The Magical Girl of the Naming Realm
The Magical Girl of the Naming Realm
“A beautiful girl like you wasting away in some backwater like this! What a waste! Come with me to Seoul and let's go hunt some monsters!”
[Me? And this isn't some backwater, you know?]
Goo Seoha's sudden recruitment offer.
But I had absolutely no intention of going.
I wasn't particularly interested in beating up monsters. Sure, I'd make a lot of money...
But someone might discover that I'm a chantless mage, right?
For now, I could make the excuse that I was using Internal Incantation, but there was no telling whether that excuse would hold up in front of a large crowd.
Ugh, Seoul sounds terrifying...
[⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼?]
It's a place where all kinds of schemes and intrigues run rampant. Someone as inexperienced as me wouldn't survive there.
[⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼?]
Of course. What do you think Seoul is? It's the capital of South Korea, for crying out loud.
There was no way the capital of South Korea, which housed all sorts of dangerous factors, including the Demon Realm, could possibly be an easy place to survive.
Just as I was busy trying to gaslight Yumin about how terrifying Seoul was, Goo Seoha narrowed her eyes and asked,
“You could become an S-Rank mage. Don't trust yourself. Trust me. With my power, we can make it work somehow.”
[You're going to give me S-Rank mage status without any conditions?]
Goo Seoha nodded as though I'd asked something obvious.
Are you insane?
There's a limit to how much of a connections-based promotion you can pull off! What are you thinking, making me an S-Rank mage?!
Did she really not know what happened when you put someone who had never fought even a single monster in their life into an S-Rank position?
That can't be right?!
Mages—especially those belonging to the Association—did much more than enter Gates and hunt monsters.
They were treated almost like all-around entertainers, participating in everything from campaigns to improve the Association's public image to fan sign events, lectures, performances, and countless other activities.
That was why there were quite a few people who refused to join the Association, insisting that they would “never become the Association's clown!”, and instead chose to walk their own path.
And she wanted to parachute someone with no abilities, no showmanship, and absolutely no entertainment value into such a position?
Not only would Goo Seoha's reputation take a hit, but the Association itself would undoubtedly suffer for it.
I can't do anything except eat hamburgers!!
[All I can do is eat hamburgers. And I can't even use magic worthy of an S-Rank.]
“No. Trust me. You can do it. Have some confidence. If I say you can do it, then you can do it. Got it?”
You've been spouting things with neither logic nor evidence this whole time. You don't actually expect me to believe this, do you?
I'd have an easier time believing those people on the street who tell you to trust the Way.
At least those people buy you a cup of coffee.
This woman was currently lying on the sofa without even moving an inch.
Wait a second. Now that I think about it, I'm getting angry.
I still hadn't managed to squeeze any money out of Goo Seoha.
There were plenty of ways I could make her pay, too—like the broken window and the mental and physical distress she'd put me through.
Heh heh.
Hiding my sinister intentions, I asked Goo Seoha once again if she knew what kind of place this was.
“Hmm? No. All I need to do is bring you to the Association. You're pretty. You can do it.”
She seemed completely uninterested in what kind of person she was trying to recruit.
What would she do if I were actually a contract killer or a loan shark?
I was wondering whether it was really appropriate for someone like this to hold the title of Korea's strongest mage when she opened her mouth again.
“But if you're involved in anything illegal, I can't take you with me.”
[I wasn't planning on going in the first place.]
“Really? It's extremely rare for me to personally recruit someone like this. It's like being one of the chosen children. And that's you!”
[By the way, do you know my name?]
“Names aren't important. Living your whole life with a name given to you by someone else is like being unable to choose the place where you're born, isn't it?”
Her final remark struck a nerve.
It was downright comical hearing her say something like that after she had blatantly used Naming and had her emotions completely altered.
Of course, I was the only person who knew that she had activated Naming because of its ability to alter concepts themselves.
I took a sip of the tea sitting on the table, then calmly brought up a Text Box.
[A name is extremely important. I'm not talking about some Confucian nonsense about cherishing it because your parents gave it to you... ]
A name is the most fundamental barrier separating you from me.
That sounded grandiose, but put simply, it was basically an AT Field.
So of course names were important.
And I definitely wasn't saying that just because I made money through a naming office.
It's true...!
Goo Seoha, who had been listening silently, leaned back against the sofa and raised one hand.
“Question!”
[Permission granted.]
“Okay. Honestly, I didn't know names were important. That's my bad. Sorry. So, what's your name?”
Heh heh.
I grinned at Goo Seoha.
Because I could finally deliver the complete version of the line I'd been waiting so long to say.
I knew this day would come.
I stood up, politely folded my hands, bowed my head, and brought up a Text Box.
[I am Lee Yuna of the Yurim Naming Office. If you need a name, come to me. May the God of the Naming Realm bless you.]
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼?!”
“How does that make any sense?!”
[⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼.]
After hearing my wholehearted self-introduction, Goo Seoha simply tossed me a business card and left the naming office, saying she'd come back later.
Apparently, she didn't really need incantations or something like that.
The good news, however, was that she actually paid me properly!
She didn't pay a naming fee, but she generously transferred enough money to replace the broken window into my account.
It was unfortunate that I couldn't overcharge her for the naming service, but I'd gained the personal connection of an S-Rank mage, so wasn't that roughly equivalent in value?
Still, a loss is a loss.
And so I lay on the sofa and carefully examined the business card Goo Seoha had left behind.
Three neatly printed characters for her name on thick, magically treated paper, her title as an S-Rank mage, and even the Association's certification seal.
There was contact information on the back...
I use a smartphone, though. Where's her phone number?
The contact information on the back didn't contain Goo Seoha's phone number at all.
It only listed her personal identification number.
Of course, I could contact her using that number.
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼.”
“I don't want to.”
Besides, could I even make a phone call?
Even if the call connected, all I could produce were sounds like “ooh” and “ah.”
How was she supposed to understand that?
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼.”
“How did you contact her? The Text Box doesn't reach that far.”
[⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼.]
Ah, really?
Apparently, our great Celestial Realm mage could simply implant her thoughts directly into someone's brain through telepathy, so she didn't need something as primitive as a personal number.
Apparently, if you had enough mana, you could implant your will directly into someone's mind regardless of distance.
What kind of ridiculous nonsense was that?
Whoosh—!
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼!”
“Hnnngh!”
A cold autumn wind blew violently through the window Goo Seoha had broken.
This is where I'm supposed to sleep tonight. This is a disaster.
If I had a proper home, I could at least have brought some newspaper and taped it over the hole.
But my home had been blown apart!
“⎼⎼⎼⎼….”
“Sigh...”
It was all Yumin's fault.
She had told me to try using Fireball, and now she'd blown up my house.
I was told the damage would be covered by insurance, but I currently had no identity, so there was no telling whether I'd actually be able to receive the money.
I'd also fled from the house just now, so the landlord was probably looking for me.
But I knew this might happen, so I gave him my phone number.
I deserved some compensation for the way he'd mocked my smartphone as an outdated relic.
Those primitive mages couldn't even think of a way to contact someone without a personal identification number.
Oh, right. The building owner uses a smartphone.
I don't know why, but he does.
Maybe he secretly enjoys collecting antique things, considering the stairs and everything else.
Anyway, as far as Earth was concerned, Lee Yumin, the owner of Yurim Naming Office, didn't exist.
So I needed to go to the Association, prove the Transference Phenomenon, and get my resident registration issued again...
What a pain.
Maybe I should just not go.
If things got desperate, I could always change things with Naming anyway.
The sofa supporting my back was so soft, and the breeze was blowing gently, making me feel sleepy...
Sleep? Yeah right. It's freaking cold...
I put on the one hooded jacket I'd brought with me when I left home and walked out of the naming office.
I probably needed to get the window replaced.
I could call a window repair shop, but I didn't use magic to make calls, so I'd have to go there in person.
And what was the point of trying to contact them when I couldn't even speak?
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼. ⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼.”
“Ughhh. What a pain.”
I'm hungry. Should I grab a hamburger on the way?
Good idea.
When I stepped outside the naming office, the air felt incredibly refreshing.
The cool, crisp air unique to autumn felt wonderful.
There weren't any places around the naming office that specialized in windows, so I had to walk for a while.
It was nice to look at the scenery for the first time in a while.
There happened to be a park along the way, so I stopped by for a little while.
I was in a good mood, and I had plenty of time anyway.
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼.”
“Look at that. Those are autumn leaves. You don't have anything like that in your world, do you?”
[⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼?]
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼?”
“Oh, really?”
If this was a different world from Earth, shouldn't they not have autumn leaves?
Or did every place with trees have autumn leaves?
Hmmmm.
“♪~~♪~! ♪~~♪!”
When I turned my head at the bright singing that suddenly reached my ears, I saw a group of magical girls performing on a stage.
They had clearly made an effort to use distinct color combinations so that each member could be easily recognized, but there wasn't anyone hanging around nearby to watch their performance.
I wasn't particularly interested in magical girls either, so I was about to look away when Yumin suddenly shouted excitedly.
[⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼! ⎼⎼!! ⎼⎼⎼⎼! ⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼!!]
“Is this your first time seeing magical girls? You don't have those in your world?”
Nod, nod.
Then again, Yumin came from a world where science and technology had barely developed, practically a medieval world.
There might not even have been an entertainment industry, let alone magical girls.
You really lived in a boring world, didn't you?
In that case, I couldn't exactly say no.
For Yumin's sake, I found a suitable spot nearby and sat down.
If I don't look after Yumin, who will?
I had plenty of time anyway.
Nobody ever came to the naming office, and the window shop was open twenty-four hours.
Even if I watched the entire performance, I wouldn't be late.
...
...
...
Clap, clap, clap, clap!!
When the magical girls' performance ended, the small venue was filled with the pathetic applause of me and the people involved in the performance.
“Thank you!!”
“Thank you!”
“Thanks!!”
“Yeah! Yeah!”
The magical girls stood in a line onstage and bowed one after another.
It was nice seeing how hard they were working, but at the same time, I couldn't help feeling a little sorry for them.
Now that the performance was over, I brushed off my backside and stood up.
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼?”
“How was it?”
[⎼⎼!! ⎼⎼!! ⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼!]
“⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼⎼?”
“Really?”
I couldn't help smiling as I watched Yumin's delighted reaction.
Sometimes, Yumin seemed younger than me.
It was almost like raising a young daughter.
Whatever it was, I kept finding myself doing whatever Yumin asked me to do.
Tap, tap.
Just as I was about to leave, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I had a bad feeling about this.
Maybe they were simply thanking the lone audience member who had watched their performance, but my Yumin-sense was telling me otherwise.
It's recruitment! It has to be recruitment!
[⎼⎼! ⎼⎼⎼⎼!!]
Don't. Get. Your. Hopes. Up.
My superior appearance compared to everyone else, the way they seemed interested in me, and even that smiling face as though they'd enjoyed themselves...
I had practically all the conditions necessary to make getting recruited inevitable.
“Um, excuse me.”
I awkwardly moved my arm and brought up a Text Box.
[Y-Yes?]
“Hmm!”
The woman's eyes sparkled behind her sunglasses.
I didn't know what exactly she'd noticed about me, but this confirmed it.
“Are you, by any chance, a magical gi—”
[Aaaaaah!!]
I'm not doing it!!