Ch.27Chapter 6. Enemies in the Same Boat (1)

I opened my eyes to find myself in an unfamiliar place.

A hospital?

No, there was no need to question it—this was definitely a hospital. And an expensive-looking private room at that.

The clean, white private room looked like the kind of place that would cost quite a bit of money.

I tried to sit up in shock but ended up crying out in pain.

My body hurt all over.

At the treatment center I usually go to, even broken bones heal within hours. Actually, that “hours” standard only applies to extremely serious injuries—injuries like a couple of broken ribs typically heal in less than an hour.

Are there still parts of me that haven’t healed? Did I come straight to the hospital instead of going to the treatment center?

“Jieun!”

Before I could fully assess my body’s condition, I heard someone calling my name.

It was a familiar voice.

“Jihye…”

“Yes, I’m right here!”

Jihye said that while grabbing my hand. I had to grit my teeth to suppress the pain.

“Oh, sorry.”

Seeing my face change, Jihye quickly let go of my hand, apparently realizing how much pain I was in. That made it a little better.

“What… happened?”

“There was an accident during your field trip. Noir Corporation and magical girls fight often, right? The magical girls must have had business there. While they were fighting… there was an unexplained explosion.”

“…Really?”

Was there no mention of me? I wasn’t with the students at that time—I was wearing my combat suit and fighting with the magical girls.

And then, with that black substance on my body, I was fighting like some kind of kaijin, and then my identity was revealed…

I stopped that train of thought.

“You got caught up in it.”

“The cause of the explosion is still unknown?”

“Yes. It’s been all over the news for almost a week. People from the Galactic Federation and Noir have been appearing as panelists and arguing fiercely.”

“What about the magical girls?”

Hayun.

When I thought of Hayun’s face, I felt the blood drain from my head.

That day, Hayun saw my face.

It seems Jihye still doesn’t know I’m a combatant. If she knew, she would have mentioned it first.

…And combatants don’t exactly have a good image either.

“Officially, they haven’t said anything yet. So far, only spokespersons from the Galactic Federation have appeared. They’re supposed to be high-ranking officials, but I don’t know their names. They’re not even Earth people to begin with.”

“I see.”

I exhaled.

“How long… have I been like this?”

The pain all over my body might be because of that. Being hospitalized in a room like this, they might have changed my position to prevent bedsores, but still, my body ached as if it had stiffened and was being forced to move.

“A week.”

“…A week.”

I laid my head back down on the bed after lifting it to look at Jihye.

“It’s okay. The school probably won’t say anything. They talked about it too.”

“On the news?”

“Yes. Since you’re the only student who got hurt…”

It seems that due to issues with teacher supervision or the company’s crisis management, they’ve decided not to question me about anything.

“…”

To be honest, even after hearing all that, I had no idea how things were unfolding.

“And… Hayun came too.”

“Hayun did?”

I quickly raised my head again, then winced.

“Yes. She always comes before me and sits here for a while before leaving. You’re… friends with her, right? She’s probably really worried about you too.”

“Did anyone else come?”

“Yes. Other magical girls, and someone from the company. A foreign man in a suit.”

That must be James.

After hearing Hayun’s name, my mind actually became clearer.

I’m not sure exactly why Hayun came to see me. She probably has questions. While I’m sure she came partly to check on me, there’s a lot I need to explain to her.

Will Hayun understand?

Despite knowing her for so long, I can’t imagine how she’ll react. Maybe that’s why I’m calmer now. Worrying won’t change anything.

Of course, my thoughts might completely change when I see her in person.

“Um… Jieun.”

“Yes?”

Jihye called my name cautiously, so I turned my attention back to her.

Jihye looked like she was thinking about something.

“Back then…”

But before Jihye could continue her thought.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door.

“Oh, yes, come in.”

Jihye turned toward the door and spoke instead of continuing what she was saying.

The door opened.

The person who entered was that “foreign man in a suit.”

James.

“You’re awake?”

James said without showing any surprise when our eyes met.

I instinctively looked around the room. Was there a CCTV camera or something? But I couldn’t see anything. Well, having such things in a hospital room would raise patient privacy issues.

“I’m sorry, but could I have a moment to speak with Ms. Jeong Jieun? I have something important to discuss.”

“What? Oh, yes.”

Jihye stood up, looking a bit bewildered.

“I’ll wait outside.”

Jihye said that while looking at me. When I nodded, she went outside, carefully closing the door behind her.

James sat in the chair where Jihye had been sitting.

He crossed his legs and placed his interlocked hands on his knee. After staring at me silently for a few seconds, he spoke.

“Is your mind and memory intact?”

“…They’re fine.”

“And you remember everything that happened that day?”

“…”

“Well, it’s fine if you don’t remember everything. What matters is that you remember some of it.”

James rolled his eyes around as if organizing his thoughts.

“I’ve been coming here every day for the past week. At exactly this time. I didn’t want to run into the magical girls. It’s somewhat ironic. We’re the ones paying for this hospital bill. Unfortunately, it seems we can’t decide who enters this room. Anyone approved by your… guardian can come in.”

“The orphanage teacher?”

“Well, yes.”

James nodded.

“If they had come as magical girls, it would have caused a commotion, but when they come here, they’re just students. The magical girl position works quite well in this case. It allowed your friend and her friends to all come in.”

“You’re here too.”

“We’re also paying the hospital bills, and above all, that situation is connected to our company. We… have a responsibility for the damage you suffered. I’m here as a representative of that.”

So, at least publicly, he’s not here as my “boss and subordinate.” That was somewhat fortunate.

“From what I understand, it seems your identity was revealed to a magical girl.”

James asked. His tone wasn’t particularly cautious.

“…”

“Well, that’s fine. That fact isn’t so critical. Being a combatant doesn’t mean you’re a spy.”

It’s important to me.

“What’s really important is the data that was in your helmet. The footage there… was surprising. It could be the key to opening a new era of technology.”

“So?”

I responded sharply without realizing it.

“Are you saying I’ve become an important asset to the company?”

“I think so.”

“Are you saying others don’t?”

“That’s right.”

James sighed deeply. It seemed like a genuine sigh. Whether his appearance was real or fabricated, James looked genuinely tired and annoyed.

“First, I want you to know that the explosion wasn’t my intention.”

“If not you, then who?”

“Either another executive from the group opposing me, or a third party. What’s certain is that the company hasn’t figured it out yet.”

“You weren’t trying to blame it on the magical girls?”

“That might have been the intention. It’s possible, but it wasn’t me. There were real researchers there.”

I couldn’t continue for a moment.

“Then—”

“Yes, they died. Several employees who were there as supervisors also died.”

I closed my mouth.

“The higher-ups in the company seem to be planning to blame it on me. And if so, pinning all the blame on you would be most effective.”

“What?”

When I asked with a blank expression, James explained slowly.

“You’ve been a combatant for the past three years. But being a combatant isn’t a career that recognizes experience. I’m sorry to put it this way, but it’s essentially simple labor, no different from a part-time job.”

I couldn’t find any words to refute that.

It’s true. The position of combatant doesn’t require any special skills. The battles aren’t even regular, and you just put on the circuit and go out without any particular training.

There might be industries that recognize it as experience, but that experience wouldn’t give the impression of a “professional.”

“But I took notice of you and spared no support. I gave you a prototype equipment that no one else had used yet, and even upgraded it.”

“So, are you saying I’m the cause?”

“I don’t think you’re the cause, but let’s just say that, quite unusually, the Galactic Federation and the company are in agreement. They’re competing to expand their influence on this planet, but neither wants to be completely driven out.”

“…”

“The Galactic Federation wants to hide the fact that they lost a researcher who was under them. The magical girls want to maintain the impression that they’re invincible. Unlike combatants, magical girl talents are as hard to find as you are.”

James calmly explained to me, who was looking completely unconvinced.

“The company doesn’t want to admit that explosives were brought in due to their lack of management. Yes, that’s right. This is also my oversight. So please don’t make that face. The story isn’t over yet.”

James raised both hands as if to calm me down after seeing my expression.

“It’s a flimsy story. Everyone knows it. I think so too. But outside, how would people who know nothing about this think?”

I gritted my teeth.

Yes. It’s entirely possible to completely frame someone for something that never happened. It’s possible to turn the first person who discovers and reports a bomb threat into a terror suspect.

But why does it have to be me?

“How do they plan to fabricate this? I never even touched a bomb.”

“They won’t focus on the bomb. They’ll use the data from your helmet. They’ll say you went berserk and caused a major accident. The energy at that time was too significant to ignore.”

“…”

“It’s stupid.”

James muttered as if indignant.

“No matter how smart individuals are, when those smart beings come together to form a group, they often do terribly stupid things. This is similar. The company is satisfied with the current ‘circuit.’ They can extract enough energy from individuals with no talent, so they question the need for an unstable output that breaks the circuit every time.”

“So, me…”

“They are incredibly stupid, disgustingly stupid beings. Don’t you think?”

James’s anger isn’t really because of me.

It’s probably mostly because the project he was working on has been completely ruined, and above all, his own position has become precarious.

“But, my ability…”

“It’s an excellent ability. One that no one else has been able to replicate so far. I’ve even thought that it’s not just a matter of effort, but that some aptitude within you matched perfectly. Like the magical girls.”

James sighed deeply, as if genuinely regretful.

“I mentioned a third party, but honestly, I think it’s more likely someone within the company. There must be someone who… extremely despises me. Perhaps they became anxious after seeing the talent I discovered.”

“If there is such a person, shouldn’t they be caught?”

I was furious.

“Why should I…!”

“As I said before, it’s because when smart beings come together, they often form stupid groups.”

James looked straight at me as he spoke.

“When the fight at the top leans to one side, it naturally affects those below.”

“…”

“Let me tell you one thing. Almost simultaneously with your accident, the chairman of Noir Corporation became unreachable.”

“Was that person on your side?”

“Yes. Someone who was trying to make good use of new discoveries.”

Though the main goal was probably the domestication of humans.

“Our company is not a public corporation. It’s a private company completely controlled by its owner. That means—”

—when the chairman disappears, those below can take everything.

Of course, in most cases, that’s a stupid move. A suspicious representative loses the trust of those below them. Especially when the incident is as conspicuous as this one.

“Persuasion and bribes.”

James said.

“They’re preparing to form and control factions.”

“What about the government? People died. Surely if they investigate properly—”

“I’m saying they’ve already predetermined the outcome. Of course, the company must have handed over something. It’s likely a crucial part of space navigation technology. Isn’t that the kind of technology that even governments would covet? I know that people actually risk their lives to infiltrate other countries and steal technology.”

I stared at James with my mouth open in shock.

“Of course, it’s a huge loss for our company.”

As James has said several times, stupid humans don’t care what happens to the rest as long as they benefit.

…Just as I’ve been doing until now.

“But, that, you…”

“It’s irritating.”

James said.

“I find this situation extremely irritating. Enough that I want to somehow thwart the other side.”

James searched his pocket and placed an object on my bed.

It was a small watch that looked like a smartwatch.

“It’s a circuit. One of the things we were researching.”

James looked at me with blazing eyes as he spoke.

“W-what am I supposed to do with this?”

“Run away.”

James said.

“Take this circuit and run. You must not be captured.”

“Where on earth…”

“Anywhere but Seoul. And escape to another galaxy-affiliated company unrelated to ours. Take the warp gate and escape from Earth.”

“…”

“Perhaps the situation will be resolved in the meantime? Then you can come back and resolve the rest.”

“B-but what about Jihye, the people at the orphanage…”

“They’ll be fine.”

James snorted as if finding my concern ridiculous. Was he finding it absurd that I was worried about such things?

“Haven’t they already received an enormous amount of donations?”

“…”

“They’ll be able to use it for years. And it’s not like they don’t receive government support. Oh, yes, all those threats I made to you have become useless. Because there’s nothing I can do right now.”

James spat out the words. He really looked upset.

“What will you do? If you stay here and get caught, I don’t have much to say. I’m just suggesting one option.”

“…”

I thought for a moment.

My heart kept racing. Could James’s words be true? Is he trying to deceive me?

“…I can’t trust you.”

“Then don’t.”

James shrugged and said.

“I didn’t say it hoping you’d believe me. I’m just extremely frustrated and angry about the current situation.”

James stood up and headed for the door.

“I’ll call your friend from outside. Think about it carefully.”

And James went outside without hesitation.

As I was blankly staring at the closed door, it opened carefully again and Jihye came in.

“Jieun?”

Jihye asked cautiously after seeing my expression.

“What’s wrong? Did you hear something bad?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

And I hid the watch under the blanket.

“No, nothing happened. I’m fine.”

Even though I said that, Jihye didn’t look very reassured.

Probably because my face didn’t look reassured at all.

But I had no idea how to manage my expression.

I lay back down on the bed and looked at the ceiling.

Now, what should I do?

Of course, no clear answer came to mind.

*

“Back then…”

Were you wearing combatant gear?

That’s what Jihye was going to ask.

Actually, she had overheard bits of conversations when the magical girls visited.

That Jieun was working for Noir Corporation.

And that the “work” was being a combatant.

After hearing that, some of Jieun’s behavior made a bit more sense.

Jieun would come in late at night looking exhausted.

Each time, Jihye would tease her. She had thought it must be a boyfriend.

If that was the case, was Jieun also at the scene of the incident?

She couldn’t properly talk about it because of the visitor who came after.

Maybe that was for the best? Being at such a scene meant witnessing something terrible.

Besides, Jieun… the person who attacked Jieun was none other than…

Looking at Jieun staring blankly at the ceiling, Jihye wondered.

Why Jieun had been doing such work.

Was it for money?

“…”

Her chest felt tight. She had no idea what situation the girl she’d been living with all this time had been in.

But still, not knowing what to say.

The two of them couldn’t exchange any words for a long time.