Cracks in the Supply Chain
Checkered shirt and slacks, An Sim. “Hmm... again?” Somewhere in the capital area, in a sanctuary sanctified using the holy book. Kim Sang-ho sat at his high-end wooden desk, trimming his nails without looking at his subordinate as he spoke. His tone was still relaxed, but today it carried an undercurrent of irritation.
“Yes, Director. It doesn't seem like we've been tailed. We checked with our contacts on that end, and it looks like another Weird Phenomenon attack this time too.”
“How many is this now?”
“This makes the twelfth just among our regular trading partners.”
Kim Sang-ho was receiving a report from one of his loyal followers about their main wholesaler for “primary trade goods.”
“Hmm. Looks like we need to set up some alternative routes. Something's triggering these Weird Phenomena and drawing them in.”
“Understood. We'll investigate and find new routes right away.”
“Hmm, and still no sign of Brother Yoo Ho-seok?”
“Yes, Director.”
Yoo Ho-seok had been one of Kim Sang-ho's low-level operatives, holding as many as six pages of the holy book. But the steady stream of offering points from him had suddenly dried up completely. If he were dead, all those points should have flowed back to him. Had he been caught? Kim Sang-ho felt no worry even if that were the case—nothing would reach him here. No one could enter without his permission. And those inside could be expelled at any moment. This was his kingdom. A sanctuary forged from his own holy book.
“Hmph. Regrettable, but let's call off the search for Brother Yoo Ho-seok.”
“Understood, Director.”
“Then, I'll leave the other arrangements to you.”
“Yes, Director. I'll take my leave.”
As the man bowed and exited, Kim Sang-ho, in his priestly robes, twisted his face in frustration. “Fuck, damn it. That was our cheap source for the little shits. Tsk.”
His leisurely demeanor had vanished in an instant. Still, the fact that he never openly scolded his underlings or picked pointless fights made him an excellent boss. His line of work, however, was anything but.
He bought “materials” in bulk from organizations peddling the all-too-common “human resources” of this era. Orphans were cheap and highly efficient as offerings for the holy book. But lately, the Weird Phenomena had hit that industry hard. With a major project looming that demanded vast resources, he was starting to feel the pinch.
He didn't particularly buy into the Pure Humanity Grace Society's ideology. He'd never imagined receiving the holy book from a saintess. It was just easy work—finding the disaffected, empathizing, and reeling them in—yielding a feast of sustenance and rivers of cash to quench his haze. That's how he'd climbed this far. And somehow, he'd grown obsessed with fattening his holy book.
Awakened Ability Users? Pathetic compared to the holy book. Just lucky freaks who got powers without lifting a finger. Vulgar trash with unearned gifts. Nothing but fodder to thicken his holy tome.
He whispered those lies to himself once more, burying the truth: he'd been abandoned at an orphanage because he had no awakened ability.
With nails now impeccably and meticulously groomed, he caressed the holy book. The thick white tome's surface felt softer than any mortal skin—heavenly to the touch.
Gran Orca visited the Seoul Association's Magical Girl Management Division for the first time in nearly two months, responding to the summons. Every time she came here, she couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed strutting around in her magical girl outfit amid all the suited staff. She hadn't noticed it as a kid—must be getting older. At least the association's nature meant heroes in costumes or armor roamed freely, offering some solace. And as a flying magical girl, she could use the landing pad instead of the main entrance, which was packed with suits.
“You've arrived?”
Today, as always, Director Min Tae-kyung—in his checkered shirt—greeted her. The office was tucked away in a quiet corner, modestly sized but cozy with plenty of sunlight. With only five magical girls in Korea currently and just three active, the department was lean: Min Tae-kyung, Lee Ha-seon, and two clerical staff.
Ortentia Rafe was mulling retirement for marriage, which might shrink things further. But the unique nature of magical girls ensured the division's permanence. Nationality meant nothing to them; readiness was always key. That was the association's stance.
“Hello. Looks like I'm the first one here this time?”
Gran Orca greeted Director Min Tae-kyung. Her mascot, Aster, waved enthusiastically. Lee Ha-seon, the deputy, seemed to be out briefly.
No sooner had Gran Orca spoken than Rubra Camellia and Ortentia Rafe pushed through the door.
“Heyyy~! We're here!”
“Hello, everyone.”
The ever-energetic Rubra Camellia and the soft-spoken blue Ortentia Rafe. Their mascots—Leo and the overly duck-like Kana—floated in behind. This was the full roster of active magical girls in Korea, minus the debut that had fizzled last time.
After greetings all around, they quenched their thirst with tea from clerical staffer Shin Mi-seon and chatted lightly. Min Tae-kyung waited patiently before getting to the point.
“We've gathered you because of the recent missing persons cases in the capital area.”
“Not the incident from before?”
Gran Orca recalled the near-catastrophe two months prior. She still lacked certainty, but she'd encountered a mysterious entity claiming to be a magical girl via her mascot Aster. It bore a cognition hazard akin to theirs. The leftover footage gave the same vibe. They'd been called in likely for that reason. The issue: even other magical girls sensed the hazard. Even the mascots disagreed. Lee Ha-seon's on-site notes faintly mentioned a 0th Grade, but no records confirmed such power. Post-terror attack, some unknown force had eliminated the anomaly or terrorist. That much remained. Two magical girls and Leo saw a white, fluffy silhouette like a magical girl. Aster alone called it a white magical girl. 1st Grade Choi Il-mun testified to a pleasant scent. Other ability users on-site only recalled agony. The association confirmed an extra incident beyond the terror via personnel and footage but couldn't track the entity. Classic Magical Girl Laws.
Gran Orca had leaned toward believing Aster—it was a magical girl—when the topic shifted to missing persons, leaving her puzzled.
“Upper management has ruled that one a Weird Phenomenon and is collaborating with the Void team.”
“Ah... I see.”
Gran Orca's hopes for a new magical girl soured into distrust of the Void, dampening her mood.
“Eh, what? I got excited thinking we had a new junior.”
Rubra Camellia had hoped for another newbie beyond next year's debut and voiced her letdown.
“Oh my. And here I thought I was your junior, Rubra dear—how hurtful.”
“W-Well, sis is a bit... older...”
“Rubra Camellia?”
“S-Sorry, poof!”
“Kana!!”
Ortentia Rafe was old for a magical girl—debuting a year after Rubra Camellia made her a junior, sure. Five years active this year. But already 30. Thirty years old! Her late debut stemmed from her rare healing ability, Kana's overambition, and a near-fatal accident. She'd been an ability user before, and post-transformation, she teamed with her original partner—a top 1st Grade ability user and lover—for gate-closing duties. Partners on duty, lovers off. But the cognition hazard had her magical girl self usurp her old identity, breeding absurd jealousy. That was why she pondered marriage retirement. Still, fond memories and reluctance to part with Kana made marriage her top priority. She and her lover practiced baby-making daily, at least.
As the women's aura flustered Min Tae-kyung, his savior—Deputy Lee Ha-seon—entered with a box of files, sensing the vibe.
“Everyone here? Sorry I'm a bit late.”
The sleek, bespectacled deputy in a chic suit, looking weary as ever, gave a light bow. She set the box on her desk, pulled out select documents—clearly from the Void team—and dove in.
“You're all aware missing persons in the capital have been trending upward lately?”
True to her no-nonsense style, she cut straight to it.
“Various factors cause disappearances, but evidence points to the Pure Humanity Grace Society behind several major cases.”
The playful expressions on the magical girls' faces turned serious at the name.