episode_0005

I came to work as a parcel loading and unloading part-timer, but suddenly encountered a tentacled monster.

The problem is that the only thing I have that can be considered a weapon is a single palu.

Colleague?

Ran away.

Even the middle-aged man who pretended to be concerned about me and tried to subtly get my email address, and the suspiciously named Geum Taeyang cosplaying young man, both abandoned me as soon as they heard the alarm.

“Sigh.”

I tear off the Actoplasm smeared all over my face.

As the mana that was stuck on like special makeup is torn off, my original face is revealed, and after confirming the mana inside my body, I scan the surroundings.

“If I fight here, the people receiving the parcels will be sad.”

The parcels are not that numerous, but they are parcels flowing in from other areas and will be moved to various districts of Neodongtan from dawn.

There will be someone’s week’s worth of food inside, and there might even be something like a Play-Yes Box that someone bought with great determination.

All of that looks like it’s going to be destroyed because of that monster.

Regarding items damaged during parcel transportation, the responsibility lies with the parcel delivery company, but damages caused by monsters or creatures are generally considered ‘force majeure.’

So.

“You bad child! Can’t you stop right now?!”

[Hehehe! Then why don’t you not dodge it!]

“People’s precious parcels are getting ruined!”

“If you don’t dodge, the parcels won’t melt down either! Puhueh!!”

Even if the magical girl in battle is angry, the reality is that she cannot respond when the tentacled monster’s acidic slime is terrorizing the parcels.

‘A monster that has reached maturity among the 5 stages of the Sephira grades: Maiden, Growth, Maturity, Completion, Ultimate.’

Naturally, as a magical girl at the growth stage, there are limits that cannot be overcome no matter how hard one tries.

“I will defeat you right here!”

[Hahaha. Sailor Jya~ang. To say such things, shouldn’t you first try blocking instead of dodging attacks?]

“Ugh, don’t speak strangely!”

“Don’t like it? Whatever tone I use, what can you do to me besides trying to burn my tentacles with your ineffective fire magic? Huh?”

At the taunts of the tentacled monster, the magical girl in battle frowned deeply.

Around 15 years old.

Since the appearance of a magical girl usually remains the same as when she first awakened as a magical girl, except for special cases like mine, estimating a magical girl’s age usually adds 1-2 years higher than that age group.

But considering the growth phase, the magical girl ‘Sailor’ seems like a newbie who has just stepped out of the maiden phase.

In reality.

‘Fighting against tentacled monsters is basic for magical girls, but not being able to respond properly… Is she not from the [Academy]?’

“Firebolt~~!”

“No use!”

Magical girl Sailor diligently hurls curses at the tentacled monster, but even when the tentacled monster directly takes the curse, there is no impact.

“Hehehe! This isn’t the fire I caused! It’s the fire you caused!”

The tentacled monster even showed the act of batting away the flames of Sailor’s magic with its tentacles, and the scattered magical flames ended up sticking to the parcels.

“Ahhhh!!”

No matter how much of a magical girl she is, as a woman, she knows well how precious and important parcels are.

That’s something I know well, even though I used to be a man, or rather, even though I look like a man but my profession is a magical girl!

‘It’s heartbreaking to see the carefully sorted parcels starting to burn so fiercely.’

One person’s labor over several hours went up in flames in an instant.

The delivery company must be worrying about how to compensate for this fire, who to charge the cost to, and how to explain and apologize to those who received items by delivery.

According to the Magical Girl Special Law and international treaties, there is an agreement that damage caused when magical girls battle monsters, demons, etc., is exempt from claims, even on an individual magical girl.

“It makes sense to claim damages from a monster turned tentacles, but will such a monster really compensate properly?”

Common sense dictates that if someone receives money for damages, it should be from villains or monsters. However, can one really seek compensation from monsters who have forsaken humanity to commit crimes, whether against magical girls or ordinary citizens?

Therefore.

“Uh-oh. Today wasn’t supposed to be unpaid, right?”

I cursed.

My day’s wages went up in smoke today.

Even if I were to later disguise myself as Actoplasm again and demand my hourly wage for the work I did, the company executives would likely retort, “Does the company have time to pay you when it’s going bankrupt?!”

Japan doesn’t do that?

Unfortunately, K-Style does not recognize borders in capitalism.

Yeah.

For now, today’s work has gone up in smoke.

But that doesn’t mean we can just stand by and watch the delivery company go under.

“If it goes under here, where am I supposed to earn my wages and live?!”

At least here, pretending to negotiate verbally while cheating, unlike at construction sites like Asaripan, where they openly slack off, smoke, spit, and touch their buttocks.

A company that looks like a fairy among the worst.

Such a company cannot be left alone.

Therefore…

“Huh?”

A box torn apart by debris flying from afar.

It was the size of a washing machine, but what was inside seemed lighter than expected, catching a glimpse of the delivery box that I had thought was a piece of cake midway through.

“That is…”

Inside the torn box.

Along with the plastic wrapping, something was visible.

“…This.”

Something perfect for concealing its identity.

* * *

“Aaahhh!!”

The magical girl, Seiya, did her best.

She used all the magic she could muster and unleashed all her firepower towards the tentacle monster.

However, her powers fell short.

Sometimes, it is said that a magical girl’s magical and firepower abilities vary depending on her mindset, but no matter how strong her heart and upright spirit are…

“Haha! Useless!!”

When she realizes that her attacks keep failing and her power is ineffective, feelings of despair and fear inevitably start creeping into her heart.

“Hehe, feeling desperate? You’re desperate! I can see it! The energy of despair starting to rise within you!”

“Ugh, no!!”

Seiya covered her stomach with both hands.

Although covering her stomach with her hands may not hide her from that abominable demon, at least she could suppress it with the power of love and justice.

“Succumb to despair! Despair! Only when the magical girl falls into corruption can we consume her, making the ‘purest mana’ ours!”

The tentacle monster flailed wildly, extending its tentacles.

“Or shall I make you truly despair? Hm? Since you’re a magical girl, your body won’t be permanently harmed. Haha…!”

“No, no!!”

“Don’t worry. But without giving you a chance to experience that, I’ll send you straight to paradise… Huh?”

As the tentacle approached Seiya, about to reach her…

Boom!!

The tentacle exploded.

The middle part that was approaching Seiya burst like a shell, and the torn clump of tentacles fell down, gradually disappearing.

“Wha, what…?”

In front of Seiya.

Someone appeared.

Because of the blurry vision, it was hard to see clearly. Only shadows were visible due to the light shining from behind, but the form was clear-

“Bear… doll…?”

A huge, bear doll.

But holding an axe in its hand.

“Uh, uh…?”

What should that be called?

It was a garment different from the doll costumes commonly seen in amusement parks, revealing more of the body’s contours.

Yes.

I’ve heard someone say that it’s not like doll clothes or costumes you commonly see at amusement parks, but rather a suit that shows more of the body’s lines.

Persuit.

Its form, much like that of a polar bear.

[“You, what, what are you…?”]

[“I am the one who protects magical girls.”]

A distorted voice emanated from the doll costume.

It wasn’t mechanical or electronically manipulated; it was a voice altered by ‘mana.’

But it was clearly a female voice.

[“I…”]

[“Shut up, chicken coop–!”]

The tentacles of the monster swiftly transformed into sharp steel-like clubs.

[“I can know with my ‘power!! I can see your ‘Knight’! Hailo!! Even though you’re covered in a doll costume, I can see through your halo!! You are an ‘adult’!!”]

As if even touching the tentacles was repulsive, the transformed tentacles swiftly attacked the polar bear.

[“Chicken coop, get lost–!”]

[“Chicken coop. What an unpleasant sound.”]

Fwoo–ack!!

[“Not a chicken coop, just a mature beauty.”]

As the polar bear swung the axe a few times, the hardened tentacles exploded.

[“Uh, uh…? What, what’s happening…?”]

[“Die, irredeemable monster.”]

Fwoo–shh.

The polar bear threw the axe.

The purple lightning bolt fell from the sky.

Simultaneously, the monster swiftly disintegrated, gradually beginning to vanish.

“Ah….”

Seiya saw it.

Truly, a being with overwhelming power.

“Um, there…!”

[…Hone your skills further.]

“Um, sis!!”

Seiya shouted, trying to steady her trembling heart.

“Thank you for saving me! Um, could I have your name or nickname…!”

[…Name.]

The polar bear turned around, lifting its head towards the broken warehouse ceiling.

“Just a passing magical girl. Remember it that way.”