Chapter 5 : Amber

The tavern was already full of fairies idly wetting their whistles.

I used to know most of them, but now I don’t recognize any.

Except for two.

“Senior, you’re here.”

Peng waved from his seat at the counter, while Persica sat next to him with her eyes gently closed.

Persica offered me a can of ale as I sat in the chair they had saved for me. When I declined, Peng quickly snatched it up.

“Why? You have to help Harin with her training later.”

“Hey, you can handle that yourself. Why call me and bother me?”

“Ah, it’s a way of asking for a favor before you return to your homeland. You won’t come out again after you go back, will you?”

“…!!”

Persica looked upset, as if she had just realized this. Peng covered his mouth as she waved her small hands around.

“Oh, I guess Senior Persica didn’t know. My mistake.”

“You did that on purpose. It’s fine. I was going to check before I left anyway.”

I snatched the can and popped the top.

*Tsss*

Unlike what Dahye drinks, it didn’t foam up, but the carbonation in the liquid fizzed.

“…”

I declined Persica’s offer to add syrup.

“I won’t do anything anyway. Don’t worry.”

With a short snort, she went back to wiping glasses. Our junior, who had been watching our exchange with amusement, rested his chin in his hand and asked,

“It’s amazing every time I see it. You understand everything Persica-nim says without her actually saying it. How do you know? Tell me.”

“Well… we both came down around the same time and have been together ever since, so it’s natural. Humans are the same, you know. Like a couple who have been together for years, they know what the other wants just by a glance.”

After a single gulp, Peng’s eyebrows twitched.

“Ooh, so you two are like a married couple?”

“Friends. What couple? Drink up and let’s go. Your contractor is waiting.”

“Right!”

My junior downed the glass in one go and jumped up.

“Now, open the door, please.”

Before that, I flicked my finger to erase the smell of alcohol clinging to us. Only then did I open the door. I had memorized the location yesterday when I took them home, so it was no problem. I connected it to the first floor of the apartment building, because if Peng, who was forbidden from sugar, was seen coming out of a fairy tavern, he would surely throw a fit.

Peng tapped the jewel around his neck twice and called his contractor.

“Harin-nya, come to the first floor-nya.”

[`Okay. I’ll be down.`]

“Wait a moment-nya. I’m curious about something-nya.”

Peng looked around, put up a barrier, and covered his mouth.

“Dahye-nim transformed today, what’s up?”

I wondered what he was curious about.

Covering my mouth as well, I answered,

“She was probably checking her condition before leaving work. She hasn’t transformed in a while.”

“Oh, that’s it? I thought some special demon had appeared.”

“Hey, if a demon like that appeared, that place would already be in ruins.”

“Right? Ah, Harin-nya.”

We saw her running from the elevator. Harin, with her bob cut, was wearing a hoodie at least a size too big. Her parents probably bought her bigger clothes because she was growing.

“Where’s Teacher?”

“Dahye is busy with work, so she couldn’t come-ppi. I’ll help you instead, so don’t worry-ppi.”

“Oh, okay.”

Leaving the girl fidgeting behind, I opened the door again. It led to the island the association had bought for magical girls to train freely. Now it was full of people using it for other purposes, but I used to come here countless times with Dahye.

Pulling Harin, who was bowing repeatedly to another magical girl, I headed towards the cliff overlooking the ocean.

“People don’t come here often, so you can train here-ppi.”

“Okay! Peng, let’s do this! Towards the sun, the flower blooms! Sunshine Bloom!”

Yes, yes. It’s time for the transformation speech. Meaningless though it actually is.

The light emanating from Peng’s magic stone enveloped Harin and transformed her outfit. As her magical girl name suggested, the outfit resembled a sunflower. The ruffled blouse with the petal-shaped neck collar had a sun-shaped brooch at the waist, and the layered skirt looked full. After she put on her golden boots and long white gloves, she struck a pose.

“Shining like the sun! Miracle Sunflower!”

“Pippi.”

Even though it didn’t sound human, I clapped my hands to show that I was cheering her on.

Twisting her fingers shyly, the girl pointed her magic wand towards the sea.

“Mmm!”

The magic power gathered at the tip stretched out. It was extremely thin, showing how meticulously she had controlled it. But the girl stopped the flow of magic power.

“Hing, I guess I can’t do it.”

I wondered what she meant. It looked pretty good.

Peng came up to me and whispered in my ear,

“She wants to shoot a beam like Dahye-nim-ppi.”

Ah, that’s impossible. How can she replicate something that was created over time? What should I do? I boasted that I would help, but…

I subtly asked Peng,

“Weren’t you originally a martial arts type, which suits you well-ppi?”

“Actually, I was going to suggest that-nya. Just now she was watching a compilation of Dahye-nim’s highlight videos on MaTube and said she wanted to switch to beams-nya.”

Oh dear. She saw something she shouldn’t have.

I had to think. How can Harin, with her low magic power, shoot a beam like Dahye? Would it work if I use Peng’s ability?

After some thought, I approached the girl.

“That’s not it-ppi. Peng is a fairy who is good with wind, so if you use that, you have to do it like this-ppi.”

As a temporary measure, I shot condensed magic power. Despite the small amount, it was enough to kill demons. My magic bullets fly leisurely, but with Peng’s ability, long-range sniping would be a piece of cake.

I looked up, hoping she’d be satisfied with this, but she was still disappointed. She was kicking the dirt with her feet.

“This isn’t it!”

“What’s not it-ppi?”

“I have to shoot a huge beam like Teacher!”

She insists, even though it’s impossible. She’s stubborn. Alright, let’s do it this way.

“For now, instead of shooting your magic power once, try shooting it continuously-ppi. That way, it’ll look somewhat similar to Dahye’s-ppi.”

“Really!?”

At my words, the girl’s face brightened and she immediately started firing magic bullets in rapid succession. Satisfied, a smile spread across her face. Thank goodness.

I glared at Peng as he nudged me in the side. He covered his mouth.

“Um, Senior-nya. This looks just like the weapons humans used-nya.”

“As long as the kid likes it, it’s fine-ppi. Pretend you don’t know-ppi.”

Right, better to let it be.

Excited, Harin accelerated her firing speed even further until she collapsed with a thud. I rushed over in surprise to find a stream of red blood flowing from her nose. Yet, she was smiling brightly.

“Hehehe. See, Peng? I can shoot beams too, even if it’s not as much as Teacher!”

“…Beams are forbidden-nya.”

“Whyyy!!”

“Your body can’t handle shooting beams with your current magic power-nya. It’s better to give up and learn basic magic control-nya.”

“No! I want to shoot beams!!”

“Your arms will fall off-nya!!”

Leaving them behind to their little drama, I opened the door leading home.

“I’m going first-ppi.”

“Senior-nya! How can you leave us like this!”

“You can fly here-ppi.”

“Sen—”

The door closed.

It wasn’t because I was reminded of us in the past that I left. It was because watching them made my nose tingle.

Not even a day has passed. When can I sleep? Will I be able to sleep if I go back to the fairy realm, like Dahye said? I don’t know. I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep even after I return.

I entered Dahye’s room. She has a habit of kicking off the covers, so I had to tuck her back in. After carefully covering her so she wouldn’t feel cold, I slipped in beside her. It was warm. Her warmth enveloped me.

“Mmm… Amber…”

“Sleep tight, Dahye.”

I replied and closed my eyes again. Time wouldn’t pass. Only the ticking of the clock tormented my ears.

*Tick, tock, tick, tock.*

I tried to save up some money so she could live comfortably alone before I left, but I failed. I’ve always been a clumsy fairy. I’m not a skilled healer like Persica, nor do I have abilities as useful in combat as my junior, Peng.

My only ability is to create doors that connect spaces. Still, it’s come in handy. I used it to send Dahye’s beams at demons by opening multiple doors, and to redirect enemy attacks. Though, that wasn’t my original ability.

The thought of the girl I met in the barren land made my head hot. Feeling suffocated, I got out of bed and looked at the clock. Only three minutes had passed.

I went outside to clear my head. A giant screen was advertising a magical girl idol group. A little further down the street, a magical girl was broadcasting on her smartphone. Even the banners on the streetlights featured magical girls, advertising a play this time.

It was a monitored peace, but wasn’t it too peaceful? Well, I guess they have to do what they can to make money now that the invasion is over. Though they’re all a bunch of amateurs.

I returned home as the lights began to go out one by one, leaving only a few to illuminate the shops. The blanket was kicked off again. I put up a barrier because of those crazy people filming with drones, but these days, there’s technology to see through those, so we have to be careful.

After covering her up again, I looked at the clock. A day had finally passed.

***

I set my smartphone to silent so I wouldn’t wake Dahye. I had several missed calls, but let her sleep a little longer. She struggles if she skips breakfast, so I’d better prepare it in advance.

“Mmm…”

“Did I wake you?”

Dahye woke up, rubbing her eyes, and waved her hand languidly. A sign of negation. With half-opened eyes, she checked the notifications on her smartphone. She saw something strange and raised an eyebrow.

“Hmm, Amber.”

Whenever she uses that tone, she’s about to ask for something strange.

“Can you come to school with me?”

“…If you have a good reason.”

She showed me her smartphone.

“A program about magical girls aired last night. You saw it, right?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Oh, really? Anyway, a lot of people are looking for us. The school also said it would be great if I brought you, Amber… would that be okay?”

Looking at Dahye fidgeting, I was reminded of Harin from yesterday and of you from long ago.

“It’s not pos—”

“Okay.”

“…Okay?”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

You threw your arms up in the air and stamped your feet in excitement.

“Go wash up and get ready. I’ve made breakfast, so eat.”

“Okay!”

Dahye jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom.

The fact that nothing has changed makes me feel strange.