NOVEL WEB Chapter 23
Magical Girl Jeanne smirks.
“She has no parents, no home.”
In fact, these were the words Inny Flowering had actually directed at Kaede and Thalagong.
“Inie’s asleep now,”
Thalagong says to Kaede, who is tidying up the tea and snacks from earlier in her office. Kaede had successfully enrolled Inny Flowering into the academy as planned, and was slightly excited about it, but the words of Inny Flowering wouldn’t leave her mind.
“I thought it would be disastrous when she stormed in, but I’m glad it worked out.”
“At that time, I apologize. It was unexpected to see you appear when I had given up. I think it’s understandable to panic, don’t you?”
Though Thalagong feels a bit embarrassed upon reflection, they try to respond nonchalantly. It was the first time in their life where despair and hope had swung back and forth so dramatically.
“Hehe. Anyway, it went as expected, didn’t it?”
“The matter of family and home? Well, with those strange eyes and behavior unbecoming of her age, we knew something was off, right?”
Didn’t we know this since our tea meeting?” Thalagong retorts to Kaede. The appearance revealed when the hood was taken off contrasted strangely with those intense eyes. Both Thalagong and Kaede wanted to know the cause behind such eyes.
“So, do you really intend to take her in?”
Kaede questions the true intention behind the earlier statement. If Inny Flowering truly had no parents, there would be no issue. Furthermore, Thalagong’s credibility and position as a magical girl could help.
Knowing Thalagong’s character, Kaede doesn’t oppose the idea of them taking in Inny Flowering. However, she wonders how it feels for Thalagong to become the sister of someone whose sibling once blew them to pieces during a simulation.
“I’m getting to a decent age, you know? I was planning to retire if Inie hadn’t survived, so it’s just a stopgap measure. I want Inie to carry on my legacy.”
While skimming through a report that Kaede hasn’t read yet, Thalagong answers.
“Decent age? You’re only 22, aren’t you…? By the way, what exactly is ‘Inie’?”
“It’s long, isn’t it, ‘Inny Flowering’? I considered various options, but ‘Inie’ seemed easiest to say.”
Thalagong scratches their slightly flushed cheeks while answering. They had also considered other names like “Feely” or “Fryoo,” but discarded them as they sounded awkward.
“If you need anything from my place, let me know. I’ll arrange it for you.”
Kaede reads the report that Thalagong had hastily compiled. It was neatly organized, reaffirming Kaede’s belief in Thalagong’s competence.
If anyone other than Thalagong had been dispatched to defeat M·D·W…
The top two magical girls possess magic to suppress explosions. But if they had summoned interception monsters at such close range, civilians and three magical girls might have perished.
Other high-ranked fighters might have been able to defeat M·D·W, but likely not without casualties. The strategy succeeded because Inny Flowering was there.
As Kaede reads the report, she glances at Thalagong, who has somehow helped with her work—her colleague and senior magical girl.
Though rankings exist, Kaede respects everything about Thalagong except their bad habits.
She knows there’s a reason behind those habits, but others have quit due to them, causing her concern amidst the shortage of personnel.
And if Inny Flowering hadn’t survived, Thalagong said she would’ve retired.
There are two magical girls capable of entering the top ten currently, but between them and the current top ten, Thalagong is the most effective.
Of course, the ninth-ranked magical girl is competent too, but she’s stuck with paperwork and administrative tasks, which has neglected her duties as a magical girl due to her dual responsibilities in the Magic Bureau and Fairy Bureau.
Kaede understands the situation but still hopes for proper monster extermination.
Somewhere along the line, Thalagong finishes half of Kaede’s piled-up work and leaves the office.
About a week after the tea party, Kaede had gathered information on Inny Flowering but found nothing.
Neither the contracted fairy nor any base location nor her pre-transformation name could be identified.
Now under Thalagong’s protection, they can monitor the situation.
In terms of strength, Inny Flowering probably won’t reach the rank of an elite fighter anytime soon.
But among regular magical girls, she possesses exceptional power and uniqueness.
And the miracle shown against M·D·W.
Kaede told both Inny Flowering and Thalagong it was due to equipment failure, but the actual cause remains unknown.
Even the fairy managing the footage couldn’t explain why the video feed cut out.
What did Inny Flowering do and what happened during the battle with M·D·W?
Just moments ago, the emotionless magical girl casually mentioned being willing to sacrifice her life and even her existence.
Despite the promising future, Kaede feels a faint unease.
Will humanity meet a peaceful end or eternal warfare?
The battle that began on “The Day of Beginnings” shows no sign of ending.
Superficial strength is unnecessary now.
What’s needed is a method for “The Day of Beginnings” to become “The Day of Endings.”
Kaede contemplates the next generation transition.
Probably… knock, knock.
Lost in thought while working, Kaede hears a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
The door slowly opens, revealing a glimpse of a white coat. A somewhat emaciated magical girl wearing glasses enters.
“Hello, Kaede. I heard the example girl woke up?”
“Ah, Jeanne. She’s asleep now but has recovered enough to move around.”
“I see. I investigated her a bit; she seems capable of recovery magic, quite proficiently too.”
Jeanne sits on the sofa, pulls out a block-shaped stick from her pocket, and starts eating.
Kaede watches silently and shakes her head lightly.
“You always eat that. Occasionally, you should have a proper meal. Is there a video reference on recovery magic that you’ve seen?”
“Well, these provide all the nutrients I need, so it’s convenient. I saw the video. After she fully recovers, could I occasionally borrow her as my assistant?”
Kaede considers Jeanne’s proposal. With Inny Flowering’s consent, it’s not a bad idea.
They owe her for healing Inny Flowering this time, and there are no particular issues.
“Can you properly take care of her? She’s just an 11-year-old child.”
Jeanne, known for her eccentricities, is careless about things outside her interests. Currently, she subsists on solid nutrition supplements because meals are bothersome.
Her office is messy, and though Thalagong occasionally cleans it, it never stays tidy.
“Excuse me! I am a 25-year-old adult, after all. Taking care of one or two kids is no problem!”
Jeanne shakes her head indignantly, but Kaede knows her past misdeeds.
She once overworked a magical girl capable of recovery magic as her assistant until the girl fled.
However, Kaede can’t help but think that with her clouded eyes, Inny Flowering might surprisingly get along well with Jeanne.
“For that, please consult her and Thalagong. Is it alright if I entrust tomorrow morning’s examination to you?”
“Understood. I’ll come again tomorrow morning. But why does Thalagong’s permission matter?”
Kaede explains that Thalagong will adopt Inny Flowering as her sister and enroll her in the academy.
Upon hearing this, Jeanne grins mischievously, thinking she’s found good material for gossip.
Though busy, Jeanne will go to great lengths for her hobbies.
It’s unknown whether this sly grin will trouble Thalagong and Inny Flowering.
“I see. Well, it makes sense to send her to school while young, but isn’t she supposed to be dead? What will you do about that?”
“There have been many magical girls with the same name before, so we plan to re-register her. There was some jealousy from the Magic Bureau, but this will settle everything cleanly.”
“True, but registering after supposedly dying within a month sounds suspicious… Still, fortunately, her identity hasn’t been exposed yet, so it should be fine… Not my problem anyway. I’ve said my piece, so I’ll come again tomorrow.”
Jeanne pulls out another stick from her pocket, eats it while leaving the room.
Kaede watches her go with concern, wishing to return home but needing to urgently complete the procedures for enrolling Inny Flowering into the academy.
Currently, there are about 100 magical girls in the Japanese branch of the Magical Girl Academy. Among them, nine are categorized as newcomers.
Kaede plans to transfer Inny Flowering into this newcomer class.
This class also accommodates magical girls undergoing remedial education for misconduct, with numbers fluctuating accordingly.
Sometimes older magical girls join for age-related reasons, making the class rather chaotic.
This class includes Marin from the North Kanto Branch and two magical girls attacked by a mysterious one recently. Kaede doesn’t foresee the commotion Inny Flowering’s addition will cause in the academy.
After finishing the remaining work assisted by Thalagong, Kaede heads to the academy, handing over the transfer application and a paper with Thalagong’s name as guardian to the academy office.
Though processed smoothly at the time, problems would arise later.
Tranquility eludes Inny Flowering.