Transformation or Death

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 Loss, Preparation (1)

The sky gained a white trail. It was a line like forking lightning spreading sideways. The jagged trail with many small lines soon stopped in a corner of a remote city. 

From where the line stopped, a rain of lightning poured down. Without clouds or rain, only lightning fell. Brilliant white lightning. Huge beams of light thrashed the earth relentlessly.

The commotion caused by just two villains held an overwhelming authority reminiscent of a mythical battle.

“Wow~”  

White Davi let out an exclamation of admiration.

“Sumimassen~! Shall we fight that?”

“Fight that…?”

“Absolutely not! Don’t!”

Joo Ah-yoon stopped her in fright. Far in the distance, the sky seemed to be furiously thundering in rage.

He was fighting so far away now that they couldn’t even see him. For a magical girl to join that battle would be an immense burden on him.

Moreover, his destructive fighting style that neglected self-defense like before would be even more so.

“Yes, I understand!”

White Davi smiled faintly and nodded. She tightened her arms around Joo Ah-yoon, embracing her. Her lush body that didn’t seem to belong to a girl in her teens enveloped Joo Ah-yoon like a cushion. Joo Ah-yoon was not pleased at all.

“You were worried about me! Thank you!”  

Of course not. Joo Ah-yoon wasn’t worried about this unnecessarily tense and rude magical girl. She was worried about her brother, who must be battling amidst that downpour of lightning right now.

“….?”

“Kyaa a tsundere senior! You should just say you’re worried when you’re worried!”

But she remained silent, finding it too bothersome to respond unnecessarily and start an argument. They had barely exchanged any words, but Joo Ah-yoon already disliked White Davi.

Did her past self before losing her memories really get along well with someone like this? It was strange. From what she saw before, it didn’t seem like Davi cared about managing her image either.

“Hey White…Davi.”

“…?”  

“What’s wrong, why are you acting like that?”

“Why, why are you acting like that…? It’s scary when you look so serious! Why aren’t you calling me a brat like usual?” 

Ah, so they didn’t get along closely. Joo Ah-yoon realized. She understood that it was Davi approaching her one-sidedly, not them being close friends.

Gugung. The thunder still roared intensely, vigorously causing ripples with the sky as its drum. Watching this scene with concern, Red Vega asked, “….Sister, what should we really do?”

“This is a good thing for us.”

Blue Sirius let out a deep sigh and placed her hand on the gem near her chest. 

“Altair. You got a grasp of the situation?”

[Yes…It’s hard to see clearly because of the lightning. But they’re just fighting each other to the death. Both villains seem to have expended a considerable amount of stardust. Most likely they won’t raid the neighborhood again after this battle. Well…they probably wouldn’t have attacked in the first place if someone didn’t provoke them.]

Orange Altair’s voice was heard by all the magical girls present. All their gazes turned towards White Davi. 

After scanning the group, White Davi nodded resolutely.

“Wakarimashita (I understand)! The disrespectful Otonashi day! I will make him pay with his death….”

“Hey hey, what nonsense! I don’t know what he did but killing is…”

“Huu…calm down.”  

Blue Sirius placed the sharp end of her pipe against her neck. Joo Ah-yoon, right beside her, was startled while Blue Sirius rubbed her forehead as if troubled by a headache.

“What good is killing him? He won’t even get punished down in the association’s underground. Don’t think you can get away easily today.”  

“…Hai.”

White Davi deflated weakly.

“Right, for now let’s focus maximum effort on evacuating and protecting the civilians nearby since we don’t know how far the aftermath of that fight will reach. It would be great if they both collapse after fighting…but that probably won’t happen. While focusing on protection, don’t forget to also prepare for dealing with whichever villain remains after the battle.”

Blue Sirius, who had been commanding the magical girls with practiced ease, rubbed her forehead again.

“Ah, I’ll need to analyze that new villain too…ah, seriously.”  

It was very unlike Blue Sirius to vent frustration like this about any enemy that appeared. The other magical girls tensed up at her clearly unusual reaction. Joo Ah-yoon did too.

‘What’s gotten into that senior…?’

‘No matter how quickly we finish, I won’t have time to meet Jaehyung again today…ah, I really wish all the villains would just die. Die die die die die!!!’  

That lament didn’t even scratch the surface of the stress Blue Sirius was feeling right now. Suppressing inexpressible dissatisfaction and vexation, she barely maintained her composure.

“Anyway, let’s all split up and do our jobs now. Especially you Davi, cut out the unnecessary stunts from now on…”

“Um, this little one…has something to say!”

“If it’s nonsense, I’ll shove ice right in your mouth. What is it?”

“About the villain that appeared earlier…I don’t think we’ll need to register it as a new one.”  

White Davi quickly continued before anyone could reprimand her.

“I have evidence! First! We were completely ignored while it only charged at the villain! We know villains with that habit! Second! Its appearance before being covered in that lightning! It also closely resembled a villain we know! The color was white and it had strange decorations we’ve never seen before…but we know that villains can transform into various shapes, don’t we? Like some cheap old hero anime.”

Red Vega’s resolute expression slowly turned to one of dismay.  

“Boku (I) believe that villain to be the Big Dipper!”

“…Hwa, are you sure?”  

Red Vega asked White Davi, sounding somewhat anxious.

“Of course I’m not 100% sure but…I’d say it’s almost 100% likely! 100%!” 

“What do I do…”

Dazed, Red Vega slumped down at White Davi’s assertion.

“What have I just done…”  

“Yes, it does make sense.”

Blue Sirius also nodded in agreement. White Davi beamed again as if nothing had happened and scratched her head.

“Ahahah… (as expected) I might be a genius?”

“Of course, it’s still too early to be certain.”

Blue Sirius muttered in a troubled voice. 

“Moreover… If that speculation is right, it means that the villain gained even greater power. It was difficult enough until now, but an even worse villain…”

“Se, Senior.”  

Joo Ah-yoon’s mouth twitched. She wanted to shout that it wasn’t true.

“…Ah-yoon.”

But she couldn’t say it. Blue Sirius looked at her with apologetic eyes. Joo Ah-yoon felt guilty for no reason. 

“I’m sorry I couldn’t take proper care of you. I should have looked after you more… I made this mistake again…. I’m sorry. Really sorry…”

“Eh, what are you saying, senior? It’s the villain who’s bad, not you.”

Rubbing her aching side, Joo Ah-yoon smiled bitterly.

“I’m okay.”

Revealing the truth would only cause trouble for everyone. It could draw unnecessary attention and focus on Han Jae-jung, and it would only add a mental burden to Blue Sirius, who must defeat the villain.

‘Why did his transformed appearance have to look like a villain…’

Moreover, the appearance from earlier undoubtedly looked like a villain to anyone who saw it. The misunderstanding could only deepen. Everyone would only get hurt.

‘Why did brother have to have that kind of dream?’

What kind of protector’s protector is he? The one being protected doesn’t even feel protected and is attacking him, shaking in terror.

What meaning does that dream have? What meaning does an unrecognized dream have? What meaning does a dream that no one understands have?

All he’ll receive is hatred, and all he’ll have left is mere self-satisfaction.

The dream is misery.

After overcoming countless unimaginable hardships, all that awaits is a meager sense of relief and satisfaction.

No. He won’t even reach that. There is no answer for an abstract goal.

He’ll keep struggling to fulfill that desire until he ultimately loses his life, regretting and lamenting until the end.

Joo Ah-yoon felt bitter. She lamented the possibility that the one who would meet such a wretched demise could be the very person she adored.  

Dreams are misery.

What a dreadful life it is to cling to a goal that seems utterly unrealistic and live chasing after it.

But that’s precisely why one can feel something. When observing those dreamers as an outsider, something becomes visible.

Dreams are misery. Simultaneously, they are challenges.

Those who don’t give up even amidst trials and suffering are beautiful.  

Though dreamers may be miserable, they are beautiful.

She now gazed at the distant rumbling of thunderous lightning. Thinking of the one continuing a battle that would be praised by no one, at a distance so far it couldn’t be seen or reached.

“Uwah! Looks like we need to take action quickly?”  

“Huh? Yes, yep! First things first… we have to… yes…. I’m not a bad girl who beats people whose faces I can’t even see… I’m the shooting star protecting citizens….”

“For now, you should evacuate, Ah-yoon.”

Worried about the aftermath of the lightning, the magical girls sprang into action. Joo Ah-yoon nodded in response to Blue Sirius, who looked at her with great concern.

‘…Okay. I’ll run away like brother says.’  

Since she had no power of her own, staying would only cause trouble.

‘But, brother has to come back too.’

Otherwise, she would find a way to follow him. This time, she wouldn’t forgive him for disappearing on his own.

A faint glimmer appeared on the iron ball hovering beside Joo Ah-yoon.

***

Ippotranslation

***

“I… you don’t have to go this far…”

“No!”

After the commotion settled down somewhat, a magical girl still remained beside Joo Ah-yoon.

“I know sister Deneb’s story! She was once kidnapped by a villain in the past, right? She awakened her magical girl powers from that experience! Being kidnapped must have left a strong trauma for sister! I can’t just ignore sister trying to endure the pain and pretending to be okay on the outside!”

“Haha…”

Joo Ah-yoon laughed awkwardly. 

‘I’m not Deneb. And what’s that story? I did that? I don’t remember at all. And it’s burdensome. Uncomfortable. You know me but I don’t know you…!’

Mulling over those thoughts, she blurted out, “Red Vega, you’re making me uncomfortable. You’re annoying me, so go home.”

“Haha, did you think I, who has been tempered by sister’s harsh words, would back down from just that? Your words are weaker than usual. Proof that you’re exhausted, isn’t it?”

“Ah, fuck off, don’t follow me.”

“That’s just how you are, sister!”

Joo Ah-yoon was dumbfounded.

‘What the hell kind of things did I say for her to… What did I normally say to this brat who’s still a student?’

“No, seriously, fuck off!”

She cursed at her past self and continued swearing in the present, but Baek Ah-hee just smiled cheerfully and followed her.

In the end, she followed Joo Ah-yoon all the way to her house. Judging by how naturally she followed the path, she must have come over a few times before.

“You really need to drink this and leave.”

“Wowow, hot cocoa! I love this~ Thank you, sister!”

“What a shameless kid…”

The hands holding the hot cocoa Baek Ah-hee was blowing on were trembling slightly. Joo Ah-yoon sensed something instinctively.

‘…Does she not want to be alone? She was worried about me, but she also needed someone to be with…’

She looked unsettled.

‘Well, how terrifying must it have been for a kid not even in her 20s yet.’

Even Joo Ah-yoon, who wasn’t directly involved in the fight, was overwhelmed by the terror. Each attack coming from all directions was more than enough to tear through a fragile human’s flesh and take a life.

“…Stay until dinner at least.”

“Really? Waaah! I love you, sister Deneb! As expected, a tsundere~”

“I’m not Deneb anymore. And don’t say stuff like that.”

It seemed she must have gotten along well with this kid in the past.

“What do you want to eat? I was thinking of just getting delivery for something simple…”

Ding dong.

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

“Oh~ The delivery system these days is amazing! Just the thought and it’s automatically delivered! And so quickly too!”

“I don’t think so. Let me go check.”

Without hesitation, Joo Ah-yoon went to the front door and opened it.

“Ah-yoon… I’m just going to take a quick shower… Oh man, I’m drenched in sweat…”

It was Han Jae-jung. He naturally entered through the front door, took off his shoes, and stepped inside the house. Joo Ah-yoon didn’t even have a chance to stop him. Before she could welcome him back, she had to stop him.

“Ah, brother, wait a sec!”  

“Hm? Why so sudden… Ms. Vega?”

“…Mr. Jae-jung?”

The three people who had just been at the battlefield met.

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