Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Dongtan
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Heh heh.
I was deep into a full read-through of the Magical Girl Gallery.
They say even kids these days get smartphones and dive straight into gallery posting—and sure enough, at least one had caught on, but the firepower was beyond imagination.
Posted by: Magical Girl Appraiser
(Gif of Neph turning dramatically with her fur coat billowing) Isn't this insane? The visuals are a straight copy-paste from Prima's prime. And her weapon's a sewing machine lololol—romance approved. Combat style's super clean too. Saw her grind a monster's head with that sewing machine. And from her run-in with Frost last time, she's definitely on the elite track—total golden spoon.
Not only were my photos plastered everywhere, but high-res fan cams had fully conquered the Magical Girl Gallery.
Even the real-time search trends on World Tree Wiki.
Perfect.
I was glad I'd clearly separated my concepts.
Seol Ha-rin was a shy, sickly beauty who shied away from attention.
Magical Girl Neph, on the other hand, was a total attention whore who cosplayed her heart out, idolizing Magical Girls and craving the spotlight more than anyone!
Thanks to that, all this attention felt less like botching it and more like a massive self-esteem boost.
But the problem was...
So what's her codename anyway?
Hold up!
"Magical Girl Neph has arrived!"
Come to think of it, had I even said my name in front of everyone else?
I'd posed so dramatically but forgot the self-intro? What a lunatic—girl or guy.
She'll probably intro next time?
Shit.
My name was on the verge of becoming "Sewing Machine Chad." I vowed to correct it next time I went out.
I glanced over.
On impulse, I looked at Seo Jun sitting beside me.
The whole walk home from school—and even now, sitting in the diner with food in front of him—his soul had checked out.
I got it. He'd nearly been gruesomely killed by a monster right in front of him. And in that do-or-die moment, I'd swooped in to save him.
For an 8-year-old kid's psyche, it was one hell of a spectacle of a day.
I put on a worried face and tugged at his sleeve.
"Jun? You okay...? Hurt anywhere?"
Seo Jun snapped to, staring right at me.
His eyes had this strangely soulful look.
"Ha-rin..."
"Yeah?"
"What if you like two boys...?"
"?"
"Both are so attractive... you can't pick just one... Can you date them both...?"
What the hell, this kid.
Seo Jun's house was the majestic Acrobatic Palace towering right in the heart of Gangnam.
Rich kid crazy.
Not quite on the level of the H apartment complex from my Frost visit, but for a normie like Seol Ha-yoon, a place where a lifetime of just breathing and working might barely cover the deposit.
Ah! Back in the day, I dreamed of being rich too, but sadly, my dad Seol-guk didn't hustle, so flop.
If only Seol-guk had bought Bitcoin!
Anyway, the bird-delivered gossip rag mentioned his mom was a model, and judging by this pad, she must be a big shot.
"Come on in, Ha-rin."
As soon as we passed the entryway, my jaw dropped.
It was huge. What, 70 pyeong? Magical Girl pyeong?
The football-field-sized living room had marble floors you could skate on, and the chandelier on the ceiling looked pricier than my college tuition.
A tsunami of relative deprivation hit me. No, Ha-rin. You can do this now too. Have some confidence!
"I'll grab juice. Sit tight."
While Seo Jun vanished into the kitchen, I scoped out the living room.
Amid the priceless decor—hundreds each easy—family photos on the wall caught my eye.
A mild-mannered middle-aged guy with a gentle smile, and next to him...
"...Huh?"
I unconsciously stepped closer to the photo.
Insane proportions, physique you wouldn't believe on an East Asian, and that signature haughty gaze.
"Hey, Jun."
"Yeah? Orange juice okay?"
"Your mom's name wouldn't happen to be...?"
"Oh, my mom? Jang Won-ju."
No way. For real?
I'd built a fortress against celebrity gossip.
Design major not reading trends? Nah, Magical Girl costume design's all anime. For real.
So while others fangirled over idols, I'd internally drop F-bombs.
Of course, to them, I was the weirdo.
But even a basement-dwelling otaku like me heard whispers of names. One was Korea's world-class top model, Jang Won-ju.
Retired now, but once a runway empress who crushed Western models with her unreal *ahem*! aura.
A community meme board staple, posted on cooldown with ㅇㅎ) captions—and she's this kid's mom?
Suddenly, Seo Jun's freakish height and pretty-boy looks made total sense.
Aaaah, Jun. Even your genes are golden spoon?
Jealousy surged; I wanted to twist my wrist raw.
But more importantly...
...Jang Won-ju's a Magical Girl?
This charisma queen secretly waving a magic wand in a frilly dress?
My inner gallery poster's instincts writhed.
Fingers itched to whip out my phone and blast a post on Magical Girl Gallery.
Posted by: Magical Girl Stripper
Saw it with my own eyes. Fact. Disagree? You're all wrong.
This would've been instant hatebait gold, easy 10k recs!
Urgh...!
But I clenched my fist and endured. Old me would've posted and cracked open popcorn already.
Now I'm an active Magical Girl. Industry etiquette and loyalty hold me back. Can't sell out a colleague for karma.
Ah, wanna post hatebait.
Wanna get recs.
Wanna get attention.
As my Magical Girl ethics warred fiercely with my gallery attention-whore drive...
Wait. Can't rule out it's bullshit yet. Get baited by an 8-year-old's brag, post, then get buried as a faker—no thanks.
First, verify facts...!
I immediately searched World Tree Wiki for Jang Won-ju.
36?
Hmm? Backtrack her debut date and I could narrow it quick.
Golden generation overlap, sure, but how many Magical Girls fit this?
Time to probe Seo Jun more.
"But Jun, isn't your mom being a Magical Girl supposed to be secret? Can't tell others, right?"
Flinch!
Seo Jun's shoulders jumped visibly. Surely he hadn't blabbed already?
"I-it's fine. I only told you."
"Really?"
"No one'd believe it anyway..."
True that.
Jang Won-ju as Magical Girl sounds absurd, and even if true, unobservable.
Given her age and experience over Bella or Frost, she'd wield mana like a pro.
Plus Perception Inhibition Filter? Impossible to prove she's one.
Schrödinger's Jang Won-ju, basically.
"Then why tell me?"
Seo Jun hemmed and hawed forever before looking up, staring intently.
"Then you, Ha-rin..."
"Yeah?"
"Why'd you believe me?"
? Didn't really believe him.
But can't say, "Well, I'm in the same biz, so~" wink.
My silence shook his gaze.
First person he spilled his secret to. Same-age girl who took it seriously, no mockery. To him, I was basically a savior now.
I'd toyed with him all day, sure. But he's my classmate for at least six months, the real power in Class 3-1.
Might as well manage the fishpond from my side.
"You didn't seem like a liar."
"...Huh?"
"The Jun I saw seemed way more trustworthy than other boys."
I tilted my head, adding,
"Or am I wrong?"
"..."
Seo Jun ducked his head instead of answering.
Ears beet red, fiddling fingers—kinda cute.
Hmm.
Eye-opening, really.
From a girl's view, guys' feelings are this transparent?
Practically wearing a "I like you" sign on his face.
Obviously no dating. Crazy? Age of consent aside, my soul's male?
Still, pigging out on kid fat while toying with this pure kid's puppy love? Total villainess!
But coldly: Seol Ha-yoon got dumped thrice in life. How many for this kid?
Not many left—might help him experience a brutal rejection once. Admit it? Yeah.
Own your karma.
Soon the living room filled only with orange juice slurps in silence.
No more business with this overloaded, steaming kid.
Today's goal: confirm Jang Won-ju's face, snag an autograph, bounce.
Magical Girl or not, can't pass up that signature.
Then—
Ding-dong!
"Mom! You're home early today?"
Seo Jun set down his drink and bolted to the door. I followed demurely.
Suddenly, a fundamental doubt hit.
"Will newbie me even recognize if Jang Won-ju's a Magical Girl just by seeing her?"
No clue.
"Jun! You okay...? Oh my, whose shoes are these?"
A soft, melodic voice from the entryway. I turned.
"Huh?"
Is this Dongtan?