episode_0051

In truth, flying wasn’t as enjoyable as one might think.

I am… a person. Just an ordinary person. I’ve never done anything remarkable, rather timid and quite jealous by nature.

I worked for a villainous group depicted negatively in comics.

Being part of the villainous group, it was natural to clash with magical girls, and I knew that when I joined.

So, I endured it. Ha Yoon didn’t know my face anyway, and I would be fine after just one night.

The jealousy I felt towards Ha Yoon, I had hidden quite well over the years.

Now, as I find myself making excuses and saying “I can’t stand it anymore,” I am somewhat aware of it.

But what can I do?

I’m not a seasoned warrior, just an emotional person like everyone else. My vessel for containing emotions rising from deep within my chest was too small and fragile to hold them back.

A loud noise echoed.

People were screaming and running away.

Some pointed fingers at me, while others took out their smartphones to snap pictures or videos. Do they not realize how serious the situation is?

I ascended to a high ceiling and struck it with a hammer. Dust rained down on the people below. James wasn’t lying about its sturdiness. Well, considering magical girls could come attacking, it needed to be sturdy.

After the white dust showered down upon them, those people started screaming and running.

Seems like they realized their lives were in danger, huh?

Though it wasn’t over yet, many people were evacuating, and first-floor staff were efficiently ushering people out. Having experienced an explosion before, the company knew that failing to act swiftly in such situations would lead to trouble.

“Let’s go up.”

I said so and gestured towards the device James was riding.

“I thought it would all break as soon as we went up.”

James’s voice echoed outside through the speaker. The control seat was quite solidly built. Before closing, I thought that part alone might create a cute dome-like shape, but the propulsion device with four drones attached front and back had a sleek design.

It seemed like they detached the front part of a fighter jet model and attached drones underneath.

Were they designed to chase after me if I flew fast? Well, it didn’t matter. What mattered most was that using my magic, James could follow me, and it was relatively safe. Thanks to this, I could move more aggressively.

Without bothering to respond to James, I swung the hammer.

Clang.

Just like before, the back of the hammer unfolded brightly.

The circuits were spinning rapidly. Naturally, energy dispersed backward from the exposed electricity of the hammer.

I leaped forward with the speed of the propulsion device.

Unresolved frustrations, the current situation, the anxiety of potential failure, and the hesitation of facing Ha Yoon—all of these seemed to fade away behind me.

The air inside the building was filled with dust from my rampage, and screams of people still echoed in my ears—

Yet, the sound of the wind brushing past my ears as I ran at full speed somewhat calmed everything down.

Running with all my might, I reached the landing and stomped the ground with one foot.

Normally, the angle was such that if I stumbled and fell due to a misstep, it wouldn’t be unusual, but my toe pierced straight through the floor.

As I went through the stairs, my leg acting as the pivot point spun around.

When turning left, I pulled the hammerhead close, confirming it passed the door, then extended the hammer forward.

Just like throwing a hammer, I completed a full rotation. Since the hammer’s propulsion force didn’t stop midway, the hammerhead drew a rapid circle around me.

Thud!

Then, I forcefully smashed the landing door.

Even the creaking sound couldn’t properly escape as the door caved inwards. The lower latch held, but the upper one completely flew off.

The door slammed shut against the wall, then fell apart and dropped to the ground.

After another spin, I pushed off the ground and moved forward.

Running ahead with all my might, I struck the walls in all directions.

Sizzle, crack.

Next to the hammer, small flames ignited in response to my movements. These were additional propulsion devices James added after seeing us fight last time.

They looked like something out of a missile launch video.

Thanks to them, I could swing the hammer in all directions without staggering, causing decorations on the corridor to shatter and fall, leaving indentations on the walls and breaking several doors.

People popped out from inside, then went back in when they saw me. Those who went in didn’t come out again.

Debris, dust, metal shards, and broken pieces of wood flew in all directions. My head is probably gray by now.

I ran without caring whether those things stained my clothes or not.

I think I can smell something burning.

Did I scuff the carpet by stomping on it before the auxiliary propulsion system shut down? Maybe it’s the smell of air being compressed to gain thrust.

A sprinkler fell from above. Alarms blared from all directions. It seemed like there was an announcement coming through, but I smashed the speaker, so all I heard was static.

People poured out from where I had passed, screaming and running as they got drenched by water pouring from above.

I had no intention of destroying the entire building. The path I took was just one among many.

I only have one body to demolish the whole building. Time was a bit short, after all.

Draw attention by delaying time, but once you have their attention, do exactly what you want to do. That was our plan.

This comes from experience. Even when I ran with all my might, people’s attention was completely focused on me because I delayed time.

Contrary to what I hoped for from the government, federation, or company, my vigorous resistance was sensationalized in the media. Trying to block it with an embargo was futile. Someone had already broadcasted it live.

Among the fleeing crowd were people taking videos and photos.

How many of them posted online?

Running hard, I could see the opposite end of the corridor.

Bang!

“We’re at the next floor.”

Breaking the door, I stepped out and muttered.

“Excellent.”

James replied. His voice coming through the speaker made it seem like I was conversing with a robot. Even the drone’s appearance was like that.

But there was clearly a sense of joy in his voice. Terrifying. A robot with emotions. It feels like it could burn down the whole world.

Am I a human traitor collaborating with such a robot?

Not bad.

The floor above, and the one above that.

Running hard, I did as I pleased.

As I broke things, I gradually developed a technique.

Hitting a fire extinguisher makes a great mess. Hitting a fire hydrant turned the surroundings into a complete water world, and swinging the hammer around with the propulsion system on both ends burned everything around.

“Oh, wait. I just had a good idea.”

“A good idea?”

As I exclaimed joyfully, James looked puzzled. It seemed slightly endearing to see the drone tilting its head slightly.

This time, instead of the opposite corridor, I headed elsewhere.

Midway, I abruptly turned towards the center of the building and ran.

There were many elevators there.

All going down.

I chose the elevator closest to the first floor.

The elevator doors twisted inwardly. Is this why they say not to expect much? Well, it’s ‘me’ who’s expecting, after all. But humans are humans.

And I jumped down.

Why didn’t I think of this from the beginning?

Thud.

It would be troublesome if the elevator had already fallen, so I climbed onto the elevator that seemed to have stopped around the first floor.

Even though I couldn’t fully reduce the speed, there was a loud noise, and screams could be heard from the shaking.

I forcibly tore off the control panel above and pushed my face inside.

Some of the people inside were so scared that they fell flat on the floor.

“What are you doing? Don’t run away.”

When I gestured towards the open door, those few quickly crawled out and fled.

Good. No one left?

“What floor did they say the broadcasting room is on?”

“22nd floor. Almost the top.”

“I should have come in through the rooftop.”

“But wasn’t it you who insisted on coming to the first floor?”

That’s right.

I wish people had enough time to escape.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. 22nd floor, right?”

I smiled and pulled my face out.

With the hammer tightly gripped in both hands, I raised my leg.

“Can you follow?”

“It was designed to follow your magic, so it’s not impossible.”

James said with a slightly breathless voice, as if he knew what I was thinking. It was a voice that seemed to say, “Why didn’t you do it like this from the beginning?”

Well, you were the one who asked me to break as much as possible.

“Alright. Then try to keep up.”

I smiled as if challenging the drone and leaped up with all my might.

Bang!

The elevator I was standing on screamed, and my body floated upwards.

22nd floor.

Can I jump up all at once?

It doesn’t matter.

I can step on anything and jump up wherever.

It

Ian’s body was already drenched in sweat and water, with dust flipped on top of it, making the air humid.

Strangely, his mind felt refreshed.

Was it because he was vigorously smashing things he disliked?

Even so, his thoughts spun around in circles.

Perhaps his mind had also spun around following the circuit.

*

Bang!

The sound echoed from quite a distance.

Ironically, the building seemed quite intact from the outside. There didn’t seem to be any fire yet, and the windows merely reflected the sunset from the outside.

However, people were pouring out through the entrance.

The first floor of Nuar Corporation, facing Seoul City Hall, was a shopping mall. It was challenging to think of it as just the first floor of a typical building; with its high ceiling in a hall-like shape, many people could enter.

Naturally, even on a weekday evening, it was a place where quite a crowd gathered.

Police sirens filled the street, and arriving police officers quickly ushered people outside.

Abigail Hwan.

That was the only word that came to mind.

“The target has been reported to have gone up through the elevator shaft. Since the upper floors of the building seem to be the target, it is advised to approach from above.”

Such a message came through the intercom, leaving Ian perplexed.

The magical girls were looking at Hayoon.

What should they do?

That was the look in their eyes.

Just a moment ago, they had agreed to say that Jieun had done nothing wrong.

Rose and Dahlia took a more cautious stance. Delphinium was keeping neutral. Hayoon understood them and thus persuaded them by discussing what awaited them if they didn’t act.

Whether late or not, Hayoon’s intentions remained the same. If Jieun were to be arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, Hayoon was determined to testify to the best of her ability right there.

And, Hayoon was among the magical girls with the highest level of authority.

Once the truth was revealed, the magical girls wouldn’t be able to maintain the “status quo.” Jieun wouldn’t go down without a fight, and above all, the magical girls themselves were already aware of the situation.

In the end, they listened to Hayoon.

But ultimately, in this situation…

“It’s not just a tantrum,” Hayoon said.

“Surely, there must be a reason.”

“It could be revenge,” Rose said with a slightly serious expression.

“Because the chairman’s office is on the 22nd floor.”

The magical girls knew how Nuar Corporation headquarters was structured. They might not actually enter the headquarters, but it wasn’t impossible to know how things would unfold.

The 22nd floor was close to the top in a 24-story building. The 23rd floor was a management area, and the 24th floor had an observatory. So, practically speaking, it wasn’t unusual for it to be considered the top floor.

“…No way.”

If someone had orchestrated the terror, who would benefit the most from it?

Naturally, the person who gained the most from the terror would be the culprit.

If the former chairman suddenly disappeared and the current chairman took his place—

And considering the elderly man who was with Jieun, it was quite clear why Jieun was heading towards the 22nd floor.

“We need to hurry,” Iris said.

“If someone gets killed, we won’t be able to intervene anymore.”

Hayoon gritted her teeth at those words.

The magical girls turned towards the building.

*

The chaos on the 22nd floor showed no signs of stopping.

Bang!

As I broke through the elevator doors and stepped outside, I was met by combatants wielding guns.

They seemed to be somewhat prepared for my arrival from that direction.

Knowing this, I confidently slammed the floor several times with a hammer as soon as I exited the elevator. I was sure that this alone wouldn’t bring the building down.

However sturdy a building may be, hitting the floor with such force tends to make nearby surfaces vibrate a bit.

Seeing the combatants’ expressions of shock, I firmly planted my feet on the ground and unleashed flames from every thrust of the hammer.

The temperature in the room began to rise rapidly. The flames spewing from the hammer seemed hot enough to burn and melt anything they touched.

“Put out your weapons!”

I shouted.

“If you don’t, I’ll make sure you do.”

“…”

The combatants looked momentarily stunned, glancing at each other.

Thud.

As one of the combatants at the front dropped his gun, it was all over in an instant.

“Ah, ahh!”

One of the combatants cried out as he turned and leaped away.

The person next to him, and the one next to that, all jumped away in fear.

There wasn’t even anyone thinking about shooting me.

Well,

People in suits are already tough, but it’s even worse when they’re Earthlings. You might think you can handle magical girls for a moment, but I didn’t show any mercy and just smashed them all.

It’s surprisingly useful to have a bit of an exaggerated reputation.

While maintaining the propulsion system, I walked forward.

“Broadcast… broadcast… found it.”

I found a door and stood in front of it.

I reduced the thrust of the hammer a little. The noisy whirring sound as air rushed in quieted down slightly.

“… You can modify this, right?”

“Yes. The more ‘live broadcasting equipment’ we have, the better. Isn’t it true that all that equipment is wireless?”

“Alien technology, impressive.”

“Well, with energy, there are things that can be done, but…”

We shrugged at each other.

In reality, the drone only floated up and down slightly, but it felt like something was happening.

“… Well, that’s it then.”

“It’s not over if it breaks easily.”

James said.

Really.

Even though he’s probably thinking of using me until this moment, he still talks convincingly.

I don’t like it.

I gripped the hammer tightly with both hands and hit the door with all my strength.

Bang!

“… Huh?”

But the door didn’t break.

It wasn’t much different from the doors I had broken before.

The spot where the hammer hit was dented. But from inside—

“Oh, dodge—”

Before James could finish his sentence, everything turned white in front of me.

A pain, as if being hit by an explosion, engulfed my body, despite being protected by magic.

Getting hit for the second time.

Strangely, even as I flew and hit the wall, I was thinking that.

But it wasn’t an explosion.

Bang!

I barely managed to avoid the second blow by moving my body to the side.

“… A robot?”

Relieved that I didn’t let go of the hammer, I adjusted my posture.

“No…! That can’t be true! Nuar Corporation wouldn’t have that kind of technology…!”

“You’re not the only one who can create such intricate things, James.”

I raised my head.

The voice was coming from the speaker in the hallway.

“Even though it looks like this, it’s still a company. Isn’t it natural for a company to have technology superior to that of individuals?”

I looked at James.

Although his expression wasn’t visible, he seemed flustered and unable to continue speaking.

Thud, thud.

As the broken door of the broadcasting room crumbled, giant figures walked out.

They seemed to be one and a half times my size… no, they appeared to be twice as big. Their arms were as thick as my waist, and their fists at the end looked incredibly solid.

What I didn’t like was that the monstrous thing had a very clean design. An image akin to a friendly security robot that might appear in near-future SF works.

Was it originally made for such a purpose?

If it was designed for that, it’s no wonder my head is spinning.

“… Looks like we’ll have to fight.”

“Well, give it your best shot. There are quite a few of them if that’s the case.”