Even Ad Breaks Can't Stop a Magical Girl's Birth

[Otherworld, 'Blue Beast Grasslands' has turned into blank space.]

"Ho ho. Can you all see this too?"

I couldn't quite figure out the criteria even after thinking about it, so I focused on the part that caught my eye first.

"Convert to magic stone, huh. Anyone know about this?"

What the—? Even Seong-yoon was here. I'd heard the response teams were out clearing gates separately from the ads, but she must have time to watch streams.

"So that's its purpose, huh."

"Me first."

While bantering with the chat, I converted all the frozen monsters into magic stones. They looked like cows, so I considered eating them, but curiosity about magic stones won out. Not rare anyway—beef I could just buy.

* * *

"Hmm. So this is a magic stone."

As the chat and Aris said, the magic stone had a strikingly beautiful appearance. A blue-tinted gem—like high-end aquamarine or sapphire with mana flowing through it, giving off a radiant glow. In other words, a softly self-luminescent jewel.

"...Can you not say dangerous things?"

Mana and radiation are totally different concepts.

"Stop bringing up pure science all the time!"

"Not wrong, I guess."

Strip away the fantasy bias, and it's just newly observed phenomena. But the way they say it feels kinda scary. Like some grad student getting grilled? There's a oddly deep grudge vibe.

I glanced at the drifting chat with subtle eyes, then examined the magic stone.

"True to its name. A gem literally solidified from mana."

"Similar stuff existed, but... nothing exactly matching."

Mana clumps in ore form. Over there, similar things were called magic cores—from monster mana organs or processed versions. Vessels that hold and control mana. Honestly, even if 'similar,' the concept differs from pure-mana magic stones. This feels more fundamental yet artificial? Makes sense—the creation process is far from natural.

"Gonna need some research."

...Not confident in theory myself. Miss the witches and tower folks. I used to just dump it on them and take results. Paying the price for years of free rides now? Earth's labs? Not holding breath. They'd take my theories and go 'baby mode.' Witches or tower elders would laugh themselves to death at 'you? Theories?'

"But this I can say for sure. This stuff will help us."

"Woman's intuition, obviously."

My knowledge aside, as I preached my gut certainty to chat—

"Huh?"

I was midway up Sobaeksan, deep in after the gate. Bushes should've hidden everything. But camera and senses clearly caught something charging.

"S-sis!!"

Su-yeon scaling the mountain with insane physicals. Trees, rocks, blind spots—all ignored. Like spotting a beacon-runner on flat ground.

All eyes locked on Su-yeon—or rather, the glowing 'egg' in her arms. Pure magic territory. The culprit obvious, of course.

"It's hatching! It feels like it's about to hatch!"

The egg emitted massive mana. Finally, Su-yeon's mascot awakening.

Not newbies from recent events—regulars recognizing Su-yeon.

End stream? Nah, too abrupt. Mid-ad anyway.

"Sorry, something came up. Filtering for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a bit."

I killed camera and mic. That should hide Su-yeon's details and sensitive stuff.

"Sis!"

"Yeah. Good work. You made it."

I soothed panting Su-yeon arriving beside me. She looked flustered. Makes sense—if not, she'd have called instead of rushing here even after ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hatching.

"More than that, this guy's rowdy."

The egg sealed two months... no, longer with tower interference. Not just accelerated hatching—something infused into its power. Stronger power meant massive awakening fallout. Beyond the mascot's control.

"The egg felt like it needed to go to you, like last time..."

"Yeah. Good job."

Me, huh. Smart choice. Egg no matter how strong is nothing to me. Like Myeongmyeong, these mascots lack independence unlike my juniors.

I channeled mana.

Rrrumble—

Ice Booth-like barrier enclosed us. Fallout contained.

"Hawaawa!"

"Set it down here for now."

As egg's glow intensified, I took it from panicking Su-yeon, placed on fresh ice pedestal.

"This'll do."

"Hauuu."

Finally calming, Su-yeon slumped with relieved voice.

"Really startled me. Cleared floor 4, came out, and suddenly glowing and shaking."

"Our Su-yeon, you did great."

Floor 4. Was 5 last estimate. Date passed, progress sped up.

"Now I'll infuse some mana into the egg. Okay?"

"Hawa?"

"Infusing another magical girl's mana on awakening ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠helps. But it'll leave some of my influence. If you don't want, I'll leave it."

"Su-yeon is fine with it!"

Eyes sparkling in welcome. Trusting grin, I lightly infused mana into the egg.

Glow surged, shell cracking. Memories. My mascot's awakening—Flame Hero did this too. Opposite affinity or special? No influence left.

Crack—

Whoosh!

Sentiment hit as egg split, light peaking.

Groooar—

Massive mana wave. My mana and barrier suppressed it—or nearby forest gone like tower.

"Eueueue!"

Hugging Su-yeon, I watched mascot emerge from shattered shell.

"Heh."

What coincidence. Or my mana's effect?

I let out a dry chuckle.

"I'll ask kong."

Hatched mascot: snow-white fur, red eyes/patterns, plush fox doll stood before Su-yeon.

"Art thou my contractor kong?"

Girl and mascot met. Scene radiated divinity. Third parties wouldn't dare intrude.

Su-yeon met fox's gaze, brief deliberation—

"...Yes. It is so."

Soft reply. Like fate. Actually was. That's magical girl birth. Why I treated her as future junior without doubt.

"Contract established kong. Contractor's name?"

"Su-yeon. Yoo Su-yeon it is."

"Kong is Inari, fairy mascot descended to meet partner. Nice to meet you kong."

"...Yeah!"

Names exchanged, partnership formed. Contract spell flowed into girl.

Shwaaaa—

Clear water streams enveloped Su-yeon, transformation began. Body shrank to my size. Pure white hair tied in round twin buns like rice cakes. Golden eyes with floral pupil highlights gleaming white. Ornate magical girl costume—princess-like frilly dress. Blue-gem tiara and white lily folding fan completed her.

Evolving from lady to princess. Su-yeon's magical girl form.

"Pure magical girl, Innocent Lily. Here she is."

Transformation name: Innocent Lily. Excellent—beyond expectations. Pure water affinity concept. Lake-like clean, serene mana flow—top purity. Overkill for first transform. Mana rivals Uncle Woo-jin. Worth the two-month wait.

"Su-yeon, how is it? Sis."

"Truly splendid transformation. So pretty."

"Ehehehe. Now our eye levels match it is."

Honest praise, Su-yeon bounced over, eyes meeting. Hm. Slightly taller than me—intentional? Staring into those floral eyes—

"Hohoho. O~hohohoho!"

Grinning wide, she amped up the ladylike laugh.

"Kong. Seems you picked a fun contractor kong."

"......"

"Kongkong...?"

Inari wagged happily beside. Joy from Su-yeon's long-awaited clean contract? Remembering the paused stream came much later.