Ch.5Chapter 1. Discomfort (5)

I wanted to be a magical girl too.

…No, I mean. It’s a bit strange to start like this out of nowhere.

To avoid any misunderstanding, obviously I never had such thoughts in my past life as a man. That should be obvious.

I’m just saying that’s how I felt after coming to this world.

They were the characters from the webtoon I used to read. And since they were described as pretty in the webtoon, the magical girls in this world must be beautiful too.

I thought my looks weren’t too shabby since childhood, and Blossom and I have been close enough to be considered childhood friends since we’ve attended the same school from an early age.

So naturally, I thought I might fit in among them.

Plus, I have a backstory.

Unlike the magical girls who were all born into middle-class or wealthy families, I didn’t have parents in this world.

To be precise, in this world I came from a “Baby Box.”

One of those boxes sometimes found at churches, connected to the outside, just big enough for a newborn.

They’re made so people can place babies there instead of abandoning them on the streets, and apparently that’s where I ended up.

That doesn’t mean the orphanage I live in now is affiliated with Christianity. The church-run orphanage was already at capacity, so they had to call around to find a place with room for me.

I’ve never told anyone this story.

Even Blossom, who’s known me for so long, doesn’t know I grew up in an orphanage without parents. She might have figured it out on her own, but seeing how she’s never mentioned it, she either hasn’t imagined it or is pretending not to know.

She did ask to come over to my place several times until about two years ago, but maybe she’s given up now.

…Anyway.

The orphanage I attend is quite reputable, receiving government support and regular donations from a major corporation. By “major corporation,” I mean an Earth company, not Noir Corporation, which started sponsoring us after I began working there.

However, even with government support and donations, after spending money on the children, paying staff salaries, taxes, utilities, and building maintenance, there’s almost nothing left.

Saving is nearly impossible, so when something suddenly breaks down or equipment deteriorates faster than expected, repairs are difficult.

That’s why I started working.

Instead of receiving a salary, all the money I would earn goes directly to the orphanage. Thanks to this, the orphanage now has an “emergency fund,” and we can provide more abundant food for the children.

Since it’s officially “corporate sponsorship,” no one needs to know it’s because of me.

I wonder how Blossom… I mean, Hayun would react if she heard this story.

She might call it corporate exploitation. She is a righteous magical girl, after all.

Well, this arrangement just happens to benefit both parties.

“Here’s your new equipment.”

The executive, “James,” said.

This executive, who looks remarkably human despite being an alien, had called me to his private office.

The office was quite luxurious. The auditorium earlier wasn’t bad, but this place had the atmosphere of a true “corporate executive” office.

A spacious room with large windows, and a desk positioned with its back to those windows.

In front of the desk were a guest table and sofa, and thankfully (I’m being sarcastic), that’s where I was seated.

…Special treatment, huh.

If they didn’t see potential in me, they wouldn’t have called me here. They would have just sent me home after that embarrassing presentation.

After seating me on the sofa, the executive opened a large box on the table.

When the sturdy case-like box opened, equipment was neatly arranged inside.

Basically, it looked similar to what I had been using.

However, the design had some additions—and most importantly, the equipment was brand new.

When I showed a slightly surprised expression, the executive seemed to take it as a positive reaction.

With a smug expression, he began introducing each piece of equipment.

“First, this is a high-capacity circuit. I noticed you were controlling your output by regulating your emotions in the last battle.”

Seeming to test me, he asked, and I replied:

“…Because courage arises from overcoming fear.”

The fact that I use energy that emerges from despair is a secret to outsiders.

And the attempt to use that energy for “eco-friendly power generation” is also a secret.

To explain it plainly, the idea is to provide humans with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to barely survive, and then harness the massive amounts of energy generated from the despair they feel while working.

To put it even more simply and honestly:

“People are going to feel much more despair anyway, so why not use it?”

That’s the logic.

Obviously, this is kept secret because there would be tremendous backlash if the general public found out.

To add, Noir Corporation also plans to divert and use that energy.

So they’re an “evil organization.”

Conversely, the Galactic Federation’s Hope Circuit was created for similar reasons.

The sacrifice of the few for the many, or the fair sacrifice of many for the whole.

Regardless of the images associated with hope and despair, which is more rational… the author directly explained this was the intended theme, but honestly, I think the author just came up with the theme after creating the setting.

“Excellent.”

James, who had been eyeing me as if testing me, nodded and pushed the case toward me.

“Let’s take a look.”

He’s acting like I actually want this equipment.

Did he not see my expression in the auditorium earlier?

No, that’s probably not it. He just doesn’t care about others’ feelings at all. Or maybe that human-like appearance is actually a mask hiding his true form.

If it’s not his real face, it makes sense he wouldn’t be familiar with my expressions.

Well, I couldn’t exactly respond with “You didn’t have to show me…” so I slowly reached out and picked up the circuit.

Heavy.

That was my first impression.

The circuit, which looked like a slightly large wristwatch, seemed a bit bigger than what the magical girls use. It seems “high-capacity” wasn’t just a name.

“We’ve also added a charging function.”

That surprised me a bit.

“…Is that possible?”

Emotions are volatile. No matter how intense an emotion is, it flares up in the moment—probably no one in this galaxy can sustain it for years.

That’s why it’s “despair” and “hope.” These two concepts are not single emotions but rather “concepts” formed by collections of emotions moving in specific directions.

“Of course, we’re not storing ‘courage.’ Emotions can only be stored here,”

As he said this, James pointed to his head.

“And here.”

Then he pointed to the area near his heart.

“We’re storing the converted energy. It can store a large amount of energy momentarily, and when used, it’s all released at once.”

I see.

There’s no point in using it bit by bit for a magical girl anyway.

“Try pressing the crown.”

Following his instruction, I pressed the protruding button that would be the crown on a watch.

Click.

The circuit, which looked like a compass with only half a needle, popped open.

Inside was a battery about the size of a 9V rectangular battery.

Of course, it’s not actually such a battery—it’s probably high-tech equipment that would make an MIT professor drool.

“After use, remove it and insert a new one.”

So that’s what the jacket-like part of the neatly folded top is for.

“…”

At this point, I’m getting a bit suspicious.

The truth is, I’m just a combatant.

Yes, I’m a somewhat unusual Earth person scouted by a Noir Corporation scout. But that’s all.

If I had the qualities of a magical girl, the Galactic Federation would have approached me first.

There are two possibilities that immediately come to mind:

They’re grooming me to become Noir Corporation’s version of a magical girl to counter them.

Or I’m a sacrificial lamb.

Both options are extremely uncomfortable for me.

Just as my friends don’t know I live in an orphanage, they also don’t know I work as a combatant for this company.

I have no intention of dedicating my life to this company. Why would I stay until the end with a company that will collapse in the latter part of the story? I only plan to work until I graduate from the orphanage, get a proper job, and can make regular donations.

Well, I probably don’t need to worry much about the first concern. That’s closer to being self-conscious.

The important thing is the latter.

The company knows Iris has me marked. They’ve seen the helmet footage.

So wouldn’t it be advantageous for them to have me crash straight into Iris, getting seriously injured or killed?

A company that’s technically legal but with the worst image, versus extraterrestrial invaders straddling a gray area between legal and illegal.

The best way to tip that scale is for the other side’s image to be shattered.

…And I happen to be appropriately pitiful with a decent justification.

They’re probably trying to instill “courage” in me.

“…This is excellent.”

But I’m not stupid enough to reveal such thoughts in front of this person.

The executive’s expression seems unsatisfied.

Hmm.

“W-wow! This is amazing!”

When I exclaimed with a somewhat forced smile, James finally nodded with satisfaction.

This is quite annoying.

*

“Oh, friend!”

As I exited the building feeling somehow exhausted, the Earthaboo vigorously waved at me.

Since the first floor is a shopping mall, he probably wasn’t cold or anything. And the conversation I had wasn’t particularly long either.

“How was it? What did they tell you?”

“Get away, traitor.”

When I grumbled and pushed him away, the Earthaboo genuinely looked hurt.

Well, they probably would have stopped him if he tried to follow me onto the stage.

Haah, I let out a long sigh.

“I got promoted.”

“I heard that already.”

“…I also received new equipment.”

“Oh?”

The Earthaboo slapped my back. Ouch.

“That’s great! Then your salary must have increased too?”

“Well, a little.”

Though it all goes straight to the orphanage.

When I turned to look, the Earthaboo was grinning at me slyly.

Well.

“We should celebrate a day like this! My treat!”

“…Do you have money?”

“Uh, so…”

He rummaged through his pockets.

What came out was a crumpled 10,000 won bill.

“I do!”

“…Let’s go Dutch.”

I said with a small sigh.

*

“I believe in the potential of Earth people.”

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that.

You know what?

Earth people don’t get intoxicated by caffeine. In fact, caffeine is poisonous to many animals. Only humans gulp it down as a stimulant.

And this applies similarly to other planets.

What I mean is, this Earthaboo’s body can’t fully metabolize caffeine.

That’s one of the charms of traveling to Earth.

The fact that minors, who can’t drink caffeine on their own planet, can drink as much as they want on Earth.

Though I wonder if it’s right for a minor to live alone in another country in the first place.

“Do you know how excited the Galactic Federation was when they first found Voyager?”

“I think I’ve heard this story at least seven times already.”

I sighed deeply.

“People from a planet with no magic at all launched something into outer space without magic! And in such an incredibly crude way!”

NASA people would cry tears of blood if they heard this. You aliens might just float with magic, but Earth people need tremendous technology just to launch a single rocket. It’s not just about brute force—they design optimal trajectories, consider planetary positions, and use even planetary gravity to travel as far as possible.

And apparently, this fact itself seemed like a Rube Goldberg machine to aliens. They just warp and that’s it.

“And that Golden Record! Earth people put greetings and songs on something that they had no idea when, who, or how anyone would find! Purely out of curiosity about what might be out there in space, purely out of passion, so many people came together!”

“…Could you lower your voice?”

I sighed deeply.

Right.

This is why “Earthaboos” exist.

We all have such prejudices, don’t we? Stereotypes about people from certain countries. In countries with large populations, there are naturally both timid and bold people, yet somehow it’s difficult to shed these prejudices.

And thanks to aliens who accidentally found Voyager while doing range scans before human contact, the image of “Earth people” throughout the universe became “those who overcome any obstacle and ultimately venture into space”—metaphorically, “the Odysseus of space.”

Now this impression has intensified even more due to magical girl videos spread throughout the Galactic Federation for promotional purposes.

Beings who never lose hope and only move forward, no matter when or where.

That’s quite grandiose.

“Hurrah for Earth people! A toast to their potential!”

As I watched the Earthaboo raise his steaming mug and shout, I covered my forehead.

*

“Uhehehe. Caffeine really is best consumed through coffee…”

“…”

I didn’t expect him to end up like this from just one cup.

Thinking about it, even with the same size, adding an extra shot means more caffeine. Did he add more when I wasn’t looking?

The snow had stopped, but as expected, it had accumulated quite thickly on the ground, making it slippery.

He wasn’t the best person, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to leave him rolling in snow that’s turned black from people walking all over it.

If I leave him like this, I’d seem like a terrible person. Right?

Okay, let’s just dump him at the company dormitory. There are plenty of empty rooms anyway. It’s a company benefit, so they don’t charge extra. That’s what you get with a big corporation.

With his arm around my neck, I was staggering along, barely able to see ahead. Well, I was familiar with the area, so it wasn’t a big problem, but—

“…Jieun?”

Huh.

Hearing a familiar voice suddenly, I looked up.

When I see Hayun, the first thing I notice is inevitably her vibrant hair color.

And then, her eyes of a similar color.

They’re pretty eyes, but they remind me that this world isn’t where I originally lived.

“Jieun.”

I froze stiff.

The weather was cold, but not unbearably so.

This was purely because of how I felt. Hayun isn’t the type to think strangely of me just because she saw me like this.

But what about Hayun’s friends?

“Hayun, who is…?”

Hayun is my childhood friend.

But not all childhood friends live in the same world. We just happened to be in the same class at the same school.

This is truly coincidental, but the neighborhood where I live has a road running right through the middle, with a relatively poor area on one side and a fairly wealthy area on the other.

Naturally, if you don’t specifically go to a private school, students from both backgrounds can mix in the same school.

Usually, there’s no need to clash at school. Groups form naturally anyway.

But sometimes, somewhat isolated children like Hayun and me become friends.

And because of this, our only “overlapping friend” is each other.

“Hm? Ah, this person is…”

No, more importantly, you’re in the same class.

I couldn’t help but glare at the girl asking Hayun to introduce me.

That was deliberate.

Hayun is already famous on a galactic scale.

She probably doesn’t like that someone as insignificant as me is friends with her.

What business is it of hers anyway?

“…My childhood friend, Jieun.”

Hayun reflexively introduced me, but she seemed to realize the intention midway through, as her face grew slightly pale.

“Oh, really? Jiyun, is it? Hello.”

She probably deliberately got my name wrong.

“We’re in the same class.”

I stared at her deliberately as I spoke.

“You must have a poor memory. Or maybe face blindness.”

Oops.

I felt the already cold atmosphere grow even more awkward, and I mentally exclaimed.

I’m usually quiet in class. Naturally, she wouldn’t have expected me to respond so aggressively.

No, she probably thought I wouldn’t even understand her mockery?

But right now I was extremely irritated, and my opponent was a bit… I can’t say unlucky.

Rather, she’s lucky right now.

“Ah…”

Hayun, who knows my personality to some extent, groaned as if troubled.

“Is that how you talk to a classmate?”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

She seemed to be smiling a little.

With the troubled Hayun between us, we glared at each other.