Chapter 60

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Well, it’s not like I did much editing anyway.”

“I couldn’t even tell what was cut from the original footage.”

“Don’t even mention it. I was so angry while watching that I couldn’t even edit properly. Take this chance to teach that Aquamarine a lesson and fix her attitude.”

“She’s your subordinate… Anyway, if I release this to the press and propose a duel to Aquamarine, that should do it, right?”

“Yeah. But are you really confident you can win?”

Eve still doesn’t know.

What new techniques I’ve mastered.

That I’ve equipped Bedel’s new form, the Echo Bat.

I’ll keep her in check with Bedel, close the gap, drain her magic power, and finish her off with the bat.

Operation Name—

Surround and beat her with a bat!

A simple and clear plan.

“Alright. Then I’ll call the press—”

“No, wait a second.”

I thought of a more impactful way than just holding a press conference.

—

That was this morning.

Late in the afternoon, as people were preparing to leave work, I finally got ready to head out.

“Where are you going, unnie? Can’t you take Sohee with you?”

“No, you can’t. Play with Kabe for a bit.”

I put on a suit for the first time in a while.

The last time I wore this was when I met with a tax accountant and a labor consultant.

I even put on matching shoes.

Where I’m going now, anything less than this wouldn’t be appropriate.

“Unnie, you haven’t been calling me lately, and it makes me so sad…”

Sohee looked like she was about to cry.

It’s not like I’m leaving forever.

And what do you mean I haven’t been calling you? That’s not something you should say so lightly.

“People will misunderstand, Sohee. I’ll be back. Take care of Kabe and Bedel, okay?”

“Are you really not taking me with you?”

Sohee was unusually clingy today.

Normally, I’d take her, but today is different.

This is really important, and I need to act carefully.

“Sohee, where do you think I feel most at ease?”

“Isn’t it in Sohee’s arms?”

What are you talking about!

“…No, not that. I mean a place, a location.”

Sohee tilted her head at my words.

I can’t tell if she’s genuinely like this or if it’s just an act.

“Isn’t it home?”

“Right? So, is guarding the home I’ll return to a trivial task or an important one?”

“Ohh!”

Finally understanding, Sohee let out a gasp.

Her face lit up, so she must have gotten it.

…Is she not very bright?

“I trust you, Sohee, to guard the place I’ll return to. Got it?”

“Is that what it is?! This Sohee will guard unnie’s home with all her might!”

It’s a good thing Sohee is simple-minded.

With Kabe and Bedel at home, I hope she really does guard it well.

I left through the front door, took the elevator to the first floor, and after a short walk, I arrived at the taxi stand.

There are many cars leaving Seoul, but not so many entering.

But taxis are everywhere, so catching one was easy.

“To Sangam, please.”

“It’s going to be pretty congested, is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

The taxi started, and I leaned back, closing my eyes.

Alright.

Let’s go over the plan.

When I get out of the taxi, it’ll be in front of the broadcasting station.

First, I’ll enter through the entrance.

—

“-nim? Hand-?”

Someone called out to me anxiously.

I opened my eyes to see the taxi driver looking at me with a bewildered expression.

“Are we… here?”

“Yes, Sangam.”

“Ah… okay… thank you…”

I paid with my card and got out, still a bit groggy from sleep, feeling chilly.

Even though the sun had set and darkness had fallen, the street in front of the broadcasting station was still brightly lit, bustling with people.

Alright, let’s go.

The USB in my handbag. Good, no problem.

The files on my phone. Good, no problem.

The large-capacity email I sent to myself just in case. Good, no problem.

Everything’s ready.

I confidently walked towards the broadcasting station.

—

Of course, the security guard stopped me.

“You don’t have an access pass or an appointment. How can I let you in? Please leave before I call the police, miss.”

“You’ll really regret this.”

“Regret is what I’ll feel if I let you in, so please leave. Shoo, shoo!”

What, am I a stray dog?!

Well, I expected this.

“Fine. Let go of this.”

I slapped the security guard’s hand off my clothes and walked into the lobby.

“Ahem. Hmm.”

Alright.

If I’m going to make a scene, I might as well go big.

*Deep breath.*

“Everyone, pay attention!”

My voice echoed through the broadcasting station lobby.

The noisy lobby fell silent in an instant.

The stares directed at me were quite piercing.

I pressed my earring.

“I am the boss of the Mogmog Group—”

“The Mother-Body!”

Hey, don’t steal my line.

Anyway.

“I have something to say to you insignificant humans, so I’ve graciously come here—”

“Over here, over here!”

Hey, hey, wait, hold on!

Dragged by people who didn’t want to miss the opportunity, I was helplessly pulled into the broadcasting station.

The security guard watched me with a bewildered expression.

See?

I told you you’d regret it.

—

I took a sip of coffee from a steaming cup.

Mix coffee really is the best.

“So, I heard you brought some footage. Can we take a look first?”

“No. Make a spot for me on the news. If you don’t promise that, I won’t show it.”

“The news…”

The man, who introduced himself as Yang Jong-cheol, sat across from me with a troubled expression.

Well, of course he would.

If someone barges in and demands a spot on the news in exchange for some supposedly valuable footage…

He’d hesitate.

This was a bit of a gamble for me too.

I could hijack the broadcast like I did the first time, but that’s definitely illegal.

For what I’m about to do to have legitimacy, the means can’t be illegal.

It has to be through legal means and procedures to ensure all the blame falls on Aquamarine.

“Alright. Let’s do that. There’s a 7 o’clock news in 40 minutes, and we’ll give you the opening segment.”

Wait, is that possible?

I didn’t really expect that.

“Yang Jong-cheol, was it?”

“Yes.”

“Is that something you can decide on your own?”

“Well, I am the head of the news department.”

He looks really young.

Isn’t the head of the news department a high position?

“Well, there were some circumstances. Anyway, can you show us the footage now?”

“No.”

“We made a deal, didn’t we?”

“I’ll give it to you right before the broadcast. Don’t worry. It’s really going to be a scoop.”

It’s practically a first.

Footage of a battle inside the Dark Realm, and the vice-president of the Magical Girl Association, Aquamarine, attempting child abuse and kidnapping.

Where else would you find footage like this?

Once it airs, the ratings will skyrocket.

“Hmm… alright. Then, we’ll keep our promise.”

“Okay. You can trust me.”

“Alright, we’ll prepare a waiting room for you, so you can wait there.”

I was guided to a waiting room.

There was a small fridge in the corner and a small sofa, so I moved there, grabbed a cola, and sat down.

I didn’t undo my transformation.

Eve once said that maintaining the transformation isn’t that uncomfortable, and she was right.

Maintaining the transformation consumes magic power, but in my case, the natural recovery of magic power far outweighs the consumption.

But it’s still a bit inconvenient to maintain the transformation.

People will recognize me, and it’s just bothersome.

“Mother-Body~”

“Yes.”

“It’s time to get ready to go in~”

At the voice of an unknown woman, I stood up.

I undid my transformation for a moment, took the USB out of my handbag, placed it on the table, and transformed again.

When you transform, everything you were holding gets released, which is a bit inconvenient.

“I’m going out.”

I slowly moved towards the door and opened it.

“Come this way!”

Following the cheerful voice of the woman, I walked.

The sound of my footsteps echoed through the hallway, and the people passing by couldn’t take their eyes off me.

Well, I’m used to these kinds of stares. It’s not awkward at all.

The woman struggled to open the heavy soundproof door.

“Do I go in here?”

“Yes! Oh, the director said to bring the file…”

“Ah, here.”

I handed over the USB I was holding and stepped into the studio.

The lights were quite familiar now.

There were several cameras set up around, and people were standing in a circle, clearly startled as I entered.

The prompter pointed to my spot.

The center seat. Several cameras were focused on me, and I slowly, deliberately making my footsteps loud, walked to the designated seat and sat down.

I looked around.

People were standing in a circle, quietly watching to see what I would say.

There was no script given beforehand, so the prompter was completely blank.

It’s fine.

I’ve thought a lot about this, so just go with it.

I took a deep breath.

I won’t stumble over my words this time.

I’ve thought through all my lines.

I won’t forget them this time.

The prompter showed a countdown, and a message to start.

I paused for a moment.

“I am—”

Good.

Starting well. Pronunciation is good.

“The boss of the Mogmog Group, the Mother-Body. But I am not here today as the boss of the Mogmog Group.

The battle that took place at Pangyo Station between our Mogmog Group and the magical girls, I believe many people saw that battle.

It was my first victory since becoming boss, the Mogmog Group’s first victory in 10 years, and the magical girls’ first defeat in 10 years.”

Here, pause for a beat.

“However.”

Pause again.

“I, the magical girl— especially.”

—

“—Aquamarine. I want to ask you.”

The Mother-Body on the screen spoke with a grave expression.

“Madam President, are you alright?”

“What?”

The magical girls of espionage and manipulation, Baekhwa.

The magical girls of investigation and fabrication, Yoran.

The twin sisters Baekhwa and Yoran knelt side by side, looking up at me with uneasy expressions.

“Even though Aquamarine made a grave mistake, if this continues, the Magical Girl Association will also become a target of attack and criticism…”

“Watch this footage.”

Baekhwa and Yoran don’t know.

That I was the one who edited this footage.

“Was it so enjoyable to see a mother suffer as her daughter was in pain? Aquamarine. Is your idea of justice to show a mother her child’s suffering?”

“Well. Of course, we’ll be attacked.”

“Truly unsettling. This will cause a disturbance that even Buddha would be shocked by, Madam President.”

“Right. That’s how it will be. But Aquamarine needs to be taught a lesson this way.”

Since the appearance of magical girls, humanity has had no way to oppose their overwhelming power.

Among them, in Korea, there are only two S-rank magical girls.

Miracle Princess Eve.

Shining Princess Aquamarine.

While I at least adhere to the principle of protecting humanity, Aquamarine does not.

She demands excessive compensation and privileges, almost as if she’s protecting money rather than people, and even oppresses and exploits other magical girls. How can she call herself a magical girl of light and justice?

Despite being subjected to my justice several times, Aquamarine continues to act the same.

“…Aquamarine needs to be taught a lesson.”

At my words, Baekhwa and Yoran bowed their heads with somber expressions.

“How’s Prilly?”

“Evangelin has been discharged, and Prilly is still in the recovery room.”

“She’s expected to be discharged in about three days. The damage from the electric shock was severe, but… she’s fine. Her durability is truly something else…”

Can you not use those weird, half-English, half-Korean phrases? Tsk.

“—Now, go. I can’t do this anymore.”

With a bang, blood trickled down Aquamarine’s forehead.

And then, Aquamarine’s body began to disappear.

A forced retreat.

“Well, how about that?”

“That wolf, Kabe… is she really your daughter?”

“Truly fascinating… a mother who accepted a wolf as her child.”

“Well, does a child have to be born from your womb? A child born from the heart is still a child.”

The Mother-Body on the screen looked straight into the camera and spoke clearly.

With her shoulders back and her posture straight, she was truly beautiful.

“So, I propose this. Aquamarine, in the name of a mother who almost lost her child, I challenge you to a one-on-one rematch. I will return the pain my daughter suffered, the sorrow and anger I felt, tenfold, a hundredfold.”

“Impressive. With this, all mothers with children will side with the Mother-Body. Aquamarine is now a dead woman walking.”

“Are you really okay with this?”

“It’s fine. The Magical Girl Association has always been about the logic of power. If anyone has a problem, they can challenge me. I’ll accept anytime. Aquamarine has gone too far, and now, if she fights the Mother-Body one-on-one…”

If she accepts the challenge—

Even if she wins, it’s nothing to boast about.

If she loses, it’s humiliating.

If she doesn’t accept the challenge—

It’s utterly humiliating.

“Checkmate. It’s a forced move, isn’t it?”

So, what will you do, Aquamarine?

You can’t refuse, and whether you win or lose, this fight will only bring you loss.

What will you do?

---