episode_0046

Has the author ever seen her angry before?

She showed irritation. She has seen sad movies and cried. She has also seen her laugh.

Having spent so long together, it would be more strange not to see the emotional side.

However, even so.

The author has never seen her angry.

When they were very young, there was a time Wisdom touched the author’s belongings without permission. It was hard to grasp the concept of “mine” when they were in the same room.

The author did not get angry. She just seemed to be holding something in.

It was scary at a young age too.

As they got to know each other little by little, they adjusted to each other. What seemed a bit rough and scary at first was just a first impression. As they spent time together, she was deep in understanding and a bit mature for her age.

Maybe that’s why. Wisdom had never seen the author angry like this before.

She seemed like a child.

Like someone who vomits everything inside in one breath.

A child who doesn’t know how to get angry, so she moves her hands and feet a little more vigorously than she thinks, like a child, but the result didn’t seem like a tantrum of a child.

The ground cracked, sounds of explosions echoed, and the sturdy armored vehicle crumpled like paper.

The author’s screams sounded agonizing.

Today, what the author did couldn’t be considered a bad deed no matter how you looked at it.

She rescued Wisdom, collaborated with magical girls to defeat the rampaging monster. She didn’t harm the police or show any hostile behavior.

If anyone among the many people here wanted to talk to the author, she would have gladly engaged in conversation.

She may seem a bit cold on the outside, clumsy, and rough, but she was definitely not a bad person.

Bang!

Something struck from above, causing the armored vehicle to collapse. A large piece of metal fell to the ground, burying itself as the center of the vehicle caved in.

Despite the fear that the author instilled, the people surrounding her couldn’t bring themselves to attack her.

Light flowed in the sky.

Don’t be scared.

Since the people around were frightened, Wisdom couldn’t afford to be as well.

That girl over there is the author.

No matter how she appears, she is the author. That’s who they’ve been looking for.

But in the end, Wisdom sat down on the ground.

It wasn’t just out of fear. Various reasons were mixed up. Her legs relaxed due to tension, and she couldn’t fully understand what was happening. It was the first time she had seen a monster up close since birth. It was almost the first time she faced death.

She simply felt drained. Today, she experienced too much to handle everything.

The ground thudded, and a scream-like roar echoed.

“….”

The author looked up at the sky.

What was she seeing beyond? What was that black hole? Did she create it too?

After staring at the sky for a while, the author turned to Wisdom.

There was nothing left on her face.

Not a single tear fell. Her expression was just empty, as if she had vomited everything inside and left nothing behind.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

She tried to stand up, but her legs wouldn’t support her.

I have to catch her.

If I don’t catch her here, I might never catch her.

But the author didn’t wait for anything.

She just disappeared.

With a blink of an eye, all traces of the author vanished.

The light flowing in the sky, the black hole that seemed to suck everything in, everything.

Only the completely wrecked armored vehicle and the heavily damaged ground remained.

“….”

For a long time, no one spoke.

*

Ha Yoon started running after the author moved.

“Wait!”

Ha Yoon shouted towards the colleagues running towards the author.

Were they trying to catch the author? Were they planning to hurt her again?

She tried to move quickly.

But it wasn’t easy because of the black hole in the sky. If she flew up, she felt like she would be sucked in.

No, I’m still okay.

My magic is sufficient. The circuits are still functioning properly.

As she ran forward with all her strength, trying to reach the author.

The author disappeared.

Again?

—No, the black hole is still there. Not all magic disappears instantly when the caster vanishes, but that’s how the author’s magic has always worked.

She’s still nearby.

As she tried to regain her composure and look around.

Bang!

Soon, such a sound was heard.

In the distance, among the police officers, the author was moving.

It was a sight Ha Yoon had never seen before.

The author was raging.

“….Jieun?”

I thought I wouldn’t be heard here, but unconsciously, I murmured to myself.

“….Ah.”

That’s how it would be. There must have been a lot piled up inside. As a human being, it was inevitable.

He became a nationally wanted criminal for something he didn’t do. And not just on the level of a simple assault but as a terrorist who had killed people.

Everything in the world would seem resentful. He must have endured that until now.

A scream was heard.

It was the scream of Jieun.

A voice filled with terrible agony.

His body stiffened, unable to move.

If only the situation were different. If Jieun had attacked first, the story might have been different. In that case, the justification might have been on this side.

But Jieun, who had saved a person from danger, was shot with a gun as a reward.

Before that, as if intending to capture her, he even threw a net over Jieun’s head.

To do such a thing to someone who showed kindness—

At some point, the scream stopped.

After a moment of silence, suddenly everything around him cleared up.

There was no black hole that seemed to swallow everything, and the light flowing in the sky disappeared.

Hayoon sensed that Jieun had disappeared.

Even before he could say a word.

Just when he thought he could finally share his story.

It ended before that could happen.

“….”

Why?

Why are they interfering like this?

Is simply wanting to exchange a few words such a problem?

Hayoon walked slowly towards where people were gathered.

As Hayoon approached, people looked in his direction and hurriedly moved aside. Walking the path they gave, he went to where Jieun had been just a while ago.

There was a severely damaged car there. The car was so badly damaged that it was hard to tell what its original form was.

Eyes turned towards Hayoon.

Why?

Why did it seem like he wanted to say something? Did they think he would immediately chase after Jieun?

Was Hayoon expecting Hayoon to catch the unidentified magical girl?

“…Blossom.”

Iris cautiously spoke.

Hayoon looked at Iris.

Iris looked perplexed. She also seemed worried.

Although she seemed like she wanted to say something, her lips twitched, but in the end, Iris couldn’t say anything to Hayoon.

Did she want to say that it wasn’t Hayoon’s fault?

But it was Hayoon’s fault.

From the beginning, he should have thought properly.

If she was a magical girl, it was her job to protect people.

He had just thought of people as good or evil and had solved everything with violence.

Only after seeing Jieun as a victim did he regret it, but it was already too late.

…Since the situation had already become like this.

Turning his gaze back to the wrecked car, staring at it blankly, Hayoon turned his head again.

This time, the person he met eyes with was Ji Hye, sitting far away.

—

“Jieun?”

As soon as I returned to the room and collapsed, Jigu Bba came in trembling.

And upon seeing the bloodied left shoulder, she quickly opened the first aid kit and took out a bandage.

“….”

James, who was on my shoulder, came down and sat below.

I lay down as if collapsing on the floor.

The mat was stained with blood, but there was nothing I could do. I had no strength left at all.

The pain, which I had forgotten due to the excitement of battle, rushed in belatedly.

“I… messed up.”

I murmured.

I couldn’t show a more heroic rescue than the magical girl. I showed some cooperation, but that was it. People didn’t show trust in me.

They even got angry at the police who shot me. The armored car, which was a national asset, was in a state where it could never be used again.

I probably won’t be able to use that road for a long time. I had broken a lot during the fight, and I did the same while rampaging at the end. The damage caused by the items flying around due to the black hole was much greater than what I had directly destroyed.

Perhaps nearby building windows were shattered too.

After today, people chasing me will be much more cautious. They’ll probably keep an eye out for me, checking the danger of the weapons I had.

If we meet, they might even shoot.

“….Sorry.”

I offered an apology to Jigu Bba, who was wrapping a bandage around my shoulder. Since I had freeloaded at her place and even dirtied her house further.

And to James, who had helped me plan and even made weapons in his own way. Well, I’m not entirely grateful to him, but still, this time

My shoulders hurt so much. The bullet didn’t penetrate, but I still received a hit that made the blood flow. The circuit was still functioning, but the clothes had changed from the magical girl outfit to what I was wearing when I went out.

Did I leave something behind?

“You don’t need to worry too much. Most likely, I left it in another dimension out of instinct.”

James explained like that.

“I confirmed that I was holding onto it until the end.”

“….”

Well, he’s quite meticulous.

But I didn’t want to think about that right now.

More accurately, I didn’t want to think at all. It’s just all so messed up, my situation.

I feel like crying, really.

I did my best… even though…

Even if it might not seem like it to others, I truly did my best. Maybe the choice was wrong, but still.

“It’s not a good time to talk about this now. Let’s continue next time. Today was more productive than expected.”

He cursed me when I almost got shot, and now he acts like everything’s fine.

“Should I spread out the blanket?”

Jigu-pa asked.

I couldn’t bring myself to get mad at that suggestion.

I got up from my seat. My left shoulder still throbbed in pain, but I couldn’t go to bed in this state.

It’s not even my blanket.

…No, it is mine, I bought it with my part-time job money.

Still, I couldn’t sleep with it covered in dust.

Ignoring Jigu-pa’s slightly worried expression as I staggered towards the bathroom, I had to do what needed to be done, so I decided to just go in and wash up.

*

After barely managing to wash myself and change into a worn-out shirt, I collapsed on the floor.

The reason I woke up was the tantalizing smell piercing my nose.

“Oh, you’re up.”

Jigu-pa put down the chopsticks she had picked up.

“There’s still water in the kettle, so you can boil it and eat right away.”

“…Thank you.”

I felt like I was starving.

Looking towards the window almost stuck to the ground, it was completely dark outside. It hadn’t been that long since I last checked.

“How long has it been left?”

As I fumbled to check the time, Jigu-pa, after swallowing her noodles, replied.

“A day and a half.”

“…What?”

I asked Jigu-pa, puzzled.

“To be honest, I thought it might be a bit risky, but when I shook it, it seemed okay. So I left it as it was.”

“I see.”

Well, I can’t go to the hospital. That’s why I’m so hungry.

I touched my left shoulder. The bandage was still wrapped around it, but it didn’t hurt as much as when I first got injured. Perhaps there was some magical effect healing me.

I boiled a cup of instant noodles with the pot bubbling away.

The smell alone was already appetizing. Eventually, I couldn’t resist anymore and put the slightly undercooked noodles in my mouth. It was a bit firm and crispy, but it tasted good.

Devouring the noodles like a possessed person, I wiped the bowl clean with the rice Jigu-pa gave me, not leaving a drop of soup behind.

I felt a bit better.

“Phew.”

I guess I can’t resist my instincts.

Watching me eat the noodles like a man possessed, Jigu-pa shrugged her shoulders.

“At least you’re safe, that’s a relief.”

“…Huh?”

“I saw it on the news. It wasn’t live, but traces of your fight were shown.”

“Oh.”

The happiness of having filled my stomach quickly faded away.

“What did… they say?”

“…It’s not particularly good news for you.”

Despite thinking it’s better to know, Jigu-pa showed me the content on her smartphone.

I silently took the smartphone and read.

[“Magical Girl Attacks Police”]

That was roughly the gist of the article.

There were pictures of a heavily damaged armored vehicle, almost unrecognizable, and the handgun I had destroyed.

The floor, shattered several times during the fight, was also visible.

Of course, the article didn’t criticize “magical girls.”

That is, the magical girls of the Milky Way Federation. They probably sensationalized the title to increase views.

The article described me.

Fighting against monsters, ignoring police orders, and instead threatening them by destroying the armored vehicle.

“Hah.”

The direction of the article was so blatant that it made me laugh.

So, they’ll chase me to death soon. Branded as a criminal.

People are unfairly judged.

Well, a crime is a crime.

It’s true that I refused to be taken into custody. I did destroy cars and walls while flying through the streets of Seoul, knocking down police

In the place where I reappeared, I confidently destroyed city structures, threatened the police, and even managed to escape.

However, why I did such a thing is not written at all. It’s only natural, isn’t it?

“Could I really become a true villain?”

I muttered to myself in that way.

Would I kill without hesitation, regardless of human life or anything else?

Perhaps that’s what the author desires. If the world I live in were to be serialized into another work, then I would probably be considered somewhat detached from the supporting characters.

A good protagonist who must kill a friend who has gone on a rampage—could that be what the author truly wants?

“….”

I imagined Hayoon killing me.

The one in pain would likely be Hayoon, not me. I might feel relieved, but…

Ah.

It’s frustrating that one can’t even die as they please. It’s ridiculous.

I handed the smartphone back to Jigubba. Jigubba seemed to understand my words, widening their eyes and staring at me.

“…Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

Though I feel wronged and want to roll on the ground, becoming a real villain now wouldn’t resolve that sense of injustice.

Actually, in the eyes of others, I had already been somewhat of a villain.

Lastly, I recalled the magical girls who had rushed towards me. Thankfully, Hayoon didn’t join them.

…Is that really fortunate? Honestly, I’m not sure.

Deep down, something was still bubbling and simmering within me.

Even though I find this situation unfair, there’s a part of me that somehow… rather thinks things turned out for the best.

It’s absurd, but isn’t it true?

If the author does exist and if I were to consider him placing me here, wouldn’t it be natural to want to completely destroy the foundation of the work?

“….”

Yet, at the same time, I also think that such an act shouldn’t be done.

Hayoon’s face comes to mind. She would probably make a pained expression while fighting with me. The reason she could confront me until now was because I hid my face.

If I reveal my face and fight, Hayoon wouldn’t be able to fully unleash her power.

And such a fight would be meaningless. “Blossom,” the one I want to defeat, isn’t someone weakened in spirit and strength. Winning in that manner holds no significance in this world.

To properly seek revenge, I must defeat Blossom with my own strength, completely overpowering a Blossom with full power.

…Revenge on this world through using Hayoon.

“Ha, hahaha….”

I let out a weak laugh.

Jigubba looked at me with a slightly worried expression.

I took a long breath, then scanned my surroundings once more.

“James is over there.”

Looking over, James was asleep.

He had been sleeping on the same mat as me, but I made a separate spot for him so he wouldn’t accidentally roll over and crush me while turning in his sleep.

I roughly shaped a nest with my torn clothes and placed a hot pack underneath. It should stay warm all day when heated once, so it was a decent spot.

James was lying on top of it.

Beside him was some kind of machine device.

Could that be my weapon too? It seems small for that.

I’ll ask about it later when he wakes up.

I reflected on the events I had experienced.

It’s not all negative. While the public’s view of me continues to worsen, there are things I have gained.

My potential.

Although it only occurs when I’m under extreme stress, I can create a black hole just by existing, turning everything around me into chaos.

It’s literally a black hole; it even distorts light.

While I come out unscathed, nothing else sucked in has emerged yet. Not even my weapons.

Maybe I can retrieve and reuse them.

There may be components inside that James can utilize.

Let’s use all of that with my weapons.

Now that things have come to this, I must become a dangerously powerful being that cannot be ignored from the other side. I have to be so threatening that they won’t treat me like a cornered rat.

I know the odds are against me. But giving up feels too defeatist.

That’s why my circuits will keep running.

Perhaps that fact is my most potent weapon after all.