Magical Girl? I Got Tricked Into It!

After a long silence as they waited for class to begin, Kajieliena suddenly seemed to remember something and leaned close to Ando Meiko again, asking softly, "Did that perverted woman come looking for you?"

Ando Meiko subtly lifted her chin, her lips barely moving. "She said she wants to take you back with her."

"I knew it." Kajieliena shrugged and leaned back in her chair without a care. "But you should be careful. She may be shameless, but her strength is no joke."

"Her strength... If she really intended to attack me, I probably wouldn't last more than a few exchanges, would I?"

Remembering the owl familiar's terrifying ambush ability, Meiko knew that if Rin had not noticed in time and saved her, she would probably have ended up with broken arms and legs.

She could only say that a witch was indeed a witch. Even a probing attack was so vicious and ruthless.

"Yeah, she could probably hang you up and beat you within two exchanges." Kajieliena thought for a moment, then looked at Meiko seriously. "But I can tell you an emergency escape method."

Volume Two: The Vanished Everyday Life: Chapter Ten: Study Camp

The words "emergency escape" made the corner of Meiko's mouth twitch.

Listen to that. She had even skipped self-defense entirely and gone straight to the moment my life is on the line. Just how little does this brat think of me?

Though her feelings were complicated, she still looked at Kajieliena in confusion. "I don't really want to know, but tell me. What kind of emergency escape method is it?"

"Find a chance to rip off her top."

"Uh..." Fine, it really was better not to listen to this sort of thing.

Meiko did not pay much attention to Kajieliena's so-called emergency escape method, treating it as this blockhead suddenly trying to tease her with a joke.

For a shameless exhibitionist who had lifted Meiko's skirt in full view of everyone, ripping off her top would practically be rewarding her, wouldn't it?

Not long after, the bell had barely rung when their homeroom teacher, Chihaya Ji, entered through the front door.

Before she had even stopped walking, she had already grabbed a piece of chalk and begun writing boldly across the blackboard.

Everyone in the class watched their homeroom teacher, whose behavior was different from usual. Though quite a few whispers remained, most chose to stay silent.

There were generally only two reasons why Ji would act in such a hurry. One was that something had happened at school and they would be dismissed early.

The other was that the school was holding some major event again.

"Quiet down." After finishing what she was writing, Ji patted the blackboard. Only after confirming that the whispers had completely stopped did she nod in satisfaction. "As you can see, the day after tomorrow, we will be going to the nearby mountains for a five-day study camp."

"No way? That's so rushed?"

"Ms. Ji, isn't this way too sudden?"

"Exactly. At least give us a week to prepare."

After hearing Ji's announcement, the class erupted into discussion again. Aside from a few people secretly delighted by the news, most wore surprised expressions.

After learning the news, Meiko also looked at her homeroom teacher in confusion.

It was not as though they had never held a study camp before. Last year, when she had still been Ando Koichi in her first year, she had attended the class study camp.

Although it had also been announced in advance back then, they had at least been given a month to prepare, far more time than they had now.

"This is so rushed, it almost feels like they're trying to drive us out of here," Kajieliena muttered casually.

Meiko froze at that, but quickly relaxed.

If everything in the real world could be linked to magical girls, Void Beasts, or even the Void World, then this world would be doomed sooner or later.

"Quiet." Ji slapped the blackboard again, cutting off the increasingly noisy discussion. "Since this decision was made rather hastily, school will end early this afternoon, and you'll have all of tomorrow off. Use that time to prepare the things you'll need over there."

Ji picked up a booklet she had just brought in and flipped through it page by page for her students. "This guide lists the precautions for the study camp and the things you need to prepare. If you don't know what to do, just prepare according to what it says."

Taking the guide that had been handed out, Meiko casually flipped through several pages before turning directly to the list of required items.

"Washbasin, body wash and other bathing supplies, toothpaste, toothbrushes, cups, and other toiletries." Seeing only a few short lines, Meiko found it a little strange.

Last year's guide had at least mentioned bringing textbooks and such. Now, it seemed like they only needed to bring some daily necessities.

Did preparing this little really require an entire day?

The sound of discussion rose again. Clearly, the others were also surprised by the contents of the guide.

"Teacher, um, don't we need to bring textbooks?"

"Just follow what the guide says. Bring what it tells you to bring, and don't worry about anything it doesn't mention. All I can tell you is that this time will be somewhat different from before. The results of this study camp will count directly toward your graduation grades."

A chorus of shocked murmurs immediately filled the room. Everyone, including Meiko, cared deeply about what exactly this study camp that counted toward their graduation grades would involve.

"I just hope it won't bore me too much."

Meiko shot Kajieliena, who was making snide remarks beside her, a glare, then shifted her gaze to an old friend Ji had pulled out from beneath the podium—the blind-draw lottery box.

Seeing the small square box, Meiko could not help recalling when she had first started school. With her godly hand, she had drawn the slip assigning her to the three-legged race with Nakajima Rei.

"Just like during the school festival, the lottery will be the same as usual. Ten classes will be mixed together. We'll be paired with Class Two, and those who draw the same number will form a team."

Hearing that, Meiko raised an eyebrow. She reached into the box held out before her and drew out a slip of paper. After making sure Kajieliena was not looking, she carefully unfolded it.

A large number 6 was written on it.

She quickly put away her slip. Once everyone had drawn their numbers, they all coincidentally unfolded their pieces of paper and held their numbers high.

"Who's in Group One with me?"

"Where are the people from Group Three?"

Yuya, seated on Meiko's other side, chuckled, but when he saw the number in her hand, he stared dumbly at the large "9" written on his own slip.

The young man immediately looked as dejected as pickled cabbage. He flipped the paper over several times, trying to deceive himself that way.

"Huh? What's going on? I clearly saw that my number was 6 just now. How did it suddenly become 9?"

"Hahaha, you must've misread it. Mistaking such an obvious 9 for a 6—you really are something."

The boy who had originally wanted to boast to his friends about being paired with a beauty like Meiko stared blankly at the "9" in his hand, looking just as dejected as Yuya from the same group.

Meiko, who had heard the exchange, froze slightly. Then, as if she had realized something, she looked to the side and saw Kajieliena waving the slip in her hand at her.

The number written on it was the same as Meiko's: 6.

"Kajieliena... You..." Meiko glared at her viciously.

Looking at her expression, only a ghost would fail to guess that after seeing Meiko's slip, she had deliberately found someone to swap it.

Volume Two: The Vanished Everyday Life: Chapter Eleven: Hire a Bodyguard

Since school was ending early, Meiko no longer planned to go to the library to read.

As soon as the dismissal bell rang, she stood up and prepared to leave the classroom, only to have her path blocked by a white figure that flashed past her so quickly she could not see it clearly.

"Meiko, come shopping with me."

If another beautiful girl had invited her shopping, she would certainly have been happy. But this was a witch who had been looking for a chance to tie her up and drag her back for research.

To others, the silver-haired girl was as aloof and pure as a snow lotus. To Meiko, however, she was like a white-faced reaper from the underworld, coming to claim her life.

It truly proved the saying: seeing her was like seeing a ghost.

"How unfair. I wanted to invite Meiko out on a shopping date too."

Meiko had wanted to refuse sternly, but Yuya's unwilling voice rang out behind her at the worst possible time.

If she refused Kajieliena here, then her brother who had fallen for her would surely pester her again.

After weighing the consequences of both options in her mind, she still chose the former.

Though she was afraid of Kajieliena, they both knew each other's identities, so walking together would not be too restrictive.

Besides, after spending some time with Kajieliena, Meiko had come to understand a little of her personality.

This beautiful girl, cold as a snowy mountain, could not exactly be called a research fanatic, but she possessed an almost pathological obsession with things that piqued her curiosity.

Yet as long as she had not obtained the person's consent or trading rights, she would only display her methods of research without crossing the line.

In a sense, this blockhead Kajieliena was actually a very upright person.

Still, Meiko could not understand why someone so upright had joined the Witch Organization's God's Staff and become a witch. Could there be something there that attracted her curiosity?

If she asked, Kajieliena would definitely tell her, but to avoid unnecessary trouble, Meiko did not want to meddle too much in other people's affairs.

"Let's go, then. I happen to want to buy some things too." That was not a lie.

The study camp would only last five days. Bringing all the bottles and jars from home would be far too heavy.

Considering that, Meiko had already been thinking of going to a nearby supermarket to buy small bottles of body wash, shampoo, and similar items that would last for those days.

I wanted to ask Rin out tomorrow for a stroll, but forget it. Since Kajieliena has already invited me out, I'll settle things with her today. Then tomorrow, I can take Nanako to the base.

Muttering to herself inwardly, Meiko followed Kajieliena out of the classroom.

"Why did you suddenly want to go out with me? Don't tell me you have some ideas about my body again?"

Kajieliena stopped, shook her head, and glanced at her. "I do have ideas, but right now, I only want to bring along a bodyguard."

"A bodyguard?" The corner of Meiko's mouth twitched, and she nearly lost control of her expression. "You... You want me to protect you from that perverted woman?"

"Mm." Kajieliena merely nodded lightly, with no trace of hesitation on her face. "I can't beat her alone."

"And you think adding me means we can beat her? For all you know, I'd just be dead weight!"

"Then let her become your stepping stone to grow stronger."

"You really are so considerate of me! Should I thank you too?"

"No need to thank me. If possible..."

"Possible my ass!"

Meiko cried out miserably, covering her face and rubbing her smooth forehead. Countless happy memories flashed through her mind as she tried to calm the turbulent waves in her heart.

Making an executive-level witch her stepping stone to becoming stronger? Kajieliena was far too ambitious. Was she not afraid that a rabbit opening its mouth too wide would get eaten by a lion?

Kajieliena, who did not know how to make conversation, ignored Meiko's sulking all the way. Naturally, Meiko had no intention of starting a conversation either.

The two walked in silence until they reached the nearby shopping district, the same one Meiko had visited once with Nakajima Rei.

Seeing the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar street, Meiko slowly let out a breath and turned to stare at a utility pole standing quietly by a wall.

The first time she had come here, she had encountered a Void Dog she could barely handle, and it was this very utility pole that had slammed into her after she was knocked back, making her cough up blood.

"Meiko, hurry up."

Clicking her tongue, she quickened her pace to catch up with Kajieliena, who had already walked some distance away, despite the reluctance written all over her face.

A dizzy sensation suddenly surged into her head. The magic power around her abruptly swelled, and it felt as though gravity had suddenly multiplied several times. The crushing weight hung over Meiko's body like a stone slab, making her sink slightly.

Her body had developed an almost reflexive response to this strange sensation. Before the space around her could shift any further, she had already grasped the Ruby necklace on her chest.

"Huh? It felt like someone disappeared just now?" In a daze, a boy drinking milk tea nearby stared blankly at the spot where Meiko had been standing.

"You saw wrong, didn't you? It's not like aliens invaded. How could someone just vanish into thin air?"

"But I really saw it! And she was an eight—no, nine-out-of-ten beautiful, big-breasted high school girl."

"You're so desperate for women that you've gone crazy. If you want to blow off some steam, how about we take you somewhere nice?"

"Somewhere nice..." The boy's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. He then cautiously looked around. "I-Is it some new game?"

"More exciting than a game!"

Hearing that, the boy's heart leaped with joy. His gaze swept toward a nearby shop with an 18 sign crossed out by a slash, and a crescent-shaped smile appeared on his lips.

As for seeing a girl vanish before his eyes just now, he quietly ignored it in his heart, telling himself that he must have seen wrong.

The surging magic power dissipated in an instant. Before her magic wand could appear, it had already transformed into Aether and condensed into the shape of a frying pan in Meiko's hand.

Turning around, she swung the frying pan diagonally like she was batting a baseball. Its broad body struck some rigid object.

Along with a strange sound, the object Meiko had hit turned into a black afterimage and quickly floated into the air.

It beat its broad wings. Every flap produced a whistling sound as it cut through the air, while the currents it stirred continuously swept across the ground and lashed against Meiko's face as she raised her head and squinted at it.

Volume Two: The Vanished Everyday Life: Chapter Twelve: Progress

Raised in front of her, it could serve as a shield. Swept sideways, it could serve as a racket. Brought down vertically, it could serve as an iron club. When she had nothing else to do, she could even use it to fry a sausage or scramble an egg.

It was clearly a kitchen utensil, yet it felt strangely handy in everyday use. Otherwise, how could Meiko have kept using such an absurdly comical weapon as a frying pan until now?