Grow Up Already

"Thank you."

I bought a soda-flavored ice cream from the snack bar.

There were chocolate and pear flavors too, but after some serious deliberation, I went with soda.

After all, soda's the classic.

"Hey, kiddo, take this one too and share it with your friends."

As I finished paying and turned to leave, the clerk called out to me.

The clerk held out another ice cream.

"I'm good, really."

"No, I want to give it to you."

No, seriously, I'm fine.

I don't even have anyone to give it to in the first place.

Seoyeon might be the only option, but that girl's a swimming monster right now—I'd rather not run into her.

"Don't feel bad, just take it."

Her expression was dead serious, like she was on a mission to hand over this ice cream.

Guess I had no choice.

"Sure."

Reluctantly, I accepted the extra ice cream.

Now, who to give it to...

One ice cream in my mouth, the other in my hand, I wandered the waterpark.

Everyone seemed fully absorbed in their water fun now, so the stares aimed my way had died down a lot. Thanks to that, I'd gotten used to the bikini.

Now... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it only embarrassed me a little. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Not like it didn't embarrass me at all.

"Everyone's having a blast. What's so fun about splashing around in water?"

Over there, Hong Jia was stuck with Seoyeon again, learning to swim. Where'd all that dignity she flashed at the newbie go? She flailed around like a drowned rat.

Poor thing. She should've dodged like I did.

I slipped away before Seoyeon could spot me.

.

.

.

"Nothing here, huh."

Searching for a spot to crash, I'd wandered to a secluded corner.

That's when I heard it—a sound from somewhere.

Someone crying.

Peeking over, there was that newbie from earlier.

"What're you doing back there?"

Polite thing would've been to walk on by, but leaving him like that felt kinda wrong.

"Wh-what?!"

He jumped at my voice, frantically wiping his tears.

Too late—I'd already seen everything. What was the point?

"Want some ice cream? Got one left."

"No thanks. Scram."

"It's good, though."

I held out the ice cream, but the newbie wouldn't even look at me, just waved me off.

Fine, whatever.

If he didn't want it, I'd eat both. It was starting to melt anyway.

"...Gimme."

"Huh?"

I was already tearing open the wrapper when the newbie spoke up.

"Hand it over. The ice cream."

Sheesh, should've said so sooner.

I passed the half-unwrapped ice cream to the newbie.

His eyes were all puffy. How hard had he cried?

"...It's melted."

"Still edible."

I'd felt it earlier—it was soft, sure.

But still cold enough to eat like a slushie. Way better than rock-hard anyway.

"You here to make fun of me too?"

"Even I wouldn't go out of my way to find a stranger just to mess with 'em when I've got nothing better to do."

"...Fair enough."

Looked like he'd gotten chewed out by Hong Jia, then the rest of the guild piled on.

Still, crying over that? He was a guy, wasn't he?

"That scolding earlier got to you?"

I squatted down next to the newbie.

"None of your business. You're annoying—go away."

"I gave you ice cream."

"You gave it."

"You took it."

The newbie started to say something, then clamped it down and shook his head.

"Whatever. No point yelling at a brat."

He let out a sigh.

"Fine, might as well ask while we're at it. Who the hell are you? What's your deal with the guild master that you waltz in and out of Gwangwon like you own the place?"

"Curious?"

The newbie looked at me, eyes screaming he actually wanted to know.

"Not telling."

As if.

I had no idea what rumors floated around inside Gwangwon, but everyone there probably sensed I wasn't just some normie.

This guy, though? Clueless even about that.

"You little..."

"Feeling better now?"

I cut him off before he could keep going.

The newbie grudgingly nodded, like he had to admit it.

"Don't take it too hard. Hong Jia doesn't hate you that much."

She'd chewed him out as an example, but it came from concern in the end.

Erosion zones were deadly—anyone could die if things went south. And this doll was an unknown variable, totally unconfirmed.

If anything, leaving the newbie behind showed Gwangwon treated their members like actual humans.

"I know. I was too harsh on the old man too..."

The newbie trailed off, hanging his head.

"Good to hear."

He'd been so rude earlier.

Guess he was just young and messed up.

"...Still pisses me off, though."

"That mad about missing the subjugation?"

"I joined Gwangwon for doll hunts from the start. Thought this was finally my shot. I'm A-rank, the hunt's A-rank—why treat me like dead weight?"

No wonder Seoyeon didn't trust Management Bureau ranks much.

Kids these days were way too hung up on them.

"I saw it up close, and Awakener ranks don't mean as much as you think."

Below S-rank, the Bureau just did a quick check and slapped on a label. It was basically just raw output high or low.

By that metric, I'd have been C-rank when I first started as a magical girl.

"Then what do they judge on?"

I couldn't help but smirk at that.

"Stick it out, and you'll figure it out eventually. Erosion zones aren't for showing off powers like you imagine."

"......"

I stood up.

Seoyeon'd start worrying soon. Hopefully she wouldn't make me swim now.

"One bit of senior advice, though: don't give up, and your chance'll come someday."

"As if you know—how long you even been at it?"

A bit too long, honestly. Long enough I wanted to quit.

"See ya."

If someone's crying, a magical girl's duty is to lend a hand first—but honestly, I was more worried.

With a mindset that fragile, he wouldn't last through a single erosion dive. Trauma would eat him alive quick.

Maybe that's why Gwangwon left him out. Mental strength mattered more than raw power.

"...Thanks. For the ice cream."

The newbie murmured as I walked away.

I gave him a small smile.

Hope this makes him grow a little.

Back with Seoyeon, I was instantly demoted to plaything again.

I humored her through water slides and ball games till she was satisfied.

Sunset hit, and Keter came to pick me up. I yanked open the car door and collapsed in the back seat.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Nah, just got tormented by Seoyeon the whole time."

Keter let out a soft chuckle at my words.

"How's Gebura doing?"

"Curled up on Seoyeon's shoulder like a cat, doing great."

"Good to hear."

Maybe it was the impersonator incident with that Malkuth mascot. Keter's voice dipped a little asking about Gebura.

Keter had nine little siblings.

Four went missing during the Great Subjugation—he knew their fates. But the other five? Still unaccounted for.

And the Malkuth we met was one of them. No wonder Keter was getting antsy.

"How's the investigation?"

"Ongoing. Shall I brief you on the progress?"

"Nah. Tell me when it's all wrapped up. Details are a hassle."

"Understood. Rest if you're tired."

"Yeah."

I pulled up Esostar and uploaded the last pic with Seoyeon and Hong Jia.

Seoyeon wanted swimsuit shots, but that'd be too fanservicey—I shut it down.

Wonder what the magi-fans are up to.

The magigal was buzzing with yet another fresh doll subjugation thread.

Dawn Guild—once neck-and-neck with Gwangwon, now dubbed relics—must've picked up a request.

"Eh, they'll handle it."

Grade-4 at worst.

Plus, Kim Doa was probably watching.

Time for some shut-eye. I was beat today.

I leaned against the window. Closed my eyes. City lights streaked by.

Meanwhile, at the Management Bureau.

Kim Doa's on-duty night.

With minimal staff holding down the fort, she sipped coffee while scrolling Esostar.

No one knew, but Kim Doa loved cute stuff. In that sense, her colleague Baek Yuri was a terrifying child.

Always going on about being an old man inside, yet prancing around doing the cutest things.

That pic she just posted? Same deal. If she wanted old-man treatment, maybe stop acting like that.

And today she even showed up in a bikini. Unbelievable.

Has she been a girl so long her mind turned girly too?

Even Kim Doa thought that made sense.

Back during the Great Subjugation, Yuri'd been all rough-and-tumble.

How'd she end up like this? Eh, cute was cute.

Kim Doa closed Esostar and eyed the doc ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠listing guilds that'd entered erosions today.

Dawn Guild.

They'd gotten wrecked by that Grade-1 mermaid recently—worrisome—but solid vets all around.

"They won't go full wipe."

Overtime, all-nighters, even helping Keter investigate—she hadn't caught a break.

Gotta nap a bit.

Kim Doa reclined her chair and shut her eyes.

Wishing the day would end quick.

Weeeeng—

The alarm blared. Emergency rescue request—from Dawn.

"Ugh..."