Light and Darkness (9)

Light and Darkness (9)

A thought of disbelief crossed the minds of everyone watching the scene.

The naive thought that in this day and age, in broad daylight, with everyone watching, such a horrific act wouldn’t be committed.

And the fact that even though magical girls had appeared, many things remained fundamentally unchanged due to various factors intertwining.

“Ugh, uwaaaaah!”

“Kyaaaaaah!”

However, the world was already undergoing a change.

The lightning axe wielded by Ren roared with a thunderous sound, crackling with blue electricity, and Kwon Do-hyun, who was terrified and spewing blood, screamed with all his might.

Others who had belatedly discovered the real Ren and rushed out to witness the scene were the same. A human arm was easily severed as if cutting tofu, separating from the body and falling to the floor with a thud.

The lightning axe instantly cauterized the cut surface, and less than a cup of blood was spilled.

“Not just you. All the instigators will be judged.”

“Aaaagh!”

Ren’s axe didn’t stop there.

While no one, student or teacher, dared to intervene, arms and legs fell from limbs every time the lightning flashed in the middle of the hallway.

And finally, when the chains were loosened and the body, unconscious from shock, fell to the floor with a thud.

Ren realized that she now completely dominated this space. The complete and absolute power she had longed for all this time.

‘And to protect this, I must maintain this fear and justification.’

Her mind was rather calm and cool. Because this was just the first step.

“Hurry up and report it. Call the police, damn it!”

“Please save us. Teacher, please!”

“B-but…”

While Kwon Do-hyun, one of the perpetrators, was miserably dealt with in front of everyone, those among those remaining at school who felt guilty were busy fleeing.

However, it was unlikely that Ren had not taken any measures.

Like last time, the barrier already surrounding the school only controlled the entry and exit of certain individuals.

As students hurriedly evacuated, only a few people remained inside, desperately pounding on the protective barrier while crying and wailing.

That young teacher watching the scene from outside closed his eyes tightly. Even if he pounded on it until his fists bled, the barrier didn’t budge at all.

‘Someone needs to come. But who?’

The rampage of Casilena led by Rene had already begun, but so far no one had stopped them. No, they couldn’t.

The magical girls feared them. They had no reason to step up in the first place. The fairy company that had been raging furiously was now quiet, unable to intervene directly.

It was impossible for the army or police to deal with them.

‘…Aria.’

In this situation, there was only one name that everyone, including the young teacher, thought of. A true warrior who takes the lead in tasks that everyone else avoids and fears.

However, Aria never came here. After all, she only had one body. It didn’t make sense for her to face an entire organization like Casilena alone.

“Eek!”

“Don’t come, don’t come! Don’t come!”

In the end, without receiving any help and unable to escape, Rene slowly approached those people with the clicking sound of her heels, still holding a lightning axe as big as her upper body.

“S-stop it!”

“…How fascinating.”

Rene, who had caught the panicked people with chains that whirled around them, tilted her head with interest at this young male teacher who shouted at her.

She had just now seen for the first time a ‘good person’ by magical girl standards.

“I know what you’re thinking by doing this. But stop it. It’s too cruel.”

Finding himself suddenly face to face with Rene, he spoke with a trembling voice.

This confidence came from the assumption that Rene’s true identity was that of a female student similar in age to the children he taught, thinking that as an adult, he could persuade her with words.

“You too are under one misunderstanding.”

“M-misunderstanding?”

“…Do you truly believe that what I’m doing is a self-righteous and indiscriminate act of terrorism?”

But of course, it was a futile attempt. He staggered, overwhelmed by Rene’s faint smile and aura.

“After today, think carefully. It was you who created us, you who pushed us to act, and you who give us power.”

Rene knew exactly what she was doing. Casilena’s activities, which advocated judgment and justice, were in fact a kind of political act reflecting her own desires.

If that was the case, she never gave any leeway. She observed public opinion, manipulated the visible parts according to her intentions, and exploited gaps to frame narratives.

It was possible because she had already made the judgment and calculations that this was acceptable, rather than acting recklessly.

“You know it yourself. How many people in this world are tired and beaten by absurdity and abnormality, what they truly desire. And it’s not us, but this society, you who created and spread it.”

“Ah, no!!”

He shouted, but Rene had no reason to listen to that futile cry.

Once again, her lightning axe flashed, scattering severed flesh to the sky and ground along with a scream.

*

“Now! Immediately! Do whatever it takes to stop them! How many more have to die before we catch those rioters! Today, several students with bright futures ahead of them had their limbs cut off while still alive!”

In the Management Bureau’s conference room. Shouts were already being exchanged late in the evening after sunset. The actual head of the Management Bureau, Director Lee Min-hyung, was keeping his mouth shut without saying a word.

The ones shouting and intimidating were people who came from outside the Management Bureau in the first place.

“Say something, Director. Is there really no way?”

“That’s not the case. We’ll quickly prepare countermeasures.”

“Let’s hear it once. What is it?”

A thin, short middle-aged man gritted his teeth while looking at Director Lee Min-hyung. He was Woo Jin-seok, the Chief of Staff to the President, who had rushed here with several politicians.

They had come with the President’s special order to resolve the issue of Casilena, which had started to spread its wings and cause massive ripples in an instant.

“…Rene, the leader of Casilena. She is certainly a being capable of dialogue.”

Inwardly clicking his tongue, Lee Min-hyung opened his mouth for now. But he was already anticipating their reaction internally. Negotiating with Casilena would essentially mean admitting defeat to them and having to restructure society according to their claims.

However, the existing core members would not tolerate that.

“Director. You should know that the world is not a fairy tale land.”

“Of course.”

“There’s no room for negotiation with a puppet organization aiming to overthrow the state. Think of another way.”

As expected, Director Woo firmly stated that it wasn’t even worth considering. In fact, Lee Min-hyung had to try hard to swallow the bitter laugh that was about to come out.

Why weren’t they this serious when Taquilas was rampaging?

‘Well, Taquilas was a disaster with unclear intentions. But Casilena is different. The problem is that their purpose is too clear.’

In the end, it meant they were worried about the knife coming to their own necks. As Rene himself admitted, Casilena had become a political force and gained the power to move public opinion.

“There are a few magical girls who cooperate with the Management Bureau.”

“It won’t be possible. They are certainly on our side, but they’ve changed a bit recently. They would agree with Casilena on removing the dirty power in our society.”

Director Woo’s eyes twitched at the sight of Lee Min-hyung immediately shaking his head after speaking. But it wasn’t wrong, and Oh Yun-seo standing behind bowed her head deeply.

In reality, Aria had changed.

She no longer moved as the Management Bureau’s loyal hunting dog. Rather, there was now a possibility that even the Management Bureau could be shattered by her hands if they weren’t careful.

“Nonsense! That girl’s personal information should already be on record! She has no grounds to refuse our orders! If she doesn’t listen until the end, then accordingly…”

“She’s still a minor!”

As Director Oh flared up in anger, Oh Yun-seo stepped forward in shock. The already tense atmosphere became even more hostile.

“With power comes responsibility.”

“That responsibility. We adults should bear it first.”

“Enough, actually there is one more way.”

Oh Yun-seo didn’t avoid Director Oh’s contemptuous gaze. And Director Lee Min-hyung, shielding Oh Yun-seo with his body, calmly added one more word.

“Is there a way?”

“This is what I’ve just been informed. ‘That person’ said they would make a move, so let’s keep an eye on it.”

“That person…”

Oh Manager and Lee Min-hyung himself were both surprised. It was such shocking news that the atmosphere immediately became somber.

“An SS-rank who’s been busy with real life and reluctant to move will reappear in public after 5 years.”

Active name Karin, with 20 years of experience but effectively semi-retired 5 years ago.

A founding Magical Girl who reigned as Korea’s number one and was among the world’s best, both during her active years before Taquilas appeared and after her retirement.

Such a figure was said to be reappearing in this chaotic world.