Deep-Sea Aquarium and the First Step Outside
It's no big deal. Ta-da! Aquarium! We've arrived at the aquarium! Pretty bold, right? The total shut-in loser levels up just like that. Now she wanders the streets and everyone looks up to her in awe as a magical girl. Oh, an autograph? Hehe, sorry about that. The waiting list is already booked solid for three years. Tell my secretary Kim to add your name to the list? Just kidding.
White magical girl outfit. A magic wand shaped like a hammer in one hand. In the inky, viscous darkness of the deep sea. A barrier sealing off a radius of dozens of kilometers. In that place where not a single ray of light penetrates, monsters swarm like bugs drawn to the faint glow of mana.
The magical girl Baek Yeha is beaming with joy, like a kid who's gotten a mountain of presents. She'd look perfect in a photo, smiling so brightly—but since no one can snap one, it's a shame.
Are they adapted to the deep sea, or were they just born ugly? Every monster here is hideous. Maybe that ugliness is their charm? It kinda feels like a pretty original monster exhibition, so maybe that's why Baek Yeha, who loves monster guts like a kid obsessed with dinosaurs, is having a blast?
Feels like vicarious satisfaction for an old man taking his daughter to the aquarium, so be happy about it? That's harsh on a virgin, isn't it?
Anyway, we came to the deep sea to satisfy Baek Yeha's complaints about only fighting boring land monsters. This is the aquarium—what else do you need? No need to breathe. Yeah, figured as much. Even under 7,000 tons of pressure, not a twitch of discomfort in my fingertips.
Whether in water, on land, or even space, I move by the same laws. Like frolicking in the pitch-black night sky, I traced elegant dance lines through the deep-sea darkness, shaking my mana glow.
The magic wand, defying natural order, slices lightly through a deep-sea monster. Viscous blood mixes into the dark currents. The faint mana glow trails its tail, illuminating the red darkness before clearing up in an instant.
I added an auto-purification system to the barrier because I don't want to leave a single fragment of filthy monster in the ocean. How eco-friendly is this magical girl? Everyone, praise me!
A smile tugs at my lips. My heart's pounding—not really, but definitely a pleasant emotion stirring. One so hard to describe that even an ugly massive monster dissolving in blood makes me grin, and here comes another. No, two, three. The girl startles with delight at the frenzied rush of her lead actors.
I'd smash you all even without the begging. You're all the audience and the stars giving your all. Extras vanishing seconds later. The monsters enter the girl's playground, writhing in frenzy for her joy. Every chunk of flesh sways in the abyss's salty brine, thick ocean scent mingling with pungent blood, dissolving completely before touching the fine silt carpet at the seabed.
The work's as simple as whack-a-mole. But I swing my magic wand with utter delight. Like a child who finds pure joy in that alone. One hit, one hit. Shattering Cherenkov— no, rainbow-scattered mana glow flashes, spilling blood waves. The dull, heavy impacts, different from land, hit just right for the girl's heart.
Found a good hobby, huh? The girl was very satisfied with the old man's thoughts. Well, no harm done to anyone, so I'll indulge now and then. The deep sea's silence, with no one around, is nice too. You know, that thing from subculture where they yell "Umi da!" or whatever. What, calling me an old fart? No swimsuit, no girls—just me, the old man inside. The scenery's a swirling blood sea in pitch darkness. Mobs are all ugly monsters? Not a swimsuit fanservice scene? Hmm, no demand for that?
Anyway, I've recharged enough joy—time to execute the plan? The plan's no big deal. Wait, is it? A huge adventure for the old man? Going out without transforming for the first time? Goal's just grabbing a tub of sweet ice cream from the convenience store. Normally a winter treat, devouring one cozy indoors. Wonder if it'll satisfy Magical Girl Baek Yeha's tastes.
Anyway, caught most of the ugly fish. Time to head out. I crushed every remaining monster in the barrier at once. Purify, purify!
The whole Pacific Ocean Abyss feels like my playground. Mood's great. Have I visited the Pacific more than the convenience store since becoming a magical girl? Anyway, glad I found a good spot and hobby. Killing monsters is healthy, right? Though it looks like I'm just a combat machine fueled by monster murder lust. No?
The girl fetched the ordered clothes in a flash and brought them from the front door simply. No need to wash—quick purify and dry did the trick.
Whoa, this bra's huge. Super embarrassing for the old man to wear it. No size match, so bought a set with panties. Beige with tons of feminine lace. Subculture taught me tops and bottoms should match colors, but who cares. Comfort's king for panties! The bra, hmm. Cups feel a tad small. Chest-wise, even on the innermost hook, there's slack. Some stretch, no big issue. But the underwire bugs me. Oh, forgot sports bras exist. Damn. As long as nipples don't poke, right? Why'd I buy this? Embarrassing. Well, it's on—time to adapt?
Ugh. Rustle rustle. Trying on the ordered clothes. No full-length fashion mirror luxury, so trot trot to the bathroom again.
Black hoodie zip-up, black track pants. Black hair, black eyes. Total antithesis to magical girl colors. Outer coat draped outside is black too—perfect. All black! Man's color! Bare feet look weird? Slipped on ordered socks for those cute wriggly toes. Baggy hoodie hides the huge chest somewhat. Still, thrusting it out under the zip-up shows insane presence. Dramatic contrast with the slim waist. Tried the mask to hide the face. Back when old man, a mask barely covered it—now it covers with room to spare. Hides mouth for a demure, chaste vibe turning into curt aloofness. Eyes alone look kinda scary? Anyway, bare-faced no makeup, but eyes scream beauty. Self-praise? Nah, old man's honest take. Skin texture's magnetic. Tried a scornful expression. Dry gaze packs intensity. Strangers won't talk now, right? Or...?
Slight anxiety super socialites might see through this armor. Use cognition hazard? Nah, wanna flaunt the pretty face and feel superior. Mask ruins the flaunt? Well, still pretty with it. Mask goblins! Not really, but that term exists. Guys swarming for the hunt? Nah, overthinking. Even old me would've passed with "Oh, pretty eyes." Or...? Five dicks make a dickhead clique. Like thin books say, one word from a blonde-tanned thug and girls' eyes heart up, off to hotel? No? Gold Sun gets hammer-chan summoned on sight.
Coat on, slippers too. Standing in entryway, spinning and pacing. Transform, wanna transform! Harder than old man days. Passive detection shrinks untransformed—kinda uneasy. Wait, never had this before? Can't blast waves everywhere! Training, think of it as training. Girl's always striving magical girl. Old man's lazy though. Going out, going out. Out!
Quietly opened the thick steel door. Winter chill savagely bites into the cozy indoor air. Magical girl's invincible body shrugs it off, gently closing the door with warm hands.
*Beep boop.* With that sound, crossed the first psychological barrier—retreat cut off. Ordinary Awakened ability user Baek Yeha's eyes take in the long-neglected garden. See? Should do some gardening. Silent girl trudges to the second barrier, the front gate.
Quickly scans around with dry eyes. Outside's just crisp winter chill. Fallen leaves crunch and crumble in the biting wind. No biggie.
Opened the gate, stepped out. Neighborhood's always empty. At most, dog walkers now and then. Rarely gone out, but never spotted a Gold Sun! Snap out! Gold Suns are fiction! No gay Gold Suns! No stalkers peeking! Phew, phew. Girl nodded, savoring old man's antics.
Girl walks the road slowly, comparing to old man's world. Similar. Close. Same? No. Almost, but a tiny dissonance clicks in her head. Just false sensation from memory. No big deal. No big deal.