“What is this?”
“Are we doing this again this year?”
Eve handed over her phone, and Aquamarine and I had completely opposite reactions. I was like, “What the heck is this?” while Aquamarine seemed to be saying, “We’ve done this before, why are we doing it again?”
“It’s Christmas, so we should do something Christmas-y.”
Eve, on the other hand, looked at us like we were speaking nonsense.
On Eve’s phone screen was a flyer for a “Christmas Charity Fundraiser Magical Girl Fan Meeting.”
Come to think of it, I think I’ve seen something like this on TV before. I heard they rented out the Jamsil Stadium to sell magical girl merchandise, hold fan meetings, and even autograph sessions. Seems like they’re doing it again this year.
“Anyway, so what’s the point?”
“Mother-Body, you’re joining this too.”
“Eve. I don’t think you get it, but I’m not a magical girl. Plus, I’m the villain.”
“You *are* a magical girl. Sure, you’ve got the word ‘evil’ in front of it, but still. And who cares? Nobody’s bothered by that these days.”
From what I can see, the Magical Girl Association President is the real problem when it comes to ruining the image of magical girls.
Eve, completely ignoring my dumbfounded expression, crossed her arms and looked at me with a smug face. That look on her face was so annoying.
“Here, look at this.”
Eve pinched a corner of the screen and spread her fingers, zooming in.
“Fan signing event…? Magical Girl Association President Eve…? You’re doing a signing event?”
“Of course. Do you know how popular I am? My figures always sell the most.”
You sell figures?!
“So what’s the big deal?”
At my words, Eve leaned back on the sofa and crossed her arms again. She let out a snort and smirked.
“You’re joining too. Let’s settle this at the signing event.”
“I told you I’m not fighting you.”
Why won’t she listen to me? I leaned back on the sofa and crossed my arms.
Even if I did beat Aquamarine, Eve is probably way stronger than her. If Aquamarine hadn’t let her guard down, I probably would’ve lost to her too. And Eve’s personality… well, she’s a bit much, but she’s still cautious, so she’s not an easy opponent. In short, it’s too early to fight her.
Eve glanced at my chest, clicked her tongue, and then uncrossed her arms to continue.
“I’m not talking about fighting. I’m talking about settling this peacefully and fairly. Didn’t I say that?”
Then she pointed her finger back and forth between my chest and Aquamarine’s.
“I’m going to prove that the size and charm of those grotesque lumps of fat have nothing to do with it. We’ll settle this by the number of fans who get our autographs at the signing event.”
“Ohhh.”
So it’s not a fight, just a popularity contest. The more popular you are, the more people will want your autograph. If you hold an event like this, fans will come to get your autograph. And the more popular you are, the more fans you’ll have. So, the more fans you have, the more charming you are. That’s the logic…
“Peacefully, and we can quantitatively measure who’s really more popular.”
“But this puts me at a disadvantage.”
This puts me at a disadvantage. Eve’s been a magical girl for 10 years, and I’ve only been around for about three months. It’s obvious who’s more popular.
“Aha, is that so?”
Eve gave me that weird smile again.
“So, are you scared?”
Is she crazy? Who’s scared? Hearing that and backing down isn’t what a man would do. Not that I’m a man, but still.
“Hey, let’s do it.”
I don’t back down from a challenge. I’ve backed down once before, but I’m not backing down this time.
“Let’s set the terms first. That way, we’ll both be serious. I’ll go first. If I win, you give Aquamarine back… and I’ll make this public.”
“What?”
Eve smirked and handed me her phone.
A familiar voice came through. A familiar scene played out.
[Let go of meeee!! I’m going to the bathroom!! I’m going to the bathroom, so let go of meeee!!]
Then, a tall beauty tripped over her own feet, knocked over a table, and caused chaos. That was me.
[I’m gonna grab you like this, and then—rocket punch! Like this! Yeah!]
Then, rolling around with a minion, knocking over several chairs. That was also me.
“You… you.”
Eve just smirked, completely unfazed by my glare.
“If you don’t like it, then win.”
Yeah, she’s right. If I don’t like it, I just have to win. This is a situation where I absolutely can’t lose. I can feel Aquamarine’s gaze from behind, so I really can’t lose.
“Fine. I’ll accept the challenge. I’ll accept the terms too.”
“What are your terms?”
“If I win.”
Whether Aquamarine likes it or not, she’s probably an important comrade to Eve. That’s why Eve came to get her back after I took her.
And I have something precious to me too. My children.
Kabe, Dusik, Sohee, and the minions. These kids are the most important things to me right now, and if it’s important to them…
“Give me this building.”
“You crazy woman.”
That’s the reaction I expected. A building like this must be worth at least a few hundred million, right? Maybe even a few billion?
Asking for a building like this is a bit too greedy…
“Then, put it under joint ownership.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
That’s not going to work either.
“Then, renew the lease agreement. Make it 10 years.”
“Hmm. That’s doable.”
Thank goodness I started with a big ask. I’m living here without paying a deposit or rent, so if I extend the lease for 10 years under the same conditions…
How is that any different from giving me the building? It doesn’t seem any different, but hey, I’m not losing anything.
“And delete that video, you stalker.”
“Sure, fine.”
Eve agreed so easily. That makes me even more suspicious. But there’s nothing else I can do right now.
“Alright. Aquamarine, go get Dusik. Tell him to bring the laptop.”
“Okay.”
To record and document this conversation, we need a witness who can represent both sides. Aquamarine is here, but it’s better to have Dusik join too.
While Aquamarine went to get Dusik, I asked Eve.
“Eve.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s Aquamarine’s real name?”
“Huh? You didn’t hear it?”
“No. That’s why I’m asking.”
“You took her to your side and didn’t even get her name? Well, I guess it makes sense you wouldn’t tell her.”
“Why?”
“Well, it’s not like it’s a big deal or anything.”
“Then why are you being so secretive?”
My name is Yoon-Woo. Yoo Yoon-Woo. Eve’s name is Hye-Ran. Seo Hye-Ran.
Magical girls have names before and after their transformations. We, the Mogmog Group, are a bit outside that rule, but since my catchphrase is “Evil Magical Girl,” I follow that rule.
Anyway, Aquamarine is a magical girl, so she must have a name, but for some reason, she never told me.
I thought there might be some reason, but judging from Eve’s reaction, it doesn’t seem like that’s the case.
“I’m back.”
The door opened, and Aquamarine came in with Dusik.
“Unnie, you called for me?”
“Yeah. Did you bring the laptop?”
“I did.”
Dusik held up the laptop in his hand.
“I made another bet with Eve. I need to document it. Sit over there.”
“Okay! But, what’s the bet this time?”
“Come to think of it, haven’t you done this before?”
I’m not sure exactly when Dusik switched sides, but since he was a magical girl, he might’ve done this before.
“You know, the Christmas Charity Fundraiser Fan Signing Event?”
“Oh, that. I did it once. They’re still doing it?”
“Yeah. It’s surprisingly good for raising funds. We got a lot of donations.”
“I see. So, what’s the point?”
“We’re holding a fan signing event there, and we’re betting on who has more fans. The prize is a secret.”
“Wow.”
Dusik looked shocked. That expression definitely wasn’t a good one…
“Such a pointless bet…”
No need to be so harsh, Dusik.
After documenting everything and printing out a copy for each of us, Eve stood up and suddenly handed me a small notebook.
“Here, Kabe and your health insurance cards. You said you needed to take Kabe to the dentist, right?”
“You remembered.”
I thought you’d forgotten. You hadn’t said anything about it.
“Of course I remembered. I’ve just been busy with preparations.”
“Alright. Thanks.”
But what about Kabe’s name? My name is Yoo Yoon-Woo, so if I name her Yoo Kabe, that’d be weird.
“I put her down as Ria. Since she should follow your last name, Yoo Kabe would be weird. Her full name is Kaberia, so I just took Ria. Yoo Ria. It’s exotic and nice, right?”
I was honestly impressed. I didn’t know Eve had this kind of sense.
Ria, Yoo Ria. My daughter…
Hehe.
“Wow…”
I heard an unexpected gasp and looked over to see Eve staring at me intently.
“What?”
“Nothing, nothing. I just saw something really motherly.”
“I *am* a mom. Why are you saying weird stuff?”
“No, no. I mean, it was really motherly…”
“Enough. Go home.”
I kicked Eve’s butt to shoo her out, closed the door, and returned to the office, where I looked at the health insurance card.
Yoo Yoon-Woo, and below it, clearly written: Yoo Ria. 6 years old.
Now I have a real family. No matter what anyone says, Kabe is my daughter now.
I finally have a family. A real family. I’m happy.
I fiddled with the health insurance card, that mere piece of paper, and stared at it for a long time.