Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The First (1)
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'What the hell is she doing?'
On my way back to my place, I spotted a wild red-haired, small-eyed kid.
Ha Sol-a, smartphone in hand, heading into a shady alley.
'Does she even know where she's going...'
Oh, the red-light district? In this CCTV paradise these days, how dangerous can it really be?
No matter how rough the world gets, would anyone kidnap an eight-year-old in the early evening?
What I'm worried about is strictly monsters.
Sure, downtown Seoul's gotten safer with all the veterans around, practically wiping out the monster population.
But that also means the ones in hiding are biding their time, full of spite.
And what do those monsters love most? Kids.
To them, a kid's like a Michelin three-star restaurant using the freshest ingredients straight off the boat.
Of course, Ha Sol-a, who's been pickled in TikTok, might feel more like a foul-mouthed grandma's 50-year-old dive soup joint.
Tastes differ, though, so plenty of monsters prefer that flavor. Makes perfect sense.
And in that context, she's voluntarily walking into a deserted spot?
To the monsters, it's like free delivery service walking right up to their door.
"Haa..."
I seriously debated ignoring her for three whole seconds. Honestly, is she an idiot?
I'm a magical girl, after all, and if I leave her be and she gets hurt bad, it'll splash back on my peaceful school life.
Plus, thinking about Seo Jun wistfully defending her with 'Sol-a's a good kid' made it feel all wrong.
No choice but to change course.
I trailed her stealthily from a distance, and soon her clear voice echoed from the alley corner.
"Okay, everyone! Today we're diving into the adult world—the night streets! This is that super dangerous XX Alley!"
Ugh, zero resistance to cringe.
Watching this kid rack up eternal black marks live made my hands and feet curl up in secondhand embarrassment. And she can't even delete stuff like that.
While I was clicking my tongue, she kept going deeper into the alley like she'd signed a deal with the views demon.
Honestly, though, going this deep into a dead zone means no need to pick between monsters or humans.
And sure enough, a sketchy group of guys up ahead spotted her, eyes gleaming with hunger as they closed in.
At least since it's a live stream, maybe viewers will report it? I checked her TikTok channel.
'It's recording?'
What's with her guts?
Ha Sol-a's eyes caught the group of men emerging from the alley shadows.
Filthy tracksuits, matted hair like they hadn't washed in days, unfocused eyes.
A normal kid would've wailed for mom, but her brain filter twisted the scene differently.
"Jammers! Sudden surprise quest popped up!"
Views about to explode.
To her, it made sense. Red-light challenges thrived on danger—the riskier, the better the spike.
So those ragged men looked like walking view counts in her eyes.
She flashed a victory grin and swung the camera their way.
"Hello!"
The men froze at her bold toy-mic thrust, pure guts.
One grumbled like he'd seen every crazy kid alive.
"What's with this brat?"
"Boss, jackpot? Looks like rich kid stock."
Classic thug scene straight out of movies—Ha Sol-a tilted her head.
"Oh! I get it! Movie parody, right?"
Her eyes sparkled.
That look, that menacing vibe—straight out of some Wild City series foreign villain.
Her brain algorithm lit up the happy circuit at the familiar setup.
'Did Dad send them?'
Her parents did surprise events sometimes.
Had to be a 500k follower reality prank cam.
So what to show? Fearless child actor energy!
"Whoa, you guys look like real gangsters!"
Far from scared, she shoved the camera closer.
Lens in their faces, the rough men's brows furrowed hard.
"The hell? What's this kid saying?"
"Our channel's for kids, so mind your language a bit?"
Their brains short-circuited at the absurdity.
But briefly—the leader bared yellow teeth in a smirk.
"Parody, huh? Heh heh. Wanna chat somewhere quiet?"
"Nah~ Mister. Collabs need agency approval first. My fee's pricey."
"Money? More the better."
He snatched her wrist in a flash.
"Ow! That hurts! Let go! What are you—?!"
"Shut up and come!"
Now she sensed something off.
The grip hurt too real for acting, his eyes way creepier than any movie.
"L-Let go! I'll tell my dad! You know who he is?!"
"Who? Cop?"
Crash!
He smashed her phone to the ground.
It tumbled across asphalt, slamming into a wall.
"Ah... My KidPhone 17 Pro Max...!"
Her smartphone was her lifeline.
Shattered meant her world ended messily.
"Wah, wah! Uwaaaah! Mooom!"
The eight-year-old's true nature burst out—she collapsed, bawling loud enough for neighborhood complaints.
The men panicked at the volume.
"Shut it!"
As he raised a hand to gag her—
Thwack!
A dull explosion sent him crashing pathetically into the wall.
All eyes turned—including the remaining men and Ha Sol-a—to
"Don't bully my friend...!"
A frail-looking white-haired, white-eyed girl. Seol Ha-rin stood fidgeting.
Wiping blood off her fist with her hem.
I'd forgotten for a sec, but even back in my Seol Ha-yoon days, I'd never come here. Too scary.
Rumors of foreign criminals, urban legends of getting sold overseas if caught.
But our loose-screw kid charges in blind. Morning conquest for love, now this.
Anyway, obvious danger, so preemptive strike, Sokomade-style.
Naturally, the three—no, now two—men's and kid's eyes snapped to me.
Then they scanned around.
Makes sense. Can't imagine this delicate sickly beauty one-punching the burly guy.
But in wuxia, they say beware old folks, kids, women.
A girl with an old man's base body like mine? Double beware.
Gonna read tons of martial arts novels, but basics lacking. Anyway.
They clocked the dripping blood from my fist and got it.
"Huh...? No way that pale brat turned No-hyung into mincemeat?"
"Th-there might be backup hiding!"
"Right. Good call! Grab that brat first!"
Dried anchovy-looking guy charged boar-style.
I sidestepped easy, low-kicked his shin inside to topple balance.
Crack!
"Guhk!"
Planted fist in solar plexus as he staggered, forcing rough exhale.
Snap!
Knee to chin at dropping angle flipped him back, sprawling limp.
"...Eh?"
Ha Sol-a let out an awed gasp.
Looks kid-sized, but my physique's adult male level now. Not that raw strength wins fights.
But get this?
Seol Ha-yoon was once a human weapon: Jeet Kune Do 3rd dan, Taekwondo 4th, Hapkido 7th, Kendo 4th, Jiu-Jitsu 6th. Total 24 dans.
Not that I know. Just vet artifacts helping.
I eyed the keychain dangling from my bag.
Vets wouldn't overlook my worries.
They'd factored in newbie risks like getting bit outdoors.
This Smooth Flow arrived perfectly timed.
Before knowing, magical girls' human-weapon moves seemed pure talent.
Or that '1 high school girl = 2 spec ops' rumor true.
Turns out mostly artifact boosts. Fooled ya.
For wolves or whatever—even escape/resist. Vets' self-defense gift.
And usable in real life! Like now!
Ha-rin's a martial arts master!
"You little...!"
Last guy, seeing buddy floored, pulled sashimi knife from pocket.
"Kyaaah!"
"K-Knife on an elementary kid?! Coward!"
How low! Even I never went full throttle on kids!
Too scared to rush me, switched to easy target Ha Sol-a.
Hostage play to flip the mess—textbook thug scum. Enraged me.
"You, over here!"
He lunged at her, knife swinging.
No chance.
Smooth Flow auto—click.
Leg sprang like spring, independent of will.
As he grabbed her collar, my hand snaked in, seizing wrist.
"Huh?"
Crunch.
"Gaaah!"
Twisted joint reverse, knife dropped limp.
Now I snap adult wrists easy. Grown up, good job Seol Ha-rin!
Solar plexus jab, low-kick combo—he crumpled like wadded paper, KO'd.
Dusted clothes, approached shivering Ha Sol-a.
"You okay?"
"...Huh?"
She stared up, dazed.
Tear-snot mess, but cheeks flushed beet red for some reason.
I offered hand.
"Adults said this place is dangerous."
"..."
"Let's go home quick."
"Y-Yeah..."
She timidly took it.
Palm heat oddly intense—imagination?
Situation over. Called cops just in case; they'll handle thugs.
Issue: explaining that flashy action to her.
Need explanation? Physical gag faster? Hmm.
"Sol-a."
"Y-Yes..."
"?"
Why's she like this? Suddenly so meek?
Where's the murderous glare from morning? Now a chicklet clutching my hand tight.
Current vibe, vague excuse might slide?
"Sol-a. That just now was..."
Suddenly air grew heavy.
No way. Nah.
Ziiing.
'Sigh.'
Adjacent outer wall tore wide, liquid monster oozing through the rift.
Ugh, how many eyes? Slime-ish... but cosmic horror over fantasy vibe.
Rank unknown, but disgust SSS-tier—my SAN ticked down real-time.
Ha Sol-a trembled leaf-like too.
"Wh-What's that...?"
Can't tell? Monster.
But crackdown period? Why spawn next to me? Seniors slacking?
No alert texts or detections. Special type? I tensed—
Slime spat paper with a 'ptui'.
"Eek!"
Checked it.
'Psycho bitch.'
As suspected. Slime's Ulb's package. Return to sender itching.
Magic Castle missed it 'cause she pulled some trick.
'No people'? So kid next to me ain't human? Rude.
Not the point now.
"Run!"
Crumpled paper, yanked her wrist.
No need sharing table with SAN-drainer. Vets'll handle soon.
But.
"Wait! My phone! Gotta grab it! All my videos and pics are in there!"
Kid crawls toward smashed screen, ignoring monster.
Facepalmed at Ulb's scheme.
Definitely non-human!
Wow, how to handle this cancer char? Horror flick, she'd be dead already.
Then slime lunged at her.
'Damn!'
Auto Smooth Flow—wait, ominous chill on back.
That goo—sizzles on ground like acid.
Oof. Punch now, hand melts to bone?
What then? Ditch her?
Deep down wanna toss as slime bait and bolt!
'Can't though.'
Magical girl life—extreme job with every BS scenario.
Civilian pal nearby when monster pops? Transform dilemma freezes brain—not once or twice.
Do it, break secrecy; don't, watch friend melt. Mental health killer.
But fate's set.
Overthink, do nothing. Rules later—beg forgiveness from higher-ups.
Grimaced, yelled.
"Transform!"
Dazzling light enveloped me as mana-charged thread shot from fingertips.
Flash!
Thread whipped air, lashing slime mid-flight like a lash.
"Kieeeek!"
Weird screech, flung back.
Amid dust cloud, I looked down at Ha Sol-a clutching her phone.
"Magical Girl Neph has arrived!"