episode_0042

I’ve learned the transformation method in my own way, and I’m starting to understand when my abilities are triggered.

However, the moment to actually use those abilities didn’t come easily.

“You can never be the first to step forward in this direction.”

James said so.

“The more you move, the easier it is to get caught. How you respond when a problem arises, the time it takes, the direction it appears from—all of these can be hints. Our goal is ‘suddenly at any moment.’ It’s about appearing from the unexpected side when everything goes haywire.”

“Using a black hole for transportation, can it really be that easy to figure out? The direction would just be random, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

James fell silent for a moment at my words.

Why do I still seem subservient to him these days?

Even though it may seem like that, we are currently on equal footing. From the perspective of a poor worker from an outer planet who is far from power and money, clinging to a parasite in the cramped room of a pitiful existence.

…Thinking like this made me a bit melancholic, but he tried to hide his expression and spoke.

Although James’ face twisted slightly wickedly, he was still just a hamster. At most, he might nibble a bit. Besides, being a domesticated hamster, there’s no chance of having some infectious disease in his mouth.

As I found myself looking down at James with baseless confidence, he spoke with a restrained expression.

“Anyway, you haven’t even tried using this weapon yet, and utilizing various abilities isn’t perfect either. It’s important to find a more suitable opponent, practice, and seize opportunities. The beings we have to face are much larger than you imagine.”

Regardless of the opponent, properly utilizing my abilities was indeed crucial.

However—

“…Do such opportunities come so easily?”

I asked, tilting my head.

“Let me ask you something. Do you usually keep up with the news?”

James stared at me intently before asking.

While his expression seemed a bit annoyed, if I were to nitpick at every expression, our conversation wouldn’t progress at all. So, after briefly pretending to be lost in thought, I replied.

“No.”

If anything, I was more likely to absentmindedly scroll through my smartphone rather than deliberately watch the news.

Most of it was related to the entertainment industry. There were stories about magical girls too, but news about actors and idols dominated.

Since I wasn’t particularly interested in those stories, I mostly let them pass by.

And since the term “news” James was referring to didn’t seem to include this aspect, I shook my head.

“Even if you’re not interested in what’s happening in the world, wouldn’t it be normal to periodically check news related to magical girls if you consider them as friends?”

“…Well.”

“Well, alright. Since you seem unfamiliar with that area, I’ll explain.”

James cleared his throat as if showing off and continued.

“The beings we’re targeting are monsters.”

“Monsters.”

“Yes, monsters. They are individuals without any organization behind them, making them extremely difficult for the inhabitants of this planet to suppress. Of course, they are not entirely immune to suppression, but if not dealt with by ‘magical girls,’ they can cause significant harm in various ways.”

It’s rare for someone to die during the process of suppressing monsters.

But rarity implies that there are cases where individuals do perish.

These beings are not creatures living on Earth but extraterrestrial beings who, for some reason, lose their sanity and transform into monsters while residing on Earth.

They occasionally appear in webtoons. Up to the point I’ve read, their identities haven’t been clearly defined.

“While the intervals between their appearances aren’t fixed, there’s no need to wait anxiously for long periods. There’s a reason why the Galactic Federation’s magical girls are allowed to roam freely or left alone by national governments. These magical girls are the most reliable means to suppress ‘monsters’ that inevitably appear, one way or another.”

Yes, that was the setup.

In that case, wouldn’t it be better to simply prohibit the entry of extraterrestrials altogether? However, there are countries on Earth that have joined the Galactic Federation.

With the space industry already turned upside down, if you want to secure technology without compromising pride and without interfering in internal affairs, you can’t completely shut out extraterrestrials. If you attract the headquarters of extraterrestrial mega-corporations, naturally, employees and their families will come to live here.

Accepting tourists serves a similar purpose. Even if they come with their families, it’s essential to have places on Earth where extraterrestrials can feel a cultural affinity.

In Seoul’s bustling districts, there are quite a few restaurants serving food that ”

“That’s how the legitimacy for magical girls to act will be established.

“So, we wait until an incident occurs?”

“Yes. After waiting for the magical girl to respond and handle the situation, I step in to take care of the job.”

“To assist the magical girl?”

“That’s how it may appear to others. However, ultimately, it could become a hindrance. Currently, the power of magical girls is significantly weakened. If you keep taking care of tasks that should be theirs, citizens will start to distrust the existence of magical girls.”

Let’s put aside the fact that even the clothes I wear are considered magical girl attire for now.

“So, what do I gain from this?”

“At the moment, I am being pursued by both the Federation, corporations, and the government. The reason they are all chasing me is the same. If they can’t catch you, they can’t prove their competence. So, you will prove that you are more competent than all three of them.”

James smirked.

Every time he laughed like this at the mere mention of eating seeds, he reminded me of a carnivorous animal.

Although he might seem like he could only eat mealworms at best.

“At least the government won’t chase you. The main reason for the current situation lies in the government’s indifference. To put it simply, they won’t move because they haven’t touched magical girls so far.”

As a being that resolves issues when left alone.

“If you’re lucky, one of the remaining two factions might try to recruit you. So, ‘image’ is crucial. Even if things go differently later on, at least there should be an image of you being supported by a ‘group.’”

“So, you’re saying I have to wait until things settle down.”

I sighed deeply as I spoke.

“Uh… that’s what I mean.”

At that moment, Jigubba, who had been listening to our conversation from a distance, interjected.

“You might not have to wait that long.”

“Huh?”

When I turned my head, I saw the smartphone Jigubba was holding. It was a slightly older model but surprisingly well-maintained.

And there was a message on the screen.

[A giant causing disturbances has been confirmed in the area near Chungmuro Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Police, firefighters, and relevant officials have been dispatched to the area. Please stay calm and follow instructions. Additional messages will be sent according to the situation.]

I had received such messages occasionally.

However, I had never been involved in any incidents. Usually, even if it’s said to be in the ‘Chungmuro area,’ it doesn’t encompass the entire area. An event that leads to evacuation is a truly rare case, and usually, it gets suppressed before causing significant trouble.

Those who turn into giants usually collapse in severe pain and convulsions first. As soon as bystanders report to 119, it’s treated as a precursor to ‘giant transformation,’ and paramedics and police are dispatched together.

If they aren’t caught on-site, it becomes much more challenging from that point onwards, but since giants often self-report, cases where it escalates into a ‘large-scale terror attack’ are non-existent in this country, for now.

“Excellent.”

Upon hearing James say that, I furrowed my brow.

Even though it’s a situation where giants might rampage and harm people, calling it excellent.

Meeting my gaze, James shrugged and said, “Shall we go check it out? Let’s assess the situation and decide whether to intervene or not.”

*

There were a few minor issues on the way to the scene.

First, the issue of how to carry the hammer.

James said, ‘Just hide it in a pocket,’ but I didn’t know how to utilize that ability right away.

Fortunately, it ended as a ‘minor’ problem because James had thought about it in his own way.

The hammer could be separated into the head and handle parts.

Using a deep and thick screw mechanism, you twist it all the way in, then lock it securely with a locking pin. The handle was also divided into three sections. All were screwed in using the same mechanism.

“Wouldn’t this cause durability issues at the joints?”

“We’ll have to manage somehow with magic. Just believe it won’t break.”

Quite a dry response.

Although I suggested stealing a generator, maybe it’s not that important after all. Wouldn’t it be better to just blow up the company?

For whatever reason, thanks to that, the hammer could be placed in the duffel bag and taken out. Although it dug into my shoulders a bit, it wasn’t a big problem since there were circuits inside.

I don’t plan on using the black hole directly.

While actual radiation like a black hole doesn’t come out, it’s still noisy. Is it a different method from the warp points we typically think of?

Ironically, while

James had no response when asked, “How can I proceed if you don’t know?” There was nothing more to say.

… Let’s just attribute my lack of imagination to my subconscious. While I could imagine what was happening in front of me, it was quite plausible that I couldn’t envision what came after.

Heading straight to Chungmuro is actually quite risky. Even if I covered my face with a mask, I kept appearing wherever there were monsters, and every time that happened, it was too convenient for the black magical girl to identify me.

But there was no other way.

I had simply chosen the lesser of two evils because of the noise from the black hole or the risk of getting my tail stepped on.

I think I understand why James is trying to create a ‘side.’

Although I mentioned the area around Chungmuro Station, it doesn’t necessarily mean all of Chungmuro.

Riots usually occur in narrow spaces.

Since things were escalating near Chungmuro Station, it was natural that the station was closed. It wasn’t a big problem since I had come by bus anyway.

It took about 20 minutes to get here, but I hadn’t received any messages indicating that the monsters had been subdued.

Naturally, the government also prohibits people from filming if monsters appear. While it wouldn’t matter if the government could always handle things neatly, things don’t always end cleanly.

Moreover, there are often times when we have to control the situation while waiting for the magical girl.

The magical girl… Is she still not here?

“Where should I transform?”

I shifted my bag to the side and slightly unzipped it.

In Gangnam, I did it on a building rooftop. It was risky even then. I wore a mask and stripped down, but if someone had checked the CCTV footage, they would have concluded that I had gone up to the rooftop.

Of course, the mask I wore wasn’t the same as the one I wear to work. The clothes were different too. And since I had gone to great lengths to change masks where there were no CCTVs, there shouldn’t be any major issues… At least James was good at identifying such problems.

“If that’s the case, I also have an idea over here.”

James handed me something from the bag.

At first glance, it looked like a wireless earphone.

When I took out the unit inside and put it in my ear, I heard James’ voice.

“How did you manage to transform in the middle of Gangnam without being caught on CCTV?”

James asked.

“Even though I look like this, I am far superior to Earthlings in terms of technology. To control state-of-the-art robots with brainwaves, you need to be able to use extremely subtle waves. Fortunately, in this era, many CCTV systems on Earth are connected wirelessly.”

Ah.

So you hacked and replaced the video feed?

“Well, it’s not foolproof. If it’s wired or made with technology from another planet specifically for security, there’s nothing I can do. However, if we can communicate like this, it’s convenient to guide you towards the ‘manipulable’ side.”

“I see…”

Probably, the reason he didn’t reveal this information until now was to see how I would react to the unexpected revelation.

Reacting to James finally revealing such crucial information, I prodded him, and seeing my reaction, James cheerfully said,

“Besides, Earthlings still use police radios as ‘walkie-talkies.’ Intercepting radio waves is easy. From now on, I will broadcast live to your ear.”

“You seem excited, don’t you?”

“Excited or not, where else would I be when working?”

Although he seemed taken aback by my words, his tone made it seem like he might have felt a bit stung.

Upon reflection, this translator device conveys emotions too intensely. Well, just reading Korean textbooks emotionlessly might seem somewhat lacking, but…

Sitting quietly might attract more attention, so I followed James’ guidance.

Perhaps it was because it was a weekday, but the streets were sparsely populated. Still, there were some people around.

“We’ll go up to the building again this time.”

I heard James’ voice.

The place James mentioned was a fairly old building that looked quite tall.

Indeed, I could see police cars in the distance. I could hear what sounded like things breaking or people shouting.

As we got closer, it seemed more difficult to proceed due to the police presence. So, was this building the solution?

There was a security guard inside, but he didn’t seem concerned about me. There seemed to be clinics or restaurants on the lower floors of the building.

I got into the elevator and pressed the button to go as high as possible.

Fortunately, no one else got on during the ascent.

“The suspect is presumed to have come from Planet Arell in the Arcturus system.

Are they holding a gun in their hand? Monsters often chew non-lethal bullets, so if necessary, they also engage in live ammunition shooting as they did when subduing me.

I climbed up to the top floor and found the stairs again.

There was no one in the hallway. The top floor seemed empty. Did James know this and tell me to come into this building?

The rooftop door was locked, but I picked the lock and came out onto the roof. Of course, I wore gloves when breaking the lock. If I can delay the investigation in any way, it can be helpful.

It was somewhat distant from where the situation was unfolding, so it wasn’t clear in detail here, but the giant monster’s head could be seen popping out abruptly.

I’m not exactly sure where Arell Star System’s 2nd planet is. Probably even the police don’t know well. They’ll just prepare as the experts advise.

Since the face is visible but not moving, perhaps they have already had some success in subduing it to some extent?

[What about the hostage situation?]

[They seem unharmed for now.]

“….”

Ah, there was a hostage.

[Their face seems a bit pale.]

[I didn’t grab their neck, but it looks like their chest is rising and falling. It doesn’t seem like they’re having trouble breathing…]

[If they were scared, their breathing might have quickened.]

[Should I take a shot?]

[Didn’t you hear the order? Wait. Shooting with our equipment would be pointless. It might even endanger the hostage if we start shooting recklessly.]

[Understood… Should I request different equipment instead?]

[The permission won’t be granted… If the target has no criminal record, they will receive protection from the Galactic Federation. It’s best handled by a magical girl.]

Hmm.

If I were a magical girl, I’d be a magical girl too.

“It’s difficult to go now,” James said.

“You have to show that you can overpower the magical girl.”

Perhaps it’s not a bad idea to solve the case before the magical girl and leave.

[Why is the magical girl so late?]

[She’s on her way. She’ll arrive within 10 minutes…]

“Why so late? We’ve been waiting all this time.”

“The hostage situation is deteriorating.”

“….”

[They said the alien’s appearance changed too much. So, has the identity of the hostage been revealed? It should be informed to the family.]

“Oh, yes. It has been revealed. A student ID came out of the dropped wallet.”

“A student ID? Is it a minor?”

“Yes, the name is… Ji Hye Jung.”

“….What?”

I found myself muttering without realizing it.

It would have been a big mistake if the communication wasn’t one-way.

“Just a moment—”

James immediately opened his mouth upon seeing my reaction, but,

“The family is not available. However, there is a childcare center nearby. Shall we contact them first?”

“Let’s do that then. Keep the wallet for now, pass on the information to the relevant department. Let’s focus on the task at hand.”

“If the negotiations fail, we have no choice but to hold out until the magical girl arrives. Damn, if only we could have taken them out…”

“Ji Eun Jung, calm down.”

James’ words echoed in my ears.

“If we wait just 10 more minutes—”

“What if something happens during that time?”

I replied.

I was already setting my bag down on the floor and unzipping it.

“Don’t we have a plan? To achieve the best outcome, we must also know how to endure.”

Although I removed my earpiece, James’ words from inside the bag rang in my ears.

James looked at me with a slightly annoyed expression.

“If the plan fails—”

“A plan is only a plan when it benefits both you and me. Why should I unilaterally suffer losses?”

I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible, but my heart was already pounding fiercely.

The circuits kept running. In fact, I probably wouldn’t be able to resist transforming soon.

And once transformed, I wouldn’t be able to turn back anyway.

James didn’t respond separately to my words.

As I assembled the hammer, I said, “Let’s handle it first, then think about the next steps. From Ji Hye’s perspective, the plan or whatever is over. Since I won’t be able to endure it anyway.”

Is this also my fault?

I know it’s best not to entertain such thoughts. It’s probably just a coincidence. Ji Hye happened to be near the alien who turned into a monster in a bad situation.

But even thinking that way, I couldn’t stop these thoughts from creeping into the corner of my mind.

Could that really be true?

Can we really say that the monster was ‘co

“…….”

I pretended not to hear the final words.

When I think that people around me are being used for my actions, I feel like I can’t bear it.

Black smoke covered my vision.

I felt a sense of unease that I could never get used to.