Chapter 50: Countdown (2)

“…What do you mean, Director Janwol?”

Byulmoori asked coldly, no longer even bothering to use honourifics.

It was because she simply couldn’t understand.

‘Why is she protecting Han Hojun?’

Not herself, who had been running around desperately for her sake, but Han Hojun — who had exploited her endlessly, committed countless atrocities, and driven so many magical girls to their deaths.

Byulmoori’s pupils began to shrink little by little.

“Hojoon is… a good person… so please… stop thinking that way…”

What Ianna wanted was so small, so simple.

For Han Hojun and Han Byulhwa, father and daughter, to get along with each other.

She wanted a family bonded by blood to love and cherish one another.

Could she really ask Byulhwa to get rid of Hojoon now?

Did she have to get rid of him?

No.

No answer came to mind except no.

Because she had sworn never to let go of anyone’s hand.

From the beginning, Ianna had never even considered removing Hojoon as an option.

Even if it meant dying at Hojoon’s hands.

It wasn’t simply a matter of kindness or goodwill that kept her from removing him.

There were also practical reasons.

No one could deny Hojoon’s abilities.

The fact that the Management Bureau, once the weakest among all the global magical girl organizations, had risen to its current standing — it was thanks to Hojoon’s relentless efforts.

Surviving the Management Bureau’s bloody internal power struggles wasn’t mere luck either.

Thus—

To realize her wishes, Ianna desperately needed Hojoon’s cooperation.

No matter what Hojoon was plotting.

Even if an enraged Byulmoori went to confront him, with the explosive device attached to her neck, she would be easily subdued.

It was almost certain she would die.

Realizing this, Ianna tried desperately to stop Byulmoori.

However.

Byulmoori interpreted Ianna’s attitude in a completely different way.

“…Please, I beg you… It’s all my fault…”

“…Director Janwol.”

By the time Ianna noticed that Byulmoori’s tone had turned icy cold—

It was already far too late.

“Why won’t you spare me?”

“…Huh?”

“I’m the one standing in front of you, not that bastard Han Hojoon. I’m the only one thinking about you. So why… why are you protecting Han Hojoon?”

“That’s not…”

Thud!

Byulmoori pushed Ianna over.

Ianna lay pinned under Byulmoori, her eyes wide in shock.

Her trauma began to resurface.

Ianna’s gaze fixed on Byulmoori’s hands — hands that were now mercilessly gripping her wrists.

She tried to resist, but it was useless.

A magical girl’s strength far exceeded anything Ianna could muster.

“I’m the one in front of you! Look at me! Look at me!“

“…Byulhwa.”

“I can kill them all if I want. If you stop hesitating, if you stop protecting him. I can kill them all.”

“Stop…”

Byulhwa did not listen to Ianna’s pleas.

Because right now, reflected in Ianna’s blurred eyes—

Was herself.

Not trash like Han Hojoon.

Why wasn’t she seeing her?

Why wasn’t she paying attention to her?

Byulmoori had no choice but to cry out her injustice, her resentment, this way.

The madness of a magical girl pushed Byulmoori forward.

Even though she kept telling herself not to hurt Ianna, not to inflict any more wounds.

She couldn’t suppress the impulse.

“Say it properly. Who is it? Me or Han Hojoon?”

“…”

Byulmoori shouted, on the verge of tears.

She was the one who had always been alone.

It was Ianna who first reached out to her with warmth.

So why was she turning away now?

Why was she siding with the one who had abused and exploited her — Han Hojoon?

Her jet-black eyes filled with tears.

Byulmoori began to squeeze her hands tighter around Ianna’s wrists.

Just a little more pressure, and they would shatter completely.

“You know what Han Hojoon did to you! Look at me! I’m the only one by your side! I’m the only one who can protect you…!”

“…Byulhwa.”

Ianna hesitated.

She wanted to embrace both of them.

She didn’t want to abandon anyone.

But she couldn’t even pretend to take Byulhwa’s side.

It would be deceiving both Byulhwa and Hojoon.

Even so.

She understood.

Byulhwa clearly suffered from a severe affection deficiency.

In the most important time of her life, when Han Hojoon should have given her love and attention — it had been Ianna instead.

That’s why Byulhwa developed this twisted attachment toward her.

She couldn’t let her go.

Not to her real father, Han Hojoon.

Not to anyone.

“I love both of you.”

“…What?”

“I love both of you.”

Love.

It wasn’t romantic love between a man and a woman.

It was affection — obsession — toward family.

To Ianna, the definition of family was vast and all-encompassing.

The trauma of abandonment had instilled in her an unconditional love toward anyone she considered family.

Han Hojoon.

Although Ianna couldn’t remember it clearly, she had once shared a close bond with Hojoon as a child.

Thus, deep within the sunken memories of her heart, a faint attachment to Hojoon instinctively resurfaced.

Just as she couldn’t abandon Han Byulhwa, she couldn’t abandon Han Hojoon either.

It didn’t matter if Byulmoori didn’t understand.

Even if it sounded childish — dreaming of saving everyone, dreaming of a peaceful tomorrow.

Still—

Ianna made up her mind.

Even if she failed, it didn’t matter.

Her goal was to save as many people as possible.

To keep her promise, to keep her oath.

She swallowed her fear.

She fought against the memories of Cheonching and Heosang that clawed at her from deep inside.

Because she knew Byulmoori’s good and righteous heart better than anyone.

Because she knew that the madness of a magical girl was slowly eating her alive.

All she could do—

Was offer herself.

Until Byulmoori’s anger subsided.

If that was enough—

Then she would endure it.

“As long as you cancel it… Please, just cancel it… Look at me, only me…”

“I’m looking at you right now…”

Ianna mustered a small smile.

She wanted to give love to Byulmoori again.

That was all.

“Cancel it!!!”

Byulmoori finally broke down, crying.

Tears streamed endlessly from her eyes.

Her nose reddened as she shouted at the small, frail Ianna.

Fear.

It roared in the deepest part of Ianna’s heart.

But she neither trembled nor averted her gaze.

“Hojoon and Byulhwa… I know they’re both good kids… I can tell… If this can calm your anger… I’ll endure it…”

“Shut up, Ianna!!!”

Byulmoori hesitated desperately.

Her instincts, overwhelmed by madness, screamed at her to strangle Ianna’s fragile neck.

Only her last shred of rationality kept her instincts at bay.

This wasn’t right. Ianna had to look only at her.

Not waste a single thought on Han Hojoon.

Byulmoori’s hands moved toward Ianna’s neck.

Ianna didn’t resist.

“This is your final warning. Choose. Me, not Han Hojoon…!”

“Byulhwa…”

“Choose me!!! Say it! Prove it! That you love me! That I can be your ally… Please…”

She would have broken down crying.

The old Ianna would have.

She would have just sobbed and trembled helplessly.

Her body, consumed by fear, wouldn’t have been able to move.

But—

Ianna no longer whimpered.

She no longer hesitated.

Though terrified, she gritted her teeth and pushed forward.

Because she had made a promise.

“You idiot, you dummy… Why won’t you even try to listen to me!?”

For the first time in her life, Ianna screamed at Byulmoori with all her might.

It wasn’t her usual calm and soft voice.

It was a sharp, piercing shout.

“Stop acting like a child!!! Byulhwa, you’re not a kid anymore! You have responsibilities!!! Don’t care about Hojoon…!”

Ianna started gasping for breath.

Just shouting had strained her frail body.

Byulmoori was utterly shaken.

She had never, even in her wildest dreams, imagined Ianna would yell at her like this.

“Hojoon… that piece of trash?”

“Yes! That damn Hojoon… Don’t, huff, care… about him… I love you… most…”

It was the truth.

Hojoon, Byulmoori, Heosang—

Everyone else, too.

Ianna loved them all equally.

Her love was boundlessly fair.

Even if they didn’t realize it, she showed no favoritism.

Drip—

The moment Byulmoori’s clear, transparent tears fell onto Ianna’s cheek—

“…I love you.”

Ianna smiled brightly and whispered.

Beep—

A sudden beep rang from the receiver around Byulmoori’s neck.

“…Huh?”

Byulmoori’s mind froze.