episode_0055

In a modern democratic state where permanent rule is impossible unless a coup occurs, it is challenging to completely control the media.

While attempts can be made, several preemptive conditions are necessary for those attempts to succeed.

Firstly, there needed to be a connection between the broadcasting station and the issue at hand. Leaders of any group who have become significantly influential are often sincerely concerned about their own positions and will actively prevent any threats that may cause them to lose their place.

Unfortunately for the government, in this case, the Black Magic Girl was not significantly linked to the media.

The girl had no parents. She wasn’t just someone who lost her parents in an accident; she was a child who never experienced having parents from the start. Even if there were people she knew, there weren’t many. And even if there were, those acquaintances did not have connections to high-ranking individuals in broadcasting stations.

While it was true that the news previously portrayed the Black Magic Girl as a villain, changing the narrative in news content was a common occurrence. It was easy to come up with excuses to cover up such facts.

Especially in this case, since both the federal government and companies were hiding the truth.

The second condition was that the news story should not bring in money.

If a story doesn’t generate revenue and touches on sensitive information concerning the government, federal entities, or companies, the media usually avoids delving into it. This was expected.

The government has a regulatory body for broadcasting, the federal government could potentially influence the government, and companies hold positions where they advertise on broadcasting stations and pay money.

However, once again, this issue did not have the potential to generate revenue.

Since the news coverage brought in good ratings, and there was more than one company in the country. Even if Noir Corporation withdrew its advertisements, the advertising slots surrounding the high-rated news remained expensive.

As a result, the appeal of the Black Magic Girl dominated all the main news slots on the broadcasting station.

Furthermore, the content spread overseas. Particularly, foreign broadcasting stations without any reason to be cautious of the Korean government thoroughly dissected the grim reality.

The federal government rejected all interview requests.

Although there were interview requests from places other than Korea, officials from other countries showed disapproval and stated:

“The Federation spans across the entire galaxy. So just because a part of the Federation did something does not mean it represents the entire Federation’s intentions.”

In essence, the mistakes made by those responsible for Korea were seen as their own errors.

However, calming public opinion with such explanations was not easy.

There were organizations worldwide comprised of magical girls, heroes, or special forces—most of whom were under the Federation and consisted mostly of young members.

Naturally, after such an incident in Korea, people began to wonder:

“Could it happen to us too?”

The “good image” the Federation had been trying to cultivate over the past five years took a serious blow due to this event. They labeled a minor as a terrorist while letting the “real terrorists” slip through.

Even on planets outside Earth, generally, if a planet has reached a certain level of civilization, they differentiate between “minors” and “adults.” Naturally, stories about such actions towards minors on Earth began to spread among the Federation-affiliated nations.

Given the fame of magical girls beyond Earth, the predicament was not limited to just the Federation.

Similar groups in other countries operating like the Federation also raised concerns about the incident.

Most of them were quick to point fingers before being criticized themselves.

Ignoring all these words entirely was not an option. Any attempt to respond would inevitably leave gaps.

To quell the situation, a “countermeasure” was necessary.

Within the government, opinions varied on how to implement this countermeasure.

Of course, among the Federation, the government, and companies, the most affected party was the corporate side.

Noir Corporation’s reputation took a deep hit due to this incident.

Their image wasn’t pristine to begin with, but the talk of needing to boycott Noir Corporation surfaced, indicating a growing discontent among the people.

…Perhaps the backlash was a consequence of how the Black Magic Girl had been consistently portrayed as a villain until now.

Public opinion had leaned towards swiftly capturing and putting the magical girls on trial.

There had been quite a few discussions about the “magical girls.”

Yet, the girls themselves had not made any statements. Attempts to inquire about what they had been doing until the situation escalated were met with silence, even from the Federation.

Three days had passed since the broadcast, but the world remained in turmoil.

In the chaotic world, what intrigued her the most was the revelation of the “Black Magic Girl.”

Where on earth did that girl disappear to?

*

On the first day, I camped in the mountains.

No, it’s not a joke or anything. I was literally camping.

Wearing a mask on my face, hair styled differently, dressed in everyday clothes to appear distinct, I ventured outside. However, I wasn’t sure where I should hide my body.

I had saved up some money, but it wasn’t much. So, I decided to find a place to spend the night as cheaply and safely as possible, leading me to this spot.

It was somewhat risky. Setting up a tent in a place other than a campground was bound to attract attention.

Fortunately, I managed to choose a spot where there were no people around.

I’m not exactly sure where this is. Judging by the mountain behind, it doesn’t seem like an official camping site.

“Really, what would you have done if it weren’t for me?”

“Want me to roast some for you too?”

I asked James nonchalantly as he tried to act cool, and he fell silent.

Naturally, James had also changed his appearance.

Luckily, there are a few shapeshifters in this country. Most of them are employed by companies and have their own network, but James didn’t seem to belong to any of those communities.

There are occasional tourists who visit, but I haven’t encountered them personally. Just wandering around the streets would likely lead to trouble since people might step on you inadvertently.

However, James covered his body using a technique similar to the one used to create my face. He now had brown spotted fur covering him.

Even in this situation, James remained inside the bag. It’s best not to attract unnecessary attention.

After responding to James, I quickly scanned the surroundings.

Fortunately, there was no one nearby.

It was a weekday, and being close to the mountains helped. If today happened to be the anniversary of the death of the mountain owner, relatives might come looking, but judging by the height of the grass growing on the oxygen-rich soil, it seemed safe for now.

“…We can’t stay here for long.”

“Of course. We were just looking for a place to stay in a hurry.”

James had prepared the tent.

Naturally, it wasn’t meant for camping but as a lightweight tent in case we needed to spend the night in the mountains. It was quite light, enough to carry with just a bag and a few essentials.

If it felt too heavy, we could just stuff it into a corner.

…I wonder if there’s a way for me to live inside that space? Probably not, right?

“But do you really not eat meat?”

“There’s no need to eat it, but if you must prepare something, I’d prefer something like a caterpillar over meat. Maybe a mealworm.”

“Got it. I’ll eat it myself.”

I hadn’t asked just to share.

And I don’t like handling mealworms.

“…”

I silently watched the meat cooking.

What a luxurious refugee life.

My body still ached. In reality, I just wanted to lie down and sleep.

But at the same time, I was terribly hungry. The first thing I did after setting up the tent was to take out the canned food I had packed in my bag.

By the way, James was munching on sunflower seeds from the bag. I had brought them for him when we were hiding in Pang Pang’s house. So, I wasn’t worried about James’ food. Those seeds should last him a while.

…I’m a bit envious. Being able to hide in a remote corner anywhere becomes a form of refuge. Though in the wild, you could end up as a cat’s prey.

As I heard sizzling sounds, I picked up a fork.

The well-cooked surface of the canned ham was visible.

Eating ham cooked on a camping burner in the mountains – it’s either classy or pitiful.

One thing’s for sure, it’s delicious.

…Reminds me of Pang Pang’s place.

Although it’s starting to feel like spring, it’s quite cold outside. I’m not sure how long I can endure with just a tent and a sleeping bag.

Moreover, there’s no long-term accommodation in a place like this. Do I just wander around the mountains and set up a tent wherever? That would attract too much attention.

Returning to Pang Pang’s house is probably impossible.

Despite the appetizing smell of the nicely cooked meat, I found myself having such gloomy thoughts.

*

The next day.

I left the camping site.

I folded the tent neatly, stuffed it into my bag, and hoisted the large bag onto my back.

I didn’t like that James’ voice came from the back of my head when he spoke, but it couldn’t be helped.

When the backpack for backtracking that makes my head spin is opened, the top part of it becomes somewhat like James’s research room.

In a sense, I am like a moving version of James’s refuge.

I didn’t particularly like that, but as someone who needed help at the moment, I had no other choice.

…It still hurts.

There isn’t even a long road nearby. Not entirely absent, but there were only signs that people had passed by.

I don’t even know where this is.

The black hole certainly brought me to a place where nobody knows me. It was a place I didn’t even know.

At least there is a road nearby, and I’m thinking that if I follow that road, I might come across somewhere.

“Now what?”

“For now, finding shelter should be a priority. No need for an ID.”

“….”

Where could such a place be?

As I pondered whether I should keep moving mountains, I suddenly felt weak.

“What about a guesthouse?”

“Guesthouses tend to be expensive compared to the facilities. Even if you stay for just a week, you’ll end up spending all your money.”

No, if I just stay without doing anything, I could last longer than a week, but I also need to eat.

Moreover, since it’s a place where individuals offer accommodation in their own homes, I would inevitably have to interact with the homeowner in various ways.

Naturally, the possibility of exposing my identity would skyrocket.

…I’d rather avoid that.

“I hope there’s some abandoned house or something.”

It’s better than having nothing.

“…Maybe I should ask the magical girls for help.”

“Are you crazy?”

James questioned my muttering.

“Don’t you think that magical girls are under surveillance? The fact that they helped you this time surely must have been reported to the authorities. If they fail to stop you, it wouldn’t be surprising if they are prohibited from continuing their magical girl activities.”

“….”

If Hayoon stops being a magical girl.

Would that be okay? She would definitely be deeply saddened.

I wiped my face with my hand.

Wisdom.

I’m worried about what happened to Wisdom. I only saw her being taken to the hospital at that time.

Here, I can’t see any news or newspapers. I have no idea how things turned out.

I stood up from my spot.

Whatever happens, I had to keep moving.

Considering walking along the road, I changed direction and decided not to walk on the road. If another car sees me while walking on the road, things could get complicated.

Although I could see the road, I chose to walk at a distance where cars wouldn’t notice me. They probably won’t maintain that distance for long. After all, this isn’t just any mountain.

If that happens… I’ll have no choice but to walk on the road.

With that determination, I walked diligently.

—

One might call it luck.

“Hmm.”

James rested his chin on his hand as he looked at the old, rundown house.

While walking near the road, I discovered another path that seemed to have been used by people, leaving traces similar to the path leading from the mountain lodge to the road.

However, this path was much more challenging than the one leading to the mountain lodge.

Even though it was early spring, weeds grew abundantly on the path. Considering how high the weeds had grown, it seemed like they would reach waist height by summer.

After walking for several hours at that point, I was exhausted and looking for a place to rest.

Just as I thought about sitting down wherever there might be a tree or something to rest on.

“This should be suitable for temporary lodging.”

James remarked while looking at the quaint village.

Indeed, it was a village.

It was quite spacious. There were about six houses.

Judging by the fact that only the foundations of some houses remained, it seemed like residents had been leaving the village one by one, leaving behind these six abandoned houses.

“If we set up a tent inside the house, it should be livable for a while.”

“…Really?”

“You’re not seriously asking that question, are you? If it’s a lodging facility that doesn’t cost anything and doesn’t require an ID, there aren’t many options left.”

“….”

Glancing at the house and surveying the surroundings, even though it was still daytime, it felt eerily desolate. Among the six single-story houses, the one at the top was the most intact and well-preserved. Most of the other houses were partially collapsed.

This house managed to maintain its structure to some extent, but…

I approached the house with cautious steps.

Near the veranda where one person could barely sit, there was a rusty half-open door. Surprisingly, the window was intact and attached.

Usually, abandoned houses like this would have been vandalized by enthusiasts, but it seemed like this place was too remote to be found

The inside of a house that had been uninhabited for a long time was in a state where one could probably avoid it.

“……”

Wouldn’t it be better next to the oxygen?

“Still, if we set up a tent inside, we won’t freeze to death. The chances of not being noticed even if we use fire would increase. It’s about when all the windows are closed. As for mold… well, let’s take our time to clean it up.”

“Isn’t that something I should do?”

“Well, isn’t that the case? The Zero Robot has already become your equipment.”

“……”

There were many things I wanted to argue about, but there was no choice.

I took a deep breath and looked around.

It’s a bit more spacious than Pang Pang’s place, at least.

… Well, okay.

“Can we make something like a radio?”

“If you apply circuits, you should be able to operate items necessary for your daily life. In that sense, this place seems suitable. Don’t you think? Some minimum energy is needed to open up space.”

That’s why I brought my bag all the way here.

Feeling relieved that no one knew where I was, my anxiety eased a bit.

Maybe because I confirmed that Hayoon didn’t resent me.

At least one potential threat seems to have diminished, right?

“……”

Still, James’ words were honestly a bit annoying.

If I’m hungry and have nothing to eat, maybe I should consider using James as food.

“Aren’t you having extremely uncivilized thoughts right now?”

“But these days, can’t we read people’s faces to some extent?”

When I was an administrator, it seemed like he couldn’t understand my expressions.

Taking a deep breath, I set down my backpack.

James scurried in and nestled into the backpack. It must be a tent-like backpack.

I unzipped it, took out the tent, and spread it out.

I didn’t stake it to the ground, but well, it shouldn’t fly away in the wind.

After setting up the tent, I surveyed the interior, which was a ‘waste’.

… I don’t know how long I’ll stay, but maybe I can stay here for a few weeks?

Then it’s better to keep the inside clean.

I took a deep breath.

My body wasn’t fully recovered, and the thought of having to work hard already didn’t sit well with me—

Well, what can I do.

For now, I have to hide until Hayoon calls for me.

… Just thinking about it makes my heart race; I’m truly hopeless.

*

I heard various stories.

The most common one was, “How could this happen?”

All the adults said the same thing.

Whatever happened, they should have caught Jieun.

If there was injustice, she should have told her story properly.

“……Lies.”

Hayoon muttered.

“You said that, but then said it was inevitable once you caught her.”

Should I have just run away then? Should I have run far away with Jieun?

“……”

But in the end, it was Hayoon who couldn’t make such a choice. Sticking by Jieun’s side in such a situation only served to boost Jieun’s morale.

But still.

I still wanted to see her.

Since realizing that Jieun didn’t seem to despise Hayoon, I just wanted to see her.

Was it a wrong choice back then?

On her knees, begging to leave together, even if she had to.

She hated it. Really.

The circuit was retrieved.

It wouldn’t be permanently taken away. Maybe if necessary, Hayoon would be called to rewind it at that moment.

Just like handling a tool.

“Hayoon….”

Cherry called out to Hayoon, who lay on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling.

But there was nothing more to say.

She knew it wasn’t Cherry’s fault, but emotions aren’t easily controlled.

Hayoon turned her head.

She saw the emergency call device placed nearby.

The spare emergency call device she had kept from before.

… At least, she could feel connected to Jieun because of its presence.

A single strand of hope.

Perhaps the reason Hayoon couldn’t go on a rampage right now was truly because of that one reason.