I Became a New Magical Girl Priest

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Ji-eun left the office with a look of great exhaustion.

James, who had been quietly observing her from behind, quickly sat down and picked up the phone.

Though it was called a phone, its appearance was quite different from anything on Earth. If Ji-eun had seen it, she might have thought, “This looks like something a villain would use.”

It also had a somewhat retro style. The overall color was black, with wires poking out here and there. Some parts even jutted out like devil horns. It looked like a mix between a 90s cellphone screen with buttons and a device from a media representation of a stun gun.

James calmly pressed several buttons in order before placing it on the desk.

A moment later, a video appeared.

The screen of the device radiated light, forming a three-dimensional image of some shape.

Technically, it was what one would call a “hologram.”

However, the three-dimensional nature of the image was somewhat meaningless due to the fuzzy appearance of the figure displayed.

It was more due to the operation method of the device.

It was a device that directly connected to a specific signal, much like a walkie-talkie, without a relay. That was its true value.

“Chairman, did you see that?” James asked.

He spoke as if the other party had listened to the entire conversation a moment ago.

[Of course.]

The “Chairman” replied. The voice was modified, making it impossible to determine whether it was male or female.

[New possibility.]

“Yes, indeed.”

James said, a smirk playing on his lips, suppressing a laugh that seemed ready to burst forth at any moment.

“So far, the emotion of ‘despair’ has been less efficient than ‘hope.’ It was something easily generated anywhere.”

Noir Corporation focused on the latter.

This ability to persuade the governments around the world was part of that very reason.

When economic indicators were poor, when people felt inequality, when they barely got by, when wars broke out, or when they heard news of serious environmental pollution—

There were many ways to drive people to despair.

In fact, it was too common, and to some extent, it had become chronic, so the efficiency of each method wasn’t particularly high. However, interestingly, even when the world’s situations flowed into the worst possible outcomes, the energy wouldn’t run dry. Efficiency would actually increase, leading them to focus on that.

And those who were economically prosperous enough to avoid all those situations could indulge in wealth fueled by that despair’s energy. They didn’t need to contribute to generating that energy. Air can be sold, but wind cannot, and water can be sold, but waves cannot. In any case, they multiply money by reselling the surplus energy produced within the world.

Noir Corporation planned to export that excess energy beyond the universe.

The reason they chose not to pursue hope was straightforward logic. Market economy. Drilling into gushing oil wells offers greater economic benefits than selling well-processed jewels.

So—

“This situation is out of our predictions. It’s evidence that a specific human can extract the efficiency of circuits to their extreme. Perhaps they can draw a level of efficiency akin to ‘hope.'”

[However, isn’t the result different from all previous research?]

Creating despair is easy.

But that doesn’t mean it can simply be generated by swinging a fist. There’s a reason Noir Corporation tempted the government.

Those in despair must not give up.

Giving up is the endpoint of despair. Like a well from which all oil has been extracted, those who lose their will to live and abandon everything cannot produce energy from their lines.

“It seems that revealing the essence of that efficiency will become a research project.”

[Let’s not break them by tormenting them too much.]

“Of course.”

[…Whether it’s despair or hope, in the end, it’s just a matter of direction. On that note, the federals’ research might be correct.]

“Let’s find out by interrogating the researchers. We can’t do anything too extreme.”

[Please persuade them well.]

“Leave it to me.”

After hearing James’s response, the “Chairman” ended the communication.

James turned and looked down.

It was late, and although it was still a weekday, there were quite a few people walking on the street. There were many work areas nearby, so they might just be out for a drink on their way home, mingling with tourists on vacation.

If all these humans could evolve to the same efficiency as her, what a great benefit it would bring.

James leaned against the window and stared down for a while.

*

That day, I went to the midnight clinic for a check-up before entering the orphanage.

The orphanage teacher seemed to have a lot to say when she saw me, but after looking at my expression, she seemed to hold it in.

After saying a few words of apology, she headed straight to the shower room.

Though I hadn’t considered washing up, I had just come back from running around furiously. Thinking I couldn’t avoid it completely, I took a hasty shower. I simply washed my face and scrubbed my hands and feet diligently.

Dinner was a poor meal, but I brushed my teeth and trudged to my room.

The blanket was already laid out. As I expected, Ji-hye was already lying under it.

I lay down in my spot without saying a word.

“…”

I closed my eyes for a moment, remaining still. It seemed I wouldn’t fall asleep easily.

Perhaps due to the excitement from the fight, my body was extremely tired, yet sleep eluded me.

“…Are you tired?”

As I was quietly closing my eyes, Ji-hye asked.

She probably didn’t know what I had been through. Maybe she thought I was really dating someone.

Did I look like I had just come back from a fight?

“…Honestly, a little.”

I sighed involuntarily as I replied.

Ji-hye, who had been facing away from me, turned back to face me. As always, I lay on my back staring at the ceiling.

“I don’t know what you’re doing, but…”

Ji-hye said.

“You don’t have to try too hard, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Well… it is.”

She was definitely thinking of it as a romantic relationship.

Wanting to say something more, Ji-hye opened her mouth, but then lay back looking at the ceiling like me.

It was a ceiling I had seen countless times over the years.

After being picked up from the baby box, I had been with Ji-hye all along. Both of us had the same surname, and the similarities in our names had a reason.

Though she was just a child outside of the story, that’s why I couldn’t help but not see this world as just a novel.

“Did I meddle in something unnecessary?”

Perhaps feeling the ensuing silence was a bit uncomfortable, Ji-hye asked carefully.

“No, I think it’s something you could say.”

Because I didn’t know.

And I had no intention of telling her.

How would Ji-hye respond?

Maybe Ha-yoon would tell me to quit it immediately, but I felt like Ji-hye would react a little differently.

Would she still support me if she knew she had gotten involved because of me?

*

Lost in such thoughts, I found myself awake in the morning.

At some point, it seemed I had fallen asleep just like that.

The trivial conversation we had in the dream appeared to have eased my anxiety because it was no different from the usual.

“Hey, hey.”

Lying in bed, not able to properly open my eyes under the sunlight, Ji-hye poked my side with her foot.

“Get up. Are you not going to have breakfast?”

“I won’t…”

“So you’re just going to mope all day?”

Since when did a high school student sound like a mother?

In the end, I could not withstand Ji-hye’s assault and got up.

Breakfast was a rather tasteless bean sprout soup.

…When will this performance bonus come in?

Only then will breakfast and everything else taste a bit better, I thought as I gulped down the rice by mixing it in the soup.

*

The girl who had been bothering me didn’t show up again today.

But I felt quite at ease. I knew well that neither she nor her mother would bother me anymore.

In fact, perhaps I had overdone it a little yesterday as my body ached in various places. While I could treat wounds, it seemed there was little I could do for muscle soreness.

“Ji-eun.”

“Yah!?”

Ha-yoon, who had sneaked up beside me and crossed her arms, made me cry out instinctively.

Ha-yoon, who had been touching my body, quickly pulled her hands back in surprise.

Ah.

She wasn’t the type to act like this first; ever since our last outing, such sneak ups had become frequent. Did she think we had grown a little closer?

Since I was so startled, it seemed like Ha-yoon was now pondering whether to touch me again or not.

“No, no.”

I quickly shook my head.

“I slept poorly yesterday. I think I have some muscle soreness.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Of course not.”

Upon hearing my words, Ha-yoon seemed relieved and came closer to me.

Though she didn’t cross her arms, she lightly rested her arm against mine and sat down beside me.

“Wanna share a bite?”

I handed over the bread I was holding toward Ha-yoon, who shook her head at first but then said, “Okay.”

She then took a tiny bite of my bread.

“It doesn’t taste very good, does it?”

This was one of the worst types of bread from the store. They called it a sandwich, but it had barely a smear of peanut sauce in the middle, and the outside was just dry, cheap bread.

Yet even in response to my words, Ha-yoon shook her head.

“…Is there something bothering you?”

I asked casually.

Ha-yoon’s expression darkened a bit.

I hadn’t seen Ha-yoon yesterday. The Magical Girl who had dealt with me until the end was Iris and Rose.

Were there several problems that arose? Or was it simply a personal matter that delayed her deployment?

“No, nothing at all.”

Ha-yoon smiled at me with her lips but said that.

She meant she wouldn’t speak.

“…”

She probably couldn’t tell me that.

That the Magical Girl had failed yesterday.

It hadn’t appeared in the news today at all.

Even the subsidiary site of Noir Corporation, which always inflated even the tiniest successes into headlines, had said nothing.

Was it that they had succeeded and thus remained quiet?

It felt a bit creepy.

Ha-yoon rested her face gently against my shoulder.

“…Does this hurt too?”

“No.”

Honestly, it was a bit sore, but I acted like it was nothing.

…Because I had things I was hiding from Ha-yoon as well.

Ha-yoon stayed like that for a while, resting her head on my shoulder with her eyes closed.

In the end, I left the bread uneaten.

I wouldn’t usually leave something I bought with my money uneaten just because I had no appetite.

*

A week later.

I was called back to headquarters again.

If they thought I was such an important figure, I sometimes wished they would come to fetch me or meet me themselves, but I realized in the end that this was the best.

No matter how they contacted me, it would ultimately lead to the conclusion that their identities would be revealed, so what could be done?

I breathed deeply, hoping this would not be a mission.

…And I particularly hoped it wouldn’t be a circus like last time.

Fortunately, I was once again directly called to James’s office.

“I’ve called you to discuss the equipment you returned last time.”

James got straight to the point. There was an air of expectation in his voice. Could it be he had high hopes for this equipment?

“Don’t tell me you want me to pay for the equipment—”

“Of course not. What do you think of our company?”

James frowned.

Hmm.

No matter what time of the day it was, workday or weekend, they summoned people at all hours, sent us out on perilous missions without properly briefing us, and while I had conditions that were good enough to deal with it, most of the combatants worked as day laborers without regular employment.

Of course, I couldn’t say that openly in front of an officer, so I kept my mouth shut.

“More importantly, take a look at this.”

James gestured toward the sofa.

Given that he was an officer, I waited for James to sit first before sitting down facing him slowly.

I was already quite wary since I had angrily shouted at the back of the seat James had sat in previously.

This time, just like last time, James pushed something resembling a carry-on towards me.

However, it was larger than it was last time.

“This is a special product.”

I didn’t intend to open it and instead looked at it with a somewhat apprehensive gaze.

“I knew from the moment I scouted you that you would succeed like this.”

Though I hadn’t gotten richer from my success, I thought I would hold my tongue, as the orphanage would benefit financially in the future.

“The achievements of the last three years have been quite excellent, but your recent performances in the past few weeks can’t be fully expressed by the word brilliant. I commend Jeong Ji-eun’s courage.”

As he bowed his head towards me, I hurriedly did the same.

It felt a bit uncomfortable. No matter what it contained, he was clearly a foreign man well over forty.

“So, I would like to provide you with equipment that matches that courage.”

“Is that what you meant by special production?”

“That’s right.”

“A week’s time?”

“……”

James shifted his gaze away slightly.

So he was lying.

However, even so, it wouldn’t have been a complete understatement.

Even if this was a prototype, the concept of ‘a circuit for stronger energy charging’ must have been significantly under development beforehand. It might have been a project that was discarded due to lack of suitable candidates to use it.

Well, villainous characters in special effects stories often unveil upgraded equipment within a week. Thinking this way, it wasn’t entirely strange by any means.

“Go ahead and open it.”

James said, spilling some vague explanations.

I simply reached for the case in silence.

The moment my hand made contact, I heard a beeping sound. I recognized it as similar to the warning sound in the helmet’s interior, and marveled at the company’s thriftiness.

What I took out was— a black suit.

It was still a form-fitting outfit.

However—

“By making it a one-piece suit, we’ve increased the efficiency of energy flow. There are no gaps, so there’s more residual energy. Generally, this could be rather counterproductive.”

Are you saying that even if there’s a maximum limit, the energy can’t be utilized entirely?

What I was looking at was a jumpsuit.

While it was indeed a bit more fitted than the one I had worn before, it still looked somewhat baggy. Somehow, it seemed hard to judge which outfit looked more old-fashioned compared to the last one.

On top of that, there was another jacket added that looked like a flight jacket. It seemed mostly fine, similar to the leather jacket I had worn before.

At least it didn’t look out of place thanks to the unified black color scheme.

“The circuits have also been upgraded. The charge amount is double that of last time. At least this time, it won’t burst before it explodes.”

“……”

Wait, I hesitated, considering whether I could actually utilize this properly.

Honestly, I wasn’t very confident.

That hundred percent was only reached under favorable conditions, and I never imagined there would be an overflow.

Could I really achieve proper efficiency while wearing this suit?

“And this helmet.”

James said.

“Would you like to try it on?”

I obediently put on the helmet. After all, it didn’t seem like I could leave before hearing the explanations.

Zero percent.

Naturally, that was the rate since I hadn’t attached the circuits.

However.

“The helmet operates by itself even without circuits.”

James said with a smile on his face.

Once my helmet visor analyzed James’s face, the results appeared.

Species: Presumed Earthling. Age: Estimated mid-40s. Gender: Presumed male.

All it had to offer were estimates.

Wouldn’t it simply say ‘Earthling’ if I were to see a real Earthling? But would it even be useful for me?

My missions usually don’t involve searching for ordinary people.

“This device includes advanced technology that allows you to confidently understand the state of your opponent. I noticed you attacked the enemy’s weapon while analyzing the last helmet’s video, creating a weakness; it will be useful in such strategies.”

That just happened to be a coincidental occurrence. I aimed that way because Iris was in a hurry, blocking the attack with a weapon. Surely, that wouldn’t work on my next endeavor.

“The most important point is that, even without energy in the circuits, if you have sufficient aptitude, it can operate independently on the user’s energy.”

“Ah.”

I see.

Indeed, the previous helmet couldn’t be used without circuit support.

It might still be useful… depending on how I used it.

The issue was whether I would actually encounter a situation where I would use this helmet without the suit. I wouldn’t exactly go around advertising myself as a combatant.

After all, even Iris recognized me from just a scratch on my helmet.

…No, maybe the opposite would apply; if I needed to conceal my identity in a hurry, it might be useful after all. But that was a story for when I would have the helmet on me.

“What do you think? You can wear twice the battery load.”

“That sounds good.”

I nodded my head.

After hearing my words, James seemed satisfied and nodded, then said,

“Soon you’ll have an opportunity to experiment with the equipment. I hope you’ll be able to perform excellently with that equipment. If your achievements surpass what they are now, the conditions under which we help you will naturally improve as well.”

“……”

“…Aside from the suit, there are other compensations prepared. We’re hoping to double the frequency of donations; what do you think?”

“That sounds good.”

After hearing that story, I reiterated the same words once more.

Yes, no matter how I thought about it, an upgrade to company equipment wasn’t a ‘reward,’ right?

 

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