Chapter 25

“Hey, back then, I totally Rocket Punched Prilly right in the stomach, bam!”

This is the seventh time I’ve heard this story now.

The first couple of times were fine.

I mean, I was genuinely shocked when I saw it happen too.

At first, when my older sister punched Prilly in the stomach, I thought it was impossible.

When Prilly, slumped in the corner, spat blood and passed out, I instinctively jumped to my feet.

And when Yoon-Woo unnie told me to clap already, I clapped as hard as I could too.

But now, this situation is a bit…

“Sorry…”

“It’s fine. But, um, about the broken table, you’ll need to compensate for that…”

I forced an awkward smile at the staff member, who was also wearing a strained grin.

Thanks to Yoon-Woo unnie’s rampage, three tables were smashed, two chairs had bent legs, and four chairs were completely broken.

She got up to go to the bathroom, refused help, threw a tantrum, and then fell over.

She grabbed one of her minions to reenact how she won today, then fell over again.

Once she’s drunk, there’s no stopping her nonsense.

Yoon-Woo unnie, now slumped over, was being carried by Eve unnie. The height difference made her shoes drag on the floor, but what can you do?

I approached the unconscious Yoon-Woo unnie and pulled out her wallet from her jacket pocket.

Sorry, unnie.

But your corporate card hasn’t been reissued yet.

“I can pay for the meal and cover the damages together.”

“No, Eve unnie. Since Yoon-Woo unnie caused the damage, it’s only right she pays for it.”

“That’s true.”

I took out Yoon-Woo unnie’s card and paid for the broken furniture.

After finishing the payment, I saw Eve unnie holding Kabe.

Kabe, who was eating yogurt (when did she get that?), smiled at me. So cute.

“Ugh. What kind of drinking habit is this?”

“Right?”

“Learn from Kabe.”

“She’ll quit drinking before that. She dotes on her like her own daughter, after all.”

“True. Anyway, Dusik, you saw it today too. She’s got real potential. Take good care of her. I’ve always felt bad that I couldn’t look after you more since I have my own position, and you’ve been struggling after leaving the Association. But now, maybe I can rest a little easier.”

Whenever Eve unnie pats my head, I always feel better.

A kind person.

A caring person.

Even though her transformation form is male, and not exactly handsome or cool, she’s always been bullied and ostracized. The only reason I could endure it was because of Eve unnie.

“No, unnie. It’s because of you that I could even hold on.”

“Right. Anyway, take good care of the Mother-Body. Tomorrow afternoon, three minibuses will arrive. You can take those and head straight there. The concierge will handle everything you need, so make yourselves at home. Got it?”

“Yes, unnie. Take care on your way back.”

After Eve unnie left for home, leaving Yoon-Woo unnie in the motel room, I looked down at Kabe, who was holding my hand and staring up at me, and we both smiled.

“Dusik imo (aunt).”

“Yeah.”

“Is mommy sick? I don’t like it when mommy’s sick.”

“No, mommy’s not sick, um…”

It’s a bit harsh to say she’s just drunk.

“She’s just been through a lot.”

It’s not wrong. I know how people break down when they face harassment and neglect firsthand. But unnie proved herself with strength, and that’s amazing.

“Should imo hug you?”

“Yep!”

Kabe answered immediately. She looks about eight years old but still loves being carried. She’s not heavy enough to complain about, and magical girls are stronger than regular people anyway.

“Up we go.”

I scooped up Kabe and headed to the room where Yoon-Woo unnie was sleeping.

“Ugh, the smell of alcohol.”

“Ugh, imo, you smell weird.”

As soon as we entered the room, we both covered our noses. Why do people even drink that stuff?

I quickly opened the window to air out the room.

“Ugh… water…”

Yoon-Woo unnie, tossing and turning, weakly asked for water. I hurriedly opened the fridge and grabbed a water bottle. Is this going to cost extra? I don’t know.

I propped her up and held the bottle to her lips. After drinking, she finally seemed to come to her senses and groggily opened her eyes.

“Oh, Dusik. Where’s that woman…?”

“Unnie left first.”

“That ungrateful… Did we pay…?”

Even in this state, she’s worried about the bill. Hilarious.

“Unnie took care of it.”

“Good… Where’s Kabe…?”

“Mommy, I’m here!”

At the sound of her mom’s voice, Kabe pressed against Yoon-Woo unnie’s chest and shoved her face close. Oh no, don’t press there!

“Ugh, ugh.”

“Unnie, don’t throw up here!”

I quickly picked her up and rushed to the bathroom. As soon as I set her down in front of the toilet, she started vomiting.

Wow, that was close.

After emptying her stomach, Yoon-Woo unnie soon fell asleep with steady breaths.

Kabe lay down next to her, tightly holding her mom’s hand.

Seeing Yoon-Woo unnie also holding Kabe’s hand made me smile.

Did my mom love me like this too?

I don’t remember my parents, but at times like this, I wish I could see them once.

I gazed at Yoon-Woo unnie’s sleeping face.

A face as beautiful as a sculpture.

The kind of looks that would drive lesbians like Prilly crazy.

No, not just lesbians—men would fall for her at first sight too.

Of course, lesbians don’t just go for looks, but if dating is the finals and flirting is the main event, then looks are the qualifiers.

You have to pass the qualifiers to get to the main event, and only then can you reach the finals. Marriage is like winning the championship.

With a face like that, she’s a guaranteed qualifier.

Plus, her mental strength is exceptional.

Yoon-Woo unnie hasn’t experienced battle as the Mother-Body yet. Keru-nim probably didn’t explain it either. She wouldn’t want to burden her prematurely.

I’ve heard that, except for the first Mother-Body whom I never met, all the others were disastrous in terms of combat power. Their terms were also incredibly short.

Since I left the Magical Girl Association and joined the Mogmog Group, the Mother-Body has already changed twice. Yoon-Woo unnie is the third.

There’s a reason why past Mother-Bodies retired after at most three years, or as little as one month.

When battle begins, a map of the battlefield is forcibly drawn in your mind—an unfamiliar experience.

On top of that, the real-time combat status of the minions deployed across the battlefield is shoved into your head.

And the burden of having to issue commands based on that status.

The horrific sensation when minions are destroyed.

Being the Mother-Body of the Mogmog Group is an incredibly heavy burden.

I wonder how far Yoon-Woo unnie can go with commanding battles, when even ten was my limit.

There’s no need to worry in advance, but I hope Yoon-Woo unnie stays with us for a long time as our boss, as the Mother-Body.

Every day, I had to listen to Keru lamenting that the Mogmog Group has no future, that not a single proper Mother-Body has ever emerged.

Even when we did have one, we struggled with magic power supply, couldn’t produce enough minions, and often couldn’t even deploy properly in battles, leaving me and Keru-nim to command the battlefield.

But with Yoon-Woo unnie, an evil magical girl as the Mother-Body, maybe this time, the Mogmog Group will finally thrive and achieve true balance.

As I gazed at Yoon-Woo unnie’s peacefully sleeping face, I impulsively reached out.

The skin on her face felt as soft as a baby’s.

Her full lips were smooth without a single flaw.

Her neck had no wrinkles, and her faint heartbeat was barely perceptible.

Her collarbone was prominent.

Her shoulders were round.

The curve of her chest…

Ah. What am I doing?

I should sleep.

I need to sleep now.

I lay down on the opposite bed and pulled the blanket over my head.

I touched the finger that had just brushed Yoon-Woo unnie’s chest with my other hand.

For some reason, my heart is racing.

It’s going to be a long night.

—

“Ugh…”

My head hurts.

How much did I drink yesterday?

I remember Eve trying to take my glass, telling me to stop drinking.

As I blink my eyes, I see Kabe sitting quietly by my bedside, looking at me.

“Mommy, are you awake?”

“Did Kabe sleep well?”

“Yep. Drink this.”

Kabe handed me a can. Ah, a hangover drink. I don’t remember buying this…

“Dusik imo bought it. She said to give it to you when you woke up.”

“I see.”

“Yep. So I held it tight and waited for you to wake up.”

Now that I think about it, the can is warm. She must have held it so tightly that her sweat made it sticky. But it doesn’t bother me at all.

In fact, it’s endearing that Kabe held onto it so tightly, not wanting to forget, just to give it to me.

After finishing the drink and a glass of water, I checked my phone. It’s already past 10 a.m. I don’t remember what time I fell asleep last night. It’s been a long time since I drank enough to black out.

“Mommy, are you okay now?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Mommy, you were crying in the bathroom last night.”

I must have thrown up.

I don’t remember anything.

“Dusik imo was hitting your back. I got mad.”

“Why?”

“Because you were crying, and imo was hitting you.”

“That wasn’t hitting, Kabe. Imo was trying to help you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Oh my.

Even a biological daughter wouldn’t love her mom this much.

Maybe it’s more than that.

“Should I… no, never mind. Kabe, mommy’s still feeling a bit sick. Should we hold hands and go out?”

“Yep. I like holding mommy’s hand too.”

Kabe giggled as I held her hand and we left the motel.

The weather is beautiful.

A clear, blue late September day.

“Unnie, you’re here?”

“Mother-Body, you’re late.”

“Keru, you start nagging as soon as you see me? Ugh. Did you all eat and play well?”

“Yes, thanks to you!”

“Boss, we ate well! Thank you!”

“Good.”

I walked toward Dusik, Keru, and my minions, who were busy moving luggage.

Somehow, I feel like only good things will happen from now on.