A Monstrous Brat
"Uh...."
Yuri flicked her tail back and forth as she checked the data.
"This can't be right? No way.... I thought for sure she was just some useless, jinxed little brat."
"Harsh words. A useless, jinxed little brat? Everything but 'little' is wrong."
Yuri pointed at me, fuming.
"What are you talking about! That speech pattern alone screams she's a lost cause, kid!"
"My speech?"
"Why are you so casually talking back! Grr, there are way more than one or two things to nitpick!"
Yuri's eyes darted between the tablet and the screen before she hurled the tablet aside.
"Argh! This thing's broken! Has to be!"
At Yuri's words, Monica tilted her head.
"Really? Nova Tech gear has a defect like that?"
Yuri's shoulders slumped at Monica's response.
"No~ the data's fine~ But that can't be right~ Think about it, even that genius Isara only scored 19 points~ And this runt gets 28? This is a bug!"
Monica nodded at Yuri's outburst.
"Well, Isara does have the full backing of Sky Tower."
"She was doing ether prenatal training or whatever before she was even born."
"Whoa.... That's impressive."
I pouted.
"It's ruthless. That poor kid."
Monica and Yuri glanced at me.
"Well, from the outside, maybe."
"Yeah, to a regular person."
"I'm not... exactly regular."
Monica and Yuri snickered at my words.
"Right, she had a dagger and a pistol."
"Ha, getting cocky now, brat~?"
I replied calmly to both of them.
"I lost my family to a mage."
The air froze instantly.
"......"
"I remembered that much during the test. My parents died by a mage's hand."
Monica flicked my nose and said,
"Sorry about that... but the country you were born in desperately needs mages."
Yuri scratched the back of her head at Monica's words.
"Yeah, Korea's the only major country that hasn't produced an Olympia winner."
"That damn Olympia—every year they freak out about not having a winning mage."
"Hmph, a country with no oil and ether shortages. What's next."
"Olympia?"
I furrowed my brow at Yuri's words. Come to think of it, every winter I'd hear murmurs like, "We have to win this year."
"Anyway, everyone's desperate, kid~ Back to Isara~"
Yuri glanced at the data as she spoke.
"Isara's the genius they've been raising on a national level to win Olympia~"
Yuri pushed up her glasses.
"And you scored nearly 50% higher than her. You're insane, you know that?"
"Hmph. You're just saying I'm strong. That's obvious."
I had years of Mage Hunter experience under my belt.
As I stood confidently, Monica burst out laughing.
"Seriously~ What an absurd little brat. Kid, you really don't remember anything before the Abyss?"
"...Huh?"
Monica pointed at the saved data figures.
"Looking at this data, it seems like you mastered the magic info the moment you got it."
"Yeah, that's kinda weird~?"
"Ether Shot is simple, sure, but not this simple. And a double shot? That's not even in the info we gave her."
"Oh~? Double Shot's actually listed under used spells."
Yuri lifted her glasses in surprise.
"You've learned magic before~!"
I shrugged, looking back and forth between them.
"I, I saw it on T, TV and copied it."
The two women stared at each other with blank faces.
"F-for real? You saw it and copied it?"
"Whoa~ Monica. What's this kid's level right now~? You sure you brought back a human? Not a ghost or fairy?"
"No idea. Beats me? Hell, I've got questions piling up too."
"......"
Monica poked Yuri's side.
"For now, don't let any info about her leak. Absolutely."
"Huh?"
"Keep her existence secret. No one knows."
"......"
Yuri nodded at Monica's words.
"Got it, a 7-level mage's got plans, I bet. But...."
She irritably pointed at me.
"I'll keep the secret. But fix that brat's speech. We're gonna see her a lot, and this'll make cooperating tough."
At Yuri's words, Monica placed a hand on my head. The remaining ether in the test room gathered around her. A chill killing intent made my body freeze for a moment.
"Kid."
"...Yes."
"Should I use mental magic here, or will you behave yourself? Your choice."
"I, I'll fix my speech."
"Pardon?"
"I'll try to fix it... yes."
"Good girl."
Monica spun her left eye playfully before grinning wide.
"Deal done. So, how about we start training right away?"
"Wh-what now...?"
As I grumbled at Monica's words again—
Grrrowl—
My stomach rumbled.
"Ah."
I blushed and shook my head.
"D-don't worry. I'll handle it later. Just give me anything."
"......"
Under Monica and Yuri's stares, I changed my words.
"I'll handle it myself... yes...."
As I broke out in cold sweat, Monica grabbed my hand.
"What are you saying! Let's eat first!"
"......"
Yuri, who had been watching me with a strange look, suddenly burst into tears.
"What is she, really seven? Speech is weird, but her thinking's so pitiful."
"Right? Street kids always have the best manners."
"...Monica, don't compare people to cats or dogs."
Yuri flicked her tail and petted my head.
"You've had it rough. Of all the mages, you get stuck with her. She looks fine on the outside."
I nodded and grabbed Yuri's hand.
"She runs off sometimes, so take care of me. I mean, please."
"Sure. Run to me anytime training gets tough."
Grrrowl—
The rumble grew louder, and Monica squeezed my hand tight.
"Alright! Let's head home first! I'll make food."
*
"Miss?"
The moment we arrived at Monica's house, a middle-aged man greeted me.
"Say hi—this is Taehyun, our household manager."
"Peace to your home. I am Yu Eunha."
I bowed at the waist, and Taehyun stared blankly at me.
"......"
Taehyun turned to Monica, who shrugged.
"Looks like some magic tower's test subject. Found her rolling around the slums and picked her up."
"Sigh, Miss. I told you not to pick up strays. And you don't pick up people."
"Not just any stray. She's my disciple."
"Disciple... you say?"
Taehyun's eyes sharpened.
"That talented...?"
"Yeah. Best kid I've seen lately. No—best person's ever."
"......"
Monica, now in baggy pajamas, scooped me up.
"This kid's going on Olympia's stage."
Her arms trembled as she lifted me high. She hurriedly set me down and rubbed her left arm.
"Oof, even a kid's pretty heavy?"
Grrrowl—
I slumped weakly to the floor, and Taehyun clapped his hands.
"Dinner's ready. Shall we go in?"
"Am I joining?"
Taehyun and Monica laughed in unison.
"Of course."
"Obviously?"
"Leftovers are fine though...."
Back in my Mage Hunter days, eating anything was routine—no real attachment to meals.
"Really, don't worry. I eat leftovers fine."
Monica and Taehyun's eyes welled up at my words.
"Taehyun, remember when I said prep a feast? Now you get why."
"...Yeah, such a rare pitiful kid these days."
"?"
Taehyun scooped me up and headed to the dining room.
"Little miss. As long as I'm here, no more of that. Enjoy a simple but warm meal today."
The dining room had neat Korean dishes laid out. Taehyun placed a thick cushion on my chair and sat me on it—the height felt just right.
Monica grumbled as she sat.
"Feeding such a cute kid leftovers. Isn't that too much?"
"Indeed. No idea which tower, but they crossed a line."
"Right? Heard Southeast Asia and China towers do human experiments—gotta tell the alliance."
Listening to them, I picked up a spoon for the first time in ages. But the thick metal one was regrettably heavy.
Clang—
The spoon hit the marble floor.
"S-sorry. It's too heavy. I'm not usually this weak—overdid it today."
Monica clapped.
"Forgot—she got put through a brutal precision test today."
"No need. I should've been more careful."
Taehyun brought a disposable plastic spoon.
"Please bear with this today, miss."
Miss—goosebumps all over.
'Miss? Hearing that's torture.'
Feeling awkward, I gripped the light plastic spoon. Scooping hot rice released steam and a savory aroma. It'd been forever since warm rice.
'White rice.'
Chewing the hot bite, my heart eased.
'Come to think of it, no proper meals since becoming a Mage Hunter.'
Days of hardtack, cans, ramen hunting evil mages. I'd thought I'd sacrifice anything for revenge—but apparently not entirely.
Steaming kimchi jjigae. The spicy red broth was just like decades ago in that rundown house.
"Oh, eating well even through tears. Our little kid."
"Indeed. Ah, need a handkerchief."
"Sniff.... Sniff...."
Embarrassingly, I don't remember much after.
*
Time flew. A week with Monica already.
I bounced out excitedly at her promise of ice cream.
"You're really buying ice cream?"
"Speech."
"You're buying... yes?"
Monica smacked her forehead at my words.
"No, that's still.... Whatever, better than nothing."
She pinched my cheek and snickered.
"Yeah, ice cream it is."
I hopped joyfully.
"Ice cream!"
Taehyun banned snacks, so I'd been sugar-starved for days.
"Ice cream. Vanilla. No, strawberry today. Hehe, or both!"
The place we arrived at, me buzzing behind Monica, was a massive training ground.
"Huh? Where's the ice cream...?"
Monica grinned wide at my question.
"Simple training today, Eunha."
"Ah?"
Overwhelmed by the emotional whiplash, my little body started spilling tears.