LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 67
Well, okay.
I decided to put off robbing the convenience store for now and focus on what’s in front of me.
Fortunately, there were no other people attacking us today.
With “robots,” aliens, and magical girls sent by the company all mixed up, trying to attack would only complicate matters.
Or maybe it was a directive not to directly attack us.
In the video I shared last time, there were clips of police firing at me while I was helping people.
Public opinion wasn’t completely on my side, but thanks to that video, it at least split the opinion somewhat.
People still aren’t entirely sure if I’m a terrorist or not, especially now that even the magical girls are on my side.
In such a situation, to reassure people, the best move is to show them that everything is under control.
And to flip that public opinion, it’s crucial to show that we are the ones threatening their safety and stability.
So, what do we need to do in this situation?
It’s simple.
Just show that they’re not in control over there at all.
Over and over again.
I maxed out the hammer’s output, pushed forward, and charged ahead.
With the sound of the wind slicing by, the hammer swung. The sound of air rushing in from behind was threatening enough to make me feel uneasy.
“Grrrooooaaaah!”
The white robot swung its arm at me, clearly annoyed by my interruption.
Clang!
Metal clashed with metal.
“Oh.”
I couldn’t help but admire just a little.
Last time, the robots fell apart quite easily every time I attacked. A poke on the fingertips or tips would deform them inside, and their gloves would fall off, revealing the insides.
Maybe they wanted to show they weren’t just an alien? The gloves were reinforced much more than before.
Hmm.
That means, if they want to move properly, they probably need more energy?
How are they going to control it without me around?
Though, if they manage to operate a huge number of combatants, then getting energy wouldn’t be impossible.
Maybe that’s what they’re aiming for.
In this situation, if I back out, it’ll be problematic for the company and the government. Maybe they want me to notice and bow out?
The aliens could just catch me in the old-fashioned way and then announce, “We got them!”
I adjusted the hammerhead, keeping a keen eye on the monster’s arm.
Bang! Bang!
Every time my hammer aimed at the monster, it swatted it away with its arm, forcing me back. The “energy” was surely getting transmitted, pushing my hammer back, but unfortunately for the opponent, that hammer continued to propel forward like a rocket.
Even when pushed back, the propulsion pushed the hammer forward again. Obviously, since I was holding the hammer, I wouldn’t get hit, and the longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it becomes for them.
“Grrroooaaar!”
The robot must’ve realized that too, as in the end, it dodged my attack instead of trying to block it.
It jumped back, digging its clawed feet into the ground to stop its backward momentum. Some of those alloy claws were completely shattered. So it seems my hits did have some effect after all.
Bang!
My hammer hit the ground, missing its target.
That’s not a big issue. If I change the angle of my swing before it gets up and rushes me—
But before I could pivot to dodge, something blocked my path.
No, it was two somethings.
Rose and Ha-yoon.
Rose, who had her hands outfitted with gauntlets, took a defensive stance. And right beside her, Ha-yoon stood, ready with her blade aimed at the enemy.
“……”
As I watched the two, the robot looked flustered, and I took the opportunity to rise and get into a stance.
The sound of slicing wind returned.
This time from my left.
Since it just saw me dealing with the robot, I guess it deemed me the more threatening entity.
Rather than an alliance, it would be more beneficial to take out the stronger, more threatening being first and then deal with the exhausted opponent. Even in a muddled state, it seems it could think instinctively like that.
But before I could even turn my head—
Wham!
A somewhat unusual sound hit my ears.
The sound of many small, solid things colliding strongly together.
“I got it!”
As I heard that, I turned to the side, seeing Dalia launching magic that was like shotgun blasts.
Unlike when she rapidly fired large rounds, this time, she seemed to be spreading out and shooting smaller pellets.
And I didn’t need to think too hard about where that idea came from.
Click.
I heard the sound of machinery working, followed by something hitting the ground.
Fuze.
In Iris’s hand was a gun shorter than what I usually saw her carry. It looked like a shotgun, but its shape hadn’t changed. It seemed like the front part of her usual rifle had been cut off, making it look like a compact version at first glance.
Or maybe it really is a compact version? If you think about the adjustments according to the time and situation, it wouldn’t be strange.
Iris pulled the trigger again at the monster, which had briefly stopped its assault on us. The alien went flying backward, and small, round magical energy beads piled up everywhere around it.
Click.
As she pulled back the bolt, another fuze shot out.
Did she come up with that after our last encounter?
Before the alien could recover, a thin wall rose around us.
This dome-shaped barrier distorted what lay beyond it. Not only did it obscure what was outside, but it also created a severe distortion, making it clear that things were obscured.
Turning around, I found Delphinium with her eyes closed, waving her wand.
It’s like she’s directing an orchestra, her wand-hand moving smoothly as if drawing.
In the other hand, a thick book was opened.
The alien tried to bolt away, but upon reaching the wall, it jumped back, startled.
The wall itself dealt damage to the enemy.
Of course, it wouldn’t have a significant effect on a magical girl. Even the alien could probably break it if it put its mind to it.
But for the alien, facing a magical girl is an entirely new experience. It didn’t know what that wall meant, as there wasn’t even time to think about it in more detail.
Above all, it seems most aliens don’t even understand the concept of retreat.
The alien’s appearance changed.
It turned its body, aiming for Delphinium, who was behind Iris and Dalia.
While Dalia and Iris simultaneously fired at the creature, it twisted its body and dashed sideways, somehow dodging their shots, as if predicting their firing lines.
Their physical abilities weren’t outstanding to the level of Rose and Ha-yoon. If an opponent moves faster than them, their aiming speed and the speed of their magic attacks would inevitably become ambiguous.
Still, it seemed a few of those small shots managed to hit the alien, but since they were smaller, it didn’t seem like they packed enough power to fully stop it.
Delphinium had less stamina than the other two. The reflexes were the same. Plus, she was currently focused on her magic with her eyes closed.
…… A sight I hadn’t even imagined while fighting.
That composure is something she can only show because she trusts the beings fighting alongside her. It’s different from me, who fought alone.
Not that I’m particularly fond of it, but right now, I’m also fighting alongside them. We haven’t fully come to an agreement yet. There hasn’t been reconciliation or anything.
If you have to point out the similarities, it would be similar to my relationship with James. For now, we’re just holding hands and fighting because there’s no other option.
Still, well, for now, it can’t be helped.
I turned my hammer.
…… Can’t be helped. That’s why I can fight.
I jumped with all my might.
Charging toward the direction the alien was running from, I swung my hammer with full force before it could reach me.
I don’t have too much confidence in my abilities. If Iris and Dalia can dodge bullets, of course, the speed of my hammer swing could also be avoided.
But, still, I’m technically a magical girl.
I can’t do anything as hopeful as creating something or nurturing plants with my magic.
But I do know that I can create black holes whenever I need to. And that black substance that envelops me every time I transform.
Not that I’m planning to create a black hole here or anything.
But that slimy and sticky substance, isn’t this the perfect situation to use it?
I swung my hammer horizontally.
At the same time, I cut off the power. Then I focused my mind. I struggled to recall the sensation of transforming.
It wasn’t harder than I thought. Just like I had learned to float in the air.
It was a very different form from creating magical energy balls like Dalia and Delphinium or generating blades like Ha-yoon, but—
From the partially opened rear section of my hammer, which usually emitted power—black material poured out as if all the magical energy from the generator was transformed and released into energy.
“Ah!?”
Seeing that tar-like substance, Dalia screamed in fear. Iris hastily soared higher into the sky.
Leaving Delphinium behind me, I spilled that substance in front of me.
The alien, running toward me, stepped on that substance.
“!?”
Splat.
Then, the alien’s foot stuck.
At first, it didn’t stop it. Those accelerated feet carried a lot of energy, so for the first few steps, the black goo just fell away from its foot unimpeded.
But with each step, as it lost energy to that sticky substance, its speed slowed, and the chances of it sticking increased.
Splat, splat.
Eventually, the alien could no longer take off its feet.
Just tripping once would be enough. After that, the black energy would grab its shin and thigh, belly and shoulder.
Clang.
I closed the back of the hammer.
Then, gripping the hammer with one hand, I slowly walked toward the fallen alien.
“……!?”
As I approached, the broad-faced alien looked up at me.
Its grotesque appearance made me feel a hint of pity. It probably didn’t choose to end up like this either.
My magic wouldn’t hold onto my feet. After all, that’s the substance that wraps around me when I transform.
I may not know how much influence that has on my body, but at the very least, my clothes have to be made of that substance.
I raised my hammer and struck the ground with the end of it to the alien’s head. I controlled my strength. I can’t afford to kill it.
The alien collapsed onto the floor as it lay still.
“……”
This feels a bit hollow.
If I had tried to catch it by myself, it would have taken quite a bit of effort. Having someone to direct its movements makes it quite simple.
“Grrroooaaaah!”
The alien, that looked no different from a robot outwardly, roared.
Its shoulder had managed to block my attack to a degree.
But my hammer went along its path, tearing the alien’s arm hard from side to side.
For a moment, something snagged near the shoulder, followed by a sound of shattering. The same goes for the elbow. Seems like what James told me was accurate.
Bang!
My hammer struck the ground—
“……!”
The alien, now freed from one arm’s restraint, effortlessly swung its claws towards me, causing me to roll on the ground.
……Hmm.
Maybe it would be better to keep one leg or one arm restrained.
I briefly considered modifying my plan.