Let's Play in the Big Pond (1)
The next morning.
I'd spent a sweet time with Mom, but after yesterday's fiasco, things with my sisters were still in a cold war.
In the frosty atmosphere, only the sharp clinks of spoons against bowls echoed harshly.
Normally, the youngest, Su-young, would be chattering away to liven things up by now. But she'd left for mandatory national magical girl training a few days before I arrived...
Which meant the only way to break this heavy silence was my trump card.
Level 1, at that. Barely usable, but still.
"Ah, fuck. My stomach's killing me."
Second sis, Jeong Yu-min. She scratched her messy bird's nest hair and chugged her bean sprout soup.
Wearing just a stretched-out boxy T-shirt, every sip revealed dark shadows dipping below her collarbone. Her bra strap had slipped down to her arm, but she didn't even bother fixing it.
First sis was the total opposite. Even at home, she was in pristine silk robe, treating me like I was invisible—no glance my way.
And right next to me...
"Here, Ji-un. I deboned the fish... Eat this."
Mom, Lee So-hee, placed a piece of mackerel on my rice bowl.
"Ah, thanks."
"Mmm... Eat up. More rice?"
"No, I'm good."
When I looked up and met her eyes, she flinched and averted her gaze. Her nape flushed red.
Is she haunted by last night's memories?
But today, Mom wasn't my focus.
"Oh, right, I did the laundry! Keep eating, everyone—I'll be right back."
Seizing the moment Mom stepped out for chores, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Sis."
"......"
"I have something to say."
Yu-na didn't respond. But Yu-min did.
"Ugh, you're ruining my appetite. Hey, loser. Can't you shut your trap at the table? I'm about to puke from this hangover."
"It's important. Listen."
"Bullshit. Since when did anything from your mouth matter? You screw up or something?"
I kept my expression calm.
"That management company you two are starting."
That instant, Yu-na's gaze finally turned to me for the first time. Ice-cold eyes.
Raw contempt and disgust.
"Jeong Ji-un."
Her lips parted.
"Not knowing your place is a disease. I told you flat-out this isn't for you."
"Yeah, you psycho. Think it's some hole-in-the-wall shop? No place for a useless bum like you."
Yeah, get mad. But that's only for now.
"How's the blue ocean water quality in the industry these days?"
"What...?"
My random jargon made them both frown.
But only for a moment.
Their pupils dilated slightly, then contracted.
Yu-min's chopsticks froze mid-air. Yu-na's cup halted like someone hit pause.
"......"
"......"
Using the same trigger word? What rotten taste...
Level 1 hypnosis. Not sure how far it'd go, but redirecting their thoughts for a split second? Doable.
I didn't miss the opening, whispering suggestions fast and precise.
"You're pros."
"......"
"......"
"Pros don't get swayed by emotions. They judge by results and skill alone. That's your way—the reason you succeeded."
Yu-na's eyes lost focus, staring blankly. Yu-min's mouth hung slightly open.
"Hiring family on blood alone is nepotism. But excluding family without checking skills?"
"That's..."
Yu-na muttered unconsciously.
"Reverse discrimination... Irrational..."
"Right. Irrational. Not like you. Inefficient."
I leaned forward over the table, locking eyes.
"What if I've awakened my mana circuit? Or got some special talent you don't know about that could rake in massive profits? Tossing it without checking is dumping potential gains in the trash."
"Profits... In the trash..."
"A loss. Stupid."
Yu-min nodded blankly. 'Loss' hit her simple brain structure like a bullseye.
"Weigh the opportunity cost. Testing me costs zero. But if I'm worth it, the gains are infinite. Worst case, break even."
"Break even..."
Mom said she'd sneak me into the company behind their backs. Grateful, sure.
But how much say would Mom have in future ops? Obvious without asking.
She's kind and good-hearted, but betting the plan on that? Too risky.
The hypnosis faded. Life returned to their eyes. Yu-na rubbed her temples, frowning.
"Ugh..."
"My head... Drank too much?"
"So, what do you think?"
"Huh?"
She shook her head, glaring coldly again. But the emotion was subtly different.
Not blind hate—calculating scrutiny, like tapping a calculator.
"Hey, loser."
"Yeah."
"No clue what nonsense you just spouted."
Yu-min tilted her head cockily.
"But... you're not totally wrong? What, a test?"
"Yeah. Give me a shot."
"......"
Yu-na fiddled silently with her coffee cup. I could see the implanted suggestion clashing with her nature in her head.
'Putting a useless brother in the company? Embarrassing.'
'But ditching without checking? Bad business.'
'Don't get emotional, Yu-na. You're a pro.'
Yeah, something like that.
The longer the silence, the better my odds. I sipped water leisurely.
Clink.
Yu-na set her cup down.
"...Fine."
"Huh? Sis, for real?"
"Yeah. Getting emotional is amateur hour. Favoring family is lame, but blind hate for blood ties? Not cool."
"Sis, yeah, I guess... But me... Nah...?"
Hypnosis effects varied a bit. Good—landed solid on Yu-na.
"I'll give you a chance. But conditions."
"Shoot."
"Hate big mouths with no skills. Prove it."
She held up one finger.
"Simple: Show results we'd respect."
"Too vague."
"Fine, minimum C-grade or higher. Counseling record or signing an active magical girl. Whatever. If you really have that counselor cert and can survive this game, it's easy, right?"
Yu-na smirked coldly.
"One thing: Must be active. No retirees—Mom included. That's the bare minimum to even hand you our card. If you can't even talk to a C-grade, it proves you're trash."
Yu-min burst out laughing beside her.
"Puhahaha! Sis, too harsh? C-grade? How's this loser gonna snag one? He can't even talk to girls!"
"Then he leaves."
Yu-na cut in coldly.
"One week. Fail, and never mention the company again. Got it?"
"One week..."
"What, no confidence? Then tuck tail and crawl now."
Yu-min sneered.
A total outsider, a guy no less, landing a deal with an active C-grade in a week?
Industry common sense: Near impossible. As I said before, C-grades are the threshold for media spots. Difficulty skyrockets from there.
That's why the condition. Pretend fair, hand an impossible quest, make me quit.
But.
"Deal."
"...?"
Their faces twisted oddly at my instant reply.
"C-grade or higher in a week. I'll do it."
I already had a plan.
Right now, I had zero records consulting active magical girls, let alone C-grade or above. Kim Na-young was D-grade at best.
"Can't trot out a witch either."
I fiddled with the 'choker' in my pocket, muttering.
Two spare witch chokers issued after joining Nebula. Insane artifacts. Useless for now, though...
But I did know one active C-grade magical girl.
Jin Se-hee's daughter. The construction site hopper, Chae Yu-bin.
Her name hit like a weight in my gut.
I'd turned her mom into my lust dump and a witch. Now using the daughter as my ladder up...
'Ugh, you trash bastard.'
Yeah, no denying it.
Fucking Mom and exploiting her daughter's labor? What else is that?
But.
'Better than hauling cement bags on sites.'
Truth was, Yu-bin was wasting her magical girl talent, slaving in moldy basements to pay debts by lugging bricks. Making her part of a legit management firm with steady income?
'Win-win. No guilt, Ji-un. You're delivering good news.'
I chanted it like self-hypnosis. World's about results anyway. So what if the path's sleazy? Good outcome fixes the fate.
Before I knew it, I stood before the rusty iron gate.
'Whew.'
Appointment at 3. Ten minutes early, but I didn't wanna loiter—came ahead. Would wait if she wasn't home.
Knock, knock.
I lightly rapped the familiar door.
But.
Crash—thud! Noisy racket inside. Like someone scrambling, stubbing a toe on furniture. Urgent footsteps rushed to the entrance.
Bang!
Door flew open wildly, nearly off its hinges. White light poured from the gap like a flood.
"Teacher!"
Clear, bright voice. The sight hit me—I froze, breath caught.
"...?"
No trace of the 'construction grunt Chae Yu-bin' I knew.
The grubby kid in baggy work pants caked in dirt? Gone. Here was a polished beauty straight out a dream.
"You're early? I was prepping for 3 on the dot!"
Dazzling platinum blonde hair swayed. Spotless knit sweater, short skirt. At 150cm, she screamed 'protect me'.
I stared blankly down at her.
"Teacher? What's wrong? You okay?"
"Ah, no. Just... surprised."
"Surprised? Why? Something on my face?"
Yu-bin rubbed her cheek in panic.
"No, not that."
"Huh?"
"You're so different from usual. Almost didn't recognize you."
"Ah..."
She finally got it—face turned beet red. Pale skin made it pop.
"I-I... Heard you were coming, so... Dug this out after ages... I-Is it weird?"
She fidgeted with her skirt hem shyly.
"No. Now you look like a proper girl your age. Thought you were cute in work clothes, but dolled up? Whole new person."
Her red eyes widened. Mouth agape in disbelief, then bloomed into a flower-like smile.
"Hehe... Really? Phew..."
She grabbed my hand suddenly.
Grip.
Her small hands enveloped mine. Delicate-looking, but palms rough. Calluses.
"Ah..."
She yanked back, hiding them behind her.
"S-Sorry! Got too excited...! Hands are... rough, right? Washed 'em, but forgot lotion..."
"Haha, no. It's fine."
She bowed her head deep. Earlobes apple-red.
Definitely. That palm texture. Looks fragile, but calluses packed tight—rough as hell.
Magical girl heals in days. But it meant she busted ass daily on sites.
A prick in my chest, but I smiled casually.
"Proof you worked hard. Nothing to be ashamed of."
"Y-You saying that..."
Yu-bin beamed.
One compliment, and she lit up like a tail-wagging pup.
"Come in! It's humble, but... I cleaned!"
Room was cramped but tidy. No laundry piles or junk from last time.
"Where's Mom?"
"Oh, she went to work!" Yu-bin trailed me cheerfully.
"That company you hooked her up with! She's grinding so hard now? Kinda whines a bit, but total 180 from before!"
That...
"Good to hear. Sounds like she's settling in."
"All thanks to you. Really... Mom smiling again? Miracle."
She gazed up with misty eyes. Blind trust, heavy as lead.
She tucked hair behind her ear naturally.
Platinum strands brushed her white nape. Magical girl scent wafted.
"S-Sit! I'll prep tea!"
"Take your time."
I settled on the worn sofa. Yu-bin scurried to the kitchen.
Clink, clink.
Cups chimed merrily. Watching her back, I pondered.
Chae Yu-bin. C-grade magical girl. Zero combat exp, only 'super strength'. Debt-ridden site crawler.
Specs alone? No management would scout her. But she had desperation others lacked.
And above all.
Easy to handle. Sees me as savior—will buy whatever I say.
"Sorry for the wait?"
She approached with a tray.
"Black tea. And these cookies... Hope they suit you."
She set the cup carefully. Not cheap bags—loose leaf. Cookies looked bakery-fresh, not store junk.
"Looks good."
"Hehe... Careful, hot."
Yu-bin knelt primly on a cushion opposite, floor-level. Sofa narrow, but she insisted I take the 'head' spot.
She watched my every move, like memorizing how I lifted the cup.
Slurp. Warm black tea aroma filled my mouth.
"Delicious. Great aroma."
"Really? Whew... Hit three stores yesterday for the best. Worried it'd suck..."
No need to go that far.
"How's Mom? Not work—health."
"Super good! Gaming way down. Spaces out sometimes, but way more lively. Oh, mutters to herself occasionally..."
"Mutters?"
"Yeah. Like... 'Baby' or 'Miss you'... Probably game stuff?"
"...Probably."
Dunno for sure, but sounds like ero-games.