About a Month Before Min-woo Completes His Revenge on Jo Min-hyuk
— Tap-tap— Tap-tap— The familiar notification chime rang repeatedly from my smartphone. The name on the screen was Yeon-ah. Min-woo oppa's younger sister, my boyfriend's sibling and my closest friend. And soon, my sister-in-law-to-be.
Just reading the texts, I could practically hear Yeon-ah's grumbling voice. I chuckled softly and typed back.
I hit send and quickened my pace. In my hands were six-year-old red ginseng for Dad and Mom, and a ring I'd scraped together my entire monthly salary to buy. (Yeon-ah, no bracelet this time—you got that cardigan last time.)
Soft sleet drifted down as the familiar apartment complex entrance came into view. And beyond it, on the fifth floor. Through the lit balcony, I could clearly make out Oppa and his family's birthday party in full swing.
Today, I have to tell him.
To Min-woo oppa. That I'm actually the magical girl Spica. That it's dangerous, but I'm fighting to protect him. So... marry me.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Oppa would probably cover his mouth to stifle a sob. Imagining him flustered before finally reaching out his hand brought a smile to my lips unbidden.
A May wedding would be perfect. Honeymoon in Guam or Hawaii, and two kids sounds about right.
The moment I stepped into the complex, lost in dreams of a happy future—
Flash—!
The night sky—no, the entire world—flushed pink.
It wasn't a lovely color. It was a violent, overwhelming blaze that seared my retinas.
"Wha...?"
Before I could even look up.
A deafening roar tore through my eardrums, and the apartment right in front of me... had a hole punched through it like a cake.
... ...
"Spica?"
A cold voice echoed.
Spica—no, Han Da-in snapped back to reality. The pink flash blotting her vision had faded, but the horrific afterimage lingered.
AMS (Magical Girl Management Bureau) headquarters, 15th floor conference room. In pitch-black darkness without a sliver of light, a massive screen displayed photos from that惨め day three years ago: the devastated apartment collapse.
"Sorry. I was... lost in thought for a moment."
Da-in rubbed her face and forced her eyes away from the screen.
"You look tired. Well, you're not one for the public spotlight anyway."
The middle-aged man at the head of the table, Director Min Chang-ho. With his neatly combed hair streaked lightly with white and his sharp features, this man was the pinnacle of the bureau overseeing all magical girls and monster responses in Korea.
"...That photo just bugs me."
"Bugs you...? My apologies. It must be a painful memory."
Despite his words, the director spoke flatly as he slid a stack of documents across the table.
"I called you in on emergency summons for this."
"..."
Da-in silently examined the file he'd handed over. She wasn't in her TV-famous blonde, blue-eyed paladin princess form right now. She was an Eastern beauty with straight black hair tied neatly back and subdued eyes. This was the true face of A-rank magical girl Spica, Han Da-in—kept strictly secret from the public.
"Let's cut to the chase. What am I hunting?"
Da-in's voice was icy. The director pointed at the screen.
Code Name: Necroa
Danger Level: A (Provisional)
Da-in's brow furrowed.
"This is..."
"Necroa. Three years ago, rated A-rank by Japan's bureau, then taken down through Korea and Japan branches' joint efforts."
"I know. Wasn't it Shining Ruby who finished it off? Official report said it was annihilated right before self-destructing..."
"Official reports are for the public. The truth is different."
The director leaned back, interlacing his fingers heavily.
"It didn't die. We secured it and had it in 'storage.' But four months ago, an accident during transfer let it escape."
"Hold on—storage?!"
Da-in's voice sharpened.
"Why keep an A-rank monster alive—one that caused civilian casualties in the first place?! Shouldn't it have been disposed of immediately? You told me clearly back then!!"
"Calm down, Miss Spica."
The director raised a hand to stop her.
"Its value isn't just material. Necroa's cells have near-infinite adaptability. Researching them could lead to revolutionary treatments—not just for the disabled or diseased, but maybe even to purify the 'contamination' in magical girls like you."
"...!"
Da-in fell silent.
Contamination. The mental buildup from using magic. It had driven countless senior and junior magical girls mad or into retirement.
And now, a cure? From a magical girl's perspective, it was an irresistible justification.
Of course, whether that was truly the bureau's goal... who knew.
"This time too... for justice, then."
Da-in asked gravely.
"What's the plan? Backup for if it resists or rampages? And for such a key target, why not S-rank Ruby...?"
"No."
The director cut her off firmly.
"Ruby's excluded. She'd pulverize it, ending any research. Plus, you know her personality—she'd smash up civilian areas and cause another incident."
He stared piercingly at Da-in.
"But you're different. Paladin. With your ironclad defense and precise control, I believe you can neutralize and capture it alive."
"..."
Da-in bit her lip. Three years ago or now, nothing had changed.
"Understood... I'll take it."
She stood.
"What about op status? Location pinned?"
"Not yet. But it hasn't left Korea. It was badly injured during escape, so it's probably holed up somewhere. Just speculation, but some think it's tied to that recent underground fighting ring incident."
The director added meaningfully.
"As you know, it's highly intelligent. By now... it might be blending in with civilians."
— Outside the conference room.
Da-in's expression was heavy as she walked the long corridor.
"Good work, Lady Spica."
Her dedicated secretary, waiting, offered a tablet PC.
"Next schedule. 2 PM broadcast interview for your return special, evening sponsor dinner..."
"Cancel them."
Da-in said without looking.
"Pardon? But the live interview..."
"Say I'm not feeling well. Jet lag, need rest. That works."
She brushed past the secretary.
"So, free till tomorrow?"
"Y-yes. No official schedule, but... need security detail?"
"No. I'm fine."
Da-in pressed the elevator button. Her face reflected in the mirror-like stainless door—not glamorous magical girl Spica, but weary, resigned human Han Da-in.
"Personal business."
She murmured softly.
Three years ago, the cowardly past she couldn't protect and had fled from. And the one person left behind in that past.
Min-woo oppa.
The doors opened. She stepped forward with heavy feet.
Before any monster, there was one precious person she had to save first.
— 3 PM. A luxury brunch cafe in Cheongdam-dong.
A woman at a terrace seat lifted her teacup.
Her long straight hair tied neatly back, her profile gazing out the window elegant as a painting. Beige trench coat and scarf—refined attire that drew eyes from anyone.
"Um... excuse me."
A handsome man approached.
"You're so beautiful, got a minute...?"
"Sorry."
Da-in set down her cup with a smile, raising her left ring finger.
A silver ring with a small gem gleamed there.
"Someone's waiting."
Her refusal was gentle yet an impenetrable wall. The man sheepishly bowed and retreated.
"Hey! Han Da-in!"
Then, a woman waving from the cafe entrance—Na-young, high school classmate and friend of both Min-woo and Yeon-ah.
"Oh my god, girl. You got even prettier? Europe's water must be magic?"
Na-young launched into chatter the moment she sat.
She and other acquaintances thought Da-in had been studying abroad—a perfect bureau cover for hiding her magical girl identity.
"Just busy with studies."
"So humble... Huh? What's with the ring? You married?!"
"Kinda... not yet. How've you been?"
Da-in smiled faintly and deflected.
Chit-chat flowed: trendy fashion, dating drama, job woes. Da-in nodded along, biding her time.
When a lull hit, she ventured cautiously.
"Hey, Na-young... any word on..."
"Hm? What?"
"...Min-woo oppa?"
Da-in's fingers trembled slightly on her teacup.
Na-young's face darkened instantly.
"...Ah."
She averted her gaze awkwardly.
"Sorry... You know. After the incident, Oppa's totally shut down."
"..."
"Cut all contact, changed numbers... No classmates know. Rumor is he's off doing manual labor down south somewhere."
Na-young sighed.
"Honestly, makes sense. Lost his whole family, got mocked on top... I'd hide from people too."
Da-in's chest throbbed. Like a sharp needle stabbing her heart.
She bit her lip hard.
It's my fault.
Oppa becoming a wreck, hiding from the world—it was all because I failed to protect him that day.
No, because I ran.
"A-anyway, it's been ages—drinks tonight? Call the gang..."
Na-young tried to lighten the mood, but Da-in shook her head.
"Sorry. Still jet-lagged... Next time for sure. My treat."
Da-in grabbed the bill and stood. She couldn't sit any longer.
Just hearing about Min-woo oppa's pathetic reality choked her.
After that, Da-in checked more places: Min-woo's college friends, Yeon-ah's other pals.
But the answers were always the same.
"No clue. Vanished."
"Still alive, at least?"
"Guy went weird. Dead eyes..."
Till sunset blanketed the world in dark. Da-in's notebook held zero leads.
Kang Min-woo was like he'd been erased from existence—no trace left.