Chewy Bliss and Frilly Compromises

Chewy-chewy. "Nom nom."

Dduchokku? Tteokjunku? Whatever this stuff was, it was insanely good.

It passed with flying colors right from the start with its crazy sweetness, and the chewy texture made every bite a delight.

The only downside was how the powder rained down everywhere with each chomp, but aside from that? Perfection.

My number one snack throne had always belonged to macarons. But it was time to hand over the crown. The era of tteokjunku had dawned.

I sipped the milk Keter had prepared and checked my phone.

On the way back after yesterday's subjugation, I'd reported everything to Kim Doa—the sudden pitch-black fog that ambushed us, the 1st-grade doll commanding shadows, the whole deal.

Kim Dohee started with "Are you okay?" before launching into a full nagging session. But she ended with a thank-you, at least.

Man, she really hates giving compliments.

And that same day, news hit that Seoul B District was under blockade.

The Awakener Magical Girl Gallery was blowing up with blockade bait posts.

"Hmm. Is that a big deal? Back in my day, this was every day."

I said that, but I got it.

A 1st-grade doll popping up in Seoul, the safest place? Total chaos was warranted.

The Management Bureau was just repeating "We're investigating" on loop.

Makes sense—they still hadn't figured out why the 1st-grade doll and fog appeared out of nowhere.

I'd never seen it before either, so no help there.

They even rechecked erosion levels, and nothing had changed from before.

What the hell was that thing, anyway?

"Hmm."

Scrolling down, a title caught my eye.

Even though my body's a total babe, the dude inside me was still alive and kicking, huh? Couldn't just scroll past it.

I tapped in with reverence.

"Ah."

The post was a photo of some unforgivably grotesque food abomination.

More repulsive than those giant tentacles from yesterday.

Mabingbing, you're dead to me.

"Ugh."

The Mabung crew was trash-talking me nonstop.

I'll remember you all.

Next time, I'll snap some gross pics in an erosion zone and flood the feed at dawn.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

"Miss, is the snack to your liking?"

Keter approached, removing her glasses after finishing her tasks.

"Yeah. Super tasty."

"I'm glad it suits your palate."

The first thing Keter learned after humanizing was cooking.

She couldn't stand the junk I usually ate, or so she said.

Anyway, now she makes whatever I request.

"Banwol Guild contacted us regarding the reward split from this subjugation."

"What do they want?"

"A 9-to-1 split."

"Them getting 9?"

"The opposite."

"Us getting 9?"

"Yes."

Should've let Kim Dohee land the finishing blow. Kid's spirit is crushed.

"Just let them have it all. Send it even if they refuse."

"Understood. Also, the 1st-grade subjugation has been logged as assisted by the Management Bureau."

"Good job."

I don't like getting famous, honestly.

Couldn't avoid it back then, but now I can hide like this. Management Bureau's great for that.

Click.

Huh?

"What're you doing?"

I turned to see Keter snapping a photo of me with her phone.

"Capturing a moment from everyday life."

"What kinda sudden nonsense is that?"

"After yesterday's intense battle, I assessed you'd accumulated mental fatigue and needed a boost of miss-energy. So I decided to preserve this precious now in a photo."

She spoke so fast I barely caught half of it.

"Uh… wasn't the intense battle just for me?"

"Barrier arts consume significant stamina as well."

True enough.

Keter looked worn out for the first time in ages when she got back yesterday. But something felt off.

"What's 'miss-energy'… and why photograph me, anyway."

"Since you resumed activities, my duties have piled up, leaving us less time together. So I'm compensating with photos."

Hmm, fair point.

She'd always stuck by me since mascot days.

"Whatever, do what you want."

"Noted."

Fine. It's not like getting photographed wears me out.

Keter's like family. Gotta indulge her whims a bit.

After that, she kept snapping away. What did she even like about it?

Finally, mid-photo session, a message popped up.

I'm the one getting bullied here, no?

Come to think of it, I'd planned to swing by Gwangwon Guild anyway—for advice on this incident.

Hadn't seen Seoyeon in a while. Nothing else to do. Why not?

"Heading straight to Gwangwon. Get ready."

I told Keter, who wore a satisfied grin.

"Understood."

Oh right—what to wear?

I bolted to my room and flung open the closet.

T-shirt and shorts should do.

"Miss, here's your outfit."

"Eek! You scared me."

Keter had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠snuck up behind me with a shopping bag.

Why so fast? And this feels ominous.

Everything she'd given me so far was floaty and cute. Not my style.

Peeking inside, there were several pieces.

"What's all this?"

"I bought new types, different from the ones you've rejected so far."

I pulled them out one by one.

Leggings, short pants, blouse. Strap top.

Oh my god.

"You want me to wear this?"

"I believe it's far more acceptable than the last batch."

"Th-this is embarrassing! How am I supposed to go out in this?"

"Personally, I find the magical girl outfit more embarrassing."

"Like I said last time, that's unavoidable battle gear!"

"That outfit was made to your exact specifications because you—"

"Still hate it."

Keter clutched the bag to her chest.

"Couldn't you wear it just once?"

She pulled a floaty dress from the bag. Where'd that come from? Wasn't there earlier.

"Absolutely not."

"My body ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠feels like it's falling apart from overexerting on the barrier yesterday."

"Still no."

"Understood. If that's your will, I'll respect it."

Keter bowed her head and shuffled away pitifully slow.

"No, now I feel like the bad guy."

"Just once wouldn't hurt…"

She whipped around at my words.

I sighed deeply.

"Fine, I'll wear it. But only this once. No seconds."

"You'll wear it?"

"Yeah, I said I will!"

Keter beamed with emotion.

"This Keter shall serve you faithfully for life…"

"Quit the dramatics, seriously."

"Feels weird."

I sat on the bed in the floaty dress Keter handed me.

The magical girl outfit auto-equips on transform, so no big deal. But this? Manual dressing hits different.

Like the little dude in my soul was chipping away bit by bit.

Keter was extra pushy today, so I caved. But never again.

She seemed pleased and went to prep tea.

Meaning… I'm home alone.

"Hmm."

I snuck out my phone and opened the camera app.

Switched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to selfie mode.

Staring back was an insanely cute girl in a dress.

This is the magical girl life's top perk, hands down.

Never gets old.

"Yeah, just this once. Couldn't be helped."

Click.

Awkward angle, amateur shot, still cute.

Next, small V-sign with a smile.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

"Heh heh heh."

Hm?

Sensed a presence.

Turned around.

Keter stood there, hand over mouth.

"As expected, I knew you'd enjoy it too. But tea's ready—time to head out."

Euaaaagh.

"If you'd like, I can buy more similar outfits."

"No, I said no! Just… curious, that's all!"

"It's fine. You're the cutest in the world, so it's natural."

"Enough. Let's go to Gwangwon already."

"Understood."

Never. Never taking pics at home again.

I vowed it in my heart.