Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Does the Butterfly Dream of Being a Magical Girl? -1
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Name: Kim Lulu. Age: Never properly counted, so who knows. It's been an incredibly long time since I've been stuck looking like this. Right now, I'm going to school while moonlighting as the Magical Girl Pure Rodeo!
But her true identity is...!
Capital Knight Commander Lulu, sworn protector of the peace in the Imperial Capital Crown Hall!
After coming oh-so-agonizingly close to beating the Violet Magic Tower Master only to lose, Lulu concluded, "I lost because I didn't have enough mana," and doubled her food intake. Ever since, the wails of the capital knights' cooks echo through the barracks every night.
For some inexplicable reason, she gained the ability to travel to another world in her dreams!
She figured it was just a fun dream at first. But when she told her adjutant about it, he flipped out and declared, "That has to be dimensional magic!"
When she asked why, he launched into a spiel about the history of dimensional magic research... only to switch to a more age-appropriate explanation.
As he checked the vital signs of the stark-naked Lulu strapped to the operating table, the adjutant said simply,
"Commander, your head's so empty, you couldn't even imagine a world like that."
"Hey! I'm smart!"
"Five times seven."
"Twenty-one... Wait, you pronounced it wrong. Thirty... plus five...? You can't just spring that on me outta nowhere! No one's gonna get it right without prep!"
Putting aside her adjutant's mean-spirited slander, Lulu mulled it over and realized she'd never tasted anything new in her dreams before.
Ah, so I've been slipping into other worlds through my dreams! It all made sense.
Plink plink. The adjutant flicked his syringe.
"Time for your stabilizer shot. Sleep tight, Commander. And if you end up in that other world again, soak up as much knowledge as you can before coming back—and report it all to me."
"Ugh, I hate needles."
"Not your first rodeo, so quit whining. And I'm dead serious: as much knowledge as possible! Get me something good, and we might rake in revenue like an entire imperial bureau."
Greed gleamed in the adjutant's eyes behind his glasses. He played it off lightly, but the emotion was thick. Stories about making friends in her dreams? He wouldn't even pretend to listen...
Soon, the needle pierced her vein, and Lulu's consciousness sank deep. As her body—the walking mana reactor—was delicately recalibrated, Lulu dreamed once more.
And three days later, when she opened her eyes, the first words out of her mouth were:
"Crepes are delicious."
"What's a crepe?"
"Sweet... with cream... and fruits... y'know, that kinda thing!"
After this exchange repeated about three times, the adjutant adopted a look of total resignation. "Just have your fun and come back. If you cause trouble, clean it up there."
Some surrenders are better sooner than later.
It was a shame she couldn't tap into her Capital Knight Commander's massive mana reserves in the dream world, but in exchange, she'd gained this new power: a Magical Girl.
Plus, the dream world was awfully forgiving.
What was it like out there? They wouldn't let a Sublimation-rank powerhouse swing her might freely—kept her cooped up in headquarters. Fight, and she'd get chewed out. Budget overruns for rebuilding collapsed structures, blah blah.
If Grandpa were around, at least she wouldn't be bored. Stuck on this "business trip," her body itched for action.
Hell, even when she came back injured, the nagging came first. "You shredded another forest—another incident?" Sure, she loved a good scrap, but couldn't they at least ask if she was okay after dragging herself home with a pulverized arm?
Whatever. When was the last time anyone treated her like a person? Walking bomb, that's her. Given up on that long ago.
But this place was different.
Go all-out in a fight, and they cheer you on. Praise flows. Mana grows as a bonus. An endless virtuous cycle—Kim Lulu even worried for a second if she deserved to be this happy.
Around the time she was blissfully enjoying her nag-free dream...
"Didn't I tell you to use your fists properly?! Where the hell did you pawn off everything I taught you?!"
"Ah~!! Oh Daesu, shut up~!!"
A nagger had appeared in her dream.
This nagger's name was Oh Daesu. An orange-haired, fox-faced cutie whose chest was just the right handful size.
How'd she know the size? Oh Daesu was teaching her fighting moves, she mimicked awkwardly, slipped, and face-planted right into them.
Oh Daesu was bad luck. Nitpicky, just like her adjutant.
In fights, constant backseat driving. Yelling "idiot" at every turn—infuriating. If it's that frustrating, just do it yourself instead of meddling.
Still, she'd wipe cream off Lulu's mouth with a handkerchief or tie her loose shoelaces... so not that annoying. More like...
A hassle?
Same Magical Girl team, so Lulu tried getting along. Figured more friendship, less nagging. Worked up the guts for a praise barrage:
"Hey, Oh Daesu—you're extra pretty today. Bet you'd get ten love letters."
"Picking a fight first thing in the morning?!"
"Argh, give you a compliment and that's your comeback-!!"
Like that.
Getting mad at being called pretty—what's her deal? Thinks she's not just pretty, but drop-dead gorgeous? Totally baffling.
So today, Lulu steeled herself for the nagging. Even snuck in earplugs.
Monster alert—transformed to Magical Girl and rushed the scene. Pure Knight was already there, evacuating civilians.
A girl in a massive cone hat showed up as the enemy.
She looked all huddled and scared... but also like a cat coiled to pounce.
If that was all, she'd pass for a civilian. But with purple-dyed hair tips and magic hands sprouting from under the hat, she screamed evil organization.
"........, ........!!"
".........!!"
Oh Daesu pointed at Kim Lulu and yelled something fierce, but the earplugs blocked it all. Probably the attack signal!
"Alright, charge!!"
"..., ........!!"
Oh Daesu gestured frantically for her to come back, but Lulu ignored it. Enemy didn't look that tough—just rush in, knuckle-flick to win.
Then, every brain cell in Kim Lulu's head blared alarms.
What the—why am I so terrified?
She pondered mid-charge. This monster... feels familiar? Nah. Why so dangerous?
"Gah, don't wuss out! Can't freak over hunches—"
"..., .『......』."
Kiiiiing—!!
A monstrous flash erupted from the monster's fingertips, a chilling high-pitched whine piercing her earplugs. Kim Lulu summed up her feelings with a refined dream-world phrase.
"We're screwed!"
"..., ......?!"
Whooooosh—!
Just before the devastating destruction beam hit, Oh Daesu tackled her in a bear hug and hurled them both aside, dodging the strike.
The beam slammed the rear, triggering a massive heart-shaped explosion. The shockwave sent Oh Daesu and Kim Lulu tumbling across the asphalt. One earplug popped out naturally.
As the ringing in her ears faded, Oh Daesu grabbed Lulu by the collar and bellowed,
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"...Ah, sorry."
"For once in your life, think before you leap! If you'd gotten caught in that, scratches would've been the least of it. Please, stop acting like you're an iron golem...!!"
"No, this works! And if you hate watching, just leave me alo──?!"
Huh.
Her eyes were different. Not the usual scolding glare for another screw-up. A bit... warm? Not scorching, though.
Felt familiar, like something from long ago. Kim Lulu scowled and whipped her sluggish brain cells.
Dumb head, remember quick!
It hit her. Kim Lulu asked,
"...Hold up—are you actually worried about me right now?"
Roderus gripped Lulu's collar tight, face inches away, fuming with frustration as she yelled,
"Yeah, I'm worried, you moron!!"
".........!!"
"You think it'd be fun canceling badminton with Oh Hyein tomorrow 'cause you're hospitalized from an injury? Huh?! Quit babbling and move!!"
Acting all aloof, but she'd been listening. Even remembered. Not her business.
Weird feeling. Worry.
No one's ever worried about me before.
Kim Lulu dazed out, and Oh Daesu pressed her forehead with a grave look.
"...You badly hurt or something? Damn it, just stay with it. I'll draw the monster's aggro—you contact Oh Hyein and hightail it home."
"........."
No, really. This is just a dream. I'm actually super strong, Daesu.
And I'm fine. You shielded me... you're the one hurt bad. No need.
Thump.
Thump-thump.
Kim Lulu's heart pounded wildly. Face burned, mood soared, couldn't think straight. Hard to meet Oh Daesu's eyes.
First time feeling this.
Oh Daesu tucked her in an alley and charged back at the monster. Somehow, the world looked different. Like a layer peeled off... or added on.
Her desperate fight to lure the monster-girl away from the alley. The blue afterimages she left trailing.
That serious expression on her face.
Super... super weird. For real.
The battle wrapped in about ten minutes. Was that beam her ultimate? The monster flailed like her mind was elsewhere and retreated first.
"Ju-just you wait, ma-magic, ma-ma-gical girls! I am 『Endless Void Existence... Yunaris』! I-I'll be back! I'm in-infinite... and void...!!"
"Beat it!"
"...D-do your pretty love stuff! I dunno real talk!"
"I said scram-!!"
Oh Daesu flipped her off as the monster vanished into thin air. Seeing her approach tickled something in Lulu.
Kim Lulu clasped her hands demurely and straightened up without thinking.
Heart racing nonstop. Serious!
"...Hey, Kim Lulu. You okay?"
Kim Lulu looked up at Oh Daesu and sorted her whirlwind thoughts. She knew this feeling.
First time, but not unknown. Pounding heart, burning cheeks—from dramas, she knew. She wasn't an idiot!
The affliction even drama protagonists lamented... was none other than...!!
"...Daesu, I think I have heart failure."
"What nonsense is that?"
"Should've eaten my veggies instead of being picky...!"
That day, Kim Lulu booked a checkup at the university hospital.
After the checkup, Kim Lulu's behavior shifted a bit.
She used to greet everyone with a full-body "Hi tackle!" hug. Oh Hyein took it fine, but Roderus shoved her away in disgust.
Now, spotting Roderus, she'd charge like a bull...
"Hi tac... Ah, no. Hi."
"........."
...then screech to a halt and mumble an awkward greeting.
Other changes too: keeping subtle distance, flinching from finger-brushes like a wet alley cat. Overall, way less touchy-feely.
Less annoying was good, but Roderus felt a twinge of disappointment deep down. Hated my nagging that much?
Watching her smoosh with Oh Hyein, something clicked—they whispered. Oh Hyein was supposed to be the heroine originally.
"This how it unravels...?"
"What you mean, Oh Hyein?"
"Nah, just... crossword puzzle, words connect unexpected-like. Right, Munch?"
"Yupmong. Unexpected vibe mong!"
Such silliness. Roderus clicked her tongue, straightened her tie, and smoothed her wrinkled uniform skirt with practiced ease. The mirror showed Oh Daesu.
Even this unfamiliar girl's body was down to a slight frown now. Humans adapt, huh.
Time had flown. Two round trips between dream and reality.
Modern gadgets? Mastered now. Could handle computers and smartphones like a pro, even vaguely got why Oh Hyein was obsessed with mala tang.
Hobbies too. After school detour to PC bang with Kim Lulu for ranked games. Battling for parental honor on the digital fields, she hit Gold.
Oh Hyein (Platinum): "Don't try hogging all the wins. Team game, y'know?"
What do trash mobs know with rags in their mouths?
History class said this country diluted bloodlines selling noble titles in turbulent times. So net randos? Mostly latent scum.
Noble judgment prevails.
Vein One-Champ Bug (noble pick)—Oh Daesu approved. Rock-solid mindset.
And she... started planning. Biggest change of all.
Circles on calendar: school trip, Oh Hyein's birthday bash, Platinum before season's end...
Devour every alley food joint. Crush that damn Glass Frostlover someday. Tentacle grudge demands payback. Or...
"Huh, scuba diving?"
"...Don't just snatch my phone!"
"What's the biggie! Hiding naughty pics or—ack! Don't yank my cheek...!"
Bucket list born.
A single drifting internet photo—of coral seas and explorers swimming through—planted a little dream in Roderus.
Wanna see the ocean.
Even scouted convenience store night shifts. Save for scuba gear. Still just a dream, but...
With time, anything's possible.
Lunch bell rang. Magical Girls headed to the roof like clockwork. Rooftop snacking was routine now.
Roderus sat with the group, nibbling a crepe. Tongue-numbing sugar hit, mood lifted naturally. She hummed.
"But Daesu."
"Yeah, Hyein?"
"Um... hate to say it awkward-like, but... aren't you super girly now...?"
"........."
Plop.
Strength drained from Roderus's hand. Crepe hit the floor.
She stared down trembling. Legs neatly together—no panty flash—tilted ladylike. Utterly feminine.
When... from when?
T-shirt chafing sensitive chest hurt too much, dragged Oh Hyein bra shopping?
Or Kim Lulu's "Sit like that, panties showing! Boys see!" brutal truth?
Or when mala tang tasted good...?
Pale-faced, Oh Daesu kicked open the roof door and bolted. Skipped school straight through the gate to Oh Hyein's house, slammed the front door open.
"Munch, get out!!"
Masculinity in crisis.
Oh Daesu practically screamed.
"When's the repair done?! I mean, when?!"
"Calm down first mong. Deep breaths, drink some water."
"Water's not the point! Look at the mess I'm in right now..."
"Five days left mong."
Eh?
Oh Daesu's body locked up.
"Wh-what...?"
"Five days left mong. Figured it was no biggie, so I let it slide mong. Year maybe not notice, but five days... you'll be back in your man's body mong."
"Five days... five...?"
Relief. Pure relief.
Oh Daesu sighed in earnest. Dodged full-on girl brain and body takeover... yeah, that'd be bad. But now a firm timeline.
Just five days, back to male form.
"........."
Good news. Totally.
So why this heaviness? Why the thick disappointment creeping in one corner? Returning to male was all she'd wished for.
As Oh Daesu drowned in confusion, Munch drove the nail.
"Yup mong. No more Magical Girl duties—total freedom mong!"
".........Freedom."
Then Roderus got it. The reason for the disappointment.
Right.
She'd revert from Oh Daesu to Roderus. No longer a Magical Girl. Fine by her—she wasn't some fight-high junkie.
Truth was, better than battling: tasty snacks, PC bangs with Lulu, chats with Hyein.
But now, over.
Oh Hyein reclaims the transformation device. No excuse to mooch at her place. No more school.
Kim Lulu... doesn't know Roderus is a guy. Reveal it? Lied, or total disgust.
What Roderus thought she'd gained? All Oh Daesu's. And Oh Daesu wasn't Roderus.
Roderus muttered,
"...Freedom, yeah. Sounds good."
"You look thrilled—relieved mong!"
Roderus swept her pale face with a hand, staggered to lean on her doorframe. No glance back at Munch:
"...Feeling off today. Gonna hole up in my room—don't bother me."
"Gotcha mong."
"........."
Thud.
Door shut.
Huddled under the covers, Roderus bolted upright at an ominous vibe. Shuffled to the window.
Rooooaaar.
Weather turning ugly. Thick clouds spiraling in turbulent flows. Prime sunshine hour, yet the world grayed out.
Rain coming.
Kim Lulu and Oh Hyein still in class—meet with umbrellas?
But seeing their faces now...
"Roderus-!!"
"...Munch?"
Roll roll roll.
Mascot Munch barreled into the room in a panic. Told her not to enter.
Meant to scold, but Munch's face was too frantic. Staring at the outdoor vortex:
"Declaration of war mong. From the evil organization!"
"...What're you talking about."
"In six days... they'll launch the final all-out assault to settle everything. 'Block if you dare'—message arrived mong...!!"
"Sudden, what the...!!"
Then, Roderus and Munch realized it together. Thoughts aligned, words cut off, cold silence dropped.
Announced assault: six days away.
Roderus's device repair: five days.
One-day gap.
On assault day, Roderus wouldn't be a Magical Girl.
Silence broken awkwardly by Munch:
"...Pretend you didn't hear mong."
"........."
Munch trotted out, tail neatly shutting the door.
Tap, drip. Light rain pattered the window.
The storm brewed. In reality, in dreams, in his heart.