Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The Forgotten Victims
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In this operation, the swift judgment of the A.M.S (Magical Girl Management Bureau) shone brightly. Shining Ruby thwarted the suicide bombing attempt by the Aberration "Necroa"...
The anchor on the massive TV mounted in the funeral home lobby was blabbing away.
On the screen, Shining Ruby flashed a pristine 'V' sign, not a speck of dust on her.
"...Additionally, thanks to the pre-issued evacuation alert, loss of life was kept to a minimum..."
Lies.
I stared blankly at the screen, clutching a single chrysanthemum flower.
There had been no evacuation alert whatsoever.
No sirens. No public announcements. Everyone in the apartment complex had been enjoying a peaceful dinner.
The truth I heard later was this: the Bureau bastards deliberately held back the alert, fearing the Aberration would catch on and bolt.
To catch it for sure, they tossed an entire rundown apartment block as bait.
At that moment, gripping the innocent chrysanthemum stem until it snapped,
"Family representative, Kang Min-woo?"
A man in a black suit called out to me.
An A.M.S badge gleamed on his chest.
"Ah... yes."
"You got the text, right? Just sign here. And this is the condolence payment. An unavoidable sacrifice for national security..."
He recited the scripted lines like a parrot and handed over a white envelope.
The joint memorial hall—built in a rented gymnasium—was plastered wall-to-wall with dozens of spirit tablets. My parents' and Yeon-ah's photos were crammed in among them.
I glanced sideways. Other bereaved families were wailing, grabbing Bureau staff by the collar and unleashing curses.
But... I couldn't do it.
"......Thank you."
I bowed my head. Took the envelope.
I was too exhausted to rage. No place to crash starting tomorrow. And above all, they were the state's power. Yelling would just get me treated like a barking mutt against a wall.
Cowardly?
Yeah, I was a coward.
Weak. Pathetic.
My hands shook like leaves as I pocketed the price on my family's lives, but I couldn't bring myself to rip that envelope to shreds.
That day, I killed something inside me.
Three years passed since then.
My life after that day was a nightmare. No, a nightmare you could wake from. This was hell you couldn't escape.
"Ah, fuck! Kim! Clean up those guts quick! Stinks up the place!"
"Y-yes! Coming!"
On the outskirts, a four-lane road littered with monster corpses.
Inside the sweat-soaked yellow hazmat suit, my goggles fogged up—no time to wipe them.
I silently mopped away.
Family gone, purpose lost, I dropped out of college. Cut off friends, acquaintances, relatives.
Just clinging to life without dying.
But too scared to bite my tongue and end it.
In the end, this coward drifted here.
Hazard Cleaner.
Sewer rat life, sweeping up the scraps Hunters and Magical Girls left behind.
"Kraaaak!"
A scream suddenly tore through the work site.
Turning, a gruesome sight unfolded.
A massive insectoid monster we'd thought dead had snatched a worker's arm from beside it.
Hazmat tore like paper, red blood splattered the road.
S-save me! Ple...!"
"Move! Everyone back! Fuck!"
A C-rank Hunter from the subcontracting firm sauntered out, annoyed.
He smashed the monster's remaining head with his greatsword.
A crunch, and the worker tumbled to the ground. Arm mangled.
"Ah, seriously. Check properly next time, yeah?"
The Hunter shook blood from his blade, irritated.
Worker foaming in shock, not a "you okay?" from him. Just frowning at monster fluids on his shoes.
"Tch, bad luck. Show's over? Back to work!"
The ambulance wailed off with the worker. I don't know his name. No need to. People vanish here all the time—no big deal.
And someday.
I hoped it'd be me.
"Whew, Hunters and their sloppy work..."
The foreman beside me, sweeping corpse bits, tsked with dead eyes.
"This is why we need Magical Girls on the scene, right? Look at Ruby. Vaporizes 'em clean with her beam—no mess. How great is that?"
"......"
At those words, my broom hand froze. Blood drained from my face.
Vaporizes clean. Yeah, too clean—that was the problem. Evaporated my parents and sister without a trace.
"Hey, Kang. You sick? Face looks awful."
"...No. Just queasy."
I ducked my head, scrubbed the floor again. Harsh chemical stench stung my nose, but better than the lingering magic afterscent in my memories.
"Drinks after shift today, Kang coming too, right? Don't bail like a young punk..."
"Sorry. Stomach's bad... Heading out first..."
"Tch, guy's always ducking out. Pathetic."
I fled to the subway, leaving the foreman's jab behind.
Rush hour hell-train, but folks kept a subtle distance around me.
"What's that smell?"
"Fucking nuisance. Wash up or something."
I showered before clocking out, obviously. But the monster fish-stink and harsh detergent clung like a curse—impossible to shake.
Head down like a criminal, I stood by the door.
'Save up for a scooter maybe...'
In this hand-to-mouth existence, paying debts and scraping by, personal wheels were luxury.
I stared blankly at my reflection in the window glass.
Gaunt, worthless shell.
Looked a decade older than three years ago.
The hole-in-the-wall I fled home to.
Your typical slum hillside. Tucked in the boonies: deposit 200, rent 15 semi-basement one-room.
The 50 million payout for my family's lives vanished paying off household debts.
All that remained: this stinking carcass and my groveling soul...
I booted the computer on instinct. Clicked the news site like always.
Main page drowned in pink.
Shining Ruby Saves Citizens Once More! Korea's Miracle!
"I love you all~" The world melts at Ruby's wink.
She glowed on screen. National treasure. Icon of the era. Living legend.
Her outfits sold out. Her words trended. She knew Korea better than the country itself.
My scrolling finger halted.
A tiny article buried in the corner caught my eye.
Magical Girls' Use of Force: Is This Okay? Reflecting on the OO District Apartment 'Misfire' Incident Three Years Ago.
Someone remembered the incident I'd thought forgotten. It argued for Magical Girl oversight and accountability.
I clicked, entranced.
Hope shattered in one second.
Trash journo at it again lol. How many lives has Ruby saved? Stirring shit over ancient history?
Honestly unavoidable. Those apartment folks were just unlucky. If she hadn't fired, Seoul would've been toast. Don't get the greater good sacrifice?
Bereaved milking for more comp. Got 500 mil already? Jackpot lol.
Villain org shill? Take this article down.
Heat rushed to my scalp. Hands trembled.
What? Minor sacrifice? Jackpot?
Family reduced to less than bones, and that's "unlucky"?
Tap tap tap.
I hammered the keyboard like a madman.
[I'm a bereaved family member. My family died! Know what that Ruby bitch said to us? "Crime was not living in a ritzy neighborhood!" Remorse? Tears? All show! 50 mil for my family's lives, and that's jackpot? Try it on your family, then talk shit!!!]
Finger hovered over enter.
Just press. Vent this injustice, this rage.
But.
My finger froze mid-air.
'What if they dox me?'
'Track my IP?'
'Boss finds out, I'm fired.'
Terror. Dread. Even one comment terrified me into shaking.
Then, a new comment popped.
People died though. Ruby's at fault, why trash the victims?
It was what I wanted to say. Grateful. Tears welled.
But refresh—and dozens of replies swarmed it.
You an Aberration? lol
Next up, villain org part-timer.
Jealous? Go hunt monsters yourself~ Basement dwelling hunter-wannabe got opinions.
Ruthless.
Victim advocates branded Aberrations or shills, trampled.
I quietly backspaced. My words vanished one by one.
Why.
Why do victims get shit on?
Perp hailed hero, why must my dead family be the punchline?
"Eung... kuhk..."
Teeth ground. So unjust, so fucking brutal, chest ready to burst.
Some self-immolate in front of the Bureau in rage, solo protest...
Cutter knife on desk caught my eye.
Trembling hand drew the blade, pressed to wrist.
Hidden Truth Behind OO District Apartment Deaths Three Years Ago. Citizen Group Releases Recording of 'Magical Girl Ruby's Mockery'!
Glorious. My death no mere suicide—spark toppling the system. Bureau cover-up exposed, Ruby's fake smile shredded bare.
Furious crowds flood streets, she bows in cuffs before cameras, magic wand swapped for irons. Thousands of chrysanthemums before my portrait, hailed 'righteous soul who defied evil with life.'
My death finally meaningful. Perfect end to Ruby's fall.
"...Ha."
Fantasy ended. Cold blade tip yanked me back.
Sweet dream, but room reeked of monster guts and damp mold. World change if I died?
"Haa... haa..."
Blade pressed skin. Sharp sting—I flung it away.
Clang.
"Pathetic fuck..."
Too scared to even die.
Coward. Chicken. Useless loser.
I buried my head between knees, sobbed like a beast.
This is me.
Kang Min-woo, trash human.
Then.
Kwang—!!!
A massive boom. Something slammed the front door.