episode_0003

As can be inferred from the prefix “Happy,” there are characters who do not want to mention their full name according to their duties.

Especially Happy Iris. Even in the webtoon, she only introduced herself as ‘Iris,’ and when someone called her ‘Happy Iris,’ she reacted somewhat uncomfortably.

Initially, it was a comedic element that even the transforming individuals were embarrassed by their names, and it was a satire on those who attach extremely tacky names when naming something and then praise themselves for doing so. However, as time went on, due to Iris’s excessive seriousness, there were even complaints that her reaction was annoying every time it happened.

“Happy Iris!”

So I deliberately called her that.

Naturally, my helmet also has a voice modulation system. Regardless of whether the person inside is male or female, or any other gender, just hearing it turns into an incredibly irritating “monster voice.”

Well, it’s much better than just making a “clicking” sound like in other tokusatsu shows, and it’s not bad since my identity is also guaranteed.

“Happy!! Iris!”

She flinched.

When I shouted “Happy” twice, one of Iris’s eyebrows twitched.

“Don’t overdo it! It’s better than calling me Cherry Blossom!”

“….”

And Iris’s second irritation.

Iris really hates being compared to Cherry Blossom.

This is… well, just a typical rival cliche. The relationship between a cheerful genius and a serious hard worker. Of course, that doesn’t mean Cherry Blossom isn’t a hard worker. Maybe the reason Iris is so irritated is because of that.

Always being cheerful and funny, then becoming the bad guy when angry—well, since there’s no reason to get angry in the first place, it’s more annoying, that kind of character.

And feeling genuine friendship, so those emotions would be even more complicated.

“…Alright. I’ve changed my mind.”

Beep beep beep beep beep—

The warning sound of the helmet rang out, almost drowning out Iris’s voice.

98 percent.

Good. It’s effective.

“I’ll make sure to kill you.”

Swish.

Iris flew back into the air.

Overwhelming strength to sweep away the enemy, clearly understanding the enemy’s strengths and avoiding them. She doesn’t even give the opponent a chance to attack in the first place.

The emotions embraced by magical girls are almost positive feelings close to certainty.

The feeling of hope, which almost infinitely arises thanks to the sense of fighting against evil after getting up once from despair.

And because of that, what can be felt—hope.

Returning to that emotion that can still be held onto without completely knowing the world, in the story, it was called the “Hope Circuit.”

If you’ve ever heard the term “Hope Circuit” on the internet, it’s true. Of course, the Hope Circuit itself doesn’t create hope; it’s a device that converts the hope an individual possesses into energy. It’s also one of the main reasons why the Galactic Federation has its eyes set on Earth(?).

On the contrary, what I possess—

Beep beep beep beep beep!

As Iris spread her legs and aimed a weapon at me, a sound pierced my ears as if they were about to tear apart.

There’s no chance.

No hope.

Even if my circuit were running at 100 percent, it wouldn’t change a thing.

It will hurt. Definitely hurt. If luck isn’t on my side, more than one place will break, and if it is, only one will. I’ll manage to come up with the medical expenses somehow, but I can’t do anything about the pain—

Yes. What I’m feeling right now is something entirely opposite to hope.

It’s “despair.”

My circuit is reverting to the “despair” that people feel.

Unlike the hopeful light, despair itself isn’t quite as efficient.

But unlike the not-so-high hope at the top, despair is bottomless.

Moreover, just by adjusting the situation appropriately, almost every human on Earth can feel enough “despair” to power the circuit.

…Well, this is all I can gather from reading webtoons.

“Why not leave a will or something.”

Iris spoke.

“I’ll remember your will, even though you’re poking around with your left hand for no reason.”

Beep beep beep beep beep!

100 percent.

The vibration in my left wrist feels dangerously intense.

It’s a mass-produced model developed reasonably by the corporation; it’ll probably break if it endures just a little more.

Before that.

Yeah.

There’s no way.

There’s no way, but!

It’s frustrating!

How many times is this now!

I directed my annoyance towards Iris, pointing my finger at her.

“Huh?”

In response to my bold action, Iris blinked.

Looking at Iris like that, I shouted with a smirk.

“Happy Iris! Purple panties!”

“What!? Don’t be ridiculous! Today is definitely black—”

Iris’s words were cut off as she bit her lip.

Although it’s censored and cut due to being uploaded as a major webtoon by a large company, even if it’s a magical girl webtoon where characters diligently wear underwear, the character’s personality settings remain unchanged.

Iris is always rational and smart, but sometimes she gets flustered! She has a scatterbrained side!

In the moment Iris’s brain momentarily stopped, I leaped forward.

Although I may look like a pushover, the combat suit firmly attached to my wrist circuit assisted my muscle strength.

I may not have the power to make the ground crack when I run like “Happy Red Rose,” but—

Thud!

At least for a moment, I could summon the strength to leap up to where Iris was floating. Furthermore, the blade in my left hand was still intact! Iris’s face came into clear view, and her beauty, illuminated by the cold blue moonlight, appeared strikingly vivid. She still looked bewildered. Why was she so flustered, unlike the other operatives who would flee upon seeing themselves? …I can do this. I can reach her. I may not be able to win with this strike, but surely, it will be effective…!

Beep beep beep beep beep!

Beep beep beep beep!

Beep… eeeeee—

Huh?

The percentage displayed on my helmet began to rapidly decrease. It dropped from 99% to 80% in an instant, then fell back down to 70%.

Oh, come on!

Did I really think I could land a hit? Did I dare to hope even just a little—

“Alright, I’ll give you credit for that courage.”

Ah.

I’m done for.

I managed to startle Iris, but I ended up startling myself. Though I quickly regained composure, Iris, still seething with anger, was staring straight at me from what could almost be called a “deathly distance.” I hastily twisted my body to wield the blade, but—shwoo.

I couldn’t penetrate the aura surrounding Iris, and the blade vanished into thin air.

And then…

“Well then, Merry Christmas.”

Iris laughed cheerfully and pulled the trigger of the gun aimed at me.

In the next moment, everything turned white.

When I came to my senses—where am I?

It seems like some sort of rooftop.

Iris may still be a high school student, but she’s incredibly talented. She’s already researching the principles of warp points within the Galactic Federation. Of course, this is kept secret externally. The reason the Galactic Federation doesn’t interfere with Iris’s research is to see how remarkable the energy of the hope circuit is and to offer her a scouting proposal once her research is complete.

Who would want to join an organization that prevents people from conducting the research they desire?

And Iris’s “attack” is an application of that. Killing enemies is illegal. But if you want to effectively neutralize them with just one blow, then isn’t sending them so far away that they can’t come back immediately the best solution?

“…Ugh.”

I groaned as I got up from my spot, clutching my side. Is it bruised? Or maybe broken? Even if it’s just a rib, it’s a bit better. I should be able to walk. If my leg were broken and there wasn’t a 24-hour free clinic operated by the Galactic Federation Citizens’ Organization nearby, it would be terribly dreadful just to get there.

I reached out to feel my helmet, then roughly tossed it aside. Yet, with its immense durability, I couldn’t break it even if I tried with all my might.

The Attack-Resistant Equipment for Magical Girls was said to have been slightly redesigned and is now being sold for use with motorbikes. It’s certainly durable enough. Iris might have cut me some slack in her own way.

After sitting for a while, I got up and walked to the rooftop railing.

“…Phew.”

Even though it was winter, it felt incredibly refreshing to take off the stuffy helmet I’d been wearing for so long.

…It was refreshing.

Beep beep beep beep.

“…Why is it ringing after the fight’s over?”

I looked down at the circuit buzzing on my wrist as I clutched my aching side. My despair gauge was at 80 percent.

Where am I now? I don’t have a smartphone or a credit card. How am I going to get back home?

…If I go back in, the director will scold me severely. He’s not a bad person, but he thinks I’m just fooling around outside late at night. If he sees that I’m injured, he’ll definitely ask where I’ve been fighting again.

Well, he’d be right.

“Haha….”

A fool standing there blankly, covered in dust, not even knowing where his belongings are. That’s what I looked like right now.

“…Should I just stop….”

Honestly, I can’t handle this. I know I can’t win, but still.

[You incompetent fools!]

As I stood on the rooftop looking down below, I suddenly heard a sound from my wrist.

“What do you think you’re doing, falling before even getting on stage? Do you all not want to get paid!?”

In my case, it’s not about the money.

Listening to the officer yelling through the communication device, I unhooked the circuit from my wrist. As the circuit, driven by my despair, came to a halt, it fell silent.

“…I wonder if those who fell first landed somewhere safe.”

After briefly worrying about others, I chuckled to myself and turned away. I wrapped my aching side and roughly tossed the circuit into the helmet with one hand, then put it on with the other.

Let’s go home.

Anyway, since it’s Seoul, I should be able to go anywhere.

If there’s a clinic on the way, I should stop by.

*

Despair energy does come in handy sometimes. Putting on the circuit and helmet again made it easier to speed along using that energy.

I ran about seven subway stops, which wasn’t something to be proud of. Moreover, my corporate attire was too conspicuous, so just running around like that would probably lead to an article or something on the internet tomorrow.

I’ll be in trouble again. At least I won’t be fired, which is fortunate.

At first, I didn’t know where I was, but after a while, I recognized the area, and I was able to find the company building more or less.

At least I can change my clothes at the Nuar Corporation building. Otherwise, there won’t be anyone to support the combatants. Even if I change there, the deployment area is often far away.

There’s a shopping mall attached to the lower floor of the building, and as expected of an evil corporation, there are a lot of people working overtime.

If I come down to the first floor in casual clothes, no one would think I’m a combatant. Combatants come and go… Well, there should only be one or two combatants in this building anyway.

As I descended to the first floor, I checked my phone watch and it was already 10 o’clock. If I go back, it will be close to 11 o’clock. I haven’t even called the orphanage yet. Moreover, there were seven missed calls on my phone.

…It seems like today’s plan to listen to music and heal is probably not going to happen.

*

“……”

“……”

Sure enough, when I entered, the teacher was waiting for me.

“……Where were you until now?”

She didn’t shout. Maybe because the kids were sleeping, but in general, we didn’t raise our voices or stop the kids here. Whether it’s due to legal issues or something else, I’m not sure.

“…Are you not going to tell me this time either?”

“……”

“Jieun, if you have any difficulties—”

“I don’t have any.”

To be honest, I just want to lie down somewhere and get some sleep. Except for the curfew time of 10 p.m. at this orphanage, high school students are quite free. Many don’t say anything even if they stay up all night on weekends. However, someone like me who comes in after 11 p.m. is treated as a “problem child.”

“…Fine then.”

Maybe she gave up, but not entirely. As if to avoid making the conversation longer, the teacher said, “Go wash up quickly. Don’t wake the kids.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“… ”

In response to my words, the teacher lightly smiled and nodded. But still, the next day, there was no coming in. Before coming in, she fixed any place that was hurt and came in clean.

…Working at an interstellar corporation is so helpful. Actually, getting hurt was also because of that interstellar corporation. I headed to my room while rustling the paper bag containing the music CD. And…

“Oh, you’re here?”

My roommate, who was rolling around on the floor with a blanket, raised her head slightly and spoke.

This character doesn’t appear in the original work. Anyway, if she were a magical girl, she would have come in late like me today.

“What, did you get caught up in a magical girl battle? You were near Gwanghwamun.”

“…Did you see the news?”

“I did. Just a while ago.”

Jihye shook her smartphone towards me. There was a news article.

[Blosum, outstanding performance again today.]

This is it, the title of the knight who will make Iris’s blood run cold.

I took a long breath and put down my bag.

“Let’s see, did you buy a CD?”

“They said we can just stream it.”

“Well, that’s what they say. And I’m curious about what you bought. Come on.”

I took out the CD, and Ji-hye smiled broadly.

“This is the manga we saw at the theater.”

“Yeah.”

By the way, we went to the theater because we both had birthdays this year.

“Are you going to listen to it?”

With a slightly expectant look, she glanced at the device neatly stacked on my desk.

There were large audio devices and speakers placed there.

…In my past life, my father had something similar. He called it a “jeonchuk,” but that probably wasn’t its official name. Later, I found out that “jeonchuk” was short for “jeongi chugeumgi” (phonograph).

But a phonograph couldn’t play CDs.

“They’re antique, you know.”

“Oh, right.”

Ji-hye seemed a little disappointed as she slowly placed the CD on my desk.

“Ahem.”

Then, suddenly, she cleared her throat and changed the mood.

“So?”

“So what?”

When I tilted my head at Ji-hye’s words, she chuckled and said, “What kind of person is your boyfriend?”

“….”

Why does everyone around me ask me that?

“It’s Christmas, right? Of course, you wouldn’t be coming back this late just to buy one CD. You must have met someone.”

“…I could have just met a friend.”

“You don’t have any friends.”

“….”

I deliberately rolled my eyes and said, “So just because I don’t have friends, I must have a boyfriend?”

“Oh, come on. They’re different, totally different.”

“Hmm.”

Feeling like there was no point in responding further, I lay down under the blanket Ji-hye had already laid out.

“Oh, come on! Tell me, tell me.”

“There’s nothing like that.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

I said that and closed my eyes.

Oh, I’m really, really tired.

“Hey…”

Ji-hye tried to say something to me, but maybe I looked really exhausted because she said, “…Tell me tomorrow.”

She really doesn’t know how to give up.

Well, it’s better than giving up everything like me. She’s practically a high school student, after all. Different from me.

After muttering a few more words, Ji-hye lay down in her spot.

And before me, she fell asleep and started breathing regularly.

“….”

I soon fell asleep too.

*

“Ji-eun, Ji-eun!”

As soon as I left for school, Blosum called out loudly.

“What?”

Even though I answered a bit brusquely without looking at him, busy taking out my textbooks from my bag, he didn’t seem fazed at all.

Rummaging through my bag, something suddenly pushed its way in front of my eyes.

“Sorry. I was supposed to give this to you two days ago.”

I blinked as I looked at the carefully wrapped “gift” in front of me. It seemed to be about the size of a CD.

“When we went to the bookstore together last time, it seemed like you were eyeing it for quite a while.”

“Oh… I think I know what it is.”

It must be that jazz CD with an impressive cover that I had been admiring for quite some time. Well, I don’t really pay attention to who the artist is, but still.

“I… didn’t prepare a gift for you.”

“It’s, it’s okay! After all, gifts are meant to be given by the person who wants to give them.”

Saying that doesn’t console me, does it…?

Well, she probably isn’t saying that just to flatter me with her charming personality.

“Thank you.”

I accepted it. It’s a gift from a childhood friend, after all. I can’t refuse.

It’s not like it’s a CD I’ve been dying to listen to or anything.

She smiled happily as she looked at me.

In any case, she’s too kind.

I don’t know what she’ll do when she finds out who I really am later on.

Well, it’s not like I have any intention of deceiving her.

After tucking the wrapped CD deep into my bag, I could finally take out the textbook I had been looking for and place it on my desk.