episode_0045

I don’t know exactly how the Hope Circuit operates.

“There’s a circuit that leads back to hope,” “and its efficiency in development is overwhelmingly higher than circuits utilizing despair.”

These were the only things I knew. While I did watch webtoons, the details of the setting weren’t explicitly laid out. Instead, it was more about conflicts between government organizations or companies.

Although there weren’t many intricate details revealed, it was more of a gag comic where black comedy was subtly embedded in the daily lives of magical girls.

During the days when it was casually serialized on blogs, it was easy to just laugh it off. However, after being officially serialized and running for an extended period, it exhausted content equivalent to dozens of blog serializations and shifted towards more serious themes.

…So, well, that’s how it goes. I may know a fair bit about the setting in my own way, but since coming here, I’ve discovered even more aspects.

That’s why I don’t know why Ha-yoon’s staff suddenly burst into flames.

I could only assume that it was of great help to Ha-yoon.

The monster, as if determined never to give up, swung its arms fiercely towards the magical girls.

It seemed even more violent than when it held hostages.

Perhaps because there was nothing to worry about.

With a sound cutting through the air, the white left arm lunged towards Ha-yoon.

As I planted my foot on the ground to slow down, the attack had already reached Ha-yoon.

More precisely, it hit Ha-yoon’s ‘staff.’

“———!”

Even though the monster had been emitting sounds somewhat resembling human voices until now, this time it let out a noise that didn’t seem human at all.

A white chunk soared towards the sky. It was shaped like a pair of tongs. More accurately, it looked like there was flesh inside the tongs.

…It’s quite terrifying to see it up close.

This might not be Ha-yoon at her best. The pink-black sword, however, was truly cutting through everything.

While I had to leap high and exert all my strength to strike downwards, Ha-yoon could unleash such power with just one swing of her staff.

Swish!

And then, the end of the armor that was attacking was severed. Before the toughest part of the claw on the right arm could touch Ha-yoon’s body, it flew off.

I’ve seen movies with lots of people wielding beam swords when I was young, and it felt like watching a battle scene from those times. The pink beam sword whirled around, guarding Ha-yoon.

At first glance, it seemed like it was swiftly swinging around, but upon closer inspection, it was intercepting attacks just before they hit, deflecting them minimally.

Well, these magical girls may break their arms and legs to block attacks, but they won’t kill.

“You guys…!”

The monster shouted as it flattened itself on the ground.

Then, it raised its sharp-tipped tail high.

The end of the tail was sharp.

Perhaps the reason it hadn’t used it until now was because it had two claws. Well, it probably needed to turn its body to use the tail. It didn’t look very flexible.

Crunch.

However, before he could turn his body to swing the tail towards Ha-yoon’s neck, the armor on the tail broke miserably.

“Eek!”

Despite the monster’s attempts to jump around, there was no way it could move properly with the hammer pressing it down.

Though broken, the flesh inside hadn’t detached yet. Due to the hammer pressing down as if equipped with rocket thrusters, unless the flesh was torn apart, the monster couldn’t flee or do anything.

Bang! Bang!

The monster tried to turn backward but staggered as bullets flew in from the side.

Even when trying to look in the opposite direction—

Bam!

It only met the face of the gauntlet reinforced by magic.

From above, Dalria’s magic fell like hail. Struck heavily, the monster’s body descended slightly.

“Ughhh!”

However, as if determined to overcome everything, the monster exerted all its strength.

“Ugh!?”

The hammer that was pressing down suddenly lifted.

Whether it was squeezing out the last of its strength or regaining consciousness, the body beneath the armor seemed ready to burst out any moment.

But—

“Ouch!?”

“Quick, dodge! What are you doing? Do you want to die together!?”

James shouted on my shoulder as a massive bundle of magic flew towards us.

It was Delphinium’s magic.

Knowing the pain that would come from being hit by that magic, my bones shivered.

Forcing my upper body to twist immediately, I changed the direction of the hammer.

As the hammer rolled to the side, I was pushed sideways by the energy released

Perhaps it would be better to use a core separator. The energy source is immense, so that might be more appropriate.

Still, I could escape thanks to virtue.

I planted my feet firmly back on the ground, paused, and looked towards the collapsed figure with the hammerhead facing downward.

“….”

Is that person dying?

Have I survived this kind of ordeal until now? Even for a moment, I understand how remarkable human vitality can be.

Or maybe, even though it looks like that, it could be a form of controlled magic.

The surroundings were ablaze in white.

The figure inside appeared dark amidst the white magical flames, dancing within them.

And in an instant, that light vanished as if it had never existed in the world.

The figure stood still for just a moment.

No white flesh remained now.

Taking a step forward,

It collapsed.

The thud was louder than expected, perhaps because the surroundings were unusually quiet.

I quickly turned my head to look for people.

“Jieun!”

I heard someone calling out.

There was Jihye in the distance.

She seemed like she wanted to run towards me, but the police officers beside her were holding her back. It was female officers on both sides, probably trying to accommodate Jihye.

A sound akin to hot iron plunging into cold water echoed.

And a faint smell of burning lingered.

Turning my gaze, smoke was rising from the hammer.

For a moment, my heart raced. I wondered if the circuitry on the other side had short-circuited due to the smoke and smell.

But before I could worry a bit more,

Click.

With that sound, the previously opened rear part of the hammer closed gradually. The meticulously crafted steel pieces fit together so seamlessly that there was no trace left of it ever being open.

Seeing Jihye unharmed calmed my mind.

I turned my head again towards Jihye.

Our eyes met.

Jihye, who had been waving and calling out to me, seemed a bit taken aback when our eyes met.

“….”

I looked down at my body.

There were burn marks here and there. Given how vigorously I swung the hammer with thrusters attached at the back, it was only natural.

Blood was trickling, and most notably, there was plenty of viscous fluid of a liver-like color splattered around.

It was beyond description.

No, the issue wasn’t just that.

I…

Ah, I see.

In front of Jihye, I had broken someone’s arm. Now I noticed the remnants on Jihye’s body as well.

And perhaps, because of me.

What if Jihye thought it was because of me that she was taken hostage?

Although the figure wasn’t in a state to speak properly, the situation could easily lead to misunderstandings.

… Is this too extreme of a thought?

Yes, it’s definitely an extreme thought.

Maybe if I try to talk a little—

But as I took a step towards that direction,

Thwack!

With that sound, my left shoulder was pushed backward.

“Whack!?”

James exclaimed.

*

I brought it down.

It wasn’t solely Hyun’s power that brought the creature down.

Rather, it was good that way. Working together with the other kids, including Ji-eun.

Moreover, Ji-eun went as far as to help herself when she was being attacked by the creature. Perhaps that meant there wasn’t that much malice after all?

At the last moment, hope arose.

Thanks to that.

“…Ah.”

After bringing it down completely, Iris opened her eyes wide, looking down at her circuit.

Though it was a very faint hope, just that alone was enough to restore some of Hyun’s energy.

And with just that ‘some,’ the energy from the circuit could overflow, lending strength to the magical girls around her.

“It was dangerous,” Delphinium said with a slightly pale expression.

“The range almost became too broad.”

“…Because too much magic entered in the middle?”

When Hyun asked, Delphinium nodded.

All the magical girls knew about Hyun and Ji-eun’s situation. It seemed obvious that they wouldn’t attack Ji-eun right in front of them.

Delphinium’s warning was likely because Ji-eun ended up within that range.

So maybe it was thrown a bit earlier.

Hyun looked towards Ji-eun.

“….”

Ji-eun wasn’t looking at Hyun; she was simply watching Jihye waving from afar.

That’s right, probably.

It was a coincidence, but since Jihye was taken hostage. If I worry more, it’s natural to be concerned about that side.

… It’s okay.

Because such a thing happened.

There must have been a lot built up until now.

If Ji-eun blames me, I should apologize sincerely. Repay what I can.

Even if forgiveness isn’t

At least, perhaps some feelings as a friend remained.

Even helping out a little while ago.

If she despised their existence, that wouldn’t have happened.

Hayoon looked down at the circuit.

The circuit was spinning vigorously.

With just a glimmer of hope.

“I’ll be back in a moment.”

As Hayoon said that, her magical girl companions glanced at each other, then back at Hayoon.

“Yeah, stay strong.”

Rose patted her on the shoulder.

“…We might encounter a backlash where we’re going.”

Hayoon nodded.

Iris seemed a bit uneasy, but she didn’t try to stop Hayoon.

Jieun looked exhausted. Though there were visible wounds, at least nothing seemed immediately critical upon first glance.

Let’s take her to the clinic somehow. After a good rest, things might improve if we talk slowly.

Let’s go together with our friends. It might put our minds at ease. From what I found out after Jieun disappeared, Ji-hye seemed like family to Jieun.

With those thoughts in mind, Hayoon looked back at Jieun and took a step towards her.

Gunshots rang out.

*

Jieun looked worn out.

Her clothes were torn and burnt in places, blood flowing from her wounds.

There was even an unidentified liquid smeared over the wounds.

Could she be infected?

Wouldn’t it be dangerous to leave her like this?

Although she had never heard of magical girls being in mortal danger from such things, she still worried.

I wish we could call an ambulance right now. We need to take her to the clinic.

Thinking so, as she was about to turn her head—

A loud gunshot rang out.

Jieun’s shoulders were forcefully pushed back.

Her face as she fell showed an expression of not fully grasping what was happening.

The magical girl had mentioned deflecting bullets with her magic, but blood was oozing from Jieun’s shoulder.

A scream escaped Ji-hye’s lips.

*

Being hit by a bullet, the first thing that came to mind was James, who was on my left shoulder.

“James!?”

I exclaimed while touching my shoulder with my right hand.

Blood stained my hand.

My heart raced. Could it be?

But thankfully, there was a faint, weakening chirping sound.

And then.

“You almost died, you crazy bastards!”

A roar erupted from my shoulder. I instinctively turned my head.

Am I unharmed? Thank goodness.

…No, it wasn’t a relief.

Looking down at my shoulder, it was stained with red blood.

Had the bullet penetrated? No, it hadn’t. My left arm moved properly. If it had gone through here, my shoulder blade would have been shattered. My fist clenched, and my arm would have hung limp.

Was it deflected by magic?

But the reason for the wound was—

Ah.

I looked down at the hammer.

As I gazed at it, I heard a faint creaking sound coming from the hammer.

The fact that the generator had stopped meant I had felt that much hope. Seeing Ji-hye unharmed and Hayoon regaining strength.

A very thin thread of hope.

And yet, that hope didn’t last long. As thoughts continued, other worries piled on top.

But still.

“…Ha.”

“Miss Jeong Ji-eun?”

“Ha, hahaha!”

It’s ridiculous, really.

I laughed, clutching my stomach with my left hand.

It wasn’t a laugh of joy, nor was it genuinely funny.

Why did I laugh? I don’t know. I just laughed like that.

Perhaps “it’s ridiculous” is the most accurate expression?

I raised my head.

I heard voices shouting against it, sounding like protests.

But more powerful than the distant sounds was what I saw with my own eyes.

I saw the net. A net thrown towards the sea, pulling up hundreds, thousands of fish at once greedily.

Maybe it looked like that due to the backlight. In reality, it was a much more sinister object.

Thick and heavy, the net that lay beneath prevented anything from easily rising, making it difficult to escape.

It’s absurd. After fighting so hard.

I looked to the side.

The magical girls were moving.

They were rushing towards me. Why?

Hayoon seemed to be unable to accept the situation, her eyes wide open and mouth agape.

Truly, truly… it’s absurd.

It would have been better if they had just asked me to come along. Maybe they would have listened, even if they thought about it seriously later. James did the same. They should have thought about how one of them could approach me.

But this is the result.

I, too, I worked hard, so hard that I thought I wouldn’t let others down.

Am I different from others? Did I come here in the first place to suffer? So why do things end up like this no matter how hard I try?

Yeah, I won’t say I haven’t done anything wrong.

But they said it’s okay.

It’s not illegal. If you think about it, they are also bad guys. Trash that uses Ha Yoon and tries to exploit the Earth.

But why only me?

Why am I the one running away?

Just because of a few comments? Really? It’s not just me, right?

Damn bastards.

In front of me, a black spot appeared where the net used to be.

That spot greedily sucked in the net.

It wasn’t just the net.

It devoured everything there. The air, the light.

The light being sucked into the black spot seemed to bend like a frame. The surrounding space warped as if reflected in a concave mirror.

Even the sound seemed to be sucked in, and no sound could be heard.

I took a step towards that hole, then another.

And I smirked.

I didn’t do anything wrong, so why should I run away?

Shouldn’t the police know? They would have investigated the scene. Then evidence that I didn’t do anything would have piled up like a mountain.

I lowered my gaze.

Something sparkled inside the twisted interior. There was a person lying near the top of a large armored vehicle. The person was holding a long metal rod.

A gun.

Even in that situation, a gun pointed steadfastly at me.

The foot that had touched the ground fell away.

Slowly rising into the air—

I skipped ahead and stood in front of the person.

“Hey.”

Before he could say anything, I grabbed the barrel of the gun.

The long gun easily bent.

As I brought the bent end right in front of his eyes, the man broke out in a cold sweat.

I heard a stiff sound and realized he was gritting his teeth. It was chilly, but not that cold.

I kicked.

The waist of the armored vehicle crumpled badly. The people inside scrambled out in a panic.

Pushing the man aside, I vented my anger by hitting the armored vehicle several times.

Kicking with my feet, striking with a hammer, punching.

Windows shattered, the side of the vehicle tore, wheels burst, crumpled, fell off, oil leaked out.

No one stopped me during all this. Or were they unable to stop me? Why did he shoot so casually and throw the net over my head just a moment ago?

Before long, the vehicle flattened.

After destroying it beyond repair, I caught my breath and looked around.

Each person I met eyes with quickly backed away. A circle formed around me.

The light of the sky was no longer visible. The blue sky had turned as dark as night. The sky, flowing with light like a river, was beautiful yet desolate.

“….”

Staring at the sky for a while in a daze, I lowered my gaze.

Wisdom and I locked eyes.

Wisdom sat on the ground, her face pale as she stared at me.

Somehow, I felt like crying.

So I just disappeared.