I Became a New Magical Girl Priest

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Which side is at fault?

I want to believe that it’s not my side that’s wrong.

The Magical Girl… is not a legitimate entity. In this country, militias are generally not viewed in a positive light.

However, for now, the government turns a blind eye. And it’s not like the existence of Magical Girls is unnecessary.

It’s not really a problem to fight against the members of Noir Corporation on a daily basis. What truly matters to us is battling against the aliens.

The police or military can somehow deal with aliens.

But the military has restrictions on their movements. The aliens are all citizens of some country, and since they’re not waging war, soldiers can’t be deployed. It’s similar to how armed police are sent during firearms incidents, not soldiers.

Even if they use weapons, subduing aliens without causing harm is incredibly difficult. No matter how much body armor or stab-proof clothing one wears, a normal person would be seriously injured if hit by an alien.

If it’s an area with a clear line of sight, that’s one thing, but aliens usually roam right in the midst of crowded cities.

In the end, it is safest for the Magical Girls to appear quickly and subdue them while the police evacuate surrounding citizens. That’s why the government just lets us be. And, considering the remote possibility that we might need to collaborate with the Federation instead of Noir Corporation, it makes sense.

So, our existence isn’t wrong. I believed that if news comes out, many would side with us rather than the openly nasty Noir Corporation, holding onto a glimmer of hope.

“Ah, damn.”

It wasn’t that my hope was completely shattered, but I understood that the situation wasn’t going to turn out well.

While we were away, the building here and there was wrecked. No matter how strong the combatants are, they can’t demolish buildings with their bare hands, but they can definitely break doors and windows. And some edges of structures made of concrete or cement were slightly damaged.

I could see one combatant just now leaving the building. There were other combatants behind them, but—

Bang!

Before I knew it, Jua, who had followed behind, started shooting at the combatants. The almost laser-like bullets took down one combatant after another. It wouldn’t be lethal. It would hurt like hell, though.

Only then did the lead combatant look up in my direction.

I understood why Jua didn’t shoot. There was a tightly bound person on the shoulder of the combatant. Seeing that they were wearing a white lab coat, it must have been a researcher from that underground facility.

If she accidentally shot, that researcher might get hit. The combatants might be wearing armor that has some protective functions, but it would be a huge issue if the researcher got hit by a bullet meant for them.

Yeah, it’s best for someone like her to be taken down by a fighter like me.

I gripped my wand and swiftly descended to the ground.

Part of the well-kept garden was smashed, but given the circumstances, I hoped they might let it go a little.

To be honest, I didn’t feel too good about it.

I really wanted to stay right there and see if everyone was really okay or how the damage looked, but I couldn’t due to the situation—

“Ah.”

Gripping the hammer tightly with both hands, I took a step forward and froze at the sight before me.

It was a familiar combatant.

Especially noticeable were the parts of their combat suit that looked a bit tattered from getting hit multiple times. Scratches on the helmet and a slightly torn suit were apparent.

“…You?”

Yeah.

It was that combatant who hadn’t been around lately.

The one who always stuck around to fight with me until the end.

Why, I’m not that thoughtless to say the same thing.

Because they’re a combatant.

They’re someone who works hard for their pay. So… this is just the same. Just like how we work.

“…”

However, the timing was far from ideal to take it positively. I had just seen that kind of situation.

Facing aliens is nothing like dealing with combatants. My body still ached and hurt.

…So, I know it’s not entirely that guy’s fault.

…

Why must it be now of all times?

If they had shown up just a little earlier, I could have even mustered a chuckle. If I had seen them often recently rather than it feeling like a long time since, I might have casually greeted them.

“…No, that’s not right.”

Still, I hadn’t forgotten. That they beat up an officer and somehow got useful information. That’s how I was able to return as a Magical Girl.

I stopped in front of them. We were about fifteen meters apart. At least, it wasn’t far enough that our voices couldn’t reach each other.

Seo-hee and Yeon-woo landed nearby. They would probably still be readying support from above.

I looked at the combatant in front of me.

As always, it seemed they had no intention to back down.

Yeah, it makes sense.

I have no idea what happened. I don’t even know why they didn’t quit after beating the officer, or how they’ve kept their position. I have no idea what went down while they weren’t around.

Even if I asked, I don’t think I’d get an answer.

So, right now…

Yeah. For now, let’s fight.

Even if this situation is a trap devised by the company wanting an image of a Magical Girl smashing a combatant even while being helped, there’s nothing I can do about it.

It’s just a matter of luck.

I gripped the hammer tightly and looked at the combatant.

They still looked like they had no intention of escaping, but—

Why is that?

Through that helmet, I could almost sense a hint of fear.

*

Pang-pang thought for a long time.

Of course, being a combatant was one thing, but she hardly left the house. Once she thought about it after doing something, she was suddenly gripped by fear.

Since a combatant got beaten up, they would definitely investigate what kind of combatant it was.

And if that happened, Pang-pang’s identity would be revealed in no time. Although she had covered her face with a paper bag, that didn’t mean much to Noir Corporation.

The only reason she had managed to avoid being caught until now was that the company didn’t have much interest in the lower ranks and that they hadn’t even thought she might be associated with the company.

Once an investigation starts, both of those presuppositions would come to an end.

Not long ago, after meeting Ji-eun and Ha-yoon, Pang-pang made her decision.

“Alright, let’s leave.”

She didn’t mean she was leaving Earth. That would be even more dangerous.

She’d go to some other place for a few years.

She wasn’t sure if she could go to another country, but there should be plenty of places to hide within this country.

…It was a shame about the deposit she had to receive and her belongings here. Plus, she had no money and no one to rely on, but she decided to think that somehow, it would be okay.

She thought that contacting Ji-eun… wouldn’t be too hard. It wasn’t like she didn’t know the number and she had unintentionally learned where she lived.

So, she thought of running away far and hiding for a while.

But while she was thinking such thoughts…

Ding dong, the bell rang.

Pang-pang instinctively felt that Ji-eun or Ha-yoon wasn’t the one who rang that bell.

“…”

She couldn’t pretend not to be home. It wasn’t like they were the type to leave after that.

Pang-pang sighed deeply and got up from her seat.

And she walked to the door.

As soon as the door opened, she saw that familiar officer who had gotten beaten up the last time by Pang-pang. The one who said a squeaky adult was riding with them.

But the way that “robot” was looking at Pang-pang was different from before.

Back then, they had a mix of confusion and hatred, but now… how should she put it?

It was as if they had found a treasure.

James lowered his head deeply. It seemed he was showing respect to Pang-pang.

“…I’m not interested.”

Pang-pang replied.

But despite trying to stay calm, she felt her heart sinking.

She barely escaped, after all.

If she got caught like this, her grandma would definitely never let her go again.

“Is that so?”

“…”

Pang-pang’s eyes narrowed at James’s response.

“I may not know what sort of activities are happening within Noir Corporation, but… my grandmother has no intention of telling you. Still, I do know one thing: whatever that person does will never be a positive story for Earth.”

“Is that so?”

“What exactly are you hoping for by coming here?”

“Of course, I was hoping you would take over the company, young lady. The Chairman wishes for that as well.”

“…”

It was a conversation that didn’t connect.

“However, the Chairman did say this: no matter how I put it, there’s no way a granddaughter who has run away would listen to our story.”

“…So?”

“The Chairman made a suggestion.”

James raised his head and looked at Pang-pang.

He has cold, machine-like eyes.

Well, it makes sense to call him a machine.

There is a person inside, but what he presents externally is merely a well-made camera.

“It’s kind of like a bet.”

“A bet.”

“As a combatant, I ask you to do just one last job. If you succeed in that task, they will let you go.”

“…”

So, it was a suggestion that they didn’t want to let her go.

And at the same time, it was a suggestion that didn’t offer her a choice.

In the end, Pang-pang was left with no choice but to wear her combat suit once again.

 

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