The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 34

Tidal quietly listened to Raging Flame’s confession.

As they flew…

Her eyes drifted toward the distant horizon.

This confusion.

This struggle.

This painful questioning of herself…

And of the world around her.

It was an essential part of growing up.

Realizing that You Xi had truly begun to mature…

Filled Tidal with a quiet sense of pride.

“…If you think this isn’t the right path…”

“Then why not quit?”

“…Huh?”

“Q-Quit?”

Raging Flame’s eyes widened.

She had never expected those words to come from her senior.

“You see?”

Tidal smiled faintly.

“The moment I suggested quitting…”

“You immediately resisted.”

“You didn’t want to.”

“That feeling…”

“Is your answer.”

“Most people don’t keep moving forward because of some magnificent dream.”

“They simply don’t want to live with regret.”

“You asked what motivates me to keep fighting as a magical girl.”

“I’ll tell you.”

She looked ahead.

Her voice remained calm.

“…Honestly.”

“I don’t have a noble dream like yours.”

“I don’t want to save everyone.”

“I don’t want to change the entire world.”

A quiet chuckle escaped her lips.

“My reason is much simpler.”

“I became a magical girl…”

“To protect someone.”

“Someone irreplaceable.”

“Just one person.”

“I accepted this power…”

“For her alone.”

“And from now on…”

“I’ll probably continue fighting…”

“Only for her.”

“…Just one person?”

Raging Flame couldn’t hide her surprise.

“…Yes.”

“Only one.”

Tidal glanced toward the girl flying beside her.

Raging Flame still had no idea…

What kind of determination lay hidden behind those calm eyes.

“As long as she exists…”

“I’ll never lose my reason to fight.”

“It’s really that simple.”

After listening quietly…

Raging Flame finally spoke.

“…Senior.”

“You make it sound easy.”

“But…”

“It must actually be incredibly difficult.”

To dedicate your entire life to protecting another person…

To shoulder everything alone…

It sounded almost like the resolve of a martyr.

Far beyond what an ordinary person could bear.

“…It is difficult.”

Tidal admitted without hesitation.

“But…”

“I have to do it.”

“It’s my responsibility.”

Her voice remained gentle.

Yet beneath that gentleness…

Was an iron determination that could never be shaken.

“…Senior…”

“You’re amazing.”

Raging Flame whispered softly.

Something deep inside her heart had been stirred.

“If only…”

“I had even a fraction of your resolve.”

“I started doubting myself after only a few setbacks.”

“I almost betrayed the promise I made…”

“When I first became a magical girl.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’m so weak.”

“…That’s perfectly normal.”

Tidal smiled reassuringly.

“You’re still a child.”

“I’m an adult.”

“Trying.”

“Failing.”

“Giving up.”

“Then wondering what to do with your future.”

“Those are privileges only children possess.”

“And…”

“It’s our responsibility as adults…”

“To protect your right to make those choices.”

She paused briefly.

“Oh.”

“By the way.”

“When I suggested quitting earlier…”

“I wasn’t joking.”

“I meant every word.”

“…S-Senior…”

Raging Flame stared blankly at her.

“…Continuing.”

“Or quitting.”

“Both are choices.”

Tidal’s eyes met hers.

“So?”

“What’s your answer, Raging Flame?”

“…I’ll continue.”

“I’ll remain a magical girl.”

She answered without hesitation.

“…During our first lesson…”

“You told me something.”

“When endless battles leave you exhausted…”

“When you lose your way…”

“Remember how you felt…”

“The moment you first became a magical girl.”

She smiled.

“…I think…”

“The version of me who made that promise…”

“Was really cool.”

“Much cooler than the miserable person I am now.”

“Ten times cooler.”

“No…”

“A hundred times.”

“So…”

“I can’t give up.”

“Because…”

“I refuse to disgrace…”

“The girl I used to be.”

“Hehe.”

Faced with Tidal’s challenge…

Raging Flame smiled.

It was brighter than the setting sun itself.

…Looks like I worried for nothing.

Tidal quietly relaxed.

Then suddenly accelerated.

“Keep up.”

“Yes, Senior!”

---

“…Um…”

“You’re Lao Lin…”

“Right?”

“…Sigh.”

Lao Lin pinched the bridge of his nose.

“That’s already the third time you’ve asked.”

“Can’t you remember anything?”

“Hey.”

“I got a concussion the other day.”

“Is it really so wrong to double-check?”

“And honestly…”

“Aren’t you being a little petty?”

“What do you mean, petty?”

“You said it.”

“So why am I saying it?”

“Once I’ve already said something…”

“You don’t need to say it again.”

“Understand?”

“…Huh?”

“Are you trying to make me solve a tongue twister?”

“My point is—”

“Stop repeating everything I say!”

“I’ve signed contracts with dozens of magical girls…”

“And you’re the first one who’s this shamelessly familiar with me!”

“Really?”

“Awesome!”

“I didn’t say it was awesome.”

“Pfft.”

“Why so serious?”

“But honestly…”

“I don’t blame you.”

“This magical girl outfit is ridiculously cute.”

“I seriously can’t get enough of it.”

“And the hair!”

“How do they even style it like this?”

“It’s straight out of a manga.”

“So cool!”

“…The outfit isn’t the important part.”

“I’m trying to explain something serious here.”

“Magical girls fight Aberrations.”

“They fight.”

“You understand that…”

“Right?”

“Wooow~~”

“So becoming a magical girl really was the right decision!”

“Now I can brag to all my friends!”

“‘Magical Girl Huangxing!'”

“Makes grand entrance!”

“Hmm…”

“What’s a cool catchphrase supposed to be?”

“…What exactly are you focusing on?”

“Oh!”

“Speaking of fighting…”

“I just remembered.”

“On TV…”

“Magical girls always fight in teams of four.”

“So what about me?”

“Am I going to be working alone?”

“Of course not.”

“I explained this before we signed the contract.”

“My current mission…”

“Is rebuilding the Fifth Ring Magical Girl Squad.”

“You.”

“Magical Girl Huangxing.”

“Are now the second member of that team.”

“Oh?”

“So there’s already a senior?”

“Who is she?”

“Her name is Raging Flame.”

“Captain of the Fifth Ring Magical Girl Squad.”

“I hope she’s easy to get along with.”

“But…”

“I’m this adorable.”

“There’s no way anyone could dislike me~”

“…I’m already getting a headache.”

“Why?”

“Because…”

“You both have incredibly strong personalities.”

“I have a feeling…”

“You two are going to argue all the time.”

“Haha.”

“Don’t worry.”

“You might not know this…”

“But I’ve always been super popular.”

“From childhood until now…”

“Nobody has ever disliked me.”

“It’s good to be confident.”

Lao Lin sighed.

“Although it’s a little sudden…”

“I’ll assign you your first mission soon.”

“It’ll mainly be an opportunity…”

“For you to meet your teammate.”

“And learn how the squad operates.”

“Huh?”

“I’m fighting already?”

“Against an Aberration?”

“What else would you be fighting?”

“Of course it’s an Aberration.”

“Seriously…”

“Do you even understand what kind of job you signed up for?”

“Defeating an Aberration?”

“Awesome!”

“Now I’ll have an even cooler story to brag about to my friends!”

“…”

Lao Lin fell completely silent.

For the first time in years…

He sincerely questioned whether recruiting this magical girl had been the right decision.