READ NOVEL ONLINE If it were a usual situation, the meeting would have stretched for at least another two hours… but with Venus’s retirement and all, it ended a tad earlier this time.
The next day, various news outlets on TV and the internet announced her retirement with great fanfare.
Even though I had heard the news just yesterday, it still didn’t feel real.
For now, I’m just enjoying the coolness of this room and the vacation time.
The retirement of a magical girl felt like a distant issue.
It was reminiscent of my elementary school days.
“I won’t have to go to the military when we’re unified!” I thought, much like an ephemeral and meaningless happy circuit.
“Ugh.”
Thinking back to those times, a snort escaped me involuntarily.
It was ridiculous.
The little kids who thought that way grew up to become soldiers during that period.
Everyone’s thoughts are pretty similar, I guess.
In any case, a retired person is a retired person.
They wouldn’t just blurt out that they were retiring without a thought; they probably arranged for another magical girl to take their place.
A magical girl who would fill the role with the name Venus.
For her sake, even if just for a moment, let’s put our hands together and wish her luck.
“Welcome to hell, dear pure girl.”
After letting go of my clasped hands, I started fiddling with my smartphone.
The magical girl gallery would be the most sensitive to the news of her retirement.
Upon visiting the page, I found it filled with posts about her retirement, regardless of whether they were general posts or concept posts.
[No fucking way, my magical girl!!!!!! (67)]
[Thanks for everything… -From the magical girl gallery- (217)]
[I feel like I’m being NTR’d right now (86)]
[My world just collapsed today (101)]
[Ugh… I don’t want to live, damn it (55)]
Among the writings that seemed related to magical girls, I clicked on a sensitive-looking concept post.
[Turned on my smartphone and got hit with retirement news]
[Suddenly didn’t want to go to work anymore]
[So tough, the company keeps calling me]
[Regret not resigning yet]
[This is so messed up, I want to take your life]
[Please cancel the retirement.]
I cocked my head in confusion at the out-of-context start and end of the post while glancing at the comments.
[You gotta answer the company calls, you crazy fuckㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[That’s wild,ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Why the hell are you taking our lives?]
[Let’s resign in this moment ㄱㄱ]
[This is ridiculousㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[What’s the original post?]
[nSearch for “My world just collapsed yesterday”]
[nI didn’t know there was an original for this]
[I’m also off today getting drunk alone, ugh… damn…]
Turns out, it was a parody of a post that had some original content.
Not knowing the original, I couldn’t laugh, so I quickly moved to the next post.
It had the warmest title among the recent concept posts, likely having the most comments.
And it bore the orange tag in front of the nickname.
In other words, it was a post from someone managing the gallery.
It summarized the long period of the magical girl named Venus and her achievements.
Where she had defeated which monster at what time.
The list was thorough, detailing the monsters she had thwarted over more than 10 years, and at the end of such accomplishments…
[Thank you. Magical Girl Venus.]
[Now put down your staff, and rest well.]
[-From the magical girl gallery-]
If the retiring individual were to see it, tears would probably well up; it was a rare, heartfelt statement amidst the usual gallery banter.
I felt a twinge of regret, hoping they had seen this post before their memories faded…
But there was nothing I could do as an elementary school student without any contact details.
More importantly, I was in awe while looking at the scroll with her achievements.
Of course, there were some monsters with overlapping names.
‘How many hundreds are there…?’
Yet, the numerous records accumulated during that time were undeniably preserved within this gallery.
From now on, the blank page left by her accomplishments would be filled by another magical girl inheriting the name Venus.
Whether that name and achievements would be suitable for the new magical girl was still uncertain.
‘Anyway, that’s amazing…’
Feeling pure admiration for Venus, I scrolled down to the comments.
The comments in a gallery usually filled with curses, criticism, and trash talk had turned into gentle lambs.
Thank you for your hard work. I won’t forget you.
Thanks to you, I could sleep comfortably.
And other similar sentiments, all filled with encouragement, consolation, and support.
It was so heartwarming, I felt like I had wandered into the wrong community and pressed the back button while receiving a rare emotional healing.
Just when I was about to click on the next concept post.
[Restricted Caller ID]
‘Huh?’
A call window suddenly popped up in the center of my smartphone screen.
Calls don’t come in much on this phone.
With various verifications and nowhere to input, there’s obviously no sellable information.
Besides, ordinary voice phishing wouldn’t call with ‘Restricted Caller ID.’
It obviously smelled fishy; restricted caller ID was.
Eliminating one by one through the process of elimination, I reached a single conclusion.
Someone who knows about the magical girl and can contact individuals.
Without any particular suspicion, I pulled the green button and answered immediately.
“Hello?”
“Hello? Is this Sun? It’s Aunty.”
Formal greetings were exchanged as I casually responded like I didn’t know, making an ‘Ah’ sound.
“Oh, yes.”
The voice transiting through the smartphone was from a high-ranking government official of sorts.
Commonly referred to as a high-ranking public official.
The money bag for magical girls, basically the one dedicated to handling magical girls.
Although the title is something like “Minister of Public Safety… some kind of national safety what-the-heck,” it sounds like it’s to avoid calling it a straight-up “Minister of Magical Girl Management.”
Anyway, to put it simply, you could say they are a common helper and superior for magical girls.
When this person reaches out, it’s never about good news, but if you don’t pick up, it leads to more trouble.
“Not to beat around the bush, but have you heard the news about Venus’s retirement?”
“Yes, well… of course.”
Suddenly, the Minister spat out the news of Venus’s retirement.
I didn’t know why they were telling me this, but I responded positively for the time being.
As a result, the conversation started to elongate, like a snake.
“Venus isn’t retiring right away; there’s a new Venus… that is, during the transition period between the two, uh… what do I mean by transition…”
“I know what you mean.”
“Oh, really? You’re quite smart… I just don’t know how much I can depend on this auntie.”
This was not the usual Minister who spoke concisely.
Somehow, there was an intention to flatter and cloud judgment.
They say working as a public official is hell, and this person is definitely someone who survived that battlefield.
I had to avoid getting caught up in this person’s conversation flow.
Uh-huh, uh, yes… end up in a situation where I’d be the one at a disadvantage.
It seemed like they were after something.
Based on the clues from the earlier conversation, they probably thought of filling the temporary gap created by the retirement.
This auntie also knew I wasn’t just some kid of the same age.
“Ah, so… what’s the main point?”
“Two weeks, dispatch to Sokcho region. During your stay in Sokcho, your pay will be 1.5 times.”
“Do you take me for a fool? Three times.”
I immediately shot back with a demand for three times the outrageous pay coming from the other end of the phone.
In this ridiculous job, there’s no severance pay.
So, there shouldn’t be a significant loss from Venus leaving.
Plus, the regular salary given to Venus would also have to come to me to fill that gap.
At this point, my rightful share was supposed to be double.
In fact, there was no real basis for asking for triple pay, but if I started off asking for double, I could only be cut down from that point onward.
Considering the fact that I had been contacted, rather than some other easily manipulated magical girl, indicated the other magical girls were already overwhelmed with protecting their own areas.
“That won’t do; 1.75 times.”
Even though I was in a superior position, the Minister insisted on gradually increasing from the original 1.5 times.
Of course, I had no intention of lowering it to 2 times in one go.
Negotiating is a game of audacity, after all.
“2.7 times.”
“1.8 times.”
A tense standoff ensued.
The gap between the numbers was gradually closing.
That meant there was a visible point of compromise that could be collectively understood.
“2.4 times.”
“1.9 times.”
It seemed likely we’d meet near a settlement around 2 times, but I decided to push for something more aggressive.
Mentioning the completed vacation homework while dramatically flopping down.
“2.3 times, anything less than that breaks the deal. Oh! This vacation homework is so hard!”
“Tsk.”
The Minister clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Of course, the homework story was a complete fabrication.
Though Siyeon might be unaware, I had already finished all of it.
You shouldn’t underestimate someone in the field, despite appearing like a kid.
Even if I’m just a child, I’m determined to get paid fairly for my labor.
“Fine! 2.3 times!”
‘Nice!’
I couldn’t help but cheer for the surprisingly successful negotiation as I pumped my fist with the hand holding the smartphone.
“Are you sending someone? And have you arranged for accommodation?”
Next, I spoke with a playful tone over the smartphone.
People who would take us to Sokcho and a place to stay there.
Of course, since this was a hasty backup plan, something like that should have already been prepared.
“Sure! Seriously, where did you…”
A mumble of complaint like a monologue was faintly heard before the call line went dead.
It seemed the Minister was profoundly dissatisfied with this negotiation.
I, on the other hand, was quite pleased.
More than that, Sokcho. Sokcho, huh…
Peeking my head out from the bunk bed, I spotted Siyeon doing her vacation homework at the low table in the living room.
“Siyeon!”
“Hmm?”
With enthusiasm, I called out to Siyeon, who raised her head toward me.
I had some blooming news that would be perfect for her perplexed expression.
“We’re going to the beach tomorrow?!”
“Really?!”
Not a single expectation was defied, as a radiant smile bloomed on Siyeon’s face.