Busan Bound (Complete)
Handling something as dangerous as a bomb requires caution. It always trips you up at the crucial moment.
Ah, that's what they say in comics and hero stories, anyway.
BOOM!
As the explosion cleared, Kraken went flying with a scream.
"Kyaaack!"
I'd been hoping for more of a kraaaack, but kyaaack it was.
For a split second, I felt guilty, like I'd just assaulted an innocent high school girl. But hey, her crime, her fault.
I slowly lowered the arm I'd been using to shield my eyes. A acrid gunpowder stench mixed with salty sea air and the aroma of perfectly grilled squid assaulted my nose.
Kraken's eyelids were spinning like in a cartoon, yellow stars floating dazedly above her head.
Anyway, that last hit had landed perfectly. Her upper body was a third gone.
But A-rank, huh? Her tattered flesh was already wriggling back together.
Isn't that a bit unfair? I gave it my all, and she just pop and regenerates.
"I won't forgive you... I'll kill you, jingeo..!"
That was when it happened.
"Good job, Neff."
Sword's voice came from above.
The explosion hadn't done much real damage, but for a veteran like her, it was enough.
She was already gathering the scattered weapons above her head. "Back then, I was alone, so I couldn't finish her off. If I stopped attacking, tentacles came flying; if I blocked, I had no opening to strike." So that was the truth of the 47-hour bloodbath.
"But now you've made the opening."
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!
A sound like the sky collapsing echoed. "Not escaping this time."
I looked up. A massive sword...? Wait, no, not a sword?
Sword, axe, mace, dagger, spear... and more. All the weapons she'd summoned had interlocked to form something sword-shaped.
"W-wait! Sword! Hold on, jingeo! Timeout! Timeout, jingeo!"
Kraken's eyes filled with terror in an instant. But Sword decisively swung her hand, turning the blade's tip toward Kraken.
"Fall. Thousand Soldiers Descent."
She slashed her hand downward.
KABOOM!
As the sword plunged into the sea, a blinding flash and shockwave swept Haeundae's waters.
"Guh... Kyaaaaaaa!"
Probably her final death cry. It was girly as ever, leaving a weird aftertaste, but thankfully, it didn't drag on.
In the epicenter, after the shock cleared, only pulverized meat paste remained—impossible to tell if it had ever been squid.
Sword slowly lowered her hand, and the weapons embedded in the sea dissolved into mana.
At the same time, she raised her smartphone.
IPs were flooding in real-time—bounty rewards. The ominous mana had vanished. No hidden world gate opened either. This time, it was truly over.
Wait, hold up. How much was in my wallet again? Zeroes: one, two, three, four... Am I seeing this wrong?
As I rubbed my eyes, Sword descended lightly from the sky. "Hoo."
Her legs wobbled slightly, like they'd given out. No wonder—after a spell like that, no mana left.
Still, she seemed mostly unscathed. Facing an A-rank solo and only winded? That's top-tier veteran power. When do I catch up?
"Unnie..."
As I spoke, Sword's blank expression melted away.
She rushed over and hugged me tight.
"No injuries? Anywhere hurt? You okay?"
"Ow... Can't... breathe..."
"Sorry. Better now?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Sword spun me around, checking thoroughly before sighing in relief.
"Good."
"You okay, Unnie? You used a ton of mana."
"I'm fine. Used to it."
Her hand stroking my head trembled softly. "Thanks. Ha-rin bought time, so I could finish it."
"Oh, that... Just went with instinct..."
"Perfect. My protégé."
Oho? First praise from a veteran? Her vivid words made my lips curl up, tension fully draining. Relief swelled to my chest; as I instinctively moved to release my transformation—
"Not yet."
Sword grabbed my wrist urgently.
"Look."
She nodded toward something.
Turning, I saw people cautiously emerging from the department store.
Whir~ Whir~
Even more drone cams than before buzzed overhead like flies.
And in the distance, at the store entrance and beach walkways—
"Whoa! It's Sword! How many years?"
"That's Neff next to her, right?!"
"Pic! Take pics!"
Citizens swarmed like they'd been waiting. Leading them: reporters and YouTubers with scarier eyes than any monster, cameras raised, charging in.
Whew. Good thing I didn't detransform—my identity would've been doxxed.
"...We gotta run."
"Yeah."
Sword nodded.
And—
"Eh?"
She scooped me up princess-style.
"U-Unnie? I can run..."
"Legs shaky. Hold tight."
Without waiting, she kicked off and soared. Reporters yelled something, but who cares.
Against the setting sun, she flashed a soft smile.
"Train at what time?"
"Uh... 9."
"Hungry?"
"Starving!"
"Okay. Sashimi, then."
Sashimi made me glance at the beach. Squid chunks from earlier floated in my mind.
"...Squid sashimi?"
"Nah. Flounder."
Agreed. No squid jjambbong for a while.
We got super lucky. The whole mess wrapped in 10 minutes.
If monsters had popped during a movie? Disaster. I'd have bolted mid-film, dying curious about the ending, tossing and turning all night.
Our next slot's audience got evacuated, sure, but not my fault!
But that group chat SOS ping right before fighting Furry? Chaos ensued.
Double digits of magical girls flew toward Busan instantly.
Good I texted it was handled—they stopped. A bit later, and Busan seas would've hosted a massive magical girl meetup.
Bella sprinted 50km at full speed the second she saw it...
Would her mana hold out by arrival?
Busan too. Group chat lurkers included locals like Sword—silent eyeballs-only types.
Some Busan magical girls en route; I crossed one mid-flight.
"Ma! Sword ham! Still kickin'!"
"Long time."
Flora: squinting eyes, massive sunflower blooming on her head.
Plant magical girl. Sea-adjacent not her forte, but she flew over after my ping.
"Hiya! This tiny tot Neff? Adorbs as heck!"
"Flora."
"Ah! Senior Flora! Big fan! Hi!"
"Aigoo! Eaten yet? C'mon, sashimi time!"
"?"
Just like that, impromptu join with Flora.
Still transformed, we hit Sword's fave sashimi spot. Owner auntie, knowing them, tossed in free spicy stew.
"Thanks always."
"No prob."
Petting barrage from Flora mid-meal; bonus, sampled her mana.
Free costume copy. Hard work pays tasty dividends.
"Hya~ Eats good. Try this too. Prime stuff."
"Om nom."
"Aigoo, no wonder seniors swarm ya. Skin like glutinous rice cake."
"Not rice cake, Neff."
Veterans doted; I shoveled sashimi. First as Ha-rin—worried, but yummy.
But Sword's glare at Flora's petting? Murderous.
Um. Scary.
After Flora bye, Sword and I grabbed gifts from vet acquaintances and friends for Seol Yuna.
Asked Yuna wants; unread. Bought anyway.
Busan fish cake set. Take it or leave.
Bunny bread for Ramu. Royal honey bread? Busan specialty? Station sells it, close enough.
That night, Busan Station.
"Ha-rin."
"Yes."
"Come back soon?"
Sword, lost-puppy face.
Both detransformed. KTX to Seoul in 5.
"Mm... Vacation again."
"Promise."
"Yes. Promise."
Pinky swear, thumb stamp. Her face lit up.
"Text when home."
"Yes!"
"Eat proper."
"Yes!"
"Bully? Call me."
"Yes!"
Nod nod.
Teary-eyed stare—
"Ah."
Soft gasp; pulled something from pocket.
"Gift."
"This...?"
"Artifact kit-made. Break in emergency—signals me. One-use shield too."
Tiny penguin keychain, plush-like.
Oho.
Artifact crafting kit. Vaguely recall from magic mall.
Make-your-own artifacts. Evil price; noob hands off.
Nightly room tinkering? Carving this.
"Found it."
Lie. Craftsmanship screams sleepless nights.
"Thanks, Unnie. Cherish it."
Hugged tight in thanks; she shuddered like shocked.
Too hard? Pulled back— she wrapped waist, squeezed harder.
Phew. Likes it. But choking. Her whisper:
"Don't use. No need best."
True.
Thus ended our short, intense 4-night-5-day Busan bootcamp!
Late night weighed eyelids.
School tomorrow. Post-trip jetlag killer.
Then, downbound train pulled in opposite platform.
Lots heading to Busan this late, huh. Staring blankly—
"Huh?" Familiar face.
Seol Yuna. Why's she getting off there?
So familiar, thought hallucination.
Staring; she spotted me, eyes widened in shock.
Then bolted fence-jumping style.
"Ha-rin!!!"
"Eek."
Crushing hug choked air.
"You okay? Hurt? Weird guys? Know how worried?!"
"Guh... guh..."
Tapped for life; she eased, scanned me.
Glanced Sword's reaction. How explain?
Told Sword I have one sis.
Not really, don't wanna admit. But Ramu-tree says sis, so whatever.
Never told Yuna about Sword. Magical girl code: family secret.
Brain freeze, mouth flapping fish-like—
Sword stepped up naturally, flashed badge.
"Her guardian?"
"...Who?"
"Detective. Patrolling, found lost kid. Helped book ticket, escorting."
Whoa. First time Sword talks that much.
Stone-faced lie machine. Vet experience unmatched.
But Yuna's sharp as beast.
I said staying Sword's; adult woman 20-30s right before Seoul train.
Suspicious? But—
"Ah, detective! Thanks! Should've watched sis... Truly grateful!"
Yuna bowed, fully bought it.
Filter effect? Wait, I recognized instantly?
Sword eyed signal: OK. Done.
"Thanks, detective!"
"Careful up, student."
Bow reply; Sword waved relieved.
Seoul KTX arrived.
Yuna booked beside me; chatted post-boarding.
"Not tired?"
"Fine. Came for Ha-rin. Found you, good."
Kraken news spooked her; booked Busan instant.
Hm... Really? Neff handled.
What you gonna do? Bag toss? Thus, Yuna: Busan arrive, instant Seoul return.
10-min Busan stay. Air only.
Not sorry. Her solo charge, not my burden.
But reckless cute; handed shopping bag.
"Gift."
"...What's this?"
"Busan fish cakes."
Yuna weird face, but took gently.
"Thanks. Eat well."
Her eyes lingered on my outfit.
"Ha-rin, that clothes?"
"Hm?"
Oh, Sword's gift.
"Present."
"From who?"
"Senior Sword."
"...Kinda weird."
"Avant-garde."
"Not that."
Nod nod.
Waved out window till Sword dot vanished.
Tension gone post-departure; head on rest—
Opened eyes: Seoul Station.
Kraken's tentacles each hold independent life force—even the smallest.
Still, mana links to main body; most die with it.
But one anomaly survived body death.
The fragment that fell by Neff first.
Neff shredded with druruk, but newbie—missed tiniest shard.
This shard absorbed Neff's mana, gaining ego.
Yet Kraken sea monster.
Land-bound, doomed soon.
Life instinct kicked; desperate move.
Sole desire: survive. Clung to Neff's shoe sole, hid till now.
Now, perfect host before it: healthy body hugging Neff tight.
Human high school girl.
Tentacle lunged instinctively. From Neff's shoe to girl's bag gap.