Chapter 31: Buggy Gate.

For magical girls in rural areas, there’s no backup.

When trouble hits, they’re the only ones nearby who can respond.

Allies will come if called, but the burden on their shoulders is heavier than that of capital-region magical girls.

The silver lining? Monsters appear less frequently.

With gate occurrences tied to population density, there’s not much work.

“It’s quiet,” Metaphorte said, drifting slowly through the sky, scanning the ground.

Mountains and rice fields, dotted with sparse villages. A tractor rumbled below.

“Quiet’s the best. Means we don’t have to step in,” Cherry Fiore replied, gliding leisurely beside her.

They regularly patrolled their assigned area like this, checking for monsters the sensors might miss.

“True, but doesn’t it make our magical girl identity feel… thin?” Metaphorte asked.

“What’s a ‘proper’ magical girl to you?”

“Probably what people picture—fighting monsters in the city.”

Strong, beautiful defenders of justice, cheered by adults and kids alike.

That was Metaphorte’s vision of a magical girl.

“Quiet’s nice, right?” Cherry Fiore said, understanding her junior’s sentiment.

Only a select few become magical girls.

With that rare luck, rotting away in a rural hometown—even if it’s home—must feel unsatisfying.

“I know I shouldn’t say this, but last time, fighting together was kind of fun. And a bit enviable,” Metaphorte admitted.

The incident when gates surged.

During the Dark Magical Gem terror, capital-region allies came.

They teamed up, hunted monsters, and resolved it without major issues.

“Wanna go back to Seoul? Getting bored with me?” Cherry Fiore teased.

“No, not like that! I’ve got school, and it’s nicer living here!”

“Phew, good. I hate being lonely,” Cherry Fiore said with a playful grin.

Like corporate trainees, rural magical girls spend a few months in Seoul after signing their contracts to gain experience.

Metaphorte did this during winter break.

Living with peers, hitting the field as much as possible, she returned with sharper magic and better instincts.

“Not much left. Let’s speed up,” Cherry Fiore said.

“Got it!”

They checked the less-traveled areas.

No issues today.

As expected…

“Wait, what’s that?” Metaphorte pointed.

A small black rift.

“Let’s check it out,” Cherry Fiore said, her expression hardening.

They landed a safe distance away, approaching cautiously on foot.

“Looks like a gate,” Metaphorte observed, circling it.

“Barely any magic coming off it,” Cherry Fiore noted.

No word from the support team.

The magic was so faint, even up close, that sensors likely missed it.

“It hasn’t closed, so no monster’s come out yet…” Cherry Fiore mused.

“Too small for anything to fit through?” Metaphorte suggested.

“Maybe… but it feels like a leftover from last time.”

The rift was barely wide enough for a person.

Considering E- or F-grade monsters are as big as large mammals, Metaphorte’s theory held water.

“What do we do?” she asked.

A first for both.

But the protocol was clear.

“Report to the support team first. I’ll call,” Cherry Fiore said.

One small, dormant gate.

They could handle whatever emerged, but Cherry Fiore couldn’t shake a bad feeling.

A gate undetected by radar shocked the magical girl support team.

“Just checked the sensors—no malfunctions,” a staffer reported, hanging up.

An urgent meeting was underway, discussing how to handle the mysterious gate.

“Maybe it’s just emitting low magic?” one suggested.

“Probably. Mountains could block detection too. Happens in rural areas,” another replied.

Missing it was understandable, but that wasn’t the real issue.

“Why hasn’t it closed?” Kim Tae-hyun asked.

Gates typically last under ten minutes, closing right after monsters emerge.

“Like it’s glitched or something,” a staffer said.

“A glitch in a gate…?”

“Should we tell them to blast magic into it?”

Ideas flew, but no clear solution emerged.

Only one decision was immediate.

“Issue a warning and send personnel to monitor it,” Kim Tae-hyun said.

Everyone agreed.

“I’m in. Since we found it early, let’s handle it well.”

“Send some magical girls too?”

“Like last time, let’s call available third- and fourth-gens.”

As consensus formed, Kim spoke again.

“I think we should send Scarlet Lily.”

The room fell silent.

“Isn’t she our trump card?”

“True, but things have changed.”

“How so?”

Scarlet Lily had contacted them a few days ago.

Unusual for someone who keeps the government at arm’s length.

“She said to send her if rural areas need help. She can fly there fast, so it’s practical.”

Murmurs rippled through the staff.

With the strongest magical girl, worries vanished.

They all knew this but hesitated, fearing over-reliance might push her away.

Yet Scarlet Lily volunteered for the hassle.

“We’re grateful, but what’s with the sudden change?” a staffer asked.

“Seeing the capital emptied last time, she thought this was better. She’s worried about rural magical girls.”

“Wow…”

Strong and considerate.

Praise for Scarlet Lily poured from the team.

“If she’s okay with it, there’s no better fit,” one said.

“Agreed,” Kim nodded, impressed by her thoughtfulness.

Preparations were set.

Relief settled over the support team, and the meeting wrapped quickly.

I got a request from the support team for a trip.

A glitched gate, but details were vague until I could see it myself.

A rural village in an unfamiliar region, 300–400 km one way from home.

I didn’t want to go, but it’s too far for others.

Especially if it’s tied to the recent terror, I figured I’d handle it.

Going alone to a remote place felt too lonely, though.

[Lily: Anyone free this weekend, raise your hand]

I messaged the group chat.

[Haeun: What’s up?]

Haeun replied instantly.

Not sure if it’s her social butterfly nature, but she’s glued to her phone.

[Lily: Got a rural trip. Recruiting company]
[Haeun: A trip? Like a salarywoman. Jobless, though]
[Lily: Keep sassing, you’ll get scolded]
[Haeun: Lily’s too scary lately~]

I chuckled at her reply.

Haeun’s quick wit makes chatting fun.

[Haeun: I’ve got classes, so I’m out]
[Lily: Don’t push it. Others free?]

Haeun’s a college student.

Weekdays are tough, but tomorrow’s Friday, and then it’s the weekend.

Someone with a free Friday might join.

[Yena: Why need company? Lily could handle it solo]

Second-fastest texter appeared.

[Lily: It’s boring. Gotta stay till it’s resolved]
[Yena: What’s the case?]
[Lily: Closing a glitched gate]
[Yena: Glitched how?]
[Lily: Maybe tied to Dark Magical Gems, but I’ll know when I get there]
[Yena: I’m busy. Have fun]

“This girl,” I muttered.

Rejected before I could even ask.

She’s dying to tag along.

[Lily: Companion’s Reaper Mors, confirmed]
[Yena: I said I’m busy! Got work too]
[Lily: Adjust your shifts]
[Yena: A day’s notice? Seriously?]
[Lily: Beg the manager]
[Yena: You don’t nag Haeun-unnie, but you hound me!]

It’s for saving the country—cut me some slack.

The manager’s clueless, though.

[Yena: Send Sonya instead. She can go after school]
[Haeun: How do you pawn it off on a junior?]
[Lily: No fifth-gens]

Haeun and I shut down Yena’s escape.

Sorry to Sonya, but this needs fourth-gen or above.

If fifth-gens could handle it, the local magical girls would suffice.

[Lily: I’ll teach you a bit of my strength secret. You whined about being weak, right?]

Silence followed that text.

Then, a moment later:

[Yena: You better keep that promise]