The Virtues of a Magical Girl (1)

The Virtues of a Magical Girl (1)

“W-why did you make such a decision…”

“Why? Don’t you like it? I thought you would be happy.”

Tequilas widened her eyes at Lana’s flustered reaction. It was a pure expression of curiosity without any other intention.

After all, it would be good if they could have a strong magical girl affiliated with the company. In fact, it was undeniable that they had benefited from it.

‘It’s already hard enough, and now one more? We absolutely won’t be able to handle it.’

In reality, Lana was breaking out in a cold sweat.

While Tequilas’ words were true, that was because Tequilas was thinking based on herself, who essentially acted like a mercenary, treating company affairs as if they were someone else’s business.

In fact, the current Lana wanted to grab her past self by the collar, the self who had thought bringing in Tequilas would be a chance for a turnaround.

“It’s not that I don’t like it… But the checks from other companies are more than we expected. Especially lately, there’s been increasing pressure to investigate the identity of the Demon Lord who’s been rising in popularity on Earth.”

“I don’t understand. I’m a legitimate magical girl who has contracted with Yggdrasil, yet they still find fault?”

“That’s right. The justification is perfect. That’s why they can’t touch the Demon Lord, so they’re attacking our company instead.”

Magical girls are the ‘assets’ of fairy companies. If the company goes bankrupt, those assets will naturally be devoured by the hyenas waiting to pounce.

And performance is money. Takilas has made a lot of money, but the value of money depends on how it’s utilized.

“What? I thought you were just having fun, but you’ve been struggling quite a bit.”

“…I’ve been enduring it, thinking of it as the price for recruiting someone too big for our league.”

As she let out a deep sigh, Takilas smirked as if amused.

“Seria is different from me. She probably won’t try to stand out… but it’s a bit annoying that you find us burdensome. If you have problems, it becomes troublesome for me too.”

Takilas, sitting with legs crossed, tapped the armrest of the chair.

If Lana Land goes bankrupt, they might contract with another company. The problem is that if that happens, everything related to his identity would have to be reset, which Takilas didn’t want.

“It’s alright. Even if we push through, we can bear it.”

“Aren’t you being reckless? If you really collapse, I’m the only one who loses, you know?”

“Just one thing. If you can guarantee just one thing for us.”

As if having made a decision, Lana’s eyes flashed. She took a deep breath and spoke firmly with an unwavering voice.

Takilas also showed interest in the resolute request for one definite thing.

“Please truly become the strongest magical girl. A magical girl so overwhelming and powerful that our company can focus solely on you.”

“That’s not a difficult task.”

Lana, as the head and manager of the company, made her gambit. She decided to bet everything on the single coin that was Takilas.

Noticing her resolve, Takilas smiled with satisfaction.

Come to think of it, it was similar to the process of conquering the Demon Realm and eliciting voluntary cooperation, rather than complete submission and subjugation, from numerous demon clans.

And even if it was a negotiation formed by putting a leash and a knife to their throats, Takilas always supported them and used them well in return.

“Prepare the contract and go see her. I won’t be involved, so recruiting her is up to you.”

“I’ll do that.”

Taquilas entrusted Lana with the contract. Making Seria a magical girl wasn’t about exploiting her as a mercenary under an unfair contract like other typical magical girls.

He hoped that through a fair contract, she would see it as a means of liberation from reality, just like himself, and that’s why he sincerely thought this was a gift.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

That was the end of the business.

As Taquilas returned to his bedroom, Lana sat blankly for a moment before letting out a big sigh.

“I came as summoned, boss. Is there any problem…”

“There is a problem. Prepare the contract, Director Yuria.”

Director Yuria, who came after being summoned, was surprised to see Lana sprawled on the table with her forehead down, but Lana urged Yuria to prepare for work.

‘No. Now that it’s come to this, I’ll see it through to the end.’

The choice had already been made. And by her own hands.

*

“Hmm.”

As the spatial rift closed, I returned to my room after receiving Lana’s greeting. However, unlike before, my thoughts were a bit complicated.

It turns out even the fairy company, which I thought I could use well, had its own circumstances.

“Your Highness, did the work go well?”

“If we move our legion, the celestial realm and humans will be on alert, right?”

“Of course, they will.”

Robert, who came as soon as I deactivated the barrier, nodded seriously and answered my sudden question.

I immediately dismissed the delusion of moving the legion to occupy the fairy realm where the fairy companies are located.

“Where are you going?”

“To the princess. I said I would visit her.”

I walked steadily towards the window. I planned to see her before the fairies could find her, as she had wanted to meet me.

To hear what she would say when face to face with the ‘Demon King’.

“Have a safe trip.”

Receiving Robert’s polite farewell, I leapt out the window and flew into the sky.

I already know where her room is.

With my back to the moonlight of the Demon Realm, which possessed both red and blue hues, I cast my shadow in front of the curtained window of the separate palace. I knocked on the window to wake up Seria, who was sound asleep in bed.

“W-Who’s there?!”

Rubbing her eyes and stirring, she squinted at my silhouette visible through the blinds. She then sat up in shock. She probably sees me as the well-known tentacle monster, seeing only the wavering shadow.

[I told you I would come, Princess]

I shook her brain with telepathy to hide my voice. Her frowning face turned pale, then her eyes widened in surprise.

“Demon King…!”

[Human etiquette is unnecessary. Basic ‘courtesy’ will suffice]

I stopped her as she hurriedly tried to kneel according to protocol, her face pale.

[I’m here just to talk. A concise and honest conversation, without formality or pretense. I pursue efficiency, after all]

“I… understand.”

She awkwardly stood up and sat in a chair facing the window. A suffocating silence fell for a moment.

[Why did you say you wanted to see me?]

“I wanted to see the one who caused such a great change in the Demon Realm. To understand how you successfully brought about such a transformation.”

[Why? Isn’t the Human Empire the strongest group on the continent? The most developed, civilized, and the center of the world?]

“I don’t necessarily think so.”

Perhaps because I spoke sarcastically, she frowned. However, it wasn’t because of me.

“The empire, which covers half of the continent, is vast and developed accordingly, but the reality is different. The outdated customs and practices that are inseparable from current power still remain, and they hinder true reform.”

[Then what do you think that true reform is?]

“…That was the problem, but I think I’ve come to understand a little after coming here.”

Seria’s eyes sank.

She was a noble with a rank within the top few in the empire, an exceptionally talented magician at the young age of 18, and also a scholar.

She wasn’t simply satisfied with her position. She wanted to know more, change things, and take action.

“As I traveled for magical training and observed reality, I couldn’t shake the thought that the empire wasn’t developing, but rather stagnating.”

But the existing powers wouldn’t look kindly upon young explorers like her. As a result, in reality, she painfully realized that the outcome itself was more important than the correct answer or ideals.

The fact that she was half-sold here by her brother, the emperor, is not unrelated to that incident. In the midst of this, seeing the changes primarily brought about by the Demon King, she couldn’t help but be impressed.

[…I don’t know much about the internal affairs of the Human Empire. Anyway, it seems it wasn’t easy]

Takilas scratched his head.

He realized that it wasn’t simply that she was impressed by the magnificent and grand achievements he had made out of childish feelings, but that there were deeper and more complex circumstances.

[Then let me ask you again. What do you want to do from now on?]

“…What do you mean, what do I want to do?”

Seria couldn’t understand Takilas’s proposal.

After all, she was now a hostage who had been sold off, practically the Demon King’s concubine. She didn’t have the option to do anything on her own.

[You’re not wrong. I can’t set you free either. But even so, can’t you think about it? If you had the chance to experience ‘a completely different world’ as ‘a completely different person’, not as a princess, don’t you think you’d be happier than you are now? What do you think? If I, who owns you, allow this deviation]

“That will be… the case.”

Takilas deliberately leaked the information. Of course, she who still knew nothing could only nod blankly with wavering eyes.

In fact, it was too honest, slightly rude of an answer for Takilas himself, but Takilas didn’t care about such things in the first place.