Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Bad Blood
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"Easy."
Grabbing the Flame Monster by the head, I muttered under my breath.
"H-How...?"
Looking up at me with trembling eyes, as if she couldn't believe the scene before her, was Comet.
Sure enough, from her perspective, things had flipped in the blink of an eye—or faster. It had to be shocking.
Here's what really happened.
"Kyahahaha! Magical girl! Become my sacrifice!"
The Flame Monster had burst in right as Comet was misunderstanding me.
The moment I saw him, I knew exactly when I'd possessed this body.
Episode 1. Right at the start of Episode 1.
This Flame Monster, who appeared from the very first episode, was meant to showcase the monsters' threat by setting Twilight Apartment ablaze, leading to a battle with Comet.
I'd figured this guy—Comet's first monster foe as the protagonist, meant to highlight her strength or serve as a stepping stone for her growth—would be on par with her or maybe a bit stronger. Korea's one and only magical girl barely won, but ended up with severe burns on both arms.
'Not on my watch.'
Those burns left Comet with a trauma about fire, so the instant the Flame Monster charged at her, I sprang into action.
I was about to rush in and body-slam him if that's what it took, but right then—
"!!"
My vision flooded with golden light, and I saw something like an aura flowing through the air like a river.
I knew it instantly. That was the "flow of time."
I reached out and seized it.
"..."
Everything stopped.
The flames swirling around me.
The firefighters rushing about in panic.
The apartment debris falling from above.
Not a thing stirred.
Except for me, that is. Just one exception.
"...Amazing."
I marveled at the bizarre sight for a moment, then remembered Comet's situation and headed straight for the Flame Monster frozen mid-charge.
His face was twisted in rage, suspended motionless in the air.
One more second, and he would've torched her.
"...Alright, eyes closed, here goes nothing."
Steeling myself, I slammed the blade of my hand into the back of his neck.
-Slash.
His neck parted as smoothly as tofu.
Good thing it didn't feel gross, but this was creepy in its own way.
The realization that I could snuff out a life just like that if I wanted... it didn't sit right.
If anything, it made me think I needed to be more careful.
'If I leave him like this, blood'll spray right in front of Comet.'
Not a pretty sight, so I dragged his body over and tossed it behind me.
As for the head still floating in the air...
'Since I killed him, I'll show it off and tell her it's okay now.'
I'd hold onto it myself.
Hand her the head and say something like, "I took care of the monster, so rest easy!" It might make me look like a reliable ally.
Perfect plan in place, I released the flow of time, still gripping the Flame Monster's head.
-Whummm...!
The world sprang back to life.
The frozen flames.
The frozen firefighters.
The debris frozen in midair.
Everything started moving again.
'Should've blocked that one.'
Lucky there was nothing underneath it this time. Next time, I'd have to watch for debris too.
Anyway, back to the present.
"H-How...?"
In the blink of an eye... no, faster than that?
Seeing the Flame Monster with only his head left, she froze in horror.
But then—
"Ah, no need to worry."
I tossed his head up and caught it, repeating the motion.
"I've dealt with the monster who interrupted our chat."
'That should clear up the misunderstanding, right?'
Full of anticipation, I looked down at Comet.
"M-Monster..."
Her wariness spiked even higher.
Why?
"...I can't just let a monster like you roam free."
The terror vanished from her face, replaced by grim determination as she assumed a battle stance.
"...May you shine as a comet to the very end! Return of the Ligh—"
"Stop, stop!"
I frantically reached out and grabbed the flow of time again.
'That was close.'
Did she see me as some disaster? She was about to unleash her ultimate self-destruct move, sacrificing her life.
'Gotta bail for today.'
I'd hoped to talk it out and build a good relationship, but with my scary looks and monster vibe, lowering her guard was impossible.
Stick around longer, and she might actually go all-in to take me down. Better retreat for now.
First...
"Gotta run."
This time stop power was great and all, but no teleport.
So, freeze time and sprint full speed.
'Destination...'
Didn't have one specific. Just get away from here.
The monster right in front of her was dangerous.
She had to eliminate him immediately.
Magical Comet swallowed hard, steeling her resolve.
Even if it meant her body turning to dust, she'd take that monster down with her.
And so, Magical Comet decided to use the final technique her mascot had warned her against.
"...May you shine as a comet to the very end! Return of the Ligh—"
Before the monster could act, she chanted the spell swiftly.
"Eh...?"
In less time than a blink, the monster was gone.
'He hid?'
A reasonable guess.
She stayed on high alert, waiting for Clok's assault.
'I'm not letting my guard down.'
There were still tons of people around.
Firefighters battling the blaze with hoses.
Civilians evacuating.
Even news crews in helicopters broadcasting live from above.
One wrong move from her, the magical girl, and they could all die.
Clok had slain the Flame Monster before anyone even noticed it.
So Magical Comet gripped her staff, maintaining vigilance.
"Thank you, Magical Comet! We could put out the fire safely thanks to you!"
He didn't show until the firefighters finished and the crowd showered her with thanks and applause.
"Why...?"
It was the most anticlimactic day yet.
"Ugh! What the heck was that monster?!"
Back home, Comet—real name Kim A-ri—flopped onto her bed.
She shed her uncomfortable school uniform and stared at the ceiling.
Into her view hopped a blue-furred cat-like mascot.
Comet's mascot, Aste.
"Aste! What do I do?!"
She grabbed Aste and rubbed her cheeks against him.
Aste shoved her away with his jelly paws.
[Nyaack! I told you not to do that, nya! A-ri, you have no sense of personal space, nya!]
"Uung... But the college entrance exam's right around the corner, and a total disaster-level monster shows up..."
Even as a magical girl, she was still a high school girl cramming for exams like her friends.
Now with what seemed like a catastrophe-class monster? The stress was unreal.
"If only I were a cat like you..."
[I'm not a cat, I'm a mascot, nya! Don't treat me like some regular cat, nya!]
"Yeah... You're cuter and more compact than other cats..."
[Nyaack!]
"Kyaa! S-Sorry! Stop hitting me!"
Apparently scratched too hard—Aste unleashed a flurry of nya-punches on A-ri.
After about 30 seconds of pummeling, he calmed down and spoke again.
[Still, no need to worry too much, nya. If he's that strong but ran without fighting you, maybe he's actually scared of you, nya!]
"Scared of me? Why?"
[I told you, nya! I'm a super elite mascot! If I chose you, you're plenty scary to monsters, nya!]
"What? Pfft."
A-ri burst out laughing at the absurd claim.
She and Aste bantered nonsense for a while, but it lifted her spirits.
"Haa... Yeah, if he shows up again, I'll deal with him then."
[Nya. That's the spirit, nya. Oh! And seriously, don't use Return of the Light, nya! You'll really die if you do, nya!]
"Sheesh, got it. I got it..."
After that day, A-ri managed to live her normal high school girl life.
Time passed, and soon it was the day of the September mock exam.
[Nyaack! Monster alert, nya!]
"What?!"
A monster had appeared.
The school speakers blared warnings, and teachers and students began evacuating.
Of all places, it popped up at a burger joint nearby.
"...Aste."
[Perception filter up, nya! Sneak out and transform, nya!]
A-ri whispered, and Aste nodded, all ready.
They slipped into the bathroom.
[Let's go, nya!]
"Heart linked from the comet! Transform! Magical Comet!"
As her words ended, Aste turned into a blue light that enveloped her body.
Her short sky-blue bob became long blue twin tails.
Her uniform shifted into a frilly sky dress.
Finally, a comet-gemmed staff appeared in her hand.
She opened the bathroom window and soared into the sky.
"Kyaaah! Save me!"
"Why'd I take this part-time job?!"
"Mom, I'm sorry... I'm gonna die here..."
The people screaming, crying, fainting, praying, and wailing in front of me.
They were the part-timers at the fast-food joint I'd walked into—McDoria.
"...Hmm."
How'd things end up like this?
"Man, this is awkward. I'm starving over here..."
"Kyaack!"
"Not tasty, not tasty, not tasty..."
No, fuck, I just want a burger.