LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 322
Alien, alien, alien.
Strangely transformed people burst out from all directions.
The bridge didn’t seem to be a normal structure. One wall opened, and the beings that poured in looked just like absurd Earthlings.
How on earth?
No, thinking like that might actually be foolish.
In this country, only the magical girls present here can operate the Hope Circuit. There may be many more like Ji-hye and others who haven’t been discovered yet. Considering there are many people around the world using that Hope Circuit, once we really start searching, there might be far more that show up.
However, it can’t be mined as recklessly as with the Noir Corporation.
The government is always poised to keep the federation in check. No matter how much they pretend on the surface that there’s nothing really wrong, those in power despised the idea of new power entering this country.
At least the Noir Corporation doesn’t meddle with ‘politics.’
Besides, in modern society, despair has become far too prevalent. If you just grab anyone walking on the streets and put a circuit on them, many would immediately work as combatants.
That much, gathering negative emotions together is possible.
It might not be as much as our energy. But through that continually supplied emotion, they might have figured out how to forcibly mutate people into aliens.
Boom!
And some of those aliens—yeah, they could potentially keep people in a state of constant despair.
If someone is continuously in pain. If they’re afraid. People reach despair. Of course, there are definitely those who give up, but if we could deliberately create beings who don’t even know what giving up is…
…aliens can heal broken bones, torn wounds, anything, with their technology. They can even manipulate cells to regrow completely shattered limbs or roasted skin.
If that’s the case, then isn’t it also possible to ‘create’ Earthlings?
While it may not be possible to inherently generate magical power, if it’s an existence that can despair deeply enough while just rampaging, that might represent emotions of ‘trying not to give up and breaking free.’ Unlike hope, it’s not completely impossible to create.
“…….”
We all remained silent throughout the fight.
They weren’t significantly different from typical aliens. They didn’t even seem to have armor ready, and aside from the Chest Circuit attached to them, the aliens barely covered part of their bodies.
But that’s what made them look even more grotesque.
These weren’t even completed beings. The Noir Corporation aimed to ultimately complete the generator. These aliens were merely tools to complete that generator and perfect their technology.
“I see.”
I heard the sound of circuits breaking apart against the hammer.
Even we, when facing too many opponents, have our little tricks. The best thing to shatter a circuit is to strike it with a weapon far stronger than its power.
Once the circuit breaks, the beings can no longer exert their strength. After that, it’s enough to knock them out.
“Ha… ha…”
But that wasn’t an easy task.
Even if each alien was manageable, if that opponent… is rendered meaningless by our resistance.
Kraack.
Ha-yoon stabbed a pink blade into the chest of one of the aliens. Seeing the alien’s movement stop, she jumped again.
“…….”
At this rate, it would never end.
The generator I carried on my back wasn’t really running at full capacity yet. It was originally made to harness the energy of despair.
Perhaps it was because Cherry had done something to prevent it from syncing with the aliens.
Or maybe, surprisingly, James had helped a bit too.
After all, he wouldn’t want to let those who initiated a coup succeed.
“Ji-eun!”
While I briefly thought about other things, several aliens rushed towards me.
Ji-hye intervened, pushing the shield in. The aliens’ attacks bounced off the shield, and her powerful fists rained down on them.
Yeah, that’s right.
I wasn’t alone.
From the moment I became a magical girl, I no longer had the option to be ‘isolated.’
My friends, who are so fond of me.
Thanks to these kids, we could be here.
Alright.
“Chae-yeon!”
“Yeah.”
Uncharacteristically, Chae-yeon answered immediately when I called her. There were no lengthy pauses typical in her responses.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
Even in this situation, Chae-yeon hadn’t lost any hope at all.
Would freezing the aliens entirely put their lives in jeopardy?
“No.”
Chae-yeon cut me off decisively.
“We’ve already seen those aliens. When we checked the unconscious ones, they were not significantly different from alien creatures.”
“Really? Is that so?”
I nodded, then pointed my hammer toward the passage ahead.
“Then freeze that passage entirely.”
“Huh?”
Jua’s eyes widened.
“But we might need to go through that way!”
“Uh?”
“Because it’s where most of the aliens are guarding.”
Yeon-woo supplemented Jua’s words.
Ah, I see.
“……No.”
I shook my head.
“Right now, continuing to fight this way would lead to nowhere.”
There could be a way to resolve everything one by one. We wouldn’t fall, however.
But with that opponent, they might have some last-ditch measures prepared.
Then it’s right to conserve our strength.
“Freeze everything. I’ll break through the way.”
“……”
The kids looked at me with slightly dazed expressions. Seo-hee almost got hit by an alien because she hesitated at that moment.
“……Alright.”
Chae-yeon replied without delay, seeing that.
“If we can buy time, that alone would be a huge help for us.”
“Chae-yeon said that and then stared at me intently.”
“……Why?”
“I need magical power.”
“……Um… why?”
I knocked away an alien charging at me with my hammer while speaking.
“I need hope. We need to power our circuits.”
“Hope?”
This time, Ha-yoon’s eyes lit up as she looked at me, almost getting hit by an alien. Of course, she skillfully avoided that alien and stabbed it to damage the circuit.
“Yeah.”
Chae-yeon answered, oddly reddening her face.
“So… here.”
Seeing her extend her arms, I had to think for a moment about what that meant.
“Oh, wait. Are you asking for a hug?”
“Yup.”
Chae-yeon said with her face flushed.
“……”
I just stared at Chae-yeon for a moment, then stopped thinking altogether.
Whatever, I don’t know.
She says she needs it.
I quickly pulled Chae-yeon into a hug.
She was a bit smaller and thinner than the other kids, but she was soft and warm. I could probably recognize her just by touch even with my eyes closed.
And the other kids too.
Somehow, we’ve ended up in a situation where we’re hugging each other like this constantly, so I guess I’ve come to recognize the feel of all the other kids when they pull me in. Especially, for some reason, they liked to hug me from behind. Whenever I was preoccupied with something else back at the headquarters…
…
No, let’s put that story off for later. For some reason, it felt like I was drifting into extremely important territory, and if I went any further, I’d end up reaching some strange conclusion.
No matter what, thinking like that would be troublesome for me. Yeah.
Chae-yeon clung to me tightly, squeezing my arms. It didn’t hurt, just a little tight, a soothing embrace.
But just that—
“Ah, yes.”
Chae-yeon murmured.
The sound of circuits activating rang out loudly. Not only my circuit but also Chae-yeon’s circuit that was holding me.
Is it possible that Chae-yeon really loves hugging? Maybe she likes doing it with me the most. I suppose it’s because I’m taller. Being tall, my shoulders are naturally wider than hers, making it easier for her to fit into a hug.
“……”
It wasn’t just the circuits engaging.
The generator on my back was slowly growing warm.
Something like a breeze stirred around us. But I thought that what I felt wasn’t a real breeze.
A storm of magical energy.
Chae-yeon pulled away from me. She stepped back about two paces.
Her blue hair shimmered mysteriously. A gentle blue light of magical energy danced around Chae-yeon.
“Alright. This should do.”
Chae-yeon raised her hand. In her hand, a book and a wand were already grasped.
Chae-yeon began chanting a spell.
“Alright then, everyone—”
Just as I turned around to shout encouragement for the kids.
Smack!
Ji-hye seemed to swing her shield hard, sending an alien flying far away.
It wasn’t just Ji-hye. Ha-yoon waved her wand wildly, and Seo-hee, Jua, and Yeon-woo were all doing the same. The colors of the spells raining down from all directions mixed together, resembling a fireworks display.
…
Oh, right.
Yeah.
Well.
If we give it our all, that’s good, right?
It did look somewhat like a last-minute burst, but it seemed like they were all mad about something, rampaging around, yet, anyway, thanks to that, the aliens got sent flying.
So, well.
Chae-yeon was definitely able to cast magic without a hitch now.