Chapter 70

The bustling crowd surrounds Yeouido Hangang Park.

Walking through the path fenced off by safety barriers, I hear people cheering for the name “Mother-Body.”

As I walk through the crowd, I press my earring.

The sound of my sneakers changes to the clacking of dress shoes, and I finally arrive in front of the broadcast preparation room.

The eastern entrance of Yeouido Hangang Park is already sealed off.

Even if the Reverse Barrier activates and everyone inside is moved out, they’ve sealed it off just in case.

“I’ll attach the cameras!”

“…”

I don’t respond, just stare blankly, but my silence seems to be taken as a yes. The coordinators start hanging waterproof cameras all over my emblem strap.

The Reverse Barrier blocks filming inside.

But if you attach something to your body while transformed, the barrier recognizes it as equipment and allows it to function.

Not everything works, though.

But cameras are fine, so in critical situations, you have to wear them to film.

The broadcasting station knows this, so instead of using the tripod cameras Yang Jongcheol mentioned, they’ve hung cameras all over my body.

However, the Mogmog Group has been having such boring fights lately that there’s been no reason or popularity for live broadcasts. Even that momentum died down, and fights stopped happening, so there was no need.

But now that I’ve appeared and the fights have become more intense, people’s interest has reignited.

After hanging nine cameras on my neck, wrists, chest, belly button, knees, and ankles, the camera setup is finally done.

“Let’s do your makeup!”

“No, that’s fine.”

It’ll just wash off if it rains anyway.

But that doesn’t matter.

First, I need to take care of Aquamarine.

The battle hasn’t started yet.

Somewhere in this Hangang Park, Aquamarine is preparing too.

While I have the advantage of knowing her location, Aquamarine has the power to overturn that overwhelming disadvantage.

Tricks like throwing Bedel around like last time won’t work.

So, what should I do? I’ve already thought of something.

I am the Mother-Body, leader of the Mogmog Group.

My enemy is Aquamarine, vice-president of the Magical Girl Association.

The winner will prove they have the power befitting their title, and the loser will have to face challengers aiming for their position.

Of course, my children wouldn’t challenge me, but Aquamarine isn’t like that.

As the vice-president, she’s constantly under scrutiny, with people doubting her abilities. Can her pride handle that?

I don’t think so.

Regardless, this battle holds great significance.

I see my reflection on a giant temporary screen.

Aquamarine also agreed to the filming.

The screens show my face on one side and Aquamarine’s on the other.

Me, cold and expressionless. And Aquamarine, smiling brightly, the complete opposite of me.

“I don’t like it.”

I pout and grumble. But what can I do? This is just how my face is.

A magical fountain erupts in the middle of Hangang Park.

It’s a familiar sight, so I’m not surprised.

But the fact that I’m alone here makes me a little uneasy, though I quickly pull myself together.

It’s fine.

I can win.

I can do this.

Magic begins to spread like wildfire across the now-empty Hangang Park.

Wherever the magic touches, colors fade and return.

The Reverse Barrier begins.

Now, no one else is around.

“Hoo.”

I raise my left hand high.

“The curtain rises on the battle. Count open!”

A flash of light splits the night sky.

With no cover here, Aquamarine will now know my location from the source of the light.

From a considerable distance, a flash of light rises in response.

It’d take about 20 minutes to run there, but Aquamarine will take less than 10.

I tear off chunks of magic power leaking from the rivets of my left glove and smear it all over my body.

Even if I don’t actively use magic for defense, this will provide some protection until it dissipates.

As I apply the magic, I review my plan in my head.

It’s no lie that I’ve identified Aquamarine’s weakness from our last fight.

Aquamarine’s magic is indeed powerful.

But it’s specialized for area attacks, not single-target damage.

The constant barrage of wide-range attacks is terrifying, but if I can withstand them, I’ll be fine.

When I cornered Aquamarine to the bathroom last time, she still used area magic.

Even though it was a chance to land a critical hit on me, she didn’t use a single-target attack.

From this, I can infer that Aquamarine either lacks single-target attack magic or it’s significantly weaker.

Another thing is Aquamarine’s water attribute. That itself is a weakness.

Anyway, the battle has begun.

On the map floating before my eyes, Aquamarine is rapidly approaching my location from where I shot the light.

Looking at the marker, I pull out Bedel.

Hangang Park is rich in water resources.

According to Aquamarine, magic attacks don’t work well in such places.

“That’s what you think.”

I keep pouring magic into Bedel.

“What nerve.”

Aquamarine, floating in the air in her sailor uniform, looks down at me.

“What?”

“Choosing a place like this as your starting point—are you showing off? Or have you given up and chosen to become my maid?”

“Do you know you’re on live broadcast right now? Also, I never said I’d be your maid.”

“I know. But it doesn’t matter. If I win, that’s it. I’ll force you into a maid outfit and make you serve me.”

“Did you give up on your image? Or did you never have one to begin with?”

“Why wouldn’t I have an image?”

Aquamarine grins down at me.

Does she even know she’s on live broadcast?

“Hey. I’ll ask again. You know this is being broadcast, right?”

“I know.”

Small magic circles appear around Aquamarine’s hands.

The golden magic circles turn blue, transforming into what looks like oversized shurikens.

But I’m not idle either.

I raise Bedel, which I’ve been charging with magic.

If those hit me, it’ll hurt.

No choice. Fire!

“That little toy. Using a magical gun, just乖乖地—”

– Bang!

“Kyaaak!”

Bedel, charged to the max, has recoil far greater than a regular rifle.

I’m pushed back a few steps from the force.

「Mom, you fell!」

“I know!”

The gunshot drowns out most sounds, but I definitely hear it.

The shattering of glass.

And Aquamarine’s scream.

Aquamarine, who was floating in the air, is nowhere to be seen.

Thud thud thud…

I run across the grass, soaked with water.

She wasn’t that far away.

After running a short distance, I see Aquamarine getting up from where she crashed into the grass.

Seeing me charging, Aquamarine extends her hand again. Not for a handshake—she’s about to use magic!

“You won’t get your way!”

I press the ring again.

Bedel appears in my hand, heavy and cool to the touch.

“I’ve been practicing my swings!”

– Whack!

I swing Bedel with all my might at Aquamarine’s outstretched wrist, bending it in a grotesque direction.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Hey, don’t exaggerate. There’s plenty of water here, so you’ll heal quickly, right?!”

“Caught me?”

Aquamarine’s face, twisted in pain, quickly smooths out.

Her broken wrist is already back in place.

She smiles at me, her face glowing white under the moonlight, sending chills down my spine.

“Crazy b*tch.”

“Introducing yourself? But I don’t have time to listen.”

– Poof!

Aquamarine suddenly disappears, only to reappear far behind me.

She doesn’t seem hurt at all, which honestly annoys me. She got shot and hit with a bat—shouldn’t she at least look a little hurt?

“Disappointed that I don’t look hurt?”

“Yeah, a little.”

“Well, you did well. Your gun is quite unique. To pierce my barrier in a place like this.”

“Right? My son’s pretty good.”

Water-colored drills float around Aquamarine.

Yeah, I expected this.

I keep my eyes on the drills as they grow larger, then fly toward me.

Not all the drills are aimed at me.

They’re aimed at my general area.

If I dodge quickly, they’ll all miss, but I want to test something.

I manage to catch one of the drills with my right hand.

I’ve already noticed the mouth-like pattern on my palm. If this works as I think—

‘Good. It worked.’

The drill disappears without a trace.

The drill caught in my hand vanishes instantly.

A cool sensation flows through my body.

“Hmm. Missed? Doesn’t matter, though.”

Aquamarine smiles at me.

If she looked closely, she’d notice the drill disappeared, but she doesn’t seem to care. Good for me. This will be your downfall, Aquamarine.

“You’re getting too careless just because there’s distance between us.”

– Bang!

“The difference in our magic power is clear.”

– Bang!

I step toward Aquamarine, firing Bedel repeatedly.

I didn’t pour too much magic into it. The goal is rapid fire and to keep Aquamarine focused on Bedel.

Now, all that’s left is my acting.

How well I can deceive Aquamarine—that alone will determine the outcome of this battle.