Ch.124Chapter 20. Love……? (4)

I can’t believe I’m not sure how the circuit works anymore.

If we’re talking about ‘talent,’ well, maybe she has some talent she doesn’t even know about. Perhaps the ability to summon incredibly powerful hope, or to dig endlessly without reason.

But getting energy from a kiss? What’s that about?

I mean, I’m the same way, but Jihye…

Jihye’s body glowed.

Just like when other magical girls transform.

Jihye felt warm in my arms. Not just the natural warmth of a human body, but something else—like another energy layered over her body.

I closed my eyes briefly against the blinding light, and when I opened them, there was a princess cradled in my arms.

Her outfit resembled my costume more than those of the other magical girls. Just with slightly different colors.

The clothes featured natural combinations of green and light green. I thought the outfit suited Jihye perfectly, matching her always vibrant smile.

“…Ah, aaah!?”

Apparently not expecting she could transform like this, Jihye squirmed in my arms.

I set her down.

“Th-this is, uwah!?”

Seriously, there’s no point in being embarrassed after transforming yourself.

Though I guess I was a bit shocked too when I first wore this outfit.

Am I Jihye’s hope?

Or does the circuit on Jihye’s wrist operate on different emotions than before?

I had a slight suspicion.

It was because… that day, Jihye had given that red-faced man—who seemed like he might be a sales representative directly under the chairman—the keyword “love.”

Since he left without much reaction to what we showed him, it wouldn’t be strange if he had passed that idea to the chairman.

When my thoughts reached that point, my face reddened slightly.

No, is it just because of the kiss? I thought I should be getting used to it by now.

BOOM!

But I didn’t have time to dwell on such thoughts.

In the sky, and scattered across the ground.

There were kaijin everywhere.

“…What about the teacher and the children?”

“They’re all hidden somewhere safe. At least no one has entered the orphanage building…”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

The fact that Jihye could arrive here on time. The fact that this place was somewhat equipped.

Did the former chairman somehow anticipate this?

The only people left here were me, Hayun, and Ju-a—three people.

Rose, Dalia, and Delphinium immediately went to the hospital where Pang Pang was. With those three, they would surely manage well.

“…Alright.”

I nodded.

Then I cracked my neck from side to side and flexed my finger joints, making cracking sounds.

“Let’s clear this area first.”

As I pulled a hammer out of thin air, Hayun and Ju-a also gripped their weapons.

“Huh? How do you do that?”

“…”

Hmm.

Why do I feel such déjà vu?

“…You’ll naturally figure it out.”

I answered that way for now, and swung my hammer to knock up an enemy that was charging at us.

*

Is this the main attack? To be honest, I still don’t know.

The number of kaijin was almost the same as near the ceasefire line. There were too many to say they were just sent for revenge, but still, none of the chairman’s equipment was visible.

I’m uneasy.

Was the equipment we sent toward the warp point last time not actually important? James and Cherry told me it couldn’t be easily made, and the government must be researching what they took.

Yet no aircraft-like things came here.

The communications in the area are still cut off. We still don’t know what happened to the three who headed toward the hospital.

If the chairman was determined to take me down, I’d have to say he was quite clever.

Whether this side was more important or not didn’t really matter to me.

I would have definitely tried to save both sides, which meant the magical girls would inevitably be split in half.

He delayed our arrival as much as possible and created opportunities for us to win on both sides.

So that even if we returned, we’d be exhausted. And so that all six of us couldn’t be in one place.

But the former chairman hadn’t anticipated one thing.

BOOM!

We were tired. To be honest, being a magical girl doesn’t mean you can fight all day without getting tired. We have limits, both mentally and physically.

The longer we fight, the more exhausted we become, and the more likely we are to lose.

BOOM!

But—

“Jieun, are you okay?”

“Oh, yes.”

I was a bit startled when I saw Jihye blocking an enemy’s attack, and I answered.

Jihye still didn’t have a weapon in her hand. Yet she was creating invisible walls as if freely wielding magic, completely blocking the enemies’ attacks.

There were mountains of questions I wanted to ask, but there was no time for leisurely conversation.

This time I swung my weapon. A kaijin that was charging toward Jihye was knocked away. Ju-a shot at that kaijin, and Hayun tracked and neutralized it.

The kaijin’s attention kept turning toward Jihye. I wasn’t sure if some force was at work there.

Perhaps the kaijin saw Jihye as the easiest target to attack.

“Everyone, over here!”

At Jihye’s shout, Hayun and Ju-a, who had been fighting a bit away from us, flew over.

The four of us stood back-to-back. Now the kaijin’s attention was completely focused on us. Thanks to our gradual ascent into the sky earlier, the kaijin had followed us up and away from the ground.

At least now, there was no chance of kaijin attacking the orphanage building.

“…That’s an amazing ability.”

Hayun said. She didn’t turn around, so her voice was directed straight ahead.

“Yes!”

Jihye shouted energetically.

“I feel stronger whenever I recall memories with Jieun. I wonder if that’s the source of my power?”

So she’s saying she can create a protective barrier with memories of me.

…How should I put it—that’s incredibly magical girl-like. Is that perhaps Jihye’s “weapon”?

“This time, I’ll protect you.”

Jihye’s voice was also directed forward.

But it was absolutely clear who those words were meant for.

They were for me.

This time, she says.

But I’ve never properly protected Jihye even once. I’ve only ever hurt her.

The kaijin flew toward us.

Click.

Ju-a did something, and there was a sound from the gun she was holding. She probably changed the form of her weapon, like I saw when we fought before.

The kaijin flew toward us.

They didn’t stop their bodies just because they hit something in mid-air.

Crack.

There seemed to be a limit to the durability of the protective barrier she could create at once; it couldn’t handle the energy of many kaijin simultaneously.

But when I glanced back and our eyes met, Jihye was smiling.

As if she was confident.

As if she could do it again and again.

I smiled back at her and gripped my hammer.

Then I swung it hard at a kaijin breaking through the defensive wall.

Gunshots rang out.

And the sound of blades clashing.

Through the long handle, I could vividly feel my hammer connecting with the enemy. The enemy never falls with just one hit. No matter how experienced we’ve become, the number of enemies has increased from before.

Steadily, we reduce their numbers.

There was no more pain.

Whenever something flew toward me, it was intercepted midway.

Kaijin who tried to charge using their bodies were injured by their own movements. The invisible wall continued to follow and protect us.

Is this what Jihye wanted?

A gentle power to protect someone.

Even when she herself was in such danger.

“…Hup!”

If so, I’ll just respond to those expectations.

Again and again.

This time, to ensure they never touch those I want to protect.

I fought with all my might.

*

“Hah, this is really tough.”

Thud.

When I put down the hammer—which I couldn’t have lifted without becoming a magical girl—it made a heavy sound.

The hammer that always split in half during battles now looked like nothing more than an oversized blunt weapon.

The circuit’s energy continues to flow as long as I don’t lose hope, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get mentally exhausted.

The number we’ve taken down today already exceeds the number of kaijin we fought at the top of the headquarters that day.

Moreover, these kaijin weren’t just ordinary ones; they were Earth kaijin directly operating circuits.

In other words, mass-produced magical girls.

…If their non-magical-girl-like appearance bothers you, you could call them mass-produced superhumans. I believe they’re called that in some countries.

“…Phew.”

But after resting for a few seconds, I picked up my hammer again.

I was tired, but I had to go. Isn’t that obvious? With communications down, I wouldn’t feel at ease unless I confirmed with my own eyes.

It’s not that I don’t trust the three of them. At this point, we’re beyond the stage of not trusting each other.

But they’re also people who just fought and then moved again, like us.

Above all, they have someone to protect there too—

That’s when it happened.

There was a crackling noise from the pager.

A voice-like sound broke through a few times from inside, then,

[Ah, ah, can you hear me? If you can hear me, please respond~]

Hearing Rose’s voice awkwardly imitating military radio communication—which she must have picked up somewhere—I let out a small sigh. It seems Cherry and James somehow restored communications.

Looking up, I saw a pink hamster looking down at us from the window. Judging by its wiggling, it seemed to be moving energetically, though it was hard to see clearly from a distance. It looked like it was waving.

“Are you safe over there?”

[Oh, it’s coming through, it’s coming through.]

Rose said, sounding a bit surprised.

[Yeah, we’ve handled everything. The police are currently detaining the kaijin… It seems they’re going all out on that side too. We haven’t seen any alien kaijin recently, right?]

“Were there any on your side?”

[Yeah, didn’t you see any?]

No, we didn’t. There were only Earth kaijin on this side.

All out, huh.

At least I can tell that side didn’t think this operation would succeed. Was he really trying to get revenge? Knowing he couldn’t leave?

[Anyway, Pang Pang is safe too. The hospital’s outer wall is a bit damaged, but no one was hurt. As for repairs, well, those who benefited from winning the fight will take care of it.]

That’s reassuring, since we’ve never had to pay for damages so far.

[What should we do? Should we meet up and talk? They’ve asked us to guard here for a few more hours.]

I understand why they tried to communicate first instead of coming here. They wanted to avoid making their fight meaningless by leaving their post.

“…No, there’s no need for that. First, come back. Let’s assess the situation. I have a feeling that attack wasn’t simply for the sake of attacking.”

[Got it. I’ll do that. I’ll tell the police to stay here just in case.]

“Alright. Thanks.”

[That’s what friends are for.]

When did we become friends?

Well, a month is enough time to become friends. Especially if you see each other almost every day.

I was mostly very uncooperative, but it seems that doesn’t matter when the other person is a magical girl.

After ending the communication, I turned toward Hayun and Ju-a.

The three people, including Jihye, had somewhat awkward expressions.

Hmm… this is making me feel awkward too.

Wait, come to think of it, have all three of them kissed me? I’m not sure if that makes us more than friends, though.

Everyone just overlaps their lips with my face or lips without any warning, so honestly, I don’t know what’s what anymore.

Well, okay.

Let’s pretend I didn’t notice that for now.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat, organizing my thoughts.

“If communications are back, does that mean the equipment they installed has stopped working?”

“It was probably powered by the kaijin’s energy.”

Ju-a nodded as she spoke.

…It was fortunate that I didn’t activate the despair circuit. If I had, that equipment would still be running on my energy.

I don’t know anything about the equipment. Not just because it’s alien equipment, but because I generally lack common knowledge about machines.

So I’m just guessing, but perhaps equipment that runs on despair becomes useless in the face of intense hope?

I had the only completed version of the power generator, which is an extremely powerful version of the circuit. If the company still had this, it would have been a real disaster.

There seems to be one that the Federation was building, but it’s probably stopped midway now.

Since all the magical girls who could operate it are here.

“…”

Hayun had a somewhat dubious expression.

“Is there something on your mind? If so, I’d appreciate it if you shared without hesitation.”

When I spoke, Hayun shook her head.

“Not yet, nothing comes to mind. Just a bit… We went there first to make us waste time fighting, right?”

“That’s likely.”

Considering the chairman wasn’t found.

I’ve considered the possibility of a double trap. The chairman somehow hides in the forest, and after we come here, he immediately escapes and heads to North Korea.

He could probably only take minimal equipment, but that would be enough as a bargaining chip.

That’s also why countries that haven’t allied with the Federation bring in alien companies.

So, even if the chairman goes over with just the blueprints, it’s not entirely implausible… but would the chairman have the physical ability to cross the ceasefire line alone?

He might be able to defeat individual Earth humans, but it’s a different story when facing Earth humans armed with guns.

And there are lots of landmines along the ceasefire line.

“If so, I wonder if even this is meant to draw our attention. Setting up multiple layers of traps in places we’d be interested in, stalling for time, and then going to the real destination…”

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it, don’t military bases have some kind of protocol when they’re attacked?

And if one military base is attacked, it means other bases are also at high risk, which means the national alert level has drastically increased.

It’s not just one person crossing over.

In government terms, it’s a “serious security threat” crossing over. No different from someone trying to defect to North Korea with major military equipment blueprints.

“No way.”

What if the place targeting “us” was in this direction, and the “front line” was actually touched to divert our attention?

If they could completely redirect the government’s attention and slightly alter military base deployments.

In other words, if Chairman Pungpung had the exact same plan we had and executed it, and we just fell for it—

“Everyone’s safe.”

Around that time, Rose descended, greeting us with those words.

There were bruises and scratches all over her body. Their battle must have been intense too.

“…Oh.”

And seeing Jihye in magical girl attire like us, Rose showed a slightly surprised expression. Her gaze went to Jihye’s wrist.

That circuit still hadn’t lost its light. Like the circuits we wear.

But she quickly composed herself when she realized our expressions were serious.

“What were you discussing?”

“We were wondering if this attack was also meant to divert our attention.”

Rose turned to look at Dalia and Delphinium, meeting their eyes.

“Were you thinking the same?”

“Well… it’s hard not to think that way. Who would want to fight a battle they can’t win?”

That’s right.

This attack was one that absolutely couldn’t be stopped without us, but at the same time, if they really wanted to succeed, they could have created some possibility.

If they had concentrated all those scattered kaijin in one place.

We might be stronger than individual kaijin, but we can’t be in multiple places at once. If the fighting area in one location became too wide, the casualties would have been uncontrollable.

…But doing that wouldn’t give us time to move.

And it wouldn’t make the country’s government move either. Not unless they touched something that both sides are extremely wary of.

“…Just.”

Ju-a muttered, and all our attention turned to her.

“We still haven’t properly checked the complex, have we?”

“The government is directly auditing it.”

That’s also why we had to step back a bit after learning the chairman was an enemy of Earth humans.

The government is putting considerable effort into investigating that place. They’re wondering if the chairman hid something there.

They can’t give all the credit to the magical girls, can they? They need to leave evidence that they did something too.

However, so far nothing has come out of there.

“But there are no magical girls there.”

Ju-a stated flatly.

“So—”

“Hayun!”

Cherry’s voice was heard.

“It’s an emergency!”

Cherry’s voice was the most urgent I’d heard today.

How much strength must she be exerting with that tiny body to shout loud enough for us to hear?

“The news!”

Hearing her shout through the open window, we all took out our smartphones without hesitation.

There was no need to even go to a video site.

Breaking news.

As soon as we entered the portal site, those words were emphasized in bold, and below it was a small photo.

The photo showed the research complex, already half-destroyed and emitting black smoke.