NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 4
[Good morning, everyone. It’s Yamada’s morning walk.]
[Today, we have a special guest selected as a Ma.gi.cal Girl!]
[G-Good morning! I’m Shizuku from Narita City, Chiba Prefecture!]
[Hahaha, no need to be nervous, Shizuku-chan.]
[Mr. Yamada’s morning walks are something my mama… I mean, my mother always has on at the store, so I never thought I’d be here.]
[So, Shizuku-chan calls her mother “mama”?]
[Ah! W-Well, you see…]
Uhooo!
The girl panicked at her childish term slipping out, making an aawww sound.
The audience chuckled at the cute moment, creating a warm atmosphere in the studio.
I turned off the radio without finishing Shizuku’s report on the morning traffic.
‘It’s starting to change now.’
A week had passed since the declaration of the Red Broadcast, and Monday felt different from the usual.
Changes were detected among the girls who received the stars.
It was not a negative change.
If it were, parents would have screamed worry and rushed to the hospital.
Those changes were introduced through vivid testimonies featured in Various News and Weekly Magazines.
– I used to have many pimples and skin troubles, but they disappeared!
– I’ve grown taller a bit… and my body has suddenly started growing…
– The doctor said I’m way healthier than a week ago!
Just a week ago, these girls were utterly ordinary.
After receiving the Glass Star, any growth distortion like dental or vision issues were corrected, transforming them into their ideal forms.
In just a week, they exhibited changes in appearance unrecognizable from before.
Those witnessing the change began to get excited as if it were a festival.
Although many were bewildered by the suddenly altered reality, the shock shared through unconsciousness spread throughout the nation.
People wanted to see these girls undergoing dramatic changes like butterflies emerging from cocoons, and they delighted in the transformations as if they were their own.
[Magical Girl = Salvation]
[b][A new era of new humans?]
[The site of humanity’s evolution.]
[Witness their transformation.]
Suddenly appearing, the girls of this new era became the pride of the nation and new idols.
Entertainment companies quickly caught the public’s fervent desire within just three days, reaching out tirelessly over the weekend to turn these girls into true idols.
[We welcome reports from those who have received Glass Stars 24/7.]
[Magical girls who want to appear on air are welcomed.]
Confident that higher viewership would reward the broadcasting companies that embraced more Magical Girls.
The long-awaited Monday arrived.
As surprise guests, girls proving they had become Magical Girls appeared on all regular broadcasts. The viewers bombarded them with personal questions, eager to gawk at their presence.
Within just a week, they forgot the ominous broadcasts and immersed themselves in visible excitement.
In a week, the Magical Girls had become well-packaged products.
This series of almost mad transformations was spreading throughout society.
Right before this world plunged into true tragedy.
One last step.
“…….”
I stepped out onto the street, leaving everything behind.
Beep beep
Beep beep
Beep beep
The moment I reincarnated in this world, the realization that I was in Japan didn’t come from the fluent Japanese flowing from my mouth or my student ID in Japanese but from the sound of the crosswalk signal.
In my previous life, crossing the street when the signal turned was a luxury. I lived in a provincial city in Korea where a fierce battle of glances occurred between vehicles and pedestrians.
Because of that, I felt a strange floating sensation from even the smallest of atmospheres.
If I had been a traveler in my past life, I might have found this atmosphere romantic.
But I didn’t feel that way.
What remained was only the loneliness of an outsider.
An alien dropped alone in this world.
Longing to return.
The embarrassment over my changed body.
The fragments of emotions falling like crumbs from my heart haunted me everywhere.
“Is she a model? She has a unique look.”
“Looks like she’s from abroad.”
“Wow, those boobs.”
I shoved aside all thoughts and glared at the guy who just mumbled about boobs.
‘What kind of guy is he?’
As soon as our eyes met, the guy waiting at the crosswalk looked down, pretending to surf the web on his smartphone.
“Wow… what a sad story.”
“…….”
My half-squinted eyes often proved effective.
Anyway.
My appearance was closer to a Caucasian than a Japanese.
Just a slight smile would make my eyes almost shut.
The reddish eyes peeking through my eyelids.
And despite my youthful appearance, I had a considerable size.
“…Sigh.”
Due to this peculiar appearance, I was becoming accustomed to the stares and murmurs while momentarily stopping on the street, but this time I started feeling fresh discomfort again.
‘If a silver-haired beauty were strolling around, I would have stared even if I were my past self.’
Recalling the advice from my Master as I noticed others looking at my distinctive looks.
– You look decent; instead of getting angry, it’s better to smile and pressure the other person.
– Smile? How do I do that? Can you show me, Master?
– Sure. Just do it like an old man who’s seen too much.
– I’m not an old man.
The Master, who chuckled, spoke seriously.
– You’ll realize, living life, that getting angry indiscriminately is often a bad move.
– Won’t they look down on me if I don’t get angry?
– If you’re going to be angry, don’t let it out carelessly; instead, retain your composure and pressure calmly.
– Are you saying I suit that kind of role?
– Right. Your heart is not weak and delicate like an ordinary girl.
At that moment, the Master gazed at me quietly over his glasses.
– Bringing strength in composure. You fit that perfectly.
– I see.
These weren’t just bragging rights; they were pearls of wisdom from someone who had lived life first.
With the age of my past life combined, I was hearing stories of such quality that I, at 29, realized newfound insights.
Thanks to that, I managed to avoid being looked down upon by rude onlookers, like the one I just encountered.
Beep beep
Beep beep
Beep beep
The solemnity of the law halted drivers and protected the weak pedestrians as I let my thoughts unravel and moved on.
On my way to the convenience store, I spotted a newspaper stand.
[Girls’ Talk Show! This week’s guest is…]
[School Look Monthly: Magical Girl Special.]
Everywhere, the stories of Magical Girls were flooding in.
They were treated somewhere between idols and aspiring athletes.
There lay an unspoken longing for excellent lineage and a yearning for perfect idols down to the genetic level.
Just gazes fixed on products.
It also meant the capabilities of these Magical Girls weren’t considered potent enough to turn society upside down yet.
According to the original story, it wouldn’t be long before perceptions changed, from treating the well-ended youngest as simpletons to recognizing them as essential human resources of the nation. The original hinted at the beginning of the tragedy during the early days of the Magical Girl society.
[Magical Girl Supernatural Ability Weaponization Plan]
A plan that failed, costing too many sacrifices, giving birth to the seeds of discord alongside the grand emergence of the Magical Girls.
The creation of the terrorist organization “FLAG,” composed of Magical Girls who questioned the national and societal systems.
‘FLAG’ and ‘Corporate Alliance’
‘Magical Girls’ and ‘State’
Days different from the peaceful past two years were approaching.
Within six months, corporations that realized the value of basic magic would form unions with the state.
At the same time, “FLAG” would be formed opposing the [Magical Girl Supernatural Ability Weaponization Plan].
And simultaneously the first 2-Star Magical Girl’s ‘Blooming’ would commence.
And due to the calamity caused by the ‘Magical Girl of War,’ the entire Japan, including Shinjuku, would turn into a lawless land.
I sighed and put down the newspaper.
＊
“Chief Ooshima, we’ve received instructions from above.”
“Who’s in charge?”
“From Inspector Yamashita…”
“I see. Directly from the Inspector General.”
Relaxing as he headed to the cafeteria during lunch, Ooshima cautiously opened the file his subordinate handed over.
[This report contains accounts of the crime scene involving a girl presumed to be a Magical Girl, among other cases of supernatural abilities used…]
“Supernatural ability?”
[… It is presumed to be a unique ability exhibited by girls referred to as Magical Girls.]
[Before the official research begins, an environment may be created where they could be attacked by public sentiment.]
[Thus, we aim to gather samples in a context where they can be quietly contained for study.]
“…….”
“The headquarters instructed us to execute this as quietly as possible.”
“Understood.”