The magical girl challenges a higher rank.
I don’t want her to be in the top 10.
That’s my request.
It would be troublesome for someone who will disappear in the future to become a high-ranking member, and I don’t want to work like Arongante.
It’s better to decline any worries now.
By the way, my current ranking is unknown.
“―Why is that?”
“My power still isn’t suitable for such a high rank… Is that acceptable?”
Thanks to the power of Arcana, I can achieve results, but on my own, I’m just about S Rank.
There’s no problem with this excuse.
I assume I can get by by listing my age or making up some lies.
“Personally, I hope you’ll work hard as the next generation’s high-ranking member, but I suppose I can accept it. I’ll make sure Inie doesn’t become a high-ranking member.”
“Thank you.”
Marin will likely work hard in my place.
If not, there are others like Mika and Star Nail.
Considering only magical girls, Japan’s future seems bright.
“Our departure will be at 7:00 AM tomorrow. I’ll send the minimum necessary items to your terminal shortly, so please prepare accordingly. And please take care of Ren while she sleeps.”
She was sleeping quietly… Is everything really alright?
“My requests are done, but is there anything you’d like to ask?”
“If we don’t appear after a week, what happens?”
“It depends on the situation in England, but we’re considering withdrawing. There’s a possibility we might leave Ren behind, but you don’t need to worry about Inie.”
No matter what happens, if we can return within a week, there shouldn’t be any problems.
(Are there any issues from the Demons?)
“It’s fine, but Haruna will have to work hard, right~”
Given their smiles, things in England must be quite tough.
They’ll probably teach us what we need to know, so I’ll ignore the Demon matters for now.
“I think I’m fine, but what about Ren?”
While Ren slept soundly during my conversation with Arongante, I wonder why Arongante’s handling of her seems so casual?
“I’ll take her since there’s something I’m curious about.”
“Alright. I’ll arrange for a fairy to carry her, so please wait a moment.”
When Arongante pressed the button on the desk, a fairy appeared after a few minutes.
“What do you need?”
“Please follow this magical girl and move that statue.”
“Understood. Where should we move it?”
“An empty simulator room.”
The cheerful fairy levitated Ren with magic and left.
After casting recovery magic on Arongante and then chasing after the fairy, I entered the third simulator room.
“Please let her sit there. Thank you for carrying her.”
“You’re welcome.”
To remain asleep even while being moved—she’s quite impressive.
Maybe I should emulate Arongante and hit her.
After chopping her head a few times, she only made a slightly unpleasant face without waking up.
The hits I delivered likely caused little pain, so maybe I should use that.
Though I don’t want to resort to violence, it’s her fault for not waking up.
I took out my staff, swung it wide, and struck her stomach with all my might.
Since my conscience stopped me from hitting her head, I went for a full swing to her stomach.
“Oh… That was quite a wake-up call.”
“Isn’t it too painful?”
The sound was like “pochun.” For a magical girl, it’s probably the level of pain from trimming a hangnail.
“You woke me up, so do you need something?”
“Yes. Would you mind having a battle?”
“There’s no reason, but I thought since this opportunity to meet Rentan is rare, we might as well.”
There’s no particular reason, but I want to fight all of Japan’s high-ranking members while I have the chance.
We can’t have an actual serious battle, but at least through simulation.
“There’s no reason, but since opportunities to meet Rentan are scarce, I thought we might as well.”
“Fuuun, I see. To what extent will you use your abilities?”
“On our side, no Enhanced Form. How about no Arcana on mine?”
Even without Enhanced Form, Rentan is likely strong, but if we both go all-out, we won’t know what will happen.
Then, fighting in our initial states would be best.
“Understood. But, even knowing there’s no chance of winning, will you still do it?”
“Yes. Are you dissatisfied?”
“No. It’s fine. However… I haven’t fought a magical girl in a long time, so I can’t hold back?”
I’d prefer if she fights with all her strength rather than holding back, but this person is difficult in her own way.
Her ability mainly freezes things.
Alone, this isn’t necessarily a super-strong ability, but the targets she can freeze include everything:
People. Objects. Time.
If certain conditions are met, it becomes utterly unreasonable.
In other words, depending on the situation, there’s a possibility I could be instantly killed.
There’s no real reason to fight Rentan now, but considering any potential situations, I want to fight once beforehand.
If it’s not the first time encountering her, there might be a chance.
“It’s fine. Also, since we’ll be working together for a short period, it’s better to know each other somewhat.”
“That’s true. Let’s do it then.”
We entered the pod, and the simulator activated.
The setting is deathmatch, but otherwise, it’s the same as during school.
(Just asking, what’s the win rate?)
“Surprisingly, it’s 0%. You can’t win even if miracles happen.”
It’s quite harsh, but I agree.
Based on my research, I don’t meet the minimum requirements to fight Rentan.
Few people meet those requirements, but basically, I have no chance of winning.
I held my staff ready, waiting for the start.
Rentan also has a staff, though I can’t see it clearly due to the distance.
A sound rang out, and the battle began.
Immediately after, I was sent back to the pod.
1
“Is it from Japan?”
At the headquarters of the Magic Bureau in London, England, a man listened to the report with a tired expression.
The report detailed the official request letter created by Arongante to send Rentan and Inie to England.
The content stated that due to expanding damage, a magical girl would be sent from the country. Both sides were urged to cooperate and quickly adjust their stance.
In simpler terms, it was a threat: If you keep showing incompetence, our magical girl might cause trouble.
“Yes. Officially, it’s a rescue mission, but… ”
“I understand. Who’s coming?”
“Second-ranked FreeRenshlauf will come. And then…”
The man hesitated while reading the report multiple times.
Normally, he’d urge him to speak faster, but hearing the name Freerenshlauf—Rentan—had him clutching his head.
Rentan’s activities primarily involve monster hunting, but the high-ranking magical girls affiliated with Japan tend to cause some kind of trouble.
Eventually, cleaning up these messes falls to Arongante’s responsibility, and among them, Rentan’s incidents are nightmares for some magical girls and related parties.
Rentan specializes in monsters and operates solo due to her strength.
However, during a certain monster hunt, she had to work with multiple magical girls.
And there, tragedy—or catastrophe—occurred.
If one were to assign blame, it would fall on Rentan, but outright accusing her isn’t entirely fair either.
“I think it’s better to operate alone, but is it really okay?”
During a strategy meeting for the hunt, Rentan made that statement.
It was taken as provocation, and it was decided that the hunt would proceed with 20 magical girls, including Rentan.
As a result, everyone survived the monster hunt alive.
However…
All the magical girls except Rentan were frozen solid.
Indeed, Rentan is powerful, but due to her personality and magical characteristics, her attacks often become indiscriminate.
Though lives were spared, the event became a historical incident.
Since then, Rentan hasn’t teamed up with anyone and rarely leaves Japan.
Now, Japan has sent such an indiscriminate weapon to England.
It’s understandable why the man clutched his head.
“And also, Inny Flowering will accompany her.”
“Inny Flowering?”
The man, who had been clutching his head, looked up, pondering where he’d heard that name before.
Then he exclaimed in surprise.
“The Inny Flowering from Australia!”
“Yes. Her current rank is unknown, but she can be considered an unofficial high-ranking member.”
The man was surprised for various reasons, but his expression suggested negative feelings.
“Hey, Roshe”
“What is it, Director?”
“Can I quit?”
“I’d like to quit too if possible.”
The Director of the British Magic Bureau, Bayern Ehrlich,
and Deputy Director Roshe Taylor.
Both are part of Arongante’s team, but reforms in the Magic Bureau and among magical girls haven’t progressed at all.
For various reasons, but the main issue was Bayern’s complete lack of leadership as director.
Corrupt employees and magical girls were dealt with, but nothing went smoothly afterward.
The discord between the Magic Bureau and magical girls escalated, they were pressured by civilians, ignored by branch directors, and were in a sorry state.
Still, they persevered, but now Arongante had finally moved.
“The arrival is scheduled for tomorrow morning. What shall we do?”
“What’s the condition of the high-ranking members?”
“The magical girls ranked 10th to 8th are currently being selected. The 7th and 6th-ranked members are recuperating, and the rest are busy with hunts.”
“Are there any suitable candidates to greet them?”
Roshe checked the terminal but found no suitable magical girls to greet Rentan and company, shaking her head.
“Is it possible among the staff?”
“Most likely everyone will refuse. We could rely on Inny Flowering for treatment, which might improve things somewhat, but…”
“―Impossible”.
Bayern dismissed it immediately.
There’s no other reason—it’s because there’s no money to pay for it.
Minor treatments can be handled, but curing severe injuries or poison from monsters requires appropriate funds.
It might be manageable for one or two people, but treating an entire Magic Bureau is impossible, and relying on them recklessly would lead to uncontrollable situations for both of us.
“That’s right. Should we give up and hand over our authority in Britain?”
“We wouldn’t have to struggle if that were possible. The other side would likely refuse, and if it came to that, the British Magic Bureau would completely malfunction”.
Below Bayern, there’s hardly anyone left.
The government also struggles with friction with citizens, and it can’t be said to function properly.
“Besides, my beloved granddaughter is working hard as a magical girl. I won’t step down here. Well, in the end, I might negotiate with my head as collateral…”
“You… Ah!”
Roshe sighed, then seemed to realize something and spoke up.
“How about letting the Director’s granddaughter greet them? It would allow her to be excused from monster hunts, and if we’re lucky, she might feel some obligation toward us.”
“Are you suggesting I throw my granddaughter into the lion’s den?”
Roshe’s proposal wasn’t bad, and Bayern understood that.
But he didn’t want to entrust his cute granddaughter to Rentan, who’s considered dangerous, and Inie, who’s young but possesses formidable powers and is unsettling.
“However, we need someone to be the sacrifice, and we have no other options. Perhaps taking a gamble isn’t so bad?”
“I understand, but… ”
“Also, Inny Flowering seems to have a compassionate heart, so I don’t think it’ll end badly”.
Before reporting to Bayern, Roshe had gathered basic information.
Despite some negative rumors about Inie, during the New Demon War and battles in Australia, she treated wounds without charge.
From this, Roshe believed it would be fine.
“Haa… Alright. Can you talk to her? And please ensure there are no mistakes.”
“Understood. Then, I’ll take my leave”.
Roshe bowed and left the room.
Left alone, Bayern scratched his cooling head and started working.
Will Britain face destruction or salvation?
That remains unknown to anyone.
