Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Pluto (2)
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Hongdae was truly a mysterious place.
Just ten years ago, it had been the holy land of the popular crowd, but somehow it had morphed into the otaku mecca.
Of course, folks like Seol Ha-yoon who holed up in their rooms lurking on forums could only bow toward the mecca three times a day—they wouldn't dare set foot there.
No helping it. For "real" ones like us, going out was practically an annual event. If only all the popular kids dropped dead.
Anyway.
In that sense, feeling the sunlight at Hongdae entrance station was a real treat after ages.
They say ten years changes rivers and mountains, but if there was one unchanging truth between Hongdae of ten years ago and now...
"...There are really a lot of people."
People were disgustingly plentiful.
And our little loner Seol Ha-rin had a passive skill that drained her energy in real-time the moment she plunged into a crowd.
To make matters worse, her porcelain-doll looks drew double the stares, sucking out what felt like mana or qi from her entire body.
At this rate, mental exhaustion was inevitable soon.
Convinced I needed to evacuate to someplace people-free ASAP, I quickly scanned the surroundings.
'She said to wait here.'
Purple-black hair in a black gothic lolita-style dress. Heavy dark-circle makeup—the so-called green minefield fashion.
With an outfit that flashy, I figured she'd be easy to spot, but an unexpected snag popped up.
"...Huh?"
Every three out of ten passing girls had the same clothes, same bag, same expression.
Mines over there, mines here, mines yonder. Hongdae was a minefield carpeted floor to ceiling.
Since when had Korea turned into such a minefield? Was this actually Japan or the DMZ?
Right then, my smartphone buzzed briefly.
Only then did I turn to look at the fast-food joint.
And it hit me. No need to hunt for the "real" deal. Ah... so that's how it is.
Amid hordes of mass-produced minefield girls giggling and snapping selfies with friends...
A lone girl leaned against the glass window, vibe like she shouldered the world's every woe solo.
Skin pale near transparent. Silhouette teetering on collapse. Chilling yin energy parting crowds like the Red Sea.
Bam. Pluto.
"...Um, Senior Pluto... is that you?"
Her hollow gaze swung my way.
"..."
After staring me down, she abruptly thrust out the can in her hand.
"Wanna drink~?"
First greeting: hawking high-caffeine energy drinks.
Even if I'd picked Americano, Frost would've nagged about caffeine stunting growth and shoved chocolate milk. Polar opposites.
But that's Pluto for ya... I took the can in stride and bowed politely.
"Thanks."
Pluto stared blankly, wordless.
"..."
Drink now? Fine.
Rockia X Haster. Loved the stuff anyway. Lived on it during all-nighters.
Gulp.
"Eh..."
But it tasted way off.
I knew my palate shifted with this body, but rejecting energy drinks too?
Seeing me grimace at the bitterness, Pluto flashed a creepy grin. That's gotta mean good, right?
Then she spun on her heel and started walking off without a word, so I tailed her close.
A thought struck mid-stride.
'Right, Pluto's the youngest, huh?'
Again: magical girl bodies lock at contract age.
Hence these weird seniority knots that wouldn't exist otherwise.
For starters, pre-me maknae by debut order was Bella.
But that's pure sequence, not age.
Bella debuted ~16-17 (est.), five years back—so now college-age 21-22 ballpark.
Pluto's debut ~12-13 (est.) per MagGal fave poster and Magical Girl Identifier guesses.
Six years on: 18-19. Legit active high schooler.
Tenure-wise Bella's junior, registry-wise Pluto youngest irony. Though I'm youngest now.
'High schooler... could be same grade as Yuna.'
Nah, that she-devil's off-limits.
Anyway, younger than Seol Ha-yoon. High school's prime squeeze for magical girl gigs.
Exam prep steals sleep, activity tanks. Pluto barely sighted lately.
So she's squeezing gold-dust time to help me?
Heart swells.
"So, where to?"
"My workshop~."
"Senior Pluto has a workshop?!"
"Nah~. Means my house~."
"Your house...?"
Pluto just flashed a grin instead.
Sure, Bella and Frost were kindness overload.
Still hid personal deets ironclad. Work-life divide averts drama.
But house on first meet? That's straight-up red-pill reveal?
Yup. My suspicions confirmed!
Magical girls thrive on concept fidelity for power.
Pluto's dark-affinity magic demands gloomy shtick for efficiency. Pro hazard.
Detransform at home? Boom—model student emerges.
By then, we'd slipped into a dim alley.
Pluto spoke up.
"...Magical girl stuff manageable~?"
"Only fought monsters twice, so dunno."
"...Ufufu. Figured~."
Recently spilled slime brawl in group chat. Think they'd chill?
Vets praised me, freaked Ulv sneaks past mana scans for deliveries—jacked security to max.
Capital zone's now monster-free. Neph effect.
"Met how many magical girls so far~?"
"Ah! Just Seniors Bella and Frost!"
"...Bella."
Her steps hitched a beat.
"Beat me to it~."
"Yeah. Chance encounter..."
"Happens~. Bella's got wide reach. Weapon from Sword, beast egg from Shining. Ignis: protective artifact. Aqua: defense suit..."
"Yeah! So grateful—meeting each to thank properly..."
"Rose: talisman. Aurora: barrier stone. Noir: holy stone..."
?
Why no end?
Pluto rattled off every vet gift and their specs nonstop.
Memorized it all? Eidetic or obsessed?
"...And softness from Terra~?"
I don't even track all mine, but she knows? Vets got a private chat?
'No backchat excluding me, right?!'
Heart thumps...!
N-nope. Gotta be fine.
I'm the beloved newbie.
After gift-spamming, Pluto capped it.
"But I ain't gifted Neph squat yet~."
"Ah! No biggie. Others overloaded me..."
"Nah~. Tons to teach Neph~. Why I called today~."
Makes sense—unique know-how per girl. Beyond art tips, pro secrets incoming.
Yup, gloomy shell, warm core confirmed.
"Anything else I gotta learn?!"
"Yup... Neph needs more magical girl 'education'~. Like..."
That's when.
'Huh?'
World tilted.
Skull-crushing vertigo, vision fuzzing, ground surging skyward, streetlamp twisting like taffy.
What? Caffeine nuking kid body? Subway noob motion sickness? Flu?
Legs buckled mid-collapse—Pluto caught me soft.
"...Don't guzzle stranger gifts."
Her pale face loomed inches away.
"Said you need image change~. Trust only me~. Deep sleep, wake totally new Neph~."
Shit.
Seowon University Design Department TA office.
Sun dipping outside, but Ha-neul's day barely hit turnaround.
Prof's love-drenched thesis notes and undergrads' heartfelt gripes awaited.
"...Out."
Yup. Beat it.
Tomorrow's Ha-neul handles tomorrow. She packed her bag.
Tomorrow's would punt to day-after's. You know it.
Exiting admin, flicked on phone habit.
No cause. Dopamine fix.
Gallery open, backlog sort—finger froze on one pic.
[Shot: 5 years ago]
Bella's arm 'round her, another girl.
Purple-black locks, ghostly pale skin. Livelier back then, still icy vibe. Pluto.
'...Started as rock-solid senior.'
Ha-neul stroked the screen, bitter.
Her debut days, Pluto younger but trusty mentor, backbone solid.
First months: tag-team monster hunts. Duo shots still float Lost Archive Gallery.
Gloomy quirks, solo mutters aside—junior care was pure.
So I'd thought.
'Kid... went overboard.'
Half-year mark: boom.
Concept? Other trigger? Overnight obsession hit.
Soon "love" on lips, full yandere bloom.
Life's wild—trusted senior flips psycho? Blindside even for Ha-neul.
Luck saved: hard boundary. Else? Still stalking.
Post-distance, obsession chilled. Bad history lingers though.
Worse than strangers now. Occasional scraps.
"Wonder if she's okay."
Prefer not. Honest: never cross paths.
Mid-swipe on bitter pic—top bar pinged.
"Ehehe."
Cute sis Ha-rin-chan. Not blood, but sis decree.
Ulv stress peaking lately—her ping? Welcome relief. Faint smile crept up.
"Yeah, our maknae. What's..."
"..."
Ha-neul's brain stalled.
Hongdae entrance?
Pluto?
Meeting?
Each word's dread hit like a truck.
Pluto's rep: public enemy #1 among magical girls.
Not violence. Her "love" clings like tar—hooks you, drains soul dry.
Even steel-gut Terra bailed: "Energy vamp—can't deal."
And precious Ha-rin waltzed into the tiger's den?
Flashback: Pluto's grave lecture sesh.
'Bella. Magical girls gotta mystique~. Cultivate inner darkness~.'
'Huh? What's...'
'Try this outfit first~. Like manga and novels? Me too~. Know Count and Butler: Thought It Was a Contract, But It Was Love?~'
The hell.
Frill-overload gothic lolita shoved my way, that cover-alone cringey BL novel as must-read—mad glint in eye.
Luck: Ha-neul's ego locked firm, tanked the chuuni siege.
'Sorry, not my jam.'
'Eh...? Said you like manga...'
'Do. Pokémon... Bleach...'
'Bella.'
'Yes?'
'You shouldn't exist~.'
But Ha-rin?
Just 8 (est.).
Pristine canvas pre-values. That purity meets Pluto's slimy dark "tutelage"?
Ha-neul's mind reeled visions.
'Ha-rina!'
Turned Ha-rin: horror show.
Black frilly dress, crimson shadow 'round eyes, bandaged hand.
'Kukuku... Bella. Call me 'Extermination Angel Neph' hereafter.'
'...Ha-rina?'
'Darkness... calls. Ah, blood fest time.'
Reunion: nightmare fuel.
"Nooooooo!!!!"
Lee Ha-neul's scream shook the office.
My cute, adorable Ha-rin—that angel—morphs Pluto clone?
How I'd nurtured her (one meet), cherished (one meal).
Truth: Ha-neul harbored greed too.
Paint her own hue? Hell yes.
But held back.
Ha-rin's pure trust dazzled too bright.
Guard that innocence—true senior duty.
Now Pluto stomps it. Gloomy hag drags fresh sprout to minefield!
Ha-neul bolted up.
"Ignite, Blazing Heart."
⟨ Transformation Chant ⟩
Roar!
Dazzling blaze—plain TA Ha-neul vanished; flame-shrouded Magical Girl Bella manifested.
Crash!
Window exploded.
Glass shards trailed a red meteor streaking Hongdae-ward.
'Hang on, Ha-rina!'
Sis incoming.
Before Pluto brainwashes weird crap—yank that ponytail first.
Today's Seoul sky burned extra red.