Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Surprise
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The next day.
It was obvious, a cliché phrase, but society plunged into chaos once more.
A Ruby-level Demonic Beast had appeared without warning in the heart of the city, rampaging and causing massive damage. Then Robelia, the traitor who ambushed the responding Magical Girl before inexplicably fighting the beast. Those two events alone were enough fodder for gossip, but the real problem came right after.
—Villain Alliance's test subject? The true identity of the girl found in the Demonic Beast's remains?
—Beast or human? Silent Magical Activity Division
—Really just a coincidence? Truth revealed thanks to Robelia
There were no witnesses. But the moment a certain video arrived simultaneously in the tip lines of major news outlets right at midnight, it was like dry tinder igniting—the whole world erupted from dawn till morning, frantically chasing the truth.
Eww, that's gross.
No but is this real? Like, not edited or anything?
What if a Magical Girl used Boundary Inversion and pushed it back?
It would've just ended with "nothing happened."
The brief five-second clip captured Robelia delicately swinging her sword as if dodging something... and starkly showed the girl, Han Byul, emerging connected to the Demonic Beast's nucleus.
"Ha, this is insane. For real..."
Thus, Joo Hee-yeon—the head of media relations in the Magical Girl Activity Support Division—had been dragged out of bed since dawn by a barrage of sudden calls and summons, barely getting any sleep.
"How the hell am I supposed to handle this? Those senile old bastards... acting like it's not their problem, just spouting crap. Maybe I should quit and tell them to shove it."
She ground her teeth recalling the higher-ups who called her from their comfy beds at dawn... but soon let out a hollow laugh, slumping into her chair. If she could've quit that easily, she wouldn't have made it this far.
"Ah—screw it. Just reveal everything, no holding back! It's obvious those shitty Villain Alliance scum did this— what do they expect us to do about it?!"
Her exhausted subordinates, summoned just as early, shot her looks like she'd lost her mind, but she yelled again, vowing to take full responsibility no matter what.
"Everyone listen up! What we protect are the Magical Girls! Not those dog-shit superiors! If any reporters or streamers badmouth the Magical Girls—even one—drag 'em in, size be damned! Got it!?"
Hee-yeon knew it. Her head would definitely roll over this. But it had to be done. Only if they took the blame and the heat could they shield the Magical Girls.
"Didn't know" meant nothing to most citizens. To them, truth was irrelevant—what mattered was easy prey to tear into. If the spotlight shifted to Magical Girls... countless would suffer.
"M-Ms. Director!"
"What now?! Can't we catch a break?!"
Just as Hee-yeon thought things might settle... a subordinate burst in, panting desperately.
"Y-You need to see this tip video first!"
"...Tch. Hate to, but fine."
For some reason, even before seeing it, her face drained of color.
Beep.
The TV flicked on, showing the latest tip in the media division's inbox. Upon viewing it... she clutched her neck, foam bubbling at her mouth as she collapsed.
"Th-that... that bitch... Gack, hack...!"
"Director!"
The footage, from who-knows-where, showed Robelia jamming rebar into a middle-aged man's body... then brazenly writing a message with his blood.
The video file's title: "Die-Worthy Scum.mp4"
Meanwhile, in a towering skyscraper amid the bustling city.
"Ma'am. A guest has arrived."
The woman gazing out the floor-to-ceiling transparent windows tilted her head curiously at her secretary's polite bow.
"A guest."
"Yes."
"I don't remember any appointments today."
"That's right."
"But a guest?"
"Yes."
No way her secretary would joke about this. Her gleaming red eyes narrowed, vertical pupils sharpening as she turned.
"I took a bit of liberty. No need to bully the innocent secretary."
Suddenly, as if the door had opened soundlessly... a man stood casually in the room's center.
"Ahh, it was you."
The woman flashed a seductive smile, lightly waving her secretary out.
"Long time no see, Bell."
The stunning beauty in a suit—her white hair an exotic contrast—brushed it back, crossing her arms to emphasize her cleavage, teasing the man before her.
"The heartless man who ignored all my invitations... What brings you here today?"
"Oh? How could I refuse an invitation from a beauty like you? I was just planning to set a proper date."
"Hehe. Still love surprises, I see."
Smiling warmly like an old friend, she approached Bell.
"You've caused quite the unpleasant stir this time, Chairwoman Tania of the Villain Alliance."
Bell grinned sharply, his voice edged like a blade.
"What's wrong? You seem in a bad mood today."
She stroked his neck seductively with slender fingers.
"Ah, let me guess. Because I found out you can transfer your true magic power via contract?"
"......"
"Hehe. Thanks to your perfect example, I found a fun new toy. How should I repay you?"
As if saying, you showed me, so who are you mad at?
"Still chasing silly dreams like world conquest?"
Her serpentine gaze chilled as her sharp nails dug into his neck—Tania, no, Satan.
"Give up already and join me. It's a dream crushed by Magical Girls once before anyway, right?"
She licked the blood trickling from his neck with a lewd expression.
"Whoa—appreciate the enthusiasm, but sadly, cheap women like you aren't my type. Haha."
Unfortunately, his mocking retort was all she got.
"...Cheap? You just say that to me?"
"Who else is a woman here? Ugh, tacky. Air this place out. What’s that rotten rag smell? Gonna puke."
"You bastard, with that mouth...!"
As Tania raged at Bell's relentless, smiling insults...
"—Satan."
Bell's playful grin vanished, his face cold as he pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.
"Advice: Don't transfer power as a joke. Transferred power can't be reclaimed without the recipient's consent—even if the contractor dies."
She hadn't known that. Fury cooling, Satan stared at her kin in silence.
"And this... is payback for surprising me. She wanted to say hi too."
"...She?"
With that, Bell dissolved into black mist. Satan finally sensed something off, frantically surging red mist-like magic.
Slash—!
Before it could form... a purple flash cleaved the entire floor.
"......"
Satan barely avoided being bisected, standing in midair beyond the crumbling building. She watched Robelia sheathe her purple sword with a cool smirk... and let out a defeated laugh.
"Ha... Got me good, you lovelies."
No other than her—the underworld's de facto boss. The Villain Alliance... had she not lost to Magical Girls, she'd have devoured this world long ago. For them to screw her like this? Admirable guts.
"Fine, I'll let it slide this time. But next..."
Gazing fondly at Bell and Robelia tearing the boundary to return to reality, about to warn them...
'Bullshit.'
Just before crossing, the brat—Robelia—flipped her off blatantly, sticking out her tongue.
"Y-You... How dare you... dare to me, Satan...!"
Her fake smile cracking, Satan screamed belatedly.
"Robelia—!! Next time, I'll rip you limb from limb, leave you begging for death, regretting your birth—!!"
Too bad, Robelia was already back in reality beyond the boundary.
"Ah, my neck..."
All she could do was clutch her neck indignantly, vowing revenge for next time.