Mr. Magical Girl

Chapter: 76. Kids These Days Lack Effort (2)

Woom!

To hear the voice coming in, I widened my senses and once again threw a question at the monster in the seat next to me.

“Still can’t hear it?”

“I couldn’t understand what you just said.”

If that monster can say such things, then it truly is a voice meant for the Otherworld only.

Gyaah!

“If it’s an illusion, it’s common in contaminated areas. No need to feel so disheartened.”

That tone is annoying.

“I’m telling you, that’s not it, so shut up.”

“Yes.”

Maybe because I had snapped at them: just a little while ago, Irha, who was acting all friendly, had stiffened and kept their mouth shut.

With their knees together and back straight, they placed their hands on their knees, glancing around as if something was being recalled in the back of their mind.

Right when I was thinking all that, I couldn’t help but realize:

Dogs.

Just like a dog when being praised by its owner, and stiffening its body with eyes darting around after being scolded once, their behavior resembled a dog perfectly.

“Stay in your position well.”

I spoke as if giving a command to a dog as I moved towards the security room, and Irha raised a hand to say goodbye.

Maybe it’s because of my command to keep their mouth shut that they are acting uselessly like a dog.

Once out of the security room, I immediately searched for the squad leader, looking around.

I couldn’t find them right away, but when I asked a friendly-looking guard, they quickly pointed me towards the likely location of the squad leader.

“What seems to be the problem?”

“I just wanted to check on my student.”

As I spoke my purpose, the squad leader had a puzzled expression.

“Why so suddenly?”

“No, it’s not that I don’t trust the guards here.”

Since I would be seeing this face a few more times anyway, I didn’t want to spoil the mood, so I continued with a casual demeanor.

“I’m just curious if my student has gained a new power.”

Thump! Thump!

I heard Han Ah’s voice even now.

Just what kind of urgency did they have that they were looking for this so desperately?

“Are you talking about a new power?”

The squad leader repeated my words back to me, his face a strange mix of confusion.

“I can still hear them mentioning me like a hallucination. It must be either a mental thread or a magic from the real organization.”

As soon as my words ended, the squad leader shot a swift glance my way.

“Hallucinations are nothing to be ashamed of in contaminated areas, Hero Haram Lee. Even I hear the hallucination of my boss’s scoldings every day… I can still hear them right now.”

I really don’t care about your personal affairs.

And this isn’t a hallucination: you’ve been suffering for nearly 20 years, and it’s only become more malicious.

-Where:

At least, I haven’t heard such a pitiful hallucination in a long time.

“I’m sure it’s not a hallucination, so just let me see their face.”

“Why not just say you are worried about your student honestly? Claiming it’s a hallucination isn’t a very good excuse.”

Said the squad leader as he began walking with a warm expression.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to go see the Hero Han Ah, of course! I’ll guide you!”

“I feel like I’ve been misunderstood a lot, but it’s probably a good thing.”

Han Ah, lying on the bed, showed no signs of problems at all.

Whether the self-defense had activated or not, they were in the state of a magical girl transformation with bumps all over their body from collisions.

Yet, those weren’t deep wounds either.

The only noticeable thing was a ring around their eyes where dried blood had smudged: perhaps the blood vessels inside their eyes had burst.

“Any damage to the eyes?”

“None.”

Then I should clean it up.

Placing a bit of my saliva on the blanket, I began to wipe the blood off Han Ah’s face.

“Isn’t that a bit dirty?”

“Spit is dirtier.”

“I have some cotton, so use that.”

Seeing me in such a state, perhaps the squad leader couldn’t bear it and tore open a few packets of cotton, cleaning her face.

While I was wiping her face, I noticed something strange.

What was that?

Some of the blood clinging to her eyes wouldn’t come off, like a dark eye tattoo that just wouldn’t fade away.

It was drawn so thinly that it was hardly visible, but there were clear red lines.

I went back to the cotton to wipe it again.

Without making mistakes, I applied strong pressure, and the white cotton turned red. Indeed, the blood was being removed.

However, as if mocking me, a little blood flowed out between her eyes. The blood that had been barely moving stuck back to her eyes, affirming the presence of red lines.

“Is there a problem?”

The squad leader asked, his voice trembling.

He must have felt the unusual atmosphere.

“Can you step outside for a moment? It’s related to my student’s privacy.”

Sure.

This is a matter regarding her privacy.

It should never be revealed outside. Her problem.

“Sounds like you’re busy. Alright.”

He answered in a calm voice and quietly left the infirmary. Given that he had some understanding, it seemed he would quietly step out like a doctor would.

Whew.

Getting closer to Han Ah, I could hear the echoed voice clearer and more defined.

But, she is not the existence I am searching for.

Ignoring Ahn Ah’s voice, I opened my mouth towards her.

“There you are, Happiness Drop.”

Silence enveloped the room.

Should I just ask again?

“Or shall I call you by your nickname, Laupay?”

Still, no answer came.

Did she dislike being referred to by her heroic name and preferred to be called by a nickname, or was she simply not here?

Could it be that my expectation was wrong?

Should I try once more?

“Lisa Dalkrun. Are you there?”

No reply came back.

It was only Ahn Ah’s strange voice that echoed back. Nothing had changed.

I waited a little longer.

But no matter how long I waited, what I heard was only the sound of Han Ah’s faint breathing.

As her breathing made the sheets rise and fall, she was still there.

Did I perhaps misjudge? Did Happiness Drop seize Han Ah’s body and was using telepathy?

Huff!

With a deep sigh, I took a seat at the desk in the infirmary.

The chair was cheap, not allowing my back to bend properly as I distorted against its backrest, watching Han Ah who seemed to have found her tranquility again.

Many hypotheses filled my mind.

Happiness Drop tried to resurrect by seizing Han Ah’s body.

Some sort of connection occurred due to a breach in Han Ah’s mind, giving birth to Happiness Drop’s influence.

All of this was a simple coincidence, and Han Ah was merely overcoming the hardships of reality and opening her eyes to new powers.

Snicker.

A laugh slipped out.

Coincidence?

It can’t possibly be coincidence:

It was by chance that I awakened the mental magic of Happiness Drop, and by chance, her villain traits associated with blood magic were wielded as well.

All a coincidence and nothing more.

While I thought that, it was absolutely ridiculous. The likelihood of such events happening is absolutely impossible: This incident is undoubtedly connected to Happiness Drop.

However, Happiness Drop did not appear at my call.

If she doesn’t want to be summoned, did Han Ah call her by chance?

Why is there no need for me to search for her?

And why did the telepathy suddenly stop?

I don’t know. The more I think about it, the more questions pile up.

Creeeak.

Not able to withstand my power, the backrest of the chair snapped back violently. I leaned on such a chair and continued my thoughts.

Let’s stop. Either way, if Ahn Ah wakes up, I’ll know it all. Whether Happiness Drop seizes her body or not, how much involvement she has, and why I feel the need to call her.

Let’s put all these unanswerable questions aside for now.

I clasped my hands behind my head, using them as a pillow, and leaned back into the chair.

“Lisa Dalkrun. Are you there?”

A quiet murmur.

Still, there was no answer.

Why on earth was I calling her?

Was it because I wanted to know what she was thinking?

Did she have any thoughts after she completely regained herself?

Did I want to ask something about her definition of justice?

“Answer me again.”

While feeling the faint scent of alcohol, I closed my eyes.

*

“Be careful!”

We received the security team’s escort and entered the contaminated area.

Clank!

Bzzzt!

And upon entering, the fragments of Otherworldly Invasion welcomed us.

“Ah! Senior, is this okay?!”

Surprised by the sudden anomaly, Han Ah clung to my body.

I could feel a soft something hanging on my clothes even through the fabric.

“Don’t cling to me!”

Since awakening, she has constantly tried to cling to me.

Though the intent to cling was nowhere near as strong, it was easy to shake her off, yet her slightly displeased expression caught my attention.

It’s strange.

“Do you really not remember anything from when you were asleep?”

“I told you earlier, but my last memory ends with me reaching out my hand. Then I woke up to see you dozing off in that chair.”

Right.

Immediately upon waking, she jumped towards me and—was it that she felt an unbearable sense of loss and sadness?

Upon seeing her face,

‘Do you still have any thoughts or feelings right now?’

The answer I received through the standard questions from the Mental Check conducted by the Association should be certain.

From that response, I knew she was definitely Han Ah.

I’m not an expert on this, but she is definitely not Happiness Drop.

Yet, something feels odd. It’s puzzlingly strange.

If I had to put it into words, it feels like tasting something strange in bottled water, something that could easily be dismissed as simply a misunderstanding.

Did such concerns appear on my face?

“What are you thinking?”

Awkward feelings settled in my head.

A regular telepathy wouldn’t do this, but if Happiness Drop is using it, it includes feelings—higher mental magic.

“Don’t use telepathy that close.”

“But it’s quite enjoyable, isn’t it? My expressions get conveyed very clearly, right? If I can’t express something with words, I can easily share it this way.”

Did her excitement become too much that she couldn’t express it all in words?

A blush rose on her face.

Is it excessive emotion?

Is it unusual for Han Ah to show her feelings so openly?

Was she always like this?

An obtained mental magic is not a big problem wherever you look.

It’s not that rare for someone to open their eyes to new powers; the real problem is her adeptness in wielding the mental spells she just acquired as if they were her original powers.

Like a defense mechanism that suddenly starts to speak for the first time in their life, she was pouring in immense joy.

The output of that emotion was so strong that one telepathy was making me develop a headache.

-What are you thinking again, Senior?

Her emotions transmitted once more to me.

“Nothing.”

I said so, but there was an immense sense of unease wrapping around my body.

It felt too forward.

This wasn’t how Han Ah used to be, right? Wasn’t she supposed to be the one trembling?

So, thinking that, I concentrated hard on glaring at Han Ah.

“Hii!”

Upon meeting my fierce gaze, Han Ah dove into a corner of the Ricar, avoiding my gaze.

“W-What’s wrong, Senior?!”

“Nothing at all.”

“You’ve been saying nothing is wrong for a while… So, what’s this disparity?”

Is she Han Ah?

If that’s what she is, she is showing a side that doesn’t fit at all.

If I think she isn’t Han Ah;

She is showing exactly what I expected from Han Ah.

She definitely seems like Han Ah, and my intuition says she’s definitely Han Ah: But, even when I extend my senses, it doesn’t seem like she’s telling any lies.

I just can’t grasp it.

“Did you say you liked this sort of thing?”

What was that about now?

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, nothing at all. By the way, what about that strange Otherworld Invasion?”

Just a moment ago, did I hear her say she liked something or not?

With such disjointed thoughts, I couldn’t quite comprehend what she meant.

Later, I’ll ask that dreamlike person, and if it’s correct for her, I’ll check if that’s truly her.

If she’s found out to be an impersonator, she’ll have to receive the complete set of torments to revert her to her original state.

“That Otherworld Invasion earlier was a cry that couldn’t contain anyone’s will. It is, therefore, not useful at all.”

“What do you mean?”

How annoying.

I shot her a glare, compelling her to explain instead.

But Irha shook her head and kept her mouth shut.

“I’m not really well-versed in Otherworld Invasions, so I want to hear how this happened.”

Slap!

I clicked my tongue and gathered all my thoughts into my mouth.

“Otherworld Invasions are somewhat influenced by the will of surrounding existences. And since there’s no substantial will nearby, it seems it activated just as is. That’s all.”

I wrapped it up, “Let’s keep going.”

To be precise, even if someone has the will, they can’t direct it as they wish; the outcome is not governed solely by their own thoughts but varies according to circumstances or mental structures.

[Which is metal?]

Then can I hear it?

“While there are people around, they aren’t powerful enough to change the world, so there’s no need to worry.”

Just as those words finished,

[People have no faces.]

“But wait a moment.”

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