Chapter 26

The family room at the hotel is spacious.

There are four beds.

“Kabe, stop jumping between the beds. If you fall, it’ll be a big problem.”

I caught Kabe mid-air as she leaped between the beds. If she fell between them, it’d be a disaster.

“Mom, this is so much fun!”

Hmm, right. Her pronunciation is a bit off. I remember seeing it at Eve’s house but forgot about it.

Now that I think about it, let’s check.

“Kabe, say ‘Ah.'”

“Shi-yeo.”

“Why?”

“Just shi-yeo.”

Do I need to bribe her? I rummaged through my pocket and found a candy. I think I put it in my pocket this morning when we left the motel.

“Here, say ‘Ah.’ I’ll give you candy.”

I unwrapped the candy in front of Kabe.

Her eyes sparkled at the sight of the lemon-flavored candy. So cute…

“Ahhh!”

“Good job!”

I took the chance to hold her lower jaw and peeked inside her mouth. One front tooth is missing, and a lower canine too. But her gums are white, so maybe her permanent teeth are coming in.

Is this normal?

“Hmm, okay. Since you did well, here’s the candy.”

I popped the candy into her mouth.

“Now you’re really like a mom everywhere. It’s only been a few days.”

“Well, can’t deny that, right?”

Keru, sitting at my feet, stretched and yawned.

“Hey, don’t overdo it. You’ll shed fur. Cat fur isn’t good for the baby’s lungs. Want to sleep in the hallway?”

“Ca-cat?! I’m a leopard!”

“A cat that got big is a leopard, right?”

“It’s different!”

“You were a cat before we made a contract, and then you grew big. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“Ahem, hmph!”

Holding Kabe, who was munching on the candy, I sat on the table chair and suddenly got lost in thought.

The Magical Girl Association’s regular meeting was yesterday. What I saw there was truly shocking.

The sight of magical girls, who are supposed to protect light and justice, was something I couldn’t believe.

They were jealous and hostile toward each other, treating the leader of the enemy faction like an object for their own desires.

It was truly a grotesque and twisted form of “evil.”

How can they be judged as good?

Why are we judged as evil?

I can’t understand it.

“Keru.”

“Yeah.”

“Why are we the evil ones?”

“Where’s this coming from?”

“I went to the Magical Girl Association’s regular meeting yesterday.”

“Ah, I see. I get what you’re saying. I know what you saw.”

Keru sat cross-legged and scratched the side of his head with his hind leg. Still not a feline? You’re totally a cat.

“Clearly, the magical girls are insane. Lust, gluttony, greed, vanity. They’re too obsessed with their desires. Looking at them, you’d think they’re the evil ones. But, Mother-Body.”

“What?”

“Is that… bad?”

“What?”

“Don’t all humans have desires? If they can fulfill those desires, isn’t that a good life? If they can let go of them, wouldn’t they be saints, not magical girls?”

“Hey, Keru, are you serious right now…”

I’m speechless. Does Keru even know what he’s saying?

Yes, it’s not bad. I know that.

People are driven by desires, strive to fulfill them, and fight to protect them.

But that’s not the issue, is it?

“Is there a problem?”

“I can’t enjoy it, you dumb dog.”

“What?”

“Hey, think about it. I’m the boss of the evil organization, and I can’t enjoy anything, while the magical girls of light and justice get wealth, fame, and… whatever. Isn’t that the problem? Are you sane?! I can’t enjoy anything!! All the money spent so far is mine!! No, thinking about it makes me angry?!”

“Ca-calm down, Mother-Body. That is a problem.”

I finally calmed down after huffing and puffing.

It’s not that they’re bad.

They didn’t get those things by doing bad deeds.

We fought them and lost miserably, so they took everything.

“Anyway, I’m calm now. Hey, Keru. But there’s a problem.”

“What’s the problem?”

“They got rewards from the government and fame from people because they beat us, right?”

“Right.”

“But if we win, who’s going to give us money?”

“True.”

I can’t believe this dumb dog.

“When was the last time we won?”

“About 10 years ago. We haven’t won since Eve appeared.”

“We’ve been losing for 10 years straight?”

Playing a one-sided losing game for 10 years, the gods must be saints. If it were me, I’d have thrown the console in a week.

“But the good side hasn’t completely won yet, and from what Karin said, your appearance has reignited the fire. Your Rocket Punch has become a catchphrase.”

“My Rocket Punch is pretty cool. But aren’t you supposed to go give a report or something?”

“I have nothing to report since we keep losing.”

“Ah, right.”

—

“Hey, I’m not eating with you. You’re just going to drink again.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why? Whhhhhhy??????”

“I don’t remember, so I’m asking.”

“Eat with Dusik. I’m busy.”

*Click.*

Look at this. She hung up before I even finished talking.

As I was looking for Eve’s transformation video to send via messenger, Eve sent me a video first.

[Noooobaaaaa!! I’m going alooone!! To the studio!!]

Then, a tall beauty tripped over her own feet, knocking over tables and chairs.

It was me.

[Like this, grab the stomach, and Rocket Punch! Like this! Yeah!]

Then, rolling around with a minion, knocking over chairs.

It was me.

I’m quitting drinking.

No, I should quit life before quitting drinking.

“Older sister, what about dinner… Oh.”

“Dusik…”

“Aunt Dusik, why is Mom like this?”

At Kabe’s innocent voice, I reached out and pulled her into a hug.

Kabe giggled, “Mom, that tickles!” Her hair smelled like shampoo.

“Older sister, are you feeling unwell?”

Dusik placed her hand on my forehead, worried since I was holding my head. Her cool hand felt nice.

But that’s that, and this is this. I handed Dusik my phone.

[Noooobaaaaa!! I’m going alooone!! To the studio!!]

[Like this, grab the stomach, and Rocket Punch! Like this! Yeah!]

“Ah, this… Eve was filming something…”

“You saw it too…?”

“I was right next to her…?”

“Why didn’t you stop me…?”

Blaming Dusik won’t help.

It’s my fault.

I’m really quitting drinking.

If I do this in front of Kabe again, I’ll have to quit life.

“Older sister, what about dinner?”

Dusik slipped her hand under my armpit and lifted me up. She’s stronger than she looks. I’m a head taller, but she lifted me easily.

“Dinner, dinner…”

“If it’s okay with you.”

“I don’t really like pasta.”

“Me neither. How about soup with rice? Like pork intestine soup.”

“Huh? Pork intestine soup…?”

Of course, transformed Dusik looks like she’d order a bowl of soup with a bottle of soju, but pre-transformation Dusik is a blonde. A radiant blonde tied in twin tails.

A blonde beauty who looks like she should be cutting pasta or steak, not eating pork intestine soup. The dissonance is real.

Not that I’m saying no.

—

“Soju…”

“No. Kabe’s watching.”

Cheap shot.

I just wanted one bottle.

“Soju!”

Yeah, no way.

“I’ll have the special pork intestine soup.”

“Got it. Auntie!”

Dusik waved her hand, and the server came over, her eyes widening at Kabe.

“Oh my, the daughter looks just like the mom! The mom looks so young, did you have her early?”

“Ahaha… Yeah…”

“One special pork intestine soup and one pork blood sausage soup with extra sausage. Oh, do you have a kid’s menu?”

“We don’t have a kid’s menu… Should I give a little broth and some rice?”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“Alright. Just wait a bit.”

After the server left, fatigue suddenly hit me.

I sipped the water Dusik pushed toward me and watched the TV in the hall. The news was about to start.

Come to think of it, I have no idea what’s going on in the world lately.

Since I appeared on TV, I haven’t watched the news or been online.

Maybe I should catch up on the news…

But first.

“Kabe and I really do look alike.”

“It’s more surprising that you’re realizing this now…”

What’s with that awkward laugh?

“Here’s your food. I added extra intestines for the mom. Eat up. The kid’s is in a bowl, not a hot pot, so be careful. Here’s the side dishes.”

“Thank you!”

“Looks delicious!”

The savory, spicy smell wafted up.

“Mom, what’s this?”

“It’s called soup with rice. It’s really tasty. Here, Kabe, blow on it. It’s hot.”

“Okay.”

I scooped some rice into Kabe’s bowl, added a bit of shrimp paste, and mixed it. I blew on it before offering it to her.

It’s hot, so I don’t want her to burn her mouth.

“Here, say ‘Ah.'”

“Ahhh.”

“Got it! Now you know how to eat, right? You hold the spoon and eat. Can you do it?”

Kabe nodded, munching happily. She seems to like it.

Now, let’s try my soup. Wait, why is my broth red?

“I made it. I have a golden recipe. I mixed it with radish kimchi broth…”

Ah, Dusik, you’ve crossed the line.

I’m a white broth person.

But she made it for me, so I can’t get mad.

“Uh, thanks. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

“Enjoy!”

I love intestines.

The chewy texture, the flavor that comes out as you chew—it’s so good.

The special pork intestine soup had extra intestines, and sure enough, there were more intestines than rice.

Let me take a bite—

“The Magical Girl Association’s Miracle Princess Eve announced today at 6 PM that she received a warning from the new boss of the Mogmog Group, the evil magical girl Mother-Body, about an attack on Itaewon on Halloween, October 31st.”

“Pfft!”

“With the largest Halloween event taking place in Itaewon, chaos is expected. The Magical Girl Association and the police are working together to ensure the defeat of the Mogmog Group and the safety of citizens.”

It’s not just me; Dusik is also staring at the news in shock.

“The evil magical girl Mother-Body is expected to broadcast her attack warning soon.”

Wh-when did I say that?

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