Chapter 81 : Confusion (4) Part-1

One day, we will need to return to school as a team, Hayoon firmly held onto this belief.

Even though Hayoon was part of a team working for a company led by known villains, who had deceived her for a prolonged period and even participated in a terrorist attack, she still held onto the goal of bringing me back to school.

Maybe it was this determination that fueled Hayoon’s struggle.

However, in the final reckoning, I ended up committing a crime.

Regardless of my guilt or innocence, I vehemently opposed the individuals attempting to apprehend me and managed to elude their grasp.

The true intent behind my intended transport remains a mystery to this day; whether it was a legitimate transfer to another medical facility or a more nefarious agenda at a research facility.

One thing remains certain – I evaded capture by those operating within the confines of the law.

Throughout my escape, a number of police officers sustained injuries, although not fatal or causing permanent harm, they were still harmed in the process.

In addition to resisting arrest, I also caused damage to police equipment during my flight and resorted to infiltrating a corporate facility to pilfer essential equipment.

The repercussions of my actions are likely indelible, leaving a lasting mark on my record that cannot be fully expunged.

What I think is justified and whether something is legal or illegal often don’t align.

And yet.

“Should we go inside and rest?”

Even though Hayoon must know all this.

How could Hayoon smile at me like that?

Hayoon, holding my hand, moved slowly.

Even though I felt as though I was rooted to the ground, I had the ability to break free from Hayoon’s hand if I so desired.

Her touch was light and careful, not exerting any pressure on me.

Despite this, a strange feeling prevented me from pulling away.

I was unwilling to release the promise of hope that seemed to be within reach.

Ultimately, I decided to stay silent and allow myself to be led by Hayoon, feeling a subtle yet compelling tug guiding me forward.

Could it be… is Hayoon thinking of returning me to school this way?

How?

Throughout my journey back, the thoughts swirled in my mind repeatedly, yet I found myself unable to reach a definitive conclusion.

Maybe that ambiguity is the essence of hope – a feeling that persists even in the face of improbability.

Despite the lack of logical reasoning and the acknowledgment of slim chances, hope somehow manages to plant a seed of belief that there is a possibility.

Nevertheless, a slight tremor ran through my circuits, a sign of unease lingering within me.

During our previous encounter, the individuals deployed for battle were Hayoon, Iris, and myself.

Although James accompanied us, his role was that of a support rather than a frontline fighter.

While James did possess some combat capabilities, he lacked the ability to confront monsters single-handedly.

The last mission we went on wasn’t a place of particularly high priority, judging by its scale and importance, so that level of personnel was considered sufficient.

But this time, things are not the same as before.

The inner workings of the research lab remain a mystery to us, with uncertainties surrounding its layout and complexity.

Regardless of whether the space inside is narrow or spacious, having a limited number of people in our group poses a significant disadvantage.

The exact number of monsters lurking within the lab is unknown, but the possibility of them blending in with our comrades and launching surprise attacks is a concerning prospect that could lead us to being trapped.

Therefore, the unanimous decision was made for all of us to embark on this mission together.

Not a single person chose to stay behind, as we understood the importance of solidarity in facing potential dangers within the lab.

In a surprising turn of events, even Cherry decided to join us on this expedition, accompanying Hayoon on this risky venture.

If one or two people stayed behind and the others couldn’t return, they’d be left waiting indefinitely.

Preparing for the future with just a few people wouldn’t be practical either.

It’s better for everyone to be in the same situation and share the risks equally.

“Can’t we enter from the inside? There are forces stationed at the entrance.”

“It’s not that simple.”

James replied.

“We’re still researching magical girls’ magic, but there’s a reason all the large-scale warp point devices are set up outside. If you get stuck somewhere inaccessible during transport or merge with an object where you land, it would be catastrophic.”

“…Does that kind of thing happen?”

“There have been no ‘confirmed’ cases so far. Honestly, it’s nearly impossible. All magic involves the imagination of its user. Naturally, there’s a primal fear embedded as well. That’s why magic doesn’t harm its user. At least, from the ‘creator’s perspective,’ one cannot get hurt by their own magic.”

Behind the hammer I swung, flames blazed hot enough to melt steel.

But even so, I’ve never gotten burned while wielding it.

Maybe it’s thanks to the magic protecting my body, but according to James, that’s also because I naturally believe it wouldn’t happen.

If I were to analyze it further, it’s probably because I think too… carelessly about the nature of magic.

“So, does that mean people who wish to harm themselves can do so?”

“As I said, there are no known cases. It’s unclear whether those who imagined such things disappeared into the middle of a star, leaving no body to recover, or if even those who find pleasure in pain or wish for their own death can’t overcome their deepest instincts.”

Well, even if it were possible, if they ended up somewhere underground, no one could find them unless someone decided to dig it up millions of years later.

“If you have very detailed knowledge of a location, it might be possible. However, you’d need to remember every object in the area—like chairs and desks—and they’d all need to be in the exact positions you imagined. If there’s any overlap with objects at the target location, it would trigger a ‘danger’ condition, preventing the magic from activating.”

“…But I’ve rushed straight into buildings before.”

“Well, your magic might be a little different from others. Warp points and black holes are… at least outwardly, distinct. Or perhaps your mental state at the time was particularly stable, unwilling to take risks. Honestly, the very act of creating a warp point unaided is almost unheard of.”

Wait a second.

Does that mean James made that suggestion, knowing full well that I could have merged with a wall or something?

I squinted and glared at James, but since he was already inside the drone, I couldn’t see his expression.

“Besides, think about it,” James said smugly.

“At that time, weren’t you utterly flustered by the magical girls? Sometimes, people think more about escaping far away than surviving. Don’t you agree?”

James glanced toward Hayoon as he said “magical girls,” which annoyed me greatly. Seeing Hayoon’s face pale a little, I decided not to continue the conversation.

The more we talked, the more it emphasized how desperate and cornered I had been before joining the magical girls.

“It doesn’t seem like something to worry about too much,” Iris said, as if reading my thoughts—or maybe she just thought my worries were unnecessary.

“At the very least, the police seem to view us favorably. Not everyone, of course, but overall.”

Based on the information provided through the radio broadcast, it was confirmed to be accurate.

Our actions did not involve any direct attacks on officers, and we demonstrated courage by risking our lives to prevent a potentially catastrophic event.

This selfless act seems to have garnered a favorable reception from the public.

In the event of another explosion similar to the one at the research facility, leading to a comparable disaster, individuals within the community would likely not be as easily misled by the narratives spun by government authorities and the media.

“Alright then,” I said.

“…Let’s just hope those guys have left some convincing bait in the lab. We need them to think we’re targeting that place over and over.”

The others nodded.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes deliberately to avoid looking at Hayoon’s face.

At the very least, my circuits were functioning well enough for me to fight. And—

I could still create black holes.

“…Let’s go.”

As soon as I spoke, the rest of them started jumping into the black hole one by one without a second thought.

Each of them appeared confident, not showing any signs of hesitation.

If I were in their shoes, I would undoubtedly feel apprehensive with every leap I took.

Could it be that their fearlessness is what defines them as magical girls?

A different thought crosses my mind – perhaps it’s the deep trust they have in each other as “comrades.”

The idea of camaraderie lingers in my thoughts.

Am I considered one of them as well, or do we all secretly harbor doubts about each other?

I’m left feeling perplexed and uncertain.

Since Hayoon came into my awareness, my doubts and uncertainties have only increased.

The unknown looms over me like a storm cloud waiting to burst.

For now, I decided to focus.

I shut my eyes tightly, gathering my thoughts, and leapt into the black hole.

On the other side was a large building.

A simple structure that felt like an industrial complex.

It was smaller than a complex but seemed much sturdier, at least on the outside.

Well, back in the world I lived in, that spot was home to a department store.

Thinking of it like that, it made sense.

Black-clad people were stationed at every entrance.

Police buses lined the road, forming a barricade-like wall.

This time, we hovered above the building, observing it from the air.

I, along with the magical girls, slowly descended.

As expected, there were police on the rooftop.

Their numbers weren’t large, though.

The bored-looking officers at the edge of the roof leaned their rifles against the walls, while those guarding the rooftop entrance held their weapons like sentries at the front of a base.

As Iris had said, the police didn’t shoot at us as we descended.

They just widened their eyes, staring at us.

What now?

Now that we’re here, I feel a bit uneasy.

Last time, I did contribute in my own way, but the relationship between me and the police isn’t exactly great.

Just the cost of the equipment I damaged is far from an amount I can easily repay.

As I was mulling over this, Hayoon, who had gracefully landed beside me, walked lightly toward the police officer keeping watch on the rooftop.

“Excuse me, could you step aside for a moment?”

“Pardon?”

The officer responded blankly to Hayoon’s bold request.

“We’re not here to fight the police.”