20
Chapter 20
"Phew....... Mina, are you ready?"
"Yeah......I'm ready......."
As Mina nodded slightly, Yuna's hand gripping her staff tightened.
Once again, a blazing red fireball formed in front of Yuna's staff.
Fireball.
A spell that had now become very familiar to Yuna.
Seeing the fireball form in front of the staff, Suhyun began to be on guard again.
"Fireball!"
With Yuna's shout, the Fireball flew toward Suhyun.
"Grr-!"
Suhyun immediately kicked off the ground and nimbly dodged the consecutive Fireballs flying at her.
While Suhyun's attention was focused on Yuna.
"Lightning Dash."
Mina, who was standing beside her, vanished in an instant and moved behind Suhyun.
Suhyun, already distracted by Yuna, realized too late that Mina had moved behind her.
By the time she turned her head, it was already too late.
"Lightning Chain......!"
Mina's staff had transformed into a chain glowing with blue light.
Crackling-!
A chain flowing with an enormous electric current.
"Grr-!"
Realizing something was wrong, Suhyun tried to flee in a hurry, but it was useless.
The chain writhed like a snake and moved like an arrow, instantly wrapping around Suhyun.
"Kraaaah-!"
Suhyun had been fine even against the Taser, but she was helpless against Mina's electric magic.
The electricity infused with powerful mana was incomparably stronger than a Taser.
Mana-infused electricity was on a completely different level.
As the electric current spread through her body, Suhyun couldn't resist at all and just stood there, her blue eyes flashing.
Seeing this, Yuna took a deep breath and aimed her staff at Suhyun again.
"I won't miss this time."
A Fireball formed again in front of the Old Tree Staff.
"Grr-grr-!"
Suhyun struggled to break free from the chain, but it wasn't enough.
Instead, the chain tightened even more around Suhyun's body.
A distance that couldn't be missed.
"Fireball-!"
As Yuna shouted, the Fireball flew in a straight line, burning the air.
"Khu-!"
The Fireball hit Suhyun accurately.
Unable to support her body, Suhyun was hit by the Fireball and flew to where Mina was standing.
Thud-
Suhyun collapsed powerlessly.
Only then did the chain wrapped around her body disappear.
"Suhyun-!"
Mina hurriedly approached Suhyun.
"Ugh......."
Suhyun was groaning in pain.
That was inevitable.
Anyone could see her condition wasn't normal.
There were burns all over her body, and the parts wrapped by the chain were swollen bright red.
Plus bruises visible in various places.
Though not fatal, Suhyun's body had clearly reached its limit.
Mina tried to get closer to Suhyun out of worry.
But Joohyun's words came to mind, and she stopped.
'Remember. No matter how worried you are about Suhyun getting hurt, don't act rashly. If it gets out that the Magical Girl is acquainted with the Mutant causing all this chaos, we'll be in danger too.'
The situation where it's been revealed that Magical Girls can use their awakened abilities outside the Tower.
People would surely fear knowing that awakened abilities could be used outside.
If it were revealed that such a Magical Girl was close friends with a monster threatening people.
Public opinion would arise that the Magical Girl must be in cahoots with them and should be punished along with the Mutant.
If her identity were also revealed, the chaos would only worsen.
Mina understood what Joohyun meant, but she couldn't ignore Suhyun lying there in pain.
Mina was pacing anxiously, not knowing what to do.
That's when Suhyun groaned and slowly opened her eyes.
"Suhyun!"
Mina called out to her again.
Suhyun slowly turned her gaze toward Mina calling her.
Suhyun's eyes, which had been glowing blue, now held distinct emerald pupils.
Those eyes from childhood that always sparkled like jewels.
"Un, nie......?"
Not a beastly howl, but a soft voice like before flowed from Suhyun's lips.
"Suhyun......?"
As soon as she heard that voice, tears began flowing from Mina's eyes.
"Unnie......is that......you?"
Suhyun looked at Mina with a puzzled expression.
"Why are you crying."
"Just, just because I'm happy......."
"Hehe......Unnie got really, pretty. You look like a Magical Girl......."
Suhyun grinned at Mina.
Mina tried hard to hold back tears that seemed ready to burst at any moment.
Then Suhyun, who had been looking at the empty space with jewel-like eyes, reached her arm toward the towering Tower.
"I had......a dream. For a very long time, trapped in the Capsule, the stories Unnie and Dad told......."
"Suhyun......."
"In the dream, I hurt people. I struggled because I was scared, but I couldn't stop. I......."
"No......it's not your fault, Suhyun......."
Mina shook her head vigorously. It wasn't Suhyun's fault. This was all caused by her own and Master's greed.
Perhaps she understood Mina's heart.
Suhyun grinned as she looked at Mina.
"Th, ank you."
And then.
"Kuaaah......!"
Suhyun clutched her head and writhed in pain, then went limp and closed her eyes.
"Suhyun!"
Mina was about to lose her senses and rush toward Suhyun.
"Don't worry! She just lost consciousness!"
Mina, who had been reaching out to Suhyun, finally came to her senses.
It was none other than Joohyun who had spoken to her.
He had already come to their side in Stealth Mode.
"Joohyun......."
"Yeah, it's me. Mina, snap out of it. We need to get Suhyun out of here fast. Do what you can right now."
At those words, Mina raised her head and looked at Yuna across from her.
When Yuna's eyes met Mina's, she nodded.
Mina wiped her tears, stood up, and nodded back at Yuna.
Yuna raised her staff toward the fallen Suhyun.
Mina did the same.
She tightened her grip on her staff.
At that moment.
"Fire Storm!"
Yuna shouted.
Whoosh-!
A fierce wind blew and a fire tornado began to form.
The clouds parted, as if─ the sun were delivering divine punishment.
A gigantic flame tornado descended from the sky at high speed toward Suhyun.
Seeing this, Mina took a deep breath.
Soon, electric current began sparking all over her body.
"Thunder Burst!"
As she shouted.
An electric field formed around Mina and swallowed everything.
And then.
The Fire Storm falling from the sky and Mina's Thunder Burst collided.
Boom-!!
In an instant, a booming sound rang out and the earth shook.
Great power clashed against power and then!
Bang-!
Exploding the air with a loud shockwave sound.
Whew-!
Hazy smoke filled downtown like mist.
'Now.'
Joohyun quickly approached Suhyun and grabbed the burlap cloth she was wearing with his mouth.
"Joohyun......!"
"M'f'ne!"
At Mina's call, Joohyun said that.
"Lightning Dash!"
Joohyun escaped the area in an instant, still holding Suhyun in his mouth.
Fortunately, the situation went as Joohyun had planned.
A tactic to block people's view with the smoke created by clashing Yuna's and Mina's magic, and retrieve Suhyun.
Of course, there were many uncertain points, but somehow it succeeded.
Joohyun, carrying Suhyun in his mouth, quickly returned to where Chanhoon and Eunha were.
"Suhyun!"
As soon as Chanhoon saw Suhyun, he embraced her.
"Ugh......! I thought my jaw was going to fall off."
Perhaps because of his animal form, he had strong bite force, which was fortunate.
"You worked hard."
Eunha said, stroking Joohyun's grumbling back.
"Hmph!"
Joohyun snorted and slightly avoided Eunha's touch, then smirked seeing Chanhoon hugging Suhyun and crying.
'Well......I guess the hard work paid off.'
As the hazy smoke cleared, two silhouettes were revealed.
It was none other than Mina and Yuna.
The spot where Suhyun had been lying was scorched black.
To the people watching this scene from somewhere, it would look like nothing but Suhyun being hit by Yuna and Mina's magic.
Annihilation.
Completely incinerated by fire and electricity, not a single bone remaining.
Of course, in reality, she was alive and well.
Anyway.
They had definitely embedded the image that Magical Girls were not on the villain's side.
Having finished their task, the two made eye contact and quickly left the scene.
If they stayed there, they would obviously be pestered by people.
As the Magical Girls left.
People who had been hiding in buildings came out from various places.
Soon, they began to buzz with chatter.
Praise for the Magical Girls' strength and beauty.
And as Joohyun had thought, negative stories arising from fear and terror after witnessing the Magical Girls' enormous power.
Made the whole downtown noisy.
* * *
Mina and Yuna, who had entered the park restroom to de-transform and come out.
Since they had used Mina's ability to malfunction the CCTVs and dashcams on their way to the park, there was no worry about their identities being revealed.
"Phew......I have no strength in my body......."
Yuna and Mina, having de-transformed, wobbled on their legs as if they had no strength.
"It's hard......."
"You're out."
Seeing the two looking exhausted, Joohyun smirked.
"Ugh...... It's the CEO......."
Yuna staggered and reached her hand out toward Joohyun.
Normally, he would have definitely avoided it.
But since they worked hard today, he intended to let her touch him as much as she wanted.
Yuna suddenly grabbed Joohyun, hugged him to her chest, and immediately rubbed her face against him.
"Whoa...... So soft."
Yuna's expression melted in an instant as if she had never been tired.
Joohyun looked at Yuna's face and let out a short sigh.
Eunha, who was next to them, also looked at Yuna with an expression saying she was hopeless.
While Yuna was burying her face in Joohyun's stomach.
"Master...... Suhyun......."
Chanhoon and Mina were facing each other nearby.
Suhyun was sleeping softly like a baby on Chanhoon's back.
"But what is this vine?"
Mina said, pointing to the strange stem tightly wrapped around Suhyun.
"Ah, this is an artifact called Dionia Stem, used to bind opponents. That person named Joohyun gave it to me. Suhyun might wake up and cause trouble again."
At that, Mina glanced at Joohyun and nodded.
"Master, let's hurry back to the Laboratory first. We need to treat Suhyun."
"......Right. There are no fatal wounds, but we should treat her quickly."
"Then let's go."
"However. I'm going back to the Laboratory alone."
"What......?"
At Chanhoon's meaningful words, Mina tilted her head.
"What do you mean......?"
"Exactly what I said. I'm going back to the Laboratory alone. Mina, you don't need to help me anymore."
"How can you say that......! We need to turn Suhyun back to normal!"
"Yes. We should. But I'm enough on my own."
"......Am I not helpful?"
At Mina's appearance, Chanhoon smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Without you, we wouldn't have been able to bring Suhyun back. You were definitely helpful."
"Then......!"
"Mina, that's enough now. You should go do what you want to do."
"What do you mean by what I want......! What are you saying!"
"Magical Girl. You finally became the Magical Girl you've wanted to be since childhood. Don't live for us father and daughter anymore, live for yourself."
"......."
Mina opened and closed her mouth several times. She couldn't find the right words.
Seeing Mina like that, Chanhoon chuckled and stroked her head.
Surprised by the sudden head pat, Mina opened her eyes wide and looked at Chanhoon.
Chanhoon thought of Mina when she transformed into a Magical Girl earlier.
Shining and beautiful more than ever.
Shining even more than when she was stuck in the laboratory.
"I can find a way to turn Suhyun back on my own. So don't worry too much."
"But still......."
"I know what you're worried about. But please trust me one more time. I will definitely turn Suhyun back no matter what."
"......Yes."
Mina nodded while sniffling.
Looking at Mina, Chanhoon smiled contentedly as he recalled the past.
'Mina. I never said it, but you're also like a daughter to me.'
Chanhoon shook off his stray thoughts and nodded as he spoke.
"Alright, that's enough. ......Thank you for everything."
Chanhoon passed by Mina and approached Joohyun.
Joohyun, who was being rubbed by Yuna, looked at Chanhoon approaching him.
When Chanhoon reached Joohyun, he bowed his head deeply.
"Thank you truly. I won't forget this favor. I will definitely repay it."
Mina was quite surprised at that sight.
Chanhoon was a person with strong pride no less than Mina, and he had never bowed his head to others.
Yet such a person was bowing his head.
Joohyun waved his dainty hand at Chanhoon as if it was nothing.
"Well, I didn't particularly intend to help you."
Despite Joohyun saying that, Chanhoon only bowed his head deeper.
"Even so, it doesn't change that you saved Suhyun. I will definitely repay this favor."
"Really? Well, if you want to repay the favor that badly, how about 10 billion won or so......."
"CEO!"
Yuna tightened her arms around Joohyun.
"It's a joke! A joke! Geez, can't even make a joke because you're scary."
"Really!"
When Joohyun said it was a joke, her grip finally loosened.
'Still, I'll get a good payout later.'
Chanhoon was a genius scientist who created various inventions even before artifacts existed.
When the Tower appeared and artifacts were invented, he became even more successful.
Anyway.
Joohyun wasn't one to let such a big shot slip away.
It would definitely be helpful later.
But for now, he decided to let it slide lightly.
"Well, if you're that grateful, how about buying me some Samgyeopsal with Soju when we run into each other later."
Only then did Chanhoon raise his head and grin at Joohyun.
"I'll do that. Ah, and please take good care of Mina. You know what will happen if something happens to Mina, right?"
At that, Joohyun also grinned.
"Yes yes, of course."
The two men grinned at each other, and then Chanhoon turned around and started walking.
"Master......!"
Mina called out to him as she watched Chanhoon's back getting smaller and smaller.
Chanhoon just raised his hand and waved without turning around.
Chanhoon walked toward the horizon that seemed to stretch forever, following the sunset.
Until Suhyun becomes whole again.
Planning for the day they meet again.