The transfer student had arrived!The entire class buzzed at the sight of the beautiful new transfer student.
Her white skin that even looked pale and her long flowing hair. The calmly sunken eyes and tightly closed lips gave a cold impression that was difficult to approach but⋯⋯.
As she hesitated, unable to lift her head, a faint blush colored her cheeks, and her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.
The sight of her being shy, which didn't fit her appearance, dissolved the invisible barrier her looks created. Along with the gap-moe generated by the chemical reaction.
This was sad news for Roderus.
Commoners, who would normally not dare to meet her gaze if she remained silent, now accepted Roderus as a 'classmate' rather than a 'superior being'!
Before attending school, Roderus had received some basic education. He learned in school, everyone was equal regardless of status, and no one spoke in an aristocratic tone.
Moreover, revealing his personal information to the Organization of Darkness was dangerous, so drawing attention was risky.
That meant...
“What do you eat to look so pretty?”"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Although he wanted to, he couldn’t scream out, saying 'I licked the mold off the wall, you goddamn peasant bastard-!!’ as an answer to that question.
“You fucker, just keep your mouth shut!”
"Transfer student! You don't need to worry about him! He's a little weird."
Fortunately, the awkward commotion, which seemed to have shoved three spoons of butter into his mouth, was suppressed by the classmates. Those who dared to recklessly flap their mouths were showered with countless numbers of Indian Bap1 .
“What’s your hobby?”
"⋯⋯Assas-, no. It’s fencing.”
"Wow, fencing?! Can you show me?!"
You’d end up with a hole between your brows if I showed you. Isn't this a challenge for a duel to say that you’re going to try experiencing the sword?
Roderus glanced at Oh Hye-in, who was sitting by the window. made an X with her arms and signaled him. She wasn’t issuing a duel challenge. Then…
"You can't force me to do anyth⋯⋯ ah, never mind. If the opportunity arises, I'll show you later."
“Ah, eung.”
I somehow managed to get through it. Roderus smiled faintly at the small sense of achievement.
It was easier than he had thought. At best, it was like fooling little kids who hadn’t even lived long enough. He felt like he was doing really well right now.
His confidence grew. Now he felt like he could answer any question like a⋯⋯
“Do you have a boyfriend by any chance?”
“Shut──"
Roderus was unable to finish his disdainful ‘shut up, commoner’ line. This was because Oh Hye-in, who accurately identified the timing of his explosion, covered his mouth.
“Hmp──!!"
"Dae-soo is my cousin, the same last name as me. Oh. Right? She's a bit shy, so let's stop with the questions! Just drop it! Drop it!"
Oh Hye-in dragged the wandering Oh Dae-soo and seated him in an empty chair. That was how the chaotic first day of transfer ticked away.
“Heung.”
A girl with red hair in the back observed the scene closely⋯⋯.
===============================================================
On the school rooftop, Oh Dae-soo, the mysterious transfer student, crossed his arms and glared angrily at Oh Hye-in. He had been very on edge due to a ‘do you have a boyfriend’ question.
"Tell me why⋯⋯ I have to do endure this absurd nonsense."
"There's no turning back now, is there, mong? So, you need to naturally blend into this world, mong."
"And schools are really important bases for Magical Girls!"
“I never agreed to become this Magical Girl or whatever in the first place⋯⋯!!"
Roderus sprang up like a coiled spring, pointing his finger at Oh Hye-in in a display of frustration. His razor-sharp attitude was enough to intimidate even the boldest boy.
However, Oh Hye-in, the seasoned Magical Girl, seemed unfazed by the tantrum of someone her own age. Instead, she teamed up with the mascot Munggae to launch a scathing counterattack.
"Then what, are there any other alternatives, mong? If you have a different plan, I will say goodbye here mong~"
"Yeah yeah, but I don’t know what you’re planning to do alone in this heartless society, with nothing but a girl’s body, abandoned and without money or credit~"
"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!"
So? What are you going to do about it, huh?
Oh Dae-soo, the Magical Girl reserve, clutched his chest and staggered under the harsh barrage of reality. In addition, it was twice as painful when his fingers brushed past a blob of flesh that shouldn’t have been touched.
Roderus was now faced with the task of focusing on his Magical Girl duties as Oh Dae-soo, the most beautiful girl in the province.
Oh Hye-in hugged the disheartened Roderus tightly.
"It's not so bad being a Magical Girl, Dae-soo."
"⋯⋯Stop!!”
Something about someone’s warmth was actually comforting.
===============================================================
What are Magical Girls?
"They are heroes who protect the hopes and dreams of children, battling the wicked Organization of Evil that seeks to plunge people into despair for the sake of obtaining Impure Energy, mong."
"It's a role where you team up with the police to take down villains. Since magic users are immune to physical attacks, the police can't shoot them. They offer the four major insurances, a pension, and you earn invisible bonus points if you pass the civil service exam."
What do the Magical Girls do?
"They protect the people’s precious emotions from the wicked Organization of Evil!"
"Eradicating monstrous-humans. It's like catching thieves."
Roderus nodded thoughtfully.
"So, Magical Girls are like vigilantes."
“You’re not wrong.”
"If you could change the outfit, there's nothing you can't do with this ⋯⋯ transformation outfit."
Roderus recalled the dreadful memory of that day—the long, flowing dress adorned with ribbons, frills, and glitter that emphasized femininity.
How about a hood or mask that covered the entire body? If he could even add armor on top of it, it would not only enhance the outfit's practicality but also obscure his face.
It would’ve been much better that way. While Roderus imagined his ideal self, the mascot Munggae abruptly interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh~ you can't change that, mong."
“Why!”
"『Transformation Device(Dreaming Mirror)』 morphs the Magical Girl into what she truly desires deep in her heart, mong. But you didn't connect to it properly, and now the device is broken, mong."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
So the broken device was the issue.
It was a frustrating regret, but what if he hadn't used Metamorphosis that time? If only he had killed the hound with pure physical strength⋯⋯!!
As Roderus was tearing his hair out and cursing his past decisions, Munggae added.
"And fancy clothes also have a purpose, mong. As I keep saying, the Magical Girls draw their power from positive human emotions── the Pure Energy, mong."
"Children tend to have more emotions than adults, right, Dae-soo?"
"The Magical Girls’ colorful outfits, like these, are designed to attract children who can generate the most Pure Energy in the shortest time, mong."
"That's why you need a little showmanship!"
Oh Hye-in stood up and moved gracefully as if she was doing ballet. She made a heart with her hands without hesitation, stretched forward, and even gave a playful wink with a V-sign next to her eye.
It looked good.
The performance with the lively beautiful girl's body would be able to do even somewhat exaggerated movements without difficulty. However, such actions… would be disastrous if attempted by a man!
It was a high-risk maneuver that could result in Acute Embarrassment Seizure due to a sharp spike in embarrassment levels.
Roderus had to refuse to save his own life.
“I will never do it.”
"Who’s telling you to do it, I’m just saying that⋯⋯ such things are necessary when you need Pure Energy!"
"⋯⋯Then I'll just die with honor. Performing such⋯⋯ things in front of everyone. It is not fitting of a noble’s stature."
“What does being noble mean?”
That was…
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Roderus froze momentarily, inhaling deeply before shaking his head and evading the topic.
"You, a commoner, wouldn’t understand what it means to be noble. That’s, just a natural feeling you get."
"Yes, yes, you must be very happy to have a highborn status, our beautiful middle-school girl Ms.Oh Dae-soo."
"⋯⋯Shut up, commoner!”
"Ah, what, why are you so upset already? Dae-soo~!"
Roderus marched on without even looking back. He was going to teach that rude peasant about the dignity of nobility one day.
Even though he thought that, he couldn't define what 'being noble' was himself. Even when he thought about it, only vague anxiety surfaced.
After all, what he had achieved was just a life as a fake hound that was decorated prettily.
===============================================================
He could forget everything in the heat of battle. When focused solely on the task of defeating an enemy, miscellaneous thoughts that weren’t worth his attention quietly faded away.
He danced. He dodged incoming attacks and struck at exposed gaps. He couldn’t help but perform at this level. After all, he was living for one purpose.
I am, Duke Redburn's right hand ──
"This is the end."
“Kieeeeeeck-!!”
Boom.
The monster, with a hole from the rapier, turned into ashes. Roderus wiped the bloodless rapier once and sheathed it.
Clapclapclapclapclap. Oh Hye-in clapped like a seal right next to him.
"Wow⋯⋯ it feels like we just watched a movie, doesn’t it?"
"What a terrifying combat power, mong⋯⋯! He killed the monstrous humans instantly without even gathering the Pure Energy, mong!"
"Heh... well, this is just basics. I wasn't even being serious. You may praise me as much as you want, commoner."
Roderus lifted his chin proudly. Oh Hye-in looked at him with a face as if she had tasted something bitter and repeated her words.
"Wow, holy⋯⋯ it feels like we just watched a movie, right?"
"What confidence, mong⋯⋯!"
"Speak as much as you like. I’ll overlook your rudeness. Release Transformation."
Pirorong ♬
The Magical Girl costume dissipated into light and scattered into the sky. Roderus put the 『Transformation (Dreaming Mirror)』 in his skirt pocket and continued walking.
Oh Hye-in and Munggae followed closely behind. On the way home from school, Roderus had effortlessly dealt with the monstrous humans that had suddenly appeared, dispersing them with ease.
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
To Roderus, this world felt lazy.
There was no need to put in the effort to survive, so everyone lived in comfort. They didn’t set traps in their houses or hone their skills to kill people.
Some, like Roderus, were professionally trained to kill people, but this was a matter of minimum requirements.
Even a farmer living in a remote village would live with a readiness to kill. Whether dealing with thieves who might burn down their village or goblins intent on plundering.
The threat of bloodshed was ever-present. Cowards who avoided or feared such conflict were the first to fall. That's why everyone lived with a certain degree of self-interest.
But here? People acted as if death and killing were distant concepts. They laughed, chatted, and played together without much thought.
Neighbors, friends, and such.
Depending on the situation, anyone could turn into a potential threat at any moment. Even family members, yes—even they could pose a risk. But ⋯⋯.
"When we get home, should I make European food today? Oh Dae-soo's real name sounds foreign, so I feel like ⋯⋯."
"I don't know exactly what kind of world he is from, mong. Maybe it's an oriental world but with a foreign name, mong."
"He can go hungry if he doesn’t like it!"
You peasants. How could you live so stupidly?
Fools. Roderus, muttering to himself, was forced to stop walking as he turned the corner of the alley.
This was because a girl about 10 cm shorter than him was boldly blocking the way with her hands on her waist.
Her red hair, tinged with a hint of pink, her bright red eyes shining like rubies, and her firmly closed lips spoke volumes of her stubbornness.
Overall, she was a lively girl⋯⋯ who took a step further than lively, so lively that he could almost feel her intense drive. She raised her voice as she pointed at Roderus.
"You're the new Magical Girl, right!"
"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!"
“Welc⋯⋯ UMPH!!"
Connected, subsequent movement.
He pushed his thighs between her legs, pressed his body close, and covered her mouth with his hand.
Then he tackled her legs, disrupting her balance, and pinned her neck with his forearm as he fell on top of her. The girl’s face quickly turned pale from the strangulation.
"O-Oh Dae-soo!!"
"I think we’ve been discovered, commoner. We should take out the witness here, so⋯⋯."
"S-She's one of us! She’s a friend! And in the first place, just because you were discovered, that doesn't mean you have to think about burying someone!
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Roderus slowly removed his hand. The girl coughed violently, then stood up with tears in her eyes. And…
"Abyo-!!"
Pow-!
"⋯⋯Eukeuk!”
She punched Roderus in his stomach.
Normally, he would have retaliated, but the punch caused his body to give way, bending him forward as his legs trembled.
Even though it wasn't even that strong of a hit⋯⋯!
The red-haired girl, with a cheerful smile, patted Roderus on the back while he crouched and gasped for air.
"I hit you once because you hit me once. My name is Kim Ruru! It's 『Pure Rodeo』, the Magical Girl of Power. I hope we get along well-!!"
It was the arrival of a new Magical Girl.
1. an old korean snack brand. Does not sell any longer. Essentially corn crackers. It is a meme as in stuff people's mouth with "Indian Bap" to make them shut up.