Popularity Surge: Magical Girl Emergency
My popularity was skyrocketing—a magical girl emergency. Not like I was taking off, but like real shit was hitting the fan.
After wrapping up shopping with Seoyeon and dragging myself home, I crashed out hard. When I finally woke up, my phone was blowing up with notifications like crazy.
The culprit? Esostar.
I'd had it on silent, so I hadn't noticed. They'd been piling up nonstop. No wonder the damn thing felt warm.
“What the hell is this?”
I hadn't even posted anything on Esostar, so none of this made sense. My profile was still blank—no pic, no bio, nothing. Just friended Seoyeon and got tagged once.
Was Seoyeon that big a deal?
But that wasn't the half of it.
With a bad feeling, I checked the Magical Girl Gallery. It was all about me.
Everyone was guessing I was some new A-rank awakener and a fresh Gwangwon Guild member. And since Gwangwon's recruit was supposedly a guy, rumors were flying that I was actually a cute boy.
Started digging right when the rumors kicked off.
1. Not with Gwangwon
2. Not a high-rank awakener
3. It's a girl (super important)
These three are solid intel.
My personal guess? Just a regular person close to the gallery master.
The gallery's infamous info broker, SunMageDayo, had done some digging on me. The post only had surface-level stuff.
And that "Containing the Afterlife" commenter? Had to be Hong Jia. Why's she acting like that when she's with Gwangwon?
Anyway, even that big-shot broker wouldn't know my real identity.
Except for Seoyeon, who was flaunting herself on purpose, the Management Bureau had a tight lock on all magical girl info.
This was bad, though. “Didn't think about the fallout.”
I'd made the account in a huff yesterday, swept up in the moment.
No way I expected this kind of backlash.
“Miss, breakfast is ready.”
Keter's voice came from the living room.
Right. Even Mount Geumgang is best after a meal.
I'll think while eating.
I left my room and sat at the table.
Today's menu: doenjang soup, kimchi, spinach namul, rolled omelet. Classic Korean fare.
I always wonder—I'm barely beyond kimchi fried rice, so how the hell does Keter nail this stuff? She's just that smart, I guess.
Nom nom nom.
Damn, it's good.
“Miss, what are your plans for Esostar?”
What? How'd she know?
Was I that famous already?
“That look says you're wondering how I knew. Seoyeon told me directly yesterday.”
“I see.”
As if. Total overreaction.
Seoyeon's got a big mouth around Keter.
“Wasn't planning to do much with it. Didn't expect this kind of reaction.”
“Seoyeon's got ten million followers. Trickle-down effect made it predictable. And you're you, miss.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“SNS stars prioritize looks above all.”
Keter said it straight-faced.
SNS star? Like, what, I'm a celebrity now?
“You do Esostar too, Keter? You seem to know your stuff.”
“I've heard of it. No reason to, so I didn't. But after hearing you'd started, I gathered info.”
Figured as much.
Keter's not the social media type.
She has a personal phone, but I've never seen her goof off on it. Doesn't even watch YouTube.
Purely business. Most important calls come through her anyway.
“Honestly, I made it on impulse, so I'm thinking of just letting it die. Don't really want my info out there.”
Yesterday's culture shock had me going along with Seoyeon too easily.
Best move: let it fade.
People would forget eventually.
“No, miss. Absolutely not.”
Keter's eyes went wide.
“Huh?”
“It's an opportunity. Flip it on them. Post photos steadily to cement the 'normie' image, and it'll fully separate you from the magical girl side.”
She'd been thinking that far ahead.
I'd considered it too when I started.
Might actually help hide my identity as a second persona among awakeners.
“But managing it sounds annoying. Gotta post pics and all that.”
My life's YouTube in bed, lurking Magical Girl Gallery, eating Keter's food, sleep.
Me taking pics and posting? Hassle city.
“I'll handle shooting and management.”
“You?”
“Yes. You just spare a little time, miss.”
“Ugh.”
Keter's staring with those expectant eyes.
Can't say no to that.
“Fine. Do whatever.”
Just a bit of time? Should be okay.
“Then after breakfast, we'll start right away.”
“Right now?”
“You're riding the trickle-down wave now—that's the moment.”
True enough.
“A bit more smile there would be perfect.”
“Like this?”
“Excellent.”
Post-breakfast, Keter took charge of the shoot. She brought some weird girly outfit at first—I nixed it, compromised on a plain tee.
Two days straight in women's clothes? Nah.
Click.
“You're truly adorable, miss.”
“Doesn't make me happy at all.”
I sighed.
Checked the account—Keter had already posted.
Ha... is this really okay?
In the pic, I looked like an innocent little girl. Pure, harmless.
Even I had to admit—cute as hell.
Comments flooded in—all praise. Followers kept climbing.
Is this fine for a magical girl?
Followers exploded overnight. Not just Korea—international interest too. Cute sells worldwide, apparently.
Meanwhile, the Magical Girl Gallery was drowning in my rumors until the gallery master finally drew her sword.
Anyone mentioning dbfld_0520 after this gets banned. Thanks.
Obviously.
Don't want my pics circulating there.
“My hands are itching.”
Hah. What a cold reply.
Then my phone rang. Kim Doa.
Nothing wrong, but why's it so hard to pick up?
Swallowed my dread and answered.
“What's up.”
“Huh, picked up quick. Thought you'd be busy with Esostar.”
“How'd you know? Even for the Bureau, digging into personal stuff is too much, right?”
“Keter told me.”
Seoyeon to Keter before, now Keter to Doa.
Who's next?
Soon every magical girl will know my business.
“You didn't see my pic, did you?”
“Not important.”
“Why not deny it.”
You saw it.
The cute pose one.
Kraaaah!
“That's not the point.”
“Then what is.”
The little boy inside me just got chipped away.
Worried he'll vanish completely.
“Bureau Chief wants you.”
Bureau Chief? Haven't heard that name in ages.
Not since my last screw-up.
“Why suddenly?”
“Weird incident involving a magical girl.”
“Believe it or not, not me this time.”
“I know. Just listen.”
“Then spit it out—I'm busy.”
Esostar 100K follower owner here.
Comments still rolling in.
“Some creep impersonating a magical girl showed up in Seoul. Looks like the Chief wants you on it.”
“What?”
No way—now we've got magical girl impersonators?