Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Underground Level 13
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Finished up the work and returned to the break room.
Pulled a canned coffee from the vending machine and sat down in the corner seat.
Around me, the other managers were gathered, chatting idly.
"Did you see the new girl who came into C Zone yesterday? Man, what a killer body. Tits like watermelons."
"Oh, that Resistance chick, 'Magical Pure'? I saw her too. But I heard she's still super rebellious, so it's tough to get close."
"Rebellious my ass. Just pump her full of drugs and let a few tentacles loose on her—she'll be tame in no time. Wanna bet? I'll stake my paycheck she spreads her legs within three days."
They cackled as they traded vulgar jokes.
Their talk was crude and disgusting, but in this place, it was utterly commonplace.
I sipped my coffee and listened in on their conversation.
Information gathering.
This correction facility housed and remodeled magical girls, but it was also a playground for demon experiments.
New training tools, novel aphrodisiacs, mana extraction devices—all sorts of bizarre contraptions were tested here.
And the test subjects were, naturally, the magical girls.
"Hey, you hear? The lab cooked up some new parasite this time."
One guy lowered his voice.
"Parasite? Another tentacle monster or what?"
"Nah, this one's different. It parasites directly into the brain and stimulates the pleasure center. Every time the host feels sexual pleasure, it generates mana and sends it back to the main body—something like that."
"Oho, sounds good. So the girls would be in heat 24/7."
"Yep. And get this—the parasite's got its own ego, so it even chats with the host. They'd go insane."
My heart sank in an instant.
A brain parasite that talks to its host?
That sounded just like my situation.
Was Nipple one of these things?
'Hey, Nipple. You know anything about that?'
I asked him inwardly.
The guy snorted.
"Hmph, don't compare me, a noble royal, to some cheap artificial lifeform. Makes my skin crawl."
'What's the difference?'
"Worlds apart! Those are just mechanical lumps running pre-programmed scripts. I'm a great soul with my own personality! And crucially..."
He trailed off.
"Those eat away at their hosts from the inside, but I coexist with mine. If you die, I die. If I die, you die. That's why I take such good care of you. Be grateful."
He had a point.
Over the past ten years, he'd never truly tried to harm me.
On the contrary, whenever my life was in danger, he'd warn me first and tell me how to handle it.
Though his "solutions" were usually cowardly and underhanded.
"Hey, Kang Jinwoo!"
Someone called my name.
I looked up to see the Work Supervisor. He beckoned me with a grumpy expression.
"The director wants you. Head to her office right now."
The director?
A bad premonition flashed through me.
This place's director was a notorious sadist.
Human-born, but she'd sold her soul to the demons and turned more vicious than any devil.
No employee ever came back from a summons unscathed.
Most got dumped with horrific tasks like cleaning torture chambers or disposing of bodies. In the worst cases, they became her stress toys and ended up crippled.
"What's it about?"
"How should I know? Just go quick. If you're late, it'll be hell."
The supervisor waved me off irritably.
I stood up.
Nipple snickered.
"Oho, the inevitable has arrived. Looks like the director's got her eye on you."
"Don't jinx it."
I scolded him as I headed into the hallway.
The director's office was on the top floor.
As the elevator rose, I steeled myself.
No matter what came, don't panic. I'm an actor pretending to be brainwashed. Dumb, loyal manager Kang Jinwoo.
Ding.
The doors opened to a hallway carpeted in red.
The walls on both sides were lined with grotesque paintings of magical girls in agony.
I stood before the massive door at the end.
A plaque read: [Director's Office - No Entry].
I took a deep breath and knocked.
"Come in."
A languid, sensual voice drifted out.
I opened the door and entered.
The room was dim. Only a few candles flickered softly.
A woman sat on a leather sofa, legs crossed.
Black leather corset, fishnet stockings. A wine glass in her hand.
Director Camilla.
She sipped her wine, red lipstick staining the rim, and eyed me.
"Manager Kang Jinwoo. That's you, right?"
"Yes! It is! Long live the Demon King!"
I bellowed my reply with a salute.
Camilla smirked.
"You've got some lungs on you. Come closer."
I shuffled forward hesitantly.
A thick mix of perfume and blood wafted from her.
"You handled Prism Pink today, didn't you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Saw the new report. Impressive stuff. Got her to climax with electric torture?"
Her eyes gleamed.
Ah, Elise must've filed it. Good thing it was positive.
"You're too kind. I just did my best managing the merchandise."
"Humble too. Rare talent."
Camilla rose and approached me.
Her high heels clicked sharply against my ears.
She gripped my chin and tilted it up. Cold fingers brushed my skin.
"So, I've got a special assignment for you."
"Sp-special assignment?"
"Yeah. Very important. And secret."
She leaned in, lips brushing my ear as she whispered.
"Tonight, come to Underground Level 13. I'll let you meet the 'special management target' there."
Underground Level 13?
I thought this building only went down to Level 10.
Reading my mind, Nipple whispered.
"Whoa, jackpot. From what I know, Underground Level 13 connects to my homeland. Rumor has it 'those ones' are locked down there."
'Those ones?'
"The original magical girls. Legendary first-gen. The ultimate warriors who went toe-to-toe with the Demon King."
My heart pounded wildly.
The originals? My childhood heroes were down there?
But I kept a blank, dumb face and parroted back.
"Underground Level 13? There's a place like that?"
"Heh, you'll see when you get there. Look forward to it. Chance to show your stuff."
Camilla patted my chest and winked.
"Fail, though... you know what happens? I'll cut off that thing of yours and feed it to the dogs."
Her gaze flicked to my crotch.
A chill ran through me.
"Understood! I'll give it my all!"
I saluted thunderously again.
As I walked the hallway, I asked Nipple.
'Hey, anything else you know about Underground Level 13?'
"Not much. But if it's really linked to my home, I might figure it out quick?"
'What kinda vague bullshit is that, you perv?'
"Relax. Just trust your perv. You just enjoy."
Enjoy? In this situation? No way.
But another thought crossed my mind.
Meeting the original magical girls.
What would they look like? Still beautiful after ten years? Or broken by time and demon torture?
Didn't matter.
Either way, I'd save them.
That's why I'd survived this hellish world.
Back to B Zone.
Passing Prism Pink's room, I heard muffled sobs inside.
I paused for a moment.
Wanted to go in and comfort her, but I couldn't. CCTV watching, other managers' eyes everywhere.
I clenched then unclenched my fist.
Quitting time approached.
Time to head to Underground Level 13.
In the locker room, I rechecked my gear.
Stun baton battery, emergency mana neutralizer ampoules.
And the most important thing.
Nipple whispered in my ear.
"Hey, you pack it?"
"Pack what?"
"Condoms, condoms! You never know. Big chance might drop."
"You're insane. Like I know what's coming. Condoms? Piss off."
I ignored him and slammed the locker shut.
But my hand had unconsciously slipped one into my pocket.
Damn, catching his habits.
Rode the elevator to Underground Level 10.
Level 10 housed the machine rooms and waste disposal.
Dank, humid air hung heavy.
Headed to the freight elevator in the corner.
The button panel only showed down to -10.
But punching in Camilla's secret code revealed a hidden button.
[-13]
Glowing red.
I swallowed hard and pressed it.
Vrrr-
The elevator shuddered heavily, descending.
The display raced: -11... -12...
Finally, -13.
Ding.
The doors parted.
The sight before me stopped my breath.
It was hell.
The vast underground chamber was blanketed in purple crystals, countless capsules lined between them.
And inside those capsules...
'This can't be real...'
I thought blankly.
The legendary heroes slumbered within.
[Saint Teresa], [Sword Empress Valkyria], [Grand Mage Luna]...
The women from textbooks, eyes closed peacefully like sleeping princesses in the woods.
But their bodies were hooked to horrific devices.
Tentacles coiled around them, tubes plunged into vital spots, pumping in unidentified fluids.
"Welcome, Kang Jinwoo."
Camilla's voice echoed from the shadows.
She stood before the largest central capsule.
Inside lay a woman shining more brilliantly than any, yet more wretchedly broken.
"Let me introduce her. This is the 'Original Magical Girl Leader,' [Solaris]. Say hi. She's your new 'toy' to manage starting today."