I'm a Monster, Though

The next day, we headed to the movie theater in Haeundae Sea World City. Even on a weekday, it was packed with people. They must all have been dying to see Animalpia.

With popcorn in one hand and cola in the other, we watched the movie. Two hours later, I was holding Sword's hand, skipping out happily.

"Did you like the movie?"

"Yeah! The rabbit and gazelle were super cute!"

In truth, the only thing on my mind was Gazelle Eonna's hip swaying, but if I said that out loud, Sword unnie would probably wash my eyeballs with bleach. So I kept it to myself.

"Gazelle... It's still too early for Ha-rin."

"?"

"Too sexy."

Couldn't argue with that. Who puts a seductress like that in a kids' movie? Clearly targeting wallets from suspiciously rich folks. Thank you very much.

"Heading back tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I booked morning train tickets."

"I'll drop you off at the station tomorrow morning."

And with that, Ha-rin's Busan expedition was a success!

I'd diversified my Drill Drill uses, absorbed Sword's mana, and even racked up some affection points with her. Solid gains all around.

Now just crash for the night and head back to Seoul. Oh, right—gotta grab souvenirs. What's Busan famous for? Fish cakes? Seed hotteok? Rice cakes? Pork bone soup? Hmm.

While pondering if I should just pick up some tint from the department store, we rode the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠escalator down.

"Huh?"

In the corner of the department store lobby, behind a massive pillar, there was a suspicious beast crouched down. A furry... not even bothering to hide anymore.

The moment I looked away.

...Wait, that's a monster?

I snapped to attention. It was so blatant and natural that I'd mistaken it for cosplay.

The mana radiating from its body was unmistakable. Anyone could tell it was a monster, but the design was straight out of some shady doujinshi, so I'd blanked for a sec.

A hyena? But why's it just sitting there like that?

Whatever it is, better handle it quick.

Me? Nah. Sword. I immediately called ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out to Sword beside me. Handing it off to the veteran senior isn't slacking! She'd finish it faster than me anyway. For real.

"Unnie! Over there...!"

"..."

But Sword stayed silent for some reason.

No way she hadn't noticed if I had. I turned to look at her.

Her face was twisted in an expression I'd never seen before. Cold sweat beading on her forehead.

Is it a strong monster? Nah. The mana felt about the same as that octopus from before, maybe a tad higher.

Sword could shred it with a flick of her finger. So why the tension?

Looking closer, her eyes weren't on the hyena. Beyond the hyena. Beyond the Sea World City ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exit. Toward the beach—that's where Sword's gaze was locked.

And then.

"Ha-rin."

"...Yeah?"

"Handle the people and that thing."

With those short words, Sword bolted for the exit without waiting for a reply.

Ku-gu-gu-gu!

Mana exploded around her as she ran.

A blinding flash streaked across the department store lobby.

The black-haired girl in her miko outfit. As she dispelled the mana curtain and dashed through the lobby, the people inside widened their eyes.

"Huh? Isn't that... Sword?"

"It is! Sword! Wow, she's alive!"

"Ham-a! Look over there! Sword's here!"

"Been forever. Thought she'd retired!"

Busan dialect exclamations erupted everywhere.

Some shouted in joy, others in awe, camera shutters clicked nonstop—but Sword didn't spare them a glance.

Her eyes were fixed on the sea beyond the glass doors.

Kwang!

Sword smashed through the revolving door and burst outside. The moment her back vanished from sight.

A chill.

"Wha...?"

My heart dropped. An icy dread crawled up my spine to my scalp.

My instincts were screaming. Run. Get out now or die.

The overwhelming mana waves carried on the air, laced with bone-chilling killing intent. It revived sensations from my total newbie days (still a newbie now, but anyway). No.

This was on another level. If the mantis was a thug with a kitchen knife, this was a thug with an AK-47. Both thugs, sure, but just standing here felt like I'd scream and drop dead any second.

"Ugh..."

My legs wobbled for no reason.

Finally, the people in the store sensed something was wrong too—the murmurs cut off abruptly. Humans have danger detection too, after all.

I forced myself to turn toward the beach where Sword had gone.

The sky had been clear. But over a specific spot in Haeundae's offshore waters, pitch-black storm clouds were gathering.

...It's there.

The furry wasn't the priority anymore. Something was there, capable of drowning everyone in this building—no, everyone around Haeundae.

B-rank...? No, higher...?

Should I join? The moment I thought it.

The alerts didn't stop there.

Two alerts in a row. Now it all clicked. The C-rank was the furry in front of me. The A-rank was outside...

Kraken?!

Wasn't that the one Sword took down before? It's back?

Suddenly, Bella's words from before echoed. 'B-ranks aren't too bad, but A-ranks are a hassle even for unnie.''A-ranks are just a hassle...''Yeah. As Neff knows, our top priority is keeping civilians safe.'

What was an A-rank? The rank even Bella—who one-shots B-ranks—called a hassle.

Clear conclusion: Joining would be pointless!

Now Sword's orders made sense.

While she handled the Kraken, I was to protect the inside and the people.

Right. Trust Sword. She beat it before, so she'll squid-ify it again.

Then I'll do what I can.

First thing? Help!!!

I whipped open the group chat and pinged for backup.

No time to wait for replies, so I snapped my phone shut. That's when.

"Listen up, everyone!!!!!!"

A yipping roar exploded from the furry's mouth—not a lion's, but a hyena's—shaking the department store lobby.

Finally, the civilians started noticing and reacting to the furry.

"Ow, my ears hurt. Shut the hell up already!"

"What the? Some cosplayer kid?"

"Huh? Looks like a monster."

With all eyes on it, the furry pulled something black and round from its pocket and slammed it dramatically on the floor. A soccer ball?

Beep.

No. Red numbers lit up on the surface.

And the numbers mercilessly ticked down.

9:59, 9:58...

Tick. Tock.

Obviously a bomb, right?

"Obviously, this is a bomb. When it goes off, this place—and the entire surrounding foundation—goes down."

Up to then, people were half-doubting.

But.

Beeeep!

As if on cue, every phone in the store screamed in unison.

Seeing the disaster text, people finally realized it was real.

"Wha-what? For real?"

"Run, dude! Real monster!"

"Mommy!"

Amid the screams and ensuing chaos.

I have to do this.

I closed my eyes and drew up my mana.

Mana Curtain, deploy.

Before training, I'd have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scrambled for a bathroom stall or emergency stairs to avoid eyes. But thanks to Sword's training, I could transform right in front of people now.

In the gray-tinted world, I murmured briefly.

"Transform."

I landed lightly as the curtain lifted.

"Magical Girl Neff, arriving on the scene~!"

The fleeing crowd's eyes locked onto me.

"Whoa, a magical girl!"

"Magical girl's here!"

"Neff? The one from Seoul? What's she doing in Busan?"

"Wow, even cuter in person!"

Thanks for the compliments, but no time for fan service.

The furry curled its lips at me.

"Been waiting for you, Magical Girl Neff."

"? You were waiting for me?"

The furry flicked a small scrap of paper at me. I caught it—familiar stationery.

Shit.

Getting real tempted to block her.

But this was totally different from last time. Back then, aside from Hasol-a, no one needed protecting, and even she was just caught up by chance.

Now? Thousands held hostage in broad daylight terrorism. And they think raising me up like this makes sense? Hell no.

Couldn't go in lighthearted. The timer ticked in my ears even now.

"High Hyena, underling of Ulbr. Nice to meet ya."

"No thanks. After pulling this crap, 'nice to meet'?"

"Ahh. Misunderstanding."

High Hyena shrugged.

"Not Ulbr's plan or mine. It's that lady outside's strategy. Even this bomb's a gift from her."

"Aren't all monsters friends?"

"You friends with every human?"

Fair.

"So I helped as much as I could? Yelled for everyone to evacuate. Put the bomb right where it's visible for disarming."

"Just don't terrorize at all."

"Wish I could."

High Hyena gave a wry smile and turned around.

"...!"

Plastered to her back: a timer bomb just like the one on the floor.

"That's why."

"Makes negotiation easier, no? I disarm yours and the floor one."

"Hm. Not bad."

High Hyena assumed a fighting stance.

"I'm a monster, though. Get it?"

Sigh.

"Yeah. And I'm a magical girl."

I reached into the air.

"Come here, Nu-nu."