The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 37

“Y-You…”

Raging Flame stood frozen in shock.

The words caught in her throat.

Beside her…

Even Tidal was momentarily speechless.

Seeing both of them staring silently…

Mo Li completely misunderstood the situation.

“Hehe.”

“Did my cuteness leave you speechless?”

She struck another dramatic pose…

Like a model posing for the cover of a fashion magazine.

Then spread her fingers proudly…

Showing off her glittering manicure.

“As if!”

“Stop being so full of yourself!”

Finally snapping back to reality…

Raging Flame whirled toward Lao Lin.

“What were you thinking?!”

“Why her?!”

“You idiot!”

“…Huh?”

Lao Lin blinked in confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Did I miss something?”

His ears drooped pitifully…

Like a cat being scolded without understanding why.

“Huh?”

Mo Li tilted her head.

“The way you’re talking…”

“You know me?”

“Wait…”

“You’re from Xinwang High too?”

“Hehe.”

“I guess that’s not surprising.”

“I’m pretty famous throughout the whole school.”

“…Of course I know you.”

Raging Flame gritted her teeth.

A flash of crimson light surrounded her.

The magical girl vanished.

Standing there instead…

Was You Xi.

“…Wah!”

“It’s the Gorilla Girl!”

Now…

It was Mo Li’s turn to freeze.

“What did you just call me?!”

“Say it again!”

“Gorilla Girl!”

“Gorilla Girl!”

“Gorilla Girl!”

Mo Li shouted repeatedly.

Then instantly darted behind Tidal.

Realizing Tidal was much shorter than herself…

She crouched down…

Using the tiny magical girl as a living shield.

“…”

Tidal wore the expression of someone who had completely given up on life.

…What did I ever do to deserve this?

Out of every possible candidate…

The second member of the Fifth Ring Magical Girl Squad…

Had turned out to be Mo Li.

Her niece’s greatest enemy.

…How am I supposed to lead this team?

Just imagining it…

Trying to command two teenage girls who couldn’t stand the sight of one another…

Into battle against Aberrations…

Filled her with despair.

And the scene unfolding before her…

Only confirmed her worst fears.

“Stop hiding behind Senior!”

“Get out here!”

“Using her as a shield is so rude!”

“Why should I listen to you?”

“And who was it…”

“That barged into my house…”

“And shoved me onto the floor?”

“…I already apologized!”

“Wasn’t that enough?”

“Hmph.”

“Not accepted.”

“…Then what exactly do you want?!”

“Hehe.”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“So for now…”

“Your apology is officially rejected.”

“You’re the absolute worst!”

You Xi glared at her.

Her eyes burned with irritation.

“And you’re any better?”

Mo Li peeked out from behind Tidal’s shoulder.

Then stuck up her middle finger.

“…”

Their eyes met.

Filled with contempt.

Disgust.

And mutual hatred.

“…Um…”

Lao Lin hesitantly raised a paw.

“I don’t really understand…”

“But…”

“Could somebody explain what’s happening?”

“Shut up!”

“Be quiet!”

For the first time…

The two girls answered in perfect unison.

“It’s all your fault!”

“This is your fault!”

“…S-Sorry…”

Although he still had no idea what he’d done…

Lao Lin instinctively sensed that apologizing was the safest choice.

He quietly lowered his head.

“…Enough.”

Seeing the argument spiraling endlessly…

Tidal clapped her hands once.

The crisp sound instantly silenced everyone.

“I’ve already heard about your conflict.”

She looked from one girl to the other.

“…Conflict?”

Lao Lin blinked.

“Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”

“They’re just children.”

“What kind of conflict could they possibly have?”

“You.”

“Be quiet.”

“…S-Sorry.”

One cold glance from Tidal…

Was enough.

Lao Lin obediently retreated to the side.

Without another word.

Tidal turned back toward the girls.

“I understand.”

“Neither of you can accept the other right now.”

“That’s perfectly normal.”

“But…”

“I need both of you to understand something.”

“This…”

“Is what it means to be a magical girl.”

“When you accepted this responsibility…”

“You should also have been prepared…”

“For unexpected situations.”

She spoke patiently.

“Of course…”

“You’re both still young.”

“It’s alright if you’re not ready yet.”

“We’ll take things one step at a time.”

“I’ll be here to guide you.”

“So don’t rush.”

Her calm voice carried quiet authority.

“The first lesson…”

“Is learning to separate your ordinary identity…”

“From your identity as a magical girl.”

She pointed toward You Xi.

“You…”

“Are Raging Flame.”

Then toward Mo Li.

“And you…”

“Are Huang Xing.”

“I won’t force you to become friends.”

“That’s your personal relationship.”

“I have no right to interfere.”

“But…”

“The moment you transform…”

“You become members of the Fifth Ring Magical Girl Squad.”

“And as your mentor…”

“I have one requirement.”

“Our enemy…”

“Is the Aberrations.”

“As long as that remains your shared objective…”

“I believe…”

“You can temporarily put aside your personal grudges.”

“And fight together.”

“At the very least…”

“Don’t sabotage each other.”

“…Understood?”

Silence followed.

At that moment…

Not only You Xi…

But even Mo Li realized something.

The blue-haired magical girl standing before them…

Might look like a child.

But…

Her speech.

Her reasoning.

Her composure.

Everything about her…

Belonged to an experienced adult.

She was gentle.

Yet every word carried undeniable authority.

“…Huh.”

You Xi muttered quietly.

“Senior sounds exactly like my uncle…”

She unconsciously recalled the conversation they’d had on the way to Mo Li’s house.

“…She…”

Mo Li blinked.

“…Sounds just like my dad.”

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her.

“…Ahem.”

Tidal coughed awkwardly.

Then continued.

“Anyway…”

“That’s enough for today.”

“It wasn’t the best first meeting.”

“But I hope both of you…”

“Will seriously think about…”

“What it truly means to be a magical girl.”

“Whether you’re protecting the city.”

“Protecting peace.”

“Protecting someone precious.”

“Or…”

“Simply wanting something impressive to brag about.”

She smiled faintly.

“Growing up…”

“Means learning to endure things you once couldn’t.”

“And accepting people…”

“You once thought you never could.”

“That…”

“Is also part of becoming an adult.”

“…Alright.”

“I’ve lectured enough.”

“I’m sure you’re already tired of listening.”

“So we’ll end today’s mission here.”

“I’ll take Raging Flame home.”

“Lao Lin.”

“You escort Mo Li.”

“Understood?”

“Understood.”

Lao Lin nodded.

“Alright, Mo Li.”

“Let’s head back.”

“…Wait.”

Mo Li stopped him.

She walked over to Tidal.

“Senior.”

“Thank you for everything today.”

“I didn’t understand all of it…”

“But…”

“I’ll do my best.”

“I’ll work hard to become a proper magical girl.”

Then she flashed her usual cheerful smile.

“See you next time!”

“Bye-bye!”

“…Goodbye.”

As she turned to leave…

Mo Li kept looking back.

“No matter how many times I look…”

“Senior is just too adorable.”

“How does her skirt float like that?”

“I have to learn that someday…”

She sighed in admiration…

Following behind Lao Lin.

“…Tch.”

“What a shameless suck-up.”

You Xi muttered under her breath.

“Hmph.”

Mo Li immediately turned around.

“Tidal Senior belongs to me too.”

“You don’t get to monopolize her.”

“I met her first!”

“So what?”

“I’ll prove through my actions…”

“That I’m a much better junior than you.”

“…Better at what?”

“Talking?”

“Everything.”

“I’m better at everything.”

“…Fine.”

“Then let’s make a bet.”

“We’ll see who defeats more Aberrations.”

“Deal.”

“The loser…”

“Is a dog.”

“…You’re on.”

The two girls glared at each other once more.

Neither willing to back down.

Watching them bicker…

Tidal rubbed her forehead.

…Well…

At least competition isn’t always a bad thing.

She could only comfort herself…

With that thought.