Chapter 23: Filming.

I was scheduled for a photoshoot for merch production.

My first shoot in over a decade.
I’ve got enough experience, but I’m weirdly nervous.

“Never done this before?” Reaper Mors asked, lounging in the waiting room.

“Once. Back then, staying out of the public eye was the rule.”

The exception was allowed because they believed it’d have a positive impact.

People were looking to us for dreams and hope.

Separately, Stella and Spica were eager to try it, even singing for it.

“Pfft, even the great Scarlet’s scared of something,” Reaper Mors said with a wicked grin, like she’d caught me out.

For context, Reaper Mors was here because she’d ditched the Angelic Luna name.

She calls it a rebirth, but it’s really because her old merch data was unusable.

“It’s not that bad.”

“Heh, you’re clearly tense. No need to play tough.”

At the afterparty the night before, she learned who I am.

It’s nice not hiding, but since finding out I’m older, she’s gotten cheekier.

Wait a sec.
There’s a perfect target for venting nearby.

“Hey, skim profits, and you’ll end up like your predecessors. Got it?”

The cat-like mascot, Armo, looked utterly wronged.

“I’m an honest mascot-mo. Profits from merch go to charity as requested-mo.”

Other magical girls get bank transfers, but I declined.

Money’s nice, but I only need enough to live.
Thanks to Frozen Princess, I’m set for a while.

Merch value will tank when I retire, so I’m fine with doing some good now.

“But aren’t you getting too greedy? Since when did mascots become merchants?”

“I don’t need money-mo. It’s all for magical girls-mo.”

“Like what?”

“Taxi fares for long trips, or compensation for battle-damaged property-mo.”

Travel costs are out of pocket?

Demanding damage reparations is a bit much.

But the world’s big, and shameless people abound.

Knock knock knock.

A woman in staff attire peeked through the door.

“Scarlet Lily, Reaper Mors, we’re ready to start. All good?”

She was our dedicated staff, introduced earlier.

With a bright smile, she led us down the hall.

Here we go.

The studio was spacious.

Walls lined with lights and backdrop cloth.
Machines I recognized but couldn’t name stood in rows, and one corner was packed with costumes.

“We’ll start with photos. We’ll hand you outfits in order; change over there.”

Heading to the dressing room, a staff member offered a hanger.

A bold outfit with exposed shoulders.

I’ve never read them, but it looked straight out of a fashion magazine.

“I’m supposed to wear this?”

“Yes, fans want variety since magical girl outfits get old. Let us know if the size doesn’t fit.”

“Uh, okay…”

If this was me right after my contract, I’d have freaked.

Reaper Mors, though, was in her element.

“This is cute. Got a black version?” she asked, consulting a staff member in front of a full-length mirror.

“Since you usually wear black, we’re going for lighter tones today.”

“Trying to shed my image, I’d rather avoid Angelic Luna vibes. Any way we can swing black?”

“I see. We’ll prepare some black outfits too.”

“Thanks.”

For a chuunibyou girl, her manners were shockingly polite.

Who are you?

“Great, eyes over here! Let’s tweak the pose a bit!”

The photographer was a young man.

Exuding pro energy, he snapped shots relentlessly.

Constantly adjusting lights and swapping props.

Sitting, standing, leaning against the wall, gazing into the distance.

We changed outfits multiple times as the shoot went on.

“Next is the 3D scan. Head to the other room.”

A staff member guided us to another space.

A cylindrical frame rig studded with tiny sensors and cameras stood in the center.

Step on the platform, and it scans your whole body into 3D data.

“Woohoo, my figure’s finally hitting the world…!” Reaper Mors said, eyes sparkling with excitement.

We haven’t even started scanning, let alone producing.

“Don’t move, and it’s quick. Much easier than earlier,” a staff member explained.

I went first, stepping inside.

A low hum as the machine activated.

A sensation like being scanned head to toe.

Eyes from all angles, cameras and sensors analyzing every inch.

“Is this okay?”

“Perfect! Relax your body a bit!”

First was a standing pose.

But not just standing.

To capture fans’ hearts, details matter.
Instructions came for every fingertip, and I sweated to nail them.

After a few poses, the grand finale: Scarlet Beam.

The scan finished, and the machine stopped automatically.

“Great work. That’s everything.”

Back in the waiting room, I collapsed into a chair.

Mentally exhausting day.

“A new figure’s coming out, huh?”

Not thrilled, not upset—just meh.

Maybe I’ve reached enlightenment. Mind cleared.

“You’re not cut out for idol life!” Reaper Mors said, looking smug.

She’d finished her shoot and changed back into her gyaru outfit.

“True. Stella and Spica were better at that stuff.”

Both were stellar magical girls and had a knack for charming people.

They had huge fanbases.

I was more combat-focused.
“Idol” was never my thing.

“You know you’re high in the popularity rankings, right?” Reaper Mors said, narrowing her eyes.

“Really?”

“You don’t check?”

“I’ve ego-searched, but not rankings.”

All I know is used Scarlet figures sell for 20,000 won.

As Scarlet Lily, I’m too new to bother checking.

“Look.”

She showed me her phone with the latest popularity poll results.

My name was in the upper-mid tier.

Not bad for a rolling stone.

“My merch won’t sell much. Unlike popularity queen Scarlet Lily.”

Scrolling down, Reaper Mors was near the bottom.

“Probably ‘cause I went AWOL and changed my name.”

“Weren’t you always low?”

“Since my rookie days. I’m not the eye-catching type.”

Her tone was self-deprecating.

Did she go gyaru to stand out?

Girls are sensitive about this stuff.
At 20, she’s still young, so it tracks.

“My place needs decor. I’ll buy one of your figures.”

I can’t boost her ranking, but I can do this.

“You don’t need to pity me…!” she snapped, all tsundere.

So hard to handle.

“What I’m saying is, you’re a popular magical girl, so hold your head high.”

“I looked that depressed?”

“I’m clawing my way up from the bottom, and you acting like this is frustrating.”

Did I accidentally guilt-trip her?

As I got ready to leave the studio, my phone rang.

Yusia.

“Lily, you busy?” Her voice was urgent.

“Free. What’s up?”

“Check the link I’m sending.”

Seconds later, a message arrived.

Tapping it played a video.

[A magical girl believed to be Spica is at Han River Park. She appeared about 30 minutes ago, right as a gate opened, likely responding while passing by.]

Fresh news footage.

The camera focused on a magical girl from a distance.

Yellow hair, yellow outfit.
Exactly like Spica, as the reporter said.

[What’s she doing now?]

[It’s unclear. After defeating the monsters, she’s been standing in a secluded spot for minutes, not moving.]

[She refused an interview, correct?]

[Yes, despite multiple attempts, Spica just shook her head, lips sealed.]

A first-gen legend, missing for nearly a decade.

Approaching carelessly might scare her off.

Reporters and onlookers kept a cautious distance.

“Is it really her…?” Reaper Mors said, eyes glued to the screen.

“Looks real.”

As Scarlet Lily, mimicking Scarlet, I know I’m the real deal, but to others, it’s like cosplay.

There’s no guarantee someone isn’t copying another first-gen, but watching the video, my gut told me:

This is Spica herself.

“What’s she thinking…?”

Appearing so suddenly.

Joy and confusion swirled together.