A Change of Pace

The Rexon Games HQ monster siege that went down in the middle of summer blew up big time in the media.

It had been ages since monsters physically wrecked a major corporation's headquarters right in the heart of South Korea.

The press dubbed it the Rexon Games Siege.

It wasn't really a siege, and there wasn't even a castle, but hey, it was a fortress built on users' hard-earned cash, so fair enough.

My ad broadcast caused a massive stir too.

Right after the feed cut out, my voice got aired—calmly coordinating with Bella to evacuate civilians, mic still hot without me realizing.

Sure, Ivy's theme song got buried, which stung... but it turned more haters into fans than anything.

The media and communities lit up like wildfire. Especially MaGal—the siege hype sent it skyrocketing, reclaiming a top-20 spot on real-time galleries for the first time in forever.

Posts flooded in by the second. Sadly, almost none mentioned Gold Luli.

She made waves early on with her kid-vs-magical-girl brawl, but the massive monster assault overshadowed it.

Team Leader Kim, who'd scouted her personally, fretted a bit, but Pluto confirmed no casualties, so he sighed in relief and peaced out.

The broadcast was a total mess, but we still got paid in full. Thanks to that, my bank account was flush, and I could enjoy a peaceful summer break again.

Whoosh.

Mid-scroll checking reactions, my smartphone vanished from sight in a flash.

Looking up, there was Seol Yuna in her apron, confiscating my phone and peering down.

"Staring at this crap just sours your mood. Bad for your mental health."

"...But I can't resist ego-searching."

"Dinner's ready. Come eat."

She plopped the phone in the table corner.

I smacked my lips and plunked down on a chair.

Today's menu: spicy chicken stew. Spoon in hand before the bubbling pot, but for some reason, my appetite was MIA.

Poking at rice grains and sighing nonstop, Seol Yuna across from me stared and asked.

"Something bothering you?"

"...Nah, not really."

"Liar. Don't hide stuff from me. It's all over your face."

She jabbed my furrowed brow with her chopsticks.

Yeah. Hiding anything from her is impossible. She sniffed out I'm a magical girl in a heartbeat.

But.

These worries? Telling her won't help.

How's a civilian gonna get a magical girl's dilemmas?

Her insistent gaze weighed on me, so I grumbled.

"You wouldn't get it anyway. You're not a magical girl."

Her chopsticks froze. Her eyes darkened for a split second.

"But I..."

She seemed about to say something but swallowed it, cutting off with a short sigh.

"...Sigh. Fine. You're right. What would a normie like me know."

She grabbed kimchi, forcing a cheery tone to change the subject.

"Anyway, worries gotta be aired out. Staying cooped up turns you into a mushroom. You've been grinding non-stop since break started. That's why you're all worked up."

"..."

"Let's go out. Clear your head."

Go out?

Normally I'd spit at the idea. But today, it oddly tempted me.

Yeah, holing up in my room, I'd relived that dream over and over. How many times did I let go of Gold Luli's hand?

I mumbled softly.

"...Where to?"

Ding!

Perfect timing—a notification blared. Text from Hasol-a.

SquintyEyes shows up right on cue.

Hates travel but loves waterparks. She'd said she'd think positive about it too.

Maybe go...

That's when it hit.

"Oh! That's perfect!"

"...Huh? Did I say that out loud?"

"Nah? Mind-reading?"

Crazy girl.

"Kidding. Your screen's right there. Friend says waterpark? Let's go now."

"Y-you're coming too?"

"Duh. Can't send our little Harin out alone."

"I-it's not alone..."

Ignoring me, she scarfed her rice and jumped up.

Her drive's always off the charts.

"Gonna need gear then."

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"Gear?"

"Swimsuit, duh. You don't have one."

True—my closet's sole swimsuit was some square elementary one.

Liking waterparks doesn't mean I went often. Couldn't wear that.

Swimsuit, though?

"G-girl's swimsuit... right?"

"? What else?"

Ah... that's...

Like she read my mind, she grinned mischievously.

"Heh heh. Digest dinner with some shopping?"

"N-no! Hate it! I'll order online!"

"Gotta try it on! C'mon!"

Help!

＊＊＊

In the end, I got dragged like luggage to the department store swimsuit section.

Colorful bikinis and one-pieces greeted me—each with fabric the size of a handkerchief. My face burned on sight.

"Y-you want me in these?"

"Why shy? Rocked that school mizu last time."

"That's different...!"

"How? That was more revealing."

"They paid me!"

Ad costumes? No shame! It's work!

Pro mindset burns embarrassment with mana. Plus, just for shooting!

But this? My cash, all-day wear, stone-cold sober...

"No one'll clock you as a magical girl untransformed anyway."

"That's not the issue..."

I clutched the suit Seol Yuna picked, facing the fitting room mirror. Imagined myself in it.

...Embarrassing!

Magical girl outfit's fine as Neff. But plain-faced me? Wanna crawl in a hole.

Then the curtain yanked open—Seol Yuna's face poked in.

"Not trying it? Hurry and show! Pic with sis!"

"No pics! Out!"

"Tsk! What kinda tone with your big sis!"

After a tug-of-war, I bought a decent one.

Followed by three hours of window-shopping, I staggered out drained.

Tired...

Wanna do nothing intensely.

Waterpark? Whatever—bed fusion vibes. Then—

Bzzz! Bzzz!

Phone screaming.

Magical Castle emergency alert.

...Another monster?

I whipped out my phone, scanning surroundings reflexively. Monster in the store again?

Seol Yuna beside me peeked too.

"...?"