Kkamang's Shopping Frenzy and the Rift at the Cafe
'…What the hell is this.'
"S… save―"
Crack!
I smashed the monster's head with one hand.
And the phone in my other hand kept blaring absurd notification tones.
How much is this gonna rack up?
'You're spending way too recklessly since it's not your own money, Kkamang….'
She'd seemed to hold back after I scolded her harshly before.
But now she was using this job as an excuse to go on a long-overdue binge.
'…Jeez. Hit the limit.'
It looked like it'd stop around three million won.
But then it surged even harder, blowing past five million.
Once she started splurging on other games too, it hit the staggering ten-million-won mark before the messages cut off.
And shortly after.
Ding―!
A message arrived on Kkamang's phone.
It was the kind of chat that made a sigh escape me on reflex.
What was I supposed to do with this money-blind cat?
'…The card company'll call again soon.'
I pocketed my phone and shook the blood-soaked right hand.
Not just my hand—the entire abandoned factory I was in was splattered with bloodstains everywhere.
All from the monsters I'd killed here.
…Jeez.
Fake humans wearing human skins, but their blood was disgustingly real.
I looked down at the ten-odd corpses strewn around.
Then lifted my gaze.
One was still alive, gasping for breath.
I approached it slowly.
"Cough…! Y-you… freakish monster…!"
"Hmm. Funny hearing that from you~"
Monster.
Probably one of the top five things I'd heard most often while living as a magical girl.
Freak.
Witch.
…Even from fellow magical girls and civilians.
I'd been called it a lot.
"Doesn't really bother me when others say it."
Grip―
I seized the monster's throat.
A bit too much force.
"Guhk…!"
"But you non-humans mimicking humans… it pisses me off."
Crack―Crunch!
Its neck twisted and burst completely.
The headless corpse slumped to the floor.
[Phew! Finally done.]
"Mung! Good work-mung! [You too, Nureong-i.]
It took longer than expected.
Who knew it'd drag on for three whole days….
They were scattered all over, so picking them off one by one in secret was a real pain.
"You outside? Junior Teresa?"
"Yessum! Right here-sseumda!"
"All done, wanna come in?"
The moment I finished, she bolted in from outside at top speed.
And snapped a salute.
"You called-sseumda! Grand Senior Cha Seol-hyun!"
"…Told you not to do that with me. And what's 'grand senior'?"
"Heard it from Deputy Chief Iris last night-sseumda! She kindly recited Grand Senior Cha Seol-hyun's greatness for six hours-sseumda!"
…Iris.
What the hell did she tell this girl about me?
Look at those sparkling eyes.
Too much pressure.
"No way Grand Senior Cha Seol-hyun is the living legend of our special forces! The founder herself! I had no idea-sseumda! So sorry-sseumda!!!"
"No…."
"To not know and dare defy Grand Senior… I apologize-sseumda!!!"
Bam!
Teresa slammed her head on the floor.
I rubbed my throbbing brow as I watched.
'Dizzying.'
This wasn't the first time, by the way.
I'd asked Iris for cleanup crew, and she sent Teresa.
In other words, she'd been putting on this show in front of me for three straight days.
'…Iris. Did you plan this?'
Maybe she'd always dumped her on me like this.
Felt like I'd been had.
"Come on, get up already, junior. I'm fine with it."
"Sniff…! To so easily forgive the apology of a fool like me who committed such a grave sin! Truly grateful-sseumda!!!"
"…Gonna lose it."
As we went back and forth.
My pocket phone buzzed again.
A call this time.
'What now. Calling 'cause I won't raise the limit?'
I answered absentmindedly.
Kkamang's frantic voice came through.
"Nyaaaaak―! Get here quick-nyang!"
"…What's up?"
"Double rift-nyang! I can handle the first one somehow but―"
-Boom!
-Kyaaaak―!
-W-what is that thing!
Click.
The call dropped.
"Junior."
"Yessum! You called-sseumda?!"
"Handle cleanup yourself. I trust you?"
"Got it-sseumda! I'll handle it swiftly―huh?"
Teresa lifted her head from the floor to reply.
But no one was there.
Just a light breeze drifting in from the entrance.
Left all alone.
The abandoned factory held only Teresa now.
Jeong Hanbyeol headed to the cafe for work today too.
As always.
Like every day.
She left for the shop early, before opening.
Basking in the morning sun, shaking off sleep.
It was routine now, no different from breathing.
Upon arriving at the cafe, she greeted the seniors already there.
She thought she was diligent.
But her always-earlier coworkers seemed even more impressive.
"Hanbyeol, you're here?"
"Good morning, Sua unnie."
"Wanna try this? Boss and I whipped up a new recipe."
"…Sure, I'd love to."
Jeong Hanbyeol always skipped breakfast to save money.
So the dish from her senior was treasure itself.
"…This is amazing."
"Right? Boss left an extra one just for you~"
"Tell him thanks."
The part-timers watched fondly, petting her head.
Hanbyeol blushed shyly but didn't pull away.
They were all good people.
'People with only these pure feelings are so rare….'
It was weird.
This pure affection toward her.
Warmth she'd barely felt in life.
How was this coincidence possible?
She'd just spotted a hiring notice by chance.
And by chance, only these great seniors worked here.
It felt like fate.
Hanbyeol was thrilled, yet worried.
This joy could end anytime.
If exam results came and she passed?
Could she stay close to them?
That anxiety lingered.
'…Don't overthink it.'
She'd survived alone this long.
Think of it as reward.
She psyched herself up and started work.
As always.
Like every day.
Serving customers, handling a few rude ones.
Felt like any other day.
……
-Crack!
Chill.
Goosebumps.
A sudden eerie sensation made her drop the dish.
Crash!
It shattered.
But no one noticed her.
Something else shattered first.
Crack. Crackle!
A major road fronted the cafe.
Now, empty air over it was cracking, like her dish.
The rift grew massive.
And burst.
A literal rift.
Hordes from another dimension.
Waves of monsters driven only by destruction.
The gateway they poured through.
What magical girls hated most.
'…3rd Grade? No, this demonic energy size… definitely 2nd Grade rift!'
She wasn't affiliated with the Association or a company.
But she was a magical girl.
No official license yet, but her mana matched average 3rd Grade.
Still.
'Hopelessly outmatched….'
For a 2nd Grade rift.
Needed at least three 2nd Grade girls to block without casualties.
She couldn't protect everyone.
'But if I go, I can buy a little time―'
"Hanbyeol…!"
Someone grabbed her arm.
Sua unnie, shaking her head, hiding fear.
"…Unnie."
"Don't go."
"……."
"Stay hidden here with me. It'll be fine."
Sua knew she was a magical girl.
Retired now, but she'd done it briefly before.
…So she knew best.
Going out now meant certain death.
"Kyaaaak―!!"
"Help!"
"The sign fell! M-my arm…!"
The rift's quake had turned the street to chaos before monsters even emerged.
Everyone cried for help.
And―
-Grk?!
Grrr….
-Uwaaa――!
-Kekekekekeke!!!
Monsters finally flooded out.
All kinds, each pulsing strong demonic energy.
"……."
She scanned the shop.
Customers huddled, trembling in fear.
She stared endlessly.
Was she really supposed to just stay put?
No way to help?
'I still don't have a mascot, transformation, or weapon…! How―'
―am I supposed to help?'
Pathetic.
A magical girl who could do nothing here.
A powerless self trembling inside, ignoring the dying outside.
'Please… someone…!'
Help us.
She prayed.
-Nyaaaaaoong~
A cat's cry echoed from somewhere.
Simultaneously, outside turned pitch black through the window.
'…Shadows?'
Writhing shadows.
Tooth-like, they devoured monsters in seconds.
And beyond them, something familiar.
A black cat-like figure stood there.