Chapter 12: The First Night of Our Journey

We began searching for foxes to eat. It had already been ten minutes since we set out, and the sky was turning orange. It was a warm, beautiful hue I hadn’t seen in months. But that didn’t matter right now—what mattered was finding food.

Kori was scanning everywhere for wild foxes, while I searched on the other side. Suddenly, I spotted one feasting on a rabbit. It was a plump, gray little rabbit… and judging by the way the fox devoured it, it hadn’t eaten in a long time.

I decided to ambush it. Drawing my katana, I crept closer in silence. Once I was near enough, I struck. It only took eight slashes to kill it—after all, it was just a wild animal, not a demon. If it were the latter, things wouldn’t have ended so easily.

Satisfied, I grabbed the fox and hurried back to Kori. She was already holding two in her hands. She noticed me, smiled, and congratulated me for taking one down on my own.

“Good job, Taiyaki. Now let’s head back to Akane, Mizu, and Mizuki so we can prepare dinner. They’ve probably finished setting up camp already.”

“Alright, Kori. But… are we really just going to eat fox? Shouldn’t we have something to go with it?” I asked.

“You’re not wrong,” she replied. “But I’m sure the girls will use some of the supplies we brought along.”

I nodded. “Right, I’d forgotten about that. Let’s get back before they start worrying.”

Carrying the foxes, we walked back toward the campsite. I noticed Kori looked tired—today had been rough on her. But once we ate and rested, she’d feel better.

The world around me felt peaceful, almost as if the storm had finally passed. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t over.

When we arrived, the girls had already set up camp and a bonfire to light our surroundings. They waved as we approached.

Akane grinned. “Looks like dinner has arrived.”
Mizu cheered, “Perfect! I’m starving—I can’t wait to dig into those foxes!”
Mizuki, smiling brightly, added, “We can use the salads we brought. That’ll go well with the meat.”

Kori gave out instructions. “Akane, you’ll cook the foxes. Mizuki, prepare the drinks. Meanwhile, Taiyaki and I will rest.”

Mizu tilted her head. “And what about me?”
“You’ll take care of the firewood,” Kori replied.

Everyone nodded and set to work. I sat down, gazing at the sky. I couldn’t help but wonder… once I finished this first stage of becoming a Magical Girl, what would come next? There was no way we could face the Demon Queen yet. With a sigh, I whispered, “I guess I’m just about done with Level One.”

When I opened my eyes, everything felt so calm. Animals were dozing nearby, while others searched for food.

After ten minutes, the scent of roasting meat drifted into the air. Akane was cooking, with Mizu helping by tending the fire. Mizuki had finished the salads, neatly placing them on plates with steel forks and wooden-handled knives. She also set out cups and juice.

Another ten minutes passed, and dinner was ready. We ate together—it felt like a feast after days of traveling. The meat was so good that none of us could hide our smiles. It was the first time I had eaten something I had hunted with my own hands… well, with a weapon in hand, at least.

By the time we finished, two hours had passed. It was already 8 p.m. We decided to take turns standing watch.

Mizuki asked, “So, who goes first?”
Kori replied, “Taiyaki will go first, then me, then Akane, followed by Mizuki, and finally Mizu. Agreed?”
Mizu yawned. “Fine by me. I’m exhausted anyway.”
Akane nodded. “Same here. Good night, everyone.”
“Got it, I’ll wake up when it’s my turn,” Mizuki said.

Kori turned to me seriously. “Wake me in three hours, okay, Taiyaki?”

I nodded, and she quickly fell asleep.

Now I was alone, sitting by the firelight. The bonfire had enough wood to last through the night, and the stars sparkled brilliantly above. The moon was half-full—thankfully not a full moon, or we’d be dealing with werewolves.

I kept watch, scanning the surroundings every so often. The thought of a demon suddenly appearing made me tense. To ease the loneliness, I called out to Miku in my mind. She appeared and greeted me.

“Hello, Taiyaki. I see you’re nearing the end of your first stage as a Magical Girl.”

“I know, Miku… but can I ask you something?”

She gave me a knowing look. “You want to know what happened to your old world, don’t you? I’ll show you. Close your eyes. It’ll only take a second in real time, though it will feel like minutes to you.”

I nodded and shut my eyes. Immediately, visions filled my mind. Nothing much had changed—the wars continued, the hatred online hadn’t ceased. My parents, however, seemed to be living their lives… I saw a photo of me hanging in their car. The man who killed Cleer and me had been executed. That much brought me some closure.

When I opened my eyes again, everything was the same as before.

“That’s all I’ll show you,” Miku said softly. “Rest while you can. Tomorrow, your journey continues.”

“Thanks, Miku. Good night.”

She waved and faded away, leaving me with only the crackling fire and the sound of my friends sleeping peacefully.

To pass the time, I counted stars and watched bats flutter across the sky. My dark-element powers allowed me to see clearly in the night—like having night vision. It felt almost comforting, as though the darkness itself was embracing me.

But then uneasy thoughts crossed my mind. What would Kori, Akane, and Mizuki think if they found out I wasn’t really a twelve-year-old girl, but a thirty-year-old man inside this body? Would they hate me? Or… would they accept me for who I’ve become?

Only Mizu knew my secret. She was in a situation much like mine. That thought alone reassured me.

For now, I focused on my duty. The camp remained quiet. I saw insects chewing on leaves, wild dogs mating, and turtles sleeping beneath branches for warmth. Hours passed uneventfully. I felt lucky no demons had appeared.

At last, only thirty minutes of my shift remained. I was growing tired, but I held on, eating some fruit we’d brought to stay awake. I hummed a song from my childhood as the wind brushed gently against my face.

Finally, the time was up. I walked over to Kori and shook her awake.

She rubbed her eyes and smiled faintly. “Alright, your turn’s over. Good job. Now get some sleep.”

“Got it,” I said, lying down in my sleeping bag.

It was 11 p.m. As I closed my eyes, I thought to myself—tomorrow would be another difficult day.