Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Golden Time
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My skull reflected in the mirror.
I couldn't help but scream in shock, tumbling backward onto the floor.
-Crash!
"F-First, cover it up..."
I had no idea what was going on, but it was hideous, so I slapped my face back on right away.
I tried to jump to my feet, but my mind was a mess, and in the process, I stepped on a shard from the shattered sink and went down again.
-Crash!
The moment I caused another racket and fell, a voice came from outside the bathroom.
-Wh-What's that! Did the showerhead fall or something?!
"?!"
Judging by the voice, it was the Firecracker Monster I'd been about to take out.
'Time Stop...'
I didn't know what happened, but Time Stop had ended.
I was sure I'd been holding onto the flow of time perfectly...
'Damn.'
I couldn't see the flow of time anymore.
I didn't know what was going on or how, but first things first—I had to get out of here.
This was right next to Magical Comet's apartment building. If that girl made a fuss...
-Creak...
"Huh? What the fuck!!"
"Damn."
I was so flustered that my reactions slowed.
I'd covered my face, but I still ended up face-to-face with the Firecracker Monster, and his reaction was instant.
"Oh my god! A surprise party for me? Then I'll give you one back!"
-Fwoosh!
A colorful firecracker shot toward me out of nowhere.
I knew exactly what that thing was, so I hurriedly crossed my arms in a defensive stance.
-Boom!!
The moment the firecracker hit my arms, a deafening roar exploded alongside a massive blast.
Even with my guard up, the impact was huge, sending me flying into the wall.
'The timing couldn't be worse.'
The Firecracker Monster in front of me specialized in long-range area attacks.
His defense was weak, but those firecracker blasts made it damn hard to close the distance.
As the Time Stop Monster, all I had were physical prowess that could handle anyone except close-quarters brawlers and my Time Stop ability.
With no ranged attacks, I was bound to struggle against this guy.
"Whoa! No matter how hyped the Clockhead bro is these days, you can't beat my fireworks! My party time is the best!"
As the Firecracker Monster spouted nonsense with total confidence, I stealthily got back up.
"Wh-What the?!"
I brushed the dust off my body as I stood, and he panicked, backing away for a moment.
"This is getting more troublesome than I thought."
"What?!"
"It would've been better if you didn't know anything..."
I shook my head toward the flustered Firecracker Monster, genuinely pitying him.
'He doesn't know much about me anyway.'
The info about me floating around was just that I supposedly had time-related powers and that I was insanely strong.
Since I always attacked under Time Stop, no one knew how I fought or what moves I used.
"...Ha! Showing that attitude toward me! No matter how strong you are, I'm no pushover!"
-Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
For all his talk, he was scared of me and just fired off fireworks wildly.
But even without Time Stop, attacks like this wouldn't scratch me.
I watched the incoming fireworks until the end.
-Slash.
I shifted my body just slightly to the side and sliced them with my hand chop.
The others flying at me got the same treatment.
"Whoooaa?!"
He hadn't expected that and ended up firing at the ceiling instead.
-Boom!
The ceiling collapsed from the explosion, revealing the bright blue sky.
He was trying to escape, leaping toward the gaping hole.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Guys like him were especially dangerous if they reached a crowd, so I feigned casualness with my words while sprinting at full speed after him.
"Kiyoooot! Stay back!"
"Just accept your fate! It's your time!"
"Kiyoooooot!"
The Firecracker Monster screamed as he bolted toward the next building over.
'Huh? That's...'
Of all places, he was heading straight for Comet's apartment, so I urgently grabbed a nearby electric scooter and hurled it at him.
-Bang!
"Kiyuk?!"
It hit dead-on, and he lost his balance, tumbling forward three full rolls.
At his ridiculous sight, I sneered while keeping up my cool persona as much as possible.
"My, you're in quite the state. Should've thrown it gentler?"
"...Kiyoooooot! I can't take this anymore! Either you die or I do!"
-Fizzle...!
Fire lit up the fireworks on his hands and head.
"Kiyoooooot! It's party time!!"
-Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Three fireworks launched from his hands.
Unlike their looks, each one packed small-bomb-level explosions.
I smoothly sliced them away with my hand chops again.
I repeated the process a dozen times or so.
"You show up out of nowhere—what's your deal?! You weren't here to take my life right away, were you?"
"...You're right."
"Then hurry up and show me that fancy Clockhead power! Kiyoooooot!"
Watching him fire fireworks like mad from both arms, I thought to myself.
'What an unfair ability.'
Some of us are suffering without even knowing what's wrong or what the conditions are, unable to use our powers, while this asshole just blasts away whenever he feels like it.
...Now that I think about it, that's pissing me off.
"Hmm... Looks like you'll have to be my emotional punching bag."
"What?!"
The situation was already frustrating enough, and you'd just drawn the short straw.
I was delayed dealing with him because I still couldn't grasp the flow of time, but his death was inevitable anyway.
So... the moment he slipped up, I'd beat him like a dog on the hottest day of summer.
[Nya, aaak! D-Done nya! You can come out now nya!]
Aste looked utterly exhausted, no mistaking it.
A-ri gazed at him worriedly, and Aste gave a thumbs-up with his front paw.
[I told you nya! I'm a super elite mascot nya! If I gather my power, I can even fool strong recognition spells nya!]
True to his word, A-ri's parents noticed nothing even as she slipped out of their arms and stood beside him.
"Aste, are you okay?"
[Worry about me now nya?! Hurry and take out those monsters outside nya!]
"...Okay. The heart connected from the comet! Transform! Magical Comet!"
A-ri transformed into Magical Comet in an instant and leaped out through the balcony window.
-Whoosh!
Comet plummeted at high speed, slicing through the wind.
'There it is!'
Just as the news had shown, she spotted the two monsters fighting and headed straight there.
-Thud!
Comet landed in hero pose a short distance from the two monsters.
"Like a comet to your heart! Magical Comet arrives!"
She recited her usual entrance line.
In front of her were the monster suspected of causing the explosions and Clok, whom she absolutely couldn't beat, but as a magical girl, she didn't flinch.
"Wh-What?"
The Firecracker Monster's attention snapped to the sudden appearance of Magical Comet.
The moment Comet aimed her staff at him.
-Grab.
"Got you."
In the brief moment he looked away, Clok seized his wrist.
He desperately fired fireworks from both hands, but
-Boom! Boom!
Clok took them calmly and reached out with his other arm to grab the Firecracker Monster's throat.
'A fight between monsters...'
Comet, watching their clash, stepped forward and shouted.
"I'll punish you two for terrorizing the citizens!"
She prepared to unleash Magical Blast right away, blue light gathering at her staff's tip.
"Magical—"
Before she could finish her incantation, a problem arose.
-Stab!
"Guh...!"
Clok's hand pierced straight through the Firecracker Monster's chest with ridiculous ease.
He pulled it out, then sliced off both arms.
-Slash!
"Gaaahhh! What the fu...!"
"I told you it was your time."
"H-Help me..."
Before she could even cast her spell, Clok had already neutralized the Firecracker Monster.
In fact, the Firecracker Monster was now begging Comet for help.
"Uh, um...?"
Comet panicked and glanced around, but her dilemma ended quickly.
"Kiyoooot! If that's how it is, you too...!"
In a last desperate struggle, the Firecracker Monster shoved his firecracker head into Clok's mouth.
"This'll be nuke-level power, you fucking Clock!! Golden Time—3 seconds!!"
"!! Wait...!"
With no time for rescues or anything, the Firecracker Monster decided to become a nuke himself.
"Bye-bye everyone!!"
"Nooooo!!"
Comet charged toward the screaming Firecracker Monster, who seemed ready to blow any second.
-Tch. Pat pat.
All that was left were chunks of shredded firecracker debris.