-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Magical Judgment Examination (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Unexpected reaction from the nurse.
As soon as she saw the results screen, she just stood there flustered without saying a word.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing! Everything's normal! Let's move on to the next one!"
The nurse brushed it off with hurried words.
But I had no desire to check the results myself. I could already guess why she was reacting like that.
As the nurse had mentioned earlier, everyone in this world—not just the other world—had their own magic power.
But right now, I had lost everything.
Naturally, no magic power was detected.
A pathetic creature who couldn't even match an ordinary person, let alone a Magical Girl. An alien existence detached from both the other world and this one.
That was me now.
My heart felt a bit uneasy, but I decided to accept it calmly. Whatever the case, my current state was the outcome of my final choice.
If I hadn't done that, I'd already be dead.
Anyway.
"Alright, let's move on to the next one."
"Okay."
We quickly proceeded with the remaining physical examination.
Nothing particularly noteworthy happened afterward. The judgment examination process was similar to before, so there weren't any tricky steps.
"Hold on a second, Mr. Kim Siyul. This is weird."
"What is?"
Well, there was one thing.
"You're 33 years old, but there's no record after high school graduation. No Magical certifications or career history at all. It even says you have no address."
"..."
"This must be some kind of error. No, I'm sure of it. I can vouch for that. No matter how much the world has changed, no one could have a record like this."
Verifying personal education and certifications was always the most stringent part.
"Just a moment. Let me double-check—"
"It's correct, you fucking bitch."
Precisely, it was hard for them to accept my records.
Psychologically speaking, of course.
"Uh... really? There's nothing missing? This is really all there is?"
"Shut your mouth, it's fucking annoying."
"Um, I... I'm sorry."
Anyway.
Now, only one thing left.
"Now for the final step: the Magical psychological counseling."
Psychological counseling.
In simple terms, a procedure to check if the examinee has any mental issues.
Now the subjects were Magical Girls, but the process hadn't changed. If anything, it was just a difference in order.
"Do you know what it is?"
"Talking to a doctor, right?"
However, there was one clear difference from before.
"No, you'll have direct consultations with a few Magical Girls."
"Why?"
"Well, you see."
The nurse let out a slight sigh and continued.
"It's because of some bad people."
"Why?"
I tilted my head.
The nurse gave a wry smile.
"There were cases where Magical doctors sexually harassed Magical Girls, and conversely, Magical Girls falsely reported Magical doctors."
"Ah."
It was a story I could understand.
There had been plenty of such incidents even before I was dragged to the other world.
Men driven mad by lust assaulting women, women falsely accusing innocent people.
But the punishment for sexual harassment or false reports was light at best, and often not properly enforced.
"Even though most people were diligent, a few bad Magical cases turned it into this."
As the nurse said, it was a few bad apples.
Even though most people hadn't done anything wrong.
"So active Magical Girls counsel potential Magical Girl candidates? That way, it prevents sexual harassment or false reports against innocents."
"Exactly."
But there was one odd thing.
Most doctors were men.
So then.
"But I heard all men were drafted during the Monster invasions. Were there doctors left? It seems like they all would have been taken without exception."
It contradicted the information the police had given me.
"Ah, Magical doctors were exempt. We needed them to get Magical casualties back into fighting shape."
"I see."
That made sense.
Indeed, no country in the world had a resource as recyclable as people.
"Of course, receiving Magical treatment didn't mean they could fight perfectly again. They all had fatal Magical wounds—how could they recover instantly?"
"True."
"And even if they barely saved someone, what good was it? They'd just drag them back to the front lines as Magical shields."
"Basically killing them twice."
"Right. Back then, the best Magical doctors were the ones who secretly gave Magical euthanasia."
Well, no matter how much they recycled people, it had no real utility. Obvious, really.
Now I saw it: no difference between the other world and this one.
No such thing as decent humans.
Anyway.
"So a Magical Girl will handle my psychological counseling?"
"Yes, that's right. But."
"But?"
I tilted my head.
The nurse tilted her head too.
"This time, it's General-rank Magical Girls who showed up. Not just one, but almost all of them."
"Is that rare?"
"One would be one thing, but I've never seen a Magical case like this. It's quite unusual."
It was definitely a bit strange.
Generals were stars.
Commonly called commanders.
For just recruiting one Magical Girl, why would all those high-ranking ones gather?
Especially since the candidate was an ordinary man with no overflowing Magical Girl talent.
Still, I didn't dwell on it long.
My situation wouldn't change anyway.
And right now was perfect timing.
If anything, it was even better.
At that moment, the nurse leaned in with a rather serious expression and whispered.
"Just in case, don't cause any trouble in there. The opponents are Magical Girls, after all. They're delicate, so I'm worried."
"You think I'd hit a Magical Girl?"
I frowned slightly at the nurse's warning.
Of course, I wouldn't hold back just because she's a woman. In the other world, men and women had the same price on their heads.
But that didn't mean I'd swing wildly without reason.
"No, I'm worried about you, Mr. Kim Siyul."
"Huh?"
"If you make a fuss against General-rank Magical Girls, it won't end with just a bone or two broken."
"Ah."
She meant I was the delicate one.
Suddenly, I felt a bit pathetic.
I used to be a Hero, after all.
Now here I was, getting worried over by a nurse.
"Alright, go on in."
"...Okay."
Gripping my uneasy heart, I entered the room.
As the nurse had said, several Magical Girls were sitting side by side inside.
Hair colors like watercolor paints.
Animal-shaped mascots floating in the air.
Magical Girl outfits bursting with individuality.
And armbands indicating their ranks.
Honestly, I'd been half-doubting it until now, but it finally felt real.
Magical Girls really existed.
Were these national power-level Magical Girls?
Well, not entirely wrong.
Separately, it was really awkward where to look.
Modern Magical Girls favored revealing styles, but even accounting for that, they were all excessively exposed.
If I hadn't been told they were Magical Girls, I'd have thought this was a cosplay brothel, not a judgment examination center.
Honestly, it was too stimulating. Especially for me, who'd lived as a solo man in both worlds.
Too embarrassed, I cast my eyes downward.
"..."
But nothing changed.
If anything, my lower half got even more uncomfortable.
I tried to rationalize it as a natural reaction, but experiencing it firsthand was still awkward.
"Ah, fuck."
Self-loathing made me shudder involuntarily.
"What, swearing right as you come in, you bastard."
At that moment, someone snapped at me out of the blue.
I shifted my gaze to the source of the voice.
In my sight was a single green Magical Girl.
Her armband had two stars. The second-highest rank among those present.
"What are you staring at? First time seeing a Magical Girl?"
Of course it's my first time, you fucking bitch.
I swallowed the reflexive retort and carefully chose my words.
"Yes, first time."
"Bullshit from the start. Whatever, sit there first."
I obediently sat in the chair as instructed.
No point fidgeting and raising suspicion.
As soon as I sat in the front chair, the green Magical Girl spoke again.
"Name."
"Pardon?"
"Name. Say it. Don't know what a name is? Can't hear?"
The Magical Girl pressed me. Too much for just one delayed response.
"Deserted because you're a retard? I can tell your level."
Adding mockery on top.
Well, I understood.
From what she said, the Magical Girls here already knew I was a deserter.
I hadn't deserted, but the records said so.
Meanwhile, they were high-ranking Magical Girls.
Judging from the Monster invasion situation, they'd probably climbed to those positions by clashing directly with Monsters.
In simple terms, heroes.
Beings who repelled Monsters and protected humanity.
True powerhouses with real skills.
To such heroes, a deserter must be utterly repulsive. One risks life fighting while another flees to save only themselves.
I knew that.
I knew it well.
No, I knew it, but.
Why the fuck was this bitch using informal speech right from the start?
I was already pissed about the false deserter label, and now this cunt kept provoking me?
I needed other world-style conversation. For real.
At that moment, the Magical Girl who'd been bitching at me talked briefly with her mascot, then suddenly flashed a friendly smile.
"Oh, right. You might feel uncomfortable here. I get it."
Though her eyes looking at me overflowed with contempt.
A gaze I'd seen plenty in the other world.
"Speak casually. You're not a Magical Girl yet."
Really? Perfect timing.
Thanks.
"Hey."
"Hey...?"
The green Magical Girl showed bewilderment.
I showed bewilderment too.
"?"
"?"
What was so strange?
"Hey... why are you using informal speech?"
Embarrassment started creeping into the green Magical Girl's words. Her eyes dripped with utter confusion, like she couldn't comprehend the situation.
Why are you surprised?
"You told me to speak casually."
You fucking bitch.