Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Second Magical Girl (3)
Going back in time to the moment the giant beast appeared.
"As expected, it's the same giant beast."
I was watching the news on my phone from inside an abandoned building near the scene.
A massive dinosaur-like giant beast visible through the screen.
This giant beast was the stepping stone for the birth of the second magical girl.
Of course, I had no intention of handling it myself today.
'To begin with, there's not much I can do against giant beasts anyway.'
Besides, since the opponent was a giant beast, my abilities as a mutant wouldn't work on it.
If I used time stop right now, the giant beast would rampage in the frozen time and cause even bigger trouble.
Mutants were like offspring spawned from giant beasts in the first place.
To explain it by sorting through my memories...
Giant beasts appeared in the world, unleashing unclean, filthy power—defilement—upon it.
As a result, the world changed so that people on the brink of death, if their desires were strong enough, would turn into mutants.
Unlike monsters with insane physical abilities, mutants were smaller but possessed special powers.
However, as I mentioned earlier, since their root was still giant beasts, abilities didn't work on giant beasts themselves.
It was perfect balance, really.
The magical girls were the ones who broke that balance.
'If it looks like she's about to die, I'll swoop in and grab her quick.'
Nothing worked against giant beasts, but snatching Comet away didn't require any abilities that giant beasts resisted.
With that in mind, I stayed hidden in the abandoned building for quite a while.
'You've grown, Comet...!'
I could see Comet's growth through the news as well.
In the original story, even her Return of the Light barely left any major wounds.
Now, she could turn the giant beast's stubby arm into something resembling an actual arm.
It wasn't explosive growth like she'd awakened or anything, but the fact that she'd grown at all was what mattered.
'At this rate...'
Just as I was thinking I really didn't need to step in,
"Solar Explosion."
💥 BOOM!!!! 💥
"That's riiiiight!!"
Solar made her flashy debut.
A powerful blow that crisped one of the giant beast's legs to a char.
I cheered at the scene that tugged at every man's heartstrings, immersing myself even deeper in the news.
Comet swiftly finished off the giant beast.
Just like in the original, as Comet was on the verge of fading with Return of the Light, Solar appeared and averted a catastrophe.
The two quickly fled the scene.
"Ah, shall I go say hi?"
Even though I was a mutant, I figured I could at least congratulate the magical girls—
"Get lost right now!"
"Yes."
She told me to disappear, so I left immediately.
...Maybe I should've brought a gift.
Today, too, I stopped time and walked away on foot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
💬 Text Messages
— Han Si-woo
Arin, did you sleep well?
— Arin 🐱 (waving cat sticker)
— Han Si-woo
You're as diligent as ever lol
— Arin 🐱 (nodding cat sticker)
— Han Si-woo
Oh, right, today—
The day after Magical Solar made her appearance, at lunchtime, I was eating while texting Arin as usual.
— Arin 🐱 (startled cat sticker)
— Arin 🐱 (crying cat sticker)
— Han Si-woo
What's wrong?
— Arin 🐱 (cat sobbing over spilled ramen sticker)
— Han Si-woo
You spilled your food?
— Arin 🐱 (sniffling cat sticker)
"Pfft!"
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at Arin's increasingly cute and hilarious reactions.
"Oppa?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry, sorry. Was I being too rude while eating?"
"No, that's not it... What are you looking at to laugh like that?"
"I was texting an acquaintance... no, a friend."
"A friend?"
Come to think of it, I hadn't told Ji-yeon or Ji-hoon about Arin.
"Well... I met her a bit before I met you guys. She's a beauty who looks like a haughty cat, but her texts are super cute."
"A beauty? Cu... Is she a girl?"
"Yeah. She's so pretty, she seems too good to be friends with a guy like me."
"I... see."
After that, Ji-yeon's chatter completely stopped.
She seemed lost in thought, but I had no idea what about.
'Still, best to leave her be in times like this.'
"This is delicious enough to die for!"
"Right?"
I just ate like Ji-hoon.
After finishing lunch, I did a quick info check and flopped onto the sofa with a relaxed mind.
'At this point, those two can handle everything just fine.'
Comet with all stats above average, and firepower-focused Solar.
Of course, tough enemies would show up soon enough, forcing Comet into a double Return of the Light, but there was still a month left.
So for the next month, I planned to do absolutely nothing with full commitment.
No one could disturb my rest.
"Cleaning! Time to clean!"
"Be careful, Ji-hoon! Cleaning's great, but think about your size!"
"Got it! Just trust me! From now on, I'm the Vacuum Mutant!"
"Sigh... Honestly."
Right on cue, as I lay there, Ji-hoon pulled out the vacuum cleaner, declaring he'd clean.
Ji-yeon stood by with the mop.
'...I can't just do nothing when they're stepping up like this. Maybe I'll at least take out the trash?'
Living alone was fine, but with Ji-yeon and Ji-hoon handling chores, I couldn't just sit idle.
"Huh, oppa? Weren't you resting?"
"I... just wanted to take out the trash."
"Yeah... We can't really do that. Sorry..."
"No, no! I'm grateful you're doing the chores, so don't apologize!"
Ji-yeon looked so sorry that I hurriedly grabbed the trash bags and headed out.
"...This is bad."
Living with family meant I couldn't slack off.
Was this the feeling of being the head of the household?
I pressed the elevator button, trash bag in hand.
'Since I'm out, might as well patrol once more.'
Going back home now, my conscience wouldn't allow rest anyway.
Better to do something simple to kill time.
With that resolve, the elevator arrived, and I rode it down, dumped the trash, and decided to take a light patrol.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...So, you're saying you're a mascot?"
[Yeah. Woof.]
"What, the sun's... puppy?"
[Wolf. Woof.]
"Right..."
After a brief chat with Comet and getting flustered by the clock mutant Clok who appeared and vanished, Hwa-yeon had greeted Comet and returned home.
She was now sitting on her bed, talking to the red-furred puppy... wolf in front of her.
"...I did land a solid hit earlier, but am I really okay as a magical girl?"
[What's the problem? Woof.]
"Well... I'm rough around the edges and look sharp, so the whole 'dreams and love magical girl~' thing doesn't suit me."
[That's fine. Woof. Magical girls from other worlds include guys, gorillas, even grandpas. Woof.]
"...Saying it like that kinda sucks."
[I think so too. Woof.]
Having a heart-to-heart with her mascot, Hwa-yeon propped her chin and asked,
"So... what's your name?"
[Solia. Woof.]
"Got it, Solia. Why me of all people? There are plenty of cuter, fluffier girls out there. People even say I'm more manly than guys around me."
[Cute fluffy types don't mesh well with me. Woof.]
"What?"
Solia kindly explained to Hwa-yeon's question.
[We mascots have to find magical girls whose personalities match our abilities and traits. Woof. In this Korea, the magical girl Comet is full of justice, kind, responsible, self-sacrificing. That personality matches well with a shooting star like a comet. Woof.]
"Then you..."
[I'm Solia, mascot of the sun. I match well with hot-tempered bitches. Woof.]
"...Hey, you mutt. Isn't that just because I'm a squad leader?"
[Exactly. Woof.]
"You son of a bitch!"
Hwa-yeon flared up and lunged at Solia.
Solia got caught pathetically.
[Hey! Charging with speed is cheating! Woof!]
"What do you expect! You started it by calling me squad leader!"
[It is true! You crazy bitch! Woof!]
"Crazy bitch? I'll show you a real crazy bitch! Die!"
[Gah! I won't go down alone! Woof!]
"Kyaa?! This jerk's counterattacking...!"
They tumbled around for a while.
After about five minutes of scuffle, it ended with Hwa-yeon collapsing in exhaustion.
"Huff... huff... You damn mutt."
[Wolf! Woof!]
"You're just a mutt."
[...Woof!]
"Kyaaak?! That hurts!"
[No scars, so it's fine. Woof.]
"You insane bitch..."
[Anyway, you're my magical girl now, and I'm your mascot, so we need to build our bond. Woof.]
Hwa-yeon sat up straight in dad pose.
"...Right, as a magical girl, there's a lot to do. What do I need to do?"
[Simple. Play with me, and the bond will grow naturally. Woof.]
"...Really? Easy then."
[Heh heh, following me around will be tough. Woof.]
"Ha! Don't underestimate me—I've played bowling, billiards, games, soccer, basketball, baseball, tee-ball, dodgeball, volleyball, you name it!"
[Oh ho?]
They grinned fiercely at each other.
With the giant beast appearance canceling the entrance ceremony, they planned to play starting tomorrow.
The next morning, Hwa-yeon opened her eyes.
"Ah, fuck... Forgot to turn off the alarm..."
"You're so sloppy, as always?"
"Who...?"
At the sudden woman's voice, Hwa-yeon looked up to see a woman with red long hair, leather jacket, hot pants, and fishnet stockings.
"...Whoa, not bad on the eyes. Who are you?"
"Solia."
"...? That mutt?"
"I'm a wolf, not a dog."
Solia placed a hand on Hwa-yeon's head.
With a fierce smile at the baffled Hwa-yeon, Solia said,
"Get ready. We're going to my place."