Chapter 60 : Change #8

“…Do you really think that makes sense? Seriously?”

“Ahaha, well… Madam Chairwoman. There’s a valid reason for all this. Please listen to me…”

“That’s right! Um, there’s someone among our relatives who really likes European cheese… um…”

“Oh, right! That’s right! Her uncle runs a huge wine bar and asked us to bring some European cheese…”

“Ahaha… We received a bit more pocket money because of that…”

Throb

Sumire covered her furrowing brow with her hand.

The two girls wearing white relief corps uniforms looked sheepish as they watched Sumire.

“There’s absolutely no problem with bringing back souvenirs for personal use after being dispatched to Europe. But this…!”

As Sumire’s voice rose an octave with each word due to anger, the girls looked even more sheepish.

Behind the girls was a large cart filled to the brim with cheese. A whole lot of it.

‘Bringing in this much without sterilization certificates or customs clearance could be problematic…!’

Sumire had come when the magical girl in charge of warp gate entry records asked for her help, only to witness a mountain of smelly cheese filling the office. While inwardly thinking it was fortunate that it was food rather than dangerous items, she spoke in a desperate voice.

“If cases of privately using the warp gates and magical girl free movement treaty like this increase, it could end up harming other magical girls!”

“We’re, we’re sorry.”

“…We’re sorry.”

While pressing her brow, Sumire decided to report this case to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries official and notify the magical girls about the prohibited items among overseas goods.

‘We’ll need to implement at least 5 minutes of education on prohibited items before using the warp gates.’

She thought it might not be bad to formalize the procedure of entrusting magical girls with overseas goods transportation through consultation with each self-governing body, since things had come to this.

‘Another agenda item to be dealt with at the Grand Council has been added.’

After the full-scale overseas domain exchange using warp gates was implemented on a trial basis. While there were many positive changes, small accidents like this happened occasionally.

“Madam Chairwoman, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has contacted us to bring the items.”

“Yes, please tell them we’ll handle it according to regulations.”

“Understood.”

Sumire quietly looked at the two girls who had caused the incident.

“…We’re sorry.”

“…We’re sorry.”

The two girls followed the administrative magical girl, pulling the cheese cart.

“Phew, as much as there are advantages to warp gates, there are many accidents too.”

The oversaturated Japanese magical girls found opportunities to gain starlight and clues for blooming while going abroad to provide support work.

The desperate attitude of overseas magical girls.

The completely different overseas field compared to Japan.

Requests exchanged on equal footing with companies.

Magical girls began to gradually take on the responsibility of leading others with dreams and hope, moving beyond being immature greenhouse dwellers.

“It’s a problem that they cause accidents like this sometimes, though.”

Sigh

She felt relieved that it was such a trivial matter that the unique weapon she had brought, thinking it was an emergency, was embarrassing.

Just as Sumire sighed and was about to head back to her office to write documents-

Bam!

“Madam Chairwoman! The relief corps personnel dispatched to Korea are asking to extend their overseas stay…”

“Madam Chairwoman! They want to have a dinner meeting with the magical girls who participated in the last friendly match in France…”

“Madam Chairwoman! The Chinese government officially wants to entrust magical girls with logistics transportation…”

Administrative magical girls in suits approached Sumire, pleading desperately.

Clang

In her bewilderment, Sumire dropped her unique weapon, the Japanese sword, from her hand.

“Looks like… I’ll have to… pull another all-nighter.”

* * *

“We’re sorry only the three of us could come out.”

Laura said with an apologetic expression, standing with her back to the endless wheat field. Her long brown hair swayed in the wind blowing within the domain.

I stopped my steps as I was about to cross the warp gate to return and looked back.

Laura, the magical girl of [Unity].

Ella, the magical girl of [Heavy Armor].

Chloé, the magical girl of [Penetration].

The trio who had helped me in Europe during the busy 3 weeks of warp gate installation had come to see me off. Thanks to their efforts, unregistered magical girls living nearby had gathered courage to enter the domain. As a result, the number of magical girls belonging to the European Union increased from 42 to 71.

‘A lot has happened…’

For the past 3 weeks, I conducted safety inspections on whether the 40 warp gates were functioning properly and if there were any time differences between routes. In the meantime, I occasionally attended the Grand Council to mediate rules and response methods for each domain.

“No, it’s fine. You must all be busy. I’m grateful that even the three of you came out.”

“Magical girl of [Beginning].”

Ella, the magical girl of [Heavy Armor], called me with a gruff voice while smiling. The yellow plate armor and surcoat worn by the tall girl with bright blonde hair braided and swept back suited her very well.

“Yes?”

“…Thank you. For catching [Bombing] with Captain Park Saebyeok, whom we couldn’t catch.”

“…”

“For showing us the direction to move forward, for helping us cultivate the strength to protect those who remain.”

Thud

Ella struck her armor with her right hand.

“Well, there are still many opponents I haven’t beaten… but I’ll become even stronger. Thank you for giving us the opportunity.”

Clang

Chloé, the magical girl of [Penetration], wearing a plumed hat and light infantry attire, placed her rapier in front of her chest and said:

“On behalf of the European magical girls, we thank you.”

Laura quietly smiled and lifted the priest’s robe she wore under her brown robe slightly to bow.

“…”

The wheat field at sunset.

The blowing wind.

The swaying oak trees.

The tall girls seeing me off in their own ways.

In the original work, Europe was only described as becoming prey to the Scavengers as demons flocked.

“…”

There was only a simple description that ‘it was destroyed.’ There was no mention of how it changed afterward.

But.

At least looking at their eyes, I was convinced that the fate left for Europe would not be destruction.

I would help make it so.

“…It was what I had to do.”

Whoosh

The endlessly blowing wind and the lonely wheat field.

But the warmth felt.

Leaving behind the domain reflecting the mental image of European magical girls.

I returned.

“I’ll make Meilin human! Thanks for making the training ground!”

Li Na, the magical girl of [Dagger], waving her twin tails as she tried to grab Meilin and take her to the training ground.

“Someone this pretty can’t possibly not be human! And thank you for the warp gate!”

Li Meilin, the magical girl of [Harmony], whining that she doesn’t want to get hurt while clinging to a bamboo chair.

“Thank you for saving Korea. And for getting along well with Dorim too.”

Oh Sanghyuk, the team leader of the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team, who had been very accommodating of my convenience in hiding my identity.

“Oh! Eunbit unni, are you going back? I booked a plane ticket for you. I guess you won’t be taking planes anymore now that you can use the warp?”

Kang Dorim, the magical girl of [Cyberbrain], who has become a reliable companion in preparing for the future.

“Hmm, that training ground is very good. As expected, the path to becoming a victor on the battlefield is through training that’s like real combat. If you want to protect people, call White Wing anytime, [Beginning].”

Park Saebyeok, the magical girl of [Medical], who willingly shares methods of becoming stronger with other magical girls and provides a lot of stimulation.

Before returning to Japan, I briefly stopped by Busan using the warp.

“…I won’t force you. A magical girl’s own will is the most important thing.”

“…”

“But if you ever want to help someone but can’t think of a way, please contact the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team. We’ll definitely come to help.”

I gave the business card of the Supernatural Ability Countermeasures Team to Hong Nayeon, the unbloomed born 2-star magical girl of [Sea], who still wouldn’t open the door.

Bam

The door opened and a girl with blue two-tone short hair wearing a hoodie over a short skirt came out with a sullen expression.

“…Alright. I’ll do that.”

“Take care.”

The day before leaving Korea, I heard a positive response from Hong Nayeon for the first time.

Ding ding ding ding

The smartphone that I was just using as a Wi-Fi receiver because I hadn’t gone through the activation process in Japan rang like crazy as it caught the Wi-Fi signal.

Chuckle

I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

[Hikari! For today’s lunch…]

[They showed a movie on TV…]

[Which country are you going to today?]

[When can I use the warp gate too…]

[It’s so amazing how many things are different from the past I knew!]

Dozens of notifications came at once to the messenger app I had downloaded to keep in touch with Yuki.

They were all messages from Yuki.

The joy of a girl savoring the peace of daily life after returning from a future full of tragedy.

I congratulated Yuki on her happiness, because I would probably be jumping for joy like that if I succeeded in returning to my past life’s Korea.

Tick tick

I replied to Yuki where Wi-Fi was available.

‘She can be like that. She’s only mentally 17 years old at most.’

She has the right to enjoy the happiness of daily life after going through all those trials and returning.

…Although our journey is not over yet.

Although the trials are not over yet, as Yuki said, we live to become happy.

“Phew… time to go back.”

3 months.

I visited more countries and experienced more things than I had prepared for in Japan. I formed connections with unexpected people and accomplished more than I had anticipated.

December 20th.

In just a few days, we’ll reach the starting point of <Magical Girl HAZARD> in earnest based on the original work.

The suspiciously silent Middle East and Russia.

The magical girl of [War].

Scavengers.

Emily Hopkins.

The three evil gods.

Trials.

‘Mother…’

I walked the streets of Busan for a while, feeling the cold winter wind, holding in my heart the things I had to do.

It’s time to return now.