The Everyday Life of Magical Girl Marin
Magical Girl Marin wakes up early in the morning.
She rises at 5 a.m. and goes for a light run.
After taking a shower and eating breakfast, she heads to the North Kanto Branch of the Magic Bureau.
“Good morning.”
Upon arriving at the North Kanto Branch, Marin greets the staff and operators as she passes by and opens the door to the simulator room.
When Marin enters the simulator room, Shirokigawa is there making adjustments.
“Oh, good morning. You’re working hard again today. What settings would you like?”
“I’d like the same as last time, please. No allies this time.”
Since her battle with M·D·W, Marin has been running simulations whenever she has free time.
The reason for this is that her Enhanced Form’s output isn’t stable yet.
Shirokigawa looks at Marin, who is full of energy even in the morning, and smiles, as if saying, “There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Right after the battle with M·D·W, Marin was in bad shape.
This was partly due to injuries and fatigue, but mostly because she was worried about Inie, who had saved her life.
The three members from the North Kanto Branch were treated at a medical facility in the Fairy Realm designated for magical girls after the battle.
After receiving treatment and getting a night’s rest, Marin felt physically better.
However, upon waking up, Marin was subjected to an interview regarding M·D·W, recounting what happened to the fairies and other magical girls who came to take statements.
After the interview concluded, Marin was informed of the official report: Inie had perished in combat.
Marin knew—or rather, pretended to know—that Inie wouldn’t make it.
After the interview, Marin was shown a shortened combat video of Inie due to equipment malfunctions.
While Thalagong transported Inie without issue, everyone was amazed at their speed.
Inie cutting through a barrage of rain and hail was gripping to watch.
The fairy and magical girl watching the video with Marin were completely absorbed in it.
Due to the camera angle, they couldn’t see the expressions of Thalagong and Inie, but they could hear their conversation.
“Alright, I’ll let go soon. Are you ready?”
“…I won’t tell you to come back alive. Please…please die for us.”
“As a magical girl, it is my duty. I swear on my name.”
“! …I leave the rest to you!”
Marin clenched her fists tightly.
Though Marin wasn’t stupid and could understand Thalagong’s intentions, it was difficult for her to bear hearing Inie being told to die.
From Inie’s back sprouted radiant white wings, and she headed toward M·D·W alone.
“There’s no way I could ever do that…”
A magical girl watching the video with Marin muttered under her breath.
Likely, no one except top-tier ranked magical girls could replicate Inie’s actions.
It wasn’t like a person challenging a tank.
It was more akin to an ant challenging a human.
Compared to when she was with Thalagong, Inie’s speed slowed, and every time she was hit, blood splattered.
Still, despite moving slower than before, because she barely dodged attacks, the distance between her and M·D·W gradually decreased.
Even though she was already battered, she continued flying, staining herself further with red.
Inie cast a new spell, and black, ominous wings emerged.
And so began Inie’s solitary battle.
Raging magic. Cannonballs firing. Swarms of monsters approaching.
Victory was never visible from the start.
“This video is incredible no matter how many times you watch it. She’s extraordinary. But one thing’s for sure—she’s no fool,” said the fairy who knew the outcome of the battle.
Fairies and humans have a relationship based purely on mutual interests.
Beyond matters of benefit, fairies prioritize their own curiosity.
For better or worse, Inie had earned the fairies’ respect.
The video continued for several minutes before ending, transitioning to footage of Marin’s battle afterward.
After seeing Inie’s combat earlier, Marin felt ashamed of their own immaturity.
While Inie was fighting hard, they had been overwhelmed and cornered.
As the video progressed, it reached the scene where Marin awakens.
“I won’t lose. There’s still no way I can afford to lose!”
In the video, Marin undergoes a further transformation, reversing the hopeless situation.
“Even as a rookie, awakening like that? There must be fewer than five others who’ve done that,” remarked the impressed magical girl.
Though Marin found it somewhat embarrassing to be seen crying.
Whenever videos involving spider-type monsters or Inie appeared, something always seemed to be amiss.
Following that, the video showed Thalagong and Marin teaming up to annihilate the monsters…and then…
“This magic circle is breathtaking every time I see it. It might be called the greatest masterpiece in the history of magical girls!” exclaimed the fairy, excitedly spinning around after seeing the magic circle in the video.
Indeed, the magic circle was terrifying.
The geometric symbols etched everywhere and its vast size covering the sky.
It was far too reckless for a single magical girl to use.
Marin wondered where someone could possibly draw such power from.
“Do you understand the meaning of this magic circle?”
“Of course. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be this excited. Since it’s a special occasion, I’ll give you a brief explanation.”
The fairy proudly puffed out their chest and began explaining to the magical girls who had come for the interview, including Marin.
The magic circle contained the concept of destruction, and once activated, it would surely destroy whatever was specified.
Ordinarily, something so grandiose couldn’t be used.
The cost wasn’t something that could be balanced by mere magical power alone.
Perhaps someone with Kaede-level magical power might be able to manage it, but there was no way Inie, who was already battered, possessed such strength.
“So, the price for this magic…it turns out the caster’s soul is specified. To go this far isn’t something just anyone can do,” explained the fairy.
Upon hearing this, Marin realized that Inie had never intended to return alive from the start.
(Inny Flowering…you…)
The video ended with the explosion of M·D·W and Thalagong enduring it.
Marin’s subsequent despair was heart-wrenching to witness.
She minimally attended the academy and participated in monster hunts, but day by day, she grew weaker, and it was only a matter of time before she collapsed.
Shirokigawa and Amakaze tried their best to help Marin, but to no avail.
Things began to change for Marin a week ago.
Surprisingly, Inie had transferred into Marin’s beginner class.
Despite having disappeared from the official rankings, she reappeared as a new student marked with a “new” tag.
Her monster slaying count had been reset to zero.
Whether she had survived or been resurrected remained unclear.
There was debate on certain message boards, but to Marin, it didn’t matter.
Just knowing that Inie was alive was enough.
Seeing her familiar clouded eyes and expression, Marin made a vow:
To always stand beside this girl, Inny Flowering.
Marin wanted to say she wished to protect her benefactor, but she was aware she lacked the strength to do so.
Thus, Marin trained every morning.
After finishing the simulation, Marin exited the capsule.
Her face was swollen, revealing the results of the training.
“This didn’t work again.”
“Mu. It still doesn’t stabilize. It dissolves immediately when I let my guard down.”
Shirokigawa shook his head at Marin’s frustration.
Whereas not long ago Marin seemed on the verge of collapse, now he worried about her overworking herself.
As Marin prepared to start another simulation, Shirokigawa stopped her and pointed at the clock.
“It’s already this late! You need to get to the academy!”
Glancing at the clock, Marin hurriedly left the simulation room, not forgetting to bow and thank Shirokigawa.
Using the teleporter at the North Kanto Branch, she teleported near the academy and walked the rest of the way.
Most days, Marin entered the classroom second or third.
Upon entering, she found Sweeper, a magical girl, and Akatsuki, another magical girl, already present.
“Good morning.”
“Hey, president.”
“Morning.”
Sweeper greeted while munching on bread, and Akatsuki acknowledged while reading a book.
There was plenty of time before class started, so Marin took the opportunity to study.
Today, there was a test first thing, and depending on the results, Marin might not be able to train or hunt monsters in the afternoon.
Last week, only Marin, Take Mikadzuchi, and Rusty Calisten Alice managed to avoid failing, and more than half the students spent the afternoon studying instead.
A few minutes later, Mika and Inie entered the classroom.
“Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning.”
Mika greeted in an old-fashioned manner, while Inie politely addressed everyone.
Seeing Inie, Marin’s face brightened slightly.
Although seated, Inie often stared blankly out the window, which worried Marin about whether she could focus on studying.
But considering this mysterious girl, Marin assumed everything would be fine.
Gradually, more students arrived as the school bell rang across the campus.
Prizes, the homeroom teacher for the beginners’ class, entered the classroom empty-handed.
“Good morning. We’ll start with a test today, and after that, we’ll proceed to training using the simulators.”
With a snap of Prizes’ fingers, test papers appeared on each student’s desk.
The content varied by age, making it nearly impossible to cheat by looking at someone else’s paper.
For some reason, Inie tilted her head in confusion, but no one noticed as everyone focused on their test papers.
“Alright, begin. Keep in mind that cheating will result in immediate disqualification, so please be careful.”
Everyone began writing furiously, solving the test questions.
Marin did the same, answering smoothly.
(This seems fine so far.)
Midway through the test, Marin glanced sideways at Inie.
She was curious if Inie was keeping up with the test.
If Inie failed, Marin considered teaching her personally, pondering idly about it.
However, Inie’s hand moved swiftly.
Without pausing to think, she answered question after question fluently.
Internally surprised, Marin continued focusing on her own test.
The subjects were the four that Inie had taken during her transfer exam, with a time limit of three hours.
Forty minutes after the test began, Inie raised her hand.
“What’s the matter, Inie-san?”
“I’m finished.”
Her speed astonished Sweeper, who blurted out, “Seriously?”
Prizes, who had been instructed by Thalagon to prepare a test for 14-year-olds instead of 11-year-olds, internally mused that perhaps it hadn’t been necessary after all.
“Alright. Inie-san, you may proceed to training in the simulator.”
After submitting her test, Inie left the classroom.
Motivated not to fall behind, Marin hurriedly continued her test.
Ignoring occasional groans from around the room, Marin completed the test after an hour.
“I’m done!”
“Good job. Please proceed to the simulator.”
Exiting the classroom slowly, Marin quickened her pace once outside, careful not to make too much noise.
Entering the simulator room designated for beginners, Marin stepped into a capsule.
Once inside the simulation, Marin found Inie sleeping with her hood up.
Inie always wore her hood unless necessary.
Marin had wondered why before.
Was it to hide her face? Her eyes? Or perhaps a psychological desire to avoid interaction?
This was their fourth encounter since meeting at the academy.
Rescued by Inie during the spider-monster incident, sharing a meal together, parting ways after the battle with M·D·W, and now meeting again at the academy.
Watching Inie chat with Mika made Marin feel a slight twinge of unease.
She wasn’t sure what it was exactly.
Yet, observing Inie sleep peacefully like this filled Marin with a gentle warmth.
Though Marin hadn’t yet seen Inie smile, she hoped that her first smile would be directed at her.
Sitting next to the sleeping Inie, Marin gazed up at the sky.
Being a magical girl meant uncertainty about when one might die.
Maybe today…or tomorrow.
Everyone dreams of a day without monsters, but fifty years since “the Day of Beginnings,” that day hasn’t come yet.
And if it never does…
While Marin was lost in these thoughts, she heard a rustling sound beside her.
Startled, she turned to find Inie awake.
“Good morning, Inie.”
“Good morning. Is it alright to skip training?”
Though Marin wanted to tell Inie to stop sleeping and start training, both she and Inie had already surpassed the beginner level.
Upon awakening, Marin could easily hunt B-class monsters like weeds and even contend with A-class ones.
However, her Enhanced Form wasn’t stable yet, so training was essential.
With her staff, Inie could engage S-class opponents, but without it, she struggled in one-on-one battles.
Still, she could handle B-class foes without trouble.
Inie simply replied, “Alright,” and resumed sleeping.
Inie woke up again when Sweeper hugged her after finishing the test.
Marin’s uneventful day passed in this manner.
