episode_0035

Not going to school and doing work, at first, didn’t really appeal to me.

Even if school classes are boring, work is not as boring as simple labor. Besides, the working hours are longer than studying hours at school.

Of course, things might change if you start doing things like evening self-study at school.

But, how should I put it?

“Let’s eat, food!”

It wasn’t a tremendously large site, the work was short-term, and the number of people working could be counted on both hands—

No, maybe that’s why such thoughts occurred.

I felt that this work was manageable.

I know.

The reason I can feel relaxed while doing this strenuous work must be because of the circuit I am carrying.

If it were my original body, I would have turned into a green onion after just the morning hours. Although I had basic physical strength from doing physical work regularly, the abilities needed for hours-long continuous labor and one-time fights were different.

In that sense, honestly, the Earthlings are amazing.

To keep enduring in such an environment.

Actually, the “reason” for being an Earthling that I know may just be what the Earthling himself said, but the actual reason could be different. Whatever the real purpose was, Earthlings, not much different from me in age, were working hard and living on this land.

In their own way, doing what they wanted.

“Why?”

Noticing me staring blankly, the Earthling asked.

Then, looking at the kimbap in his hand, he extended it towards me.

“Do you want more to eat?”

“No, I still have some left.”

I said that and then put the kimbap into my mouth.

By the way, I also got a canned coffee. Seems like it’s to drink after the meal.

Of course, I didn’t offer any to the Earthling. The people working here know well what happens if an Earthling drinks coffee.

In terms of caffeine content per volume, canned coffee actually has more caffeine than regular coffee.

Without making a fuss, the Earthling quietly drank an ion beverage. Surely, he will grab a cup on his way home when leaving work.

Hovering over the unremarkable kimbap, I shivered slightly.

Using the circuit doesn’t mean that my body won’t heat up during work. Naturally, sweating occurs when working hard, and in winter, if that sweat cools down, it can get a bit chilly.

I increased the speed of putting the kimbap into my mouth. It seemed better to quickly finish eating and sit in a slightly warmer place.

Initially, I was a bit scared that the people working here might ask about my situation.

Even though I thought I might lie if they asked, long lies are bound to be caught eventually. If you lie multiple times, inconsistencies will arise, increasing the chances of getting caught.

However, the people working here didn’t bother to question me.

“There’s no need to talk about it.”

When I expressed my doubts, the Earthling said so.

“Many people come and go to work here. Among them are Earthlings and non-Earthlings. While it cannot be said that everyone working here has some kind of story, there are such people mixed in, so we don’t touch upon those matters.”

“I see….”

The Earthling, and perhaps even the me introduced by that Earthling, were in such a position.

Knowing that, I felt a bit more at ease.

From my perspective, I know it well.

I cannot hide forever. Once the work is done, whether it’s a company, federation, or government, those chasing me will definitely exist.

Right now, I’m just temporarily hiding my body. If the company cooperates, finding me is not entirely impossible. Noir Corporation surely has the technology to track where magical girl energy is. There’s nothing they couldn’t apply to me.

James had warned me about that.

So, what we need to do is to quickly assess the situation, take revenge on the company executives, and make sure that neither side can easily touch me.

It will be risky. Once we start moving in earnest, I won’t be able to continue this lifestyle. Getting involved with Earthlings was indeed a dangerous thing.

No, in a way, I might already be involved.

“….”

Thinking about this and that, I gulped down the kimbap.

After chewing it properly and swallowing, I cleared my throat with a small canned coffee.

As the coffee, which seemed to have a bit too much sugar and cream, entered my body, my tired body regained strength. Indeed, the combination of sugar and caffeine is perfect for strenuous work.

“Come on, let’s finish up and go home quickly.”

Hearing the man shouting, I crushed the canned coffee in my hand and stood up from my seat

Breathing in, the air felt refreshing. Perhaps it’s because of my mood. Even so, isn’t this place a construction site? It’s a place full of dust.

Yet strangely, I didn’t feel uncomfortable.

Here, there was no one sending jealous glances for being next to a famous person, no teacher glaring disapprovingly for doing something they didn’t like, and no kids trying to buddy up when the semester starts.

I didn’t have to hide my situation, nor did I have to worry about getting into fights. There were no days of colliding with a bundle of fiery magic or worrying about breaking something.

Just coming, working, getting paid, and on the way back, buying a little something light to eat—this was the routine.

I miss Hayoon. I wonder if Ji-hye is doing well.

But even so, I found myself trying not to think about it as much as possible.

Nothing was resolved, there were no signs of resolution, and the few rare relationships I had crumbled.

Naturally, what I should be feeling here is worry and regret.

To claim not feeling any of that would be a lie.

However, the biggest emotion I feel right now is relief.

The pressure I felt from those coveted beings has vanished—a strange sense of liberation.

“Hey, Hayoon, do you want to go eat something together today?”

A group of girls, whom I’ve never really talked to before, spoke up.

“Well, that…”

“Or maybe watch a movie? Do you like movies?”

“Karaoke could be fun too. You’ve been through a lot of annoying things lately, right? How about venting it all out?”

It seemed like the kids understood everything Hayoon was feeling as they spoke.

Hayoon felt slightly awkward. These were kids she rarely talked to, always cautious when speaking to them.

However, in the past few days, it felt like they were getting closer, almost uncomfortably close.

Approaching kids were ironically familiar faces, known through their parents.

“Or, want to come over to my place?”

Someone asked.

“No need to go somewhere noisy; just relax at home. Since we live nearby.”

Was that how it went? Maybe. If their parents were acquainted, and they were attending the same school, it made sense.

But Hayoon found these conversations a bit uncomfortable.

“Sorry, today I…”

“There’s no one constantly bothering us.”

Someone interrupted Hayoon mid-sentence.

“Yeah. Just when we finally have time alone with Hayoon, someone comes in between and takes her away.”

“You don’t have to be scared anymore. There’s no one to bother us now.”

“Come to think of it, wasn’t she from an orphanage? Wasn’t she approaching us with some hidden agenda?”

“Why are you saying that?”

The kids’ conversation abruptly stopped at Hayoon’s words.

“…Ah, sorry.”

One of the girls gossiping quickly apologized to Hayoon. Her expression seemed genuinely apologetic.

“I mean, that’s not the reason I said that. There are many stories of people overcoming difficult situations and succeeding in the world. But, you know, Hayoon…”

She lowered her voice.

“Every time you tried to do something, suddenly appearing out of nowhere and interrupting. Even if we were just talking, you’d barge in and cause a scene. Remember? Not everyone who faces such situations acts that way naturally. But… isn’t it a bit true? If you were someone else, surely you’d be with more people—”

No, that’s not it.

She completely misunderstood the context.

Recognizing what Hayoon disliked, Ji-eun grabbed Hayoon’s wrist and pulled her away.

Approaching someone so suddenly was scary. Being surrounded by several kids throwing various comments was also frightening.

“I, I’m… sorry. I have an appointment today…”

“Oh…”

Upon Hayoon’s words, the kids surrounding her showed obvious disappointment.

“That’s right. But you’ve been like this for a while now.”

“Because of what happened…”

“Mm.”

The way the standing kids looked down at the seated Hayoon was inevitably condescending.

But when Ji-eun stood like that, it didn’t feel that way at all.

Her smiling face wasn’t as intimidating, and there was no sense of expectation.

Were the other kids always like this?

Or…

“Hayoon, are we bothering you because you don’t like us?”

A cautiously asked question, accompanied by slightly furrowed brows and a worried expression. A troubled smile.

Everything seemed to show that there was ‘no malice,’ but why?

Why was that?

Hayoon wondered what might be behind that smile.

“Was I this suspicious?”

She was startled by her own thoughts.

“Hayoon?”

“Yes?”

“We’re not bothering you because you don’t like us, right?”

The question came again.

“Yeah… It’s not that I don’t like it…”

“I see, then.”

The girl held Hayoon’s hand and said,

“Then, let’s get together when we have time. It’s nice to have many friends. And you too, later—”

Hayoon could only listen to her story with a blank expression.

Until now, Hayoon didn’t hate school.

It’s not that she liked everything. Hayoon was a person, so there were parts she didn’t like.

But not anymore.

As if the ‘reason to like’ had completely disappeared, school had simply become a place she didn’t want to go.

There was only one thing that had changed.

Jieun was gone.

Whenever someone approached Hayoon persuasively while hesitating, it was always Jieun.

When Hayoon was feeling down, the one who held her hand and led her to a bright place, even giving her something sweet to taste, was also Jieun.

Just by Jieun’s absence, people’s attitudes changed like this.

When Jieun suddenly intervened, took Hayoon away, how did people think of Jieun? They probably didn’t think well of her at all.

Was Jieun receiving the attention Hayoon should have received?

“…”

She thought she liked Jieun looking at her without comparison.

Did Jieun really want to be close to her?

Maybe because Hayoon, as a friend, was looking at her in such a way, did she have to act affectionately even though she didn’t want to?

Wanting others to look at her without comparison, but actually looking at Jieun in a fiercely comparative way, wasn’t that what Hayoon was doing?

She missed Jieun.

But at the same time, she was scared.

Perhaps the reason she wanted to see Jieun was not just because she wanted someone to dislike instead of herself.

There was no one to express genuine emotions in front of Hayoon. But perhaps something else was happening behind her back.

Just as Jieun had to work at Noir Corporation, maybe she was suffering severe harassment where Hayoon couldn’t see.

Thinking about that made her feel a little cold.

“…Jieun…”

She murmured quietly, unnoticed by others.

Of course, there was no response.

Jieun’s seat was empty.

Could she come back?

Could she return to her previous life?

Perhaps Jieun no longer wanted to return to that life.

It was scary.

After finishing the class and the homeroom teacher’s talk, she quickly got up from her seat, grabbed her bag, and ran out of the classroom.

Even when she returned home, her father and mother were still out. They would probably come home late today as well since things hadn’t been resolved yet.

With a slightly tired expression, she went to her room and lay on the bed without even changing her clothes.

What did Jieun think when she saw Hayoon?

She thought she was treating Jieun well.

She wanted to give Jieun things that she seemed interested in while they were together.

But when she tried to remember, she realized she didn’t know what Jieun liked. She knew she liked listening to music. She listened without genre preferences. The albums Jieun bought, Hayoon bought and listened to them as well.

Apart from that, Jieun adjusted to Hayoon. She didn’t insist on anything different, didn’t say she wanted to do something.

Yet, Hayoon had no idea about Jieun’s situation.

“…I want to meet again.”

It’s scary not knowing what will happen. But still, she wanted to meet.

She wanted to apologize for her mistakes, thank her for her kindness.

Even if they met again, it would never be a situation where they could have a proper conversation.

Still.

…And that wish was granted before the end of the day.

*

“While you were working outside, I prioritized tasks.”

He spoke as if he had done more important things while working.

Well, in terms of survival, James is the least among us. He almost ate only grains and seeds, and the amount of those wouldn’t even fill a fist.

He did shower or bathe, but it was enough to put water in the basin on the sink. Nowadays, I just put water in the bucket inside the bathroom. At least that way, he can figure out how to get out.

A hamster who bathes alone and covers the toilet is an ideal pet no matter how you think about it.

Of course, I’m the only one in this house who thinks that way. At least Earthpaw seems to perceive James as an ‘alien,’ and whenever I play with James, he looks at me as if I were seriously discriminating against another race.

The reason it didn’t escalate like that is probably because there is some

Before I knew it, James was in a posture that seemed like he could run away at any moment, with his hands on the ground instead of his front paws. Lately, whenever I tried to catch him, James would run away backward. Each time he did that, James’ expression became even more complicated.

“…No, keep explaining.”

James, still looking at me as if I were a suspicious person, continued to explain.

“The most important thing is evading tracking. I didn’t bother creating tracking technology. Most magical girls have weak energy signatures, making tracking them through energy almost impossible and requiring expensive equipment.”

That’s right. The despair circuit simply has a GPS attached. I remember hearing from the captain that if you can afford it, that side is much more economical.

The reason for tracking magical girls with energy is simple. No one implants GPS in a magical girl’s circuit. Planning to put a bell around a cat’s neck won’t work if mice gather around its neck, will it?

“So?”

“Tracking is done through satellites. But we can’t take down satellites.”

Reconnaissance satellites in geostationary orbit. Tracking with satellites that orbit every 90 minutes only updates information every 90 minutes. It’s better to place satellites in geostationary orbit.

“But what if we destroy the base station’s receiver?”

“We just use a new receiver.”

“Do you know? That technology itself is highly classified. It was made for the government.”

“There are no backups?”

Despite that, all operatives could access it. There might be someone among the magical girls who knows. Since many operatives have been captured, leaking some information is not surprising.

“Only a few know the location of the base station. And yes, there are no backups yet. In fact, they are being developed.”

So.

“You’ll be free for a while until everything is resolved. It could be a few months or over a year.”

“…”

But, does that mean we have to resort to terrorism?

Isn’t it a bit risky?

“The relationship between the Federation and the company has deteriorated significantly. There are quite a few ways to leak information. Once the Federation learns about that ‘tracking technology,’ things will surely get heated. As a company, that technology is also a ‘restraining tool,’ so we can’t just hand it over. Even if we transfer core technology, we need to have something left in our hands.”

“…”

I stared at James for a while.

“You seem quite villainous.”

“What? Thanks for the compliment.”

Seeing James, who looked like an office worker, bowing his head gently, I felt strangely annoyed but held back for now.

That’s right.

So, the plan is to sneak in when the two clash, achieve the goal, and then leave.