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Chapter 41
Chapter 2 — Expand, my world! • Episode 2-2 • New Team ⑤
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
Extend-san really had no intention of prying into my activities as a Magical Girl, and we continued our otherworldly conversation. However, I keep responding in a casual manner so as not to be suspicious, so basically the conversation was going on when Extend-san and Elephant-san were talking to each other…… It’s kind of uninteresting.
To begin with, I had heard that there was an exchange, but what is the connection?
「Will you excuse me for a moment?」
It was difficult to ask her in front of her, but since she was out of the bathroom at the right time, I decided to take the plunge and ask Elephant.
「Uhm, you mentioned that you and Extend-san are friends, what kind of relationship do you have? Are you friends in real life?」
「No, it’s hard to ask what kind of relationship we have. I’ve played with her in real life, so I’m not wrong about what Sylph-chan says, but the impetus is different.」
「Is it from the beginning?」
「Yeah–yeah. This is a bit of a different story, but when Blade and I became Magical Girl, we didn’t have Press yet, instead we had two Phase 2 Magical Girls.」
I did not know that.
But it is obvious when I think about it. There is a generational change in magical girls, so it was not that Elephant-san and her friends have been protecting Sakira Town for a long time, but there must have been magical girls before Elephant-san and her friends, and even before them, who have taken over the role of protecting the world.
「The first one was a Magical Girl named Grit-san, who is my mentor. The other one is called Dryad-san, who is Blade’s mentor.」
「Did you each learn under different people?」
「Me and Blade didn’t start out working as a team either. When we were still new, it was one team of me and a Senpai, and one team of Blade and Dryad-senpai.」
Elephant-san looks a little distant, as if she was nostalgic for the past.
「Why didn’t the four of you fight together?」
「Senpai and Dryad-san didn’t get along very well. Senpai was a pretty lax person, and Dryad-san, on the other hand, was a serious person. Senpai was a do-er when she had to, but I don’t think it was acceptable to Dryad-san, who was very strict.」
「It’s like Blade-san and Press-san.」
Those two also seem like they might start a fight if Elephant-san is not in between them to act as a cushion.
Huh? But when I think about it, couldn’t Elephant-san have done something in between?
「At that time, I was desperate to fight and I wanted to be friends with Blade, so I didn’t pay that much attention to her. So, after all that happened, Blade and I started teaming up to fight, but in the end, Senpai and Dryad-san didn’t team up.」
「Did ever your Senpai have join Elephant and Blade-san’s team?」
「I’ve seen either Senpai or Dryad-san help me, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the two of them fight together.」
That sounds like it was a very deep-seated problem.
Blade-san and Press-san sometimes argue lightly, and by extension, there are times when they seem to be fighting, but the atmosphere is not so bad that they can’t fight together.
「Anyway, that’s how I was there before, and it was through Senpai that I got to know Extend-san and others. Senpai had quite a long history as a Magical Girl and had fought together with Extend-san and her friends before, so they had been friends since then. By the way, this restaurant was originally Senpai’s favorite, too.」
「You’re talking about Grit-san, right? She’s been a great help to me. I like her personally, but she can always count on me to return the favor to her.」
Extend-san, who had returned before I knew it, interrupted the conversation. Apparently, she was listening to the conversation from the middle of it.
「Ahaha, thank you very much.」
「But it’s been almost four months since she retired… Time moves so fast, doesn’t it?」
「It was around the end of March that I said I was quitting because I had earned enough money. I wonder what she is doing now.」
「She didn’t retire as an adult?」
Magical Girls are given points in exchange for fighting, and, let’s face it, if they don’t work, they don’t get paid. There is no such yakuza-like restriction that even a black company can’t pay an excessive amount of compensation up front and not let you quit.
In my case, the situation is a little different, but other ordinary Magical Girls can quit at any time for any reason, whether it’s because it’s become too much trouble or they’re afraid to fight.
However, there is a definite time limit on how long you can continue to do the opposite. A Magical Girl ends her role on her 20th birthday and loses her eligibility to transform into a Magical Girl. It is only natural that I can’t call myself a girl because I am an adult, but there is no restriction on being 20 years old because of such word play.
The time when Magical Girls are at their strongest is during puberty, and although there are some individual differences, it is said that the peak period is approximately between the ages of 13 and 18. After that, their magical power gradually diminishes, and since it is extremely dangerous to stand on the battlefield in such a state, there seems to be a restriction that they cannot transform into Magical Girls once they reach the age of 20.
「I think she was 18 at the time because she left with her high school graduation.」
「Two more years would have led her to become a Witch, what a waste.」
「Is that so?」
As mentioned earlier, a Magical Girl’s power peaks at about age 18. After that, it will slowly or rapidly weaken, so I don’t think Grit-san’s judgment is wrong.
「Senpai was a Magical Girl who was still growing up at 18. It’s very rare, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t any. And since she didn’t take herself too seriously, I have a feeling that maybe she had a third gate open.」
「It could be.」
There is no mistaking what Elephant-san says, and since the current Witch also says this, maybe the magical girl named Grit-san really was that strong.
But it’s a different story if her talent matches what she wants to do. I can understand quitting because you have earned enough to live without working for the rest of your life.
「Come to think of it, Dryad-san in this store the other day unexpectedly. She looks a little out of shape, but have you heard anything?」
「No? Blade didn’t say anything special about it either, so I don’t think she knows.」
「I see. Well, I don’t think she’s the only one who gets worked up about it, though.」
「…Uhm, So this Dryad-san person is not retired yet?」
She was Blade-san’s mentor, a Magical Girl who is no longer with them, right?
When I heard that Grit-san was retired, I assumed that Dryad-san had also retired, but it seems that is not the case.
「She moved to another prefecture for family reasons. I think she was in Hōzuki Town. Magical Girls themselves haven’t quit, so she should be fighting in the area she’d moved to now.」
「As expected, she’s a top-notch magical girl. I’m sure she’s very active.」
Moving! Yes, that’s how it happens, too.
I myself am a Magical Girl who doesn’t go to work or school and is a recluse, so sometimes I almost forget that the average Magical Girl has a school and a family!
If she have to move because of her father’s company, it is normal to follow her, and it is also normal to change the area she was assigned to if she change residences.
If Elephant-san were to move, I would have to move out of my current house and follow her to the same town.
「Dryad-san was strict with her apprentices, but she was also strict with herself. I hope I didn’t give you any cause for pondering…」
「The fact that it doesn’t look that way at first glance is also malicious, though. Magical Girls are tricked into becoming apprentices because they seem kind and gentle.」
「Ahaha… I don’t know how it is over there, but Blade has a lot of respect for Dryad-san, so I don’t really think that…」
「Oops, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I’m sorry. But I’ve been through a lot with her, so I just can’t help it.」
「No–no, that’s not true. I’m sure Extend-san was worried about her, so you told me that you had seen Dryad-san. Thank you very much. I’ll mention it to Blade in case she’s interested.」
「You’re right. I know it’s nothing, but just in case.」
It seems that the Magical Girl named Grit-san was the same way, but the one named Dryad-san also seems to be a person with a quirk or two… What kind of person is this at best friendly and at worst familiar Extend-san to show her bristles?
Perhaps I am lucky in a way that I became a Magical Girl at this point in my life.
…But still, I can’t get into the story of when I wasn’t there, even though I’m the one who started the conversation. I don’t really care if I can’t talk to Extend-san.
I was kind of amused, and as I was swigging my cola through a straw, I felt some eyes on me.
When I lifted my gaze from the bubbling cola, I saw Extend-san, who was grinning, followed by Elephant-san, who was looking at me with a twinkle in her eye when I turned my head to the side.
Wh–What do you want?
「No, I didn’t think you were having much fun, but I thought you’re enjoying yourself in your own way until just now.」
「Do it again! Do it again, Sylph-chan!」
「Eh, no, I don’t want to.」
It’s kind of scary because the momentum is so great.
And I suddenly felt embarrassed when I thought people were watching me. I kind of did it, but this is something a child would do! The more I realize it, the more embarrassed I am…
「Oops, I can’t believe it’s already that late.」
Extend-san, who turned her gaze to the wall clock in the store, muttered to herself.
Caught by the clock, I looked at it and saw that it was already around 5:00 P.M. It seems we were talking a lot without realizing it.
「I’m going to leave now, but I forgot to tell you one thing I’ve been meaning to tell you, Wind Witch-dono.」
「What is it?」
「Have you heard from the Thread Witch-dono?」
「? I didn’t come yet, you know?」
To begin with, I am not acquainted with the Thread Witch, Wigs Crosseau-san. I doubt they have my contact information.
I looked at my magiphone, but there were no notifications… huh!!?
「No, I’m coming. Why? How did you get my contact information?」
Magiphone has almost the same functionality as a smartphone, so you can use messaging applications and social networking services, but of course you cannot send messages without knowing the other person’s contact information. I don’t do social networking and so far Elephant is the only person I have exchanged contact information with on a messaging app. I can’t believe a total stranger witch sent me a message…, no, if I look closely, I can see the name of the Thread Witch in the text, but the account name is different.
Is this the Magical Girls Department of the Bureau of Magical Arts, Supervision Division? What is this corporate or government-inspired account name?
「After all, even I, am only a borrower of magical powers. You should always expect your head to be held down.」
「I mean, as a matter of course, they give us Magical Girl powers and make us fight, but what is a Magical Station? Will you be able to teach me those things when I become a Witch?」
「No, I have no idea. What is it, there’s nothing to fear or lament. The power may be borrowed, but the intention is real. Each Magical Girl is fighting for her own reasons. I’m getting off track. That’s not important now. What I wanted to tell you is that if you get a call from the Thread Witch-dono, you better answer it. I’m sure she’ll tell you how to conduct yourself as a Witch.」
「…Thank you for the heads-up.」
「What is it, Don’t thank me. It’s for my lovely Kouhai. Knuckle, Peach, it’s time to get going.」
With that, Extend-san picked up the slip and left with Knuckle-san and Peach-san.
「Sylph-chan, the Thread Witch is Wigs Crosseau-san, right?」
「Do you know her?」
「I’m right about the witch. So, are you still getting called out?」
「I took a quick look at it, and it looks like you’re right.」
The letter says that if I let her know what days are convenient for me in the coming week, we can work out a date. If I take a week wide, it is hard to say even if I have plans on that day. Most students are on summer break right now, and there is no excuse for being busy. And if I tell a bad lie, I might be exposed.
Above all, now that it is widely known that I am a Witch, it would be impossible for me to continue to avoid contact with other Witches. From what I hear, the Witches also have a quota for defeating the Diest and if we have to do it anyway, we should finish it as soon as possible.
I know it’s short notice, but let’s have it done tomorrow.
「I see— I was hoping we could both go out tomorrow, but then I guess I’ll have to postpone.」
「No, I will still do it the day after tomorrow. I am free tomorrow. I am very free.」
I would blank out any plans if Elephant-san would invite me.
「Ahahaha, thanks, Sylph-chan. So, since we’re on the subject, maybe it’s time we met in real life? I’ve already seen Sylph-chan’s pre-transformation form, and on the other hand, it’s unfair that I haven’t shown it to you, isn’t it?」
「That’s, don’t worry about it. Um, I would say that you shouldn’t show your pre-transformation appearance to me, because it’s not something you should show casually.」
Everything I have visited since becoming friends with Elephant-san has been in the Magical World. In reality, in a transformed state, I would be limited in what I could do, and I couldn’t be that fearful of having people meet me in my pre-transformed form, so I did so out of necessity. I didn’t really understand it either until Elephant-san told me, but it is a very risky thing to let people know what you look like before you transform. You should only do this to someone you really trust. I trust Elephant-san and I have every reason to trust her. In fact, I’m already showing my pre-transformation appearance.
But on the other hand, I can’t show any reason for her to trust me. So there is no way I would allow her to meet me in real life.
「Sylph-chan, we’re friends now, aren’t we? And I don’t want Sylph to not even know my name or face.」
「Elephant-san!!?」
I was very happy and moved by Elephant-san’s words, but there are Blade-san and Press-san sitting next to us, you know!?
If I said that, they would know we were friends!?
I glanced over at the seat next to me and saw that they seemed to be talking and not listening to what we were saying.
Good, they didn’t notice us…
「Sylph-chan, we’re—」
「I understand, I’ll go, let’s go play in real life!」
I interrupted Elephant-san’s deliberate attempt to restate it loudly enough for both of us to hear, and gave my consent as if I were being swept away.
「Really? Thank you, Sylph-chan. Ahh, I’m looking forward to it♪」
Elephant-san is humming with a really happy smile on her face.
Oh, my God, she’s really pushy!