When the contract was made, I had become a girl.
To be precise, a magical girl.
After living over ten years as a man, I became a warrior of justice who battles evil in a frilly skirt.
There were good times and troublesome times, but it’s all in the past.
Through various incidents and accidents, I ended up in the demon world—the source of evil.
I spent about ten years here, but finally, a chance to return to Earth came.
“This will be my last meal.”
The forest of the demon world was quiet.
There was no clear distinction between day and night, but it was always dark and eerie.
With only the crackling sound of burning firewood filling the silence, I took a bite of the meat skewered on a branch.
The menu was meat from the monster I had just hunted.
It was a delicacy, but unfortunately, there were no comrades to share it with.
After filling my stomach just enough, I leaned against a tree and pulled out a photograph.
A picture of three magical girls who seemed to be very close.
In the center was me, and on both sides, my companions stood smiling brightly.
“Stella, Spica… I miss you.”
Though ten years had passed in a blink, our friendship never changed.
The memories of the three of us overcoming trials together would never fade, no matter how much time passed.
There were many hardships, but still, those were brilliant and beautiful days.
While reminiscing…
My gaze drifted toward the cat-like mascot in the corner of the photo.
“I hope you’ve been punished.”
I cursed silently.
Seeing that damned face brought a rush of irritation.
Those in the know are aware—the true enemy of magical girls is the mascot.
The culprit who cursed us under the guise of a “contract” and put us through all kinds of hardship.
Calling it a nemesis wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
I put the photo back in my pocket and stood up.
“Let’s go.”
In front of me was a gate, black and rippling like a tear in space.
A dimensional passage connected to Earth.
Who would’ve thought this day would come?
I thought I’d live trapped in the demon world or die fighting.
Whether it was a fortunate misunderstanding or not, I’d have to find out now.
Feeling my heart begin to race, I stepped into the gate.
It was the kind of season when winter ends and warm sunlight begins to shine.
Korea was in chaos.
[Is it true that all magical girls have been deployed for the first time in three years? How many have gathered?]
[It’s estimated that around 60% are currently assembled. It seems all others besides those in rural areas are arriving at the scene.]
[Can you tell us about the situation on the ground?]
[It’s overflowing with monsters here. The police are controlling the roads, and the magical girls are protecting the citizens—]
The reporter on TV delivered the news with a tense face.
In the background, smoke was rising everywhere, and the sounds of explosions rang out irregularly.
It looked like a battlefield.
“Frozen Princess, just arrived.”
A little ways from the combat zone.
At the appearance of a girl with blue hair, the people in suits all turned at once.
“You arrived just in time…!”
A supporter who assisted magical girls stepped forward.
“Please tell me the current situation.”
“Gates are opening simultaneously in many places. There are so many that we’re dividing up to respond.”
“Where should I go?”
“I’ll guide you right away.”
He gave a small nod to the others and then began walking with Frozen Princess.
Their destination was a park.
From the entrance, people were fleeing, screaming.
“This whole area has become a nest of monsters. Please eliminate them as you find them. It’ll require improvisation, but we’re counting on you.”
“Understood.”
A brief conversation took place.
Frozen Princess gripped a sword made of ice in one hand and entered the park.
Originally, magical girls didn’t actively cooperate with the government.
They occasionally kept in touch, but generally had no involvement.
Working together like this meant it was a real emergency.
While cutting through several monsters on her way, a familiar face came into view.
A fellow magical girl from her cohort was fighting.
“Hyaaah!”
A powerful strike deep enough to dent the ground.
Swinging a hammer much larger than herself with ease, she crushed the monsters like whack-a-mole.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
After finishing the last monster, she turned her head toward Frozen Princess.
“Whew, so you came too, huh?”
She wiped the sweat off her forehead with a grin.
“I rushed over and didn’t get the full briefing.”
“It’s about the same as usual—except for the absurd number of monsters.”
“I heard gates started opening simultaneously. Do you know why?”
“No idea. Maybe there was a riot in the demon world?”
She shrugged.
Her composure was evident, befitting someone with experience.
“There’s never been a case where magic has surged this violently.”
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration, isn’t it? The monsters aren’t even that strong.”
If it’s true, that’s a relief, but it’s still too early to let my guard down.
“Where are you going?”
“Hmm… maybe that way.”
“Then I’ll go the opposite way.”
“We just met, and you’re already leaving?”
“We’re short on people. It’s better to split up.”
“You’re always thorough with things like this. It’s so like you — I kind of like that.”
As close classmates, we understood each other well.
After waving goodbye to each other, we split paths at the fork in the road.
The gate was connected to a restroom.
A women’s restroom, at that.
“It’s kind of symbolic, or maybe it just feels malicious.”
The sign showed a red human figure.
It was a pictogram meaning entry was prohibited for those with XY chromosomes.
Of course, that didn’t mean I couldn’t enter.
Right now, I was wearing a sparkly frilly skirt, and from head to toe, I clearly looked like a girl.
But before I became a magical girl, things were different.
Back then, setting foot in that little sanctuary meant immediate arrest.
A being who had no connection with cute clothes like these.
I was a boy.
With my long experience as a magical girl, I’d gotten used to it — but still, it was a weird feeling that was hard to describe.
“Is something going on?”
I looked up at the sky.
Several helicopters were flying low over the park, making loud thumping noises.
While I stared blankly at them, a sharp scream rang out from somewhere.
“Kyaaah! Please help!”
A wicked aura that felt like it was piercing my skin.
There was a monster nearby.
I immediately summoned my magic wand.
A magical girl’s exclusive weapon, appearing in mid-air with a burst of rainbow-colored particles.
Grabbing it, I dashed toward the direction of the scream.
In the middle of the walking path.
A little boy and a woman — probably his mother — were crouched down in front of a monster.
“It’s a magical girl!”
The boy pointed at me and shouted.
“P-please help…!”
The mother clutched her child and desperately pleaded for help.
Just one enemy.
A monster shaped like a jet-black dog, as if it had been dipped in ink.
“Leave it to me!”
I was about to infuse magic into my wand — but stopped.
I couldn’t shatter a child’s innocence.
I almost used a move with 200% brutality.
The techniques I’d learned in the demon world were all specialized in lethality — not something I could use in front of a child.
Hmm… what should I do?
As I seriously pondered it, I suddenly noticed something strange about the monster.
“Whimper…!”
A stream of yellow liquid soaked the ground.
“That monster peed itself!”
The boy, who had been terrified just moments ago, now smiled brightly.
The trembling monster had suddenly wet itself.
‘This is…’
It reminded me of something I’d seen on the internet once.
That dogs can recognize dog catchers.
Just approaching them makes them pee themselves.
That was exactly what was happening now.
Having just returned from the demon world, my body was probably soaked in the scent of countless monsters.
That big canine beast with a sharp sense of smell had picked up on it.
The stench of fear, soaked in blood and pheromones.
And it must have had a hunch.
That the souls of countless monster kin were clinging to my back.
“Scarlet Beam☆”
A pink beam pierced the monster.
Its body, now riddled with holes, crumbled into ash.
It was the first spell I ever learned as a magical girl.
A spell that purified enemies with holy power — perfect for defeating monsters without grotesque scenes.
“Thanks, big sis!”
I watched as the boy and his mother safely left the park.
Once I confirmed no one else was around, despair set in.
“At my age, I’m still using cutesy spells…”
It felt like my limbs were curling up like grilled squid.
If I were a newly minted magical girl, that’d be one thing — but now, it was pretty embarrassing.
Even though I still looked like a girl on the outside, mentally, I’d long since graduated from my teens.
While I was lost in self-loathing, I heard footsteps behind me.
When I turned around, I saw a magical girl with blue hair.
A face I didn’t recognize — maybe she debuted while I was in the demon world?
If I played this right, maybe she could help me.
“Great timing. I wanted to ask you something—”
“Don’t move.”
As I tried to approach, the girl raised her guard.
She pointed the ice sword she held straight at me, as if to block my approach.
“Who are you?”