Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Uncomfortable
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[Title: Come to think of it, what has Alice been up to lately?]
[Author: Anonymous]
[I haven't heard that she's quit, but I haven't heard anything about her recently.]
Anonymous (59.10): Dude, is this an OB/GYN clinic or what?
Anonymous (121.134): She's buried under posts, but I hear bits and pieces now and then. Her activity seems down though?
Anonymous (175.207): Old-timers keep going on about Alice Alice, but who the hell is that?
ㄴAnonymous (121.134): If you don't know Princess Alice, why are you even in Magical Girl Gallery?
ㄴAnonymous (223.62): She's one of the first-generation Magical Girls who still hasn't announced her retirement.
ㄴㄴAnonymous (175.207): First-gen? That's like almost 10 years ago, right?
ㄴㄴㄴAnonymous (223.62): Yeah. About that long.
[Title: Come to think of it, I saw Alice the other day, but she wouldn't give an autograph.]
[Author: Anonymous (183.97)]
[She just wiped out the Abyss Beings in seconds and left. I was gonna ask for an autograph, but she vanished before I could.]
Anonymous (223.62): Alice has always been famous for not doing autographs. She did a few early on, but after seeing them sold online, she stopped unless it's a big deal.
ㄴAnonymous (183.97): How much would it have gone for if I'd gotten one?
ㄴㄴAnonymous (223.62): Her rarity is top-tier among Magical Girls. The ones out there are all hoarded by hardcore fans who won't sell. Her fossilized fanbase is thick too—trash-talk her and they swarm you like crazy.
[Title: You ignorant fools who don't even know Princess Alice's achievements.]
[Author: LoveRabbits]
[If Princess Alice hadn't taken down Leviathan, you wouldn't even be able to walk along the Han River!]
Anonymous: Oh man, gramps is at it again. Time to brush your teeth and hit the hay.
ㄴLoveRabbits: These days,,, kids,,, have no manners,,,
Anonymous: First-gen were insanely strong lol. Saw recent stuff—she solos B-Rank Abyss Beings no problem.
ㄴAnonymous (106.241): How do you solo a B-Rank? Isn't that a 4-man raid recommended?
ㄴㄴAnonymous: First-gen Magical Girls didn't care about raids or whatever—they just fought with whoever was around. No such thing as recommended party size. Alice was top of the top among them anyway.
ㄴㄴLoveRabbits: Power of love.
Anonymous (175.116): Her Leviathan tanking was pretty lit though.
ㄴLoveRabbits: (Applause)
ㄴㄴAnonymous (175.116): But debuted 10 years ago means she's like a total auntie now, right?
ㄴㄴㄴLoveRabbits: Gal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* * *
Abyss Beings are basically monsters that rampage through people and smash buildings, causing massive casualties and property damage. But from a cold, hard perspective, they're not that dangerous.
They don't have some TV-monster goal of destroying the world, after all.
As I mentioned before, Abyss Beings thrive on the negative energy generated from their destruction. And the most efficient source is human emotions like despair, regret, anger, and sorrow.
Killing a few people is plenty efficient for harvesting those feelings. But if they wiped out the world and humanity went extinct, poof—no more supply.
So, they stick straws into multiple dimensions where they can farm energy and keep growing their operations.
To put it bluntly: from their perspective, Earth is just a hunting ground that spits out EXP. Or a mine for digging up ore.
Why would they stupidly destroy their own farm?
...Of course, if word got out that a Magical Girl was thinking like this, it'd be total chaos—news headlines, haters ripping me apart online. Whatever.
I'm not doing this Magical Girl gig for popularity, money, or some sense of duty.
I'm just smashing Abyss Being skulls because my contract leaves me no choice.
Do I look like I'm living it up in luxury from this crap?
-Rattle.
'...Gotta take out the trash.'
I know I don't keep my place spotless, but I do the bare minimum.
The trash spot isn't far anyway.
It was getting dark outside, perfect for avoiding people, so I pulled on a hood, grabbed trash bags in both hands, and headed out.
The chill wind slipping through my clothes made me grimace as I quickly dumped the bags at the collection point and turned back...
"Uh... hello...?"
"..."
"You heading out for a bit? You should dress warmer these days..."
I ran into the annoying girl from next door again.
I just stared at her silently, no reaction, so she fidgeted with her hands and changed the subject.
"Um, by the way, did you enjoy the rice cakes? W-were they any good? My parents always say in times like these, you should at least be on good terms with your neighbors so someone can call an ambulance if a monster attacks..."
Tossed 'em.
Who casually eats food from strangers in this day and age?
Just because she looks innocent doesn't mean she is. Plus, I don't even like rice cakes.
...Not that I'm so socially inept I'd admit to throwing it away right in front of her. I just nodded vaguely.
"Oh... good thing. I'm new to living alone... hehe. Um, how old are you? I heard from the landlady before I moved in that you've been here a long time..."
She lit up and started chattering again. My face was starting to sour, and if I let this drag on, it'd just get more annoying, so I forced my mouth open.
"Um... I appreciate the gesture, but... I'm the type who gets uncomfortable around other people."
"Oh.."
"Please keep your distance if possible."
That should land as politely but firmly building a wall.
If I went full ice queen, she might think I was just scared of confrontation... First off, even with my twisted personality, I don't enjoy picking fights for no reason.
Second, if I overdo it and piss off the wrong person, it turns into a real hassle.
I've been there before.
Not wanting to get tangled with people is one thing; being needlessly rude and making enemies is another.
"Y-yeah, I get that! Then..."
"...Goodbye."
-Rattle.
"Wha—oh, uh, goodbye!"
She seemed unusually friendly—even after the wall, she tried to keep talking—so I hurried inside.
Normally, people would think 'what a weirdo' and steer clear.
Was she not used to blunt rejections like that?
'Must've grown up sheltered.'
Objectively: petite height, cute looks, outgoing personality. Combo screams "gets along with everyone."
And her body—mature in ways that didn't match her height—probably scored extra points...
...Not with me.
Women—young ones especially—were the exact combo that put my antisocial self on highest alert.
No one would dare say all my Magical Girl time made me like guys instead. I'd hope.
Though it's pretty hilarious that the guy saying this dresses as a girl to Magical Girl it up.
'11:58...'
Now I was out on the terrace, smoking my usual cig, watching my hard-earned vacation tick down.
What'd I do these past two days?
...Nothing.
Just didn't fight Abyss Beings. No productive stuff otherwise—just games and novels on repeat.
Life's joy? Knocking out new games and books?
Even that's more mechanical routine after years of it.
-Shwooo.
The cold wind slapped my face, making the cig's warmth stand out sharper.
Weather turning means year's almost done.
Chuseok was recent; Halloween's up next.
'Another festival...'
-Sizzle...
Some foreign ghosts' party day, and everyone's throwing events everywhere.
Society might be in festival mode, but Abyss Beings don't take breaks.
Nah, they get smarter about it.
Basic logic tells you why.
Abyss Beings want negative human emotions.
Dragging folks hyped for a festival into rock-bottom despair? Prime negative energy.
Not just Halloween.
Long holidays overlapping public ones, big event anniversaries...
New Year's, Lunar New Year, Valentine's, White Day, Children's Day, Chuseok, Christmas...
...Half of 'em are damn couple holidays.
Whatever. From Abyss Beings' view, one side despairs, the other follows—efficient extractor.
Ah, Magical Girls shouldn't think like that.
'11:59:50.'
Lost in thought, time was almost up.
I get vacation ends at midnight. But why count down the seconds?
55 seconds.
Unlike salarymen clocking in mornings,
57 seconds.
This wonderful Magical Girl job
59 seconds.
Means even today, for strangers I've never met,
00 seconds.
-Ding!
[Han Sejin! Dispatch time!]
To protect their peaceful, unchanging daily lives.
Round the clock. 365 days a year.
Working, resting, sleeping—always ready to roll.
That's the beauty of the job.