War Over the Egg
This couldn't be one of those trendy cult gatherings, could it? Morning had broken. Just in case, I waited a bit longer, but there was still no response from him. It would've been nice if he'd suddenly decided to grab my attention, but my instincts were pointing in a different direction. I figured I'd pop over and check real quick. If the address hadn't changed, it wouldn't take long anyway.
...And back then, he'd accepted my apology, but in the end, that incident left me owing him a real debt. I wasn't in a position to be stingy about spending a little time on it. Still, why Daegu of all places? I'd heard something about it before—surely there wasn't some connection?
Is this really okay? Yoo Su-ho stared down at his powered-off phone, biting his lip in anxiety. His pale complexion, freckled face, and obsessive gaze all screamed distress. Even in the privacy of his home bathroom, he was gripped by extreme unease, proof he was backed into a corner.
He flinched—
"Gasp!"
Yoo Su-ho froze, then slammed the bathroom window shut.
"......"
But it didn't close all the way. Something the size of a finger—a machine—had gotten caught in the gap as it was shutting. It even wriggled like a living creature, trying to pry itself free from the pressure.
Listening Device
Gritting his teeth, Yoo Su-ho cracked the window open slightly and snatched the intruding bug, smashing it. He'd only opened it because he was confident, but they wouldn't even give him a moment to breathe. And that thing's movements weren't mechanical—it pulsed with mana.
An awakener. A highly skilled one, no doubt, to remotely infiltrate a blind spot like this.
How the hell did it come to this?
He tossed the bug's remains and sighed, thinking of the countless "watchers" outside. A few weeks ago, when he and his sister had awakened side by side, he'd never dreamed it'd escalate like this. Back then, he'd even felt a thrill. He'd always been deep into subculture, after all. The surreal phenomena straight out of novels, his own powerful Physical Enhancement ability—it made him feel like the protagonist, even amid deaths and world-ending disasters. It was immature, sure.
Government agents scouting awakeners had approached soon after. His enhancements were impressive but not overwhelming, which tempered his excitement. Then the real trouble started, right as his hype died down.
Yoo Su-ho was a strong awakener, but nothing special. His sister, Yoo Su-yeon, was different.
Her ability had seemed weaker than his at first—a lesser Physical Enhancement. But when she fully channeled her mana, chaos erupted. A massive mana wave knocked everyone flat, including him. The room was wrecked, and pure white light filled the ruins. What remained beneath that glow was the culprit: a pristine white egg slowly gathering mana that sent shivers down your spine just looking at it.
"Haa."
Finishing up, Yoo Su-ho opened the bathroom door.
...The government agents coveted the egg—and Su-yeon, who'd sacrificed her ability and mana to summon it. Its sheer mana was impressive, but the egg's true value was its nature. An egg was a cradle for new life. If what hatched inherited the host's full awakener power, and if it was an independent entity not bound to the host...? If someone else could control it...? Even unproven, it meant a new power type—and non-awakeners becoming like awakeners.
A treasure they couldn't ignore.
That day, Su-yeon had clutched the egg like her own child and refused them outright, letting the family escape. But it wasn't over.
The "persuasion" began. The government's relentless campaign ignored common decency. When agents knocked mentioning family call logs and messages, it felt like ice down his spine. The family stopped going out, limited internet and contacts.
And it got worse. Soon, groups like the Awakener Association intervened, clashing with the government under the guise of "help." Their motives were obvious: Join us, use the egg's power together... Just wolves after power. They even fought each other, government or not.
Their apartment complex became a battlefield. Suspicious agents, rival awakeners, police, soldiers—a monster den where law vanished in the scramble for "spoils."
"Su-yeon. You okay?"
"Yup. I'm fine, you know~."
Yoo Su-ho slumped down, eyeing his seven-years-younger sister and her massive egg.
Just yesterday morning, she'd been endlessly gloomy, blaming herself. Now her drowsy voice matched a bright face. The change started yesterday, when she told her to reach out.
"'Big sis' is coming, after all~."
"...Didn't know you still watched her streams."
Her unique speech pattern brought a face to mind: his ex-friend, ruined by his confession—not even friends anymore.
If only I'd realized it was all a misunderstanding.
He'd mistaken her friendliness for green lights. Her shocked rejection—instinctual revulsion mixed with confusion—confirmed it. But the trigger was pulled; he even tanked her VTuber career.
...That was mostly her own stubborn fault. He'd heard her apologetic, self-loathing voice. But he couldn't shake the "if I hadn't been so reckless" thoughts. Lingering regrets after total rejection, fully exiting her stage.
Their last contact was his de facto farewell: a management settlement deposited.
So he felt bad about her awkwardness with Su-yeon, who'd once adored "big sis~."
"You messed up the relationship, big bro. It has nothing to do with Su-yeon, right~?"
"......"
"Just kidding~."
If they'd been close enough for casual contact, she wouldn't have asked him. Close friends' sisters don't text personally often.
"But can she really fix everything?"
"Of course she can~!"
Yoo Su-ho eyed her skeptically.
What, did she awaken some god-tier power?
She probably hadn't watched streams lately due to surveillance. Did she even know if Seol-hee awakened? Even if she did, dragging her into this?
What made her so sure? The egg glowing when she spoke—maybe that? But she hid details like a surprise, no confirmation.
Good she's cheered up, but isn't she too relaxed?
Couldn't yell at her now. He had to play along with her confidence. He worried, so he twisted the message—like a mistake if spied on.
He tapped the keypad vaguely, didn't reopen it. Seemed suspicious, but knowing her personality, she'd come confront him. She'd gauge the situation.
"O~hohoho. Freedom's almost here~!"
Can't figure her out.
Petting the egg half-singing, she baffled him. No wonder she debuted as a VTuber—pro-level streamer fan like him saw the madness potential. He'd backpedaled after Seol-hee flopped.
Su-yeon had her side too.
I never imagined big sis was a real magical girl, darling~.
Yesterday's news: magical girl Elice Calamity saving Japan. Her brother missed it entirely, but Su-yeon recognized instantly.
Big sis saved Japan?!
Perception inhibition hid it, but her long fandom as "YareyareOjho-sama," veteran viewer logs, and the egg's mana pierced it. Just teenage whimsy: her doting big sis would save her.
Thud thud thud—
The once-terrifying door knocks? Not scary anymore.
Should I be confident I found the right place? Or confused about what I'm seeing? I stared at the apartment complex chaos.
"Kuh! Retreat, retreat!"
"Get 'em!"
SWAT-like cops with shields and tasers chased awakeners. Soldiers guarded from shelters, scanning surroundings. Awakeners lurked in shadows like hobos, growling everywhere.
This wasn't some trendy cult... right? Was Daegu's "big incident" this? Mailbox said no move— that message was dead serious.
Good I snuck in. Meant to peek and leave, but it's worse than thought. Can't smash everyone; wandering would draw heat.
Building 5, 402. At the familiar door—
Whoosh—
A pulsing mana wave spread, like a greeting.
"Huh?"
I blurted out. So unexpected. Was gonna ring, but urgency hit—I summoned ice crystals.
Ice Elementalization
Shaaaa—
The spell turned my body to frost—kinda gimmicky. Escapes physical binds, not much else. But perfect now.
Ice-formed, I phased through the locked door toward the mana source.
There: longtime-no-see... whoa, she'd grown. Almost didn't recognize. Friend's sister Su-yeon, cradling a huge egg.
"Ah. So that's what happened."
One look explained the outside madness. Yeah, this sparks a turf war. And one more realization:
Even if unrelated to Su-yeon or debt-free, I couldn't abandon her.
"Magical Change."
What a coincidence. A friend of mine in a similar spot. Not the TS or isekai— the egg. That egg held a sleeping magical girl mascot.