Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Fake Neph (2)
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Thankfully, Ha-sol-a's imagination hadn't been completely drained from the root.
From the monsters' perspective, there was no reason to gut the goose that laid the golden eggs, right? It was a form of sustainable business, after all.
Especially since a young child's soft, pliable imagination was like the highest-grade Hanwoo omakase to them.
They probably chose to raise her carefully, feeding off bits at a time rather than devouring it all at once.
Thanks to that, by the time the after-school hours were winding down, Ha-sol-a had recovered her usual noisy, beady-eyed self.
Her eyes sparkled with life again, and her voice had risen in pitch.
But...
"Master, see you at 'that place' in a bit."
The sticky gaze she fixed on me or the way she called me "Master" showed no signs of fading.
And including the fact that she could smell my mana on me, something was definitely up.
'That place?'
Where the heck was that? The broadcasting station? Nah, probably not.
Ha-sol-a might have the title of child actor, but she wasn't seasoned enough to be coming and going from TV stations. At best, she was probably just a reenactment actor or extra.
Anyway, one thing was clear: yesterday, she'd met a monster (or something related) and gotten a little sip of her imagination sucked away.
And now, with that entranced look on her face, she was heading off voluntarily to lay more golden eggs?
Normally, I'd have to punch in at Yeouido today too. Shining was probably waiting there, holding Ruffie's leash.
But.
A magical girl's priorities went: monsters over magical beasts, and citizens' safety over monsters.
Especially when my friend was turning into an imagination battery. Pretending not to notice? That would wound a magical girl's pride.
I immediately sent Shining a short message.
The reply came right away, but I didn't explain. Shining had her own life, and besides, this was my personal issue.
The moment school let out, I slung my bag over my shoulder and started tailing Ha-sol-a.
She strode out the school gate with familiar steps, heading toward the bustling shopping district.
She passed cafes, stationery stores—places she'd normally drool over like a sparrow eyeing a rice cake shop—without a glance, marching straight ahead.
'She's got a clear destination.'
Then she slipped into a deserted alleyway. Did this kid actually like alleys or something? It was always alleys with her.
Anyway, at the end of that alley, she walked right into the basement of a rundown commercial building without hesitation.
I crept up to the entrance cautiously. From below came thumping bass sounds and a familiar mana pulse.
And the owner of that mana was...
'......Huh?'
Why am I coming out of there?
Of course, mana wasn't something you couldn't transfer to others. My current body was formed from Prima's mana in the first place.
But that was only if I'd been here before. Wholesome Ha-rin has never set foot in a place like this!
I swallowed hard and descended the basement stairs. The neon sign flashing in the darkness read:
What? Fan meeting? Me? Here?
I'd never hosted a fan meeting in my life. I had no plans to! I'm not that big a deal!
But there was a vivid neon sign with my name, and inside, small voices chanting "Master, Master."
Situation grasped. Someone was scamming people using my name. A really nasty scam too.
Enough of this bullshit!
BAM!
I kicked the steel door open without hesitation. A wave of sweltering heat hit me, along with ear-splitting cheers.
The basement was packed with dozens of people. They raved toward the stage like cultists in perfect sync.
"Master! Look at me too!"
"Step on me! Please!"
"Call me worthless!"
And at the center of the madness, a girl sat with her legs crossed.
"Ah~ you're all so damn noisy. Shut up, you trash♥"
The devotees swooned at the girl's abuse. Ha-sol-a was among them.
"Maaaster!"
I swallowed a hollow laugh and stared at the girl on stage.
The moment the girl flicked her hand, the eyes of the people below glazed over. Something like vapor drained from them and got absorbed into the girl.
So it was a monster after all. Nailed it. I was about to launch into my evil monster subjugation routine when...
'Huh?'
White hair, white eyes. Twin tails tied up. And a black-lace-trimmed gothic lolita outfit.
'That's me?'
I rubbed my eyes and looked again.
'Still me?'
Even the mana wavelength felt identical to mine. Sync rate high enough to pass for twins.
What the hell was this? What else could it be? Obviously a monster.
I immediately pulled up the monster encyclopedia.
Doppelganger? That doppelganger I know?
I never knew there was a monster like this. Never heard of it.
But to mimic not just the appearance but even the unique mana wavelength? Totally broken, right?
Nah, rank's only D, so it can't be that OP. Probably just copies the shell while the inside's empty, or has clear output limits.
Anyway, the form the monster had taken wasn't my everyday 'Seol Ha-rin' or the base 'Magical Girl Neph.'
Magical Girl Neph - Type: Pluto. The darkened version I'd transformed into using Pluto's mana to fight the octopus prince. No wonder it felt like I had a rag in my mouth.
But what was this feeling? This embarrassment bubbling up from the depths of my dantian, surging up my esophagus like reflux!
My dark history laid bare for all to see...!! Ughhh, bring me a blanket!!!
Ah, whatever. I'd roughly pieced it together.
Ha-sol-a had probably been sulking lately because I hadn't played with her. That's when this fake Neph slinked in, pretending to be me and seducing her.
Result? Dumb Ha-sol-a fell for it hook, line, and sinker, got her imagination slurped, and became the fake's loyal follower.
If I didn't crush it soon, Ha-sol-a was doomed to be an eternal imagination shuttle.
But an even more urgent issue was...
"You're all real trash. Beyond saving. Right♥? So swear your loyalty to this Magical Girl Neph♥"
My anti-magic resistance couldn't take it anymore.
That's when my eyes met the fake Neph's on stage.
Luckily, I was wearing glasses and had my transformation undone. The fake didn't seem to realize I was the original.
"You there."
The fake pointed at me.
"Come here, kiddo♥"
Me, a kiddo?
I wanted to leap onstage, beat her senseless, and grind her into cornmeal, but I had to hold back.
There were too many normal people here who hadn't fully lost their minds. Couldn't transform in front of them.
'Play along for now.'
I shuffled forward to the stage, mimicking an innocent elementary schooler.
"......M-me?"
"Yeah, you. Pretty cute, huh? Right up my alley♥"
Alley my ass. She probably smelled fresh imagination on me and was reeling me in.
As I approached the stage, Ha-sol-a's gaze—blankly chanting "Master"—landed on me.
Her pupils shook for a moment.
"Huh......?"
She recognizes me? Knows the one in front of her is fake, and I'm real?
"Two Masters......?"
Yes! That's it! Wake up! That's the fake! It's a trap! Open your eyes, Ha-sol-a! Show them our friendship!
Ha-sol-a's lips moved slowly.
And the words she uttered:
"......Even better."
Right. She wasn't human.
I was seriously pondering if leaving her as an imagination shuttle here might be for humanity's sake when...
The fake stood from her chair and walked over. She tapped the toe of her shoe.
"How'd you find this place♥?"
"Uh, I saw my friend heading this way..."
"Hmmm♥ I see. So you wanna join the Neph Church too♥?"
Neph Church? She made up her own religion and went wild. And the kids cheering her on with glow sticks—what were they?
But stay cool for now. I wanted to figure out her goal before crushing her.
"H-how do I join?"
"Nothing to it. Just prove yourself."
"Prove... myself?"
"Bark for me♥"
? Did I hear wrong?
I tapped my right ear. Water had gotten in during my last bath. Maybe it hadn't drained yet.
"Bark like a dog. Woof woof! Do it cute, and I'll make you my personal doormat. Be grateful♥"
Nope, heard right.
I could feel my face twisting in real time without a mirror. It might even look like a demon right now.
"Wooooahhh!!"
"Bark! Bark!"
"Woof! Woof!"
"Reward time! It's reward time!"
Crazy bastards.
"Hmmm. Such a cheeky glare? You've got potential. If you don't wanna bark, you can kiss my foot instead♪"
My fists trembled.
The dignity of Seol Ha-rin, trampled like this. I'd endure most things, but not this.
I mentally drew the character for "endure" thirty-three times, took a deep breath, and put on my most urgent face.
"Um, excuse me..."
"What? Don't wanna bark? Cocky little..."
"Not that... Can I go to the bathroom...?"
The room went silent for a beat.
I get it. Prime reward time, why ask for a potty break? But this is punishment for me, reward for you lot?
The fake clicked her tongue in pity.
"Tch. Ruining the mood. Out and to the right."
"Thank you!"
Helpful, huh. Even villains respect bodily functions, I guess.
I bolted out without looking back.
"Transform."
I immediately returned to the steel door. No need for deep breaths now. Only judgment of justice.
KABOOOM!!
I kicked the door clean off.
"Magical Girl Kick!"
The steel crumpled like paper amid the roar and flew away. I burst through the dust cloud.
Skipped the entrance line. Not in the mood. First, grind that fake's face, think later.
"What the—?!"
"T-two Masters?!"
"Two Masters is even better, right?!"
Yeah. I get it now—the mental age of everyone here matches 8-year-old brats perfectly.
I didn't give the fake time to process. I twisted mid-air and revved up Druruk.
Druruk!
The sewing machine roared, unleashing dozens of needles like rain at the fake's head.
Papapapak!
First strike wins. She'd panic, flail, and I'd slice her in half. God, please let it be that. Sliced in half and dead!!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"......Huh?"
What was that sound? Needles bouncing off something metallic?
Dust cleared, revealing the fake.
As expected, she looked relaxed, blocking my attack with one hand holding... something.
It was none other than.
"Time to work, Druruk♥"
Another Druruk, identical to mine. The one in my hand wailed furiously. Clearly pissed at its fake too.
"What? Quite the aggressive greeting♥"
The fake smirked viciously. Then she kicked off the stage and charged me in a flash.
Right. This was her transformed state. No need for a separate one.
I raised Druruk head-on to block, but she pinned me with insane strength.
"Ugh!"
I was flung back by the force.
But the fake didn't stop. She vaulted into the air and lunged again.
Kagagak!
The two Druruks clashed, sparks flying. Threads spewed from both, tangling around each other.
Of course I'd win. I'm the original; she's the knockoff.
Plus, only D-rank? The last monster I took down was C-rank.
Above all, real Neph doesn't lose to fakes!
But.
Crash!
After a brutal strength contest, I was pitifully flung into the wall.
"What? Came in all bold, but that's it? Gonna disappoint me♥?"
Hmm. Am I the fake?