Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: After a Short Break, Virgin Girl
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—A mocking greeting right in the ruins. Are we just going to let Robelia's taunt slide?
—Collapsed city: Magical Girls' lack of crisis awareness to blame?
—Magical Girl Arti has no life-threatening injuries. But she won't be able to fight anymore.
One sword swing and she sliced everyone in half? For real?
Arti too weak? Or is Robelia just that strong?
No, Seriel's super weak so it's all good, you lunatics.
TV, the internet, newspapers—every media outlet was churning out articles in a frenzy, competing with each other. The sight of Robelia gracefully bowing amid the ruins of the collapsed district was just that captivating.
Any online community even remotely touching on Magical Girls was utterly flooded with talk of Robelia. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that.
"Hmph."
The star of the rumors herself—Robelia, or rather Ha-yul—leaned back on the plush sofa she'd grown so accustomed to lately. With slender fingers tapping away at her phone, she let out a smug snort.
"Goodness, Miss Ha-yul. Please, for the love of—put on some proper clothes."
Bell, the disheveled man in a tracksuit who wandered into the living room with a yawn, was aghast at the sight of Ha-yul rolling around on the sofa in nothing but a white tank top and dolphin shorts since morning. He had no choice but to nag.
"This is comfy. What can I do?"
Unfortunately, Ha-yul was already fully inhabiting a woman's body... or more precisely, she'd only just discovered how blissfully comfortable dolphin shorts were.
"No, even so, a girl shouldn't be lounging around in such an unseemly state first thing in the morning..."
"Gonna jump me?"
"...Am I insane?"
"Then we're good."
She just smirked at Bell, who sighed deeply and rejected the notion vehemently.
Tap, tap-tap.
Of course, even as she did, her fingers were diligently downvoting every post in the communities whining about how weak Arti was.
Bored.
"Hm."
Was it because her daily routine had shifted? Having wrapped up one big event, she felt... incredibly bored, somehow. Was this the life of those trendy "unemployed youth after a break" everyone talked about? Or since she was a girl now, "unemployed virgin girl"?
Back in the day, she'd have been out on patrol instead of lounging like this... but if she did that now, she might end up drawing every Magical Girl in the country to one spot.
...
That didn't sound half bad, actually.
"Hey."
Of course, it was just a passing thought. She called out to Bell, who was bustling about next to her, getting ready to head out somewhere.
"Where you off to?"
"To manage the store, obviously?"
"...?"
"Unlike a certain freeloading swan, I'm a busy man."
She tilted her head, baffled by his tone—like he actually did any work. The guy was a total NEET.
"I couldn't pay much attention while looking after you, Miss Ha-yul, but one of my part-timers quit a few days ago. So for the time being, this store manager's gotta step up."
Long story short: Bell ran a convenience store somewhere in the neighborhood, and after his one reliable part-timer bailed, he hadn't found a replacement yet.
"Hm."
Watching Bell yawn and head out the door, an idea popped into her head.
"...Not a bad idea."
To act on it immediately, she retreated to her room, threw on some clothes haphazardly, and followed after Bell.
Glance, glance.
Not that it was anything new, but... was it because her new female form was just so stunningly beautiful? As she walked, countless furtive glances stabbed her way from passersby.
"Tch."
It was right then, as she shoved her hands in her coat pockets, pulled her hat low, and clicked her tongue.
"Um..."
Tap, tap. Delicate fingers brushed her shoulder cautiously. An unfamiliar man's voice came from behind.
"...Yes?"
"Are you perhaps a student?"
"No. I'm an adult."
She eyed the middle-aged man warily, who seemed unsure himself as he asked.
"Ah, sorry. I'm a teacher at the middle school next door. We've had a lot of runaways lately, so I thought..."
"Could be. If that's all, I'll be going."
"Ah, wait just a—"
The man—the teacher—bowed apologetically with the most sorry expression imaginable.
"I know it's rude, but you look so young... Could you show me some ID...?"
"...Why should I?"
Just as she glared at the self-proclaimed teacher clinging on about ID.
"Whoa there, Teacher. That's far enough. Miss Ha-yul here might look it, but she's an adult."
A pale arm draped over the guy's shoulder, accompanied by a familiar voice.
"Ah... Manager! Long time no see."
Did they know each other? Bell slung his pale arm around the teacher's shoulder with overly friendly vibes, chatting amiably.
"Miss Ha-yul. You okay?"
"Fine. Nothing happened."
"Seriously, you could've at least texted if you were coming out."
"What am I, a kid?"
He winked at her sleazily, like sending some signal, then smoothly sent the teacher—who'd been pestering her moments ago—on his way.
"Anyway, what's up? You're not the type to head out at a time like this."
"Bored. Looking for something to do."
His store was right up ahead, he said casually, leading the way.
"Huh, bigger than I thought."
"Ahem. The fruits of my labor."
He told her to grab whatever to drink, so she picked a familiar strawberry milk, cracked it open.
"By the way, that guy just now... really a teacher?"
"Oh, you mean Teacher Lee Hyun-seok? Very diligent fellow. School's had a lot of incidents lately, so he's out patrolling even during break."
"Hmph."
"Something wrong?"
"Nah, nothing."
She recalled the odd glint in the guy's eyes as he demanded her ID. Probably just her being paranoid after all the incidents since this body change. She shook her head, shoving the teacher out of her mind.
"More importantly, found a new part-timer yet?"
"Was just about to post the ad~?"
"Think I could do it?"
Anyway, the real priority now was something she'd always wanted to try: a normal part-time gig.
"No reason you couldn't... but don't you have plenty of money?"
"Yeah. Loads."
"Then why bother with this hassle? It's right by a school—gonna get slammed once break ends."
"Sounds perfect."
Did she look weird nodding eagerly at the idea of more work? Bell tilted his head with an utterly baffled expression.
"Well, if it's you, Miss Ha-yul, I could trust you with it."
"Set the hourly whatever. Not doing it for the cash anyway."
"Man, you're one weird lady."
Realizing there'd be no tedious interview, he sprang into action, whipping up the paperwork in no time.
"Oh, and if there's stuff to toss, can I eat it?"
"...A rich girl like you eyeing scraps?"
"Come on, just wanna try it once."
She whined petulantly at the heartless manager insisting she buy what she wanted.
"You're throwing it out anyway."
She decided not to hold back on the simple pleasures she'd missed out on.
"Just give it to me. Pleeease?"
If she hadn't become a Magical Girl, this might've been her life: happily going to school, picking up a part-time job like this now and then, hanging out with friends... She sometimes daydreamed about that ordinary existence.
"Ugh, do whatever."
"Knew you'd see it my way."
Now that she was a Villain, she could indulge a little, right? The thought crossed her mind.
—Live your own life already.
She'd said it all high-and-mighty to Arti, but what did she know about her own life? Would those words even reach them? Doubts like that crept in too.
"Start tomorrow, then. Shadow me for the first week to learn the ropes."
"Sure."
"But don't slack on the script just 'cause you're helping at the store."
"Obviously."
She flashed a bright smile at Bell, who fretted like she might neglect other duties for convenience store work.
"This is nothing compared to before."
Compared to those endless days patrolling from dawn till dusk to protect the city, this was a cakewalk.
"...Pfft. You think so?"
"What, wanna bet?"
"If you're that confident, go ahead—prove it."
Locking eyes with Bell, who smirked like he'd read her mind and was goading her on, she nodded boldly.
"Fine. If I whine even once, no pay this month."
"Oh? You're on?"
"I don't go back on my word like some people."
"Deal. If you last the month without a peep... I'll treat you to premium hanwoo beef."
And so, with a month's pay and fancy beef on the line, the bet was sealed.