Ch.192IF Side Story: Galactic Love (17)

And, even I had to admit that the Chairman had done something quite insane.

I’m not just talking about kidnapping the former Chairman’s successor. That was already a done deed.

The Chairman apparently thinks it’s no big deal to turn this entire country into an enemy.

Perhaps he even believes he can conquer Earth, randomly modify humans, and sell them off.

“A truck?”

It seems the Chairman had kept one last card up his sleeve until the very end.

Well, that makes sense. Even if you kidnap the Chairman’s successor, you need some means to fight in order to escape.

However, there’s one problem.

We don’t know whether Pang Pang is actually in that truck or not.

They said it’s currently charging toward the Warp Point. It seems they’re having some trouble stopping the truck that suddenly started rushing forward, probably heavily reinforced with circuits.

“…Let’s go.”

I said that and immediately stood up.

“Wait.”

Cherry said.

“James fixed it up, but your circuit is still incomplete. If you fight like before, it will definitely break.”

“But I can’t just sit here and watch.”

“…Like last time, this could be a diversion too. If your circuit breaks this time…”

We would lose one means of rapid transportation.

I know how important that is. If we knew where the enemy was, it might not be a big issue. We could just go there and smash their heads in.

But now it’s different. If my circuit breaks and this turns out to be a diversion…

“Are you saying we should split up?”

When I asked, Cherry nodded.

“And I stay here?”

“…Yes. Sorry.”

That made me feel like all the strength was draining from my body.

Even Jihye was wearing a circuit on her wrist. She couldn’t fully transform like the other magical girls yet, but she could still help protect something.

“…Alright.”

In the end, that was all I could say.

The kids glanced at me nervously, but I forced myself to smile to avoid making them feel guilty.

I’m glad I’m not wearing the circuit right now.

*

And, frustratingly enough.

Cherry was right.

The Chairman was pulling the same crap again.

Whether he was using Pang Pang as bait to escape, or had already extracted all the information from her—the Chairman seemed to be trying to occupy an abandoned spaceship.

Leading new kaijin out to a spaceship with completely broken engines.

…Is he an idiot?

No, more than anything—

Now I could clearly see what that attempt meant.

I am emotional.

I was someone who put negative emotions ahead of positive ones. So I ended up ruining everything, and after repeating that several times, I became the fool who was driven to this point.

But—this time is different.

Without caring about where the Chairman was, I asked:

“Are you sure Pang Pang is there?”

[I confirmed it myself!]

Hayun’s voice came through the communicator. Judging by the tremendous wind noise, she seemed to be racing at full speed.

I said just one thing.

“I’ll head there.”

Revenge.

Yes. That was my first objective. To somehow chase after the Chairman and smash his head. Or if not that far, at least break his arms or legs, making him deeply regret putting me in that situation.

…

If I hadn’t received that help from Pang Pang, what would I be thinking now?

With my bad personality, I would probably have flown straight toward the Chairman.

For revenge. Solely for revenge. Since the magical girls would take care of everything else—

“…Everyone.”

I spoke toward the communicator.

“I want to save Pang Pang. I think we need to rescue Pang Pang first.”

That’s right.

Even if it’s a diversion, it doesn’t matter.

Such assumptions were completely irrelevant from the start.

The reason I’m alive here now is because that kid Pang Pang hid me in her home when we first met.

…Even if Pang Pang had said those things, and even knowing they were all true. I shouldn’t have gotten angry at her like that.

If I had just thought about it calmly, I would have known that such facts didn’t matter at all.

I looked at Jihye who had remained with me.

When our eyes met, Jihye smiled and nodded.

As if that was what I needed to do.

I nodded back at her.

[…Alright, Jieun.]

Hayun answered. In that brief interval, she must have communicated with the magical girls.

[I think that’s the right thing to do too.]

I couldn’t care less about the head of that cornered bastard.

At most, I’d like to find some time to go and hit him on the head once.

…

No, that’s not right. My anger was still there.

It’s just that Pang Pang’s safety was more important right now.

*

Before my circuit completely broke down, I barely managed to tear off the top of the truck and get inside.

Since Hayun hadn’t fully entered the truck either, only after getting in could I see what condition Pang Pang was in.

“…Pang Pang!”

I shouted while knocking on the glass tube where Pang Pang was lying.

My vision was blurry. From crying too much.

…The Chairman really was causing trouble until the very end. I see. There was some calculation behind the diversion.

“Jieun…!”

Having a small hope taken away again isn’t a very pleasant thing.

Psshk.

A dangerous sound came from the circuit on my left wrist. Hayun panicked when she saw black smoke rising from it.

“Jieun?!”

But I couldn’t hear what she said after that.

They say that when people are under extreme stress, they can’t hear sounds well. With a ringing in my ears, I couldn’t even hear the roaring of the truck as it sped along.

I had no idea what to do.

I ran away from my friend and left her in an abandoned house just because my feelings were hurt, and as a result, another friend fell into this danger.

I don’t want to give up.

Absolutely, I don’t want to give up. Because if I give up, that’s really the end. Pang Pang would probably never open her eyes again.

But even so.

Having only myself to blame is truly devastating.

I heard sounds of surprise.

Even then, Hayun absolutely refused to run away—

The hammer I always carried started vibrating, and cracks appeared on its surface.

Then, as if gravity had disappeared just for that part, it floated up into the air like a superconducting material.

I could see the core spinning inside.

It looked like only the most important part of the generator was left spinning.

The vehicle stopped.

No, it was floating. Hayun staggered and let out a small scream.

From outside the torn part of the truck, I could hear voices calling to us inside.

I blankly stared at the exposed generator.

Could this be what James, the former Chairman, had been hoping for?

No.

I didn’t think this was a successful execution of that plan. If it could have succeeded, it would have done so long ago.

I just—

I felt like I somewhat understood what that black orb that gathered light was trying to say.

“Jieun!!”

Hayun shouted in panic.

I was reaching out my right hand toward the generator.

Psshk. Psshk. Bang.

The circuit completely exploded, and my left wrist was flung randomly against the tube. It wasn’t severed, but it flopped around as if something was broken.

I didn’t particularly feel any pain.

I just kept reaching out with my right hand.

Toward that exposed generator—

—I remembered what James had said. That magic isn’t actually something very systematic. Rather, someone who doesn’t know the principles might be able to do anything with that magic. Without being bound by common sense.

Perhaps it’s like the mind of a child throwing a tantrum.

The reason Earthlings can move circuits without knowing how to use magic might be because they don’t know anything.

Perhaps it’s precisely because they don’t know the most important “magic” that, most ironically, they can handle magic to such an extent.

…

No, none of that matters.

What matters now is whether that thing in front of me can grant my wish.

The entropy of the universe.

The thoughts of the high-ranking people in this country.

Who cares about the Galactic Federation.

Right now, I had only one wish.

For Pang Pang to open her eyes.

To open her eyes safely, without any problems with her body, and to look at me and smile—

I heard someone shouting.

It might have been James. He was the one who best knew that I was about to waste the possibility right in front of me in such a futile way.

…

Well, I never cared about such plans anyway.

My right hand touched the generator.

My vision turned black.