What is Right (3)

What is Right (3)

“When I say this, many people will be puzzled. Certainly, the abilities Tachylas has shown are transcendent, and to some extent, what that child who advocates for the survival of the fittest claims is true. But in the end, she is alone. That means she is wrong.”

Adel Bryant. The head of the international branch of The One Road and a giant in the field of magic research who prepared this surprise announcement.

He continued his story leisurely. People listened to his words as if entranced through the interpretation. Until now, he was the first to mention Tachylas so openly and directly.

Even Tachylas herself was glaring at his eyes on the TV screen with a spoon in her mouth.

“Everyone, think about what Magical Girls are. It doesn’t have to be an extreme case like Tachylas. They are like superheroes from fiction who have gained superhuman powers. But this world is not fiction.”

He already knew that his voice had power. He wouldn’t have stepped up if the preparation wasn’t perfect in the first place.

“For the past 20 years, we have built a relationship with Magical Girls and got along well. However, incomplete understanding and structure soon reach their limits. With the emergence of the Magical Girl organization called Casilena, the world is about to fall into chaos again. That is the limitation of Magical Girls.

Everyone’s standard of justice and the method of implementing it are different. Heroes in fiction may package such actions as justice and freedom, but in reality, they only cause unnecessary conflicts.”

“Does that mean, Doctor, that you are arguing for comprehensive control over Magical Girls?”

A reporter asked, but he shook his head. Control over Magical Girls has been continuously discussed, but there has been little progress. It was practically impossible from the start.

“I have been very grateful for Tachylas’s warning, taken it very seriously, and continuously persuaded governments to respond. In fact, we may face a crisis of a degree we haven’t thought of. Everyone, should we entrust everything to Magical Girls in this situation? Our lives, property, family, and beliefs! We don’t even know their true nature.”

Adele’s voice gradually grew louder, and at the same time, the atmosphere at the scene and the people watching the broadcast were drawn into his words.

“Magical girls are clearly the powerful ones in this society. And now, there are those who have appeared trying to change this society to their liking by wielding that strength. But everyone, we humans are strong too. Surely our power is not the same as the great magical power that magical girls possess.”

“Then what exactly is that power?”

“It’s us, and all of you! If you know, think about the history of magical girls. Even those supposedly strong magical girls couldn’t survive alone in the end and hoped to return to the embrace of society. True strength in nature is not about preying on or trampling others. It’s about surviving, adapting, and evolving for future generations. That is true strength! We are stronger than magical girls!”

“Ooh…”

As Adele had confidently predicted, the atmosphere heated up. Whether it was Takilas or Casilena, there were certainly many people who felt uneasy about the recent surge in magical girl activities.

They had an instinctive fear of the mainstream of this land changing. The instinctive fear that magical girls who punish evil might suddenly turn and try to dominate them with that power.

Especially when it was revealed by Takilas that the range of ‘evil people’ that magical girls talk about is too broad by modern standards, such fears were further fueled.

Adele had satisfyingly scratched that uneasiness.

“We are great. Even those who seem clearly weak become stronger and survive through technology and learning. That adaptability and survivability is our strength, so struggle and competition are just means, not the end result.”

As he finished speaking, he turned his head. From when he started his last words, several people had already gathered around him and were lined up in an orderly manner.

Regardless of age, gender, or race, they were wearing unified black suits and protective gear.

“These people behind me are witnesses who will supplement my words. The true power that can show the strength of us humans. Lopez, show us your power.”

As Adele instructed one of them, a middle-aged white man stepped forward and stood in front. Then he stretched his hand towards the sky.

In an instant, power was concentrated in his outstretched hand and burst forth. A lightning bolt striking upwards, literally lightning.

“Look. This is the power we have acquired, the power we will create in the future. Do these people look like special heroes to you? No. They are not special heroes who move as they please. They are just members of our society who will protect us, like soldiers and police officers.”

It was the moment when The One Road’s research results were revealed to the world. And in an even stronger form than expected.

“With the cooperation of the Korean government, The One Road has decided to operate a unit in Korea as a pilot project. The compatibility of magic circuits and magic stone implantation does not depend on physical conditions. Anyone can volunteer. Show the greatness of us humans! Now we don’t need magical girls in this land anymore!”

Applause erupted in the hall at his declaration. Of course, not everyone agreed, but for now, the atmosphere was in favor of those who did.

“Di-Director, this is…”

“Let’s keep it quiet. The One Lord is that old raccoon geezer Lee Jong-pil and his faction, along with those they’ve brought in from abroad. I’m surprised by these sudden, incredible results, but honestly, it’s hard to see their intentions as pure.”

On the side that couldn’t agree were the Management Bureau, Lee Min-hyung, now a member of Frontier, and Oh Yun-seo, among others.

Compared to the passionate instigators and others swept up in the excitement, they quickly surveyed their surroundings.

“Oh no, have we been completely fooled?”

Lee Min-hyung sighed as he saw a few politicians who were just as shocked as he was.

They all knew there was a despicable group that had joined hands with outside forces just for power. They just hadn’t expected the other side to move so quickly.

“Too much power has been handed over to those who would do anything to seize control.”

“What should we do now? Frontier still doesn’t have enough power…”

“We need to meet with Floor Leader Jo Ui-seok. Right now, we need to unite and make our voices heard somehow. If we lose in public opinion, it’s over.”

Lee Min-hyung, far more politically experienced than Oh Yun-seo, quickly made his judgment. Jo Ui-seok was one of the senior members who had been solidifying his position recently. At the same time, he stood in opposition to the political faction that had brought in The One Lord, so the conclusion was that they must recruit him.

“Will the magical girls really be pushed out?”

“You should know that better than me, Director Oh. Look at Casilena. Think about the recently changed Aria, and Takilas. Would they comply? They’re united by their own beliefs and sense of justice. Do you think the ideological war happened for no reason?”

“Then, if that’s the case…”

“A clash is inevitable. The magical girls will probably lose in public opinion. But I still think the magical girls are the answer.”

Heading towards Jo Ui-seok, Lee Min-hyung smiled bitterly.

There weren’t many reasons to believe in the magical girls. It was just that he had seen what kind of beings they were for longer and in more detail, and above all, The One Lord organization itself, which had repeatedly conducted human experiments with the tacit consent of a huge communist country, seemed extremely suspicious.

“This is a declaration of war against all magical girls. If they can’t hold back and step forward, public opinion will worsen.”

“I’m not particularly worried about Rene from Casilena or those who are with us. Hmm, there’s just one thing I’m concerned about.”

He frowned at Oh Yun-seo’s serious words.

A being more prideful, arrogant, and willful than anyone else. A being who used to smash through public opinion or whatever with overwhelming power, not caring about anything.

And above all, a being that never overlooks provocation and challenges against itself.

He only hoped that Takilas would remain still.

***

“Wow… that’s so cool.”

“Hey. What are you so excited about? After all, it’s just about mass-producing super soldiers through human experimentation. How can you defend that in front of me?”

“Su, Suyoung. Aaagh!”

In the van taking the facility’s students to school. Kang Jin-soo, who had watched Adele Bryant’s speech to the end on his mobile phone, inadvertently sighed and was beaten by Hong Su-young’s genuinely angry fist.

The opposite hand throwing punches, the hand wrapped in a white glove, twitched.

“Hooh…”

Of course, even so, the fact that others were also impressed by the speech didn’t disappear.

She was the same.

Lee Jin-ah, the girl who watched the speech on Kim Su-jung’s mobile phone while leaning diagonally against the window.

However, the demon king’s instinct harbored within her was frantically writhing, wanting to return the favor to those confident ones who dared to provoke her.

[Interesting. Very interesting. But isn’t this an even bigger deal for you guys?]

She grinned and said to Ren, the mascot sitting on her head, through telepathy.

“Ah…”

But Ren was frozen, at a loss for words.