The Virtues of a Magical Girl (2)

The Virtues of a Magical Girl (2)

“Are the preparations complete?”

“Yes. Thoroughly.”

Right before departure. Rana was confirmed once again by Yuria. In truth, they didn’t know much about Seria.

The only clue was that Demon Lord Takilas had mentioned she was a magician with decent abilities. What exact tendencies she had, what she liked, whether she possessed the most important virtues of a magical girl.

There was no way to know such things.

“Will there be a problem? Even if we select an unqualified girl, Yggdrasil will make the judgment.”

“While that’s… well, you’re not wrong, Director. Let’s move now.”

Rana, who was about to object to Yuria’s words, closed her mouth. There was no need to specifically point out that if Yggdrasil accepted even Takilas, whose true form was a one-eyed tentacle monster, what else could possibly be rejected.

They soon opened a spatial door and stepped through it.

As Takilas had declared in advance, a barrier that prevented others from approaching was surrounding Seria’s bedroom.

“Ahem.”

At Rana’s signal, Yuria cleared her throat.

Just yesterday at this time, Seria, who had talked with Takilas, was still sleeping soundly in bed today.

“Young girl with ho-hope and dreams. Can you hear my voice… no, do you hear me?”

Yuria spoke with a slight stutter. That’s when Seria’s eyes slowly opened.

“We are from the fairy company Lana Land… Gwaack!”

“And who are you?”

Ceria suddenly opened her eyes wide, jumped up, and without any hesitation cast a spell, shooting blue lightning from her outstretched hand that hit Yuria and sent her flying.

It was a proper reaction, in contrast to when Takilas came, when she could barely breathe under the pressure of his presence.

‘…Hah.’

Lana unconsciously sighed as she looked down at Yuria trembling on the floor.

After all, given the nature of magical girl companies that put a leash on powerless and innocent girls in exchange for power, beings who possessed strong powers before becoming magical girls were actually irregularities that shouldn’t exist.

“We didn’t come here to fight. So, would you please listen to what we have to say?”

“What… what are you exactly? Demons?”

Lana composed herself, wiped away her cold sweat, pushed up her glasses, and began her sales pitch in earnest.

Ceria’s reaction also softened. She was taken aback by the butterfly wings fluttering on Lana’s back.

*

“Is there a problem?”

“No. Not at all.”

Late at night. I turned my head towards the annex in the middle of our conversation. More precisely, towards Ceria’s room.

It seemed that the fairies had arrived as planned to the place I had prepared in advance, without the others in the Demon King’s castle noticing. If so, they would take care of the rest on their own.

“Let’s continue our conversation. Is it really possible, Gabi?”

“Of course, it is.”

I turned my head back. Then, she who had quietly come to my bedroom bowed her head politely.

Long, flowing silver hair. And fox ears twitching on top of her head. Nine tails fluttering behind her.

Yoho Captain, the nine-tailed fox Gabi. The reason I had secretly summoned her was for nothing else.

“To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s really the same psychic ability, but it was definitely the power of Parma that repels magic.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. Parma and magic are just a paper-thin difference. True power lies in handling it properly.”

She displayed something crackling in her hand with sharp nails. It’s the power of Parma that I glimpsed in Jeon So-hyeon’s power.

It’s absurd for a demon to handle Parma power, but Parma power was one of the other sides of magic, different from the divine power of angels.

“Tch. I wish I could go too, but it’s a shame.”

“It’s an interesting place. But you have your own job, Meia. And it’s not like we’re going there for fun.”

Meia, who was kneeling on the floor and leaning against my legs as I sat on the bed, grumbled. She wanted to go to Earth too.

However, I didn’t allow it. I wasn’t sure if the fairies or magical girls could see through Meia’s disguise, but I didn’t want to give them any chance.

“It was a big decision for me to reveal it to you guys. That place is my playground, an unspoiled place. That’s why there are so many cute ones there. I want to preserve it as much as possible.”

“Of course, we follow the Demon King’s orders.”

Robert bowed his head at my words. From the beginning, none of them showed much surprise after hearing the information about Earth that I disclosed.

Well, come to think of it, we still have a lot to do in the Demon Realm. Another world is just a land teeming with humans.

Unless we’re trying to conquer it, there’s no reason for ordinary demons to be interested.

“But. What do you plan to do after teaching that human girl how to handle Parma power?”

“I’m just trying to conduct an experiment.”

I answered Gabi’s question with a smirk.

The fundamental reason was just a light interest, but if I needed to find a justification, I could.

It might be possible to use Gabi to make Jeon So-hyeon indebted to me and manipulate her according to my will. If that happens, she might become a force I can use for tasks I don’t want to handle personally.

Above all, I couldn’t forget what she said to me. She hated feeling powerless… So I was curious if I could become her Yggdrasil.

“I think I understand what you mean.”

“Really?”

“Isn’t it ultimately about spreading the prestige of the Demon Realm? While nurturing loyal warriors.”

At that moment, Gabi nodded as if understanding. Come to think of it, it made sense. It was not unreasonable to see it as an attempt to create warriors from another world loyal to the Demon Realm, befitting a Demon King and ruler of this realm.

“Get ready to leave. We’ll end this first vacation here.”

“It’s not a vacation, but a du-“

“I’ll be counting on you from now on, Robert. As I said, contact me if there’s any problem.”

I cut off Robert’s bewildered words. Even if I were to come here often like this in the future, it seemed I would continue to play on Earth for the time being.

Besides, I had almost resolved troublesome issues like Mammoth.

Moreover, things seemed to have gone well with Seria. Seria’s energy, which had disappeared briefly and reappeared, had changed subtly.

“How was it?”

After sending everyone including Robert out, I quietly called Lana. Lana soon appeared before me with an excited expression.

“The contract was successfully completed. Magical Girl Seria, no, Renée. She is now the 168th Magical Girl of our Lana Land and the 23rd active member.”

“She decided to use her middle name. By the way, you seem quite pleased.”

Lana’s reaction was clearly different from before. When I became a Magical Girl, she was all stiff and kept giving suspicious looks, but now she was smiling as if satisfied.

“There was a minor misunderstanding at our first meeting, but anyway, she is dignified and polite. She also has sufficient virtues of a Magical Girl such as righteousness and hope. She’s truly excellent… an immediate asset.”

“Ah. So I was ill-mannered and a mess.”

“T-That’s…”

Knowing Seria’s personality, I had somewhat expected this, but when I chuckled, Lana’s face turned pale as if she realized her mistake.

“It doesn’t really matter. I’m going back to Earth now. As for Seria, well, she’ll probably act as she pleases.”

I was momentarily shaken, but I didn’t bother to scold Lana. Unlike me, Seria will probably base herself here and commute to Earth as a Magical Girl.

Our purposes were different from the start.

I just became a magical girl to become an Earthling and have fun on Earth, but for her, becoming a magical girl itself was probably the goal.

“Ah, I forgot to inform you about one thing.”

“…What?”

“It’s an annual event that companies prepare together… well, that’s what it is.”

Just before parting, Lana seemed to remember something and took something out of her pocket to hand it to me. It was an invitation with an engraved spell.

“It’s an event to invite and encourage magical girls who have gained some experience. It seems to be held in commemoration of defeating the named monster Mammoth.”

“That’s ridiculous. Do you think I’d go to a place like that? A place full of people who hate me? I’m busy with my real life.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Would my attendance be helpful to the company?”

The reason for Lana’s hesitation was obvious.

I snorted, and she nodded in response. At this point, I don’t have many options. If the company goes bankrupt, it’ll be troublesome for me too.

“There will be alcohol too. Many of the magical girls are of legal drinking age.”

“I don’t like alcohol itself. I miss that atmosphere, those memories. So… what kind of alcohol is it?”

Could I finally get drunk on Earth-made alcohol this time?

Actually, I don’t particularly like alcohol or getting drunk, but at this point, I was determined to see it through at least once out of stubbornness.

‘I wonder how you’ve been doing?’

Having decided to return tomorrow morning, I flopped onto the bed and checked on the status of Legion Commander Flecia, who was currently impersonating me, through a pre-arranged connection.

Another me appeared on the screen floating in the air.

She seemed to be sleeping in bed, but my eyebrows twitched. Why on earth was Kim Su-jung, who should be sleeping on the second floor, clinging tightly to Flecia, who was in my form?