Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Snake Hunt
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Comet shook off Oea and Ji-hoon before charging straight at me.
I lightly twisted my body to dodge, then evaded my own arms that were attacking me on her behalf.
'Honestly frustrating, but I can't say anything about it.'
Still, she's the protagonist. Falling for that snake's words so easily?
Of course, it was due to Serpens's 'ability,' but couldn't she at least pretend to resist a little?
One of the abilities of Serpens, the snake monster, was 'Snake's Tongue Flick.' It could impose weak hypnosis on the target.
Of course, it didn't work if the opponent was even remotely on the same level, but in her current state, Comet was overwhelmingly weaker than Serpens.
"Return of the Ligh-"
She's trying to self-destruct again.
With both my hands under Serpens's control, I seized the flow of time.
The world froze solid.
'Can't use my arms right now... so I'll trust she'll understand.'
I relaxed as much as possible and kicked her in the stomach.
Then I approached the fleeing Serpens and aimed my fists—originally meant for me—right at him.
I released the tension in my jaw, letting the flow of time resume.
-Crack!
"Guhk!"
"Kek?!"
Serpens tumbled backward from the direct punch to his face, while Comet, hit by the delayed shock, clutched her belly and collapsed to her knees.
Once my arms were no longer under his control, stopping time froze them too—a neat trick.
With Comet down, I looked down at Serpens and spoke.
"Well then, you sneaky snake. Time to say goodbye."
"W-Wait a second!"
Serpens desperately reached out.
"You know it already, but yes, I hypnotized Comet! But it was 'weak' hypnosis! Barely self-suggestion level!"
Thinking he might actually die like this, he pleaded endlessly.
"So I just helped her act on what she already thought! She never trusted you from the start! She was always planning to kill you!"
I stared at him silently in response.
His expression visibly brightened, and he started chattering excitedly.
"Right! I know how it feels to be betrayed! Fucking awful, isn't it? So, join me! I'll betray the Monster Alliance too and make that ungrateful magical girl snap out of it—"
I couldn't listen anymore.
"What are you talking about?"
"Uh... huh...?"
"Why do you assume I'm feeling betrayed?"
He was trying to drive a wedge between Comet and me, but while it might work on her, it wouldn't on me.
"Magical girls hating monsters is only natural."
"No..."
"And besides, that's not your ability."
"!! You don't mean—"
"No more talking."
I seized the flow of time with my mouth, aimed my arms again, and released.
-Boom!
I repeated the process endlessly.
-Boom!
"Stop!"
-Boom!
"Sto... p...!"
-Boom!
"Sto... p it...!"
-Boom!
"L... ive..."
-Boom!
"Ple... ase..."
He reached out and withdrew his ability from me.
My two arms were free.
"Th... is... way... you can't..."
"Hmm... true, I have no way to hit you now."
I seized the flow of time again and brought Ji-hoon over.
"Now, I'm going to stop time and shove my fists into Oea's hammer."
"Huh...?"
"Repeat it enough times, and the hammer will deliver massive shockwaves to smash your head. Looking forward to it."
"Wait..."
I ignored his calls and aimed Ji-hoon's hammer at his head.
"Stop! Please stop!"
His legs had long since broken from a few punches already.
With the hammer perfectly aimed, I released my arms.
And then, the flow of time—
-Screech!
"!!"
The moment I tried to seize it, a crow shot in and smacked my hand.
A crow unscathed after colliding at full speed with my hand.
No way it was an ordinary crow, so I turned toward where it came from.
-Clack. Clack.
-Caw! Caw!
Elegant footsteps from high heels.
Followed by the cries of crows.
"It's an honor to see you again after so long, Clok."
"...Good to see you too, but what's the meaning of this interruption?"
I asked, though she was probably here to rescue Serpens.
Why else would she interfere—
"Sorry for the rudeness, but I have business with that Serpens over there."
"Ah, here to save your comrade?"
"No, not as fellow monster Kedi, but as the 'Executor'?"
"Executor?"
She kindly explained at my puzzled look.
"That Serpens there declared he would 'betray' our Monster Alliance. After internal discussion, we've decided to retrieve him for 'punishment.' So, could you hand him over?"
Kedi smiled (her mask's lenses curved) and made her 'request.'
Of course, no reason to accept, so I tried seizing the flow of time again.
Another crow flew at me.
Before it hit my hand, a blue energy ball from somewhere struck it down.
"Clok!"
Ji-yeon's covering fire.
I gave her a thumbs-up, then seized the flow of time.
As planned, I smashed the hammer into Serpens's head dozens of times, then moved right in front of Kedi's face.
I released the flow.
-Bang!
Serpens's head burst with a cheerful pop, and Kedi flinched at my sudden appearance.
Ever the gentleman, I grabbed her chin and said,
"Sorry, Kedi, but I have no intention of letting monsters who touch my magical girl live. Last time with Abyss, it was just bluffing, so I let it slide, but Serpens crossed the line."
I brought my face close to hers, locking eyes.
"No hard feelings. If it happens again, I'll do the same. Understood?"
"...I understand."
She nodded, so I released her chin from my firm grip.
-Caw...
-Caw caw...
Crows approached, worried for her.
She signaled they were fine, then spoke to me again.
"Understood. We'll yield on this matter."
She lightly lifted the hems of her skirt in a graceful curtsy.
"Until next time."
-Caw! Caw!
A flock of crows swirled around her, and she vanished in an instant.
Kedi had retreated quite obediently.
With no more variables, I checked on Ji-yeon and Ji-hoon, then approached Comet, who was already back on her feet.
She watched me with a confused gaze.
Her lips mumbled as she looked at me, then she finally spoke with effort.
"I..."
"Hypnotized? Yes. For someone as pure as you, Comet, Serpens's hypnosis is unavoidable."
"No way..."
Comet dropped to her knees in shock.
Being controlled by a monster must have hit hard for a magical girl like her.
"I'm... disqualified as a magical girl."
"Not at all."
"No... If I'd been played by a monster pretending to be civilians instead..."
"Can't argue that, but Serpens's ability was beyond what you could handle yet."
I placed my hand on her bowed head.
Then whispered the truth softly into her ear.
"Comet, Serpens's ability is 'Betrayal Amplification.' It wouldn't have worked if you'd seen him as an enemy from the start."
"...Huh?"
"But oh? It worked perfectly."
"That means..."
"Yes, I'm glad you think well of me, Comet."
"!!!"
Her face flushed red in an instant as she swung a fist at me.
But of course, it never reached.
"Disappear! Just disappear!!"
"Hahaha! Even with that line today, I'm not leaving!"
I teased her relentlessly until Solar suddenly appeared, at which point I grabbed Ji-yeon and Ji-hoon and fled.
A vast cavern illuminated by an opulent chandelier.
Ten monsters sat around a huge round table beneath it, waiting for someone.
-Caw! Caw!
Suddenly, crows flew up from an empty seat.
As they soared high, the Crow Duchess monster Kedi was elegantly seated there.
"Kedi, did you retrieve Serpens?"
"Failed."
"What?"
A fly-like monster shouted at her calm reply.
"You call that an answer?! Serpens would've been prime nourishment! Can't even drag in one lousy snake?!"
"Clok blew him up in seconds. What could I do against his ability?"
"What is this?! Look at her attitude! So irresponsible!"
"So."
Kedi asked coldly in response.
"What will you do?"
"...Ahem, not saying I'll do anything..."
The fly monster shrank instantly under her gaze.
Kedi gave a smiling glance to everyone at the table, then returned to her room via her crows.
Once alone after dismissing them with a gesture, she clutched her face with both hands.
"Kyaaaaaaa!! So awesome!!! Clok!!!"