I Became a Magical Girl In a Harem Manga

Chapter 48 - I said I didn't mean it!

Jung Ha-Yeon doubted her ears after hearing Seo-Eun's words.

Seo-Eun was going to live with Hye-Rim? Did that mean they would be eating and sleeping together in the same house?

....Even though she knew it was inevitable, for some reason, Jung Ha-Yeon felt a tightness in her chest as she imagined the two of them living together.

Just as she was thinking about it, Hye-Rim said, "Oh, right," and opened her mouth.

"I'm living on my own, so I only have one bed and one blanket at home. We'll have to buy some blankets on the way back."

Hye-Rim seemed to plan on buying a blanket for Seo-Eun. Luckily, they wouldn't be sleeping together.

For some reason, Jung Ha-Yeon felt a little relieved. At least what she was worrying about (?) wouldn't happen.

Why was she like this? It's a normal thing for girls to sleep together.

"Why do you have to go to all that trouble for me? Can't we just... sleep in the same bed?"

Jung Ha-Yeon was about to breathe a sigh of relief when she heard Seo-Eun's unexpected words.

It was understandable; it would be better to just sleep in the same bed.

But why? Why did she keep getting this ominous feeling?

"It's because I'm sorry, Hye-Rim. You've already given me so much," Seo-Eun said, lowering her head as if she were truly sorry. Her cheeks were a little red.

Seo-Eun's eyes and the strange atmosphere towards Hye-Rim from earlier... Was it...?

No, it couldn't be. She must be overthinking it.

"What do you mean, 'I've given you so much'? For now, on top of the blanket, I'll pay for your food for the time being. If you're so sorry, you can pay me back later when you earn money," Hye-Rim replied, adding that the bed she had was too small for two people, so she couldn't help it.

"Okay, I'll definitely repay this favor someday."

"Actually, you don't have to. Don't feel bad. It's nothing to spend this much," Hye-Rim said, patting Seo-Eun on the shoulder.

When Jung Ha-Yeon thought about it, Hye-Rim was the person who saved Seo-Eun's life. She was the reason Seo-Eun was where she was today and the reason she could live the normal life she always wanted.

So it was only natural for Seo-Eun to feel grateful towards Hye-Rim, just as she did.

Hye-Rim and Seo-Eun started to walk back to meet Baek Shin-Hwa. Jung Ha-Yeon followed them with a frustrated heart.

"Hey..."

Seo-Eun cautiously looked back at Jung Ha-Yeon and spoke, her face showing a hint of regret as she glanced at Hye-Rim.

"I'm sorry."

"......What?"

Sorry? She was apologizing to her?

Why?

After explaining everything to the Academy students, we left the Academy immediately. There's no reason for us to be here anymore.

"Seo-Eun and I will return to the Awakeners Association immediately."

After telling the protagonists to go back immediately, I took Yoo Seo-Eun back with me.

The three of them, including Baek Shin-Hwa, who was scared of me at first, seemed to want to talk to me about something, but I didn't have anything more to share with them.

As we were walking back to the Awakeners Association, Yoo Seo-Eun said to me from the side.

"By the way, I'm going to be working with you for a while, so what exactly am I supposed to do?"

"It's simple. When a criminal shows up, you go out and catch them; that's it."

"Really? I don't think I can handle the Awakened."

"You're more than enough."

Yoo Seo-Eun's strength is now unrivaled by most Awakened. Besides, her ability to transform at will would be useful in many ways.

To be honest, I just want her to stay on our team. I'll find a way for her to officially join Team 5 later.

"That's right. Don't speak casually with me in the Association in the future. You're under me for now, so you'll have to show me respect when you work."

"Okay. I'll be respectful from now on, Ms. Hye-Rim."

"Call me Team Leader. That's what everyone else calls me."

"Yes, Team Leader. Hehe."

After chatting with Yoo Seo-Eun, we arrived at the Association. I walked into the office, and the team greeted me.

"Team Leader, it's been a while. Are you finally back?"

"The office is so lonely without you; I've been waiting for you to come back."

Park Oh-Jin and Shin Yu-Sung smiled and welcomed me back. Lee So-Young, who was eating ice cream, took out a new ice cream from the refrigerator and handed it to me as if she had prepared it for me.

"You've worked hard; please eat this."

"Uh, sure. Thank you."

It was nice of them to greet me with open arms, but something was off.

These guys missed me this much? No way; they'd be the ones throwing a party in my absence.

They actually cut a cake in the office to celebrate my going on a business trip once. I know because Team Leader 1 told me.

I decided to ignore their soulless lip service.

"Oh, by the way. As you've all heard, this girl's name is Yoo Seo-Eun, and she's going to be working with us for a while, so get to know her."

"Yes, of course! I was just thinking that we could use some new blood, so that's great."

Lee So-Young, the most friendly of the three, approached Yoo Seo-Eun and extended her hand.

"My name is Lee So-Young, and even if you are temporary, you're the last one to join, so you can call me sunbae."

"Uh... okay, sunbae?"

"That's exactly it!"

Lee So-Young puffed out her chest and straightened her back as if it felt good to be called sunbae.

...So-Young, did you hate being the youngest that much?

"You can ignore what So-Young said. I'm Shin Yu-Sung; just call me Mr. Yu-Sung."

"I'm Park Oh-Jin, the deputy team leader. Let's work well together, Seo-Eun."

"Yes, everyone, I'm looking forward to working with you!"

Park Oh-Jin and Shin Yu-Sung were happy to have new people and looked at Seo-Eun fondly.

"By the way, did everything go well while I was gone?"

I asked my teammates as I ate the ice cream that Lee So-Young handed me. Nothing probably happened, but I asked anyway, just in case.

"There was."

"Yeah, of course nothing happened...... There was?"

"Yes."

I just asked on a whim, but Park Oh-Jin actually nodded.

"It's no big deal; someone said they were going to kill you."

"What do you mean, nothing? Why would they want to kill me all of a sudden?"

"That... Earlier, while you were away at the academy for a while, a villain appeared."

Park Oh-Jin's explanation went something like this:

Suddenly, an unknown organization of villains appeared and went on a rampage in the middle of the city, smashing walls and cars. Luckily, the crime squad was called in, and they were quickly subdued. However, one of the villains was caught and said the following:

"One day, our organization will swallow up this world, and your Awakened Crime Division will not be able to stop us! Even if that bitch, Shin Hye-Rim, steps forward!"

They shouted that they were going to take me down to prove their power.

"What? That's an everyday occurrence, isn't it?"

"I told you, it's no big deal."

"......I'm sorry, I don't understand. What part of that is an everyday occurrence?"

After listening to Park Oh-Jin's words, I realized that it really wasn't a big deal. Now relieved, I noticed Yoo Seo-Eun looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"Seo-Eun, there are no normal people among the villains. Crazy people do crazy things. It's normal."

I explained further.

There are many villains who challenge the strong to show off their power. They usually walk into a fight as if to challenge an S-ranked hero.

"But I've become quite famous lately. So they want to defeat me and show how great they are. That's what villains do."

"Ah... I see. I guess I don't quite get it."

"Don't try to understand. You're not supposed to understand. You're going to be working with me as a criminal justice member, so get used to it."

Yoo Seo-Eun nodded silently. She still looked unconvinced, but after a few more years of dealing with villains, she'd realize it.

The world is full of crazy people of all kinds.

I think the villains who challenged me this time will be a good lesson for her.

"Yoon-Seo, you're getting out of the hospital soon, right?"

[Yes, Ha-Yeon, I'm feeling better now, and I'm used to these wings, so I shouldn't have any problems with my daily life.]

When Jung Ha-Yeon got home in the evening, she talked to Yoon-Seo on the phone. It was time for Yoon-Seo to leave the hospital, and Ha-Yeon was excited that she would soon be able to walk around freely outside with her for the first time in a long while.

Yoon-Seo said she would return to being a Hero if she could. She was full of hope that she would be able to do the same things she used to do as a Hero.

Ha-Yeon felt the same. It had been her dream for a long time to meet Yoon-Seo and to be a Hero with her again. It was all thanks to Hye-Rim because she saved Yoon-Seo's life.

....When Ha-Yeon thought of Hye-Rim, she naturally thought of Seo-Eun. All day, she couldn't get Seo-Eun's last words out of her head.

Why had Seo-Eun apologized to her? And why did she act as if living with Hye-Rim was something she should be sorry for?

Was it possible that Seo-Eun could see that she was feeling frustrated?

Ha-Yeon couldn't help but be bothered.

"Yoon-Seo, so this is about my friend," she began, trying to use her acquaintance as an excuse to talk about her problems.

[I see. Ha-Yeon, you're talking about yourself.]

"...No, it's not about me, I said."

[Okay, okay, go on.]

It felt like Yoon-Seo already knew what was in her heart...

Ignoring that, Ha-Yeon continued talking.

"My friend has a friend who's kind of bothering her, and they're moving in with someone else."

[Hye-Rim moved in with someone?!]

"I-I said I'm not talking about me!"

[That's enough excuses; go on, is that true?]

"......Yes."

Ha-Yeon decided to stop using the acquaintance excuse and just tell the truth. After hearing everything, Yoon-Seo asked her amusedly.

[You're saying that she seems to care about Ms. Hye-Rim too, right? That's why you're coming to me for advice.]

"...Yeah. Is it weird?"

[Not at all! There's nothing more interesting than a friend's relationship advice.]

"How many times do I have to tell you that it's not relationship counseling..."

Ignoring her, Yoon-Seo continued seriously.

[By the way, this is a crisis. If they are physically close, they also get close emotionally. You don't think Hye-Rim will end up with Seo-Eun if they do this, do you?]

"Ugh...! Even if that's the case, I don't care..."

[Really? Can you confidently say you don't care?]

"......."

[See, you can't. Let's do something about it. We can't just leave it like this, can we?]

That was true. Although Ha-Yeon was actually close with Ms. Hye-Rim at the academy, she didn't feel that things had progressed much between them.

Moreover, wasn't Ms. Hye-Rim already talking casually to Seo-Eun and treating her like a close friend?

Ha-Yeon felt a strange sense of crisis.

[Hmm, what should we do? Since the two of them are going to live together, why don't you just move in next door?]

"You want me to move in next door to Hye-Rim?"

[If you can't live together, at least be neighbors. Seo-Eun isn't going to live with Hye-Rim forever anyway, is she?]

But what about her?! She can be neighbors with Hye-Rim forever!

Thump. Ha-Yeon's heart leapt at those words.

[...I said that, but of course, I'm joking. You don't have to take it seriousl—]

"Shall...I?"

[...Excuse me, Ha-Yeon, did you hear me correctly when I said I was joking?]