LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 319
Jua’s request to us was straightforward.
Gather the aliens in one place as much as possible. And make sure there are no people around.
The kids were already being evacuated by the teachers anyway. No one had entered the building yet.
The other magical girls were scattered at home, so it seemed like the aliens wouldn’t attack just us like last time. It looked like they split up to ambush the magical girls in groups. If it were different, Jua wouldn’t have contacted us like this.
Should I be relieved? The combatants weren’t coming to help or anything.
Was it because the type of aliens was different this time?
The last time I saw them, the aliens all seemed to come from various origins. There were a lot of them that looked like beasts, like bears and tigers, but they weren’t limited to just those two.
But now, all of them look like distorted versions of humans. They maintain a certain degree of human appearance.
Even though I was directly operating the circuit, luckily they couldn’t exert the same power as us. There weren’t any generators nearby, and Ji-hye’s and my energy came from hope, which was in direct opposition to the Noir Corporation’s energy.
“I’ll go in front.”
Ji-hye said.
The shield glimmered more brightly. Even though it was still completely dark, the surroundings were illuminated in a soft green light.
Normally, a light of that color would seem ominous, but maybe because of Ji-hye’s smiling face, it looked rather serene. Or perhaps it was just that seeing that color reminded me of Ji-hye’s eyes.
“———!”
An alien shouted. Some kids were startled by the sound and burst into tears.
I see.
But Ji-hye can’t take all the attacks alone. The energy transmitted through the shield wouldn’t be absolute, either. And people get hurt when they keep getting hit.
I charged forward with my hammer.
Instead of the alien coming toward Ji-hye, I struck the back of the alien’s head that seemed annoyed by the children’s cries.
Being an alien, it didn’t shatter from that, but glared at me as if it were furious.
I ran toward Ji-hye, and Ji-hye took on the alien’s attack.
Then I leaped up and swung my hammer down over the alien. The aliens didn’t leave our vicinity even while howling. Thankfully, it was a simple situation.
[Alright! Then I’ll go that way for now!]
“Okay?”
Jua shouted from beyond the summoning device. The shout was powerful, yet it sounded a little fatigued.
But before I could respond in any way—
Boom.
With that sound, Jua sprang out of thin air.
She rolled on the ground.
“Jua!?”
Wasn’t the warp completed? Unlike in the original, she must’ve felt worried about how intense the enemy’s attacks were, so she hadn’t used the incomplete warp technique recklessly. That’s why she had probably been researching it until now.
“I’m okay!”
Before I could even ask if she was alright, Jua popped up from the ground. And she staggered slightly.
Jua’s outfit was just a bit more modest than mine. Naturally, rolling on the ground like that must have hurt a lot. There were no major injuries, and even if there were, magic would heal it soon, but still.
I quickly ran over and lightly grabbed Jua’s waist to steady her wobbling body.
“Hah.”
Jua let out a small sigh. Had she overdone it? Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
“I’m sorry.”
While supporting Jua’s back, my hand inevitably brushed against her exposed skin. Being of the same gender, did that make it a little unpleasant? Well, it’s not like any guy touching her would be okay either.
“No, it’s fine.”
Jua’s circuit was really spinning energetically.
Maybe it was the relief of finishing the spell.
“What about the aliens.”
“Ah, right.”
I released Jua and looked at the aliens.
Fortunately, they weren’t all fixated on Ji-hye. The alien I had struck was still dazedly looking around, and the other one was facing Jua and me. Even a simple-minded alien seemed to have learned that getting hit by a hammer would hurt like hell.
“So, what about the warp?”
I prepared to dash toward Ji-hye. Maybe it was because Jua suddenly appeared out of thin air, but Ji-hye was staring blankly at us with her mouth agape.
“I’ll prepare it right away. It looks like my magical power has been restored as well.”
Hope.
Using magic definitely tires out the body. However, that exhausted body can hold out thanks to the regenerated magical power.
When we cast spells with our wands, the magical power gets scattered, but as long as we keep hope alive, the magical power continues to replenish through the circuits.
It’s an outrageous energy that completely disregards common sense like thermodynamics.
The so-called “cheat.” Even if we use magic continuously, it’s as if our mana never runs out, just like a character from a game.
“Please go to Ji-hye. I’ll be right there.”
“Okay.”
I shot toward Ji-hye.
As I went, I smacked the alien’s waist with my hammer. The alien, about to swing its arm at me, fell over sideways.
“Ji-eun?”
Ji-hye asked in a slightly subdued voice. Was she a bit worn out from the fight? If you haven’t had basic training and rely solely on magical power, your stamina gets used up rapidly. Plus, Ji-hye had already blocked for me with the large shield several times.
“I’m sorry.”
I said as I embraced Ji-hye. She might have felt a little uncomfortable, but there was no choice. This was the only way to properly support her exhausted body. Luckily, Ji-hye’s outfit didn’t expose her back, so my arms didn’t touch her skin directly.
“Ah!? N-no, it’s fine….”
Ji-hye’s face turned slightly red.
I could understand why. When people are overly tired, they can get a bit feverish.
The fight needs to end as quickly as possible.
“Jua!”
I called out while still holding onto Ji-hye and running toward Jua. Ji-hye’s shield brightened as if she were summoning her last strength.
“…Why does Ji-eun hold onto others’ waists?”
For some reason, Jua threw out such an unexpected question.
“Ah, um, don’t answer that. You flirt.”
“Huh?”
Before I could even figure out how to interpret what Jua said, she already had her gun held high above her head.
Jua pulled the trigger.
And in the next moment, the three of us were rolling on the ground.
*
Thanks to being protected by magical power, it didn’t hurt that much.
However, after rolling on the ground and getting my dizzy mind back, we sure looked ridiculous.
Jua, who had some skin exposed like me, and even Ji-hye, who didn’t, ended up in a surprisingly embarrassing position. Both of them were hiding their faces in my chest.
…..
No, not there.
“!?”
Fortunately, both of them lifted their faces off my abdomen and stood up. Their hands that had been touching my side and back quickly withdrew.
It seemed I subconsciously wedged their faces into my side while protecting them from rolling on the ground. If I had moved a bit wrong, their faces could have easily ended up in a more embarrassing spot.
Really, I should probably change my outfit.
…..
Not that I could change it now, but.
Thankfully, Jua’s circuit was turning energetically. Perhaps even a bit more than before.
It must be because her plan had perfectly succeeded. Of course.
Ji-hye was also pushing herself hard. Her face was even redder. She must’ve been feeling some embarrassment as well. I felt a little sorry about that.
As I stood up—somehow at a distance, I noticed Ha-yoon and the other magical girls staring at us.
Despite the aliens wobbling up from afar.
“What’s the matter?”
I asked.
“…Nothing.”
Ha-yoon replied sulkily. She looked ridiculous. Her hair seemed to be tied up during transformation, but now it was covered in dust here and there. Her pink outfit was the same, and the exposed shoulders showed many small wounds. Just like me, Jua, and Ji-hye.
“Let’s talk after the fight.”
Some aliens were already completely subdued, lying limply on the ground. Did Jua take care of those aliens before she arrived?
“There’s more to be done.”
Ha-yoon said.
“More to do?”
“Yeah. There’s been a job done on our side.”
……Another joint operation, huh.
This is really getting tedious. According to James, it seems the company has a whole different situation due to the coup.
“I think they’re trying to leave the planet. The one who started that coup.”
“……That’s problematic.”
I clenched my teeth. Even the slightly chubby Ha-yoon nodded seriously upon seeing my expression.
“Let’s not let them get away.”
“Right. Absolutely.”
I gripped my hammer tightly.
The circuit spun vigorously.
I learned how to find hope even in a situation where there should be none through these kids. Always looking at the positive side and charging forward in that direction. That’s the way to not lose hope.
This time, that direction seemed to be the hope that if I just grab that creature trying to escape, things would be over.
That was the only hope I had as I decided to run, fly, and smash.