I Became a New Magical Girl Priest

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The opponent’s weak point was simpler than I expected.

Their eyes were split into two like a crab, and their head was a squishy form that made it hard to tell where the mouth was, but they always spat in one direction.

There were terrifying entities wielding close-range weapons on both sides, shooting lasers from a distance, and massive magical energy orbs flying in between.

Even from afar, Delphinium was waiting, creating a huge magical energy orb above her head.

“Chut!”

Rose landed a punch right in the alien’s face. The alien spat towards her hand, but Rose’s circuit had already synchronized with Ha-yoon’s magic, spinning rapidly.

The gauntlet was thickly coated with magical energy.

It wasn’t visible to the eye. However, it was clear that the spit would be crushed and evaporated before it reached her fist.

Even at such a close distance, the alien sprayed its spit like a spray can, but it was of no use.

Rose’s punches were fast. Rather than merely hitting hard, she delivered several consecutive punches in the blink of an eye.

And with each punch, a small gust of wind followed.

A whirlwind of magical energy.

The magic, strong enough to deflect bullets that could pierce through limbs, created a gust, rendering the scattered spittle ineffective.

What a terrifying sight. Did I actually fight against such things? Honestly, I felt a bit proud. Back then, my combat suit wasn’t like what I have now.

But that doesn’t mean the alien could do anything.

Even if it tried to escape that direct assault, Delphinium’s magical orb would be flying right at it.

The reason that orb wouldn’t fly towards us was simple. It was obvious that our teammate would get caught in it.

And that alone was a warning.

Even attempting to flee would result in getting knocked out by that orb.

Well, it probably wouldn’t kill me, though.

The alien stretched its arms and legs out, taking on a form resembling a spider—or a crab—but those extended limbs were sliced off by Ha-yoon’s sword.

Thanks to my past encounters with multiple aliens, this one didn’t seem like a major threat; or perhaps it was just because I was fighting alongside them.

Ha-yoon’s face was quite bright.

And the pink magic extending from her wand was also vibrant.

“…”

That strangely didn’t sit well with me.

As I frowned, the alien’s hand swung toward me.

Whoosh.

But I wouldn’t go down easily. If I saw an opening, all I had to do was pummel it.

“Grrr!”

Both of our arms fell off simultaneously—one was severed, the other was broken.

The alien’s body crashed to the ground.

In a last-ditch effort, it aimed its head toward Rose and spat a long stream of saliva, but—

Rose grabbed its face brutally with her gauntlet.

Sizzle.

I heard the sound of the gauntlet’s surface melting, but Rose didn’t seem to mind too much. Maybe it was because it was in glove form?

If you look closely, it seemed the surface of the gauntlet was slightly distanced from the alien’s skin. It couldn’t be held like that for long, but at least it was enough to grasp for a moment without injuring her hands.

…I’m different, though.

I had a moment of doubt.

I could coat my body in magic as well. Most attacks could be easily blocked. Indeed, that’s how I’ve protected myself several times.

But coating my weapon with magic was still a challenge. While it did have some magic wrapped around it, it didn’t provide enough protection for my body. Even with the generator inside spinning so ferociously.

Was it because I exhausted all my momentum?

Or was it because the type of energy used was different?

Or maybe it was simply because I was only a half-baked magical girl.

Rose, holding the alien’s head with her right hand, clenched her left fist.

And then she slammed it down onto the alien’s head.

Though it looked quite brutal for someone who didn’t intend to kill, there was no choice. The alien would keep rampaging as long as it was conscious.

Let’s call it a biological circuit.

Though the exact mechanics of its glowing brain weren’t known, it was presumed to be linked to human emotions seeing how such things only happen on Earth.

Therefore, all I could do was cut off its limbs to render it entirely immobile or strike its head to knock it out.

In this age, as long as there’s an excellent healer, recovering limbs can be quite simple. The reason I was able to attend school looking fine the day after I broke a bone was that.

But that didn’t mean severing arms and legs was another issue altogether.

That’s… well, it’s just wrong. Breaking a bone is one thing, but that.

The alien’s limbs drooped lifelessly after receiving a blow to the head.

“…”

Rose stared at its face for a moment, then slowly lowered it to the ground.

The ground sizzled slightly, feeling like something was melting, but at least it wouldn’t dash inside infinitely.

“…Alright.”

Rose murmured softly and then looked up.

And she wasn’t the only one. All the magical girls were looking at me.

Hmm.

In the end, I seemed to have lost. On the surface, it looked like we were cooperating, but it turned out I wasn’t just holding my own; six of them had ganged up on me.

Moreover, the situation was… am I in a pretty dangerous predicament?

“Let’s start retreating.”

James said.

“We’ve shown what we needed to. The fact a magical girl showed up during the fight means they see your performance as a serious threat.”

Nodding at James’s words, I carefully took a step back.

“Wait a minute!”

Just as I was about to create a black hole, Ha-yoon rushed forward with one hand outstretched as she shouted.

“Wait… just wait a moment!”

I stopped in my tracks at her words.

Realistically, this wasn’t a decision I should be making. I remembered getting shot last time because I hesitated a bit too long.

I heard footsteps behind me. It didn’t seem like the police were moving; it sounded like a few magical girls were walking with a certain spacing between them.

Iris, Delphinium, Dalia.

All three were magical girls specialized in long-range attacks. If they had me in their sights, they might very well attack the moment I tried to escape.

I’m not entirely sure what they could do to me as I fled through the black hole.

Now that I think about it, it seems Delphinium couldn’t finish her magic after all. Therefore, it would still be floating in the sky.

“Oh.”

Seeing this situation, James made a curious sound.

Why? Is it amusing to see me battling those girls again? Just pear-headed at the utterly useless things.

Honestly, if I had the time, I would want to find some weird recipes for roasted rat and put them up inside the tent. Perhaps, skewer it from the rear to the mouth and grill it?

“I… I know you can’t trust me.”

Ha-yoon said.

I slightly narrowed my eyes.

Of course, I couldn’t fully believe her. In one corner of my mind, there was still the thought that I did trust Ha-yoon, but in this situation, it’d be foolish to fully trust the magical girls.

Even if Ha-yoon intended me no harm, the rest of the four magical girls surrounding us, and the countless police officers had different thoughts.

Public servants are those who move as ordered. I understand. They can’t refuse orders from above.

But from the receiving end, it’s only natural to feel anger. While I don’t intend to assault the police directly, I wouldn’t mind breaking a few pieces of their equipment.

Since I understood it rationally, should they not also understand it rationally?

“I’ve… until now…”

Ha-yoon started but then closed her mouth.

And she looked at me, pained.

“Until now?”

I tried to keep my tone as calm as possible while asking.

“…”

Ha-yoon couldn’t muster the courage to continue.

I waited briefly, then made a small hole in my back.

Dust and dirt scattered on the ground started to swirl around the hole, and my back became slightly brighter. Thanks to the black hole sucking in the light.

“Ji-eun, just a second…!”

Ha-yoon shouted.

“Wait for a second, what for?”

I asked.

If I stand here waiting, all that will come are reinforcements from their side. I’ve already ticked off the three biggest forces in this country.

No, perhaps not just this country; governments from all around the globe might be keeping an eye on me. If they think such things could happen in their own country, it makes perfect sense.

“If we just wait here, nothing good will come to me.”

I didn’t want to say anything cruel.

Yet such words just flowed out of my mouth.

It wasn’t merely a matter of feeling it in my heart.

After all, that’s how I was thinking.

And thinking such things, I ended up forbearance so far.

Ever since I overflowed with despair circuits, I found it hard to control my emotions.

Or perhaps, it’s because I now no longer need to be such a thing. Hiding myself in front of others wouldn’t do any good. Since I’ve already broken down. Since I can’t return to how it was, I must live like this.

Even if it’s pathetic, I didn’t want to care about it anymore.

Since caring doesn’t change a thing.

In fact, I felt more at ease within the dilapidated building than when I was suffocated in that school.

I didn’t like it. I knew I wouldn’t come to like it either. When I looked up at the ceiling, lying in the cramped tent, I felt terribly miserable. After coming to another world, I had nothing at all.

But still, that was all.

Every time a new term began, I didn’t have to deal with those kids who only envied even my single friend, who had nothing. I didn’t have to study endlessly just to prove to myself that I could be alongside Ha-yoon.

I didn’t have to fret about whether someone might find out that I lived in an orphanage, nor did I need to stress when Ha-yoon subtly expressed a desire to visit where I lived.

The future seemed bleak, and despair clouded my mind, but that was all. In fact, I had never forgotten that sense since I arrived in this world.

And I, who could only have such foolish thoughts, ultimately had those unsaid things piling up from deep within my heart.

So much so that they could spring out the moment I opened my mouth.

I didn’t like it. Not this situation. Not that Ha-yoon seemed to want to say something to me. And not myself.

Whatever Ha-yoon said, I would rebel unconditionally.

But ultimately, no matter what she said, I would be convinced by Ha-yoon in the end.

I hated all of it.

“…Are you going to say let’s go back?”

But still, why was I asking like this?

Choosing my words carefully and asking for a reason.

In the end, I might not be entirely free of Ha-yoon—or maybe I didn’t want to be free.

I’ve ultimately become no different than that pile of useless trash revolving around.

If Ha-yoon hadn’t been a heroine, would I have been alongside her?

Would I have tried to endure all the while facing so much scrutiny?

I wanted to believe that was not the case.

So, I spat out cruel words as if to deny that.

“Are you suddenly trying to say let’s go to school? Or are you trying to say go back to the orphanage?”

There’s little point in going to school. Only kids who dislike me would be there. At best, I might encounter Ha-yoon who would be happy to see me, but I wouldn’t want to go back to that place.

The orphanage… for another reason, is scary. I feared what those people back there would think of me.

Even if the people of the world dislike me, the ones who were with me in the orphanage—at least I hoped Ji-hye wouldn’t hate me or be afraid of me.

Even after letting such thoughts cross my mind, I still felt that way.

“It’s too late.”

I whispered.

“We’ve come too far.”

To go back.

At my words, Ha-yoon’s expression fell apart.

She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

I’d seen that look a few times before.

The opposite situation then.

Whenever the people of the world hurt Ha-yoon, I would soothe her from the side.

At times with quite irrelevant words. Occasionally, buying something sweet just to shove it into her mouth.

Now, I had become one among those people.

This feeling… it’s terrible.

The wind picked up.

The circuit vibrated intensely. Percentages, I hadn’t cared about for some time. From a certain point onward I transformed without thinking much of what percentage was and called upon a black hole effortlessly.

That could mean my circuit had continuously operated above 100 percent since some point.

I continued to feel despair.

Whether I felt good or bad, deeply within my heart, it remained constant.

Unlike when Ha-yoon looked at me with hope.

“Therefore—”

“…No!”

As I took one more step back, Ha-yoon shouted loudly.

Even against the swirling winds like a small storm, Ha-yoon was slowly stepping toward me.

“That’s not it!”

Ha-yoon cried out.

Tears streamed down her face. Her expression had completely crumbled.

Had I ever seen Ha-yoon looking so teary before?

I, the one who caused all this, was nevertheless the one to hesitate first.

“I’m not asking you to come back. I won’t even say you came closer.”

Ha-yoon said.

“I know very well that everything that has happened until now has been too… too much. I also understand that just saying sorry won’t suffice.”

“…”

This time, I couldn’t say anything.

“So… so please, just let me do one thing.”

“One.”

“Yes, just one.”

I kept my mouth closed.

I didn’t agree.

At the very least, I didn’t verbally consent.

But my feet didn’t move. My head and heart screamed for me to move, but my deep soul begged for me not to do so. Was it the right expression to say it was as if it had caught my ankles?

Before I knew it, Ha-yoon had already closed the gap to a few steps away from me.

How long had I been waiting?

Having declared my departure, I wished for her to step away.

And yet—

“…”

The expression on Ha-yoon’s face emerged.

It was a look that could be described as ‘determined.’

And at that moment, I realized I had misunderstood something.

I tried to turn my body.

I moved my legs rapidly.

Yet, Ha-yoon was faster. Perhaps since the moment she arrived, or the instant we started fighting side by side, she had always been thinking.

So, she was able to uphold such hope throughout the fight.

Ha-yoon tightly held onto me.

She wrapped her arms around my waist from behind.

But—she didn’t stop me from leaving.

—That’s not what this is.

Just as Ha-yoon called out to me a little while ago.

“Just one.”

I heard Ha-yoon whisper near my ear.

Her crying had entirely subsided, and her voice was detached from the determined look I had seen previously.

Just like that, it was the common voice of Ha-yoon that I had heard many times until now.

The arms that held my waist tightened. They were gentle yet firm. The warmth of Ha-yoon’s body pressed against me felt soft.

And it was warm.

How long had it been…

“Let me go with you.”

Ha-yoon whispered softly.

So no one else could hear—just like we always did. As if standing close enough to evade the hearing of others nearby—a few classmate kids, as she spoke softly.

…

That’s unfair.

It’s unfair.

The way she held me so tightly. The way she pressed her body against me.

And how she whispered in my ear.

To me who had been away for so long, everything felt like a cheat.

Did Ha-yoon know this?

Or was she just acting the same as she always did?

I have no idea.

If it were the latter, it would only mean that for me, Ha-yoon was a cheat.

What’s this?

This is too much.

It’s too much…

Really…

*

In an instant, the black hole flared up as if it would swallow everything nearby.

It absorbed the surrounding light and even the small items lying on the floor.

The very first to be pulled into it were the black magical girl and Blossom who were nearby.

Blossom threw her entire body to grab the black magical girl, but perhaps she couldn’t overcome the speed.

Or maybe it was the intense gravitational force of the black hole that she couldn’t withstand.

They vanished into it.

The other magical girls surrounding the black magical girl, as if trying to rescue their leader, jumped into the black hole all at once.

Once the silhouettes of all the girls disappeared in a flash of light—

The black hole, which had been demonstrating an intense presence until now, vanished without a trace as if it had never been there from the beginning.

What remained were the vivid remnants of battle.

And the police officers surrounding the area.

“…”

That many people stood in silence for a while.

“…We’re screwed.”

Only after a few dozen seconds did someone mumble this to themselves.

After that, there was no sound of agreement, but—

Many felt a shared understanding deep inside.

That something had gone terribly wrong.

 

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