Magical Girl? I Got Tricked into It!

"Although I haven't decided to join yet... I can still take part in the battle..."

Hearing that, Yōichi immediately slapped the table and stood up, saying excitedly, "Great! With you joining us, our combat strength will skyrocket, and our odds of winning will rise by at least twenty percent."

From how eager he looked, he was clearly afraid Ando Meiko would change her mind the very next second.

"Huh?"

The image on the large screen changed. It was a long video recorded from Rin's perspective. A crimson arrow shot through the sky toward the center of the mall, piercing straight through the Void Spider's carapace and into its abdomen.

After that scene, the rest of the video turned to static.

Ando Meiko calculated that this was right when Orbital, Kajieliena, had arrived beside them. The electronic device had probably stopped working after being affected by the "Isolation Field."

"One attack severely wounded the spider. At first, I wondered who this person was, to possess such a powerful method of attack. But now that I think about it..."

"Mm." Yōichi looked Ando Meiko over once more. "You really can't judge a person by appearances."

At first, she had not known they had recorded that video. Now, Ando Meiko had practically confessed on her own.

And was that kind of attack really considered that powerful? I was clearly so weak.

Could it be that I was actually strong? It was just that everyone around me was stronger, so I had completely lost confidence in myself?

She could not build up confidence so casually in a situation like this. After all, she did not want to be treated like a tool just because of her power.

"Then let me briefly summarize." Yōichi slowly stood and organized everything they had discussed into a single train of thought.

"First, Furate will use her speed to lure the Ghost Grade Void Spider out of its Nest and into the city. Once it enters the city, we'll commit all our combat power to launch a feint and keep it tied down there."

Yōichi had a reason for calling it "tying it down."

The Void Spider's traits were not much different from spiders in the Reality World. Its speed, reflexes, and jumping ability all gave it an agile fighting style.

But that agility only applied in open areas. Once that enormous body entered a place with enough obstacles, all the things in its way would prevent it from fully moving around.

The others only needed to hold it back. Once Rin burned those cocoons, they could focus all their combat strength on the Void Spider.

"Next, we'll discuss the specific details. Do not let your guard down until the battle is won."

Several magical girls had been injured because they had misjudged the Void Spider's strength last time. As the commander, Yōichi felt deeply guilty over that.

Although Rin and the other magical girls had comforted him and told him not to worry about it, he did not see it that way.

He was sending a group of underage girls into battle while he himself could only hide behind them and enjoy their protection. Could he really fail even at something as simple as making plans and commanding the battle?

The Matter of Being Tricked into Becoming a Magical Girl: Operation Begins

"I didn't expect Meizi to agree. This has nothing to do with you at all."

Indeed, it had nothing to do with Ando Meiko. But now that she knew Rin would be joining the battle, if she went home alone and something happened to Rin, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

"Forget it. What's the point of thinking so much? I already agreed to help."

"Meizi, will you join us?"

"I'm still considering it." Ando Meiko gave an ambiguous answer, then continued tapping away at her phone without looking up.

If she had not been worried about Rin, she absolutely would not have gotten involved in this mess.

Seeing Ando Meiko absentmindedly playing with her phone, Rin, who had a spoon between her lips, puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

"Who are you chatting with?"

"Your sister Fuko. I told her I won't be home for dinner tonight."

"Oh, I see. Mm."

Maybe it was just her imagination, but although Rin's words had no particular meaning, Ando Meiko felt like her tone had become much happier.

The tactical discussion took nearly two hours. The time to eliminate the Void Spider had been set for tonight, and filling their stomachs before the battle was important.

So she and Rin came to the Catgirl Maid Café, which concealed the base, to order food. Employee meals here were free, and Ando Meiko had the privileges granted by the commander, so like Rin, she could eat without paying.

After receiving Fuko's reply, she put down her phone and focused on finishing this pre-battle dinner.

"Where are we going from later? Are we entering from here, or taking the train over first?"

"We're taking the train. Otherwise, if we enter the Void World here, we'll have to walk."

Though it was all within the same city, walking to the mall would still take quite a while. Even if they left now, they would not make it in time for the extermination battle.

Still, that was fine. Going from here to the mall they visited last time happened to be on the way home.

After finishing dinner and resting for a while, the girls headed out toward the train station.

The moment they entered the train and found empty seats, many people immediately cast curious, appraising looks their way.

"Look, those two girls are so cute!"

"Yeah, I wonder if they're cosplayers from somewhere? Or maybe active idols?"

"Probably not. If they were that cute, there's no way I wouldn't be following them."

The sound of the train could not drown out the conversations inside. After hearing there were two adorable girls here, most of the passengers crowded over to catch a glimpse.

Sitting next to each other, the two girls could only helplessly face the increasingly cramped space around them.

Maybe I should wear a mask when I go out next time... This can't keep happening. Then again, who told me to be so cute? Ando Meiko snickered inwardly.

Fortunately, that agonizing time did not last long. The moment the train reached the station, they both got off as if fleeing for their lives.

Those scorching gazes finally disappeared, and Ando Meiko let out a breath.

She really was not suited to appearing in public, even if it was only being noticed by people on a train.

Once the uncomfortable stares were gone, Rin adjusted her breathing and turned back to smile at Ando Meiko. "Let's go, Meizi."

"Okay."

They entered an empty public restroom. After confirming no one would come in for a while, they transformed at the same time and opened a gate to the Void World.

Traveling through the Void World was much faster. It was not only empty and spacious, but there was not a single person around. Even if they sprinted at full speed, no one would complain, and they would not run into anyone.

"Meizi, take this."

"What is this?" She took the tiny object, which looked like a button battery, from Rin and asked in confusion.

"A miniature communicator. We'll use this to communicate during the battle."

"Okay." After replying, she tucked the communicator into her ear and followed Rin to an underground passage not far from the mall.

"Rin..."

"What is it?"

"No matter what happens, I'll definitely protect you."

"Hahaha, don't worry, Ruby. I may look like this, but I can still protect myself." Laughing, Rin blinked her adorable eyes at her. "But I'm leaving my back to you."

Looking up into the distance, they saw a colossal creature bracing itself on eight legs within the mall, protecting a giant white cocoon that had already developed faint cracks.

No matter how many times one saw it, the enormous spider sprawled in the center of the mall inspired fear.

If someone who was particularly afraid of spiders saw that sight, they would probably foam at the mouth and faint on the spot.

The Void Spider had not noticed the magical girls who had already set their sights on it. It remained motionless where it was.

This was the agreed meeting point. Once Ando Meiko and Rin arrived, everyone was present.

"Good, everyone's here. First, let's repeat the battle plan." Commander Yōichi's voice came through the earpieces, and everyone, including Ando Meiko, tensed up.

Ando Meiko had listened through the entire meeting about the plan, so she had firmly memorized all the important points.

As the one whose attack could pierce the Ghost Grade Void Spider's hard carapace, her task was to assist Rin in destroying the cocoon that was nearly finished hatching.

"Try not to hold me back." Furate, the blue-haired magical girl accompanying them, wore a confident smile.

She drew out a Star Tarot card from her card pack and swept it over her magic wand. The wand transformed into Aether and merged with the Star Tarot, then floated behind Furate and became a pair of external jet wings.

She extended both hands and pushed forward. Two hollow barrels, each a meter long, extended from the wings. Those seemingly flimsy cannon barrels were one of her few attack methods.

"Move aside, or you'll get burned by the jet exhaust." Seeing Ando Meiko still standing behind her and eagerly staring at the wings, Furate reminded her with a smile.

Ando Meiko smiled awkwardly and hurried to the side, clearing the way for Furate.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven..." As Yōichi counted down, the turbines behind the external wings spun wildly, drawing in vast amounts of magical power and building up enough force for flight.

"One! The battle begi—"

The erupting exhaust trailed behind her in a dazzling tail several meters long, and the explosive force of the thrusters instantly launched Furate into the air.

"She flew! She really flew!"

The Matter of Being Tricked into Becoming a Magical Girl: Domain

As a Starry Magical Girl, Furate's theme was fighter jets. She was also one of the few magical girls capable of using external equipment for extremely high-speed aerial combat.

However, although the equipment was effective, depending on the intensity of the battle, it could only last for five minutes at most.

"Fire!" Two missiles launched from the cannon barrels and struck the Void Spider, causing violent explosions.

But they were only replicas created from magical power. Since Furate had devoted all her magical power to maintaining flight, the missiles' power had been reduced by at least half.

The Void Spider, struck by the missiles, suddenly raised its head. All sixteen of its eyes focused on the mosquito that dared attack it.

The damage might have been small, but they had achieved the effect they wanted.

Just as expected, it pursued her, and at that moment, the horn of battle sounded.

The Ocean-Type magical girls and several others with weaker combat power remained behind, ready to support Furate and assist everyone in battle at any time.

"Let's begin, everyone." Watching the fooled spider chase after Furate, Rin, who had been hiding below, rose from behind cover.

With a wave of both hands, three red Talisman Scripts appeared from thin air in each hand. The runes printed on the scripts in her left and right hands were different as well.

"Got it," Ando Meiko replied.

Magical power poured into her magic wand as she gathered the power needed to activate her skill.

"Three, two, one... Fire!"

"Silver Impact!"

Ando Meiko gave a sharp cry, and magical power burst from the tip of her wand. The wide-reaching red beam intertwined with the three Talisman Scripts Rin threw out, completely enveloping the spider's cocoon.

Gigigigigigigi!

Sensing that its cocoon was being destroyed, the Void Spider let out a strange cry. It instantly gave up chasing Furate and exploded toward the mall with astonishing speed.

"It's back! Run!" Before leaving, Rin casually threw the three Talisman Scripts bearing flame symbols from her other hand behind her.

The Talisman Scripts transformed into blazing flames, igniting all the spider silk in a single breath. That special fire also spread upward at a terrifying speed.

By the time the Void Spider returned to its Nest, the small spiders that had already been battered by the beam were crackling as they burned in the special flames.

These Void Beasts were clearly Aggregates of Demonic Aether, yet as the bizarre flames burned them, they gave off the smell of scorched protein.

The disgusting stench quickly spread through the Void World, forcing the fleeing Ando Meiko to cover her nose.

However, from inside the spider cocoon reduced to ash by the flames, thick black liquid slowly dripped down. At the same time, an uncomfortable dizziness washed over Ando Meiko.

[So that's why it didn't have a territory... It condensed all of its Demonic Aether inside the cocoon.]

Ruby's incredulous voice echoed in her mind, and Ando Meiko finally understood.

If that Demonic Aether had not been stored inside the spider cocoon back then, she might have been dragged into the Void World immediately and left at the mercy of this Void Beast.

With no hope of saving its children, the Void Spider lowered its head and absorbed every bit of Demonic Aether flowing out of the cocoon back into its body.

"Stop it! Don't let it absorb them!" Rin cried urgently through the communicator. The magical girls who had been covering their retreat changed their task, turning from support to attack.

Colorful beams representing magical power were unleashed freely, but because of the range, by the time the magical blasts reached the spider, most of their power had already been spent.

This level of magical fire was nothing more than scratching an itch to a Ghost Grade Void Spider.

But even so, who would dare go up and fight something that terrifying directly? Wouldn't that just be suicide?

While Ando Meiko was lost in thought, a yellow figure rushed past her at high speed and rapidly closed in on the Void Spider.