“…Do you really think that makes sense? Seriously?”
“Aha ha, um… director. There’s a legitimate story behind all this. Just let me…”
“That’s right! Uh, there’s a relative who really likes European cheese… um…”
“Oh, yes! That’s right! Her uncle runs a huge wine bar, and he asked for some European cheese…”
“Haha… because of that, I received quite a bit of pocket money…”
Zing
Sumire covered her furrowed brow with her hand, starting to crumple again.
Two girls in white cheerleading uniforms looked at her with awkward expressions.
“Going on a Europe assignment and bringing back souvenirs for personal use shouldn’t be a problem at all. But this…!”
As Sumire’s voice rose an octave with anger, the girls looked even more awkward.
Behind those girls was a huge cart filled to the brim with cheese. Absolutely stuffed.
‘Bringing in things like this without sanitation certificates or customs clearance could cause a problem…!’
Sumire thought to herself, relieved that it was just food and not something dangerous when the magical girl in charge of the warp gate entry records asked for her assistance, and she witnessed a mountain of smelly cheese filling the office. But with a desperate voice, she said,
“If this kind of private use of the warp gate and the magical girl free movement treaty increases, it could actually harm other magical girls!”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Even as Sumire pressed her brow tightly, she decided to report the case to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries staff and thought she should notify the magical girls about the prohibited items clause regarding overseas goods.
‘Before using the warp gate, we need to conduct training on prohibited items for at least 5 minutes.’
She also considered documenting the formal procedure of assigning magical girls to handle the transportation of overseas goods in consultation with each autonomous body.
‘Now there’s one more issue to be covered by the council.’
Since the trial implementation of substantial international domain exchanges via the warp gate had begun, there had been many positive changes, but minor accidents happened like this from time to time.
“Director, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries contacted us asking to bring that item.”
“Yes, please tell them to adhere to the regulations.”
“Understood.”
Sumire quietly looked at the two girls who had caused the trouble.
“…I’m sorry.”
“…I’m sorry.”
The two girls followed the administrative magical girl to pull the cheese cart.
“Phew, with the advantages of the warp gate, there sure are a lot of accidents.”
The over-saturated magical girls in Japan were finding opportunities to gain starlight and clues for blooming while providing support overseas.
The desperate attitude of overseas magical girls.
The scenes abroad were completely different from Japan.
Requests exchanged on equal footing with companies.
Magical girls were slowly beginning to escape from being sheltered idiots in a greenhouse and started to take responsibility for leading others with dreams and hopes.
“Sometimes they get into trouble like this, though.”
Phew
She thought it was fortunate that the unique equipment she brought as if it were an emergency was a trivial issue.
As Sumire sighed and headed back to her office to start writing documents, at that moment…
Bang!
“Director! The cheerleading team members dispatched to Korea want to extend their overseas stay…”
“Director! The magical girls who participated in last friendly match in France want to have a dinner gathering…”
“Director! The Chinese government wants to formally request logistics transportation from the magical girls…”
Administratively dressed magical girls approached Sumire, pleading in desperate voices.
Clang
With her mind racing, Sumire dropped her unique equipment, the Japanese sword, from her hands.
“Looks like… I’ll have to stay up all night again.”
＊
“We’re sorry we could only come out with the three of us.”
Laura said, looking apologetically with the endless wheat field behind her. Her long brown hair swayed in the wind blowing within the domain.
I paused my steps, about to return through the warp gate, and glanced back.
[Harmony]’s magical girl Laura.
[Heavy Armor]’s magical girl Ella.
[Pierce]’s magical girl Chloe.
These three had come to see me off, having helped out while I was busy setting up the warp gate for three weeks in Europe. Thanks to their efforts, the unregistered magical girls living nearby had the courage to join the domain. Hence, the number of magical girls affiliated with the European Union increased from 42 to 71.
‘A lot has happened…’
I had conducted safety inspections on whether the 40 warp gates were operating correctly and if there were any time differences along each route over the past three weeks. During that time, I occasionally attended council meetings to mediate on regional rules and response methods.
“It’s alright. I know you all must be busy. Just having you three come out is appreciated.”
“[Start]’s magical girl.”
Ella, the [Heavy Armor] magical girl, smiled with a blunt voice as she called me. The tall girl with bright blonde braided hair was perfectly matched with her yellow plate armor and surcoat.
“Yes?”
“…Thank you. For taking down the [Bombardment] that we couldn’t catch along with Captain Park Saebyeok.”
“…”
“Thank you for showing us the direction we should go and helping us gain the strength to protect the remaining ones.”
Thud
Ella struck her armor with her right hand.
“Well, there are still many opponents we haven’t beaten yet… but I’ll become even stronger. Thank you for giving me the chance.”
Clang
Chloe, the [Pierce] magical girl, clad in lightweight infantry attire with a feathered hat, held her rapier in front of her chest and said, “On behalf of the magical girls of Europe, thank you.”
Laura silently smiled, slightly lifting the priest robe she wore beneath her brown robe to greet me.
“…”
The setting sun over the wheat field.
The wind blowing in.
The swaying oaks.
The tall girls each bidding farewell in their own way.
In the original work, Europe was described only as being overrun by monsters and becoming prey for scavengers.
There was only a simple narration saying, “It was destroyed.” But there was no mention of how it changed afterward.
However, looking into their eyes, I was sure that Europe’s remaining fate would not be destruction.
I will help it become that way.
“…It was my duty.”
Whoosh
The endlessly blowing wind and the lonely wheat field.
Yet, I felt warmth.
Leaving behind the domain reflected in the minds of the magical girls in Europe, I turned back.
“I’ll turn Rimeirin into a human! Thanks for the training ground!”
With her twin-tails flapping, Lina, the [Memory] magical girl, tried to take Rimeirin to the training ground.
“There’s no way such a pretty girl can be a non-human! And thanks for the warp gate!”
Rimeirin, the [Harmony] magical girl, clinging to a bamboo chair, complained about not wanting to get hurt.
“Thank you for saving Korea. And for getting along well with Dorim.”
Oh Sang-hyuk, the team leader of the Supernatural Ability Response Team, who had been very accommodating to my need for disguise.
“Oh! Silver Sister, are you going back? I’ve already booked a plane ticket. Since you can just use the warp gate, you won’t be needing the plane, right?”
Kang Dorim, the [Cyber Brain] magical girl, who became a reliable companion in preparing for the future.
“Hmm, that training ground is really good. The way to become the winners of the battlefield is through training that resembles a real battle. Call me anytime if you intend to protect your people, [Start].”
Park Saebyeok, the [Duty] magical girl, who happily shares how to become stronger and provides a lot of inspiration to other magical girls.
Before returning to Japan, I briefly stopped by Busan via warp.
“…I won’t push you. The will of a magical girl is the most important thing.”
“…”
“But if you want to help someone but can’t think of a way, please contact the Supernatural Ability Response Team. I will definitely come to help.”
I gave Hong Na-yeon, the Blooming Born 2-Star [Sea] magical girl, who still wouldn’t open the door, a business card for the Supernatural Ability Response Team.
Bang
The door opened, and a girl with blue two-tone bob hair, wearing a hooded sweatshirt over a short skirt, appeared with a sulky face.
“…Fine. I’ll do that.”
“Take care.”
The day before leaving Korea, I finally received a positive response from Hong Na-yeon.
Ding dong ding dong ding dong
A smartphone I was using just as a Wi-Fi receiver, without going through the activation procedures in Japan, went off madly as it detected a Wi-Fi signal.
Snicker
I could only manage a bitter smile.
[Hikari! What are we having for lunch today…]
[They played a movie on TV…]
[Which country are we going to today?]
[I want to try using the warp gate someday…]
[I’m amazed at how many things are different from the past I knew!]
Dozens of notifications flooded in from the messenger app I downloaded to contact Yuki.
All messages were from Yuki.
The joy of a girl savoring the tranquility of daily life after returning from a future filled with tragedy.
If I successfully return to my previous life in Korea, I would be so happy I would jump around, so I celebrated Yuki’s happiness.
Tick tick
I replied to Yuki in an area with a Wi-Fi signal.
‘She’s still young. She’s only 17 mentally now.’
She has the right to enjoy the happiness of daily life after going through all those trials.
…Even if our journey isn’t over yet.
Even though the trials ahead are still not finished, as Yuki said, we live to be happy.
“Phew… I should get going.”
Three months.
I’ve been to more countries and experienced more than I anticipated in Japan. I’ve forged unexpected connections with people and achieved more than I expected.
December 20th.
In just a few days, I will reach the starting point of [Magical Girl HAZARD] based on the original work.
The suspicious silence of the Middle East and Russia.
[Magical Girl of War].
Scavengers.
Emily Hawkins.
Three Evil Gods.
Trials.
‘Mother…’
I walked through the streets of Busan, feeling the cold winter breeze while carrying the things I still need to accomplish in my heart.
It’s time to go back now.
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