Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Pluto (3)
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'Mm.'
My head was throbbing.
Forcing my heavy eyelids open, I felt that grimy sensation similar to waking up from a hangover.
'...Huh?'
I couldn't see a thing.
I panicked, wondering if I'd gone blind, but that wasn't the case.
The darkness before my eyes had a physical cause.
An eyepatch. Someone had covered my eyes.
The culprit was obvious. The last person I'd met.
'Pluto.'
The moment I pieced it together, a chill ran down my spine.
She drugged an 8-year-old frail beauty (presumably), kidnapped me, and even blindfolded me?
Is this what a magical girl, apostle of justice, does? Hell, is she even a magical girl to begin with?
Honestly, her crime scale dwarfs the three monsters I've faced so far. This is what passes for a "magic" girl?
I wriggled my arms to check if my body was bound. Fortunately, it wasn't restrained.
But the unfamiliar texture I felt the instant I moved my arms made me freeze in shock once more.
'What the hell is this?'
The clothes I was wearing weren't mine.
I'd clearly been in jeans and a hoodie—practical, comfortable kids' wear.
But now, something frilly and poofy enveloped my body.
The lace brushed against my skin with a soft rustle every time I moved my arms. The sleeves were absurdly long, covering my hands and then some, and worst of all, I was wearing a skirt instead of pants.
'She... changed my clothes?'
While I was unconscious?
Without my consent?
And blindfolded me too?
Wow. This girl's totally insane, right?
I thought the "landmine girl" label just meant quirky fashion and a gloomy personality, but no—she's a full-on anti-personnel mine that explodes on contact.
"Um... hello?"
That was when it happened.
"...I've wanted to meet you so much, Neph."
"Hyah?!"
Hot, moist breath tickled right into my ear.
The intimacy of a whisper from inches away sent goosebumps racing from my toes to the top of my head.
"Ahh... sorryyy... I'm so sorryyy..."
Pluto flinched and pulled back.
"You must've been so startled... I didn't mean to... It's just that you're so cute, Neph... I wanted to see you up close..."
"...Huh?"
"Don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me..."
What was this? A spell?
She repeated the same words like a broken radio. Horror movies had nothing on this.
But at least she didn't seem intent on harming me, so I cut straight to the chase.
Ah, she already had?
"Um, could you maybe take off the blindfold? It's suffocating..."
"Ah, ah! Yes... I'm sorryyy..."
Pluto fumbled her hand toward the back of my head.
Cool fingers brushed my hair, and soon the cloth over my eyes slipped away.
"Hoo..."
I blinked as I exhaled, my pupils—adjusted to the dark—gradually focusing as they took in the light.
And the scene that revealed itself.
"..."
Left me utterly speechless.
It was an ordinary home room. A desk, a bed, a wardrobe—nothing out of the ordinary.
Except for the walls. Every single one.
They were plastered floor-to-ceiling with drawings. And the star of every single one? Me. Or more precisely, magical girl Neph.
Neph tying up a monster, Neph flying through the sky, smiling Neph, frowning Neph, even Neph eating a meal.
'All of them... me?'
I haven't been that active. Meaning every drawing here stemmed from a handful of community photos—pure products of delusion.
'Ugh, creepy.'
Even if imagination is key for magical girls, this level of impure fantasy purity made my head spin.
Only then did I look down at my own body.
A voluminous skirt layered with black lace. A huge ribbon at the chest. Frilly cuffs around my wrists, and hairpins tying my hair into twin tails.
Yes. I was in full Gothic Lolita fashion. A couple's look, matching what Pluto wore.
"...Crazy."
The curse slipped out aloud.
I'd thought it was just her concept. That she was role-playing as a child of darkness for magical girl gigs, but really a wholesome high school girl deep down.
I believed that... I really did...!
No. She was the "real" deal.
A true rot among rots.
'I have to escape.'
My instincts screamed it.
Staying here longer would shatter my sanity.
I reflexively grabbed the keychain dangling from my bag.
Thankfully, they'd left it by the bed when changing my clothes. Pudrim! Terra sent this, right?
Terra-senpai! Save me!
Get me out of this madhouse!
I poured mana into it with desperate intent.
'Activate, Pudrim!'
But nothing happened.
"...Huh?"
What's wrong? Broken? I shook it frantically, even smacked it a few times.
It worked fine on the slime. Battery dead? Or no signal here?
Then, Pluto's low voice came from behind me.
"Ahh... That won't work."
"...What?"
"Magical girl artifacts are designed assuming 'enemies' by default."
She smirked, stepping closer.
"They won't trigger on fellow magical girls. We're... allies, after all."
Allies?
First time hearing about allies who kidnap, imprison, and force cosplay.
Pluto reached out her pale hand and stroked my cheek.
"So give up, Neph. This place is our... paradise, just you and me."
Her eyes were unmistakably unhinged. Words wouldn't cut it, but fighting? No chance.
She was strong. Back when she duoed with Bella, she was insanely powerful. Way beyond me.
In the end, persuasion was my only shot.
"Wh-what did you bring me here for? Senpai... this isn't right."
This was straight-up kidnapping. Report it, and she'd be in cuffs—heavy crime.
Maybe the red-pill high schooler fears the law? Worth a try.
But Pluto's response was shameless.
"...I was lonely."
"Huh..."
She hugged her knees, staring blankly into space with hollow eyes.
"No one understands me. They all love shiny things. No one gets the beauty of darkness, the flavor of this jet-black solitude."
So she'd been searching. For someone with the same soul wavelength.
But everyone was grown-up, heads too thick to get it.
Then I appeared.
A fresh debutante.
A blank white canvas of a child.
"It felt like fate."
Pluto murmured dreamily.
"Now... I can paint Neph in my colors. Teach you the beauty of this abyss... That's why I brought you."
How does a brain even circuit to that conclusion?
Just talk it out! I would've listened! Starting with kidnapping? Really?
Boiled down: 'She's young, so I can brainwash and remodel her to my taste.'
That's grooming in pro terms. Or gaslighting. Either way, police station regulars.
"Wh-what are you planning to do with me?"
"Hee hee hee. How about we watch this first and talk?"
Pluto grabbed the remote, and a massive wall monitor flickered on.
Draining colors filled the screen—an anime titled Alice of the Abyss.
A infamous dark fantasy where the protagonist gets wrecked every episode, friends die, and her sanity shreds daily. No dreams, no hope.
Forcing this on a normal 8-year-old? Instant tears or trauma, appetite gone.
After 1 hour and 30 minutes, Pluto eyed my reaction.
She was probably expecting fear, disgust, me clinging to her.
"...What do you think?"
She asked cautiously. I stared blankly at the screen before murmuring.
"It's fun."
"...Huh?"
Pluto's face went slack, dumbfounded.
No wonder. This body was new, but I'd lived 20 years as a rotten otaku before.
I'd devoured every anime from my room, delving deeper into darkness than any abyss.
Alice of the Abyss? Seen it. Deeply impressed, too.
The real gem's episode 12—protagonist severs her arm and awakens. Direction's killer.
"Love the unique color palette. Especially that background music... The cello melody nails the melancholy."
"...Huhhh?"
Pluto's mouth flapped like a fish.
Unexpected, right? Critique instead of screams.
Visibly flustered, she flipped channels frantically.
"Th-that one was weak? Th-then how about this?"
Next: When the Ori-Neruguri Cry.
More niche. Gore-heavy direction and convoluted storytelling split opinions hard.
Normies tap out in 5 minutes. But I'd seen it. Even read the source.
"Ah, this is a masterpiece."
"...Huhhhh? You can't even buy it at 8..."
"...No, I mean."
I backpedaled my slip, continuing.
"The doll's journey to find its self... Feels philosophical..."
True. The ending—doll rejects humanity, leaps into flames—is shocking.
"No next episode? Ending here feels off."
Genuine. Cuts like gore-fest without the full ending, where the philosophy hits.
Author's milked it 20 years straight!
"..."
Silence.
Oh crap. I turned, anxious.
Too much otaku flex? Too deep for an 8-year-old's review.
Glancing at Pluto uneasily.
"...!"
Disaster. Her eyes sparkled.
My reaction breathed life into her dead-fish stare.
"...Y-you... know it?"
"Pardon?"
"You get... the flavor... of this work?"
She gripped my shoulders. Her fingers trembled violently.
"Impossible..."
Her breathing grew ragged.
"Bella... Terra... school friends... teachers... parents... All said it creeped them out. Asked why I'd watch this."
Her face loomed inches away. Crimson flushed her pale cheeks.
"But... Neph..."
"Senpai? Too close—"
"Angel."
She whispered in ecstasy.
"An angel... was right here."
We're doomed.
Dodged gaslighting, poured gasoline instead.
"More... I'll show you more. As much as you want."
Pluto staggered up, digging dusty DVD boxes from the wardrobe depths.
Titles gleamed like jewels: Arthur, Corpse Party, Regarding My Little Sister Who Turned Into a Zombie...
"The night is long, Neph."
She locked the door.
Click.
Damn it.
After that, I hunkered in the room, digesting content with Pluto.
Anime, novels, movies. Genres varied, but all hopeless—no dreams, no hope.
I sat obediently, consuming what she fed me, deploying my otaku knowledge for reviews.
"This scene's direction shines. Paradoxically bright despair amps the tragedy."
"...Hah, hah. Nephhh..."
Pluto melted every time.
Affinity skyrocketed visibly. Problem: more obsession than affection.
Maybe time to bail? I tested.
"Gotta hit the bathroom quick..."
"Where to?"
No dice—even shifting my butt triggered her.
Every time I stood, she tilted her head 45 degrees, glaring.
"Hee hee, no going. Neph lives here. Neph is mine. Don't go out."
What the hell.
Now I got it. Why a fine high schooler turned like this.
Holed up watching world-ending tales twists your personality.
Get outside, sunlight, exercise—brightens anyone.
Live reality! No people in the monitor!
"What for dinner? Delivery?"
"Ah, chicken for me."
Can't resist chicken.
"Chicken... hee hee. Perfect. Ordering Black Collio Chicken, steeped in abyssal darkness."
Then it happened.
The sudden monster alert spun my brain into overdrive.
'Another Ulv?'
No, it can jam mana detection. This blatant alarm meant natural spawn, not Ulv-sent.
'Hongdae Station area's nearby. But C-rank monster...'
I've only bagged two E-ranks.
Thinking Ulv or Mantis, soloing C-rank might be suicide.
But no worries. A-rank vet Pluto's right here.
I shot up.
"Senpai! Monster alert!"
Time to deploy. Magical girl duty.
But Pluto's reaction defied expectations.
"So?"
"Huh? Not going?"
"It's fine. You're more precious to me."
She beamed, grabbing my hand.
"Other magical girls'll handle it. Bella, Aurora... Someone'll come. So let's ignore and wait for chicken."
That instant.
Something snapped in my head. I yanked my hand free roughly.
"...Neph?"
Even flattering her had limits.
"No."
"...Huh?"
"If you're a magical girl, you can't do that."
Lives at stake. And? I'm precious? Wait for chicken?
"Transform."
That's not the magical girl I admire.