Rei stood in front of her store with her phone out, looking over the time. She had her store closed for this occasion as she was tapping her foot with anticipation. The wind brushed onto her as the magician put her phone back into her pocket.

The cameraman Jerome adjusted his shorts and camera with it facing towards Rei. He shook the fat from his belly then rubbed his partially shaven beard as he tried to make himself comfortable.

“Okay, Ms. Rei. We’re rolling in about now,” Jerome said.

“Thanks Jerome,” Rei said as she tried to look cool.

Rei quickly whipped her wand out and suddenly deflected a bullet and elbowed in the opposite direction. Rei managed to hit something, which was Agent Killer blocking her attack. The bounty hunter seized her attacks as she got a knife at hand but stood there.

“Rei Shinozaki. You took my nose, prepared to die!” Killer said.

“Hold on! You still got your nose,” Rei said.

“I meant before until I had it back,” Killer said.

“Wait a minute… you look familiar, but I don’t seem to recall,” Rei said.

“It was April 1st and it was the last time I tolerated magical beings,” Killer said.

“Am I supposed to show this?” Jerome asked.

“I guess it’s fine since we look cool,” Rei said.

“I’m supposed to say thank you whenever someone calls me cool,” Killer said.

“What the hell are you?” Rei asked as she looked into the camera. “Hi guys! Rei here and welcome you all to the first episode of NSA! As you see here is our first contestant, Killer!”

The camera turned to Killer as she nodded and said. “Hello.”

“MAKE WAY FOR THE QUEEN!” said a voice, interrupting the moment.

A demonic carriage pulled by wyverns appeared through a portal, crushing any cars or civilians in the way. Jerome was still filming as he was looking at the carriage. The carriage itself was black made up of the bones of various creatures or animals. You could even spot some human bones that were painted black on the carriage. The door opened to reveal the second contestant Eriza.

“Greetings Rei Shinozaki, I, Queen Eliza Bethy of House Bethy, accept your test to see if I am worthy to be your master,” Eriza said.

“Actually, it’s the other way around,” Rei said meekly.

“My apologies but I was hired to kill her. Please look somewhere else,” Killer said.

“Excuse me? An assassin out in the open? Oh ho ho ho!” Eriza laughed. “Human assassins are so funny.”

“I was ordered to do my job by being a contestant or else Rei Shinozaki will not let me come any closer,” Killer said.

“Pathetic honestly,” Eriza said. “My assassins are able to kill the moment I hire them. I normally do not use them since I am strong enough on my own. At best, I hire them for sport.”

With a snap of her fingers, some lizard man appeared with her luggage and placed it besides their queen. All before going back to the carriage and riding off with more cars being crushed or destroyed. Rei quickly repaired all of the cars with her magic to avoid any trouble.

“Interesting. I would like to know their methods to adapt their skills as my own,” Killer said.

“Humble as well,” Eriza said. “I find you tolerable despite your stupidity.”

“INCOMING!”

Suddenly a girl on a broom landed in front of the three. Her broom broke into pieces but her luggage was safe. She brushed some dirt off of her as she got up quickly.

“My name is Noel Isobel Brandy Pastel Pasteur Livington. Sorry if I’m late,” Noel said.

“Actually, you are here at the right time!” Rei said.

“Oh no, that means I’m late,” Noel said. “On time is late from what I heard.”

“I’m not like that here,” Rei said. “Only if you are really late is when I got a problem. And let me fix that for you.”

With a flick of her wand, Rei managed to fix Noel’s broom. However, there were still cracks and it looked a bit messy. The shape was bent but it’s not in pieces at least.

“I’ll manage with this,” Noel said. “Sorry for making you do this, Ms. Shinozaki.”

“Just call me Rei,” the magician said. “And it’s fine! Chill girl. It’s your first day here and we’re all friends. Take that back, I’m your friend at least.”

“I have no interest in making friends here,” Killer said. “Though assistance in killing Rei Shinozaki would be helpful.”

“Such insolence. You almost crashed into me. What do you have to say for yourself?” Eriza said.

“I’m sorry,” Noel said.

“You can be forgiven once I have your head,” Eriza said as she sliced off Noel’s head. “Huh? Where’s the blood?”

Noel’s head was caught by the bounty hunter Killer of all people and was clearly alive. The head looked and wondered how this was possible. Killer on the other hand simply placed the head back on her body. The bounty hunter looked back and saw that Rei had her wand out in case.

“Rule number one around here, no killing!” Rei said. “I can forgive you for now Eriza.”

“Hmph,” Eriza said. “I’ll also forgive you witch since you did offer your head.”

Noel held onto her head. “That felt too weird.”

“You may need to get used to it since well… you’ll see,” Rei said.

“Is this for NSA?”

“Yiyahhh!!!!!” Noel screamed as she encountered a girl who snuck up on her.

There stood a girl with white messy hair and a gray hooded jacket, hood up as well. Holding onto her guitar case and luggage as well. She then scurried back to the shade as she wanted to avoid the sun.

“Jeanne! You made it! We’ll be going inside soon after a certain magical girl appears,” Rei said.

“Thank you,” Jeanne said.

“What’s your problem?” Eriza asked.

“I don’t like the sun,” Jeanne said.

Noel gulped and said. “Let’s not bother her, shall we?”

“I’m curious if she was a vampire or not,” Eriza said.

“I am,” Jeanne said.

“That’s funny. Why would a vampire face a demon lord such as myself?” Eriza said.

“That’s… none of your business, okay,” Jeanne said.

“As the Queen of Darkness, I order you to…” Eriza said before the bus ran her over, sending her flying into a billboard.

The bus door opened with a bunch of people coming out, but the one that stood out was a woman with a large backpack. She was breathing heavily while sweating bullets as she rose both her fists in the air.

“I made it!”

“Well, not that late but you indeed made it,” Rei said. “Welcome to NSA, Rosa.”

“Oh, hi Rei! I’m looking forward to your competition and being your friends,” Rosa said. “Even to all of you, even though some of you are evil!”

“Some say killing is evil, does that make me evil?” Killer asked.

“Of course it does! But I’ll find a way to make you change your heart!” Rosa said as she turned her body and arm sticking up over her chest.

“What is your stance?” Killer asked.

“Well, if you kill people, they may have friends or family that will miss them or they got something worth living for!” Rosa said.

“Or continue to cause trouble to all if nothing stops them,” Killer said.

“Alright! Save this argument for later in the show!” Rei said. “We just need to get Eliza back and we can get the show started!”

Eriza was back and crawling from the pain. “I arrived!”

…

In Rei’s head shop, the five contestants were face to face with a large shelf of heads. All of these heads came in varieties of race, age, or themes. The heads were excited to see the contestants and the camera as they would try their best to impress.

“Hey! Look at me!” said a head. “A living disembodied head should have grabbed your attention!”

“There’s more than one head here you knucklehead!” said another head.

“OI! Check me out!” said a head with short orange hair but high pitched voice. “I’m a sporty tomboy!”

“Buy me when you are considering purchasing something!” said a head with brown hair.

“They’re not here to buy us though,” said a head with light blue hair.

“Don’t worry, I don’t have male heads to be pervy over you five,” said Rei. “Mostly due to the law and how horny male heads can be to female heads.”

“That’s not really my main concern, there’s just so many heads,” Noel said.

“I prefer my head collection silent and not alive,” Eriza said.

“So… many eyes…” Jeanne said.

“Eh… I can handle this,” Rosa said before she whipped out her wand and chanted. “Pinkie Pinkie Magical Change Me!”

Rosa flashed before everyone’s eyes as she now had a new get up. She was no longer Rosa, but the magical warrior, Pretty Pink! With her pink dress, large pink twintails from her pink twin buns, pink hat, and pink…

“That is a lot of pink,” Killer said with an amused face. “More shocking than the living heads here.”

“I’m not the scary thing here!” Pretty Pink said.

“Excuse me!” a head said.

“Sorry,” Pretty Pink said.

“I speak the truth as I am feeling the emotion known as fear,” Killer said as she had a dull expression with her lips almost reaching for a smile.

“You look more interested than scared!” Pretty Pink said.

“Really?” Killer said. “I got rid of my ability to fear a long time ago. Maybe I might have forgotten.”

“Anyways girls, you will be living at my place upstairs while getting a chance to hang around the shop or care for these adorable heads,” Rei said as she held up the head of a child.

“Rei takes good care of us here,” the kid head said. “No brainwashing whatsoever.”

“That’s the biggest sign of brainwashing,” Eriza said. “I should know because I have done it a couple of times.”

“As much as I am freaked out over this,” Pretty Pink said. “I think Rei is a good person by just looking around.”

“Really?” Noel said.

“I can tell that these heads are truly happy and by their own will. I sense good in Rei’s heart despite her greed and dark desires,” Pretty Pink said.

“You don’t have to mention that part,” Rei said as she placed the kid’s head back on the shelf.

“I’ve been through many trials where I had to judge someone’s character and I know I am right,” Pretty Pink said.

“I’m still gonna kill her,” Killer said.

“Not on my watch, fiend!” Pretty Pink said.

“My name is Killer,” the bounty hunter said.

“No need to be so literal,” Pretty Pink said.

“Oh girls! I think that’s enough banter and onto the introductions,” Rei said. “Ahem. We know who you girls are already and who I am. Now let’s get to know some ground rules and how this shop works. First off, you gain the ability to remove your head with ease in this shop and gain it outside the moment you tried it the first time here! Just hold on and pop!”

“Um… I rather not,” Noel said. “Losing my head the first time was kind of scary. Though I am grateful that you did it to save my life.”

“Me, decapitate myself through magical means. This must be a test of sorts,” Eriza said.

“Interesting,” Killer said as she reached for her head and popped it right off.

“That easy!” Eriza said.

Killer tucked her head under one arm and said. “I see the appeal in being reduced to a head.”

“Glad you think so,” Rei said. “Now don’t kill me.”

Pretty Pink plucked her head off and held onto one of her hair buns. “Whoa! This feels so weird!”

Eriza looked curious as she held onto her head then popped it off. The demoness looked down and saw her neck vacant with a new patch of skin covering it. Her body held her up so high but the demoness was shocked that she was only a head. Only to reattach herself quickly.

“Oh Jeanne, are you interested?” Rei asked.

“I rather not take my hoody off when doing it,” Jeanne said.

“Let me help you with that,” Rei said as she got her want out and flicked it at her hood. “Now when you want to detach, your hoody joins with you.”

Jeanne took her head off and saw that her hood came off as well and wrapped at the bottom of her neck to stay on. The vampire turned her head to look at her headless body and seemed impressed.

“Wow! This seems pretty surreal,” Jeanne said.

“You all will get used to this,” Rei said.

“If this will be a thing, I’ll take my head off as well!” Noel said as she popped her head off and held it carefully with two hands.

“I never said you have too, but nice that you are willing,” Rei said. “Now for ground rules. As mentioned before, the first rule is no murdering! Either directly or indirectly. I don’t want anyone dying in this show and I can’t believe I need to emphasize this with some people.”

“It seems that I have been called out,” Killer said with her head still tucked under her arm.

“It should be obvious why,” Pretty Pink said as she attached her head back on but backwards. “Um, should reattachment feel funny the first time?”

“I’ll help out!” Noel said as she got her head back on but tried to adjust it to not make it in a bent angle. “After I settle this.”

“Second rule is to avoid making me pay for damages. I’m not rich like those other hosts,” Rei said.

“I could offer my wealth for my future servant,” Eriza offered.

“Good! I kind of need it in case,” Rei said.

“That quickly?” Eriza asked. “Without a soul payment or contract.”

“If you are offering money, that would be great. Especially for the show,” Rei said.

“Err…” Eriza said.

“Third rule, respect the heads. They are a part of the store and they have feelings. They also bite if you are not careful,” Rei said.

Noel looked at one of the heads and tried to keep her distance. The head gave an annoyed look in response and minded her own business. Noel then remembered that she needed to help Pretty Pink to readjust her head back on straight.

“Fourth rule, if you can’t pay for it, don’t get me involved. Again, I’m not rich,” Rei said. “Fifth rule, don’t complain about cheap food. Sixth rule…”

“We get it! Don’t touch your money!” Eriza said. “I’ll be charitable enough to provide food at my end! Or fund for whatever here!”

“Hah! I managed to break you!” Rei said. “Let’s see um… typical no sexual harassment, try to avoid anything illegal, and I just expect you girls to behave by not getting us sued.”

“That I can handle,” Pretty Pink said as her head was back on straight.

“I’ll still try to kill you,” Killer said.

“Yes ma’am!” Noel said.

“Hmph!” Eriza said as she crossed her arms.

“Sure,” Jeanne said.

“Great. Now let’s get started on testing your skills in magic. Think of it as a practice run,” Rei said. “To be even in this show, you all must have some advanced experience in magic in some form. This test should be basic for advanced magic users.”

...