episode_0006

Slurp.

The cheap coffee’s sweetness lingered in my mouth.

As the caffeine—one of the three essential nutrients for office workers—kicked in, my mind cleared.

Yeah, this is why I do this job.

“Senior, your complexion looks a lot better.”

“Yeah. All the annoying stuff from lately got sorted out.”

“Haa… Damn, I’m jealous. Haha.”

“You doing alright these days?”

My junior let out an awkward laugh and sighed.

“Nope.”

“Why? Didn’t you say you’d smoothed things over last time?”

“Well. The new handler they brought in almost started a fight with me.”

“A new handler, huh… Can’t be helped. Counselors are always in short supply.”

We’re called counselors, but we’re nothing like regular ones—which is why we’re perpetually understaffed.

Between the ones who die clashing with magical girls and the high skill requirements, the screening process is brutal.

“What about you, Senior? Heard they’re assigning you a new handler too.”

Haa.

I sighed and took another sip of coffee.

“That’s the problem. A sudden schedule addition means I have to reorganize everything from scratch. Driving me insane.”

“Total chaos right now. Who knew one person graduating would cause this much fallout?”

“Right?”

When a counselor graduates, their workload gets redistributed to others.

Of course, for magical girls who’ve been under their care for long or were close to them, there’s no helping it.

But for handlers who weren’t that close, the transition is easier.

“Ah, my handler’s calling. I’ll…”

“Yeah, go ahead. Watch your mouth like always.”

“Yep! You take care too, Senior.”

I blankly watched my junior walk away.

A new handler, huh.

Since I had a session with that very handler this morning, my mind was unsettled.

‘It’s my first time taking on a magical girl since Ai.’

Having focused solely on Ai lately, the idea of a new handler was a headache.

Given that I’d already stirred up feelings of love, it was like a time bomb hanging around my neck.

And now, I might have to strap on another one.

That’s why I had to research thoroughly.

[Magical Girl Frappe] [Real Name: Seol Hwa] [Age: 18 (currently frozen)] [Experience: 2 years] [Rank: B] [Mental Corruption: Minimal] [Power Source: Hope, Tenacity] [Notes: Conflict with previous counselor. Nearly resorted to violence. Caution advised during sessions.]

I reviewed the documents left by the graduated counselor.

Two things stood out in the data.

‘Hope and tenacity as her power source? That’s the most dangerous combo.’

A magical girl’s power stems from emotion.

The purer and more innocent the emotion, the stronger the power.

But emotions like hope and tenacity—fragile and easily shattered—require caution.

Once broken, they’re not easily restored, and they corrupt far too quickly.

Snuffing them out early might be the best approach.

And then…

‘Conflict with her counselor… This might be tricky.’

Given the friction, she likely doesn’t view counselors favorably.

Rushing in would only deepen the emotional rift.

I’d have to take a different approach than with Ai.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

“Time’s up already.”

It was time for my session with Frappe, the owner of this file.

The quiet counseling room.

A stunning beauty sat before me like a painting against the white backdrop.

A girl with striking crimson hair tied to the side.

She felt less like a “magical girl” and more like a hardened magical warrior.

Silence.

Normally, there’d be curiosity or warm greetings as we got to know each other.

But Frappe said nothing.

Instead, she crossed her legs and just… observed me, the counselor.

‘Defiant.’

I’d met many magical girls, but this was the first time one had been so guarded around a counselor.

Most, true to the “magical girl” title, were kind or at least tried to appear bright.

“Hello. I’m Counselor Lee Yeon-woo.”

“…”

She just flicked her gaze slightly, offering no reply.

Cooperation seemed unlikely.

“You are Frappe, correct?”

Again, no response.

“Well, today’s session—”

“Hey.”

I tried to speak, but Frappe cut me off.

“What even is this place?”

“It’s a counseling room?”

“That’s not what I’m asking, and you know it. It’s weird.”

Frappe glared at me with hostility.

The malice in her gaze was so sharp it made my spine tingle.

My breath hitched, but I kept my face neutral.

“The government forcing me here. Some ‘counselor’ pestering me. It’s all weird.”

Her language was harsher than expected.

Seemed she’d already developed a strong dislike for me.

“No need to find it strange. I’m just a regular counselor, and the government does this to support magical girls.”

“If you’re a counselor, you’d know. They said I have ‘problems.’ What problems?”

Problems? There were plenty.

To me, every magical girl was a walking time bomb.

And Frappe? She was a bomb with a timer ticking relentlessly.

That’s why she needed counseling.

Like with Ai, I had to replace the fuse before it blew.

“No, I don’t see any particular problems.”

“Then why the hell am I wasting time in this shitty place?!”

“Because you don’t have problems.”

“What?”

Just as hospitals aren’t for the dead, this place isn’t for the broken.

It’s the same principle.

“Prevention. Magical girls see and endure too much. Many rot from the inside without realizing it, leading to extreme choices. We’re here to stop that.”

“I can handle that myself. If not, I’ve got my spirit partner. I can talk to them.”

“No. By then, it’s too late. There’ll come a time when you need human intervention. And once despair takes root, there’s no going back.”

Frappe and I were on parallel tracks.

We couldn’t understand each other, let alone empathize.

But as a counselor, I couldn’t back down.

If I lost her here, despair would eventually eat away at her from within.

So I was certain.

Frappe had to be broken.

For all her fierce will, the emotions fueling her power were fragile.

Breaking her was the only way she’d last as a magical girl—and avoid corruption.

In the end, Frappe was the first to move.

“Ha. Annoying.”

“Let’s end today’s session here. Things got heated.”

“I’m not coming back.”

“See you next time. Same time, one week from now.”

Whether she wanted to or not, as a government-affiliated magical girl, she had no choice.

With the government holding the leash of benefits, magical girls had no say.

“Why are you following me?”

“I’m not.”

“If you’re not tailing me, what’s this?”

“It’s lunchtime. You must be hungry. Let me treat you.”

“Pass.”

Bribery via food was a no-go.

I locked the counseling room and followed her out.

Further conversation seemed impossible, so I stayed quiet.

As we stepped into the lobby—

“Counselor… Oppa?”

Oh no.

The moment we entered, I came face-to-face with Ai, my assigned magical girl.

Her session wasn’t for hours—why was she here now?

And then, the tension crept in.

I’d kept the new assignment a secret.

A misunderstanding could spark jealousy.

‘Straightforward is best.’

Playing it natural would cause fewer misunderstandings than excuses.

“You’re early, Ai.”

“Ah, yes. Oppa, who’s… next to you?”

“This is Frappe, my new assignment starting today.”

Warm with Ai.

Strictly professional with Frappe.

I drew a clear line, ensuring Ai wouldn’t feel slighted.

But Frappe’s reaction threw me off.

“Magical Girl… Ai? Your name’s really Ai?”

“Yes. And you are…”

“I’m Frappe. Ah, um… Nice to meet you, Senior Ai.”

Frappe was as polite as possible.

Yet Ai’s expression remained icy.

Her usual bright smile was gone, replaced by a flat line.

Her eyes were eerily empty.

I couldn’t read her emotions.

For the first time, I felt afraid.

Is that really Ai?

Her gaze was sharper than during the stalker incident, burning a hole through me.

Something was wrong.

By the time I realized it, she’d already vanished from my sight.

She’d been right in front of me—

Tap.

“Oppa.”

Though she had to look up at me, I couldn’t lower my head.

Instinct whispered:

Don’t look down.

“Oppa. Let’s talk.”

Her voice was cold.

I nodded before I could even think.