The Fake Counselor Dreams of the Sunny Side (3)
"Why'd you show up so late? We almost burned all the meat eating without you."
"Sorry, sorry. A complaint came in right as I was heading out."
"You handle complaints even after work? You've got the worst luck. Just quit already."
The women at the table chimed in from both sides. The woman sitting across from Kim Na-young was Choi Su-jin, an E-grade magical girl from the same district office as Park Min-jeong.
Choi Su-jin and Kim Na-young were Park Min-jeong's longtime friends, and they occasionally got together like this for drinks.
"But seriously, this is ridiculous. Hey, Choi Su-jin."
"Yeah?"
"Those guys you said you'd bring. They're really not coming?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, well..."
"Min-jeong's here too. Time to come clean, right?"
Under Kim Na-young's prodding, Choi Su-jin hemmed and hawed before letting out a deep sigh.
"I'm really sorry! Something urgent came up at his company. I'll give him an earful next time I see him."
"Overtime my ass, you bitch. All three of them pulling overtime at once?"
She snorted and slammed her soju glass down.
"I went all out getting my makeup done at the salon, dressed up nice, and for what? This shit."
Kim Na-young gestured to her outfit while grumbling.
Their getups definitely didn't match this dingy meat joint.
Off-shoulder blouse with sheer pantyhose. A deep-plunging sleeveless halter top paired with a leather miniskirt.
Park Min-jeong's was even more over-the-top...
Three beauties—dressed in skimpy clubwear no less—chugging soju. It was no wonder the guys around kept stealing glances.
"Haa... so I came out for nothing too."
"C'mon, it's been ages since we hung out~"
"Bullshit."
Park Min-jeong let out a deep sigh and downed her soju glass. The magical girl-grade liquor burned down her throat, warming her belly a bit.
But it was nothing compared to that heavy, sticky heat she'd felt in the stairwell earlier.
'That was straight-up insane.'
She unconsciously wiped her lips with her thumb. That guy's taste—that briny, sweet fluid—still lingered on her tongue.
"Hey, Park Min-jeong. You gonna eat or what? You've been spacing out. At least grill some meat if you're just gonna sit there."
Kim Na-young paused mid-wrap and asked.
"Huh? Nah, just tired."
"No wonder. She's been stressed out of her mind with complaints lately."
"Don't even get me started. Yesterday, some call about a slime in the sewer—turns out it was just algae buildup. Had to toss my clothes after cleaning that mess..."
Park Min-jeong casually brought up work to play it cool.
"The magical girl department is a joke. Higher-ups bitch about budgets, citizens call us tax thieves."
"Right? I keep telling you to quit. Freelancing's way easier. Decent money too."
"Freelancing easy? Don't act like I don't know you were busting your ass on day labor last week."
"Sure, but at least no boss breathing down my neck."
Day labor suited low-grade magical girls perfectly—if it matched their temperament, it was one of the best gigs for cash. Especially now, with tech imbalances making manual jobs pay damn well.
Superhuman strength and stamina. They could handle several times the workload of normals.
"Alright, alright."
Choi Su-jin giggled and topped off the glasses.
"Drink up. Nights like this, you drown it and forget. Who needs guys!"
"I do! Fuck, cheers!"
"Cheers~"
The three soju glasses clinked in the air.
Cling!
A few rounds in, the mood loosened up. Faces flushed pink, voices got louder.
But Park Min-jeong couldn't let loose. Something kept nagging at her.
'No smell, right?'
She discreetly leaned down and sniffed her cleavage. She'd wiped up in the bathroom and sprayed perfume, but the anxiety lingered.
Was it the booze? She still felt his scent clinging to her.
"Hm?"
That's when Choi Su-jin, sitting beside her, wrinkled her nose.
"You guys smell that?"
"Smell? It's the meat."
"No, not meat. Something weird."
Su-jin set down her chopsticks and glanced around. Her eyes landed on Min-jeong.
"Min-jeong."
"W-what?"
"It's coming from you."
"Me?!"
Park Min-jeong's heart dropped. She hastily tugged her collar and scooted back.
"W-what're you talking about? I showered before coming. Sprayed perfume too."
"Nah, it's mixed with the perfume..."
Su-jin dragged her chair closer, leaning in. Her nose twitched near Min-jeong's shoulder.
"Super... intense night-bloom scent."
"...!"
Min-jeong held her breath.
'Busted.'
Her mind went blank. She'd scrubbed so hard in the bathroom. Gargled, washed her face. How the hell was the smell still there?
"Night-bloom?"
Na-young perked up, turning her head.
"You mean that. Semen smell."
"Hey! Keep it down!"
"Don't change the subject. Got a guy?"
Choi Su-jin's eyes narrowed. Her boozy pupils sharpened.
"W-what? A guy? No."
"Bull. The stench is overpowering."
Kim Na-young piled on. Propping her chin, she stared at Min-jeong, sniffing loudly.
"Sniff, sniff. See? Crystal clear. Not just night-bloom. It's like..."
Na-young furrowed her brow, twirling her finger in the air for the right word.
"Fresh-squeezed."
"Pfft!"
Min-jeong nearly spat her water. She clamped her mouth, coughing.
"Hey! Voices down! Everyone'll hear!"
"Whatever. So, who's the guy? When'd you meet? Today? Before coming?"
"N-no! Why're you like this?!"
Min-jeong's face burned. These bitches had no tact—or too much. Magical girls' heightened senses were poison right now.
"You weren't late from a complaint, right? Met your man and that's why."
"..."
"Ooh, no denial! Wow, Park Min-jeong. Naughty girl, huh? Acting all busy with us."
Su-jin lightly punched her shoulder, feigning betrayal.
"We're friends, right? Friends share the good stuff!"
"Share what? He's not a damn object!"
"Then at least spill! Who's he? Name? Age? Job?"
The booze made them twice as relentless. Denying all night was pointless.
'Haa... no choice.'
Min-jeong squeezed her eyes shut. To defuse this, she'd toss them some bait.
"Fine, I'll tell you. Happy?"
"Ooh! For real?"
"Hot guy?"
"How old? What does he do?"
Min-jeong slammed a shot and spoke.
"Just feeling each other out."
"Feeling out?"
"Yeah. Haven't been seeing him long."
Na-young eyed her suspiciously.
"Not long, and you already reek that bad? Fast mover."
"Th-that's how it is now! Sex first, love later! You know, sex first!"
"Heh..."
Su-jin and Na-young exchanged looks and grinned lewdly.
"Thought our civil servant Min-jeong was a prude. Turns out she's in heat."
"Her pussy must be flooded—"
"You bitches! Enough! Drop it!"
Min-jeong stuffed a wrap in her mouth to end it. But their curiosity was just revving up.
"Not answering half the questions and done? Specs? Specs matter."
"You're gonna spill eventually. Might as well now."
Min-jeong's head spun. No way she could tell the truth.
'Neighbor NEET who's actually blackmailing me with my weakness, a total villain, and I just blew him in the stairwell.'
Like hell! Her magical girl pride wouldn't allow it.
She racked her brain, picturing him. Messy hair, baggy tracksuit, sleazy eyes...
No, that'd tank it. What then?
Suddenly, the cert he'd flashed in the stairwell popped into her head.
Mana Sensitivity Psychological Counselor
Yeah, this might work. Lying outright wasn't her style anyway.
"H-his job's professional."
"Professional? Ooh, doctor? Lawyer?"
"Kinda. Counselor."
"Counselor?"
Su-jin tilted her head, a bit disappointed.
"Just a counselor? How's that professional? Don't they make shit?"
"No! Not just any—he's a magical girl specialist psychologist or something."
"Whoa."
The table vibe flipped instantly.
"No way!"
"Seriously? Magical girl specialist? Awakened mana circuit?"
"Uh... yeah."
Min-jeong nodded on reflex. Their eyes went wide.
"Those guys are blowing up lately."
"Damn, Park Min-jeong scores big? Where'd you snag him?"
The reaction was hotter than expected. Mental health pros for magical girls were hot commodities—dream partners.
"R-right? Pretty capable guy."
"Tall?"
"Uh... don't remember exactly. Above average, probably."
"Looks?"
"Kinda sharp-featured...?"
Handsome? Delinquent fit better, but...
Her vague answers fueled their fantasies.
Hot professional fling.
Min-jeong was too drained to correct them.
"But..."
Na-young fiddled with her glass, voice sly. Her gaze lingered on Min-jeong's chest.
"How's he in bed?"
"Hey!"
"That's the key part. Sex first, right? Gotta click there to date."
"Kyaa, good one!"
'These bitches...'
Min-jeong's face turned beet red again.
Sexual chemistry.
The word triggered a flash: stairwell sensations, bed memories.
Beast-like thrusts. That hot fullness stuffing her core.
Couldn't call it "good," but reliving it...
"Ooh, look at her blush."
"Bet it was amazing!"
They teased mercilessly.
"N-no! Just... average!"
"Liar. The smell said it all. You were wrecked."
"Not like that!"
"Fine, fine. You pay tonight. Congrats on the guy."
"What? Why me!"
"Jealous? Introduce him then. Gotta check out the girl who swore off men forever."
Na-young smirked. Min-jeong paled.
Introduce? Hell no.
'You idiots have no clue! That creep might target you next—could be watching right now...'
"No way. Don't wanna~ We'll put in a good word. Pleeease?"
"Ugh, nooo!"
Min-jeong's voice pitched high unwittingly. Nearby uncles glanced over, but embarrassment wasn't the issue.
As Min-jeong freaked, Su-jin—grilling meat—nodded.
"Yeah, desperate or not, you don't steal a friend's man. No morals?"
"You crazy bitches. Who's stealing?"
Na-young chuckled dryly, tossing her hair.
"Just wanna session with him. Counseling."
"Counseling...?"
"Yeah. My condition's shit lately."
Na-young sighed deeply.
"You know how it is. Switched to freelance, took every gig. Sewer slime hunts—been in there ten times at least."
"True. You've stacked some cash."
"Money's nice, but... can't sleep. Sleep paralysis worse, mana circuit feels clogged every time, like chest tightness."
Na-young thumped her chest.
"Docs say stress, prescribe sleep pills. Helps short-term, that's it."
"Hmph, apply for a specialist yourself. Why beg me?"
"Well... friend referral makes it smoother, y'know."
That was the real aim!
Crazy for dick, these girls. Even as old friends, they were selfish as hell. Park Min-jeong huffed, slamming her glass.
"Just drink, bitch."
"Aww, really?"
"I'll buy! There, done! End of discussion!"
"Kyaa~"
The mood heated up again. As the women's voices rose, empty bottles piled higher.
They had no clue Jeong Ji-un was tailing them.