Ch.31Chapter 6. Enemies in the Same Boat (5)

As soon as I regained consciousness, what entered my vision was a mass of mana flying toward me.

A massive one, the same mass that had caused me pain so many times before.

Reaching my hand out in that direction was pure instinct.

I didn’t want to hurt anymore.

I’d already been in too much pain today. I couldn’t understand why I needed to suffer more here.

I just wanted to give up and fall asleep.

I wanted to sleep and never wake up again.

But even so, I still felt lingering attachment.

In my past life and in this one, I’ve always been indecisive.

I never set any clear goals for my life, and while I thought I wanted to be good, I never truly was.

I worked at Noir Corporation even though I knew what they were doing. The donations I made might have just been for my own comfort.

I only looked upward, envying those better than me, desperately wanting to stand where they stood, and ultimately choosing that path.

Maybe I was just telling myself this was for others and not for myself.

Was punishment deserved?

Since I did wrong, is it right that I should be punished?

The Galactic Federation and this country’s government are entities that can’t be easily touched, so if I stayed quiet, I wouldn’t be punished.

So is it right that I should be punished this way?

No, I hate this.

Despite living that way, I hated suffering. I wanted to escape criticism.

I always complained about wanting to quit, but I couldn’t bring myself to give up on life.

I didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to…

Somehow, that white sphere never reached me.

Only now did I notice something was distorting the space around me. Was it that black substance that always appeared when I pushed my circuit to its limits?

I could see outside from within, but I wasn’t sure how others were seeing me from the outside.

Magic continued to fly in. Big ones, small ones.

People were running away.

The sound of helicopters grew distant.

Ah, did they take pictures? I suppose they would, since I was floating so high up.

The surroundings that had been faintly visible gradually shrank into darkness.

The mana that I had only sensed around me slowly took on more substance.

My outstretched arm retracted.

The mana gradually compressed around my curled-up body.

Wait, why am I like this anyway?

I was definitely collapsed on the ground just a moment ago. Heavy steel wires were piled on top of me, making it impossible to get up.

Did I lose consciousness?

It didn’t matter anymore.

I was too exhausted to think or move. I was hungry. I just wanted to collapse and sleep.

As I curled up, I could still hear dangerous sounds from the circuit near my ear. The circuit was hot but didn’t hurt me.

The mana wrapped tightly around my body.

As if trying to crush me.

Like rubber tightly wrapped around copper wire, the mana wrapped so tightly around my body that I couldn’t even struggle.

Before I could understand the situation, my vision brightened.

I saw headlights pointed at me. The world appeared upside down.

The black mana that had been compressing my body slowly, slowly peeled away.

My clothes had changed.

Not the tattered patient gown that barely qualified as clothing anymore, but a flowing dress like something a magical girl would wear.

It was a dark-looking dress with black as its base color.

Haha…

How strange.

I was wearing magical girl clothes.

My laughter probably wasn’t audible to anyone. I didn’t have enough strength left to genuinely laugh.

I straightened myself in midair.

Beams of light flew toward me, but nothing reached me.

I could see below.

Hayun was there.

In pain and with blurry vision, I could barely make out her silhouette.

Hayun and Rose behind her. It looked like Hayun was shielding Rose.

No, it might have been a different posture. But I didn’t have the strength to determine that now.

People below were moving busily.

The troops that had gathered like ants were all frantically running away.

What did I do?

It was just like last time.

I hadn’t done anything, yet I was being treated as dangerous.

Did I… hurt the magical girls that badly? Those delicate hands must have injured far more combatants.

I must have been injured far more frequently.

Those people running away down there must have hit me much more often.

“…”

I suppose it doesn’t matter.

By tomorrow, I’ll be a real terrorist anyway.

I didn’t want to worry about that.

Right now, I just wanted to sleep.

The magical girls below seemed to be preparing something, but I had no intention of confronting them.

What should I do?

I want to run away.

As if responding to my thoughts, the mana moved.

I couldn’t tell exactly what happened behind me. I only knew that it sucked in me and everything around me.

Though that was probably just dust and air.

At least the world I had been seeing completely changed.

I had succeeded in escaping the location.

*

A safe place.

Yes, to rest, I need a safe place. So where would be a safe place for me right now?

The orphanage would be the first place the police would go. Hayun doesn’t know where I live, and the kids at school don’t know where I live either, but the police could easily find out.

A kaijin who resisted arrest and fled, causing multiple injuries and even confronting magical girls.

It would be stranger if there weren’t police at the orphanage.

Hayun’s house? That’s obviously not an option. Her parents work to coordinate opinions between the Galactic Federation and the government. In the worst case, I might be involved with that.

…But in this world, those two places were the only ones I considered safe.

Though with Hayun’s house, it wasn’t so much that the house was safe as that I trusted Hayun.

…

In the end, while deliberating between those two places, it seems I chose a third option.

When I opened my eyes, what I saw wasn’t the white, clean ceiling I’d seen in the hospital.

A room with some stains and traces of black mold growing in the corner.

I blinked and slightly raised my body.

“Ugh…”

It was much better than being in the hospital, but there were still many painful spots.

Still, the new wounds I’d gotten had disappeared. Did someone take me to a treatment center?

Was I collapsed on the street? If someone brought me here, treated me, and protected me…

I wonder if there’s a wanted notice out for me yet?

While thinking that far, I panicked when I realized the circuit on my left wrist was gone.

Frantically looking around, I saw the circuit neatly removed next to the blanket on the floor.

My clothes… were gone.

This was enough to make my face pale. If someone treated my body and cleaned me up, but the clothes I was wearing are gone.

Thinking this might not simply be an act of kindness, I tried to get up quickly but ended up groaning through my teeth.

I was somewhat better, but there was still pain throughout my body. Every muscle and joint was screaming. Well, it would be ridiculous to expect a full recovery after rolling around like that.

I barely raised my upper body and looked around.

It was an ambiguous room that seemed both familiar and unfamiliar. Where was the last place I thought of yesterday?

I’m sure I wanted somewhere safe.

While lost in these questions, I heard a sliding sound from the narrow room’s entrance.

It was the sound of a key entering the doorknob.

Click. With a slightly creaking sound, the door slowly opened.

Standing beyond it was—

“You’re awake?”

The Earthaboo with a slightly surprised expression.

Ah.

I see.

There are extremely few people I can rely on in this world. Of course, I couldn’t say the Earthaboo was “reliable,” but if I had to choose someone “whose address I know” and who “lives alone,” the Earthaboo was the only option.

I remembered bringing that caffeine-intoxicated, staggering person here several times.

“Don’t move too much. You were badly injured when I saw you yesterday. Though your wounds healed unusually quickly.”

The Earthaboo said that while rustling a plastic bag in their right hand as they entered the room.

It wasn’t my first time seeing this room, but I’d rarely gone inside and left. Just once, I pushed the Earthaboo, who looked like they were about to throw up as soon as they entered, into the bathroom and dragged them all the way to the toilet.

The Earthaboo apparently hasn’t reported me yet.

“Why…”

“Why are you here? That’s what I want to ask.”

The Earthaboo said incredulously, came up to me, and sat cross-legged on the blanket.

Then they took out various items from the black plastic bag.

Tangerines and drinks. Cup noodles, coffee…

“The supermarket nearby sells all sorts of things. Especially fruits, you can buy them quite cheaply by season. The lady there has relatives in the countryside, I think.”

The Earthaboo was saying such things, but I felt like drool was about to flow from my mouth.

Growl. My stomach rumbled.

“Want to eat a tangerine first? I’ll boil water for the ramen right away.”

“…Is that okay?”

“Well, you look like someone who hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. And you don’t have money, right? Do you remember what state you were in yesterday?”

I shook my head.

“There was a thud, and when I opened the door, you were collapsed in front of it, blocking the way. You were wearing a torn patient gown.”

“…”

Of course magical girl clothes are created by magic.

I didn’t properly remember because I’d never directly seen a magical girl return to her original state, but in webtoons, when the transformation is undone, they return to the state of the clothes they were originally wearing.

Well, even in a parody, becoming naked would be too much. If that happened, being a magical girl itself would be considered strange.

…So, yesterday I came to this house and collapsed when my transformation was undone.

While I was lost in thought, the Earthaboo reached for the electric kettle nearby and pulled it toward them.

They opened the lid to look inside, smelled it, then shook it to hear the sloshing sound.

Then they nodded to themselves, put it back in the pot, and pressed the button.

The button lit up, and a fairly loud bubbling sound was heard.

Noticing that I still hadn’t picked up a tangerine, the Earthaboo took one and placed it in my hand.

Only then did I start peeling the tangerine. Belatedly feeling the texture, I became a bit urgent.

When I quickly peeled it and put it in my mouth, it was delicious.

I’m not sure if the tangerine was actually delicious or if I was just so hungry that even a not-so-good tangerine tasted good, but anyway, it was delicious.

I honestly shed a few tears.

“…”

The Earthaboo was lost in their own thoughts.

They were staring at the coffee pot as if wishing the water would boil quickly.

Only after finishing one tangerine did my brain start working again.

And I realized that my presence here was an enormous imposition.

“Um…”

“Hmm?”

“Is it okay for me to be here?”

I asked cautiously.

This is the place I finally chose while looking for somewhere to escape to.

If I had gone somewhere unknown like a mountain, I might not have been discovered by anyone, but I probably would have frozen to death before waking up like this.

That means I instinctively sought a place where I could stay without being discovered by others for survival.

Not because I had goodwill toward or trusted that person, but because I chose the place with the best possibility.

It must be a burden for the Earthaboo.

“Ah, well.”

But the Earthaboo just shrugged.

“You’ve never left me abandoned on the floor either.”

No, that and this seem to have different weights.

But I couldn’t argue further with the Earthaboo who spoke with such a nonchalant expression.

Even the clothes I’m wearing now must be the Earthaboo’s.

Tap.

Just then, as if the water had finished boiling, the coffee pot’s button made that sound and returned to its original state. Steam rose from the kettle.

The Earthaboo opened the ramen packaging.

I quickly opened one too. Then I belatedly remembered I hadn’t been told I could eat yet, but the Earthaboo didn’t say anything about it.

Water was poured into the ramen, and we were silent for about 3 minutes.

A delicious smell spread throughout the room. One tangerine wasn’t enough to satisfy my hunger.

During that time, I wanted to peel and eat another tangerine, but I felt a bit self-conscious and held back.

Looking again, I was lying on an electric heating pad. It was probably the only heating device in this room. From the situation, it seemed the boiler was hardly used.

The clothes I was wearing weren’t just a T-shirt but practically outdoor clothes, and the Earthaboo hadn’t changed clothes either. They even took off their socks and threw them carelessly in the corner of the house, changing into sleeping socks. At most, they had only taken off their coat.

Sitting on the blanket was probably because it was one of the few warm places in this room.

The Earthaboo had already taken out a small table and set it up between us.

They put the ramen on it and handed me wooden chopsticks from the bag.

“…Thank you for the food.”

“Yeah.”

Despite doing all this, the Earthaboo didn’t ask any questions. It made me anxious, but I was grateful.

I quickly split the chopsticks and looked at the ramen.

It was a familiar smell, but at the same time, it smelled so delicious.

I put it in my mouth almost mindlessly, eating hurriedly.

It was almost a miracle that I didn’t spill any on my clothes.

*

“…Aren’t you suspicious?”

“About what?”

After finishing the ramen, the Earthaboo boldly entered the blanket at my feet and sat leaning against the wall. Our legs formed a T-shape as we sat up inside the electric heating pad.

Well, it’s their house, so of course they can do that. But they could have just asked me to move.

While wondering if it would be less shameless to just leave this house, the question that came out without me realizing was exactly that question.

“You must have seen the news.”

My gaze turned to the smartphone the Earthaboo was holding.

I’m not sure how interested the Earthaboo would be in Earth’s news, but it was probably headline news that couldn’t be ignored.

Even though the Federation, government, and corporations usually control information, it’s meaningless to hide something when so many people have already seen it.

Videos would have been uploaded to the internet before that.

In that case, it would be more advantageous to take the initiative and spread unfavorable information about me.

“Ah, that.”

The Earthaboo laughed as if it was ridiculous.

“That you committed terrorism?”

“…Yes.”

“I was there too.”

The Earthaboo said with a shrug.

“You saved me after that explosion, right?”

“Ah…”

That’s right.

“Before that, we were just chatting, and before that, you were on a field trip with the school kids.”

“…”

Indeed, the Earthaboo knew my alibi for that day.

But I didn’t feel a ray of hope because of that. Evidence can be fabricated if someone wants to.

Gyeonggi-do is at most two hours from Seoul. Especially the road to that complex is so well-maintained that commuting from Seoul is possible. It would be hard work, but doable.

If they say I took time to prepare the terrorism, it’s not impossible…

Well, seeing that the Earthaboo knows about it, such news has already been released. Regardless of conspiracy theories, official government announcements and articles from major news outlets carry different credibility.

“…Well, just stay comfortable for a while. As long as you don’t go outside, no one will know, right?”

The Earthaboo said that after seeing my expression.

I rubbed my face.

“…Thank you.”

I had nothing else to say.

The Earthaboo opened their mouth to say something to me.

Thud. Thud.

But before that, such sounds came from the entrance.

I quickly got up. As soon as I put the circuit on my left wrist, I heard the sound of it activating.

But it was difficult to properly gather strength. Even with energy surrounding my body, my legs were still trembling.

The Earthaboo also approached the door with a tense expression.

Then they looked outside through the small lens on the door.

“…Huh!?”

But as soon as the Earthaboo saw beyond the door, they exclaimed and flung the door wide open.

I almost screamed when I saw what was beyond the door.

Standing there was a person with half their head blown off.

The upper part of the right eye was missing. Red blood was flowing from the head.

What was there—

“…James?”

As I muttered, James collapsed forward.

The Earthaboo hurriedly closed the door.

I staggered toward where James was.

Lying dead on the floor, spraying red liquid— dead?

What was coming from the head was definitely a red liquid, but it strangely smelled like oil.

And that head, as I approached, opened with a small popping sound.

As if the broken upper part was a lid.

And what crawled out from inside was— an animal that looked just like a hamster.

“A Squeakean!?”

“…Squeak?”

“Ah, I’m talking about this person.”

For a “person,” it had an incredibly animal-like appearance, but then again, among those “star people,” there were some who just looked like rocks.

“They can only make squeaking sounds, so their language only sounds like squeaking to us.”

The Earthaboo said that while carefully picking up the unconscious hamster.

“But to think Mr. James is a Squeakean… Well, I guess that’s how he could make circuits.”

“Squeak…”

Well, it did look like a hamster.

…

Ah, I see now.

Looking again, I understand.

A hamster with big ears and a fluffy tail.

It looks exactly like the mascot I saw in the webtoon.

Though the color was completely different.