READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 300
In conclusion, our operation was half a disaster.
The reason I say “half” is simple. Originally, this was a mission that shouldn’t have been exposed this much.
The reason we dug in from above at midnight was, after all, because we were hoping the Federation would take that item “secretly” out.
No matter how much of a Federation it is, they probably didn’t seriously think we’d actually take it out “secretly.” They must have at least assumed something would be caught internally.
Even if a huge fight broke out inside, as long as we vanished without being seen by reporters, it would just be the company’s claims.
It was indeed a problem that we got caught when we went to the first floor.
“Well, still, we did what we had to do.”
After washing up at the headquarters, I tossed the ‘Core’ I brought in one hand and said that.
It was already late at night anyway. Even if we went in, it would be dawn, and we still had things to discuss.
Cherry was busy working even at this hour.
It seemed like I would have to stay overnight at the headquarters for the first time in a while, but I felt a bit relieved having solved something that had been bothering me.
The operation was “half” a disaster.
At least we brought back the “target.”
Since the Federation now knew we had it, they wouldn’t want to simply hand it back.
“…If only I had completed the teleportation magic properly…”
Jua said in a somewhat guilty tone.
Recently, Jua had been researching that type of magic.
It was magic used in the original work, but perhaps influenced by me, the Jua in this world seemed to be researching it with a bit more caution. Instead of a spell that could be cast haphazardly, she was trying to create a more proper personal teleportation magic.
“It’s okay. After all, developing magic isn’t our mission, right?”
I said that and patted Jua’s shoulder.
…I’m not really sure why Jua became so cautious after being influenced by me.
It’s said that incomplete magic can hurt if it hits you, but still, it would probably be great for emergency escapes.
Well, it’s Jua’s job to make magic, so it’s not something I need to meddle in.
“It looks refreshing.”
Seo-hee, who had just gotten out of the shower like me, plopped down in the seat across from me.
Seo-hee looked a bit tired, though not as much as when we faced the monster.
“Yeah, well, I said everything I wanted to say.”
When I replied like that, both Seo-hee and Jua blinked in surprise.
They then stared at my face.
“What?”
“No, I was just wondering how you became so close to the alien.”
“Well, it wasn’t that long ago that I saved them when they collapsed on the street because they were drunk, right?”
“Uh? They looked underage. Aren’t they around the same age as us?”
“True. But they were an alien who got drunk on caffeine, not alcohol.”
“……”
Seo-hee and Jua blinked again at my words.
“You mean, you did something for them even though you didn’t know them well? And you’re saying you got kidnapped?”
Seo-hee asked.
“…Well.”
I sank deep into the sofa. My earlier excitement had calmed down a bit.
I did blow off some limbs of the officer, but in the end, I couldn’t really get any proper answers.
What kind of response is “I’m far away” when asked where they are?
“I think the duration doesn’t matter.”
I answered while quietly gazing at the ceiling.
“You all are the same, right?”
“We’ve known each other for a few years.”
“Right. So much time has piled up already.”
“No, not that. I meant when we really didn’t know each other.”
With a slight smile on my lips, I looked back at Seo-hee and Jua.
“Seo-hee, you… well, even though you acted much more friendly than others, you were still a bit prickly, right?”
“……”
“The time it took us to get close wasn’t that long.”
Indeed.
It was similar to how you become friends with classmates sitting together, and Seo-hee became close with that kind of vibe.
As we trained hard and sparred, we grew close before we knew it.
It definitely wasn’t something that took years.
“And from that point on, we started going to karaoke and eating together. You even strangely initiated physical contact quite often.”
“D-Did I? I don’t remember that well…”
In a rare occurrence, Seo-hee blushed a bit and looked around.
“That was how it was.”
I replied as if it were ridiculous.
But I didn’t dislike it.
I liked getting close to the Magical Girls. I didn’t want Ha-yoon to feel uncomfortable either.
In the end, I was just acting for my own sake, but I still think the outcome was undeniably good.
“As for Jua… you followed me from the very start.”
“I did!”
Jua exclaimed, her eyes sparkling at my words.
“I’ve always admired you!”
“…No, when you came in, I hadn’t even properly started my activities as a Magical Girl.”
“That’s not true!”
Jua got angry at my statement.
Why though?
“I thought that way after I came in! I was more passionate than anyone else!”
“……”
Was that really so?
To be honest, I was more of a person who preferred being in the background rather than being a Magical Girl. It’s not that I hated this work, but—
“I’m here because I like you all.”
“…Huh?”
“Huh?”
Seo-hee and Jua froze.
“Ji-eun?”
And then I heard a voice from behind me.
I turned around and saw Ha-yoon, who had just gotten out of the shower, looking at me with wide eyes. The expression was a bit scary since it was unlike Ha-yoon.
Why though?
I was feeling relieved after saying everything I wanted, so I couldn’t understand why my friends around me were getting angry.
“What did you mean by that just now?”
Ha-yoon approached me assertively.
I had a question mark floating above my head.
“I’m here because I like you all.”
“So… does that include me?”
Ha-yoon’s face suddenly changed. This time, her cheeks turned a bit red.
“Of course it does.”
Rather, I could say Ha-yoon was a bit special since she was the one who brought me here. I liked her as a Magical Girl, as a friend, but it wasn’t just because she was a “Magical Girl” or “childhood friend.”
How should I put it?
It’s a bit hard to express… I like her just because I like her. For no particular reason.
…No matter how much I try, I can’t say something that bold.
“Hey.”
Ha-yoon made a dazed sound as she sat next to me.
Seo-hee watched Ha-yoon and me closely. So did Jua.
They had expressions that I hadn’t seen in a while since I’ve been busy lately. I still didn’t know the reason.
“Wait a minute.”
Just as Ha-yoon took a seat next to me, another voice interrupted our conversation.
It was Yeon-woo.
“……”
And Chae-yeon too.
Both of them walked over, staring at me intently. I worried that they might trip if they caught their feet on something, but thankfully the floor was clean enough for that to happen.
“Are you saying you only like those three people over there?”
“What are you talking about? Of course I like all of you.”
I frowned.
These girls often get fixated on the nuances of words for some reason. I wonder if it’s because they’re all smart.
If you miswrite a word on a contract, the entire content changes; maybe they want to talk about something like that, but honestly, it can be a little annoying sometimes.
“Hmm.”
Seo-hee said in a haughty tone as she took a seat on a remaining chair. She crossed her legs, resting her elbow on her knee and chin on her hand.
“……”
Chae-yeon approached with her usual blank expression and sat down.
She sat quietly, but her gaze was still directed at me.
The Magical Girls’ subtle gazes all focused on me at the same time.
Honestly, I feel unfair since I didn’t do anything wrong.
…Well, saying I didn’t do anything wrong during the operation does leave me speechless. I was the one making noise, and I was also the one who suggested running toward the lower floor when the path was blocked, where the combatants were coming up.
In the end, I could say that it was my fault for running into the reporters who showed up right after we came outside.
I was also the one who said something to those reporters instead of just passing by.
But somehow, I feel like the reason they’re looking at me this way isn’t just about that.
“Why? Do you dislike that I like you?”
When I asked honestly, the girls looked a bit flustered.
This was also my way of finding a solution to the problem. They’re quite sensitive to my emotions.
Using that might sound a bit bad, but what can I do? I need to escape this feeling of being surrounded by carnivores as a single herbivore.
“I see. It’s because you dislike that I like you… well, I understand that it can be uncomfortable to hear that kind of thing between the same gender.”
“Oh, no, no, no!”
Ha-yoon panicked the most.
Ha-yoon, who was sitting right beside me, suddenly hugged me tightly. It was a soft and warm hug, though a bit too strong due to her panic.
I didn’t mind it.
“It’s not that! I’m just happy, Ji-eun.”
“Really?”
The expressions of the girls watching Ha-yoon hugging me completely changed. From surprised to somewhat angry.
And they all jumped up from their seats and charged at me.
In the end, I found myself completely hugged by them. I couldn’t move at all.
It was suffocating, but I felt good.
…
Yeah.
No matter what, even if I feel refreshed, I might have needed a bit of comfort after all.