Chapter 17
As soon as I arrived at the marketplace, I let out a “Hmm” sound and looked around. Surprisingly, the marketplace was clean, quite the opposite of what I had imagined the North Korean region would look like.
Well, that makes sense. People from the North Korean region have to wander into dangerous areas just to make a living. At the very least, they should be provided with a stable livelihood. In a world where people can turn into monsters at any moment, it seemed like they took care of these kinds of details.
While I was admiring the scene, the girl standing next to me let out a “Hmph” and said,
“There’s nothing special here. Then again, it’s ridiculous to expect something like a department store in a place like this.”
“Just because you’re wearing a tracksuit doesn’t mean you sound cool saying that.”
“Hey, you really…!”
I looked at the girl standing next to me. She had her red hair tied back and wore comfortable clothes, but that didn’t dull her cute appearance.
However, I knew her true nature. Hong-ryeon, an A-rank magical girl. Rough, violent, and arrogant.
She wasn’t fundamentally a bad person, but it was clear that her behavior wasn’t exactly admirable.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Hong-ryeon, startled, looked at me. I let out a sigh.
“I’m seriously suggesting you try to speak more politely. Talking like that won’t help you at all.”
“How is that any of your business? Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?”
“Well, because I’m probably the only person who will say this to you. It seems like you’ve never heard anyone talk to you like this before.”
At that, Hong-ryeon flinched again, as if I had hit the mark.
“Hmph, of course not. Who would dare say such rude things to me?”
“That’s exactly it. Just because people don’t say it to your face doesn’t mean they don’t think it. Treating others like that will only earn you their hatred.”
“So, what does that have to do with you?!”
Wow. She really doesn’t listen, huh? It would be better for her to pay attention.
I thought that to myself as I quietly watched the red-haired girl.
“…I’m just worried, okay? I know you’re an amazing magical girl, but even so, you can’t do everything on your own.”
At that, Hong-ryeon’s face flushed, and she shouted at me.
“Y-you! What are you even talking about?! Do you think I’d care if someone like you worried about me?!”
What the heck, why is she acting like that?
“Please, try to listen to others sometimes. Don’t dismiss everything as unimportant. Especially if it comes from a place of goodwill.”
I replied seriously.
Hong-ryeon turned her head sharply, her face still red, and muttered,
“You always act like that, don’t you?”
“Huh?”
“I was wondering why a guy like you ended up as a manager. I bet you did the same thing with your assigned magical girl, didn’t you?”
What does that even mean?
I rubbed my face with my hand.
No, seriously, I’m saying this because I’m genuinely worried. In the webtoon Matseu-An, Reina, the magical girl, has one of the most tragic fates. She would undoubtedly rank in the top three for most tragic ends. I’m genuinely concerned.
“What are you even trying to say?”
Although I said that, Hong-ryeon turned her head sharply again, muttering things like, “He’s just acting like that because of his looks,” and, “I bet he’s a total womanizer.”
I sighed, realizing that further conversation was pointless.
“Let’s go over there. It looks like they’re selling fruits too.”
Due to the danger in North Korea, it was hard to distribute goods, so there weren’t many ways to get fresh fruits or vegetables. It would be good if we could get them at a local market.
However, Hong-ryeon was still standing blankly, muttering to herself. I grabbed her wrist and led her to the store.
“Ukkya?!”
“What kind of sound is that?”
She made a strange noise because she was startled. Her face reddened, glaring at me for a different reason than before.
“Well, you were just standing there in the middle of the market spacing out. Hm… Ah, I’ll pay for this.”
— “Understood, comrade.”
“Did you use pesticides on these?”
— “What are you saying… There’s not a trace of pesticides. You can eat them as they are.”
“Oh, really?”
After selecting and purchasing some fruits and vegetables, I suddenly handed a peach to Hong-ryeon.
Didn’t the original story say her favorite fruit was a peach? Hong-ryeon looked at me suspiciously and asked.
“…What’s this?”
“Eat it. You said you came here to protect me, right? I don’t have much to offer, so I thought I’d at least buy you some fruit.”
“What… why a peach?”
“You look like someone who likes peaches.”
“That makes no… Fine, give it here. I’ll eat it now.”
Without hesitation, she took the peach and bit into it with a crisp sound. Though she tried to keep a neutral expression, her eyes sparkled, clearly enjoying the taste. Looks like buying it was the right choice.
I should try one too. With a crunch, I bit into the peach, and the sweet flavor spread throughout my mouth.
“Alright, seems like we’ve bought all the vegetables… Shall we get some meat too?”
“Do whatever you want. You’re the one paying anyway.”
“You sure are uncooperative after I just bought you a peach.”
“How long are you going to brag about buying me one peach?”
“I’m incredibly petty, you see. If I do something for someone, I have to milk it for all it’s worth.”
With that, I led her towards the butcher’s shop. The prices seemed a bit high, but I guess that’s the price we have to pay.
While I was carefully inspecting the meat, the butcher suddenly spoke to me.
— “Ah, I thought I recognized your face! You’re that young man from a few years ago! It’s been a while.”
“Huh?”
I looked at the butcher in surprise. What was he talking about?
— “I have a reputation for never forgetting a face. A handsome young man like you isn’t easy to forget. What brings you back to this area?”
From the way he was speaking, it didn’t seem like he was confusing me with someone else.
I froze in confusion. Had ‘Baek Seung-hyun’ been to North Korea before?
There aren’t many people who can come to North Korea. Only a few locals or those who trade between North and South Korea could go back and forth, but for those living in South Korea, it’s generally prohibited to migrate freely to the North.
The reason, of course, is the danger. The front lines of the war against the monsters are in North Korea, so the area is off-limits to civilians.
However, there are only two ways one can live in North Korea despite the risks.
Either you’re a soldier, or you’re associated with a magical girl.
Well, he wasn’t a soldier. There’s no way a soldier stationed on the front lines would have the freedom to stroll around markets. And ‘Baek Seung-hyun’ was an orphan, so he never served in the military. In this world’s South Korea, people in difficult circumstances are generally exempt from conscription to prevent additional hardships.
That could only mean one thing: the previous Baek Seung-hyun had already visited North Korea as a magical girl’s associate, outside of the memories I possess.
And that means… in the past, Baek Seung-hyun had already acted as a magical girl’s manager.
The butcher, oblivious to my growing confusion, continued with a hearty laugh.
—”Why, didn’t you sometimes come with a woman as your companion? The two of you were such a good-looking pair that I thought to myself, ‘What a perfect match!’ You were so attentive to her… Oh, I’m sorry for going on, it’s just been so long since I last saw you, comrade.”
“Did I, really?”
I feigned composure as I responded, and the butcher nodded slightly.
—”You were so particular about buying only the best cuts of meat because, you said, your companion loved it. How could I not remember? It left a strong impression, thinking how devoted South Korean men are to their women.”
So, before I took over this body, Baek Seung-hyun had crossed into North Korea as a manager, accompanying a magical girl who, apparently, loved meat.
Damn it. No matter how hard I think, I can’t figure it out. I mean, who doesn’t like meat, anyway?
There’s no helping it. I’ll have to slowly dig into the past and find out more over time.
But this raises a curious question.
If Baek Seung-hyun had been so close to a magical girl that he could act as her manager, why had he tried to commit suicide with charcoal briquettes?
I don’t know. And there’s nothing I can do about it now.
I shoved that newly discovered fact into the recesses of my mind, quickly bought the meat, and headed outside.
That’s when I heard Hong-ryeon muttering next to me.
“Figures. Playing the part of a womanizer with that pretty face…”
What nonsense is she spouting now?
Just as I was about to retort and turned toward her—
Suddenly, a blaring siren rang out.
—
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