Ch.255IF Side Story: From the Beginning (23)

Slowly, like seeping in.

Delphinium—no, Chaeyeon started to occasionally join us.

Well, should I say we played together? That’s a bit ambiguous. Even when she was with us, rather than joining our conversations, she would just sit there and read her books.

Sometimes I would forcibly drag her in, and each time, Chaeyeon would respond as if annoyed but eventually join us and awkwardly do this and that.

The lounge, which initially had only a few books, was slowly being filled with our colors.

Just as magical girls each have different colors, the things we brought to the lounge were also diverse.

I brought my music CDs. Most were albums I bought from bookstores without much thought just based on the cover art, or ones I picked up cheaply from used record stores.

At first, there was no CD player, but I brought one I found abandoned on the street and set it up. Since it worked without breaking down, I figured we could keep using it.

Yeonwoo brought a few small potted plants. With small, pretty flowering plants always placed near the lounge window, the overall atmosphere became somewhat livelier.

Seo-hee brought various magazines, mostly about martial arts. Honestly, I wasn’t very interested in their content. To be fair, Seo-hee just flipped through those magazines once and then shelved them, usually preferring to watch matches on TV. I developed some interest in that too, and occasionally sat down to watch with her. Though I didn’t really understand why she cheered so passionately for certain fighters.

One corner of the lounge became Ju-a’s workspace. We didn’t say anything even when Ju-a made clattering noises while tinkering with equipment. I thought it was more fun for all of us to hang out together like this than for her to be alone in her room fixing equipment.

Hayun… didn’t really bring anything of her own. If I had to mention something, there were board games, but since we all brought games that looked fun, they couldn’t really be considered Hayun’s personal belongings.

However,

“…I don’t see the CD I gave you.”

For some reason, Hayun muttered that with a somewhat bleak expression after looking at the list of used CDs I had brought.

“Those are treasures, so they’re at home.”

But after my answer, Hayun’s face quickly turned red and she sank down.

That was actually sincere.

I didn’t want to share Hayun’s gifts with others. If I wanted to listen to the same CD here, I’d rather get another used copy. Or just buy a new one.

I would listen to it with Jihye who shares my room, but that’s okay because Jihye is like my sister. Since we share a room, it would be awkward to kick her out just so I could listen to music.

“O-oh, I see. Because it’s a gift…”

Hayun made a strange voice for some reason, but I decided to let it go, thinking it was better that way.

Well, anyway, that’s how we all managed to become friends.

Honestly, since I hadn’t been in actual combat yet, I wondered if we could protect each other with our lives, but we’d find that out eventually.

At least for now, I’m not too worried. The combatants we’ll be facing aren’t particularly strong.

The work originally started as a comedy with very mild social satire elements, and even though the tone changed somewhat in the official serialization, it was clearly depicted that magical girls were stronger than combatants.

They wouldn’t choose a kaijin as my first opponent.

…

Still, since it involves hitting people, I’m not sure how it will actually turn out.

“Junior.”

As I was lost in thought, Seo-hee pressed down on the back of my chair from behind.

Thanks to that, the armchair I was sitting in tipped backward.

Logically, I knew it wouldn’t completely fall over, but I couldn’t help letting out a scream.

“Pfft.”

Since I was usually the one with the stronger presence in here, Seo-hee found it funny that I made such a sound.

I couldn’t really get angry either. She was just calling me. She probably didn’t think I’d be so startled.

“What?” I asked, filling my voice with annoyance.

Seo-hee looked down at me with a grin and said, “Are you worried about actual combat?”

“…”

Since the question pierced right to the core of my concern, I kept my mouth shut for a moment.

“I’m not without worries.”

Thinking Seo-hee wouldn’t let go of my chair back if I didn’t answer, I replied with a sigh in my voice.

“Because we’re fighting people.”

“Why? You were trying to beat me up earlier.”

“Is that the same as this?”

“Wow, are you saying magical girls aren’t people? You know you’re included in that group of magical girls, right?”

“…You know what I mean.”

The fight with Seo-hee was a sparring match.

That’s not to say it was a staged fight. But it was a confrontation where we both agreed it was okay to hit each other.

It was the same when facing Yeonwoo and Hayun. We knew neither would cross the line, and I knew that no matter how hard I charged at them, it would be difficult to win completely to the point where the other person would be seriously hurt.

But if the opponent is a combatant, wouldn’t the story be different?

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

That’s what Seo-hee said.

Her eyes briefly looked up at the ceiling.

Though her expression showed she was deep in thought, her words were simple.

“Those people are doing their job for money, and we’re doing our job for money too. In the end, we’re all professionals. If we have to fight, we fight.”

“Is that how it is?”

“If not, there would be no reason for us to become magical girls.”

Seo-hee looked down at me again and said.

“Since meeting the Galactic Federation, this world hasn’t just gotten better. Countries opposing the Galactic Federation have brought in galactic corporations.”

“And some of those galactic corporations openly commit atrocities with government backing.”

Yeonwoo, who was sitting a little distance away watching our conversation, continued.

Yeonwoo was probably talking about Noir Corporation. It’s the largest among companies doing such things.

“We’re the ones putting some brakes on that. We deal with the areas that are awkward to handle legally. It’s a more delicate job than you might think.”

I shrugged at Yeonwoo’s words.

Weren’t they magical girls who were forced to do jobs they didn’t want to do before we came? They talk as if they have some sense of mission, but in the end, they’ve just attached reasons to it.

Even though we’re now happily gathered here talking—I wonder, are Seo-hee and Yeonwoo doing this because they want to be magical girls even at this moment?

What about Delphinium?

“Well, it’s still a long way before you go into actual combat. You need safety training and learn something like rules of engagement. But you guys will learn quickly, so you’ll probably be able to fight alongside us soon.”

Seo-hee pulled the back of my chair even more and then suddenly let go.

As I rocked back and forth, I made a disgruntled noise. Seo-hee laughed and quickly moved away from me.

Not particularly wanting to chase after her, I just turned my head to look at Hayun sitting nearby.

“…”

Hayun seemed to be deep in thought after hearing our conversation.

“Hayun, what do you think?” I asked quietly.

Hayun blinked in surprise and looked at me.

“Huh?”

“What do you think about the magical girl job? Going out to fight.”

“Ah…”

Hayun fell into thought again for a moment, then opened her mouth in a careful voice.

“I… want to help people who need help. So, if a corporation is harassing people, I want to go help them.”

So, it wasn’t just something she was “forced” to do.

At least regarding this job, Hayun and her parents’ goals overlapped to some extent.

“I see.”

I nodded.

“Then, I’ll help you with all my might.”

Hearing me say that, Hayun’s face brightened.

Well, actually, I know some of the truth.

Although we say “corporations,” the people we actually fight aren’t executives or such entities. The real bad guys are all clustered at the top of the company, and they actually subcontract work or just use money to hire weak and powerless people.

People who can run the despair circuit.

…

Because the work had such descriptions, I couldn’t help but worry.

Of course, I couldn’t reach a conclusion.