LGHTNOVELBOOK chapter 82
81 – Interlude – We’re the Executives, After All
The Magical Executive Waiting Room at the Magical Training Grounds.
Within, several executive-level magical girls were gathered.
“How, in the world, did something like this even *happen*?”
But to the question uttered by the Magical Platoon Leader, no one readily offered an answer.
It was understandable.
The magical incident had been of a significant magnitude.
“First, shall we investigate the *magical* cause…?”
The Magical Platoon Leader ran a hand across their face, and continued,
“To my understanding, Private Kim Si-yul and the opposing magical girls had no particular *magical* connection. Does anyone know otherwise?”
“I heard that quite a while ago, there was a slight *magical* disagreement at the Magical Café, regarding the harassment of another magical private.”
“What caused the *magical* disagreement?”
“Four magical girls, including Magical Girl Yellow Lion, were attempting to *magically* isolate Magical Girl Black Kitty from Kim Si-yul’s Magical Barracks. Kim Si-yul tried to stop them.”
The cause was truly insignificant.
Indeed, it was hardly a cause at all.
If Kim Si-yul interfering with the magical bullying of other magical girls could be considered a cause, then so be it.
However.
For merely being displeased, the magical girls had escalated things to a far greater extent.
They not only selected the *Magical Safety OFF* condition, which was expressly forbidden.
But somehow, they even managed to forcibly select the *opposing* side’s conditions.
Furthermore, they disregarded the rules of a Magical Captain’s Battle from the very start, and subjected the opponent to *magical* aggravated assault – and against a civilian who was not in their right mind, at that.
It was, in effect, attempted magical murder.
“Ha.”
The Magical Platoon Leader clutched their head.
At least it had ended as attempted magical murder, but that hardly made it something to be thankful for.
Kim Si-yul was someone Magical Girl Purple Snake had been watching closely. And lately, it seemed even Magical Girl White Phoenix was taking notice.
And then, Kim Shiyul, she was hurt.
And of all times, when the Magical Company Commander was the most senior officer at the Magical Training Grounds.
Even worse, she hadn’t volunteered for it. For once, she was a pure victim, a casualty of someone else’s malice.
“Shit.”
The magical girls who caused the Magical Incident would bear the primary blame, but the Magical Company Commander couldn’t escape responsibility either.
Whatever the reason, the Magical Company Commander was the officer-level magical girl in charge of today’s Magical Mock Battle.
Which meant she was responsible for controlling the magical girls.
Since she hadn’t, she had to take the fall.
It was a Magical Incident that could have been prevented by canceling the Magical Mock Battle, so there was no room for excuses.
“I’m fucked.”
She couldn’t see a way out.
Not only would her Magical Promotion be blocked, but she might even have to consider a Magical Demotion.
Once a magical girl’s rank went up, it almost never went down, but if it was Magical Girl Purple Snake, she’d definitely do it.
“No, it might not end there.”
In the worst-case scenario, she might be forced into Magical Retirement. It was a very real possibility.
“Fucking b*tches, why couldn’t they have done it when I wasn’t around?”
The Magical Company Commander gritted her teeth.
Frankly, she felt wronged.
Why did it have to be today of all days?
If only the magical girls hadn’t caused a Magical Incident today, or better yet if the Magical Battalion Commander hadn’t even assigned her to the Magical Mock Battle –
“Huh?”
At that moment, an idea sparked.
“Is something the matter?”
“I have an idea.”
“What kind of idea?”
At the question from one of the officer-level magical girls, the Magical Company Commander gave a triumphant smile.
“We bury it.”
“Excuse me?”
The officer-level magical girl who asked the question repeated.
The Magical Company Commander elaborated.
“Let’s invoke the name of Magical Battalion Commander, then bury it.”
It’s a schedule dictated by Magical Battalion Commander, you see. Magical Company Commander added, by way of explanation.
Silence descended for a moment.
Then, the senior-ranking magical girls each tossed out a word or two, shattering the quiet.
“Well, if we’re talking about a Magical Gambit, it certainly is one…”
“Even so, I think it’s a bit dangerous. Magical Girl Pale Crow isn’t someone most magical girls readily tangle with, is she?”
“…I don’t think it’s a very good idea.”
“Rather than, you know, invoking Magical Battalion Commander’s name, shouldn’t we resolve this within our own ranks…”
“Magical Battalion Commander may have organized today’s Magical Mock Battle, but it’s not exactly his direct Magical purview…”
The majority voiced negativity.
It wasn’t an incomprehensible reaction. Magical Battalion Commander’s Magical standing might be a little shaky at the moment, but it wasn’t as if their influence had vanished entirely.
Truly, a Magical Tiger with its teeth pulled.
Even without teeth, a tiger is still a tiger.
But.
“Then, is everyone prepared to take full responsibility?”
To Magical Company Commander’s grave question, no one answered with confidence.
They all knew.
That they, too, couldn’t escape accountability.
Especially since most of the senior magical girls had committed Magical dereliction of duty. If they were held accountable, they too would suffer significant Magical damage.
“And.”
At that moment, Magical Company Commander smirked slightly.
“Invoking Magical Battalion Commander’s name could actually be considered safe.”
“Why is that?”
One of the senior magical girls voiced the question.
Magical Company Commander turned their gaze towards her.
“Everyone knows that Magical Private Kim Si-yul, who was injured this time, is a magical girl favored by Magical Girl Purple Snake, yes?”
“Yes, it’s precisely because of that which this situation is rather troublesome.”
Magical Company Commander’s smile deepened.
“Magical Girl Purple Snake harbors an extreme dislike for Magical Battalion Commander, owing to a similar incident in the past.”
“Oh.”
The magical girl exhaled a breath of awe.
And it wasn’t just her.
Everyone understood. They all grasped the intent behind the Magical Company Commander’s words.
Just then, the Magical Company Commander voiced it.
“If we are to offer the Magical Battalion Commander’s name, then Magical Girl Purple Snake will only unleash her Magical Muramasa upon… the Magical Battalion Commander.”
A speculative utterance, yet the Magical Company Commander possessed a basis for her belief.
No, correction.
She was certain.
The Magical Company Commander constantly suffered Magical Grunt Work from the Magical Battalion Commander. And most of it originated from Magical Girl Purple Snake’s demands.
Thus, she understood the depth of Magical Girl Purple Snake’s Magical Hatred.
So.
‘Just a touch.’
Wouldn’t it be permissible to add a little more fuel to that fire?
Relationship mending was impossible at this point.
‘Serves you right, you Magical Taskmaster.’
A little Magical Venting on the side.
“So, what are your thoughts, everyone?”
The Magical Company Commander repeated her query. But this time, the response held a different flavor.
“Your Magical insight is profound. It certainly seems like a feasible plan.”
“A true Magical Zhuge Liang if ever there was one. Ah, I don’t mean to imply that you’ll die young.”
“Honestly, wouldn’t the simpler solution have been to simply appeal to Magical Girl Pale Crow?”
“Frankly, today’s Magical Incident is essentially the fault of the Magical Battalion Commander.”
“The one who gave the order is at fault. Isn’t that right?”
In that moment, the Magical Company Commander clapped her hands together.
“Alright, then let’s declare this entire affair the fault of the Magical Battalion Commander. If anyone has any objections, please speak now.”
There were none.
It was a silent consensus.
The Magical Company Commander smiled, a smile of satisfaction.
“Excellent. You are all foolish, but still, let us offer a moment of Magical Silence for our grateful Magical Battalion Commander.”
For the first time, they were grateful for the Magical Battalion Commander.
“Thanks to you, we were able to resolve this latest Magical incident smoothly.”
‘Might as well start selling my name for cash, eh?’
And that wasn’t all. A decent Magical business idea had just sprung to mind.
A Magical Dream Car wasn’t far off now.
At this rate, he’d be able to get one soon enough.
All thanks to the Magical Battalion Commander.
‘Thank you.’
After the Magical Silent Gratitude, the Magical Company Commander opened his mouth, his face considerably brighter.
“Well, since we’re all gathered, shall we have this week’s Magical officers’ meeting a little early?”
Perhaps because there was nothing left to worry about, the atmosphere in the gloomy waiting room felt lighter. The content of the meeting, needless to say, was too.
“By the way, when’s the third Magical Golf Course supposed to be completed?”
“They said sometime next year, but I’ll see if we can push it forward.”
“Good. If need be, we can always apply some Magical grease to the gears for the relevant parties.”
Though it was called a Magical officers’ meeting,
it was essentially Magical small talk.
“Ah, that’s right. I heard that the Magical Company Commander is planning on buying a car soon, do you have a model in mind?”
“It’s not that I don’t have one. It’s just that I haven’t completely made a decision yet.”
“I know a Magical used car dealer in Incheon, let me know if you need him. He’ll give you a fair price.”
“Haha, thank you for the offer. I’ll think about it.”
No further mention was made of today’s Magical incident.
“Sis, now that I think about it, didn’t you go all out and bring in a bunch of Magical ornamental fish?”
“Eh, it wasn’t much. Just a spur-of-the-moment thing. Come by later when you have time and watch the kids feed them.”
“You’re making the kids do that kind of thing? I don’t know who the weirdo is.”
“Says you. You’re making them take care of the Magical plants.”
“Ahem, I’m teaching them the importance of life.”
They just continued to talk about their own personal matters. Well, that’s how Magical officers’ meetings usually go anyway.
At that moment, a Magical Sergeant opened her mouth, pointing with her finger.
“By the way, what should we do with that?”
What she was pointing at was the Magical training ground’s electronic billboard.
【Magical Training Ground Accident-Free: 3012 Days】
The unspoken meaning, it would be thus.
Shouldn’t we change that to zero days?
The remaining Magical executives were silent for a moment, exchanging glances.
Presently, they all gave hollow laughs.
“Well, do we really need to classify today’s events as an accident?”
“Indeed. This hardly qualifies as an accident. If a building collapsed, perhaps.”
“Let’s leave it as is. Why make a fuss now?”
“Ah, then since I’d rather not bother increasing the number tomorrow, I’ll just increment it now.”
“Yes, a good idea.”
Magical Sergeant hastily manipulated the electronic display, increasing the number displayed by one.
【Magical Training Ground Accident-Free: 3013 Days】
Today too, the magical girls were peaceful, without incident.