Chapter 28: Harbouring Hope (4)

The Magical Girl of the Constellation, Han Byulhwa, held the Lemegeton in both hands.

If necessary, she was prepared to cut down any human who stood in her way.

That was how desperate she was. She needed to know the truth.

What exactly was controlling Ianna’s body?

Was she truly being controlled, or was it an entirely different being that merely shared her appearance?

Almost as if possessed, Han Byulhwa had become obsessively fixated on Ianna’s condition.

It was because of guilt.

If Ianna, truly, hadn’t done anything wrong—

If she were incapable of making rational decisions, and her mind was clouded—

If she remained a noble being, an icon among magical girls—

Then what happened to Ianna was entirely her fault.

It was her fault for not stopping them from getting close.

Her fault for not arriving in time to save her.

The guilt kept her awake at night.

She couldn’t bear seeing good people suffer because of misunderstandings and malicious schemes.

She couldn’t stand idly by while vile vermin dragged them into ruin.

Han Byulhwa had awakened her Lemegeton at a very young age.

It was a rather unimpressive ability when it came to dealing with Unknown Entities.

At most, it allowed her to wield a shadowy sword that could change in size.

However—

Against humans, it was lethally effective.

Anyone pierced enough to bleed would lose their mind.

Without exception.

They’d inevitably go mad, overwhelmed by terror.

Whether due to Lemegeton’s influence or not, an eerie chill always seemed to hang around Han Byulhwa.

The uncanny valley.

Just as people feel unease at things that resemble humans but aren’t quite right, those around her felt a similar discomfort.

There was a strong sense of dissonance about Han Byulhwa.

The darkness surrounding her inspired fear. Normal people avoided her.

Even her only blood relative.

Only one person had ever reached out to her.

The one who treated all magical girls equally.

Ianna.

She was the only one who had embraced her when the whole world rejected her.

Now, Han Byulhwa wanted to return the favour.

She wanted to offer warmth.

She wanted to save her.

Han Byulhwa believed her theory was correct.

That it was the truth.

Because only then would her actions be justified—only then would she have a valid reason to save Ianna.

She hoped—Ianna hadn’t submitted to the Bureau of her own free will…

With that hope, Han Byulhwa hurried to find her.

Thud!

She bumped into something.

The impact wasn’t too strong.

The person she’d collided with was an incredibly small girl.

She was either about Ianna’s height or slightly taller.

“…Ugh.”

The girl stumbled back and fell.

Without thinking, Han Byulhwa extended a hand to help her up.

“Are you okay…?”

“Yeah.”

The girl answered curtly, offering no further words.

She was small and fragile.

Her eyes sparkled, and various mechanical parts were attached to her body.

On her forehead, the number 7 was engraved. Her hair was black, pulled back and tied.

“What generation are you…?”

“…I’m not like that.”

“You’re not a magical girl?”

The girl asked curiously, and Han Byulhwa clarified.

“I mean, I’m not an artificial girl.”

“…I see.”

For some reason, the girl looked visibly downcast.

Just then, as Han Byulhwa was about to walk away—

“What are you doing, Bom… Hurry up…!!”

“If we’re late, the Senseunni won’t give us as much candy…!”

From a distance, two more girls ran over.

They looked similar to the girl called Bom.

Their hair colors were different—one had navy blue, the other radiant golden blonde.

What they shared in common were glowing red artificial eyes.

“…Who are you, unnie?”

“A Magical Girl… of the Constellation…”

“You’ve got a name? What generation are you? If you’ve got a name, you must’ve joined the Crusaders too, right!?”

The girls leaned in, eyes glowing red, and Han Byulhwa was thrown off.

This was the first time people had approached her like this.

Only Heosang and Ianna had ever made small talk with her.

She wasn’t used to communication.

Talking to strangers was exhausting for her.

Even now.

“Uh, I-I did participate…”

“You did!? You saw the enemy’s lair? What does it look like!? Are there wriggling tentacles like octopus arms everywhere? Skeletons sleeping underground!?”

“What about candy…? Are there people like Senseunni who give out candy…?”

“Only death and chaos lie beyond the veil. Isn’t that right, unnie?”

The three fired off questions like machine gun fire, overflowing with the curiosity and energy unique to children.

They couldn’t have been older than 7.

Though, their real age was uncertain.

‘…’

These three were artificial magical girls.

In other words, artificial girls.

War machines crafted in the form of young girls, not yet old enough for elementary school, complete with brains, spinal cords, and childlike appearances.

“That’s the Lemegeton, isn’t it!? How’d you make it? How strong is it? What’s its skill name…?”

“I’m gonna die from low blood sugar. Unnie, do you have any candy…?”

“Lemegeton is the power of death. It mustn’t be used lightly.”

Han Byulhwa’s cross-shaped sword, the Lemegeton.

To the three girls, it was an irresistible temptation.

Its cool appearance was too much for children to resist.

The three trembled and rushed toward Han Byulhwa.

Without understanding what was going on, she was poked and prodded all over by the three girls.

Her Lemegeton, her eyes, her nose, her lips, and other body parts—everything became an object of fascination.

Thoughts about their situation completely vanished.

Her mind was in chaos.

The black-haired girl named Bom continued muttering to herself.

The blonde girl, marked with the number ‘8’, kept begging for candy.

The navy-haired girl with the number ‘9’ asked endless questions with shining eyes.

Never in her life had Han Byulhwa experienced anything like this.

She had no idea how to react.

Socially, she was barely more capable than these girls.

In the end, Han Byulhwa froze up.

And in that frozen state, she thought.

These girls were probably third-generation artificial girls, “Strages.”

She had seen them around recently and had even been in combat with them.

However, there was one odd thing.

“Unnie, what are you worrying about so much!?”

“Please give me candy…”

“Are you afraid?”

They had egos.

Third-generation Strages were supposed to have ego-suppression chips embedded deep in their brains.

They were nothing more than dolls who obeyed the Bureau’s orders.

‘Could it be… they haven’t been implanted yet?’

That was her guess, but it was strange.

Artificial girls are “produced” fully equipped and ready to go.

Like machines rolling off a factory line. No defects. Fully prepared for deployment.

Still unable to reach a conclusion, Han Byulhwa stood there frozen, her lips trembling.

“Time’s up! Bom, Summer… We have to run…!”

“Candy is waiting for us…!”

“Next time.”

The three darted off like arrows.

Sprinting down the Bureau’s hallway, they all made a beeline for the medical wing.

“…What the hell.”

Her head throbbed.

Just thinking about Ianna was already overwhelming.

The intrusion of those three made her head spin.

…Even so.

Han Byulhwa began to move.

She left the commotion behind and set out to find Ianna.

She knew where to go.

Magical girls could sense gamma ether.

She could trace the faint trail of ether Ianna left behind.

She was sure of it.

Ianna was just ahead.

‘…But.’

She didn’t know what to say.

She couldn’t just blurt out something dumb like “Are you being controlled?”

She would first try to engage in conversation and gauge Ianna’s state.

Talking to strangers was difficult—but Ianna wasn’t a stranger.

She could talk to Ianna comfortably.

Because she always had.

It was always Ianna who spoke first.

‘…’

Now, the roles had changed. She wasn’t a little kid anymore.

She’d grown far more than Ianna.

Ianna had always been the one to reach out to her.

Now, it was her turn to reach out.

For Ianna’s sake.

“…Hey.”

A familiar voice reached Byulhwa’s ears.

It was Ianna’s small, soft voice.

However—

For some reason—

Ianna was staring at her with a face stricken with fear.

‘…Why?’