I Became a New Magical Girl Priest

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First, the university we attended.

The seniors got into good universities first, and the rest of us worked hard to get into the same university together.

The university is vast. While it wasn’t impossible to walk around, it was definitely much larger compared to high schools or middle schools.

Ji-hye’s mother was wandering around the school with a somewhat dazed expression when—

“Mom.”

Startled by Ji-hye’s call, I turned to look.

Ji-hye also had an awkward expression. Her face was bright red, as if she didn’t know how to process the word she just said.

However, it seemed that Ji-hye wasn’t thinking of giving up just yet.

I recalled the conversation we had last night.

“Still, I’m not going to give up.”

Ji-hye had said that with a somewhat stiff expression.

“It’s better to try and give up than to just let it pass without doing anything. If I try and it really seems impossible, then that’s that, but I don’t want to decide from the start that it’s over.”

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but nod.

I had only thought it was impossible, but at least the possibility seemed to be in my hands now. If that’s the case, isn’t it okay to hold onto ‘hope’?

After all, we were magical girls.

We didn’t link arms or hold hands like a close mother-daughter duo.

However, Ji-hye and her mother walked quietly side by side, a few steps ahead of me. I followed behind a little ways back, listening to their conversation.

People passing by glanced at us. But perhaps because Ji-hye’s mother was with us, they didn’t easily strike up a conversation.

Did they think we were high-ranking people at the university?

Ji-hye’s mother was diligently taking in her surroundings. Every time Ji-hye mentioned something like what she did here or what she ate at this restaurant, her eyes sparkled.

I wondered where that person had been or if, at that age, they used to chase after Ji-hye?

Although I had heard about the past, experiencing it directly was different, so I couldn’t casually think about it in many ways.

Ji-hye’s stories included my friends too.

Ha-yoon, Seo-hee, Jua, Yeon-woo, and even Pang-pang. Plus, there were kids from the same department and seniors as well.

Back in the day, when I had a family in my previous life, my parents often asked for the names of my friends. They didn’t know their faces and had only seen them just once for a brief moment.

When I asked why they wanted to know so badly, they said it was simply because I was their son.

“……”

In this world, I never really thought about having a different family.

For me, my family was simply the kids who were with me.

“Ji-eun!”

Ji-hye suddenly turned around and shouted at me.

“Yes?”

I was a bit startled, having lost track of the conversation they were having while lost in thought.

“Next, we’re going to high school!”

“High school?”

Is she really thinking about going back to the past?

Well, we had plenty of time today, so I could follow along anytime.

*

Thinking about it, I had hardly ever been to Ji-hye’s high school. After the chaos of her first year settled down, I occasionally came to pick her up, but I still hadn’t gone inside.

Compared to the school I attended, the buildings seemed a bit older, and the facilities appeared somewhat lacking.

Right now, it was also vacation, so there were hardly any students around, making it look a bit bleak.

We stood outside, unable to go in, just peering inside.

“This is the school where I spent three years,” Ji-hye said.

“Oh, I see.”

“Yeah, the middle school is a bit farther away from here. But I worked hard, really.”

“……I see.”

At Ji-hye’s words, her mother nodded slightly.

She did work hard.

And it wasn’t just about studying; in our relationship, Ji-hye was always putting in effort. Despite my prickly nature, she eventually became close to me, and even when I became a combatant and ran far away, Ji-hye couldn’t cut off our connection.

I didn’t want to dismiss it as just her nature. Saying that made it seem like Ji-hye’s effort didn’t count for anything.

“Really……”

Ji-hye’s mother said with a bit of difficulty.

“Really……”

And she fell silent.

Ji-hye looked at her mother, then shifted her gaze elsewhere as she said, “It’s okay to just compliment me.”

Compliment, huh.

I had thanked Ji-hye before. I told her I loved her countless times. But I hadn’t really praised her often.

It wasn’t stinginess; it was probably just a difference in emotions.

If Ji-hye did something nice for me, it was something to be grateful for, not something to praise. I could hug her tightly and tell her I love her, but praising her… that felt a bit awkward between us.

“……You really worked hard. Really…….”

Ji-hye’s mother said in a choked voice, “You really grew up well…….”

With difficulty, she managed to say that.

Ji-hye cried.

I stepped closer to Ji-hye and gently patted her back.

Ji-hye leaned against me, took a moment to catch her breath, and then reached out to her mother.

I still wasn’t sure if Ji-hye could forgive her mother. I didn’t know if that long empty period could heal or if the future would connect them again.

But one thing was certain.

At least Ji-hye wasn’t going to give up.

She’d definitely not give up on the relationship with the person in front of her. She’d confront, talk, and create memories together… and gradually, she’d overcome it.

Just like Ji-hye had done until now.

I believed that.

Because Ji-hye was my hope too.

*

After that, the number of visitors coming to our base increased.

Well, even if they did visit, aside from the usual staff and officials, there were really only “us” around, so the only one who could really be called an ‘external visitor’ was just Pang-pang.

Now, there was one more person added to that group. Ji-hye’s mother.

It seemed there was still a bit of a wall between Ji-hye and her mother. Unlike how Ji-hye would run to me and throw herself into my arms, that sort of thing didn’t happen.

But even so, spending time calmly like that was definitely a good sign.

“How’s Ji-hye?”

Ha-yoon, who was sitting next to me, asked.

“She seems to be doing much better than I thought.”

We showed Ji-hye’s mother our kids. After seeing that she had granddaughters who didn’t even expect anything from her, Ji-hye’s mother stared blankly at the kids for a long time.

So cute that it seemed like she didn’t even want to touch them and stood a little distance away.

The kids just smiled at Ji-hye’s mother.

“Maybe soon, she’ll be able to accept them as family.”

I thought it might take some time for complete acceptance, even if Ji-hye wasn’t aware of it. But at least, it was a relief that not all feelings of hostility were rising.

“That’s a relief.”

Ha-yoon’s bright smile radiated genuine feelings, making me smile back unconsciously.

Before I knew it, other kids besides Ha-yoon and me started showing their faces on the rooftop. The first to appear was Jua, followed by Seo-hee, Yeon-woo, and Chae-yeon.

Everyone stood naturally, side by side, looking toward where we were.

Maybe because of that, they noticed us.

Ji-hye looked up this way from far below.

Even at this distance, I could see her face brighten.

“Ji-eun!”

Ji-hye waved her arms at me and called out.

I couldn’t help but smile.

We were all adults, sometimes drank alcohol, and frequently saw each other without a stitch of clothing on. Kissing, hugging, or even just being intertwined was no big deal.

But even knowing all that, Ji-hye’s smile always seemed so pure to me.

Maybe purity isn’t just about being bound to such facts.

It might be about being able to have a childlike positive heart sometimes, not just acting like a simple child.

Knowing how to dream, how to laugh.

Sometimes, it could be about expressing sincerity from the heart rather than stiff, formal greetings.

That must be the source of Ji-hye’s purity.

It could be one of the reasons why I might have been able to hold onto life in this world.

Ji-hye’s mother also looked up at us.

I waved my hand at the two.

Tap tap.

Someone bumped against my arm from the side.

“What are you doing?”

Jua said, as if bewildered.

“Let’s hurry down. Your mother-in-law is here.”

“It could be your mother-in-law too.”

Yeon-woo joked from the side.

…Now that’s a tough question.

“Right. We should hurry and head down.”

Ha-yoon said while smiling.

“We’ll come down soon too.”

“How about we all go out to eat some meat today?”

“……That would be practical if we’re going to eat together.”

Chae-yeon nodded slightly with a smile.

So, we decided to do just that.

It was a common thing anyway. Sometimes, having one extra person wouldn’t be much of a problem.

“Ah, I’ll call Pang-pang too!”

At my words, the kids nodded.

I hopped down the stairs, heading toward them with a cheerful heart.

Perhaps that purity thing.

It seems to be contagious.

When I got down to the first floor, I spotted two people approaching us. Ji-hye’s mother looked a bit flustered when she saw my face. After all, I always wore a serious expression in front of them.

Alright. Then, since I received this gift, maybe I should use it once.

Purity, I mean.

“Let’s all eat meat!”

“Oh, sounds good!”

Ji-hye smiled at her mother.

There was still a lot to resolve. A lot to accept.

But hey, aren’t we magical girls? We may have gotten a bit older, but the essence doesn’t change.

Always looking toward hope.

So, I decided to look at the hope that was visible between the two.

The rest, they could align with each other.

That would be the best repayment I could give for the purity I received from Ji-hye.

Seeing Ji-hye’s bright smile made me happy.

I want to be able to look at that face for a long, long time.

Because we’re family. All of us.

 

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