Transformation or Death

Symbol of Peace (12)

“What do you mean by help?”

Even if you suddenly kneel down, it’s just troublesome for me.

“Certainly. I owe you a debt of gratitude. You have the right to make some demands of me. I might be the shameless one here. However, I don’t have the luxury to listen to your request right now.”

I probably wasn’t the only one who moved. The other magical girls must have moved too. If they’re all gathered together, that would be better, but if they’re all scattered, it’s a problem. Divided and conquered in a state where we can’t even communicate properly. That future was clearly visible.

“For now, I need to find people. I’m sorry, but we’ll talk later…”

“If you’re talking about the people you’re looking for, you mean the women who were with you just now?”

Jason opened his mouth without hesitation from his kneeling position.

“If you cooperate with me, those women will be safe.”

“No, it’s not. I mean exactly what I said, in the process of you cooperating with me, you’ll be able to help those women. During the process of my brother transporting you all to Colchis, I used my ability to make only you deviate from the original destination.”

“Colchis?”

“Ah, that’s what these islands are called. Anyway, you can rest easy knowing you’re the only one separated. The women are probably together. And the place I’m targeting is also where they are.”

Jason raised his head and looked straight into my eyes. Although they were just inorganic eyes like a visor, clear emotion could be felt in that gaze.

“I swear by this vast sea. I have no intention of harming you or the people around you.”

What a grandiose oath.

“Even if I lose my way forever, swept away by the aimless waves of this sea, I will not break this oath. How about that? Pretty impressive, isn’t it? It’s an oath-making method I just came up with.”

“You haven’t been cured of your nonsense, I see.”

I thought it would be some grand statement like swearing by the River Styx, but was he just talking nonsense?

“Ah, anyway, I’m sincere. Really. I really won’t harm you…”

“Alright, alright, I get it.”

This is unbearably awkward. What on earth is his purpose for using such an outdated way of speaking in modern times? I sighed deeply and sat down on the sandy beach. Our eyes met as he was kneeling. Jason is also a member of the Argo family. This is also an opportunity to get information about the enemy that needs to be eliminated.

“Tell me. What is it?”

“…! Th-thank you! Yes, it’s nothing much……”

Jason paused for a moment to choose his words, then began speaking again.

“Save the people trapped on this island.”

“That doesn’t sound like nothing much.”

How can something involving people’s lives be nothing much? Jason tilted his head, seemingly not understanding.

“Is that so…? Anyway. Let me explain a bit. There are slaves on this island. To be exact, on the neighboring island.”

“So this place is quite large.”

“Well, it is the sea after all.”

“So? What about these slaves?”

“My brothers are kidnapping people. They’re securing men as soldiers and making women, children, and the elderly into slaves to secure food. Some people wanted this life, but many  didn’t.”

“I’m sure.”

“My brothers are committing crimes. Whether people want it or not, they intend to make them participate in their ideals. This is not right. There’s no romance in it either.”

“…So, you want me to free these slaves.”

Jason nodded.

“How?”

“It’s simple.”

Jason spoke nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal.

“We just need to beat up all of my brothers. Violence is a question, and it always leads to one answer. Draw out that answer for us. It’s our way of persuasion.”

“Oh, I like that.”

That’s a persuasion method I really appreciate.

“But wait. Then where did the magical girls who were with me go?”

“Ah, I didn’t mention that. They’re where we’re going.”

“Where?”

“Where else could it be?”

Jason raised his finger and pointed somewhere. Following the direction of his gaze, I saw a massive building. It was an artificial structure that didn’t blend in at all with the natural landscape. It wasn’t visible just a moment ago. Is this also the ability of a supernatural being?

“They’re there. Our base.”

Jason moved his finger, drawing a line across the building.

“I want you to completely destroy that place.”

“…W-What?”

***

Ippotranslation 

***

Orange Altair stared blankly at the spot where the pink supernatural being had disappeared. If her eyes weren’t deceiving her, the outline she had seen before it transformed into a supernatural being was Joo Ah-yoon’s body. She had seen the figure of the woman she had always been watching with her eyes. If what she saw earlier was really true…

But that’s impossible. Joo Ah-yoon had definitely retired. She had sacrificed her lifespan in a last desperate attempt to save thousands and lost her light. She had even confirmed the test results. She was undoubtedly in a human body.

Then why on earth did that just…

“Ah, aha! That’s it!”

If what she saw wasn’t the truth, it makes sense. It could be some kind of misconception or misunderstanding. It could also be a delusion or hallucination caused by the supernatural being’s unique and strange abilities.

Orange Altair denied her excellent eyesight, which she had always prided herself on, while at the same time affirming Joo Ah-yoon, whom she had always ignored.

“…Yes, that’s it.”

To begin with, the supernatural being is Han Jae-jung. It has to be. He must be the one who deceives Joo Ah-yoon, fools others, and always puts magical girls in danger. He must be that kind of existence.

Wait, when did I see him enough to judge him so forcefully? Have I seen him long enough to judge him accurately?

“No.”

Let’s not be certain about anything. Let’s not judge anything. Just gather information and confirm it. Orange Altair tried to reason with herself.

However, she couldn’t erase the doubt that had sprouted in her heart.

The words the supernatural being had said before going to the cafe earlier. He had said that his comrade was in the cafe. What if that ‘comrade’ wasn’t Han Jae-jung, but Joo Ah-yoon?

Ah, right. That pink supernatural being always went around with the one who called himself Watcher. What if the supernatural being who approached was Watcher, and Joo Ah-yoon was his partner?

What if Han Jae-jung was actually just an ignorant civilian, and Joo Ah-yoon was using him?

“No!”

There are still countless strange points remaining. The reason why someone claiming to be a member of the Argo Family would attack him has not yet been revealed.

But aren’t freaks usually spontaneous? What if it wasn’t simple revenge, but an indiscriminate attack?

“…Ah, my head hurts.”

My head hurts so much that I feel nauseous. It feels like I have a fever. It feels like everything I’ve believed in until now is being denied. It feels bad.

To think that Joo Ah-yoon  could be a villain. What an absurd proposition is this?

She was always someone who prioritized human lives, even if her words were harsh. She was bold even in front of numerous anti-fans. I envied that, and that’s why I was jealous. For what reason on earth would such a person fall to become a villain?

“No. It’s not. The villain is that guy. The villain is that guy…”

Breaking the resolution not to be certain, I brainwashed myself. Joo Ah-yoon is not a villain, and the villain is Han Jae-jung. It was much easier to think this way.

It was a decision that broke the resolution I had just made, but I had to do it. Of course, it wasn’t very effective, and the doubt wasn’t properly erased, but it was better than not doing it at all.

As I was muttering like that and walking through the forest path, I found myself deep inside the island before I knew it. Someone touched my feet, which were in a daze.

“…?! Who.”

“Ah.”

As Orange Altair came to her senses and looked down, there was a girl holding an armful of something that looked like fruit.

“Ah, ah… Wow! Wow!”

The girl dropped all the fruit she was holding and trembled in surprise. She was bewildered. Why is such a small girl here? Could this child be a villain too?

To her, who had condensed starlight to create an arrow that could attack at any moment, the child asked brightly.

“It’s a magical girl! You, you came to save us, right?”

“What, what?!”

“As, as expected, my sister was right! She said that someday a magical girl would come to save us!”

“Ah, no, I’m….”

“I’ll guide you!”

The child lightly ignored her words and took her hand to lead the way. At that moment, any remaining vigilance in her disappeared as if washed away with water. It was partly due to bewilderment, and partly due to innocence.

She didn’t want to doubt even children like this. After all, she’s a magical girl too. After all, what she should protect the most is children’s dreams and hopes. She still had the conscience from when she became a magical girl. Also, she couldn’t throw it away.

The arrow in Orange Altair’s hand turned back into light and disappeared.

I’m not here to save you, I’ve been caught too. Because she couldn’t say such a fact, she held it in and only asked what she was curious about.

“…Why are you here?”

“Scary villains invaded our home! And suddenly we moved here! My, my mom and sister came along too. I don’t know where dad went… Oh, mom said not to worry! She said he’ll come back someday!”

It wasn’t a well-organized statement, but Orange Altair could understand right away. This child is one of the missing victims.

“Oh, where we’re going now is where the adults are. There are a lot of people to save besides me.”

Orange Altair, listening to the child’s words, lacked confidence. How can I save them?

It’s overwhelming just to take care of myself, and there’s more I don’t know than I know. I don’t even know how to get out of this place right now. I’m separated from my companions. No matter how good my sniping skills are, villains’ can catch up in one leap. From what I hear now, it seems there’s not just this one child. How can I alone save so many people?

Of course I want to save them if I could. But I don’t have that ability.

‘If I were as strong as Red Vega or Blue Sirius….’

Even if my bird were here so I could contact her.

As I compared myself to others, my self-esteem dropped again. Vague powerlessness and vague support ability.

“I know everything. Magical girls can easily defeat villains, right? I saw it before. A huge villain exploded in an instant! It was amazing! It was like fireworks, oh, anyway it was awesome! It was so cool because it was so strong! I, I want to….”

I’m a miserable hero.

“I want to be like that!”

“…”

Orange Altair couldn’t say anything. If it were someone else, they would either say something positive, or if this isn’t such a good thing, they would try to persuade her otherwise.

But she wasn’t sure what words to say, or if she had the right to say those words.

Before she knew it, the girl’s steps quickened.

“It’s over there! Over there!”

Indeed, something like a village with clustered buildings was visible. There are people there…..

“W-wait!”

“Everyone, come here!”

The child headed inside without hesitation, and the attention of everyone there was focused.

This child is still young so she might not know, but Orange Altair knows. The fact that she’s not famous, and is just someone who hasn’t achieved much.

“A magical girl has come!”

What would these adults think if the magical girl who came to save them was such a weakling? How disappointed would they be?

Orange Altair raised her head with fear.

As always, she felt cold gazes.

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