The Mad Girl and the Truly Insane One: Little Devil
At just twelve years old, she debuted as a pro hero and skyrocketed to Senior Hero status in a mere two years—a genius hero. Still only fifteen, her bravery, sense of justice, cuteness, and kindness won her the adoration of the entire nation and her fellow heroes alike.
"Kyaa! Yerangie's so cute again today!!"
"Look at those chubby cheeks, all soft and squishy. How can a kid be this adorable?"
"Hey, our little devil. Heard you nabbed an A-rank villain this time? Treat us when the bonus comes in."
"What're you saying? Wanna get beat by a minor?"
One might expect jealousy toward a kid outpacing them, but Hwang Yerang's bright, cheerful personality effortlessly charmed everyone, turning her into the group's beloved mascot.
That day, fresh off capturing the A-rank villain they'd been chasing, she returned to the Hero Association to a flood of attention from her teammates.
"Phew... There's nothing left for me to teach you. You're my equal now—or maybe even better."
"You got passed ages ago, Mr. Perpetual Mid Hero."
"You sure know how to stab where it hurts, you little brat!"
"Ten years since debut and still not a Senior? What a scrub~"
She felt every day was fulfilling and happy. Great teammates, work she loved, and ample talent for it. To Hwang Yerang, the world was plenty beautiful and sparkling.
"Hey? Mid bro!"
Spotting Midnight, Hwang Yerang scampered over. Friendly with everyone, she shared an especially close bond with him. Midnight kept to himself, avoiding other heroes, but he never pushed her away—reminded him of his late little sister, he said.
Ten years her senior and not long acquainted, they still cherished each other like family.
"Heard about my feat? Finally got that bastard. Pretty badass, right?"
"I know you're strong, but you're too reckless. It worked out this time, but keep charging in like that and you'll get seriously hurt."
"Tch. Can't you just celebrate without the nagging?"
"I'm saying it 'cause I worry."
"That's what pisses me off more!"
Hwang Yerang believed this peaceful routine would last forever. As a hero, she vaguely knew she might die in battle someday—but protecting others? No regrets.
Then one day, on patrol, she spotted a girl her age slipping into a dark alley with a monster.
What's that? Getting kidnapped?
Rushing to save her, Hwang Yerang soon found the girl beside the monster and lunged, arm morphing for the strike.
"No! Don't kill it!"
Oddly, the girl blocked the monster with her own body.
A human shielding a monster? Stunned by the bizarre scene, Hwang Yerang halted.
"Huh? What's going on here?"
"I'm fine, so just pretend you didn't see and keep walking."
"What're you talking about? Quit the weird talk and move. You'll get eaten."
Expecting thanks, she instead met wary eyes. Loved by most, Hwang Yerang knew some disliked her. She thought herself used to malice or envy.
But this vibe—like she was the villain? Her young mind couldn't parse it.
"Sounds crazy, but this is my friend. So just go."
"Now that's crazy talk. Know a good psych ward—want an intro?"
Perplexed, Hwang Yerang hesitated. Monsters killed humans—obvious to slay. But the girl might do something drastic.
"I can befriend monsters. And I told it never to attack humans, so it's safe."
"Befriend monsters?"
Absurd. Yet absurd things happened. Staring at the desperate girl protecting the beast, Hwang Yerang noted: no attack on the fragile human beside it. Just quietly guarding.
Then it clicked—the girl might be Awakened.
"You some kind of Awakened?"
"...Probably."
"Probably? So your power lets you befriend monsters?"
"Dunno."
No deception—just genuine ignorance. But to Hwang Yerang, she screamed Awakened, and taming monsters fit.
A power to ally with monsters. Novel, but its potential? Endless.
"Whoa, that's seriously awesome!"
"W-what?"
"Befriending monsters? Super rare and unique! You're amazing!"
"...?"
Hwang Yerang gushed freely, a reaction alien to the girl—Baek Seung-ah. Unloved by family and friends, she'd craved monsters' affection instead. After her city fell to beasts and became a Pollution Zone, she wandered alone, surviving on grit.
She recalled threats from survivors just before awakening. Befriending monsters? Disgusting, repulsive.
So she shunned humans. Monsters were family, friends. No need for the rest.
Yet Hwang Yerang approached with sparkling eyes, no hesitation. Baek Seung-ah's heart fluttered oddly. That innocent smile thawed her frozen heart bit by bit.
"What's your name?"
"...Baek Seung-ah."
"Cool. I'm Hwang Yerang. Know me?"
"Nope."
"Huh? For real? You don't know Little Devil?"
"Why should I?"
Everyone recognized her—total indifference? First time. Hwang Yerang took a shine to Baek Seung-ah.
"Then remember from now on: Hwang Yerang!"
"What a nutjob."
"Hey, you're the real nutjob."
An odd first meeting, but they clicked. Baek Seung-ah was fifteen too, like Hwang Yerang. No school, living in an abandoned container with her monster.
Pitying her, Hwang Yerang dubbed it an "hideout," visited often, bought essentials with her own cash, and doted.
Overwhelmed by unaccustomed kindness, Baek Seung-ah squirmed, but Hwang Yerang brushed it off: "Pay me back when you're grown and working." Pure whimsy.
No offense taken from Baek Seung-ah's prickliness. Even toward her monster, no hostility.
"Its name's Happy. Cute, right?"
"Neither the monster nor your naming sense is cute..."
The dog-like beast named Happy? "Pet it, it's cute!" Even Hwang Yerang blanched and dodged.
Still, she tolerated Baek Seung-ah's weird tastes(?).
"But as a hero, is it okay leaving a monster be?"
"I'd piss you off if I killed it."
"Duh, if you tried killing my friend."
"Hurtful. Am I not your friend?"
"Ah, n-no, that's..."
Blushing and flustered, Baek Seung-ah was prime teasing material, Hwang Yerang thought.
Spending time together, she learned Baek Seung-ah's past—explaining her wariness. Touchy as a live wire, but a good friend nonetheless.
Post-Senior promotion, no school meant no peers for Hwang Yerang, who secretly craved this. Association comrades were great, but the age gap killed rapport.
With Baek Seung-ah, pure comfort and ease.
One day, a thought struck: Wouldn't it be even better if she became a hero too?
"Seung-ah. Ever thought about being a hero?"
"What? Outta nowhere, you nuts?"
"Such a potty mouth. Hear me out: Use your power right, and humanity might never fight monsters again. It's not a curse—it's a blessing. People would thank you."
"...I only need you, no one else."
"Ahem. Sweet, but anyway! As heroes, we'd hang more. I know a higher-up—I'll put in a word. Team up!"
"Ugh, no means no!"
Baek Seung-ah refused, but Hwang Yerang persisted. Her power could save lives, earn acceptance, heal scars. All upsides, ideal.
Clingy as ever, and Baek Seung-ah felt herself wavering.
Finally, she caved.
"Haa. You're like a damn leech. Fine! Happy now?"
"Yes! Smart choice—gonna be a blast!"
Hwang Yerang's days brimmed with pure joy and happiness. She wanted Baek Seung-ah to feel it too.