Transformation or Death

Chapter 89

Get on Board  (6)

The live broadcast of the Magic Girl Association airs with a certain time delay. This convention was established after an incident in the past where a staff member was killed during an attack by a villain, causing the scene to be broadcast live. 

This delay has become longer every year, leading some to joke that it should no longer be called a live broadcast, but simply a broadcast.

Due to this time difference, even though the year-end awards show where they count down to the new year together is a common event, it starts early in the evening and ends as the night deepens.

While other households were still receiving words of gratitude from the magic girls on screen, the magic girl off-screen had finished preparing to leave.

“Joo Ah-yoon, did you know? Jae-jung called me today? He said he wanted to hear my voice!”

“Uh… I know…”

Right after the awards ended, Yoon Seol-hwa ran over to Joo Ah-yoon and started bragging about something for who knows which time.

“You already told me everything earlier…”

It had been a long time since Joo Ah-yoon arrived at the Association. From the moment she met Yoon Seol-hwa, she had to keep listening to her brag like this every time they met, leaving Joo Ah-yoon feeling quite conflicted.

In fact, it may not even be bragging. It was more like ‘I experienced something happy, so let me share it with you’ – a mentality like a puppy being affectionate.

‘She’s such a pure person in many ways.’

The day after Joo Ah-yoon first transformed, she woke up to find many missed calls from Yoon Seol-hwa during her absence. The flustered Joo Ah-yoon called her to ask what was going on, and the reply she got was ‘Thank goodness.’

Soon after, she could hear that while watching the Cassiopeia villain, Yoon Seol-hwa felt Deneb’s starlight, and was worried that something might have happened to Joo Ah-yoon.

Someone who can be purely happy and purely worried. Joo Ah-yoon felt that such a person is exactly the type who should become a magic girl.

Her skills are also ripening bit by bit, and retirement is still a long way off.

While supporting her dream, Joo Ah-yoon also felt guilty. Because recently, she has been monopolizing Han Jae-jung, whom Yoon Seol-hwa adores so much.

She probably doesn’t even know the fact that Joo Ah-yoon has been spending time with Han Jae-jung…

“Come to think of it, how has Jae-jung been doing lately? Is he doing well?”

“…Uh, yeah I guess. Huh? What?”

Ah right.

“How… How did you know, senior…”

“Huh? Oh!”

Yoon Seol-hwa covered her mouth in surprise.

“Oh… Was it supposed to be a secret?”

“No, not really… But how did you know?”

“You were wearing the clothes you bought when we went on a date before, so I thought for sure you must have met… Or did you not?”

How does she even remember something like that? Clothes from years ago that Joo Ah-yoon hasn’t taken out in forever. Joo Ah-yoon nodded her head.

“I’m glad~ I felt a bit uneasy asking randomly. I thought I might become a nuisance of an ex-girlfriend who butts in without knowing the situation.”

Yoon Seol-hwa laughed innocently without a shred of doubt. Seeing her attitude, Joo Ah-yoon felt an even greater sense of guilt.

‘If I say the wrong thing now, I’ll become the worst bitch ever.’

She had to start defending herself quickly before being branded as a woman having an affair with her close sister’s ex-boyfriend and getting struck by Yoon Seol-hwa’s iron fist of justice.

“Is Jae-jung… doing okay? He seemed to be having a really hard time, so Ah-yoon, I hope you can take good care of him… Ah, this, this is just my opinion, you can do whatever you want…”

“No, no, I need to take care of brother Jae-jung. Right. I’m meeting him today too. You should come too, senior.”

So Joo Ah-yoon spoke without filtering what came to her mind.

“Really? Can I go too?” 

“Of course! Just barge in! Have you seen that brother is being considerate of us? We don’t need to be considerate of him either!”

Without any suspicion or scolding attitude, Yoon Seol-hwa was just surprised and happy, and Joo Ah-yoon smiled awkwardly.

‘Brother is going to suffer a bit tonight.’

She’ll have to ask him to give all kinds of service. The time has come to unseal the expensive liquor and snacks stocked inside the Association.

‘At the same time, senior’s sobriety too.’

Along with the alcohol, she’ll have to help wash away any worries she’s had until now.

She was thinking these thoughts when…

Until she saw the two magic girls Red Vega and White Davi, she was certain this would definitely be an enjoyable year-end.

***

Ippotranslation

***

“Eeeeeeeh~~!!!”

“So noisy.”

“I panted!” 

After getting kicked in the shins by Joo Ah-yoon, White Davi stopped letting out exclamations typical of Japanese variety shows.

“What, what is this? Why are the seniors here? Nande (why)? Doshite (how)?” 

White Davi looked back and forth between Joo Ah-yoon and Yoon Seol-hwa, and soon her eyes met Han Jae-jung’s.

“You…? I feel like I’ve seen you before……”

After pondering, White Davi looked at Yoon Seol-hwa again. Then her face turned deathly pale and she pressed her cheeks with both hands. 

“Maji yabai (really dangerous)……”

Her voice sounded like that of a soulless patient. Baek Ah-hee, who was in the room, poked her head out at the commotion.

“I hear Davi’s voice, but why… Huh? Davi?”

Upon witnessing Baek Ah-hee’s presence coming from inside the room, White Davi looked at Han Jae-jung with an even more dazed expression.

“Even my work wife…”

Not only White Davi, but Han Jae-jung also had to endure Joo Ah-yoon’s fierce gaze and Yoon Seol-hwa’s puzzled gaze, so he pondered where to begin his explanation.

‘Hmmm… I’m screwed.’

But no matter how hard he thought, there was no good solution.

“Brother… Is this why you didn’t answer my calls? You called Ah-hee over to play secretly?”

“No, I didn’t… But anyway, what’s this about calls?”

Han Jae-jung only then realized that the smartphone he had been holding in his hand all along was out of battery. It was a crappy free phone with poor performance to begin with. Just watching a live video for over an hour drained the battery quickly.

“Look, my phone’s battery died. And Beak Ah-hee only arrived not too long ago.”

“So you did call her?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Oh, right!”

“You did?”

“No, that’s not it, Mr. Jae-jung didn’t call me, I came to Mr. Jae-jung’s house!”

Yoon Seol-hwa still didn’t understand the situation and tilted her head in confusion.

“Why did Beak Ah-hee come to Jae-jung’s house… How does Jae-jung know Beak Ah-hee? What’s their relationship?”

“Ah, well, you see? This has a very complicated backstory… Sister Deneb!” 

“Yah, why are you making me explain! Gosh, really, senior, the thing is. Beak Ah-hee and Brother Jae-jung are… Ah, how do I explain this?”

Inevitably, the topic of suicide counseling will come up. And that will inevitably shake Yoon Seol-hwa’s mentality. No, it won’t just shake her, it will deal a blow strong enough to turn her world upside down.

The implication would be that someone she had hoped would find happiness away from her had been through all sorts of hardships.

It was like poison to the emotionally unstable Blue Sirius. Ignorance is bliss. As everyone else exchanged glances, White Davi suddenly raised her hand.

“I know!”

White Davi pointed a finger at Han Jae-jung.

“That gaslighting piece of trash used counseling to exploit my work wife…”

“Gaslighting trash?”

Yoon Seol-hwa’s voice dropped to a tone entirely different from before.

“That’s… What Jae-jung said?”

“Yes! I’ll protect you, senior! Hide behind me! I’ll give that lecher a good thrashing!”  

“Um… sorry. I’m a bit slow, I don’t understand. Let me ask again. Did Jae-jung really say that?”

Silence fell.

No one dared to answer.

“White Davi.”

Yoon Seol-hwa walked right up to her.

Step by step, her chilling footsteps soon assaulted their eardrums. The sound was more piercing than the biting winter air. Clearly she hadn’t transformed, but snowflakes seemed to bloom around her.

Right in front of her, at a distance where Davi’s breath would hit her face before dispersing, she asked again.

“Did Jae-jung really say that?”

White Davi immediately averted her eyes and forced a smile.

“Ah, no… he didn’t?”

“I see, I must have misheard.” 

“Ha, haha… Senior, you’re so funny. Kawai~”

Unable to watch any longer, Han Jae-jung let out a sigh.

“Anyway, let’s go inside and talk. Clear up the misunderstanding, it’s the end of the year and cold out, why are you all making a fuss?”

He looked at White Davi with concern. She was only wearing a thin, baggy white t-shirt and dolphin pants. Not the proper attire for staying outside in this weather.

White Davi immediately raised her arms. 

“I, I agree~! Iidesu ne (That’s good)! Boku (I’ll) grab some snacks and come right back!”

She tried to slip inside the room, but was stopped by Yoon Seol-hwa grabbing the back of her neck.

“No, let’s talk first?”

“No, just let the kid be…”

It’s because the heating isn’t working at my place so it’s cold inside.

***

Ippotranslation

***

“So who is this person in front of Davi?”

“It is the true youth of this era, Han Jae-jung, who lives bravely and brightly despite his unfortunate past!!!!”

With an excited, shrill voice that burst out from the atmosphere ripened with drinks, meat, and deep conversations.

Having heard the truth about the past love affair from Yoon Seol-hwa, she was more engrossed than anyone else here and spoke strongly.

“Oh my god, senior, did you get her drunk? Why is she like that?”

“Why? She looks good. And I didn’t get her drunk.” 

“Yes, that’s right! Blue Sirius didn’t give me any drinks! But! I drank them myself~ Ah this sake (ah, good drink)!!!”

Holding a cola glass that she had secretly poured soju into, White Davi giggled. The adults couldn’t stop her from secretly drinking it.

“What’s so proud about a kid drinking alcohol?”

“Where can you find a kid these days who doesn’t drink?!”

“I, I am here!”

Baek Ah-hee clutched a beer can with a flushed face.

“Just a few more minutes until I’m an adult…! I won’t commit any illegalities and will drink proudly!” 

“Our pure girl is kind~ Yasashii (gentle)~ Kawaii (cute)~ Suki (I like her)!!!”

Han Jae-jung laughed in disbelief.

“You watched an adult video, and bought soju and beer, but drinking is not allowed?”

Inside the black bag Baek Ah-hee brought along with the chicken were bottles of soju and beer.

“That wasn’t porn, you know? And I didn’t buy those! I brought them from the association!”

“So the magical girls really do only drink dew, huh.”

White Davi, now properly drunk, stood up and sat next to Han Jae-jung, draping her arm over his shoulder.

Han Jae-jung, uncomfortable with her thin clothing, the fact that she was an underage drinker, and the smell of alcohol, frowned and tried to quickly pull away. But she firmly bound him by throwing her leg over him as well.

“Onisang (older brother)! Ui… I have firmly… had a misunderstanding!” 

“Ah yes…”

“People just don’t understand! To become someone who would die over just dating! That such an absurd rumor had to be spread to resolve it! What is this! Why does Onisang, who did nothing wrong, have to be bullied!!!”

“Ow, my ears are going to fall off.”

Joo Ah-yoon stood up to separate White Davi and Han Jae-jung, but she only clung to Han Jae-jung more tightly.

“Bokunomisudeshita (It was my mistake)…! Please forgive my foolishness of only believing the press and public opinion…! They say there’s no one to trust in this world, but even Matthew lied to me…!!”

White Davi’s scripture of truth, the internet. 

Realizing that one viral video was a lie, her world crumbled today.

“It’s originally full of lies anyway.”

“Eh? Sonna uso (Such a lie)! Is it also a lie that you’re currently working as a host?!”

“Why the fuck would I do that kind of job. Ah, sorry for swearing.”

To spread such a rumor in front of the person involved, Han Jae-jung just laughed dryly.

“I, Otonashi Haru! I’m so ashamed of myself!”

White Davi, Otonashi Haru (音無炤).

‘She’s no different from the original.’

White Davi is innately lacking in social skills. More precisely, she lacks the ability to empathize with others. She has a considerable innate difficulty in taking an empathetic or considerate attitude.

On top of that, she has an overly sensitive ear and a frank way of speaking, so her remarks become quite extreme.

Fortunately, she has been somewhat socialized through post-natal learning, but even now, those aspects still remain and sometimes come bursting out.

This is the reason she came from Japan to Korea. 

One day, the Japanese Magical Girl Association, unable to handle her anymore, quietly suggested that she go abroad to meet diverse people, gain diverse experiences, and mature as a person.

Since White Davi had no particular reason to refuse, she came to Korea just like that.

“This is… a drink of apology from me…! Cheers!”

“Don’t give me the drink you were drinking.”

“Davi, it’s time to get off slowly…”

Unable to watch any longer, Yoon Seol-hwa stood up, but White Davi only clung to Han Jae-jung more fiercely. Han Jae-jung’s neck was getting tight, and he kept trying to tap her arm.

“Are you disregarding Haruo Otona’s sincere feelings? It would be better for you to obediently accept it, Onisan!” 

“No, why is your way of speaking like that?”

Recently, did she watch a yakuza or gang film? Unable to bear the sight of White Davi handing over a cup of alcohol in a gruff, middle-aged man-like manner, Joo Ah-yoon eventually took action.

“Hey, take it easy, Park!”

“Gyahh!”

She kicked her in the face, and White Davi fell backwards.

“No, no violence!”

“Hey, you know I saved you, right? If my senior had caught you, you’d be dead!”

Looking at that sight with satisfaction, Yoon Seol-hwa spoke to Baek Ah-hee.

“Ah-hee, you said you met Jae-jung when he saved you from danger?”

“Yes, yes! That’s right! That was our first meeting. And after that, we happened to meet a few more times by chance. He was someone who listened to me when I was really struggling… He’s very kind… and that’s how we became close!”

Baek Ah-hee, her arm linked with Han Jae-jung’s, smiled brightly. Yoon Seol-hwa smiled contentedly, thinking her cute junior was just joking around. 

It felt like being an otaku whose niche movie finally gained recognition.

‘She really recognizes Jae-jung’s worth. As expected of the junior I had my eye on. She can see people for who they really are.’

However, Han Jae-jung, who knew Baek Ah-hee’s true feelings, couldn’t easily smile.

‘This unbelievable thing… she’s wiggling her way out again like this. Sly.’

She skillfully put a spin on their first meeting, which was originally a suicide consultation, making it sound like he had saved her from an attack by a villain. The words ‘saved you from danger’ would only sound like it was related to villains to a magical girl.

Then by deliberately avoiding specific details and vaguely explaining how they became close afterwards, she could end the conversation without explaining about the suicide consultation or the WATCHERS.

Baek Ah-hee, slipping her arm away shyly, glanced at the time on her phone.

“Ah, it’ll be the new year soon!”

The time showed 11:59. Baek Ah-hee turned on a stopwatch and started the countdown.

“10!”

“Jae-jung, try eating this. It’s expensive cheese…”

“Oh, uh thanks…”

“Count down with me for a bit! It’s the precious year I become an adult!”

Joo Ah-yoon, done stomping on Davi, picks up her beer can again.

“Ah-hee, there’s nothing great about becoming an adult. Just more responsibilities.” 

“But it’s good for me! 9!”

“Alright alright. 8.”

Baek Ah-hee raised her beer can tensely.

“7!” 

“Nana (seven)!”

“Oh you’re revived?”

“Don’t underestimate my life force!”

White Davi had revived and joined the countdown.

“6!”

“5!”

At the start of 5, Han Jae-jung raised his hand. He smiled contentedly at the lively New Year’s Eve he was welcoming after so long, with no chance to feel lonely amidst the busyness.

“4!”

Time passes by. Time that can never be turned back.

“3!”

As much time has passed, he has prepared to welcome the coming time.

“2!”  

There are still many unresolved issues. Will he be able to resolve them all this year?

“1!”

He must do his best to make it so. Han Jae-jung harbored hope, and everyone shouted out their own hopes for the future.

“Happy New Year!”

Chik!

Baek Ah-hee boldly opened her beer can.

Kwaaang!!

An explosion sounded from the street.

“Happy new year! You bums!”

The shockwave shook the building, and before the reverberations could fade, a booming voice rattled their heads.

“How’s it going, unfortunate citizens and scum villains! I am September, boss of the Argo gang!”

A distinctive mystical yet gruff voice, as if laced with static. Anyone with starlight would easily recognize this unique voice.

The voice of a villain.

“I have come to recruit those who will board my ship!”

Looking out the window, it seemed a fire had started somewhere, as the streets glowed red like sunset despite the darkness.

“To commemorate this symbolic day of new beginnings, I have arrived. As you welcome the new year, I offer you the chance for a new life! Choose! Death or joining me!”

Smelling the stale stench of grease from the very start of the new year, Han Jae-jung frowned.

T/N: Hi @everyone, sorry to say this but this novel will be dropped due to lack of support, It has been through a lot of mess wherein the subscription platform refunded the supporters their funds and closed the support page and that is why the Illustration page is no longer working. Basically that means there is literally a big loss of funds for this novel and I can not carry on like this as the cost for this novel is too much. Some chapters are still left but that will end in time. Just to note, I am not dropping this novel voluntarily as I prefer completing a translation, but this situation has forced my hands, anyways have a day.

/ippostranslations