Ch.38Chapter 7. Enemies in the Same Boat (7)

The antenna appeared to be about as tall as a 10-story building, but that didn’t mean it was without weaknesses.

First, it wasn’t particularly heavy for its size. Of course, it would be absolutely impossible for one person to lift and move it, but it had been assembled inside using parts brought from outside. Moreover, since it was a structure located in the middle of a roughly 50-story building, there were weight restrictions.

It seemed they had planned to protect the antenna by making the building that concealed it sturdy.

So, the exterior of the antenna was in a form that I could cut through with my blade.

The antenna was shaped like a horseshoe. Or you could say it resembled a U-shaped magnet or a tuning fork. Actually, a narrow shape that was elongated toward the top would be more accurate.

The reason I had thought it was one long skewer-like shape was because, from the entrance to this floor, the two pointed parts overlapped perfectly, making it look like a single piece.

James said the antenna had two main weaknesses.

One was the connection point between the building and the device. The other was the part crucial for the device to function properly.

Finding the “connection point” wasn’t particularly difficult. Since it was a machine, there was always the possibility of malfunction, and naturally, there had to be a part that could be opened for maintenance.

And that “openable part” wasn’t as thick as the walls of the entire building.

Since my goal was to destroy it anyway, I didn’t swing my blade too carefully.

I plunged my blade into the floor, specifically into what seemed to be the locking mechanism of the maintenance area, and sparks flew. Even though I knew they couldn’t hurt me, I still flinched a little.

By the way, James was clinging to my back. He must have known those sparks would fly.

Was he not going to tell me?

Once again contemplating what mouse meat might taste like, I ripped off the maintenance cover. I pulled it off so forcefully that the hinges connecting the metal plate to the floor shattered and flew backward.

Inside, thick and thin wire-like things were quite neatly organized. The colors were primary, making it clear which parts connected to where.

“Let’s cut them up as messily as possible. Can you melt the copper or rubber with that?”

Following his words, I swung my two blades wildly. Sparks flew again, but this time I wasn’t scared. I had just confirmed that I wouldn’t get hurt.

The wires were cut haphazardly, and as James had said, some of them melted together. In the process, there might have been a short circuit as sparks spontaneously erupted.

The power went off on several computers that were arranged in a circle with the antenna at the center. Some of them looked like server computers.

“While we’re at it, it would be good to cut all the wires to the server computers too. That will increase the confusion for the forces coming here.”

The building walls are thick. Naturally, it’s an environment where wireless internet can’t be used under normal circumstances.

That’s not unique to this building. Even in high-rise apartments or villas, communication and internet often don’t work well inside newly constructed buildings. It’s difficult to use a mobile phone normally inside until separate receivers are installed in the building.

And, even without James telling me, I knew something from my time as a combatant.

The company’s services all use the company’s intranet server. It’s a security measure.

Of course, the server in front of me wouldn’t be the one controlling everything—

“It’s also for connecting communications between the outside and the building exterior. With that one antenna, it can do all of that.”

So, if the server computers, wires, and LAN cables are all cut, this place will be out of communication range.

Satellite or whatever, you need radio waves to use it.

I grabbed the server computer rack and pulled it.

With a loud noise, the rack toppled forward, and the computers inside spilled out.

Then I grabbed all the neatly plugged-in wires at the back and yanked them out all at once. Some of the LAN cable heads broke off due to their locking mechanisms, but I didn’t care much.

“…”

“What?”

“No, you’re doing well.”

James had gone quiet for some reason, so I asked, and he calmly replied.

I shrugged, then proceeded to destroy the other computers one by one. I stabbed my blade into them and slashed diagonally, kicked them, punched them, picked up things from the table and threw them.

I felt pretty good after picking up a laptop, bending it backward, and smashing it on the desk several times to knock off the keycaps.

“…Seems like you had a lot pent up.”

“No need to put it into words.”

When I responded while catching my breath, James was silent for a moment.

BANG!

After I had sufficiently wrecked the lower part of the antenna, the door I had blocked exploded right on cue.

“Ah.”

“No need to worry too much. As you just saw, the combatants have live ammunition. Would any idiot shoot at something that’s already this damaged?”

That’s true.

“Besides, we have business up above anyway. Can you climb up?”

Honestly, I still don’t know how to float in the air. I did float earlier before transforming, but it wasn’t really my will.

However, that didn’t mean there was no way.

I took a few steps back,

“Hold on tight.”

After saying that, I sprang forward vigorously.

And with all my might, I kicked off the ground and jumped up.

THWACK!

I struck my blade into the antenna and hung from it.

After striking one blade, I used my leg strength to pull my knees up, and then placed my feet against the antenna.

At a glance, it would look like I was crouching on the antenna with my feet against it.

“…”

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

When I asked James, who had gone quiet again, he replied as if he found something ridiculous.

What’s with him?

If something’s bothering you, just say it.

BANG!

“Are you crazy?!”

Someone shot at me from below. Fortunately, the bullet missed me, but what seemed to be the squad leader grabbed that combatant’s gun and shouted.

“If you damage the antenna, will you take responsibility?!”

How thin is this metal plate?

Well, it wasn’t designed for military use, and since it was being so thoroughly defended, it didn’t need to be physically super sturdy.

Plus, I had started from the middle floor. The fact that the magical girls still hadn’t made it down here shows what a big advantage that was.

“Here I go.”

I said that, then pulled out my blade.

And I ran forward.

“Hup!”

This is something an ordinary person couldn’t even imagine—running up a vertical structure.

But my magically enhanced body made it possible.

I didn’t make it all the way up in one go.

Slip.

I had climbed up a fair amount, but in the end, my feet couldn’t defy gravity and slipped.

I stabbed my blade into the antenna again and hung on.

CLANG!

Something flew toward me and hit the antenna. Unlike the bullet from earlier, it didn’t pierce through, but if it had hit where my blade was embedded, the blade would have been pulled out, and I would have fallen.

CLANG!

THUD!

The combatants below seemed to think this was a good idea and started grabbing objects from below and throwing them at me.

Both sides are moving quite seriously, but honestly, it’s a bit absurd.

Well, I guess they’re doing this because they have no way to get up here—

And as I was thinking somewhat leisurely, I almost fell straight down.

SPLASH!

I was completely soaked from head to toe.

As I tried to look down, the strong water pressure forced my face upward.

I don’t know whose idea it was, but they had brought out a fire hose from below and were shooting water up at me.

James made squeaking noises and fell, so I quickly reached out and grabbed him.

“SQUEAK!”

He let out that sound, probably because I grabbed him too tightly. Like a hamster, his body was soft and warm. Though not exactly fluffy since he was wet.

“What the squeak?!”

He tried to say something, but the water coming from below hit him, and maybe the translator was shaken, because his words turned into squeaking sounds midway.

This isn’t working.

I created a blade in my left hand, which was holding James.

“Squeak! Squeak!”

James made terrified sounds seeing that, but I didn’t care. No, I did care a little. I didn’t want to squeeze him too hard and burst him.

THWACK!

And like rock climbing, I struck upward and pulled my body up.

The higher I climbed, the more difficult it seemed for those below to shoot water up.

Despite having no tangible form, the blade was firmly attached to my arm. Magic is strangely adaptable to the user’s situation.

Sometimes it can cut through thick iron effortlessly, but if it did that here, I wouldn’t be able to hang like this.

Or perhaps this antenna was also made using some magical method, like how the circuit-powered combatant suits block some impacts.

With these thoughts, I climbed higher and higher.

Now almost nothing was flying toward me.

Anyone who shot at me and damaged the antenna could be held responsible.

This is why black companies are inefficient. If they don’t properly protect people doing their jobs, no one will risk their lives for work.

Even these people, who are paid relatively well, are acting this way.

Do they think they can catch me when I try to escape?

“…Phew.”

I finally managed to climb up to where the antenna split.

My whole body was wet, and I could feel my body temperature dropping. It wasn’t dangerous yet, but—

“James?”

I carefully called out to James, who had been silent since I grabbed him.

James was limp with his eyes open.

…

Is he dead?

Surely I didn’t squeeze him too hard—

“Cough.”

But contrary to my worry, James spat out water from his mouth and took a deep breath.

“I almost died!”

And as soon as he opened his eyes, he snapped at me.

“So, what do we do next?”

Ignoring his words just as he sometimes ignored mine, I asked, and James gritted his teeth.

“…It’s in the middle here. Don’t worry about electromagnetic waves or anything. We’ve cut enough down below.”

I glanced down briefly, but when I heard gunshots, I quickly pulled my head back. So, it’s okay to shoot if I stick my head out, is that it?

The combatants gathered below started to spread out in all directions. Since this antenna was about 10 stories high, maybe they were looking for places where they could face me at the same height.

I moved quickly.

As James had said, there was something like a round hatch exactly in the “middle” of the tuning fork-shaped antenna.

“Should I break this?”

“…No, let’s not do that.”

“What?”

What are you saying now?

As I stared at James, his face was contorted.

How contorted can a hamster’s face get? It looked like a small dog showing its teeth and gums. No, it looked even more pathetic. After all, he’s just a hamster. He could bite and draw blood, but he couldn’t tear my throat out.

And, above all, that expression wasn’t showing hostility toward me.

That teeth-baring expression was similar to when he was shouting at me to transform earlier, but it was fundamentally different in some way.

The corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

“Let’s take what’s inside with us. I think you can do it easily.”

As he said that and looked up at me, James’s face—

It looked like he was “smiling.”

*

BANG!

Just because the magical girls weren’t receiving Hayun’s energy didn’t mean they were losing to the combatants.

They had enough strength to break down doors. Of course, they couldn’t punch holes in walls.

In fact, they had already tried. But the walls here weren’t just partition walls divided by plaster, let alone ordinary reinforced concrete.

There were incredibly thick iron bars inside. To cut through all of that would require more magical power.

It might have been possible under normal circumstances, but—

“…”

No one blamed Blossom.

They weren’t exactly a team that got along well normally, but all members were on friendly terms with Blossom.

That’s why Blossom felt even more guilty.

THUD!

The reason Blossom’s attacks were weak wasn’t just because the circuit wasn’t fully activated.

She couldn’t hit as she normally would.

Because every time she hit, the sensation reminded her of Jieun’s face.

It’s not like she had never seen behind the helmets. Every time they captured someone, they made sure to provide proper treatment before releasing them, so she thought it was okay.

But Jieun—

She had to avoid being discovered.

She couldn’t let Hayun know while working for the orphanage. To alleviate Hayun’s guilt even a little, she must have escaped many times.

With her aching body.

“Argh!?”

Hayun grabbed a combatant’s arm, twisted it backward, and infused magical power into the circuit.

Since they used different energy, it was impossible to completely destroy it. But at least it was possible to physically disconnect the part where the suit connected to the circuit.

If only they had done this from the beginning.

If only they hadn’t thought of the opponents as just enemies.

Then Hayun wouldn’t have beaten Jieun to death like that.

Moreover, Jieun had no choice. According to the public records, she had been a combatant for three years already. Since Hayun had only been a magical girl for two years, it was probably Jieun who was surprised while working.

So, she ran with all her might.

She neutralized the combatants one by one as they poured in. Cutting off their guns, damaging their equipment as much as possible. Some still got up and tried to grapple with her, but without the power of the circuit, they were just ordinary people. No matter how well-trained their bodies were, they couldn’t resist the power of a magical girl.

After finding her way through the maze-like paths, she finally broke down the last door.

“What is this…?”

A space so vast it was bewildering appeared.

The first thing she saw was the tip of something pointed like a spear tip.

There were two of them side by side.

Below was chaotic.

Move! Faster! It’s urgent!

Such shouts could be heard.

And there was someone aiming a gun downward from a spot overlooking the vast space.

Hayun instinctively judged who that gun was aimed at.

“Blossom!”

Why did she rush forward?

Even if they shot Jieun with a gun, Jieun wouldn’t die or get hurt.

…Ah, that’s right.

I see.

She wouldn’t die. She wouldn’t get hurt. Even if she could get hurt, it certainly wouldn’t be life-threatening.

But.

It would hurt. A lot.

The reason she was certain Jieun was down there was simply because Jieun had appeared here, and she had disappeared by creating a black hole.

Something was clearly happening inside. That’s why the combatants fighting on the roof suddenly turned and went inside.

This must be a very important place, and they came to stop Jieun because she came here.

A device that could track magical girls. The goal was to reverse-engineer and take the most important part of that device.

But at the same time, Hayun was moving instinctively.

She had seen Jieun’s body being hit by numerous bullets. At first, Jieun had endured, but when hit by live ammunition, she staggered and screamed.

She grabbed the shoulder of the person aiming the gun.

The face of the person who turned to look at her was hidden by a helmet, but their actions showed they were surprised.

The gun barrels of the people around turned toward her.

But no one dared to shoot recklessly. While they might not be sure about magical girls, they couldn’t be certain whether a combatant could completely block bullets.

Even so, they couldn’t give up the means to protect themselves.

The combatant gripped the gun tightly with both hands.

“Give it to me…!”

Hayun pulled at the gun.

She didn’t understand why she was doing this. Taking one person’s gun wouldn’t solve everything.

Perhaps she wanted to prove something.

That she had beaten Jieun like that only because she didn’t know it was Jieun.

That she had no intention of attacking Jieun now.

Even in this situation.

Even when she didn’t fully understand why Jieun was here.

The magical girls came running, calling for Blossom.

The surroundings instantly became chaotic.

There were combatants near Blossom, so they couldn’t aim their guns at her, but they could still shoot at the magical girls rushing from behind.

Ear-splitting gunshots.

The attention of combatants further away turned toward them.

Blossom finally succeeded in snatching the gun.

But the opposing combatant was also exerting full strength.

It was an accident.

The combatant, if it had been a normally safe situation, wouldn’t have fallen over the railing behind.

But a brawl was happening all around. Once the guns started firing, bullets flew in all directions. They seemed designed to break apart when hitting walls, but that didn’t mean there was no smoke. Fragments also flew.

Some were engaged in physical fights with multiple combatants against one magical girl.

And that combatant, exerting full circuit power, couldn’t control their own strength.

Maybe that’s why. As soon as the combatant’s back touched the railing, they flipped over backward.

Hayun didn’t just stand there.

She immediately threw the gun aside and lunged toward the combatant.

She managed to grab the combatant and hung in mid-air, but.

“…Ah.”

She met Jieun’s eyes looking at her.

Jieun was holding some complex mechanical device and staring blankly at Hayun.

Those two eyes were wide open, different from usual.