Transformation or Death

Holy Power (5)

“Coffee is ready.”

“Oh, thank you. Hmm… It smells good.”

After Haru’s brilliant apple mad movie ended, Cafe Baekho obtained a moment of peace.

“The barista seems skilled, but it must be difficult with no customers, right?”

“Haha, well, what can you do? But it’s worth it when customers occasionally come.”

“Oh, right. Come to think of it, was that owner over there a magical girl?”

“Yes. She’s retired now.”

“Then managing the cafe is kind of a hobby… And the hard work falls on her, right?”

Even though the quest frequency has recently decreased, he still receives two to three quests a day. Small villain exterminations continue to happen daily.

Fortunately, after regaining his starlight, quick deployment and retreat became possible, reducing the frequency of meetings with the magical girl. Moreover, with Joo Ah-yoon’s help, he can now use the butterfly.

The convenience of quest completion has improved, but the salary remains the same. In fact, this employee’s salary is close to an endless deficit.

If magical girls don’t occasionally come and overspend, the salary would almost seem not worth it. Though they do make a significant profit from cocktails sold only at night…

Recently, with magical girls being very busy, even that small revenue has disappeared.

And then, the quests…

[Main Quest: ‘Pest Extermination’ is in progress. Non-urgent quests can be abandoned.]

This quest information was delivered by Belt after he regained consciousness.

Belt must have exploited the system’s loopholes to proceed with the quest in the most favorable way for Han Jae-jung.

He felt unexpectedly proud of Belt. Something unimaginable in the past.

“So how is it? Pass me the information. I’ll compensate you with a satisfactory amount.”

“I’m sorry, but this is just an ordinary tea shop, so I don’t have any information for the magical girl.”

“Huh? Did I ever mention that I was a magical girl?”

“Well, if a Japanese person who hangs out with that friend has a high probability of being a magical girl, I just roughly guessed. Looks like I was right.” ɽАＮ𝘰ΒĘṥ

Han Jae-jung looked at Haru. When their eyes met, she flinched and turned away while biting her straw.

“I, I won’t open my mouth again…!”

“Who said anything?”

“Because I’ve been screwed over by my loose talk more times than I can count… Today, I’m going into a silent meditation!”

She already broke her silence by saying that. Han Jae-jung didn’t bother to point it out.@@novelbin@@

What he wanted to address was Joo Ah-yoon.

‘What the hell is she saying.’

Unable to understand Japanese, he had no idea what she was talking about.

‘Why is he so good at this.’

Why is he competent in such strange areas? Even as a weeaboo, his skills were beyond imagination. Did he study something in the past?

Gradually, shadows began to form around Joo Ah-yoon’s eyes.

It was just a tiny stimulus. The humiliation of being a boss who only receives help from employees. Something that should have stopped right there.

For most people, being fluent in a language other than English is difficult. In fact, her inability to understand Japanese made her closer to average.

But now, that was no longer the case.

Like a droplet falling into a full glass and overflowing its contents, her already tired mind was hypersensitively receiving even the smallest stimuli.

Joo Ah-yoon had volunteered to be Han Jae-jung’s helper.

Life support, combat assistance.

Amid repeated self-blame that she hadn’t been helpful in anything, the fact that she couldn’t even help with communication was enough to plunge her into a sense of self-loathing.

Her role was wavering.

For people whose identity is tied to their role, this was quite a significant situation.

Joo Ah-yoon was one of those people.

‘Am I really being helpful?’

She had been stuck in this question for days.

A terminal, unreasonably short period, a task with difficulty far exceeding the time available.

In the midst of the current crisis, Joo Ah-yoon was still wandering.

“Hmm… If this continues, communication will be inconvenient.”

Magenta Helios muttered, looking at the dejected Joo Ah-yoon.

The lack of communication was just a trigger, and there was a more complex and heavy story behind that expression, but she couldn’t know that.

“Since we’re going to talk anyway, I’ll change my outfit.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m not a mentally ill character in a work of fiction. If I’m talking to myself, there must be a reason. What could it be?”

“…Hoping to be heard?”

“Correct.”

A girl around ten years old caught a red sphere floating around her. The sphere had comical facial features that seemed like they came from a children’s cartoon.

As the soft ball-like sphere was caught in her palm, it suddenly changed shape into a long rod.

“Since you heard it, you understand it, right?”

“What the hell…”

Before Han Jae-jung could stop her, the girl moved her lips.

“Dress up.”

[Dress up your star!]

Light filled the quiet afternoon cafe. It was warm like sunlight. Simultaneously, the light was cruel and arrogant. It shone its own light without caring about anyone’s gaze. It didn’t care whether its target was hot or burning.

Her brown hair that reached down to her back stretched longer and was painted pink. Her purple pupils were dyed a similar color to her hair, and her seemingly endless hair was tied into a ponytail with a cute ribbon.

Her white dress became more flowy, with a design laden with frills and ribbons. Pink also dyed the dress.

In an instant, a magical girl appeared.

Han Jae-jung was stunned.

“…Are you crazy?”

“Why, this way she’ll understand too.”

“But suddenly transforming like this…”

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes, there is.”

“Hmm~ What is it?”

“It’s noisy and hurts my eyes.”

Magenta Helios chuckled at Han Jae-jung’s response.

“Huhuhuh. What a cute answer. If it’s inconvenient, just endure it.”

Then she moved her pink pupils to look at Joo Ah-yoon.

“You look surprised?”

“Oh… Me?”

“Yes. Have you seen me before? Why are you staring with such wide eyes?”

Magenta Helios smiled teasingly and leisurely sipped her coffee.

Joo Ah-yoon suppressed her desire to bite her lip. It was actually spot on. Originally, she wouldn’t have made such a mistake, but due to her previous serious contemplation, she failed to control her expression.

Magenta Helios. One of the magical girls from yesterday’s battle and a magical girl dispatched from Japan.

According to Han Jae-jung, an overwhelmingly senior magical girl. Red Helios of the 2nd generation, herself.

‘So it wasn’t just some kid talking nonsense!’

Seeing her, Joo Ah-yoon remembered Silver Luna’s terrible previous encounter.

An overwhelming sense of powerlessness she hadn’t felt since obtaining the belt. The feeling of being toyed with by the opponent. The misery of just killing time.

Like a beast in front of its predator. In just one day, fear had been imprinted on a genetic level.

As the silver horror surfaced, Joo Ah-yoon unconsciously trembled.

‘Is she as strong as that crazy bitch?’

If she can also use holy power, there’s no way to survive.

“…I’m just surprised by the sudden transformation.”

“Suddenly using formal speech? Well, I suppose you would be if you were surprised.”

Her nodding as if understanding everything was incredibly irritating.

“Hey, you!”

Haru, looking flustered, opened and closed her mouth, then raised her fist threateningly.

“What kind of language is that to adults! And suddenly transforming… I could have interpreted!”

“Uncomfortable. There’s also a risk of intent being distorted.”

She especially didn’t want to entrust this to Haru.

“So isn’t it easier to talk like this by transforming? Right?”

“What do you want to say?”

“I told you. Aren’t there any villains around here?”

Han Jae-jung sighed deeply and answered.

“Didn’t I say? The town was previously damaged by villains. But lately, they don’t appear. If you want such information, it would be better to go to headquarters. There, all information would be gathered. If possible, you could even view CCTV records.”

“But that means there’s virtually nothing beyond officially recorded facts.”

Magenta Helios did not back down.

“…White, don’t you know? The secrets about these children.”

While asking for information about villains, she was immediately digging into ‘these children’. Naturally, those children meant Han Jae-jung and Joo Ah-yoon.

In essence, it was no different from questioning them that they were related to villains.

“I, I don’t know! I know nothing at all!”

Haru shook her head, avoiding the question.

‘She’s going to drive me crazy.’

Anyone could see she knew something. Han Jae-jung suppressed his desire to hold his head.

‘I should have warned her in advance.’

During the November rampage incident, she had glimpsed some of Han Jae-jung’s secrets. Her words and actions suggested familiarity with villains.

That day, Haru and Han Jae-jung had essentially shared each other’s secrets.

‘I was planning to call her separately and handle this…!’

He had wanted to use this secret to create a connection with Haru.

He hadn’t established that connection yet. White Davi had been busy every day cleaning up the November rampage, and when she finally had some free time, Han Jae-jung no longer had any.

As a result, his plan to establish a discreet cooperative relationship with Haru had been disrupted.

The problem was that because of the ambiguous secret he had given her that day, Haru was now making such clumsy lies.

‘Look how well I did?!’

Despite everything, Haru was looking at Han Jae-jung expectantly, peeking at him as if waiting for praise.

‘Right, it’s not like I didn’t praise her.’

Normally, he would have responded immediately without hesitation and cleaned up the mess later.

This was a significant improvement. Han Jae-jung laughed helplessly.

“I see.”

Magenta Helios heard Haru’s response and smiled, sipping her coffee again.

“So that’s a yes?”

“No, it’s not! The older brother is a good person who trusts me! So I’ll trust him too!”

“Yes, yes. Just do that much, White. That’s enough for me. Or that male will get upset.”

She was still looking out for his health, which he was grateful for.

“Oh my, the time has already passed? White, it’s almost meeting time. Let’s get up.”

“Already? Just a moment!”

Haru immediately grabbed the mug with both hands and drank its contents like she was drinking a bowl of makgeolli. And it was hot.

“Puha! Then I’ll get up! If I’m late, I’m really dead this time!”

Without anyone stopping her, she quickly stood up. Magenta Helios stared blankly at the spot where she had left.

“How did she become a magical girl… These kids these days.”

After letting out a deep sigh, she raised her head towards Han Jae-jung again.

“…Aren’t you going?”

“You said the meeting time was late….”

“I can skip. What’s my career?”

“Haha… You look like you have the least experience.”

“Many people judge based on appearance.”

Magenta Helios twirled her ponytail.

“But you didn’t judge me based on my appearance.”

“What…”

“When this cute little girl was lost, you responded as if dealing with an adult?”

Hearing her say it herself was truly creepy. Han Jae-jung thought to himself that her actual age was much older than her appearance.

‘She’s not an easy crazy girl either.’

Joo Ah-yoon also clicked her tongue in disbelief.

“It’s strange. Wouldn’t you normally be flustered? Right, Kimu?”

“Excuse me, the surname Kimu is a prejudice….”

“Someone I know said if you say Kimura, you’re already half right. Unfortunately, it seems wrong today.”

Han Jae-jung started to feel uneasy. Joo Ah-yoon seemed to feel the same. Throughout the conversation, Joo Ah-yoon, who had been behind the counter, was now moving outside.

“Right. Let’s ask for names. That bulky, scattered-looking boy and the girl who looks like a kid. What are your names?”

“What the hell?!”

“Look. How can I not be suspicious when I’m sincerely talking to a child like this?”

Watching Jo Ah-yoon, who was furious, Magenta Helios laughed again.

“Then again. I’m curious about your names…”

Swak-! A very tiny light particle spread widely. The utilization of the boundary line wrapped around her body. It attached to the outer edges of objects and marked their outlines.

“Oh, I’ll say it again. A person’s name, that is.”

Outlines were marked on everything in this cafe, revealing objects that were previously invisible.

[Oh no…!]

[My mistake. I’m sorry.]

Two iron balls floating in the air.

“Ursa Major and… Was the other one Cassiopeia? They’re a good pair.”

Magenta Helios twisted the corner of her mouth mockingly, then returned to her expressionless state.

“Brother!”

“…Seriously.”

Jo Ah-yoon grabbed the belt. Han Jae-jung also sighed and grabbed the belt. They didn’t want to fight, but they had no Jooice.

“Ah~ So you’re going to dispose of me now that my identity is exposed? Quite thorough. Okay, let’s play around with these young people.”

It felt quite awkward to refer to them as young based on the girl’s appearance, but right now, there was no time to care about such minor details.

Her identity was exposed. She didn’t know what the problem was. However, since the other party was a magical girl, the strange entity would never be forgiven.

“We can’t just sit back and take it.”

“Take it… Huh? Wait, aren’t you going to eliminate those who know the secret?”

“…? Why us?”

Magenta Helios’s expressionless face cracked. This time, it wasn’t a smile, but an embarrassed expression.

“Wait a minute. So why are you trying to fight?”

“You’re picking a fight right now!”

“A fight…? Is this it? Kids these days are weird.”

“You’re the weird one!”

Jo Ah-yoon couldn’t understand. What was this magical girl’s intention? Why was she harassing someone who was suffering on a time limit from the middle of the day?

“Seems like there’s a misunderstanding. I just wanted to talk.”

“Talk? About what?”

“That technology.”

Magenta Helios pointed to the belt.

“That transformation system.”

Ah, is that so. Han Jae-jung finally caught Magenta Helios’s intention. Despite her expressionless face, her eyes were sparkling like a child with a gift in front of them.

“That senior… Really completed it.”

She who had connections with Sky Polaris in the past. It wouldn’t be strange if she knew about this belt technology.

Helios didn’t come to fight.

She came to know about the legacy of the past.

‘If I play it right, I might even hear an explanation about the system.’

An unexpected harvest.

“You know my identity too, right? Then there’s nothing to hide.”

“Probably.”

“Just as you expected, I am Red Helios herself. I’ve become younger due to circumstances, but I’ve kept all my past memories intact. I know the senior Sky Polaris’s dream. I know what that technology is like. I know you’re human. I never expected it to succeed…”

Helios muttered in a nostalgic voice.

“So, will you tell me? How did you complete that transformation system?”

But the problem is…

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“We really don’t know.”

The fact that they have no information to give to the other side. Not out of spite, but genuinely not knowing.

“What? Didn’t the senior tell you? Ah… Never mind. Then tell me the research lab. I’ll find it myself.”

“Don’t know that either.”

“Uh… Then, the blueprints! If we have the blueprints…”

“Don’t know.”

“…How did you get that belt?”

“Found it.”

It’s the truth.

“…Did that senior scatter this dangerous technology on the ground?”

For Helios, who was expecting knowledge and hope, she couldn’t give that gift.

“A completely unrelated ordinary person picked it up?”

Instead, she seemed to have given disappointment and despair.

“That crazy bitch?!!”

My thoughts exactly.

Han Jae-jung strongly agreed.

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