Congratulations on Your Magical Girl Duties

5 – Magical Aptitude Test (2)

It was an unexpected reaction from the nurse.

The moment she saw the results screen, she just panicked without saying a word.

Why though? Was there something strange about it?

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing! Everything’s normal! Let’s move on to the next step right away!”

The nurse spoke hurriedly, trying to gloss over things.

But I didn’t particularly want to check the results myself. I could already guess why the nurse was reacting that way.

According to the nurse’s earlier statement, everyone in the world possessed some degree of magic.

In contrast, I was now in a state where I had lost all the hero’s power. The magic that everyone possessed probably hadn’t registered at all.

A creature that didn’t even reach the level of an ordinary person, let alone a magical girl. An alien existence, estranged not only from this other world but from the present one as well.

That was me.

A slight unease settled in my heart, but I resolved to accept it calmly.

Whatever this is, my current state is solely the consequence of my last choice.

If I hadn’t, I’d already be dead.

Anyway.

“Alright, let’s move on to the next thing.”

“Yes.”

For now, I’d quickly get through the remaining physical examination.

The sequence of events that followed wasn’t particularly special. The situation of a screening test, whether in the past or now, was similar, and there was no particularly difficult stage.

“Just a moment, Mr. Kim Siyul. This is odd, you know?”

“What is?”

Actually, there was one thing.

“You’re 33, but your records stop after high school graduation. No certifications or work experience, all blank. It even says you don’t have a place to live.”

“……”

“Something must be wrong with the results. No, I’m certain of it. I can guarantee it. No matter how dramatically the world has changed, a person can’t be like this.”

The process of verifying an individual’s education and qualifications was the most difficult of all.

“Hold on. I’ll re-check one more time a-and-“

“That’s right, you friggin’ b*tch.”

To be precise, it was hard for them to acknowledge my records.

Understandably, psychologically.

“Oh… really? Nothing’s missing, this is really all there is?”

“Shut your trap, it’s seriously pissing me off.”

“Uh, that… I’m sorry.”

Anyway.

Now only one thing remained.

“Finally, it’s time for psychological counseling.”

Psychological counseling.

Simply put, a procedure to check whether the person being tested has any mental issues.

Even though the subject of the test is now a magical girl, this process hasn’t changed from the past. The only difference, if you had to find one, was the order of things.

“You know what it is, right?”

“You mean, talking to a doctor?”

There was, however, one stark difference from before.

“No, instead of doctors, I’ll be directly consulting with the magical girls themselves.”

“Why?”

“Well, you see…”

The nurse sighed softly before continuing.

“When we first started conscripting magical girls, we did use doctors, but most doctors are men, aren’t they? Well, to be precise, they’re more like contract civil servants.”

“I suppose so.”

“Because of that, there were an overwhelming number of cases where doctors were accused of s*xually harassing the magical girls.”

“Ah.”

It was an understandable story.

Even before I was dragged to this other world, there were so many instances of women falsely accusing innocent men.

The reasons were nothing special.

Simply because they were in a bad mood that day.

Because they didn’t like the other person’s appearance.

Just because they were suddenly bored.

The accuser would casually brush it off, ‘so what if I’m wrong?’ but the accused’s life would plummet in an instant. Even if they were innocent.

All because of the whims of someone they didn’t even know.

And even if you sued the accuser for false accusation, the punishment they received was only a light one. In the first place, that hardly ever happened properly.

Furthermore, there were many who didn’t quell this phenomenon socially, but rather encouraged it.

Mostly, things like shithead media.

Or moronic superiors.

They probably thought they were being sweet, but it wasn’t sweet, it was shit. Meaning, they were fucking b*stards.

So, it must have come to the current situation.

“It’s not like there weren’t any cases where the doctors were at fault, but in most cases, the doctors were innocent, after all.”

“Whereas now, if a magical girl directly consults with the person who’s going to become a magical girl, they can’t just arbitrarily report them, right?”

“Exactly.”

However, there was one strange point.

That most doctors were men.

In that case…

“But I heard that all the men were dragged away during the monster invasions, were there even doctors left? I’d think they’d be hauled away without exception.”

Discrepancies arose between the information the police had provided.

“Ah, the medic was an exception. They had to patch up the injured so they could be used again.”

“Aha.”

Truly living up to its Republic.

When it came to recycling, its ranking was far higher than any other nation; the recycling of people was just as enthusiastic.

“Of course, it wasn’t like the injured could fight in perfect condition afterward. How much truly specialized treatment could a temporary civil servant, who wasn’t even a proper doctor, really provide?”

“That’s true.”

“Besides, what good did it do to save someone anyway? They’d just be dragged back to the front lines and used as a shield.”

“Essentially killing them twice.”

“Exactly. Thanks to that, back then, the doctor who secretly provided euthanasia was considered the best doctor.”

Well, considering the practical efficiency was practically nonexistent, this too was quite the Republic’s way of doing things.

Is there really a difference between this and the Otherworld?

Neither place has a real human being in sight.

I’m starting to lose track myself.

Anyway.

“So, a magical girl is going to be in charge of my psychological counseling, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. But.”

“But?”

I tilted my head.

The nurse also tilted her head.

“This time, general-ranked magical girls have come? And not just one, but almost all of them.”

“Is that unusual?”

“One might be understandable, but we’ve never had a case where they all came as a group like this. It’s quite unprecedented.”

It’s definitely a bit odd.

A general means stars.

Commanders, as they’re often called.

For no more than a single magical girl selection, what reason could there be for all those high-ranking magical girls to flock here? Especially when the subject is a man, not a woman.

Still, I didn’t dwell on it for too long.

Well, my situation isn’t going to change anyway.

As it happens, now is the perfect time.

It’s probably for the best, actually.

Just then, the nurse leaned in, her face surprisingly serious, her lips pursed.

“This is just procedure, but please don’t cause a scene in there. However…the other party is a magical girl. I’m worried, since they’re so…delicate.”

“Do you think I’d actually hit a magical girl?”

I frowned slightly at her warning.

Of course, it’s not like I *wouldn’t* hit a woman. But that doesn’t mean I go around resorting to violence without a reason.

“No, *I’m* worried about *you,* Mr. Kim.”

“Pardon?”

“If you act up against a general-rank magical girl, you’ll end up with more than just a couple of broken bones.”

“Ah.”

So *I’m* the delicate one, huh?

A wave of dejection washed over me.

Even though I was once a hero, you know?

Now I’m someone a nurse worries about.

“Alright, you can go in now.”

“…Right.”

Clutching at my troubled thoughts, I entered the room.

Just like the nurse had said, several magical girls sat neatly lined up inside.

Hair the colors of watercolor paints.

Animal mascots floating around in the air.

Each of them dressed in magical girl outfits bursting with personality.

And even armbands designating their respective ranks.

Honestly, up until now I was still a bit skeptical, but it’s finally starting to feel real.

The fact that magical girls actually exist.

So these are the national power level magical girls, I guess.

Well, it’s not an entirely wrong assumption.

Separately, it was honestly so awkward to know where to even look.

These days magical girls are supposedly more open-minded, but even considering that, there was just so much exposed skin.

If I hadn’t been told they were magical girls, I would have thought this was a cosplay brothel instead of a judgement inspection site.

Honestly, it’s way too stimulating. Especially for someone like me, who’s remained a virgin in this world and the other one.

My gaze dropped, mortified beyond words.

“…….”

But nothing changed.

If anything, the discomfort in my lower body intensified.

Logically, I could accept this as a natural consequence, yet to actually experience it was… disconcerting.

“Ah, shit.”

I shuddered, a wave of self-loathing washing over me.

“What’s with the cursing as soon as you walk in, you little prick?”

The moment hung in the air before someone suddenly berated me.

I shifted my gaze to the voice’s origin. A single green-clad magical girl materialized in my field of vision.

Her armband bore two stars. The second-highest rank amongst the magical girls in this room.

“What are you staring at? Never seen a magical girl before?”

Of course, I haven’t, you son of a b*tch.

I fought to suppress the instinctive retort, carefully selecting my words.

“No, I haven’t.”

“Such bullshit, right from the start. Whatever, just sit over there.”

I obediently took a seat, for now.

Lingering too long would only arouse suspicion.

The moment I sat in the chair directly across from her, the magical girl spoke again.

“Name.”

“Pardon?”

“Name. Tell me. Don’t you know your own name? Are you deaf?”

The magical girl pressed me. The price seemed excessive for a single unanswered question.

“Guess he deserted ’cause he’s a moron? Shows his level.”

Adding a sneer, just for good measure.

Well, I understand it, I guess.

Judging by her words, the magical girls here must already know I’m a deserter.

I hadn’t deserted, but apparently, that’s what the records show.

Conversely, they are magical girls of high rank.

Considering the situation during the alien invasion, they likely climbed to their positions by directly facing the monsters.

Easily put, they are heroes.

Beings who vanquish aberrations and safeguard humanity.

Gifted individuals possessing true strength.

To such heroes, a deserter must be a truly repugnant thing. One risks their life fighting, while another runs to save their own skin.

I know it.

I know it well.

No, I know, but…

Why is that b*tch using informal language to me right off the bat?

As if being falsely accused of desertion wasn’t infuriating enough, why is that little shrew trying to get under my skin?

At that moment, the magical girl who’d been giving me grief spoke briefly with her mascot, then suddenly began to wear a rather affable smile.

“Oh, right. This situation might be uncomfortable for you. I understand completely.”

Though, the contempt in her eyes as she looked at me was overflowing.

It was a gaze I’d grown weary of in this other world.

“Speak comfortably. I’m not a magical girl yet, after all.”

Oh? Well, perfect timing then.

Thanks.

“Hey.”

“Hey…?”

The green magical girl showed a hint of bewilderment.

I mirrored her bewilderment.

“?”

“?”

What was so strange about it?

“Hey… why are *you* using informal language?”

Now, a sense of bewilderment began to creep into the green magical girl’s tone. As if she didn’t understand the situation at all.

What are you so surprised about?

“You told me to speak comfortably.”

You fucking b*tch.