhere.

“Siori lives around here.”

“……”

Meeting in the morning wasn’t a coincidence.

* * *

A little later.

-Oh, he was a government worker. Whatever. Write freely! Yes, where? Special Investigations Department? Oh, goodness…

After parking in response to my mention, I just laughed at the voice of the landlady coming through the speaker.

Where people live is the same anywhere.

The strength and weakness are basic, and the treatment varies depending on the place when dealing with those called ‘public officials.’

When going to the city hall, you can argue and make noise for the mayor to come out, but when someone from the city hall makes a call, your head naturally bows first.

“Did the landlady have trouble with you?”

“She said she’ll kick me out if I don’t pay the rent on time.”

“Oh… Should I help, Ms. Mumei?”

“No, it’s okay. It’s just a normal thing.”

I would have done the same.

If a woman in her early twenties who seems unable to write her name properly on a contract and carries less than 100,000 yen in cash wants to rent a room.

“…Okay. But if anything happens, contact me. Depending on the performance, there may be a way to help, although it may vary slightly.”

“Thank you, Team Leader.”

This must be a story under the assumption that they continue to work at the Comprehensive Strategy Department.

But there’s no need to make a fuss about it.

Masaki Team Leader is paying more attention to me than I thought and is actually providing a lot of convenience.

‘Even though I’m on a weekly wage, I’m getting 20% more than other managers.’

There are many others who care for magical girls besides me.

I am in charge of a group of three in the RGB team, but there are others in charge of a group of five magical girls.

How much is their salary?

Even though they are full-time employees, it’s lower than mine.

Of course, after deducting taxes, but if a rumor spreads that an intern suddenly receives more than the youngest full-time employee, the whole department may go into battle mode.

If they do enough work to deserve it, I understand, but the work should be visibly justified as performance or achievement.

“We’re going to persuade Siori now.”

Masaki Team Leader stopped in front of a fairly spacious two-story mansion.

“You may be able to tell a few things by looking at Siori’s house, but never be surprised or pretend to care on purpose. Got it?”

“……The nameplate says ‘Siori.’”

“Yeah. Siori is a bit of a special case.”

Before getting out of the car, I recalled Siori’s profile.

Is she someone who uses her real name as a magical girl name while hiding her surname like Kanzaki Seiya?

No.

Her magical girl name is also Siori, and the phrase ‘Siori’ was prominently displayed in the real name section.

Next to it was the phrase ‘C.S.1.’

Case. Secret. 1.

The first confidential case.

For the ‘absolute anonymity’ to protect magical girls.

Ding-dong.

Masaki Team Leader rang the doorbell.

Soon, along with the sound of the front door opening from inside, RGB’s ‘Green’ appeared.

“Oh, Team Leader? What brings you here at this late hour….”

“As I mentioned before, I have come to offer a proposal to Ms. Shiori once again.”

“……”

Upon opening the door, Shiori, just as I had seen before, was maintaining her magical girl appearance.

Maintaining a constant transformation state.

Not transforming into a magical girl only when dealing with people, but always maintaining the state of being a magical girl.

“It’s a common case.”

One who has chosen to live as a magical girl.

And one who keeps their previous life all a ‘secret.’

“For now, just standing like this can attract people’s attention… Would you please come in?”

Shiori opens the door and looks around.

Team leader Misaki quickly enters, but I quietly enter amidst the distinct gaze felt from afar.

Paparazzi.

Someone who knows that Shiori lives here.

A YouTuber who sucks up views by digging up gossip about magical girls behind utility poles.

The true form of a magical girl.

Commonly referred to as the ‘red pill’ form.

While there is now a culture of respecting the true form of magical girls, making money in the dark world based on the essence of magical girls is not uncommon.

Profit.

The automatic lock engages as soon as the front door closes.

Outside the house, two CCTV cameras are positioned prominently upon entry.

One is fixed facing forward, while the other tracks Misaki’s team leader and my movements.

Probably equipped with a feature to detect the movements of surrounding organisms as if it were a model recognizing people.

“A bit unusual, isn’t it? Mr. Mumei.”

Shiori approaches the front door with a bitter expression.

Click, click.

She directly unlocks the door with the front door key and even opens the double lock using the digital door lock.

Even in that brief moment when she came out to greet us, the door was locked.

It may seem quite unusual, but…

Click.

As the door closes and we enter the house.

“Mr. Mumei, my house was burglarized before.”

Inside the house, like a newly built one, there was nothing present.

“My parents are not here. I bought this house and live here alone.”

“Is it because your personal information was leaked?”

“Yes. Something like that.”

Shiori scratched her cheek with a somewhat pale face.

“Being a magical girl’s family brings many troubles unless it’s a big city like Tokyo or Neodongtan.”

“Are the devil’s descendants causing trouble?”

“Yes.”

Shiori ran her hand over her face.

“…It was arson.”