An Exorcist Magical Girl!

“Ugh, that’s gross. I should probably hide this.”

 

Seo Jun tilted her head at my comment.

“That doesn’t make sense, don’t you usually throw it away because it’s gross?” “No, I think I’d rather keep it with me, it’s just more unnecessarily creepy when it’s out of sight.”

I replied.

 “That’s an interesting idea.” 

Seo Jun quietly tackles me, so I try to explain my own logic.

“Imagine a cockroach in your room. Wouldn’t you feel more anxious if it was out of sight?” “Oh, I see.” 

Luckily, the hand mirror was small enough to slip into my pocket.

 

‘Never lose it.’

I thought.

 

It would be really creepy if I thought I lost it, and it was suddenly on the dining room table in my house.

 

When the exorcist saw me tuck the mirror carefully into my pocket, he started asking me questions about the situation.

 

This continued for another three to forty minutes, until he said that he would call Seon-yeo, Hanju, and Yin Charang to give them a detailed account of the incident once he was done.

 

As I stood up to leave the café, Exorcist Ji Woon called out to Seo Jun.

 

“Oh, wait a minute, Seo Jun, I need you to come with me to the association. I need to talk to you about the hospital bills and compensation for the damage. I’d appreciate it if you could spare a few more minutes.” “Sure.”

Seo Jun agreed.

 “Then Seo Jun will take my car and Baek Iri, you go straight to the training center. I’ll pay for your taxi.” “Oh, no. I’m fine, it’s just a short bus ride.”

 

I had no intention of paying for a taxi from an exorcist who was already struggling.

 

The exorcist told Seo Jun to wait a moment, then went to get his car, which was parked some distance away from the cafe.

 

I stayed with Seo Jun until the exorcist returned so she wouldn’t feel alone.

 

“I’m not lonely.” “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re not lonely.” “Huh…”.

Seo Jun turned her head away with a look of disbelief. However, she didn’t seem offended, so I didn’t shut up.

 

“If this keeps up, there won’t be a camp this year.”

Seo Jun muttered to herself.

 “Training camp?”

I asked.

 “It’s a retreat by the training center. We usually go once before the first semester finals, but I don’t know if it will happen this year.” “Oh, I see. Well, it’s a bit much to send us to a retreat under these circumstances, but if they catch the culprit before then, it’ll be fine.”  “I hope he’s caught…”

Seo Jun said, a hint of regret in her voice.

 

“I guess you were looking forward to the training camp, I didn’t think you’d like that.”

I ask, puzzled, and Seo Jun shakes her head, correcting me.

 

“I wasn’t looking forward to the camp. Every camp has an event, and I needed the first prize for the event.” “What? An event? That’s a surprise.”

 

I pictured Seo Jun enjoying the campfire, cheering at the talent show, and enthusiastically participating in the inter-team games.

 

Wow, that is ridiculous!

 

“Stop looking at me like that, it’s not what you think it is.”

Seo Jun, recognizing my silly imagination, immediately retorted.

 

“If it’s not that, then what is it?” “It’s a special training that we only do at camp.” “Oh… Right.”

 

It’s honestly the fault of the person who gave the special training a cheerful name like

“event”

.

 

“But what kind of prizes do they give out for training? You don’t look like you’re going to get any.” “First place gets the first choice of the next mission.” “Oh… Right.”  *** 

I waved goodbye to the departing car and boarded the bus.

 

On the bus, I met Yin Charang.

 

“Huh? Baek Iri, are you taking this bus too?”

 

I took a different public transportation route than usual because I left from the cafe instead of the school, and I ran into Yin Charang.

 

He greeted me first and sat down next to me.

 

I think he’d forgotten about the last time he growled at me at the front door of the association building.

 

“Uh, hi. Must be exam season at your school, too?” “Ours ended yesterday. We just got out early today. What about yours?” “We finished early too.” “Wow, you’re running late.” “Aren’t you guys just fast?”

 

An uneventful conversation ensued.

 

“Why did you leave early today?” “Just because!”

 

I was left speechless by this very cheerful answer.

 

It was Yin Charang who resumed the conversation.

 

“I’m sorry about my behavior in front of the association the other day. “Uh-huh?” “I just told you that Seo Jun was going to continue being my partner. Did you forget?!” “Oh, no. Of course I remember.” “I’m sorry I made it all about me when you don’t even know the situation.”

 

Yin Charang! You were a good friend, weren’t you?!

 

“No, maybe not. I’m sorry I called you immature.” “No, no, no, it’s okay. We’ve made up!”

 

Yin Charang smiled like a puppy. It was a genuine smile without pretense.

 

I felt warm inside, thinking that even though he might be a bit moody, he doesn’t have a bad heart.

 

“You know how to apologize first, you little bastard.” 

But this goodwill was quickly shattered by Yin Charang’s next words.

 

“Then let’s face off at our camp event! You know what the first prize is, right?”

 

I tried my best to hide the instant coldness in my eyes.

 

This asshole, Yin Charang, is doing this because he has a crush on her.

 

He didn’t say it out loud, but the way he acted, it’s obvious, right?

 

He was acting like a crazy person at the front door last time, so I thought he was getting revenge, but now I realize he just wanted to be next to Seo Jun.

 

He said he’d been partnered with Seo Jun for a while, so of course he knew Seo Jun was gunning for the first prize in the training event.

 

Was he going to confess by offering her mission priority?

 

“Yeah, whatever. I’m rooting for you, Charang!”

 

I put on my best cheerleading face, but Yin Charang’s expression suddenly turned sour.

 

“Who cheers for a competitor?! You don’t even see me as a competitor? Because you’re an S⁺ rank and I’m just an S-rank?”

 

Where’s the talent rating in this?

 

“Dude don’t get mad. I’m not competing with you. I’ll help you win your crush. How about that?” “Wha-what, crush? Who? Who?” “You to Seo Jun of course.” “What are you talking about? What kind of delusions are you having?”

 

The first reaction was the same as the reaction of younger kids when they find out they have a crush.

 

My friend also screamed at the top of her lungs when she found out who her crush was during a truth game at a 5th grade retreat.

 

I mentally confirmed the crush.

 

When I nodded my head in understanding, he jumped up and down in his seat, and then shamelessly rang the bell to get off.

 

Peeeeeep—!

 

I smack Yin Charang on the head to stop him from pressing the stop button.

“I’m sorry, driver. We’re not getting off.”

I apologized.

 

Charang rubbed the side of his head and grunted, and I apologized to the driver for pressing the wrong bell.

 

“Charang, you bastard.” “It’s not true. Do you want me to hit your head?!”

He screamed.

 “Volume, please. We’re on a bus…”

 

When I scolded him to be quiet, he flinched slightly and lowered his voice.

 

Then he spat out the words again, letter by letter.

 “I. Don’t. Like. Seo Jun.

”

 

Ehhh, I’m sure it’s not-

 

❰ Activate: “Master of Mirrors: Mirror of Truth” ❱

❰ Beep!  It’s true! ❱

 

Suddenly, a status window popped up in front of me.

 

The Mirror of Truth? Oh, no, this mirror?

 

I pulled out my hand mirror from my pocket.

 

“Hey, Baek Iri, can you hear me?”

 

I peered into the mirror, lightly ignoring the glow from Yin Charang’s side.

 

There was a new crack in the mirror’s surface.

 

❰ You have three triggers left for the Mirror of Truth. ❱

 

Another pop-up appeared.

 

Maybe the mirror has some kind of weird function?

 

No, not that it has a function.

 

I’m the boss, why is it doing things I didn’t ask it to do? When did it ever integrate with the status bar?

 

I quickly opened the status window and checked my skill status.

 

Aside from the basic skill, the only skill I have is “A Craftsman Wears No Tools”.

 

For some reason, the name of the skill I glanced at seems to be longer than usual?

 

[“A Craftsman Wears No Tool” Unmasked (Secondary Skill: Master of Mirrors).]

 

There are parentheses next to the skill name.

 

It seems that the new skill,

“Master of Mirrors,”

was added as a secondary skill because I used the skill “A Craftsman Wears No Tools” to channel my energy into a hand mirror.

 

I’m not sure how many times I’ve done it, but if I use it, the mirror surface cracks. It doesn’t seem to be a permanent skill. I don’t know how or under what conditions.

 

No, let’s put that aside for now.

 

I have more important things to do right now.

 

I recalled the pop-up message from earlier.

 

‘❰ Beep! It’s true! ❱’

 

So, what he just said is true? He doesn’t like Seo Jun?

 

“Hey, Yin Charang. So, what did you say about competing against each other in the training camp event? Why did you say that?” “I meant to see which S-rank will represent the 4th Branch Training Center.”

Yin Charang replied to my question with a tone that said it was obvious.

 

❰ “Master of Mirrors: Mirror of Truth” is activated! ❱

❰ Beep! It’s true! ❱

❰ You have two triggers left for Mirror of Truth! ❱

 

I don’t know what’s with this and its random triggers.

 

By the way, I didn’t say we were competing for love, I said we were competing for skill.

 

“You don’t even see me as a competitor? Because you’re an S⁺-rank and I’m just an S-rank?”

 

So that’s why he brought up the ranking.

 

Wow, that must have really hurt his ego

.

 

I felt bad for him, so I decided to match his request for a fight.

 

“I’ll take that fight.”

 

Ugh! I got goosebumps even as I said it

.

 

Funnily enough, when he heard that line, his face lit up.

 “Yes, you childish kid, as long as you’re happy…”

I muttered.

  ***  

Don’t get me started on the fact that if the culprit isn’t caught, I won’t be able to join the camp.

 

When we arrived at the training center, everyone, teachers and students alike, looked gaunt.

 

When I saw that they were all still exhausted from the previous day, I felt like the fatigue that I had forgotten for a while came back.

 

However, this was no time for slouching.

 

The teachers continued their serious talks with tired faces, and some of the students who had come early because it was exam time were quietly tucked away in the corners of the classroom, as if they hadn’t noticed.

 

I sent a message to the Exorcist Shin Ji-Woon saying something along the lines of, — “

I see a skill coming out of the mirror, is this okay?”

and waited patiently for my class with Senior Shin Wook.

 

The answer to that question came from Seo Jun, who arrived at the training center later.

 “He forgot to tell me earlier. He said it’s normal and not to worry.” “Oh, it’s normal?” “Yeah. He said it is.” “What exactly does it do?” “He said you’d have to figure that out.” “Oh…”

 

All I know right now is that I can use the mirror as a lie detector two more times.

 

And it seems to trigger randomly.

 

I don’t know if that’s it, or if there’s more to it, but…

 

Aw! My head hurts.

 

I’ll get to use it somehow later.

 

It doesn’t seem like it’s going to do me any harm, so I’ll take my time exploring it.

 

***

 

It’s Thursday, the last day of midterms.

 

At a playground far away from the school, I sat on a swing next to Yang Ji-won.

 

Yang Ji-won folded the test papers she had been carrying until I arrived in her bag and said.

 

“There’s one teacher I really want to screw over.”