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Chapter 40
Chapter 2 — Expand, my world! • Episode 2-2 • New Team ④
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
Witch of Expansion, Extend Traveler-san. She was the Magical Girl from Junkoi Town who opened the third gate before me. Junkoi Town is located next to Sakira Town, which means that we are neighbors.
Since I kicked Jack out, I’ve been gathering information to some extent by looking at official websites and summary sites, so I know exactly what I’m doing with the Witch who is holding out her hand in front of me. I am not the same person I was when I encountered Rabbitfoot-san.
Besides, I knew her as a Magical Girl Extend, not as a Witch to begin with.
I had heard from Elephant-san that she was close friends with the Magical Girls who works in the neighboring town of Junkoi.
「Then, nice to meet you. As you know, I’m Tyrant Sylph.」
I don’t want to be too nice, but refusing to shake hands in such a situation will attract the other party’s interest. I’ll play it safe here.
「Of course I know! Ostensibly, we’re supposed to be in the same boat, but I’m your Senpai, both as a Magical Girl and a Witch. You can talk to me about anything you need help with.」
「Thank you very much.」
It’s a social call. It’s the kind of thing that will annoy you if you take it seriously and ask for advice. I don’t know that I would ever discuss it with you, even if you were serious about it.
I mean, I want to talk to Elephant-san as soon as possible, so if she’d done what she had to do, I want her to go back.
For me, Magical Girls and Witches are equally unimportant.
「Ex-san, congratulations. Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?」
「Fufu, this is a surprise, you know? Surprised, right? Well, I was surprised in a different way.」
Extend-san gave me a meaningful look while talking with Elephant-san.
It must have been a surprise to them that there was a Magical Girl who had become a Witch at the same time, even though she had been announced as the 13th Witch in a big way. I didn’t know that Extend was the 13th Witch until it was announced on the day of the event, so we are both in the same boat.
I mean, I had heard about it beforehand, but I really knew Elephant-san and Extend-san, didn’t I? It’s not odd, since Magical Girls from neighboring towns may help each other, but I think it’s moderately amazing that they interact with Witches.
It would be more accurate to say that the Magical Girl who interacted with the Witch became a Witch rather than that she interacted with a Witch, but the result is the same thing.
A Magical Girl who has connections with two Witches, even though I just became one.
I knew it, Elephant-san is really amazing!
「I don’t want to be on my feet forever, so let’s just sit down.」
Extend-san urged me to sit in the same seat as Elephant-san.
Before I know it, Blade-san and Press-san are seated with another Magical Girls.
I understand that the two people with them are Samurai Peach-san and Knuckle-san from the next town over, but why would they go to that seat? If so then, don’t I have to sit together with Extend-san?
I know that Blade-san and Press-san are on the same team as Elephant-san, so I don’t blame them for getting involved to some extent, but I’d like to keep as much distance as possible from Magical Girls who don’t need to be involved.
「Don’t be so alarmed. I was nailed on the head by Thread Witch-dono. I don’t mean to probe into this or that. I’m just looking for a personal friendship.」
Perhaps it was because I was cringing as I compared the two seats, but Extend-san approached me like that. I don’t like the idea of that personal friendship, but I can’t be stubborn and refuse it here.
So, I decided to sit next to Elephant-san.
「Excuse me.」
「Hahaha, you’re so stiff. Let’s eat something sweet and relax first, shall we? Is there anything you like? I apologize for interrupting your outing, but I’m going to treat you today.」
「Nothing, but whatever.」
If you are really apologetic, I hope you leave now.
「Uhh, don’t sulk, Sylph-chan. I know you were looking forward to playing with everyone, but why don’t we go out together again?」
「I–I’m not sulking! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not!」
I’m simply not interested in getting along with Extend-san!
I was certainly looking forward to going out with Elephant-san, but that doesn’t mean I’m behaving like this because I’m annoyed that she interfered with my plans! I am not that much of a child! I am an adult who has been an adult for a long time! I can’t say it out loud though!
「There, there, this looks kind of delicious.」
「Is it pudding? This tart looks delicious too.」
Elephant-san leans over to show me the menu list.
It’s indeed a sweets store. Conversely, there is not much on the menu that could be called a light meal.
Well, it may be natural to say that products catered for girls would sell better in the Magical World, since there are only Magical Girls in this world.
I used to eat sweets only once in a while when I remembered to, and I did not have a special sweet tooth, but now that I have this body, my sense of taste has changed, and I can enjoy sweet foods very much.
「Shall we trade one bite at a time, then?」
「Eh? B–But…」
Elephant-san knows who I am.
And since she says so on that basis, perhaps there is no need to hesitate.
However, even if I know this in theory, whether or not my emotions will catch up with it is another story.
「Sylph-chan, I told you I don’t mind, remember?」
「Hyuu…!」
Elephant-san whispers in my ear so that only I can hear. I couldn’t help but scream out as the gentle breath tickled my ears. S–She didn’t ask, did she?
Hidden by a thick, stylish menu chart, I can’t see Extend-san in the front. On the other hand, I don’t think that Extend-san can see my expression either. I’m sure I must be very red, so I decided to pretend to be distressed and wait for the heat on my face to recede. It’s embarrassing…
「It seems that Wind Witch-dono likes sweet treats very much. Take your time to think about it.」
「Eh!? Y–Yes!!」
「Ahh, I’m sorry I called out to you so suddenly.」
「N–No.」
Apparently, she haven’t found out…
Instead, she might have been impressed by the level of my love of sweetness and immersion in reading the menu.
「Hey, Sylph-chan. If you can’t decide, let’s trade after all?」
「Alright, I understand!」
「Please place an order!」
I ended up accepting it because of the pressure from Elephant-san, who was smiling and laughing and bringing her face close to mine.
Don’t you hate it, Elephant-san? I look like this now, even though you know what I used to look like.
I am very happy that you became my friend after knowing my true appearance. But it is difficult for me to treat each other like real girls all of a sudden. I can’t help but feel a bit of a sense of shame that I am a man.
「Then I guess I’ll have to trade you too.」
「You can’t do that.」
It’s a no-no, of course. Not because it’s Extend-san, but because this is absolutely no good for any Magical Girl, no matter who I was dealing with, except for Elephant-san.
「J–Just kidding… Well, we’ve only just met.」
「I for one would be more than welcome!」
「Oh, yeah? Well, let’s get to it.」
Extend-san cut her roll into bite-sized pieces with a fork and slowly turned it toward Elephant-san.
「Okay, ahhn.」
「Ahhn.」
「Eh?」
Ah, ahhn!? Is this a normal interaction between girls!?
Skinship is normal, so maybe it’s nothing like this, but it’s like a special relationship. From what I know from mangas, these things are done between lovers!
Hmm, there is such a difference between a relationship between a man and a woman and a relationship between girls. I am sure this is also normal between girls.
It should be normal, but watching the two of them, I feel a bit bewildered. Is it because I’m still not comfortable with the idea of being friends with a girl?
「Nhn–♪ They’re sweet and delicious!」
「Good grief, is that all you have to say? You know, more like the contrast between the fluffy dough and the moist whipped cream creating harmony on the tongue?」
「Are you that ashamed every time you eat something, Extend-san?」
「Asha—!? No–no, it’s only polite to do the best you can with your words to accurately convey that deliciousness to others. Look, I’m sure Wind Witch-dono is getting a craving for it too.」
「Ah, no, I’m alright.」
「I–I see… I’m embarrassed… Knuckle complimented me on it…」
I couldn’t hear what she was saying in the second half because of her low voice, but she is mumbling something.
I honestly wondered if I wanted to eat it or not. It was not thanks to Extend-san’s dreadful food report, but because of Elephant-san’s reaction. But I’m patient here. Next time I’m alone…, No, I’m going to invite Elephant-san to come with me. We can eat then.
After talking to Extend-san directly like this, I kind of understood that she is not a bad person, but that doesn’t mean I can treat her the same way as Elephant-san.
The same goes for Blade-san and Press-san. Perhaps Samurai Peach and Knuckle are good people too, although we have not yet had a firm conversation. There are no bad people among Elephant-san’s friends, are there?
…I still feel a little guilty.
Even though she accepted me, I wonder if it is okay for a liar like me to be a friend of Elephant-san.
But I can’t stop now. I didn’t know that having friends was such a blessing.