Gacha Black Hole and the Killer Contract
Cookies are delicious... Wow, I really nailed it. After two days of agonizing, I'd finally uncovered the fatal flaw in the magical girl ID!
Of course, kids like Jammin have limits on microtransactions. They need parental consent, or their cards are capped anyway.
But a magical girl ID? Neff's status is equivalent to an adult's. Meaning unlimited spending, no holds barred. A kid exploiting a legal gray area.
So I went on a spree, and reality yanked me back when the bank called after my 3.2 million won purchase.
"Ah... yeah, it's me. Sorry about that."
Once I hung up, the scream finally burst out.
Kyaaaah! Why didn't anyone stop me?! Seol Ha-yoon! Seol Yuna! Ramu! Whoever! Someone should've said something!
Of course, the account balance is still plenty. But this was just two days' spending. More like a day and a half. Minus sleep and meals, that's 3.2 million won burned in about 24 hours.
Hourly rate? Over 130,000 won tossed into the void?
Whoa. Hitting me hard how extravagantly I'd lived compared to my shut-in days. Was I always this lacking in self-control?
My account on screen stood proudly at 5.4 million combat power, but my heart felt utterly empty.
Burning 300 data shards? Insane, Seol Ha-rin.
'...Time to mew.'
Patch that hole in the account!
The meeting was originally half fun, half curiosity.
But now a burning mission to seal the deal and turn my dumb spending into an "investment."
As I steeled my resolve to shut off my phone—
Just this one last buy...
＊＊＊
A quiet café in Pangyo.
Hunched in the corner booth, I stared blankly at my deck on my phone screen.
Frost showing off her pixel body with a sultry smile. How much did I burn for that grin?
'I'll see it in person soon enough, till I'm sick of it.'
Regret crashed like waves as I chewed my straw until the ice in my iced chocolate melted into bland water.
Then the café door opened, and the air turned chilly.
This walking AC vibe?!
"Ah, Neff!"
"S-su... I mean, Frost senior!"
How long since I'd seen Frost in person?
Once right after debuting as a magical girl, then just occasional survival pings in chat.
"Long time no see, Neff."
"I missed you!"
I jumped up and hugged her.
Cool chill hit instantly, like stepping into a bank on a summer day. Bliss.
This is why ice-attribute girls are summer S-tier. Zero debate.
"Hehe. Our maknae grew a bit, huh?"
"Really? Maybe 1cm?"
"Hmm... 0.5cm?"
"Hng."
Stingy. At least say 1cm as a white lie.
I stared at her face.
One of the culprits who'd drained my wallet from my screen, now breathing in ultra-HD right here.
'This... is a 3.2 million won smile...'
No, real life's free. Games should charge for 2D pulls while 3D's gratis. What a scam. Total rip-off.
"Why stare like that? Something on Frost's face?"
"No... just, way prettier than in-game."
"Hehe. Obviously."
Frost giggled.
"So, tried the game yet?"
Twitch.
Caught off-guard, I averted my eyes and fiddled with my straw.
"Uh... a bit, for research...?"
"O? Quick on the draw. Was gonna say try it now if not."
3.31 million? Light spender territory.
"Saw my character too, then?"
"Y-yeah!"
Sick of her by now. Even in a swimsuit.
Frost hadn't directly contracted with Rexon Games.
Magical girls were semi-public goods for game use, short of full likeness rights. Fees went to the Magic Castle, some trickling to the girl. Pocket money like savings. Standard practice till now—I'm the odd new debut.
"Shall we head out? Time's up."
Frost crunched her remaining ice and stood.
"Ah, right, senior."
"Yes?"
"What about the surprise person coming with you?"
Frost's face twisted subtly at my question.
(=ㅅ=)
Grumpy cat vibes.
"Ah... they were coming, but sudden fire to put out. Said they'd join after. Total workaholic."
Fire? Workaholic? Who? Rexon exec? Or no way, the real Shin Chang-seop?
Speculation swirled, but Frost shrugged and pointed to the entrance.
"Instead."
Click. Clack.
Crisp heels echoed as a woman approached from the door.
Sharp black slacks, crisp white blouse, rimless glasses screaming intellect.
"I'm your relief pitcher to keep our maknae from getting scammed today."
She stopped before me and adjusted her glasses.
"Pleased to meet you."
Handed me a business card.
Hanlgeol Law Firm - Attorney Cha Su-ji
Whoa. A lawyer. My life's first, and on my side.
"Hi! Neff here!"
My bow softened her stern lips a tad.
"Heard the story. Minor contract issues, right?"
"Yeees..."
"No worries. Spotting toxic clauses in entertainment contracts is my specialty."
Reassuring!
Frost draped an arm around me with a wink.
"Su-ji unnie's pricey. Special guest today—let's squeeze 'em dry."
"...Please skip the 'unnie' title."
"C'mon, no need to be stiff. Between us."
"Frost-nim, face value aside, registry age puts me older..."
"Shh, stop."
Just caught Frost's loli concept cracking. Lawyer's too sharp; can't handle more.
＊＊＊
"Whoa... huge."
Cha Su-ji drove us to Rexon Games HQ.
The lobby LED welcomed with flashy promo for Magical Girl Raiser—the game I'd dumped cash into. My pixels contributed a speck.
Frost on-screen winked. Real Frost beside me made a weird face.
"...Gotta charge more."
"Agreed."
Visitor badges from the desk, elevator up—tension hummed.
But no sweat. Two magical girls here, plus a lawyer.
At the meeting room, a fidgety guy with dark circles to his chin paced. Phone guy, Team Lead Kim Hyeong-sik.
"Ah! You're here, Neff-nim. Been waiting!"
"Hi!"
"Hello. Frost, here as Neff's manager. And this is Frost's legal rep."
"Pleased. Hanlgeol Law Firm, Attorney Cha Su-ji."
"L-lawyer..."
Kim's face paled taking her card.
Heard about Frost, not the lawyer. Neither did I.
Even with her industry savvy, Frost is an actress, not a lawyer. Figured he could snow us easy.
"Ah, yeah... ears were itching... haha..."
He recovered quick, smiling as he led us in.
Table set with juice and snacks. My hand naturally grabbed a cookie.
"Our standard contract, first."
Cha scanned the stack the second she sat.
Kim gulped dryly. Frost sipped juice gracefully.
Me? Munching cookies. Third one. Yum.
"Team lead."
"Yes, yep!"
"Article 5, Clause 3: 'Portrait rights extend to all media designated by Rexon Games.' Too broad."
"St-standard terms...!"
"Standard isn't always right. Change to 'limited to wholesome all-ages content.' And Article 7, exclusive secondary derivative rights? Remove it. Neff-nim's an IP with endless potential—can't tie to one mobile game."
Right right. Cookies good.
Cha red-lined furiously while I snacked; Kim's face darkened each time.
"Now the key: settlement ratio. 1% of net revenue during events."
"Yes. Neff-nim's a magical girl, but as a rookie..."
"'Rookie'?"
Cha narrowed her eyes.
"Not standard."
"Pardon?"
"Can't lump Neff-nim with average rookies. Comet after five-year drought. Right?"
"Uh, well..."
Frost chimed from her juice.
"Just so you know, Neff's super popular with the other girls right now."
"So they say."
"But! The game's already a hit. So maybe view differently from standard..."
"Take it or leave. Marveling and TJ Soft called too—way better terms."
Really?
First I'd heard; Kim and I gawked at Cha.
Oops. Bluff.
Kim's pupils shook. Competitor names crushed his spirit.
"I get your point. Let's settle clean: 100 million minimum guarantee, 4% running royalty on Neff pickup gacha and related packs. Deal?"
"4%? Absurd!"
Something's happening...
I spectated cookie-in-mouth. They mumbled jargon; no clue.
By my ninth cookie, deal sealed.
100 million guarantee. 2.5% running royalty. Running royalty...?
Cha whispered right-side.
"Industry norm's 2%. 0.5% is huge."
"Er... good deal?"
Frost left-side whispered.
"You just earned 100 million sitting there."
"Eh?!"
My screw-up was 3.2 million... 96.8 left?
Inner cheers. Patch hole, save the rest! No—invest wisely!
Kim, vibe-shift desperate, pulled next docs. Money taken; now work 'em.
Character design aside, I was here for ads mainly.
Screen showed costume mocks for me.
"Before explaining... Neff-nim changes outfits magically, right? How's it work?"
"Ah, can't disclose. Classified."
Frost shut down his info-fish slyly.
"Haha, figured... Anyway, to max your cuteness, ad concept's Neff's fashion show."
O? Designer blood boils under surface. Dream stage.
Trap: I'm the mannequin.
Kim flipped mocks.
Basic magical girl garb, nekomimi maid, kindergarten yellow gym uniform, and...
"...What's that?"
"Summer season school swimsuit. Wholesome design, of course..."
Bit much? Even as magical girl, feels lawsuit-y.
As I shook head, applause erupted beside.
Clap clap clap.
"Whoa! Adorable. Perfect for Neff."
"Right? Frost-nim has taste!"
Cha glasses-up, nodding furiously.
Whose side are you on?
Ad talk devolved to their mumbo-jumbo again.
Cookies all gone by then... scavenging when—
Tiny print at contract bottom caught my eye.
As part of marketing promotions, 'Party B (Neff)' must conduct live personal broadcasts playing 'Magical Girl Raiser' at least twice monthly on platforms designated by the company during the contract period.