Transformation or Death

Romantic Death Incident (3)

“Ms. Vega, stop talking nonsense and help stop Seol-hwa!”

“Eh~ With just words? Come to think of it, Jae-jung, it seems like we’ve been growing distant lately. Should we start by changing how we speak?”

“Ah-hee, stop messing around and help.”

“Okay~”

Baek Ah-hee cheerfully replied and grabbed Yoon Seol-hwa’s arm, pulling her.

“Ms. Sirius, that’s enough. For things like this, it’s better to slowly break down the walls of the heart and then do it all at once. Forcing it will only increase psychological resistance, so slowly give the impression that you’re safe and harmless, and then….”

“I appreciate the help, but I wish you’d close your mouth too, Ah-hee.”

“Jae-jung… I need to take off Jae-jung’s pants… To check….”

Baek Ah-hee let go at Yoon Seol-hwa’s whining.

“Then… Shall we look together?”

“Stop that nonsense!”

“Hic!”

“Ouch!”

Finally, unable to bear it anymore, Joo Ah-yoon raised her hand. She hit Yoon Seol-hwa, who was crying with a red face, once on the head, and Baek Ah-hee, who was making eye contact with Han Jae-jung while smiling mischievously, once as well. That quieted them down somewhat.

“Don’t encourage someone who’s drunk. And sis, there’s no problem at all, so don’t worry. Here, drink some water first. Shall we go for a little walk outside together?”

“But Jae-jung….”

“I’m fine, Seol-hwa. Are you okay? You’re very drunk right now. Like Ah-yoon said, let’s drink some water first, and get some cool air. Okay?”

“Are you really okay…?”

“Of course, I’m fine.”

“Are you really, really okay? You’re not hurt because of me?”

“Of course not.”

“You’re really… Okay?”

“I said I am.”

Yoon Seol-hwa asked about Han Jae-jung’s well-being several times with her slurred tongue, and Han Jae-jung reassured her each time. This tiring exchange continued for a while.

“Then that’s a relief….”

Yoon Seol-hwa nodded with a bright smile. After that, she agreed to Joo Ah-yoon’s suggestion for a walk and went outside with her. The shop regained its night-time serenity.

Han Jae-jung sighed deeply while adjusting his clothes. The soft candlelight illuminated his troubled face. The light flowed along the bridge of his straight nose.

“Phew….”

“Are you disappointed?”

“About what?”

“Come on, you know.”

“….”

Baek Ah-hee stepped back lightly while grinning. Her leisurely steps found a chair appropriately, and she lowered her hips to lean on it.

“Ms. Ah-hee.”

“Ah-hee.”

For a moment, the smile disappeared from her face.

“… Ah-hee.”

“There you go, doing it well~”

Hearing her name, Baek Ah-hee smiled brightly again and caressed the bottle of alcohol she had brought. She held the bottle’s mouth as if tickling it, shaking the bottle while urging Han Jae-jung.

“Then, Jae-jung. Can you make a delicious drink for Ah-hee, whom you care for so much?”

“Excessive drinking is bad for your health.”

“I haven’t had a single drink today, you know?”

“You might not have ‘today’. But you’ve been coming here to drink for several days in a row recently. Always bringing new alcohol. It’s good to enjoy it since you’ve just become an adult, but do it in moderation.”

Han Jae-jung took the bottle from Baek Ah-hee as if snatching it away, and headed to the kitchen beyond the bar table. He wasn’t sure if he was working in a café or a bar anymore.

Somehow, word had spread among the magical girls, and they were frequenting this café ‘White Tiger’ as a place where they could drink alcohol comfortably.

Baek Ah-hee, who had just become an adult, had an especially high appearance rate among them.

It had become routine for her to bring new alcohol every time, urge for cocktails, cause trouble to Han Jae-jung while drunk, get scolded by Joo Ah-yoon, sober up, and go home.

“You saw what that drunk person did earlier, right? Even that great person acts so disgracefully… You’re worse, you know? Take it easy.”

“It seems Ms. Sirius has been through a lot of hardships too. Trying to heal by looking at other people’s private parts… Ah, by the way, I won’t act that drunk today, so don’t worry!”

“If you could control it, it wouldn’t be drunken behavior.”

“Well, that remains to be seen.”

Baek Ah-hee struck a pose as if showing off to Han Jae-jung, who was looking at her drowsily. It was a sexy pose that revealed the curves unique to women, with her hand on her head and her hips pushed back. However, because she was sitting down and considering her age, it didn’t feel erotic.

“Besides, doesn’t it make your heart race to think that this beautiful body will be defenseless?”

“Confidence is good, but overconfidence isn’t. Take it easy.”

“Yes~”

As if it wasn’t a serious seduction anyway, Baek Ah-hee laughed playfully and politely folded her hands on her knees. It was an overtly demure gesture.

“Mr. Jae-jung. I’ll really behave today. So please don’t tell me to leave… Okay?”

This time she tilted her head and pretended to be innocent. Han Jae-jung smirked at her calculated demeanor and took out a glass.

“You’ll have just one drink and go?”

“Yay~ I love you, Mr. Jae-jung~!”

“The way to earn love is quite easy. At this rate, won’t you fall for someone like a bartender?”

“Ah, even though I look like this, I’m not an easy woman. If a frivolous man approaches me, I’ll be like… This!”

Swish. She swept back her hair haughtily and continued. Her gaze was comparable to the cold stare Blue Sirius would give to a villain. It was a gaze mixed with contempt, hatred, and disgust, cold as ice.

“I’m busy. Don’t talk to me.”

“Oh….”

Han Jae-jung exclaimed, recalling the looks he had received from Seol-hwa.

“See? I’ll handle it like this, so don’t worry!”

“Yeah, that’s really not worrying. Where did you practice acting? I guess you get trained while working, huh?”

“Of course. Being a magical girl, I often have to smile even in difficult situations, and when I shoot commercials and such, I naturally get trained. Of course, I’m even better at it because I’m a genius magical girl!”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s impressive.”

Han Jae-jung responded indifferently as he filled the glass with ice. He poured 1 ounce of rum and added freshly squeezed lime juice on top. Then he filled the rest of the glass with cola.

Cuba Libre.

One of the rum-based cocktails, easy to drink even for first-timers.

“Tsk. Mr. Jae-jung, your reaction is too weak. Do you know how amazing we are? If we walk on a slightly busy street without disguise, a crowd will instantly gather, causing a great panic! Not just me, but sister Sirius too… Oh, right, sister Sirius. Why did she try to take off your pants earlier? Perhaps… She’s been feeling lonely lately….”

“It’s not like that.”

Is she becoming more rude from hanging out with White Davi, or is she becoming bolder from indulging in adult freedom? Han Jae-jung firmly cut off Baek Ah-hee’s words and placed the glass on her table.

“While we were talking, I accidentally spilled coffee on my pants. So she was trying to check for injuries. Without thinking it through.”

“What?! Then it’s really serious. Come on, quickly undo that belt and your pants in front of me….”

“It was cold coffee. I just need to change later.”

“Ah. I won’t look, so do you want to change now?”

“You would look, so I won’t change. Ah-hee, really, stop that. I don’t like sexual harassment.”

“I’m sorry. I just found your reactions amusing… Then, if not sexual harassment, can I just tease you?”

“No.”

“Okay.”

Baek Ah-hee pursed her lips and drank the cocktail Han Jae-jung had made. The sweet cola taste followed by the tangy lime and the unique sweetness of rum blended together deliciously. Baek Ah-hee, as if she had never been disappointed, smiled brightly again and looked at Han Jae-jung with sparkling eyes.

“It’s delicious! As expected of my personal bartender!”

“Who’s your personal bartender?”

“It feels like just yesterday when I saw you on the bridge, and now you’re doing a proper job… This counselor is truly touched.”

“Well, I’m glad you like it.”

“What’s the name of this cocktail?”

“Cuba Libre. It means ‘Freedom for Cuba’.”

“Ah, freedom….”

Baek Ah-hee sipped the drink a couple of times in silence, then uttered softly, almost like a sigh.

“…When will we be free?”

As if surprised by her own words, Baek Ah-hee’s body flinched. Then, as if trying to confirm whether these lips that spoke such words were really her own, she touched her lips with her fingers. Her slightly reddened eyes anxiously observed Han Jae-jung.

“Are you having a hard time these days?”

“Ah, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bring up such a dark topic. It’s, it’s not like that. Besides, how can a counselor receive counseling in reverse….”

“Honestly, I haven’t really been a proper counselor.”

“Ugh, that’s not… True, is it? I think I’ve been somewhat supportive in my own way. You actually leaned on me physically, didn’t you?”

“No, when did I….”

As Han Jae-jung searched his memory, he recalled being rescued by Red Vega during the Libra attack, cradled in her arms.

“That was just physically leaning on you.”

“Anyway, I was supportive, right? I win.”

Hmph. Baek Ah-hee confidently smiled, lifting the corners of her mouth with her index and middle fingers.

“Since I won, will you listen to what I say, Mr. Jae-jung?”

The corner of her mouth between her V-shaped fingers trembled slightly.

Han Jae-jung silently pulled up a chair in front of her and sat down. Taking this as a sign of agreement, Baek Ah-hee opened her lips that had been closed.

“…These days, everyone seems tired. Ah, for some reason, sister Altair seems healthy though.”

“Tired? You mean from work?”

“Just… Everything. It’s obvious that even if we kill a villain today, a new one will appear tomorrow. No matter how much we grow, strong enemies keep appearing, and no matter how hard we try, we can’t eliminate the damage… There’s no gain, just constant loss. Everyone seems a bit tired.”

Baek Ah-hee lay down on the table and looked up at Han Jae-jung.

“You know those magical girl haters… Do you know they’ve been increasing lately?”

“…I guess so. I don’t really use the internet, but I suppose their habits haven’t changed much from the old days.”

“Hehe, that’s right. Defeatism and pessimism. Thinking we’ll all die anyway. Meanwhile, they envy the magical girls who receive praise and attention from others. I didn’t understand it before. Jealousy can be used as an emotion for improvement, so why waste it like that.”

She moved her lips while surveying everything as if looking down from above – his pupils, the water droplets on the glass window, the soft candlelight and electric light, the dark night street.

“But now, I think I’m starting to understand. You only have the desire for improvement when there seems to be an answer in sight. If the path ahead is blocked, there’s no use in moving forward no matter how hard you try. Those people think that even if they don’t die from villains today, they’ll die tomorrow… So being a hero or whatever, dying so miserably alone would feel unfair. That’s why they try to pull down heroes, envy those who are relatively safe… While they’re so miserable, why do others shine so brightly….”

“….”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand? This isn’t how I think now. I just mean I can somewhat understand those people’s thoughts now. After experiencing hardships. My perspective has broadened.”

Baek Ah-hee smiled bitterly and lightly tapped Han Jae-jung’s leg under the table. She took off her heels and ran her foot along his knee, pushing his hard shin with her thumb. It was almost as if she was whining.

“With endless enemies and stagnant growth, even the mysterious enemy with whom I’ve formed a unique bond is avoiding me… How boring is it these days?”

“That’s….”

“Of course, this has nothing to do with Mr. Jae-jung, who is completely unrelated. Mr. Jae-jung is a civilian after all!”

Han Jae-jung rubbed his face with a complicated feeling. Satisfied with observing his distorted expression, Baek Ah-hee caught his right leg with both of her legs under the desk, as if embracing it.

“So, it’s like… There’s no romance these days!”

“Romance?”

Romance? Han Jae-jung tilted his head quizzically and applied force to pull out his caught foot. In response, she applied more strength to her legs and answered with a smile.

“Yes! We’re repeating days where we don’t look forward to tomorrow, pray for today to pass safely, and regret yesterday! That means romance is dead! Ah, I’m sorry, I should use prettier words.”

With her pre-transformation strength, she couldn’t beat an adult man. In the end, the one who lost this strange contest of strength was Baek Ah-hee. But for some reason, she found it amusing and chuckled.

“…Hey, Mr. Jae-jung, I just became curious about something.”

She asked, mischievously tapping his leg lightly once more.

“If it were you, Mr. Jae-jung, how would you eliminate all magical girls from this world?”

To Han Jae-jung, it sounded like the question, ‘What do you want to do?’

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“Oh, it’s nothing~ Just that some villain said this was their goal before.”

It was all the more embarrassing because she knew everything.

“That’s~”

“Jae-jung, I’m here~ Did you miss me? Hehe.”

At that moment, the door burst open and Yoon Seol-hwa charged in. Ignoring the fact that she almost fell over in her chair, she hugged Han Jae-jung from behind without any hesitation.

“Se-Seol-hwa? I’m in the middle of a conversation right now, so later….”

“No way~! When is later! Ah, then let’s talk together!”

“Unnie! I said let’s go together… Huff… Huff… This stamina is crazy.”

Joo Ah-yoon followed, looking visibly exhausted.

Baek Ah-hee smiled, tucked a few bills under her glass, and stood up.

“Ugh… What, you’re leaving already?”

“Yes. I had fun. Playing with Mr. Jae-jung is indeed entertaining.”

“I’m not your toy….”

“You treat sister Sirius like a toy but not me? How sad… Anyway, I’ll be going now.”

She put her index finger to her lips, visible only to Han Jae-jung, and smiled brightly. It was a signal that tonight’s conversation was a secret.

With lighter steps than when she arrived, she stepped out into the night street.

‘Now, what kind of answer will Mr. Jae-jung show?’

Recalling someone’s starlight, she counted the stars in the night sky.

It seemed her discontent had somewhat disappeared.

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