Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Golden Magical Girl
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I straightened my posture. I focused my mind on the hand gripping my sword. My legs were always spaced half a step apart, my gaze fixed straight ahead.
"……."
Magical Girl Helena. A veteran from the generation before I became a Magical Girl. At the same time, ever since retiring as a Magical Girl, she'd been fighting Villains from the shadows... a Magical Girl capable of killing someone.
"Ah... but this is the first time a fellow Magical Girl has become my enemy... it's a bit awkward..."
However, even after the soldiers who had been engaging me quickly retreated and vanished completely from sight upon declaring they were entering combat with me... Helena just scratched her head with a feeble expression that left even me feeling drained.
"Um... how about we skip the fighting and you just surrender quietly? Even as a Villain, you used to be a Magical Girl. There must be some reason for this, right?"
"There is a reason. But I have no intention of telling you."
"Oh, I see. Yeah... sorry for prying..."
The only thing I knew about her was that one fact: she'd gotten caught trying to convert magically created gold into cash, which led to her retirement.
'No sign of her gathering magic power either. Is she really not planning to fight?'
That's what I thought as I focused my right eye—the one that could see magic power—to scrutinize Helena's mana.
"Well then... no one else around, so shall we start?"
Her voice was exactly the same as the one from earlier in the shelter, when she'd hugged me and whispered reassurances.
Kwa-ga-ga-gak...!
The very next instant, without any warning, golden spikes erupted from beneath my feet... leaving me so dumbfounded that I let out a hollow laugh as I leaped into the air to evade them.
"Ha...!"
As I regained my footing midair and looked down, what entered my eyes was a city transformed entirely into gold, as if a mythical king's hand had touched it.
Ka-ang...!
I swung my sword experimentally at a nearby building, but the blade—which could slice through most magic without infusing mana—bounced off with sparks instead.
'I could probably cut through Bell-level stuff.'
Infusing the blade with mana would likely do the trick. Glancing at the scratches left on the golden building, I couldn't help but think that real Magical Girls were utterly ridiculous. With that sentiment, the disgust building up inside me all day seemed to wash away.
"Ahahaha!"
Far off in the distance—clearly not one for close combat—Helena hid behind a golden building, and I flashed her a brilliant smile.
Tung...!
Right after, my mana-enhanced hearing picked up a faint sound. Along with the heavy mana presence detected at the edge of my sensing range... bullets that wouldn't end with just a sting if they hit came flying rapidly from afar.
Ka-ang!
Instead of dodging unnecessarily, I smacked the incoming bullet away with the flat of my blade.
"There you are."
Spotting the sniper frantically trying to move from the direction the shot came from, I ducked down, thinking I'd deal with that annoying pest first.
Bban-jjak...!
Right above me in the air, golden mana gathered at tremendous speed, transforming into over a dozen spears that plunged down.
"Tch...!"
They seemed to have tracking attached—bending their trajectory to follow my every move. Dodging Helena's initial attack spears, I tried to leap high by stepping on the gold she'd made at my feet.
Peo-seok.
Was that her aim? The moment my foot touched it, the gold crumbled like a sandcastle on the beach, throwing off my balance.
Swiiiish—!
Dozens of golden spears—clearly not something I'd walk away from with just a prick—closed in on me.
Kiiiiing...!
I didn't want to reveal my hand yet, but I activated the acceleration magic circle I'd prepped inside my body, steadying my posture around the twisted axis.
"—Acceleration."
With the activation word, the world began to flow in slow motion.
In an instant. I confirmed the direction and speed of exactly 17 golden spears hurtling toward me.
——.
Within the accelerated perception of time, a burning sensation heated my joints as if they were on fire... I deflected all 17 golden spears that had been about to impale me.
"Ha...!"
Time returned. I exhaled deeply to cool my overheated body, then without hesitation swung my sword behind me.
Kwa-ang!
As expected. My sword clashed with a golden pillar extending silently from the building behind, sending my body skyrocketing into the sky from the recoil.
"...Yeah. That's more like it."
This time, so many golden spears rained down from all directions that the entire sky seemed to turn yellow.
Dudu-du-du...!
Even while airborne, I could feel the ground's gold vibrating intensely before surging up in a massive wave, forming a gigantic sword poised to bisect me.
Kiiiiing...!
I abandoned any thought of avoiding damage. I drew out thin strands of purple mana, sharpening them into a blade atop my sword.
"Acceleration."
Once more, in a world that halted like it was frozen. I quietly swung at the golden spears and sword now right in front of me. Once, twice, three times... until I'd shot down every attack aimed at me.
——!
My whole body burned like fire. My joints screamed from the overexertion. But it beat getting pierced. I ignored it.
"Hup...!"
Thus, as the time granted to me ran out... and the flow returned to normal.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak...!
It wasn't a clean sound, but I could see the golden spears and sword that had charged at me all shatter and scatter.
"Kuh...!"
Puk, puk. Still, fragments from spears I hadn't fully deflected embedded in my body, but I'd accept that much. After all, that last attack had made me completely lose track of Helena's position.
"……."
No wonder she specialized in hunting Villains. She was adept at concealing her mana and presence.
Flutter...!
I roughly tore off the cape wrapped around my already burning-hot shoulders... and similarly sliced through the black stockings binding my legs with the tip of my blade.
"Hoo...."
Hudu-duk. Amid the rain of falling golden fragments... as I scanned my surroundings again.
Hwoong...!
Something massive swung overhead.
"With this...!"
A true veteran. No matter how well she hid her presence, she knew I'd detect her at the moment of attack. That's why she'd timed it for when the residual mana from this golden rain enveloped me.
Seogeok.
But the same went for me. I'd anticipated this exact moment. Especially after we'd both unleashed such massive techniques. The follow-up would be low-cost but high-impact. If it was ranged, it'd be a hassle, but close-range... no, a mana-based attack.
"……!"
Thus, as the enormous golden hammer poised to smash my head split like tofu, I saw Helena's shocked expression... and right before my sword touched her body, I released the blade overlay on it.
"Time to rest now, Senior."
Aiming my blackened right eye at the golden sun-like mana core in Helena's chest. The moment I thrust my sword.
Ta-ang...!
Another gunshot rang out, followed by a dull pain in my head.
"Kuh...!"
I tried to right my tilting body.
Tang! Ta-ang!
This time, bullets lodged in my arm and torso.
"Not yet...!"
My sword tip still hadn't reached Helena's chest. Just a bit more, stretch my arm forward a little. I could restore Ah-jin's life—the one who couldn't even live her own weekends, patrolling secretly instead. But.
"Helena—!"
A voice made me glance aside. Beyond Helena, who was desperately pulling away... another Magical Girl rapidly approached.
Eudeuk...!
I gritted my teeth. Even if I lost here, I had to erase at least one more Magical Girl from this world. That was my only thought.
Ta-ang...!
A hole tore through my left arm, blood spraying. Didn't matter. I flung my right arm forward. A bone-popping sound rang out, but this would reach. So I thought.
Kwa-ga-ga-gak...!
From below upward, blocking the space between the falling me and Helena. Savage wind blades shoved my sword aside. Probably some trick from that incoming green Magical Girl.
"U, aaaaah—!"
Thus, as Helena—wounded only at her mana core and writhing in agony—drifted farther from me... the moment my body hit the ground.
Po-ok.
My body, which should have crashed unceremoniously into the golden earth and tumbled, was instead caught in someone's arms.
"That's enough."
"……."
"You know pushing further is impossible, right?"
Instead of answering, I nodded. I still had that much reason left.
"You think I'll let you escape—!"
Glancing at the green Magical Girl charging with a ferocious shout from afar... I looked at the man holding me—Bell—conveying my question of how we were getting away from that.
"You know what they say about Villains? We secure our escape route first before causing trouble♥"
With a casual finger snap, just like when he'd blocked Yu-na before, he conjured a wall of black lightning in front of us.
"Well then, see you later, Magical Girls."
Hop. He simply leaped into the spatial rift that had appeared behind us.
"Wow, that really startled me. Who knew you'd take such a beating."
"...I was the one getting beaten."
"Aw, come on, not the kind of thing to say looking like that."
Thus, crossing through the space rippling like static noise.
"Tch. Whatever. I'm gonna sleep."
"Yes. Good work today, Ha-yul."
Even though I'd gone rogue and caused trouble, instead of scolding me, this affable villain patted my shoulder and praised my efforts. Leaning into his arms... I simply closed my eyes.
...Later, I should get that bloodstained suit of his cleaned separately.