I Became a New Magical Girl Priest

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I decided to get a bit more brazen.

Actually, there was no other way.

Of course, I trust the integrity of the magical girls. Especially, I trust Ha-yoon’s integrity.

These kids, no matter how desperate the situation, were not the type to kill others just to save themselves.

Sure, they might break a combatant’s limbs or use magic against them, but those were things that happened in a combat situation. After all, the opposing combatants were also acting with intent, and the magical girls were simply trying to protect whatever it was they were guarding.

I knew they wouldn’t threaten me or do anything like that.

More than anything, it wasn’t a situation that required such actions in the first place. The world hadn’t ended; we were just five people snugly gathered in an expansive ruin together.

We weren’t trapped or without choices. If we were to leave here, we could easily reach well-paved asphalt roads, and if we walked along them, we would definitely come across a village or city.

The only issue was the lack of money, and while wandering the streets at midnight might be a bit unsettling, it didn’t mean we had no way to escape this place at all.

The kids here ultimately chose to stay. There was no reason for a post-apocalyptic survival struggle over leftover food.

However, that said, I was the one who had taken their circuits away. And I didn’t want to lose control here.

It would be terrible if someone tried to persuade me.

“I have no intention of sharing my tent with anyone.”

I stated that decisively.

“As for food… whatever. You came here of your own accord, so whether you suffer or not is none of my business.”

“…”

Dalia and Delphinium looked up at the ruin with slightly uneasy expressions.

Even if it rains, as long as we stay away from the windows, we won’t get completely soaked, but it’s still not a clean place.

The nights are cold. The wind seeping through the broken windows is surely chilly.

There was still time left before the night grew deep, but honestly, there wasn’t enough time to prepare for spending a night in such a situation.

None of these kids seemed like they were trained for survival; they were just kids, after all. At least, as far as I knew, they hadn’t received any such training.

That being said, it wasn’t cold enough to freeze to death, so I decided to tough it out.

“Alright.”

The only child who nodded without changing her expression was Ha-yoon.

It’s strange. Ha-yoon had definitely come from a wealthy family, yet even in this situation, she wore a look of relief.

Why does she have such a look?

Where does that pride come from?

It was uncanny how unfazed she was even in this situation.

“Is it alright to go that far?”

“…How far…?”

All phones and communication devices had been confiscated. Plans to return them existed, but not yet. James was in the middle of fixing them.

I pondered for a moment.

Would these kids get lost in the mountains?

…I think I can safely say that it’s none of my business what happens since they chose to follow me this far. No matter what happens, the consequences of the magical girls’ actions are ultimately their responsibility. Even if they’re minors — they still have the ability to judge.

I know it’s cowardly for me, who was an adult in my past life, to say this, but in this world, I’m essentially the same as these kids.

If they wanted me to feel more responsible, they should have made me born in this world a few years earlier.

But regardless, I genuinely didn’t want anything bad to happen to the kids. For now, the magical girls could still be of use to me.

If the government or the federation came looking for me, I could just tell Ha-yoon to handle it somehow.

…That’s all there is to it. Truly, these are thoughts solely meant to distract me. I didn’t intend to worry. Really.

“…Only go as far as you can see the house. If you get lost, I won’t come looking for you.”

Besides, I barely knew the terrain around here. I only knew there was a road connecting it.

“Got it.”

Ha-yoon remains unfazed.

Unlike when I first came here. Unlike when I had to sleep next to the oxygen tank.

Since coming to this ruin, I had wanted to do nothing but hole up in my tent, dealing only with the most basic physiological needs.

I hadn’t even considered looking through the other houses for something.

“…”

Regardless of my glances, Ha-yoon looked at the other kids.

“Then, let’s move.”

“Move where?”

Rose questioned Ha-yoon’s statement.

“We have to sleep tonight. You think we can just lie here?”

“…”

Ha-yoon’s words made Rose and Iris look at each other.

Delphinium and Dalia, standing behind them, wore expressions of disgust.

Under normal circumstances, such expressions would be the standard reaction.

Why is Ha-yoon—

“Then, I’ll go out for a bit. Don’t worry, I won’t go too far like you said.”

“…I’m not worried.”

Ha-yoon spoke while looking at me, and I turned my gaze away, saying that.

I couldn’t tell what expression Ha-yoon had when she saw me like this.

But soon, I heard the sound of her turning away.

Behind Ha-yoon’s distinctively strong footsteps, I could hear a slightly hesitant, yet compelled, set of footsteps following behind.

Do they really plan to stay here?

Until when?

No, I have no clue why they even came here, even giving up their circuits.

“…”

I felt too lazy to think. Too much had happened today.

I just… wanted to rest. Without doing anything.

With that thought in mind, I crawled into my tent.

I fell asleep right there without even getting into my sleeping bag, completely ignoring the sounds of James tinkering around.

 

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