Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

The year 1979 of the Queen's Calendar, late summer.

The two-world war remains at a white-hot stage.

As a city relatively far from the frontline, Luennolay has not seen any battles today.

"The third line of defense has been breached, the western front has fallen."

However, Cornflower, who was one of the stationed soldiers, received no good news.

She looked at Stonegarlic, her nominal superior, who was usually somewhat nonchalant, but at this moment wore a rare expression of worry: "The Interworld Army has reinforced the western front and used some strange means to catalyze special Remnant Beasts. Our army suffered a disastrous defeat."

This was rare since Cornflower enlisted; to hear the word "disastrous defeat" used to describe the Kingdom Army.

"Did many people die?"

Apparently, she wasn't the only one thinking this, as a younger officer nearby instinctively asked this near-pointless question.

Stonegarlic didn't bother responding to the obvious, simply taking a drag of his cigarette in silence.

In the command room, dozens of officers of varying ranks stood in silence.

Unlike Cornflower, an "outsider" who enlisted from the Material Realm, most of the officers here were locals from the Kingdom. The lines of defense to the west of Luennolay, at Pattek Castle, included family and friends of many of them.

"How soon will the enemy's main forces arrive at Luennolay?" So, only Cornflower, the outsider, asked Stonegarlic more proactively.

"Anytime now." Stonegarlic set down his pipe: "So there's no time to mourn, nor time for other words. Return to your respective units, tell everyone to follow our deployment plan, get ready, the city is under lockdown, it's going to be a tough battle."

His words broke the silence, and the officers began to take action. Cornflower, before being ushered out of the command room, approached Stonegarlic: "Commander, Commander— Sir, I have a child in my unit."

"A child? There are no children here, only soldiers in the City Defense Army." Stonegarlic was unmoved.

"A 10-year-old child, Commander, you told me yourself before. She doesn't know anything."

Seeing the adjutant approach to hurry her along, Cornflower spoke faster: "Even though I've taught her for a few months now, throwing her onto the main battlefield is just sending her to her death. She couldn't possibly survive."

"We are Magical Girls, the most powerful singular combat units in the army."

Stonegarlic slightly widened his eyes, marked with dark circles: "If even Magical Girls can't hold the line, what about the Magicians? What about ordinary people? Do you think it's not sending them to their deaths when they go to battle?"

"Then put them where they can make a difference!"

Cornflower argued: "Just as Magicians and ordinary people are assigned different tasks from us, we should place those children inside the city, in lower-intensity battle zones, to protect the populace, rather than confront the highest-ranking Remnant Beasts like us!"

The adjutant beside Cornflower paused.

Because Stonegarlic showed a contemplative expression.

"...Alight."

After a long pause, she said while meeting Cornflower's gaze: "I'll sign a note for you later. You'll be responsible for coordinating with some other squads to move those few 10-year-old girls into the city. But remember, it's only for those few. Bring any extras, and it will be denied."

"Thank you, Commander." Cornflower visibly relaxed.

"If only you were this tactful when you weren't asking me for favors."

Stonegarlic sighed: "Alright, no more lingering. Head out, I have a meeting with the Magician units next."

Cornflower "obediently" left the headquarters.

Then, on her way, she encountered a not-so-familiar "acquaintance."

Heidi Abimele, daughter of Commander Stonegarlic. Her codename is Tulip, and she is a Magical Girl in the medical logistics unit.

For some reason, the girl usually referred to as "Angel," always presenting as gentle and sunny, was now sitting gloomily in a corner.

If they were truly familiar, Cornflower might have gone over to exchange a few words. But honestly, their usual interaction was limited to nodding acknowledgment. Cornflower had only learned her name from other officers.

Her hesitation only lasted a moment before she decided to walk past as though she hadn't noticed. But Tulip noticed her first.

"Ah... hello, is there something you need?"

In a moment, Tulip had composed herself and gave Cornflower a gentle smile.

"No."

Cornflower shook her head: "I just noticed you seemed pretty down."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Tulip looked a bit embarrassed: "It's nothing really serious. Losing my composure at this moment—isn't it inappropriate? Sorry."

"I'm alright with it." Cornflower blinked: "I understand. After all, with Pattek Castle's fall, being upset is pretty normal."

"...It's not about Pattek Castle." Tulip blurted out.

"Hmm?"

"It's not about Pattek Castle, ah, It's not that I'm not sad for my comrades there, but... I have a very uneasy, end-of-the-world feeling."

Tulip looked down, speaking as if to herself: "Like the sky is about to fall, with no escape for anyone, like the ground is about to split open and everything will fall... Ugh!"

She covered her mouth, stopping her speech.

After a long moment, she spoke again: "Sorry, just pretend I didn't say those nonsensical words. Speaking such baseless things before a battle is indeed rather unlucky."

She didn't look up at Cornflower again, avoiding eye contact.

"Are you under too much pressure?" Cornflower, with a bit of bewilderment, watched Tulip's strong reaction.

"Maybe... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shared these negative thoughts with you."

Tulip forced a thin smile: "Perhaps I should go rest for a bit, and get ready for the upcoming work. Excuse me."

Before Cornflower could reply, she respectfully bowed and turned to leave.

Perhaps because they weren't really close, so for Tulip, continuing to pour out her "negative sentiments" to Cornflower would only add to the latter's worries.

Cornflower didn't pursue this small incident further, though Tulip's "ominous premonition" did leave her feeling slightly unsettled. But she quickly immersed herself in her work, throwing those emotions aside.

She returned to her unit first, mobilizing the squad according to the commander's instructions, and assigned defensive tasks. Then, with Nina's grateful gaze upon her, she called out Nim's name to remove her from the squad.

"Captain, are we going on some special mission?" Nim asked, eagerness in her voice.

"Consider it a special mission. You'll be reassigned inside the city to help protect the citizens," Cornflower nodded.

"Ah?" Nim's excitement faded: "I'm being taken off the front lines?"

"Cheer up, your sister would worry herself sick otherwise."

Cornflower rubbed Nim's head with some helplessness: "Plus, work inside the city isn't easy either. You'll still have to deal with Remnant Beasts. We'll do our best to keep those Pupa Level ones outside, but you'll have to watch over the lower-level ones. Don't underestimate them, okay?"

"Oh, okay?" Nim seemed to catch her stride: "If I do well, can I return to fight alongside you and my sister?"

"Of course," Cornflower replied without hesitation.

"Then leave it to me!"

Nim reignited her fervor: "I guarantee we'll complete the mission!"