Chapter 59

Since there was a prior appointment, Dusik was able to take the elevator up to the 36th floor without any hindrance.

– Knock knock.

“Come in.”

No matter when you visit, it’s always a vast space.

Thanks to the constant spatial expansion magic, the space is several times larger than it appears from the outside.

Dusik stepped into that space.

“Excuse me, Association President.”

“Why so formal? You’re making it feel distant.”

Eve, the Miracle Princess and president of the Magical Girl Association, greeted Dusik with a bright smile.

“You must’ve had a hard time coming here.”

“Not really. It wasn’t that far.”

“Anyway, sit down. Want something to drink?”

As Dusik sat on the sofa, Eve opened the fridge and spoke.

For herself, she grabbed an ion drink.

For Dusik, she took out an orange juice.

Holding two cold cans, Eve sat down on the sofa across from Dusik.

“Here. Orange juice.”

“Thank you.”

Dusik took the can but didn’t open it. After fidgeting with it a few times, he quietly placed it on the table.

His hands clutched the hem of his school skirt, crumpling it slightly and making a faint rustling sound.

He had told them he was going to school but came here instead.

“Have a good day, Dusik! Don’t fight with your friends. If someone bullies you, hit them hard! I’ll handle the aftermath!” That’s what Mother-Body had said as she sent him off. But the place he headed to wasn’t school—it was the Magical Girl Association.

“By the way, Dusik, isn’t today a school day for you?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… It’s 11 AM now. So, you’re here instead of school, which means…”

Finally, Eve put the can down on the table and clasped her hands. But her expression remained cheerful, with a smile still on her face.

Her gaze was fixed directly on Dusik.

Dusik was also looking straight at Eve.

“Dusik.”

“Yes, older sister.”

“You must have something to tell me. Something pretty serious.”

“…”

Dusik didn’t respond.

He just forced a faint smile and lowered his gaze.

Eve didn’t press him for an answer either.

She waited quietly, letting Dusik gather his thoughts.

“Older sister, Eve.”

“Yeah. I’m here, Dusik.”

“Eve, you…”

“Yeah.”

Dusik hesitated for a moment.

He reached out and grabbed the still-cold can, fidgeting with it before putting it back down.

“Mother-Body… no. Yoon-Woo. What do you think of her?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, you know… stuff like her being the boss of the Magical Girls and the Mogmog Group. Or the relationship between the two organizations. But putting all that aside, I’m curious about how you feel about Yoon-Woo.”

Hmm.

What is this about?

Eve’s mind was momentarily tangled.

She didn’t have enough information to give a proper answer to this question.

If there was a lack of information, it was probably…

“Are you talking about… romantic feelings?”

“Yes. Romantic feelings. You’ve never shown any interest in men before, right?”

‘That’s because I’m a man!’

Eve quickly stopped herself from blurting that out.

This was a secret only she and Yoon-Woo knew.

Since Yoon-Woo had agreed to keep it quiet, she couldn’t afford to slip up.

“So, I thought maybe you like women too.”

“Oh, I see. Romantic feelings, huh.”

Romantic feelings.

It was something Eve had never even considered before.

“I know Kabe calls you ‘dad’ and follows you around, and Yoon-Woo calls you ‘mom’ and follows you too.

Lately, it really seems like Yoon-Woo thinks of Kabe as her own daughter.

She calls us her children without any hesitation, just like a real mom or older sister would treat their kids…”

Once Dusik started talking, he began to ramble on, almost excessively.

Eve just stared at him blankly.

“Actually, the day before yesterday… I confessed to Yoon-Woo.”

“What?”

Eve’s eyes widened like saucers.

A confession? She hadn’t expected something like this.

But Dusik, you’re definitely…

“Dusik, didn’t you like men? You said you weren’t gay…”

“I did.”

“Then…”

Before Eve could finish her sentence, Dusik interrupted.

“I just fell in love with a woman, that’s all.”

“What?”

No, that doesn’t make any sense… but when she thought about it, it wasn’t exactly wrong either.

When it comes to liking someone, what does gender have to do with it? Even if you think you’re straight, if a really attractive person of the same sex comes along, your heart might waver.

…Right?

“Yes, the person I fell in love with is Yoon-Woo, and Yoon-Woo just happens to be a woman. It’s not my fault.”

“Yeah, Dusik. It’s not your fault. Being gay isn’t bad at all.”

“But I got rejected.”

“Rejected…?”

Even rejected!?

“Well, technically, it wasn’t a rejection. I asked her not to give me an answer. But that’s not the point, Eve.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Dusik’s purpose was clear now.

Whether Yoon-Woo was straight, gay, or bisexual, the fact that she casually referred to Eve as “husband” suggested she wasn’t particularly bothered by homosexuality.

So, given their current relationship, if Yoon-Woo were to start dating someone, it would most likely be Eve.

Dusik wanted to confirm that.

Did Eve also have feelings for Yoon-Woo?

Did Yoon-Woo have feelings for Eve, or vice versa?

Was there any intention to take their relationship beyond what it was now?

Before addressing that question, Dusik had come to Eve first to ask her intentions.

“Well, um.”

Eve leaned back on the sofa.

A heavy headache was coming on, so she closed her eyes and pressed her temples.

She had stayed up all night editing videos yesterday.

Even though becoming a Magical Girl meant she didn’t feel physical fatigue until it reached extreme levels, mental fatigue still piled up.

“Romantic feelings for Yoon-Woo, huh.”

Come to think of it, she had been asked before why she was so interested in Yoon-Woo.

Baekhwa, who had been assigned to monitor her, had asked that question.

‘What did I say back then?’

Did she say nothing?

But even then, Eve had thought to herself.

She just couldn’t help but care about Yoon-Woo.

But was that romantic feelings?

She couldn’t say for sure.

“I…”

No.

It’s not romantic feelings.

It’s just that I feel sorry for Yoon-Woo, who took over as the boss of the crumbling Mogmog Group, so I want to take care of her more.

“Yoon-Woo…”

Yeah.

It’s not romantic feelings.

It’s just that Kabe calls her ‘mom’ and me ‘dad,’ so I’m just playing along with their little game.

“As a romantic partner…”

Yeah.

It’s not romantic feelings.

It’s just that Yoon-Woo knows I’m a man, so I’m worried the secret might get out.

“I don’t see her that way.”

Yeah.

It’s not romantic feelings.

I’m not the kind of person who can have something like that, something so sweet.

“Really?”

Dusik’s face lit up.

As Eve’s words continued, the tension on his face eased, and a bright smile spread across his face as soon as she said she didn’t see Yoon-Woo romantically.

The tense atmosphere instantly softened, turning into a warm one.

“Hehe… That’s a relief.”

Dusik couldn’t stop smiling, as if it was the best news ever.

“Older sister, so I don’t have to think of you as a rival, right?”

“Yeah. You don’t have to worry about me. At least, you don’t have to worry about me stealing Yoon-Woo from you. In fact, do you want me to help you?”

Eve was also smiling.

With a kind smile, she looked at Dusik, as if genuinely wanting to support his love.

“Sohee is also after Yoon-Woo, but…”

“Sohee too?”

“Yes, Sohee. You’ve met her, right?”

“Yeah. The one in the black hanbok with the unique way of speaking?”

“Yes, that’s her.”

“But she’s way behind me, so it’s fine.

I can easily beat her,” Dusik said with a laugh.

“Is Yoon-Woo some kind of walking pheromone or something? How does she charm everyone around her?”

“Well, the minions are summoned with maximum loyalty, and if you see how Yoon-Woo treats us, you’d understand. She really cares for us like a real older sister or mother. It’s impossible not to like her.”

“That much? I might have to go learn some organizational management tips from her.”

Eve frowned, and Dusik laughed weakly, as if he understood her.

The Magical Girls were so unique that Eve often struggled to control them. It wasn’t just a matter of control—if she didn’t use her strength to keep them in line, the Association would’ve fallen apart long ago.

“So, you came all the way here just to talk about this?”

“Yes. But it was worth it. If you had said you had feelings for Yoon-Woo too, I would’ve given up.”

“Good thing it’s not me.”

“Exactly. Now I can keep pursuing her without worrying about you. They say even a tree will fall if you chop at it enough times.”

“These days, that’s called stalking, Dusik. You know that, right?”

“Eh, it’s fine. Yoon-Woo won’t report me, right?”

“I guess not.”

As they talked, Eve glanced at the clock and saw it was almost noon. Lunchtime was approaching.

“Since you’re here, want to have lunch before you go?”

“No, it’s fine. I should at least show up at school. If Yoon-Woo finds out I skipped, she might call. I’ll just grab lunch at school or buy some bread.”

“Oh, then…”

Eve pulled out her wallet from thin air.

She took out a few 50,000-won bills and handed them to Dusik.

“Buy some bread.”

“Older sister, what kind of bread costs this much? This is way too much for bread.”

“Buy something nice for Kabe. And Yoon-Woo too.”

“Hmm… Okay! I’ll take it. Thank you!”

“Alright. Be careful on your way.”

As Dusik walked away with a spring in his step, Eve plopped back down on the sofa.

“Romantic feelings, huh.”

Hehe.

That youthful innocence is still there.

The image of Dusik, who used to insist he liked men and not women, was still vivid in her mind. And yet, even someone like him had been swayed by Yoon-Woo’s charm.

She’s really something, that Yoon-Woo.