Transformation or Death

Romantic Death Incident (2)

“What…!”

Sagittarius was startled and looked around where Han Jae-jung had been just moments ago. He searched within a 1km radius but couldn’t find any trace of him. He calmed himself down again and narrowed his field of vision.

“It’s the power of the stars. His own… No, perhaps that woman’s.”

It seems there was an assistant. He thought they were just sharing secrets, but it appears they were assistants supporting each other with the power of the stars.

“To think that woman could handle the power of stars with a human body… Despite not being a magical girl… I should be careful.”

Sagittarius’s guess was accurate. Joo Ah-yoon had recently developed her ability and succeeded in creating a special butterfly.

Unlike other butterflies, this one was decorated in black and pink.

Its effect was instant teleportation, usable even when transformation was released.

Although it was only possible with pre-designated targets, had a weight limit, and couldn’t move herself, it was quite a useful tool.

In fact, it made Sagittarius, who had been observing without any inconvenience until now, complain.

Tsk. After clicking his tongue once, Sagittarius immediately widened his vision to detect newly felt starlight in this city. His eyes, which could see all kinds of invisible things, were able to see even the flow of starlight that others couldn’t see.

Soon, he felt new starlight in a corner of a city about 10 blocks away. To be precise, it was under a pedestrian overpass. He saw sharp and cold starlight splitting into several strands and spreading from within those shadows. The form of light was like lightning. Sagittarius immediately realized that the owner of this light was Han Jae-jung.

“Just a look…”

But he couldn’t. When Sagittarius focused his gaze, he was already gone. All Sagittarius could see were some traces suggesting he had been there – the corpse of a villain burned beyond recognition and scorched road – but he couldn’t see Han Jae-jung himself.

“…Impressive.”

Sagittarius was amazed by his activities but also felt puzzled.

There were only two people there. Even then, they were far from the villain, so if done well, a magical girl could have arrived and ended it without much damage.

Of course, if it were the actions of a guardian, that could be the answer, but…

It was true that it was a bit deflating. It was something that someone else could have done sufficiently, not just him.

Is someone who can be replaced truly a hero? Or just a simple cog in society’s machine?

To Sagittarius, it seemed closer to the latter. One should be called a hero only when they can calmly do what no one else can do.

However, this puzzlement could soon be resolved.

A certain magical girl arrived at the place where he had disappeared.

“Oh no, I’m late again… Aaargh! Why is it so hard to see my rival’s face these days! In the old days, he would come find me personally to beat me up! Is it that once you’ve had one magical girl, you’re not interested anymore?”

The red-haired magical girl who arrived late at the scene screamed in agony. After suffering for a while over the fact that everything had ended, she soon let out a deep sigh and approached the villain’s corpse with a staggering gait.

“Fine. If you dislike seeing me as a magical girl so much, I’ll go find you and show you myself. While I’m at it, I’ll buy a bottle of alcohol and play some pranks… Huh? Eek!”

Just before she entered under the overpass, the overpass collapsed, crushing the corpse. Fortunately, the red magical girl who hadn’t gone underneath yet calmed her startled heart and looked around nervously. It seemed that the overpass had loosened due to the villain’s rampage before she arrived.

“Was it because of that? He just cut quickly and ran.”

If a magical girl had responded, such quick handling would have been impossible. There was a possibility that the overpass could have collapsed during the battle. Even for a magical girl, there was a high chance of getting injured under the heavy weight of the overpass.

“But there was also a possibility that the guy could have been injured while checking the corpse under the overpass…”

It was a confident action only possible if one knew exactly when the magical girl would arrive and when the overpass would collapse.

“Could it be that he can see the future?”

After pondering for a moment, Sagittarius chuckled.

“Ah, don’t be ridiculous. If that’s true, he’d be completely… Like Master.”

Sky Polaris.

Her magic was future prediction. Thanks to her ability to read the enemy’s attack patterns in advance and act accordingly, there were quite a few times when she didn’t receive a single wound during battle.

If his prediction was true, it could be explained that he too had a similar ability.

If not, then perhaps an ability close to that lion’s prophecy.

Sagittarius scratched his arm nervously. He felt more resentful towards Libra for no reason. At the same time, he empathized with Libra’s actions.

If he had power similar to either Sky Polaris or the lion, it would be understandable why Libra was so cautious.

“…Surely it’s not that far.”

It’s too early to assume he’s comparable to those two. Besides, there’s still not enough information to judge if he has future prediction abilities.

“Where could this friend have gone?”

Sagittarius scratched his arm, covered in drug marks, and rolled his eyes again.

His eyes, which had been fiercely scanning the city, soon dropped.

“Ah, I miss Master.”

The times when she was alive were so enjoyable. Unlike now, humans weren’t pessimistic, magical girls weren’t so docile, villains didn’t eye each other warily, and there was romance in the endless cycle of slaughter and protection day and night.

“Where did you go, Master?”

Sinking into regret and memories and falling into habit, Sagittarius concealed his presence. Once again, he thought about rushing to Libra to ask for drugs.

***

Ippotranslation

***

Red Vega was recently full of discontent. Of course, being the genius magical girl (self-proclaimed) that she is, she’s not showing this discontent outwardly thanks to her professional expression management skills.

Anyway.

Baek Ah-hee has many complaints.

The biggest worry is the slump that has recently hit her.

While her win rate is increasing daily, boredom is growing more than satisfaction.

She couldn’t make any notable achievements in the great Argo battle that could be called a grand operation. However, she can deal with various minor villains while yawning.

The growth of her starlight has been stagnant for days.

To explain her current powerlessness, it’s a strength that’s weak against strong opponents but infinitely strong against the weak – vulgarly speaking, it’s a power ‘optimized for bullying the weak’.

‘I’m like that character used as a power level measuring device in comics…!’

No. It’s too early to become obsolete. Baek Ah-hee wanted to remain the protagonist of the magical girl world until she announces her retirement after marrying a decent man in her 30s.

The second complaint wasn’t her problem. It was entirely someone else’s issue.

‘I can’t seem to see Mr. Watcher’s face at all.’

Where did the (one-sided) oath to be both enemy and rival, teacher and friend, go?

While not meeting for a while and then meeting again can double the joy, that’s only when there’s a regrettable series of missed encounters.

Baek Ah-hee recently felt that he was unilaterally avoiding face-to-face meetings with her.

‘Now that he’s making a living, he’s gotten too full of himself.’

That was truly frustrating. What an unsightly rival, avoiding confrontation.

Moreover, these days he’s not even properly playing the role of a secret enemy and helper who makes her heart flutter while assisting magical girls.

‘Where did your goal of eliminating magical girls from this world go?! You were shining much brighter when you were stepping on my stomach…!!’

All the romance is dead.

Baek Ah-hee decided to vent her frustrations with the romance-less Watcher on Han Jae-jung instead. Anyway, since Watcher and Han Jae-jung have nothing to do with each other, ‘instead’ is the right word.

Han Jae-jung, despite looking delinquent-like, is truly fun to tease.

Seeing his handsome face contort in embarrassment is irresistible.

[Guardian… Do you like him? The one who tormented you so much?]

“Huh? No, that’s not it. This is pleasure from an aesthetic perspective. It’s like the pleasure of teasing a child by saying Santa doesn’t exist, or dropping white ink on black drawing paper.”

[That doesn’t seem like a pleasure a magical girl should have….]

Shocked by the words of her mascot, Ribbon, Baek Ah-hee’s steps halted. After pondering for a moment, she soon regained her smile.

“T-This is also like a competitive spirit, so it’s healthy! It’s a healthy desire to stand above others!”

[Heal… Thy…?]

It doesn’t seem like something she should hear from her guardian who, since becoming an adult, hasn’t missed a day watching things that minors shouldn’t see, but Ribbon, having realized long ago that she couldn’t persuade her, held her tongue.

Baek Ah-hee ran out cheerfully, humming a tune. Her destination was the café ‘White Tiger’, where she’s been frequently indebted recently.

Although it’s late at night, thanks to their recent start in serving alcohol, their closing time is later than other places.

She would have barged in even if it was closed anyway.

“Ah, anyway, I’m innocent, okay? Jae-jung, Ms. Deneb, I’m here! It’s rum today! Come on, quickly make a special drink just for me….”

“Jae-jung, stay still.”

“Seol-hwa, you stay still first!”

“Senior, are you crazy?! Quickly let go!”

“…Huh?”

What Baek Ah-hee saw when she opened the door was Yoon Seol-hwa, red-faced, pulling on Han Jae-jung’s pants belt, and Han Jae-jung and Joo Ah-yoon trying to stop her.

“Aha.”

Baek Ah-hee quietly observed them and then closed the door.

Not to the outside, but to the inside.

She naturally sat down in an empty seat and placed the bottle of alcohol she brought on the table.

“Ms. Sirius, I want to go next.”

“Ah-hee, did you get shot in the head?”

Indeed, this is a healing place no matter when you come.

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