Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Bound for Busan
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[Monster Association Regular Meeting (Not Really) (8)]
— [Permer]
Seika got wrecked by the newbie, huh? lol
— [Permer]
Lmao ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
— [Seeking 20-Yrs-Younger BF]
Not wrecked—she counterattacked.
— [Seeking 20-Yrs-Younger BF]
(Video sent)
In the dingy corner of a PC bang, a woman in shabby tracksuit slurped away at her cup ramen.
To anyone else, she might look like just another freeloader, but her true identity was Ulv Ulbia, an A-rank monster.
She wasn't in a good mood. The newbie she'd marked first—Magical Girl Neph, that small and precious little thing.
Seika had sent two monsters after her in a row, without even a courtesy heads-up.
'That bitch has no class.'
Of course, the anger didn't last long. Succubi like her just leeched off people's essence—that's how they rolled.
No matter how she wore glasses and faked an intellectual vibe, her roots were trashy. The noble Ulvia wolf clan didn't sweat the small stuff.
Ulv set down her chopsticks and clicked on the video Seika had sent.
The moment the video started, it wasn't the old, flat-chested Neph. It was Neph's new form, shining gloriously in rainbow hues.
Click.
She shut it off immediately.
She couldn't handle it.
— [AWolfIsAWolf]
No spoilers.
Some things were best savored in person. But even that one-second glimpse had her heart pounding like mad.
Rumble rumble rumble.
In that instant, uncontrollable mana surged instinctively from Seika's body, blanketing the entire PC bang.
Pop! Pop!
The mana backlash knocked out power to every computer in the place at once.
"Wha—what the hell? Ah, fuck! I was mid-boss!"
"Ah... it went out. Over here too?"
"This is insane. Seriously, argh!"
Inability to process the sudden change led to curses and outbursts everywhere.
A-rank monster mana could even manipulate human emotions. Every patron turned feral, like protagonists in a violent game.
Ulv slipped out amid the chaos.
Her cheeks flushed under the moonlight. Seeing Neph's evolved form had sent excitement racing through her veins.
'If I fatten her up a bit more, maybe it'll reach. Up to chest level.'
Of course, she'd rip out the throat right before it did.
"Haa..."
A pent-up, aroused breath escaped.
Human disguise had its downsides. The body was just like a human's, so excitement made things slick fast.
Ulv wandered aimlessly to vent her boiling monster urges. Toward where morning humans vanished and night ones crawled out.
She arrived at a back alley teeming with undocumented illegals. Extraterritorial zone, they called it.
She came here occasionally to sate surging desires—perfect for her. Killing humans here didn't make headlines.
Something from those wuxia novels: untouchable by officials? Humans handled their own crimes, so even Magical Girls ignored spots like this.
Of course, killing humans wasn't recommended, even for monsters. They were sources of imagination, batteries—not to be wasted.
But.
'Not my problem.'
Ulv didn't care. Born a monster pup—what did you expect?
"Hey."
Headless foreign thugs approached warily yet excitedly at the sight of her.
In that moment.
Swish.
Ulv swung her hand lightly.
Splat splat!
One gesture severed necks and waists of the three or four closing in. Blood fountains painted the alley walls red.
Ulv, drenched in the spray. The metallic tang finally started cooling her arousal.
"Phew."
Close call—nearly soaked her shirt. Lucky.
Then, a rustle from the trash pile nearby.
A man bound tight in just his underwear. Probably moments from organ harvesting by the foreigners.
"H-Hiiik...!"
Ulv approached slowly.
The blood-soaked woman approaching turned the man pale, trembling.
"A-Are you... a Magical Girl...?"
"No."
He'd asked grasping at straws, hoping she was a heroic apostle who'd slain the villains.
Ulv curled her lips in a feral grin.
"Monster."
Slice.
His head hit the ground.
No reason to spare him. Wasn't volunteering, and he'd seen her true face.
Ulv stepped through the blood puddle and exited the alley, feeling refreshed.
"It's been a while."
She murmured, gazing at the night sky.
"Maybe send an invitation."
To our cute little Neph.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Led by hand by Seol Yu-na, I'd fired up Princess Maker. She claimed a stake in my bed with a hugely satisfied look.
She flung open the covers.
"Come on in."
"?"
I shook my head no, but she ignored it, forcibly hugged me, and dragged me under the blankets.
So I ended up a trembling mess, asleep in Seol Yu-na's arms—and damn, it was uncomfortable.
Every breath pressed her chest against me. Thinking of her as my little sister felt off, and as big sis? Even weirder.
After that awkward night, I woke to a fresh, fluffy Seol Yu-na making breakfast for the first time ever before heading home.
Anyway, that day ended with every single secret spilled to Seol Yu-na.
Later reported to Ramu.
'Huh... alright then. Got it.'
And that was it.
She's been vanishing a lot since her Magic Castle gig last time—kinda suspicious, but not my business.
Oh, good news: posting my pic on Insta didn't blow up.
A few likes, but she's no influencer—just another high school athlete.
After that, Seol Yu-na treated my place like her own, playing big sis: cleaning my room, doing laundry, cooking.
Stuff she'd never do for her brother, but in little sis mode? Infuriating yet delicious. Pork chunks in kimchi stew? How do you resist?
Of course, I pondered seriously over meals. Reset the door lock like old times, tell her to fuck off, go cold?
But she'd probably climb pipes and sneak through the window, so nah.
And deep down, a thought crept in.
The diehards loved 'Neph,' school friends loved 'Seol Ha-rin.'
But nobody cared for Seol Ha-yoon.
Felt like I'd truly vanish someday—scary as hell. What if I revert and they treat me like the jerk who ate Ha-rin?
Weird. Thought I had zero feels, but apparently not.
They say loneliness hits when someone's there, then gone. This it?
Conclusion: didn't kick her out. She'd cook? I'd eat happily.
But changed the PC password. How the hell did that psycho crack it?
"Ha-rin, what's the PC password?"
"No clue."
"?"
"I-It really won't work..."
This was non-negotiable. Even family respects privacy.
Thus began our bizarre cohabitation, and honestly, she helped a ton.
Pro athlete vibes? Taught me pro training: stretching, muscle work, flexibility routines. Actually building muscle now.
Unlike stiff old Seol Ha-yoon, kid-bodied Ha-rin stretched easy—felt great.
Then one shocking moment.
"Hm. Impressive specs, yeah."
"???"
You know that wuxia thing? Hand-fighting while seated, shoutan or whatever. Did it—lost to her.
Makes sense? I'm a Magical Girl, even used softness, but wrist snapped by a high schooler?
"Basics are a mess."
"..."
Harsh truth—hurt deep.
I really wanna get strong, grilled the diehards plenty.
Got Neph Zone shares, hunting monsters, grinding XP... but their mindset's fucked.
I say I wanna power up? They go 'Baby Neph trying so hard—adorbs!' Not taking me seriously.
Survival grind to revert to male form. To them? Just a whiny 8-year-old.
So Bella, Frost—no real combat tech. Just magic spam tips?
Seol Yu-na was different. Felt like she took my reversion seriously (maybe).
"You handle thread and needle, right Ha-rin?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
Huh? Mana-infuse, swing, fling, bind...?
"Martial arts cover that?"
Head spun.
Realized: all my thread-flinging, Druruk-swinging, needle-shooting? Instinctual flailing.
No martial art, no manuals or vids.
Manga has thread users slicing/binding—Walter, Sharon vibes. Imitated that, but to a trained fighter? Amateur hour.
Looked like untangling yarn. Embarrassing.
Seol Yu-na's radical fix for clumsy Neph.
"Any other Magical Girls good at martial arts?"
Diehard help request!! With training twist.
"Martial arts..."
Two came to mind: Sword and Noir.
Asked both: Sword yes, Noir no.
"Sword... exists."
"Sword? A Magical Girl like that?"
Sigh. Mundanes suck.
"Listen up—Sword's the vanguard of Korea's 3rd-gen Magical Girls, originator of Weapon Master. Main's god-sword, but daggers, spears, axes, even morningstars—an all-rounder. That Haeundae clip from 3 years back, dismantling the Kraken off Busan like sashimi? Still legendary..."
"..."
Trailed off. Her face soured live.
"Stop. Reeks of weeb."
"...Yes ma'am."
"Anyway, Sword. Go learn from her."
True. She'd teach weapon styles fitting mine—she sent Druruk, after all.
But.
'Easier said.'
Kept delaying. Busy with monsters, Shining meetup messed schedule.
Biggest reason:
"Sword lives in Busan..."
"Busan?"
Not all Korean Magical Girls in Seoul. Monsters not Seoul-exclusive.
Sword based in Busan.
Doesn't hunt much lately—few monsters there—but catches 'em if they show.
"Perfect. Let's go this weekend."
"Huh?"
"What."
"I'm going solo? Not a kid."
She scoffed in disbelief.
"Our Ha-rin going to Busan alone? Can you book KTX?"
"Hey, I'm college-age..."
Zzap.
Her eyes sharpened. Stay in character.
"...Ha-rin’s grown, can go alone."
"No. Dangerous. Sis’ll go with."
"???"
Stared like 'WTF'—another zzap.
Gulp, nod.
Bought ticket, messaged Sword.
💬 Private Chat
— [Neph]
Sunbae! Can I visit this weekend?
— [Sword]
(🤔 Head-tilt emoticon)
— [Sword]
(👍 Thumbs-up emoticon)
Easier OK than expected.
D-day Friday arrived.
"Haa..."
Seol Yu-na came home, slammed her head on the table, face like the world ended.
"Coach... says I got an important sparring partner this weekend... gotta go..."
"And?"
"Can't make it. Next time sis has free time, we'll go."
Why me?
"I'm going."
"What?"
"Made the promise. Can't flake on sunbae."
Ticket's booked too.
Eh? Light fading from her eyes? Her gaze turned midwinter cold instantly.
Hey, I'm a Magical Girl? Smash monsters—Busan's no demon realm.
Still, Sword excuse worked. She relented. Good—play nice from now on.
"Fine. But video call on arrival. Pic every meal. No following weird uncles."
Saturday dawned.
On the KTX to Busan.
Gazed at the blurring scenery outside, lost in thought.
People still glancing—pretty privilege, can't help it.
Popped in AirPods to block noise, dove into Sword prep.
Truth: didn't know Sword well. Rough idea, not details.
Know thy enemy, win every battle. Knowing her style'd make begging lessons easier.
Searched YouTube: [Magical Girl Sword]. Clicked top 5-year-old vid by views.
On screen: black-haired ponytail girl in shrine maiden outfit, polishing a sword.
Reporter shoved mic her way.
📰 Interview Clip
[Weapons? Fib a little—I know like 50,000.]
Rekking fake vibes.
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