LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 31
As soon as I came to my senses, what caught my eye was a chunk of magical energy hurtling towards me.
A massive chunk that had caused me pain more times than I could count.
Instinctively, I reached out my hand in its direction.
I didn’t want to feel any more pain.
I had already suffered too much today. I couldn’t comprehend why I should endure any more agony here.
I just wanted to give up and sleep.
I didn’t want to wake up again after falling asleep.
Yet, at the same time, I felt a stubborn attachment.
In both my previous life and this one, I had always been indecisive.
I couldn’t even set a clear goal for my life. I often thought I wanted to live openly, yet I had never truly done so.
Even knowing what Noir Corporation was up to, I had still chosen to work there. Perhaps the donations were just a form of self-comfort.
I had chosen to look up, to envy those better than me, desperately wanting to stay there all the same, ultimately making that choice.
Maybe, in fact, it wasn’t for my own benefit but for others, and I was just rationalizing it.
Did I deserve punishment?
Since I had done wrong, would it be right for me to be punished?
The Galactic Federation and the government of this country were beings I couldn’t easily touch, so if I remained silent, surely I wouldn’t be punished.
So is it right to be punished like this?
No, I don’t want that.
Despite having lived like that, I disliked suffering. I wanted to escape from criticism.
I always mumbled that I wanted to quit but couldn’t bring myself to give up on life.
I didn’t want that.
I didn’t want that…
For some reason, that white orb never reached me.
Only now did I realize something was distorting the space around me. Was it that black substance that always appeared when I operated the circuit to its limits?
I could see outside from within, but couldn’t quite discern how the outside perceived me.
Magic continued to fly in. Both big and small.
People were running away.
The sound of helicopters faded away.
Ah, did I get photographed? I suppose that makes sense, what with me floating so high up.
The faint surroundings slowly shrank into darkness.
The magical power that had felt present around me began to take more concrete form.
My outstretched arm curled back down.
The magical energy gradually pressed against my huddled body.
Oh, wait, why am I acting like this?
I had clearly been on the ground just a moment ago. There was an impossibly thick iron wire piled on me, making it hard to rise.
Did I lose consciousness?
But somehow, it didn’t matter.
I was too exhausted to think or move. I was hungry and just wanted to collapse and sleep.
The circuit near my ear still made dangerous sounds as I curled up. Although it was hot, the magic couldn’t harm me.
The magic tightly enveloped my body.
As if it was trying to squash me.
Like rubber tightly wrapped around a copper wire, the magic firmly constricted my body, leaving me unable to flail about.
Before I could even comprehend the situation, my vision blurred.
I saw headlights aimed at me. The world appeared upside down.
The dark magical forces pressing against me slowly peeled away.
My clothes were different now.
They were ragged hospital gowns that had almost lost their meaning, replaced by a flowy dress that looked like something a magical girl would wear.
It was a dark-colored dress with a black base.
Ha ha…
How strange.
I was dressed like a magical girl.
That laugh probably wouldn’t be heard by anyone. I lacked the strength to genuinely laugh.
I steadied myself in mid-air and tried to rise.
Rays of light flew towards me, but none touched me.
Below, I could see Ha-yoon.
The pain made my vision hazy, barely allowing me to see her silhouette.
Ha-yoon, along with Rose behind her, stood as if to shield Ha-yoon.
No, maybe it was a different stance. But I had no strength to discern that right now.
People below were bustling and moving.
The troops, clustered like ants, were all running around in a panic.
What had I done?
It was just like the last time.
I hadn’t even done anything, yet I was treated as if I was in danger.
Had I… harmed the magical girls that way? Surely, many more combatants had been injured by those tender hands.
I had likely been hurt far more often.
Those running away were probably the ones who had hurt me more.
“…”
Maybe it didn’t matter.
After all, by tomorrow, I’d probably be labeled a true terrorist.
I didn’t want to worry about that.
For now, I just wanted to sleep.
Although the magical girls below seemed to be preparing for something, I had no intention of confronting them.
What should I do?
I wanted to run away.
As if replying to my thoughts, the magic began to move.
I couldn’t quite understand what was happening behind me. All I knew was that everything around me was being sucked in.
It was likely just dust and air, but still.
At the very least, what I saw before my eyes had completely changed.
I successfully left that place.
*
A safe place.
Yes, I needed a safe location to rest. So where would be safe for me right now?
The orphanage was the first place the police might visit. Ha-yoon didn’t know where I lived, and the kids at school wouldn’t know either, but the police could easily find out.
An alien who had resisted arrest, causing multiple injuries, and having faced off against magical girls.
It would be odd if the police weren’t at the orphanage.
Ha-yoon’s home? That’s obviously not an option. Her parents mediate opinions between the Galactic Federation and the government. Worst-case scenario, I could end up getting involved there.
…But, in this world, it seemed those were the only two places I could consider safe.
Although I trusted Ha-yoon, it wasn’t really about the house being safe.
…
Ultimately, after pondering between the two, I seemed to have chosen a third path.
When I opened my eyes, what I saw wasn’t the white, clean ceiling from the hospital.
It was a room slightly stained and marked with black mold in the corners.
Blinking, I sat up slightly.
“Ugh…”
It was much better than being at the hospital, but I still had a lot of aches.
Nonetheless, the new wounds had healed. Had someone taken me to a clinic or something?
Had I collapsed on the street? If someone had brought me here to treat and protect me…
Was there still no nationwide search for me?
As I thought that, I realized my left wrist was missing the circuit, and I panicked.
Quickly looking around, I spotted the discarded circuit neatly beside a blanket on the floor.
My clothes… were gone.
This alone was enough to make my face go pale. Someone had treated me and cleaned me up, but if the clothes I was wearing were gone…
It occurred to me that it might not have been just a simple act of kindness to bring me here, and I tried to rise, only to let out a small groan.
I had improved somewhat, but there was still pain all over my body. Every muscle and joint felt like they were screaming. Well, considering how much I had rolled around, it was unreasonable to expect instant recovery.
I barely managed to prop myself up and looked around.
It was a vaguely familiar room that I couldn’t quite place. Where had I last thought of yesterday?
I was sure I had wished for a safe place.
While I was lost in thought, I heard a rattling sound coming from the narrow room’s front door.
It was the sound of a key entering the lock.
Click. With a slight creak, there was that sound, and the door slowly opened.
On the other side was—
“Are you awake?”
It was Earth Buddy, looking a bit surprised.
Ah.
So that’s how it is.
There were very few people I could rely on in this world. Of course, that didn’t mean I could exactly say I could rely on Earth Buddy, but if I were to choose someone among those I knew that lived alone, he was the only one.
I recalled a few times he brought that tipsy girl home from the café.
“Don’t move too much. You were really injured when I saw you yesterday. Your wounds healed pretty quickly, but still.”
Earth Buddy said that while rustling a plastic bag in his right hand as he entered the room.
Although I had been in this room before, there weren’t many instances I had actually stepped inside. Just once, I had pushed Earth Buddy, who looked like he might throw up, into the bathroom and dragged him in front of the toilet.
It appeared Earth Buddy still hadn’t reported me.
“Why…”
“Why am I here? I’m more curious about that, actually.”
Earth Buddy asked, looking at me incredulously while sitting cross-legged on the blanket in front of me.
Then, he began taking out various items from the black plastic bag.
Tangerines and drinks. Instant ramen, coffee…
“They sell all sorts of stuff at that nearby supermarket. Especially fruits, you can get them pretty cheap depending on the season. My aunt’s relative runs it.”
While Earth Buddy was saying that, I felt like I was drooling.
Growl. My stomach rumbled.
“Want to eat a tangerine first? I’ll boil water for the ramen right away.”
“…Is that okay?”
“Well, you look like someone who hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. You probably have no money left, right? Do you remember what happened yesterday?”
I shook my head.
“I heard a thud, so I opened the door, and you were collapsed in front of it, blocking it. You were wearing a tattered hospital gown.”
“…”
It’s natural for a magical girl’s outfit to be made with magic.
I hadn’t directly seen what a magical girl looked like when she returned to her original state, so I didn’t have a concrete memory of it, but in webtoons, they would revert back to the state of their original clothes.
But still, even if it was a visualization, it would be too much to end up naked. If that were the case, it would raise eyebrows about the very existence of being a magical girl.
…So, I had come to my doorstep and collapsed after losing my magical girl form.
While I was lost in thought, Earth Buddy reached out to grab the kettle and pulled it closer.
He opened the lid, sniffed it, then shook it to listen to the sound of the water sloshing.
After nodding to himself, he placed it back into the pot and pressed a button.
The light on the button lit up, and there was a significant bubbling noise as it heated up.
I realized I was still holding the tangerine until that point, and Earth Buddy took one and handed it to me.
Only then did I begin to peel the tangerine. Feeling the texture at last made me a bit anxious.
I hurriedly peeled it and tasted it. It was delicious.
I couldn’t tell whether the tangerine was genuinely tasty or if it just tasted good because I was so hungry, but nevertheless, it was delicious.
Honestly, I teared up a little.
“…”
Earth Buddy seemed lost in thought too.
He was staring intently at the coffee pot, looking as if he wished the water would boil faster.
After eating one tangerine, my mind began to turn.
And I realized that my presence here was an enormous inconvenience.
“Uh…”
“Yeah?”
“Is it okay for me to be here?”
I cautiously asked.
I had barely chosen this place in my search for a hiding spot.
If I had gone to some secluded mountain where nobody would know, I probably wouldn’t have been discovered, but I’d likely have frozen to death before waking up like this.
What I meant was, ultimately, I had instinctively looked for a place to hide without being detected for my survival.
It wasn’t about having goodwill or trusting someone; I simply chose a place that seemed the most plausible.
That would be a hassle for Earth Buddy, though.
“Ah, well.”
But Earth Buddy shrugged his shoulders.
“You’ve never just left me lying on the ground either.”
No, I felt like there was a different weight to that.
But I couldn’t rebut him against his unbothered expression.
Right now, the clothes I was wearing were probably his, after all.
Clack.
Just then, the water must have boiled, as the coffee pot made that sound and returned to its original state. Steam billowed from the kettle.
Earth Buddy opened the instant ramen package.
I hurriedly tore one open as well. And just then, I remembered I hadn’t yet said that I could eat.
However, Earth Buddy didn’t seem to mind, despite that.
The water was poured over the ramen, and for about three minutes, we sat in silence.
The delightful smell wafted through the room. One tangerine wasn’t enough to fill me up.
In the meantime, I wanted to eat another tangerine, but for some reason, it felt a bit awkward, so I held back.
Looking back, I realized where I had been lying was on an electric mat. It was probably the only heating in this room. From the situation, it seemed like the boiler was hardly used.
The t-shirt I was wearing wasn’t just short-sleeved; it was practically outdoor clothing, and Earth Buddy hadn’t changed at all either. He merely took off a coat.
The only thing he had done was take off his socks and tossed them somewhere before putting on sleeping socks. He likely only removed his outerwear.
Sitting on the blanket was likely due to it being one of the only warm spots in the room.
Meanwhile, Earth Buddy had pulled out a small table that had been nearby and set it out between us.
He placed the ramen there and took out wooden chopsticks from the bag and handed them to me.
“…I’ll eat well.”
“Yeah.”
Even after all this effort, Earth Buddy asked no further questions. Though anxious, I was grateful.
Hastily, I picked up the chopsticks and looked at the ramen.
It was a familiar smell, yet at the same time, an incredibly appetizing aroma.
I practically lost my sense and hurriedly shoved it into my mouth.
It was almost a miracle I didn’t spill anything on my clothes.
*
“…Isn’t it suspicious?”
“What is?”
Earth Buddy had finished the ramen and confidently settled into the blanket at my feet, leaning against the wall. Our legs formed a T-shape while sitting on the electric mat.
Well, since it was his house, I suppose he could do that. But if so, he should just tell me to move.
I was pondering whether it was a bit less shameless for me to leave when that thought slipped out of my mouth.
“You must have seen the news or something.”
I directed my gaze toward the smartphone Earth Buddy was holding.
I wasn’t sure how much he cared about the news on Earth, but it was probably covered extensively to the point where it couldn’t be dismissed.
No matter how much the federation, government, and corporations controlled information, there were already so many people who had seen it, so there’d be no point in trying to hide it any longer.
Besides, videos were likely to be uploaded online before that.
If this was the case, it would make more sense to get ahead of things and spread bad information about me.
“Oh, that?”
Earth Buddy laughed incredulously.
“You mean that you committed terrorism?”
“…Yeah.”
“I was there too.”
Earth Buddy shrugged in a way that suggested it was ridiculous.
“After that thing exploded, you were the one who rescued me, right?”
“Ah…”
That was indeed the case.
“You were just chatting with me earlier, and before that, you were touring with the kids from school.”
“…”
Indeed, Earth Buddy had been the one present that day who knew my alibi.
But that didn’t make me feel any sense of hope. If there was evidence, it could easily be manipulated.
Distance-wise, it takes only about two hours to get from Gyeonggi-do to Seoul. Especially the roads leading to that district are well-maintained enough that commuting from Seoul is possible. It’d be hard work, but it could happen.
If they prepared thoroughly for the terrorism, it wouldn’t be implausible…
But since Earth Buddy seemed to know about it, it meant such news had already circulated. There’s a difference in credibility between a government announcement and the reports from major news outlets, regardless of any conspiracy theories circulating.
“…Well, for a while, just stay at ease. As long as you don’t go outside, I doubt anyone will know.”
Earth Buddy said, looking at my expression.
I wiped my face.
“…Thank you.”
I didn’t have anything else to say.
Earth Buddy opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.
Thud. Thud.
But just then, a noise came from the front door.
I quickly jumped to my feet. As soon as I put the circuit on my left wrist, the sound of the circuit powering up immediately followed.
But it was hard to gather my strength properly. Even enveloping my body with energy, my legs still trembled.
Earth Buddy also approached the door, looking tense.
He then peeked through the small lens attached to it.
“…Huh!?”
But as soon as Earth Buddy saw through the door, he exclaimed and instantly flung it open.
I almost screamed at the sight from beyond the door.
What stood there was a person with half their head blown off.
The upper part of their right eye was missing. Red blood was oozing from their head.
What was there—
“…James?”
I mumbled, and James collapsed forward.
Earth Buddy quickly shut the door.
I staggered towards where James lay.
Spreading red liquid on the floor, dead—dead?
What was coming from their head was clearly red liquid, but it had a strangely oily smell.
And that head, as I approached, opened with a small pop.
The broken upper part appeared like a lid.
And what crawled out of there was—something that resembled a hamster.
“Squeaky Adult!?”
“…Squeak?”
“Oh, I’m talking about this person.”
Despite being called a ‘person,’ their animal-like appearance was quite pronounced, but among those ‘adults,’ there were also those who looked like mere rocks.
“All it can produce are squeaky sounds, so all the language of these beings comes out as squeaks,” Earth Buddy explained, carefully picking up the fainted hamster.
“But to think Mr. James is a Squeaky Adult… well, that explains why he could create a circuit.”
“Squeaky…”
No, even if it resembled a hamster…
…
Ah, now I get it.
Looking back, it made sense.
A large-eared hamster with a fluffy tail.
It looked just like that mascot I saw in a webtoon.
The colors were completely different, though.