Chapter 19

“Did you really threaten someone just to make such a simple request?”

“Hey, is it really that easy for a mom to say ‘yes’ when her kid wants to sleep over for a day?!”

“It’s not even my own kid, why is it such a big deal?!”

“But it *is* your kid!”

Our heated argument gradually died down when we noticed the people in the cafe staring at us like we were a pile of trash.

“So, Kabe.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Today, Dad wants to take you to his place to sleep over. How about it?”

“Nope.”

Kabe cut straight to the point. While slurping up the yogurt Dusik bought, she rejected the idea without a second thought. Eve’s disappointed face was just the cherry on top.

“Why?”

“I like sleeping with Mom.”

Well, she’s a kid, so that makes sense. But strictly speaking, I’m not her mom… or am I? I created her, so does that make me her mom? I guess… kind of?

“If Mom comes, then I’ll go too.”

“See? Eve, what are you going to do?”

One thing’s for sure—Eve likes kids too. She wants to take Kabe, but she doesn’t want me tagging along. But if I don’t go, Kabe won’t go either, so she has no choice.

“Fine, let’s do that. I’ll go meet the landlord, and you can talk to your team members.”

“Got it.”

As Eve hurried out the door, I let out a deep sigh and slumped into the office chair.

“Mom, pick me up.”

“Okay, sure.”

I lifted Kabe onto my lap, and she fussed with the new yogurt, trying to stick the straw in. When it didn’t work, her face scrunched up in frustration.

“Here.”

Dusik stuck the straw in and handed it to her. Kabe quickly grabbed it.

“Thank you, Uncle!”

So cute. I patted Kabe’s head and sighed again.

“Mother-Body, are you worried about something?”

“Should I be? Something sudden came up.”

It’s not just sudden—it’s downright overwhelming.

“Call all the minions in.”

The office isn’t huge, but it’s big enough to fit everyone if they squeeze in. It’s not like it’s a tiny space to begin with—it’s the CEO’s office, after all.

Soon, Dusik and the minions came pouring in, lining up neatly. Dusik must’ve trained them well—I gave him a sly smile.

“Is everyone here?”

“Count off, starting from the left.”

At Dusik’s command, the minions turned their heads and began shouting their numbers.

“One! Two! Three!… Twenty-four! Count complete!”

“Boss, all 24 members are present.”

With Kabe on my lap, I couldn’t stand up, so I just scanned the room from my seat. Twenty-four, huh?

Now that I’m here, once we sort out this mess, I’ll pump in enough magic power to increase their numbers tenfold. We’ll have more space too.

“Alright, with everyone here, it feels pretty solid. Anyway, there was a bit of a ruckus early this morning. We’re still sorting it out, but I figured you’d all be curious about what’s going to happen next.”

They must’ve been curious because the minions were dead silent, all eyes on me.

“Our Mogmog Group is going to move out of this shabby, cramped space and into a bigger, more—”

“Mom, can I have another yogurt?”

“Gorgeous space!”

Ugh…

My face turned red, but Dusik quickly stuck a straw into a new yogurt and handed it to Kabe.

“…Anyway, we’re moving out of this shabby, cramped space and into a bigger, more gorgeous space!”

I don’t know if it’s actually gorgeous, but I’ve seen the Magical Girl Association building. It’s huge—five floors underground and 36 above ground. And we’re getting the top floor, the Association President’s private level. So yeah, it’s definitely bigger and more gorgeous.

“Wait, Boss, this is the first I’m hearing about this.”

“Mother-Body, this is news to me too. We don’t have the funds for that, do we?”

“I took care of it.”

“How?”

“Through Eve.”

“So you robbed Eve’s wallet.”

“Don’t make it sound so shady. It’s not like that.”

“Then how did you manage it, Boss?”

“We’re moving into the Magical Girl Association building.”

I made the announcement.

Now I have to deal with the aftermath.

“Mother-Body, this doesn’t make sense.”

“That’s right, Boss. Magical Girls are all a bit… off. You’ve seen it yourself, haven’t you?”

After the minions left, Keru and Dusik stood in front of me, trying to convince me to reconsider.

“So, you want us to keep living in this cramped, dirty place, always worrying about the landlord?”

“We could just earn more money.”

“Keru, well said.”

I stood up, holding the now-sleeping Kabe, and gently placed her on the chair. Then I pressed my earring. A dark shadow passed over me, and my outfit changed. I pushed my half-worn coat aside, revealing my left hand.

As I did, a dark energy flowed from the rivets on my glove, wrapping around my hand and glowing faintly.

“So, what was the state of you guys before I came? Was the organization even functioning properly?”

“Boss, well, that’s…”

“Dusik, stay still.”

“Yes.”

“And Keru, you’ve only seen me acting a bit off since I arrived, so you think it’s funny, huh?”

I clenched my left hand. The dark energy grew more intense.

“If you have a better idea, speak up. Should we just fix this place up? Dusik’s in his growth phase, and there’s not a single ray of sunlight here. If the minions increase, where will they eat and sleep? Paying rent, managing facilities—without the sponsorship I brought in, you guys wouldn’t have made a single penny. And now you’re complaining?”

“Ugh…”

“Looks like the Boss is back to her senses.”

A clear voice. Eve had returned and was leaning against the office doorway. She walked in, arms crossed.

“Dusik.”

“Eve.”

“Looks like your suffering is finally over. With Keru, who’s all talk and no help, and the previous Boss, who was too weak to do anything but create minions. You’ve really been through a lot—”

“Eve, watch your mouth.”

“What?”

Eve turned to me, surprised by my sudden interruption.

No matter how flawed my kids are, I get angry when others criticize them. Only I can scold them. I glared straight at Eve.

“Whether they’re capable or not, these are my kids. Only I have the right to scold them. You shouldn’t talk like that.”

“Huh.”

Eve smirked and glared back at me. But the standoff didn’t last long. She soon chuckled and waved her hand.

“Fine, I overstepped this time. I’ve been around them so long, they don’t feel like strangers anymore. Even if they’re from a rival group, I went too far. Sorry.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

“I will.”

“Anyway.”

I turned my gaze from Eve to Keru and Dusik. They looked awkward, but realizing I was firm in my decision, they didn’t say anything more.

“Eve, did you talk to the landlord?”

“Yeah. Anyway, stop standing around and come sit. The ceiling’s not going to collapse.”

Eve plopped down on the office sofa and gestured for Dusik and Keru to join. They hesitated, glancing at me as I de-transformed, but eventually walked over and sat down.

“I smoothed things over with the magic explosion. The forensics team will just need to wrap things up. I’ll cover the repair costs. Once I get the estimate, send it to me, and I’ll handle it from there. And…”

Eve grinned at me. Something about that smile felt ominous.

“While the house is being repaired, you can’t stay here. Do you have somewhere to go?”

Of course not.

“Repairs of this scale will take at least a month. During that time, you, Dusik, Keru, and the minions—you’ve got nowhere to go, right? Plus, with Kabe, you can’t just rough it.”

My brow furrowed. I could feel my expression twisting. What is she planning now?

“I’ll book a hotel for you. One room per person. Oh, and Mother-Body, you’ll need to stay with Kabe, so a family room for you.”

“Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. The kids need to eat.”

“Wow, Dusik. Your Boss is really shameless, huh?”

I shrugged, but I knew. Judging by her tone, she must be ridiculously wealthy. Booking a hotel for nearly thirty people, one room each—she must be serious.

“I think you’re an excellent Boss.”

Dusik answered without hesitation, and Eve snorted.

“Well, I think so too. Alright. As you said, Mother-Body, I’ll book the hotel with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. For a month. And during that time, I’ll have the Association President’s office renovated. Expanding and partitioning the space will take about a month. I’ll make sure it’s ready for you to move in.”

“You…”

Honestly, the conditions are too good. It’s expected that living here during repairs would be difficult. Dust, paint fumes—it’d be hard to stay. The basic problem of where to live and what to do with the minions was still unresolved, but Eve just offered a solution.

I’m not stupid.

Conditions this good don’t come for free.

This time, it’s not just about taking Kabe for a day. There’s got to be more to it.

“What’s the catch? Be honest.”

“The catch, huh?”

Eve raised her hand and stroked her chin, her gaze fixed on me. That vague smile was annoying.

“A month from now, attack Itaewon.”

“Itaewon?”

“Yeah.”

“Why Itaewon?”

I knew we’d have to fight eventually. Once Kabe’s situation was settled, I planned to create more minions. But using that as a condition, and of all places, Itaewon?

“A month from now, at the end of October. It’s Halloween. There’ll be a lot of people. If you attack, and we defend, it’ll look good.”

“Look good for what?”

“Hmm… To show off the marketability of our Magical Girls to sponsors, I guess?”

“Really?”

“I’ll explain the details to you tonight.”

“So I have to go too?”

“Of course? You promised to let me take Kabe for a day, remember?”

A promise is a promise. I don’t plan to break it. I just don’t like the idea of willingly walking into the Magical Girls’ headquarters.

“The Magical Girl Association, huh…”

“Oh my, what are you talking about? I never said we’re going to the Magical Girl Association.”

“Then where?”

“To my place, of course.”

It feels like we’re heading somewhere even more dangerous.

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