LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 3
As you can tell from the prefix “Happy,” some characters may not want to mention their full names based on their roles.
Especially true for Happy Iris. In the webtoon, she introduced herself simply as “Iris,” and whenever someone called her “Happy Iris,” she would react somewhat unpleasantly.
Initially, it was a comedic element suggesting that even those who transform feel embarrassed about their name. It also mocked those high and mighty folks who slap ridiculously cheesy names onto things and then pat themselves on the back for it. However, as time went on, Iris became excessively serious, leading to complaints that her reactions were more annoying each time.
“Happy Iris!”
So I deliberately called her that.
Of course, my helmet comes equipped with a voice modulation system. No matter if the person inside is a man, woman, or any other gender, the voice inevitably turns into an incredibly irritating “alien voice.”
Well, it’s certainly better than just making “kikik” noises like in other shows, and it ensures my identity remains secure. So it’s not all bad.
“Happy!! Iris!”
I flinched.
As I shouted “Happy” twice, one of Iris’s eyebrows twitched.
“Don’t overdo it! It’s better than Cherry Blossom, isn’t it!?”
“……”
And there was the second tick from Iris’s anger.
Iris absolutely hates being compared to Blossom.
This is… well, just your usual rival cliché. A cheerful genius versus a serious hard worker. Of course, that doesn’t mean Blossom isn’t also a hard worker. The reason Iris gets undercut there probably stems from that very comparison.
If she furiously scolds someone for getting mad, it only makes the person who got mad look bad—after all, she never even gives a reason for anyone to get angry, which is even more frustrating. She’s that kind of character.
Plus, since she genuinely feels friendship, those feelings only add to the complexity.
“……Fine. I’ve changed my mind.”
Beep beep beep beep beep—
Iris’s voice got partly drowned out by the alarming sounds from my helmet.
98 percent.
Good. It’s working.
“I’ll make sure to kill you!”
Swoosh.
Iris soared back into the air again.
With overwhelming combat power, she swept away the enemies but displayed a clear understanding of their strengths, thoroughly avoiding them. She wasn’t going to give them even a chance to attack.
The feelings that magical girls hold are almost unwaveringly positive.
Having once stumbled in despair, they rise up and crush evil, which generates a nearly infinite feeling of hope.
And that feeling they can experience—it’s precisely ‘hope.’
In the story, that “circuit” that circles back to that feeling of not fully knowing the world yet is called the “Hope Circuit.”
…If you’ve heard the term “Happy Circuit” on the internet, it’s derived from that. Though the Hope Circuit itself doesn’t generate hope, it’s merely a device to convert the personal hopes one holds into magical energy.
That’s also one of the biggest reasons why the Galactic Federation is targeting Earth (?).
On the flip side, what I have—
Beep beep beep beep beep—
Iris distanced herself from me and aimed her weapon at me, sending a sound that pierced my ears.
I have no chance.
There’s no hope at all.
Even if my circuit was running at 100 percent, it wouldn’t matter.
It’s going to hurt. It’s definitely going to hurt. If I’m unlucky, more than one place will break, and if I’m lucky, it will only be one. Sure, I’ll manage to pay for any medical costs, but the pain itself is unavoidable—
Yeah. What I’m feeling right now is entirely in opposition to hope.
It’s despair.
My circuit is going back to the “despair” felt by a human’s emotions.
Unlike that bright hope, despair itself isn’t all that efficient.
But while the peak of hope isn’t that high, despair is an endless pit.
Moreover, by merely adjusting the situation, almost every Earthling can feel enough “despair” to run the circuit.
…Well, I suppose it’s something only someone like me, who watches the webtoon and knows the setting, can grasp.
“Leave a message or something.”
Iris said.
“I’ll definitely remember that message, especially since you touched on my anger.”
Beep beep beep beep beep!
100 percent.
The vibration on my left wrist feels intensely urgent.
This mass-produced item developed for the company’s mass production will probably break down if I endure just a bit more.
Before that.
Yeah.
I can’t win.
I can’t win, but!
This is annoying!
How many times has it been now!?
With all that rage, I pointed a finger at Iris.
“Hmm?”
At my brazen act, Iris blinked in surprise.
Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but smirk and shouted.
“Happy Iris! Underwear! Purple!”
“Eh!? Don’t joke with me! I’m definitely wearing black today—”
Iris’s lips suddenly sealed shut mid-sentence.
It’s a part that got cut out due to censorship as a big corporation webtoon.
But even in a major webtoon where magical girls regularly keep their inner pants, the character’s personality settings don’t change.
Iris is usually composed and intelligent, but she occasionally has a spacey side! She has that klutzy aspect!
Taking advantage of that brief moment when Iris’s brain stalled, I dashed forward.
Although I looked like I was wearing tight-fitting gear, the combat suit, tightly linked to the circuit on my wrist, was enhancing my strength.
It might not have the power to make the ground collapse like “Happy Red Rose,” but—
Thump!
At least, I could leap up high enough to reach Iris.
What’s more, the blade in my left hand was still intact!
Iris’s face drew closer, glistening coldly under the blue moonlight.
Still looking flustered.
Unlike the combatants who always run away upon seeing me, could she genuinely be flustered?
… I can do this.
I can reach her. I may not win with this blow, but certainly, I can at least score a hit…!
Beep beep beep beep beep!
Beep beep beep beep!
Biiip…!
Huh?
The percentage blinking in my helmet started decreasing rapidly.
Initially at 99 percent, it suddenly dropped to 80 percent, then fell further to the 70 percent range.
I can’t believe it!
Did I seriously think I could land even one hit!?
While I barely held onto a sliver of hope—
“Alright, I’ll praise your courage.”
Ah.
I’ve messed up.
While Iris looked flustered, I ended up getting flustered too.
Before I knew it, she regained her composure—but still filled with unresolved anger, Iris was glaring straight at me.
From nearly ‘combat distance,’ it seemed.
Panicking, I twisted my body and swung the blade, but—
Swish.
The blade failed to pierce even the aura enveloping Iris, vanishing uselessly.
And then—
“Well then, Merry Christmas.”
With a cheerful smile, Iris pulled the trigger of the gun pointed at me.
The next moment, everything in front of me turned white.
*
…When I came to, I was—where am I?
It looks like some building rooftop.
Iris is still just a high school student but has one phenomenal intellect. She’s already researching the warp point principles of the Galactic Federation.
Of course, this is a secret to the outside world. The reason the Galactic Federation doesn’t interfere with Iris’s research is so they can see just how excellent the power of the Hope Circuit is, and the intention of scouting her once the research is complete.
Who’d want to join a group that doesn’t let you do the research you want to do?
And Iris’s “attack” is an application of that.
Kicking the enemy to ensure incapacitation without killing is illegal. But definitively, if they send them far enough away that they can’t come back here immediately, then it should work, right?
“…Ugh.”
As I tried to get up, I groaned while clutching my side.
Did I fracture it? Or maybe break it? A rib shouldn’t be too bad, at least I can walk.
If a leg’s broken, and there’s no 24-hour free clinic run by a citizen organization of the Galactic Federation nearby, just trying to get there would turn horrific.
Raising my hands to fumble for my helmet, I took it off and tossed it aside. My armor has astonishing durability, and it wouldn’t break from strength alone.
…Supposedly, it can withstand attacks from magical girls, yet they said they’ve just made it slightly more stylish for sale as motorcycle gear. Guess it really has that durability.
Maybe Iris was being kind in her own way.
After a while of sitting there, I got up and plodded my way to the rooftop railing.
“……Phew.”
Even in winter, the moment I took off the suffocating helmet, I felt an immense sense of refreshment.
… Refreshing it was.
Beep beep beep beep.
“……What’s this sound doing here right after the fight’s over?”
As I winced at my aching side, I glanced down at the circuit beeping on my wrist.
My despair level was at 80 percent.
Where am I again?
Without a smartphone or credit card, how do I get home?
…If I go back, the orphanage will certainly be furious with me. Not a bad person, but she thinks I merely stay out late playing.
Once they see the injuries, they’ll be asking where I’ve been fighting again.
Well, it’s not like they’re wrong.
“Haha….”
Here I was, a dusty idiot standing around without even knowing where I was.
“… Should I just give up…?”
Honestly, I can’t even deal with this.
I know I can’t win, but still.
[You useless bunch!]
While staring blankly down from the rooftop, suddenly a voice rang out from my wrist.
[What do you think will happen if you jump off before getting on stage!? Don’t any of you want to get paid!?]
In my case, it’s not about the money.
Hearing the officer yell through the communication, I ripped the circuit off my wrist.
The circuit that had been converting my despair energy shut down, falling into silence.
“……I wonder if those who went down first have landed somewhere familiar.”
Worried for no reason about others, I chuckled to myself. Grabbing my aching side with one hand and tossing the helmet carelessly into the circuit with the other.
Let’s return home.
Anyway, it’s within Seoul, so I should be able to get anywhere.
I can stop by a clinic if I see one.
*
Though there are times when despair energy comes in handy.
After putting the circuit and helmet back on, it was easier to supercharge thanks to that energy.
Sure, running like seven subway stops sounds ridiculous, but still.
Plus, the corporate thugs have such flashy outfits, running around like that will probably land me in tomorrow’s news, articles or something else.
I will surely get in trouble. Luckily, there’s no risk of getting fired.
At first, I was wondering where I was, but as I got a bit closer, familiar places started to appear, and I managed to find the company building.
At least I could change outfits in the Noir Corporation building. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be anyone to support the combatants. Though even if I change there, the deployment might be to a far-off location.
The lower floors of the building are attached to a shopping mall, and true to an evil corporation, there are tons of people working late.
If I wear casual clothes and come down to the first floor, no one would think I’m a combatant anyway.
The combatants coming in and out… Well, there should only be one or two combatants in this building at best.
As I got down to the first floor and checked my phone, it was already 10 PM.
By the time I get back, it’ll be almost 11 PM.
I still haven’t managed to call the orphanage yet.
Moreover, I saw there were seven missed calls on my phone.
…Going back today for some music and healing might not be ideal.
*
“…….”
“…….”
Just as I entered, the teacher was waiting for me.
“… Where have you been this late?”
She didn’t yell. Since the children were sleeping, but it’s not like raising her voice would wake them.
I’m not quite sure if it’s a matter of legality or not, but it just seems like the sort of thing you do.
“……Are you planning to skip out on telling me what happened this time?”
“…….”
“Ji-eun, if there’s something difficult going on—”
“There isn’t.”
Honestly, I just want to lie down and sleep somewhere.
In this orphanage, aside from the 10 PM curfew for high schoolers, we have quite a bit of freedom. On weekends, often they can stay up all night without any issue.
But someone like me, who regularly comes back after 11 PM, is literally treated as a “troublemaker.”
“……Hah, fine.”
It’s not like she completely gave up.
Especially with the way the conversation seemed to drag on, the teacher said.
“Quickly wash up and sleep. Don’t wake up the kids.”
“……I’m sorry.”
“……”
In response to my words, the teacher smiled faintly and nodded.
Even so, I haven’t once come back the next day after warding off whatever injuries I have, which I heal up before arriving.
…Working for an outer-space company really pays off. Though the injuries are because of that outer-space company in the first place.
I crinkled the paper bag containing the music CDs and headed for my room.
Then—
“Oh, you’re back?”
My roommate, sprawled out on the floor under a blanket, lifted her head slightly as she said that.
She’s not a character from the original work. If she were a magical girl, she would have come back late just like me today.
“What’s up? Did you get wrapped up in some magical girl battle? It just so happened you were near Gwanghwamun, huh.”
“……Did you watch the news or something?”
“Yeah, just a moment ago.”
Ji-hye shook her smartphone at me.
It had an article on it.
[Blossom, fighting again today.]
That’s quite a headline that would certainly make blood rise in Iris.
I let out a long sigh and set my things down.
“Let’s see, what CDs did you buy?”
“You could listen to them on streaming, you know?”
“Hey, that’s just what they say. Plus, I’m curious about what you bought. Oh.”
Ji-hye took out a CD and beamed with delight.
“This is the animated film we saw at the theater together.”
“Yeah.”
We watched it as a reward for donating blood together since our birthdays were both earlier this year.
“Are you going to listen to it?”
Looking increasingly expectant, she pointed at a pile of audio devices neatly stacked on my desk.
There were massive audio devices and speakers set up.
…In my past life, my father had a similar setup. He called it a “phonograph.” Probably not the official name though. Later, I found out it was short for “electric gramophone.”
There’s no way it could be a phonograph since a CD is going in there.
“The kids are asleep.”
“Oh, right.”
Ji-hye, looking a bit disappointed, slowly placed the CD on my desk.
“Ahem.”
With that, she cleared her throat and suddenly changed the mood completely.
“So?”
“So, what?”
When I tilted my head in confusion at Ji-hye’s words, she chuckled and said.
“What kind of guy do you like?”
“…….”
Why does everyone around me throw questions like that at me?
“It’s Christmas, right? Surely, you can’t have come back so late from just buying a CD. You must have met someone.”
“……I could have just met a friend.”
“You don’t have any friends.”
“…….”
I rolled my eyes dramatically in response.
“Just because I don’t have friends doesn’t mean I don’t have a boyfriend?”
“Ah-hah! The two are totally separate, separate.”
“Ugh.”
Not feeling any further need to respond, I plopped down over Ji-hye’s blanket.
“Hey, what’s up? Tell me, tell me.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Really? Seriously?”
“There isn’t.”
I said that and closed my eyes.
Ah, I’m truly exhausted.
“Hey….”
Ji-hye tried to slip in more talk, but seeing my expression, which must have been incredibly tired, she finally decided,
“……Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”
She really doesn’t know when to give up, does she.
Well, living like we do is probably better than just giving up like me. She’s truly acting like a high school student. Unlike me.
Ji-hye kept muttering a few more words before lying down on her own bed.
She fell asleep ahead of me, breathing regularly and rhythmically.
“…….”
I soon followed her into sleep.