The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 36
“…”
With her arms folded…
Tidal silently observed Raging Flame’s battle from above.
Unlike the Arm Monster or the Shadow Hunter…
The Mole Men were extremely weak in direct combat.
Their only weapons were the sharp claws they used for digging.
Against a magical girl’s Soul Weapon…
Those claws posed almost no threat.
“Hyaaah!”
Raging Flame charged straight into the group.
Her massive greatsword spun like a raging whirlwind.
One slash.
Then another.
Within moments…
Several Mole Men burst apart into streams of magical particles…
Vanishing into the night.
The remaining creatures immediately realized they were hopelessly outmatched.
Squeaking in panic…
They scattered in every direction.
In the blink of an eye…
The entire field fell silent.
Only Raging Flame remained standing.
Moonlight bathed the wetland.
A cool evening breeze drifted across the grass.
The damp scent of fresh soil lingered in the air.
It was as though the battle had never happened.
The park returned to its quiet…
Mysterious calm.
…Is that it?
Raging Flame carefully looked around.
After confirming that every Mole Man had disappeared…
She rested her greatsword across her shoulder.
Then looked up at Tidal.
Her expression clearly asked—
Is it over?
…Idiot.
Tidal sighed inwardly.
Standing right in the middle of the battlefield…
And lowering your guard already?
Her eyes swept across the ground.
Surrounding Raging Flame…
There were seven or eight freshly dug tunnels.
Since they had all been made by the same group…
They were almost certainly connected underground.
Yes…
The Mole Men had fled.
But fleeing didn’t mean they had abandoned the fight.
It was no different from a game of whack-a-mole.
You never knew…
Which hole one would emerge from next.
Quietly…
Tidal raised her staff.
Using the crystal at its tip as a sight…
She aimed toward the tunnel closest to Raging Flame.
If they’re going to attack…
It’ll be from there.
Magic gathered.
The transparent crystal gradually filled with brilliant white light.
She deliberately chose not to warn Raging Flame.
Some lessons…
Had to be experienced personally.
Only by facing a real ambush…
And being rescued…
Would the mistake truly leave a lasting impression.
Several seconds passed.
The night breeze continued to blow softly.
Then—
Tidal’s instincts screamed.
It’s coming!
Without the slightest warning…
Without making a sound…
A Mole Man suddenly burst from the tunnel nearest to Raging Flame.
Its twenty-centimeter claws reflected the moonlight like sharpened steel.
They slashed directly toward her neck.
At almost the exact same instant…
Tidal released her spell.
A brilliant beam shot forward.
But—
It missed.
The beam struck only the ground…
Leaving behind a scorched trail and rising smoke.
Not because Tidal had misjudged the timing.
But because…
Just before her attack connected…
A glowing arrow had already pierced the Mole Man’s body.
The tremendous impact hurled the creature across the field…
Before pinning it firmly against the trunk of a distant tree.
“…”
Following the arrow’s path…
Tidal slowly turned toward the darkness.
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
She had long…
Golden-blonde hair styled into exaggerated spiral twin tails.
Each curl was decorated with adorable star-shaped hairpins.
She wore a fluffy short dress inspired by old European court fashion.
Complete with ribbons…
And a tiny matching hat.
Cute.
Bright.
Overflowing with youthful energy.
Yet…
The elegant longbow decorated with layers of jasmine petals…
Along with the sleek black knee-high boots she wore…
Made it clear she was also a warrior.
“So?”
“How was that, Lao Sun?”
“My aim’s pretty good, right?”
“…It’s Lao Lin.”
The lucky cat resting on her shoulder let out an exhausted sigh.
Having completed her dramatic entrance…
The new magical girl skipped happily toward the other two.
“My name is Huang Xing!”
“Huang as in ‘bright’…”
“And Xing as in ‘star.'”
“Hehe.”
“I came up with that introduction on the way here.”
“Cute, right?”
As she spoke…
She flashed an energetic V-sign toward Raging Flame.
Her smile was dazzling.
“H-Hi…”
“I’m Raging Flame.”
“I’m… also a magical girl.”
Unlike Huang Xing…
You Xi had always been rather reserved.
She had no idea how to deal with someone this outgoing.
“I’ve already heard all about you from Lao Li!”
“You’re Captain Raging Flame, right?!”
Without hesitation…
Huang Xing grabbed both of Raging Flame’s hands.
The sudden contact startled her so much that she nearly jumped.
“I’m just an ordinary high school girl.”
“I only became a magical girl today.”
“So I still have lots to learn.”
“Please take good care of me, Senior!”
“…You’re a high school student too?”
“Huh?”
“So you’re one as well?”
“…Yeah.”
The moment Raging Flame nodded…
Huang Xing became even more excited.
“Yes!”
“That’s awesome!”
“I was worried we’d have a huge generation gap.”
“Or that we wouldn’t get along.”
“But we’re around the same age!”
“Perfect~”
“…Yeah.”
Raging Flame smiled awkwardly.
She couldn’t help feeling relieved.
At least…
Her new teammate was someone her own age.
That alone was reassuring.
“And…”
Huang Xing suddenly pointed toward Tidal…
Who had just landed beside them.
“Who’s this little one?”
“An elementary school student?”
“She’s so tiny!”
“So cute!”
She happily circled around Tidal…
Admiring her from every angle.
“…Uh…”
Raging Flame immediately stepped forward.
“Th-This is Tidal.”
“She’s a Magic Commander from the Magic Kingdom.”
“Right now…”
“She’s probably the most experienced magical girl in all of Shangjing.”
“We all call her…”
“‘Great Senior’…”
“Out of respect.”
While explaining…
Raging Flame nervously glanced at Tidal’s face.
Fortunately…
There wasn’t the slightest hint of anger.
Even after being mistaken for a child…
Tidal remained as calm and composed as ever.
“…Just call me ‘Senior.'”
She waved her hand dismissively.
“Yes, ma’am!”
Huang Xing immediately gave an exaggerated salute.
“Senior Tidal!”
“Senior Raging Flame!”
“I can’t believe I met two magical girls on my very first day!”
“This is amazing!”
“I’ll definitely brag about this to everyone at school tomorrow!”
“…What exactly did you become a magical girl for?”
Lao Lin muttered helplessly.
“Oh!”
“Let’s exchange contact information!”
Huang Xing immediately pulled out her phone.
Then suddenly paused.
“Actually…”
“Wouldn’t it be better if we transformed back first?”
“Exchanging phone numbers while dressed as magical girls…”
“Feels kind of strange.”
“Touch your Soul Gem with your index finger.”
“And picture your original appearance.”
Lao Lin reminded her.
“Like this?”
Huang Xing gently placed her finger on her Soul Gem.
She imagined her everyday self.
A brilliant white light erupted around her.
The magical particles composing her transformed body scattered into the air.
The magical girl named Huang Xing disappeared.
Standing there instead…
Was a fashionable young girl with a golden ponytail.
Silver earrings sparkled beneath the moonlight.
A confident smile rested on her face.
“My name…”
“…Is Mo Li.”
She spun gracefully in place.
Her plaid skirt fluttered with the movement…
Briefly revealing a teasing glimpse beneath its hem.
Then…
Still smiling sweetly…
She looked at the two frozen magical girls.
“So?”
“Which version of me…”
“Do you think is cuter?”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
