My Magical Girl System-Chapter 26: Compensation

They finally reached the Association headquarters, a towering glass building in the heart of the city, Lisa reluctantly pulled her hand back as they approached the entrance. Her cheeks were still slightly pink.

"Okay," she said, straightening her skirt and taking a breath. "Let’s get this paperwork done."

Andrey nodded, pushing open the glass door. "And I want to check on Marcus’s condition at the medical wing."

They stepped inside, the cool air of the lobby washing over them. Behind the reception desk, a familiar face looked up—the same clerk who’d processed their initial registration weeks ago.

"Well, well. The D-rank duo returns." She smiled, then noticed Lisa’s outfit and raised an eyebrow approvingly. "Looking sharp today, both of you. What brings you in?"

Andrey stepped forward, pulling out his hero ID. "We need to file compensation claims for the recent gate incident, and request a rank promotion review."

The clerk nodded, typing quickly. "Figured as much. You two made quite the impression during that mess. Heard you helped hold the line when everything went sideways." She glanced at her screen. "Alright, compensation forms are standard—I’ll print them for you. Promotion reviews require a written test and practical demonstration, but given your combat records, you might be fast-tracked."

Lisa perked up. "Fast-tracked?"

"Mm. The Association is expediting promotions for heroes who performed well during the incident. Helps with public morale." She handed them a stack of papers. "Fill these out, then head to the assessment center on floor 12. They’ll walk you through the rest."

Andrey took the forms, nodding gratefully. "Thank you. Also... can you check on the status of a hero named Marcus? He was in the Gold team with us. I wanted to visit him if possible."

The clerk’s expression softened slightly. "Marcus? He’s in the intensive care wing, room 307. He’s stable, but still unconscious. Visitors are allowed, though limited to fifteen minutes."

Andrey’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Understood. We’ll visit after the assessments."

Lisa reached out and squeezed his arm gently. "He’ll be okay, Andrey."

He covered her hand with his for a brief moment, then straightened.

"Yeah."

The elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime, sealing them into the small, mirrored space. Andrey reached out and pressed the button for the twelfth floor. The panel lit up, and the elevator began its smooth ascent.

Andrey stood with his hands clasped loosely behind his back, staring at the digital floor counter as it ticked upward. Beside him, Lisa stood quietly, her hands folded in front of her, the soft cream of her blouse catching the warm overhead light.

In the mirrored walls, he could see her reflection.

She was looking down at her feet, a faint smile still lingering on her lips from their walk over. Her twintails were neat, the little green ribbons tied perfectly. The pastel skirt swayed slightly with the motion of the elevator. She looked... soft. Bright. Like something delicate and precious.

Andrey’s gaze lingered a moment longer than intended.

’She’s getting cuter by the day,’ he thought, almost involuntarily. The realization struck him with an odd mixture of warmth and embarrassment. ’When did she start looking so...’

He quickly averted his eyes, focusing on the floor numbers again. 5... 6... 7...

The silence stretched.

Andrey cleared his throat quietly, searching for something neutral to say, but no words came out of his mouth.

They stepped out of the elevator onto the twelfth floor, the hallway stretching before them lined with sleek doors and soft overhead lighting. Andrey walked beside Lisa, the silence comfortable between them.

Then Andrey spoke, his voice casual but sincere.

"You know, that outfit really suits you."

Lisa’s cheeks were warm, a small smile tugging at her lips despite her attempts to suppress it. She stole a glance at Andrey, who was staring straight ahead with his usual composed expression—but his ears were slightly pink.

"You know," Lisa said lightly, breaking the comfortable silence, "that came out of nowhere."

Andrey glanced at her. "What did?"

"The compliment. About my outfit." She smoothed her skirt self-consciously. "You’re not usually the type to just... say things like that."

Andrey adjusted his glasses, his gaze shifting forward again. "I was simply stating a fact. You look nice today. There’s no reason not to say it."

Lisa’s smile widened. "Well... thank you. Of course I look nice—this is my best outfit, after all."

Andrey nodded seriously. "I can see why."

Lisa bit her lip, fighting back a giggle. In her mind, she thought, ’He’s so earnest about everything... even compliments. It’s adorable.’

They reached a set of double doors marked "Assessment Center – Registered Heroes Only." A small terminal stood beside the entrance. Andrey swiped his ID card, and Lisa did the same. The screen blinked green.

"Anderson, Thompson – Rank D. Sadine, Lisa – Rank D. Promotion assessment requested. Proceed to Room 1204 for written examination."

The doors slid open silently.

They stepped inside, finding themselves in a modest waiting area with chairs, a water dispenser, and a reception desk manned by a bored-looking woman in Association uniform. She glanced up as they approached.

"Here for the promo exam?" She didn’t wait for an answer, just gestured down the hall. "Room 1204, third door on the left."

Andrey paused, his hand resting on the edge of the counter. He met her gaze with calm politeness.

"Sorry, we’re just here to check."

The bored-looking receptionist raised an eyebrow, glancing between them. "Just checking? The assessment center doesn’t really do walk-throughs, you know. You either take the test or you don’t."

Andrey shook his head calmly. "We’re here to verify the process and requirements. Our third team member couldn’t make it today, so we’ll need to schedule a formal assessment when she’s available."

Lisa nodded beside him, her twintails bouncing slightly. "Sarah’s resting at home. She’s still recovering from the gate incident."

The receptionist’s expression softened slightly at the mention of the incident. "Ah. The C-rank gate that turned S-rank. Yeah, I’ve heard a lot of heroes are still recovering from that mess." She tapped at her terminal. "Alright, I can give you the information packet and schedule a provisional date."

Andrey inclined his head. "Understood."

The receptionist slid a thin folder across the desk. "Here’s the study guide and requirements. Practical evaluation includes team coordination exercises, so make sure you’re all ready when you come back."

Lisa accepted the folder with a bright smile. "Thank you so much!" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The bored-looking receptionist leaned back in her chair, tapping a manicured nail against the terminal screen. "One more thing—once you actually get promoted to C-rank, the Association will release your full compensation package. Consider it a welcome gift for moving up the ladder."

Andrey’s brow furrowed slightly, his analytical mind already turning over the implications. "So we can’t claim the compensation directly? We have to wait for the promotion?"

The receptionist waved a hand dismissively. "It’s an incentive structure. Keeps heroes motivated to rank up. But don’t worry—if you don’t make the promotion right away, you’ll still get your compensation. It’s not like we’re holding it hostage." She leaned forward, her tone shifting to something more reassuring. "Every hero who fought in that gate deserves their due. The paperwork just takes time to process through the system."

She tapped a few more keys, then glanced up at them. "The rewards for the monsters you personally took down? Already calculated and deposited into your hero accounts. You can check your app like usual."

Lisa pulled out her phone, swiping through the hero app interface. Her eyes went wide as she scanned the numbers. "Whoa... it’s already there. The monster rewards from the gate."

She turned the screen toward Andrey. A long list of entries scrolled down the display—each one a record of the creatures they’d defeated during the chaos. The B-rank beasts they’d taken down together were listed with substantial credit amounts beside them. The smaller monsters were grouped in batches, each labeled with timestamps from the battle.

Andrey pulled out his own phone, checking quickly. His account showed similar numbers—significant, but not overwhelming. Enough to cover several months of expenses. Enough to feel like the risk had been worth something.

He nodded slowly, pocketing the device. "Understood. So the hazard pay and incident compensation will come through after the promotion review."

The receptionist gave him a small smile. "You catch on quick. Most new heroes just grumble about the paperwork." She stretched in her chair, the boredom lifting from her expression for a moment. "The Association wants more C-ranks right now. After what happened, public confidence is shaky. Promoting heroes who proved themselves in the crisis? Good optics. Good morale." She shrugged. "So don’t worry too much about the written test. You survived an S-rank breach as D-ranks. That counts for something."

Lisa tucked her phone away, a small bounce in her step. "That’s a relief. I was nervous about the test part."

Andrey gave a small, courteous nod. "Thank you for the clarification. I appreciate you taking the time to explain the process."

The receptionist waved a hand, already reaching for a stack of forms beside her terminal. "Part of the job."