Transformation or Death

The Meaning of Protection (8)

The sticky golden light that had been driving away the darkness of the night disappeared. The defeat of Libra.

The dull reddish light fluttered like embers, and the massive giant’s armor was shattered into small fragments by the aftershock of the explosion.

The citizens held their breath and watched the movements of the lone villain left after Libra’s death. They seemed lost in the afterglow of the victory, gazing blankly at the sky.

The sky was quite noisy due to the loudly blaring helicopter sounds and the intense artificial light emitted by the helicopter for filming. The reporter could not contain her excitement over the unusual sight of one villain taking down another villain, and raised her voice.

-Ladies and gentlemen, look at Libra, who kidnapped the elderly and children, is now being taken down by another villain…

Underlying the excitement was a faint tension. If the confrontation between the villains had ended with someone’s death, then who would the remaining villain turn its wrath upon? What destructive power, capable of easily crushing the ground and spitting fire, would they use on whom? Could it be directed at the citizens themselves?

While tense, they could not easily take their eyes off the scene. Like a frog before a snake, their muscles contracted in overwhelming fear and paralysis.

The barrier blocking the magical girl’s movement began to melt and dissolve. Rather than escaping the dissolved prison, Red Vega chose to approach the villain she had fought within it.

She too felt tense, but unlike the citizens, she did not have any extraordinary fear. This was because she was now convinced that he was on her side.

Fight or save?

An advice she had never imagined hearing from a villain. But it hit the core. Thanks to that, she was able to realize and put into practice what she should do.

As a result, an inner intimacy inevitably grew. It felt like meeting a strict but truly good teacher she would occasionally encounter as a student.

“Thank you for the help…”

[MERAK.]

Before Red Vega could finish speaking, a hard mechanical sound rang out from the belt again. The light on his chest shone a yellowish copper color, and Han Jae-jung held a revolver in his hand.

Open the door.

A clockwork revolver, the kind you’d expect to see in a steampunk fantasy.

Han Jae-jung had one curiosity. If his mission was not to protect the citizens, but to protect the magical girl, then…

Would attacking the citizens not greatly reduce his reproduction rate?

The green hand gradually raised upwards. The muzzle that had been pointing at the ground rose powerfully. No precise aiming was needed. Just turn the muzzle in the direction analyzed by the belt and pull the trigger.

It could be compared to a navigation system driven by augmented reality. With the gun placed on the line only he could see, it was now a suitable position to spew fire.

The direction was towards the helicopter emitting the annoying noise.

“Oops.”

Red Vega stopped in her tracks towards Han Jae-jung and quickly took to the air. Of course, her direction was also towards the helicopter.

The finger resting on the trigger gradually curled. Red Vega was quickly trying to reach orbit, gathering and spraying flames from the soles of her shoes. But the finger curling came first.

Bang.

With a refreshing firing sound, a bullet condensed from starlight quickly crossed the sky. The bullet, while flying, unfurled clusters of energy, taking on the shape of the Big Dipper constellation. It was like a wave in the shape of a constellation, but its speed far surpassed that of a wave.

Yet it still had not reached the helicopter. Red Vega condensed the starlight to the tips of her feet and detonated it.

As the loud sonic boom sounded, Red Vega occupied the space in front of the bullet. And throughout her flight, she scattered the flames she had been gathering in her fists. It was like a jet fighter releasing flares.

Pow!

The collision of the fireball and energy mass created a fierce explosion. The scattering sparks looked beautiful, like a fireworks display.

“Look, our hero Red Vega is… Aah!”

Red Vega tilted her head down, then gathered and detonated flames at the tips of her feet again.

The shockwave shook the helicopter. Red Vega used the gravitational pull of the crash as propellant and flew towards him. As the face of the villain with a red visor-like lens came into view, she immediately raised her fist to swing. Han Jae-jung instantly raised his left arm to defend.

Boom! Crackle!

The flame-wrapped fist brushed against the green armor, showering off dizzying sparks. Ignoring the stinging pain traveling through her hand, she asked. “What are you doing!”

Han Jae-jung did not answer, but raised his right arm, the one holding a long gun and door. Raising it to shoulder level, there were many targets. The muzzle and one of the watching citizens’ eyes met.

He placed his finger on the trigger again. Before that finger could curl, Red Vega kicked his hand with her right leg.

Bang!

From the upward-pointing muzzle, another Big Dipper-shaped bullet was fired.

“What do you mean, what am I doing?”

Two shots fired. Yet the starlight did not diminish. With this, Han Jae-jung was convinced. He did not have the duty to protect everyone like a magical girl. It was an impulsive experiment, but he was able to obtain meaningful results.

“No, I should be the one asking. What were you thinking?”

Han Jae-jung, having readjusted his grip on the gun, swung it like an ax. Red Vega quickly crossed her arms in a defensive stance. This left her midsection exposed. Han Jae-jung lifted his foot and kicked towards her white dress.

Thud.

A dull thud sound quietly shook the ears.

“Ugh, black…!”

“A magical girl cozying up to a villain? I’m starting to doubt if you have any real thoughts at all. There are already too many people trying to frame you as incompetent by taking down Libra, and now you want to add the rumor of colluding with a villain? Minimize your enemies as much as possible.” I hope she would take this advice, which is as vital as blood and bone, to heart, but unfortunately Red Vega had a rather rebellious streak. At least hoping she would listen, Han Jae-jung continued. “And, preserve your life. It’s a practical problem beyond just ethical concerns. If you die, others will only be overworked to fill that void. If you truly wish to be a hero, you must understand all the accountability involved, and know when it is truly time to risk your life.”

Of course, if one were to ponder in that way, the conclusion would ultimately be that there is no time when one should die. Since the future is uncertain, the answer leads to the need to spare one’s life in all situations, to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Red Vega charged at him again. This time, it seemed like she would simply punch him directly in front of him, but she stopped her advance a step in front of him and changed direction. She went to the right, scattering flames in the opposite direction, leaving behind a blindfold and disorienting afterimages.

Then, using the boost from her feet and arms, she quickly moved back. As she was about to spew flames, she saw the muzzle protruding from under his armpit. Sensing the backward movement, he had swiveled the muzzle. There was not enough time for her to take a defensive stance.

Intense sparks and the smoke of gunpowder, along with that, Red Vega retreated again.

“Above all, be afraid. The power wielded by the weak without fear is only empty. It is no different from a child swinging a kitchen knife.”

Red Vega charged again. Han Jae-jung discarded his gun and greeted her with his fists. The exchange of fists, blocking, bleeding, and striking. The sound of tearing wind filled their ears.

The trajectories were sharp, but there was not a hint of killing intent that should have flowed naturally during the battle. Both of them struck each other with nothing but respect.

In the sweat, blood, and pain, Red Vega paradoxically let go of her wariness towards the villain. How could he express hostility from concern and advice? He understood the two previous shots.

‘I am being considerate…!’

He had been considerate.

So that she would not be suspected of being on the villain’s side, so that she would not be accused of abandoning the fight by delegating her work to the villain, so that she could clearly carve her struggle into the eyes of the people.

It was humiliating, but in one way, she also felt touched. It was none other than this villain in front of her who was taking care of the honor and life that she herself had been about to throw away.

Pang!

The fist that was about to block resulted in a bleeding strike reaching each other’s throats. The salty taste of blood swirled in his mouth. He had difficulty breathing. Red Vega took a few steps back and asked,

“What is your goal?”

Han Jae-jung answered immediately. “To eliminate the existence of magical girls in this world.”

To create a society where no one becomes a hero, and does not need to.

It was the ultimate goal, beyond protection.

Red Vega gritted her teeth.

“That’s a shame.”

Sparks began to gather in her fist again. This time, unlike before, the flames were a brighter crimson. Like a graph expressing the waveform of sound, the lines of fire in her fist kept jumping up and down.

“That seems to be a goal I have to stop.”

It was a difficult goal for Red Vega, who had dreamed of becoming a magical girl.

“One last question, is that okay?”

“What is it?”

The lines drawn in fire became increasingly violent in their jumps and landings. It was like measuring the pounding of a frantic heartbeat.

“What’s your name? Can I call you Big Dipper? It seems a bit unpleasant to me personally.”

“I agree. That name isn’t very good. Moreover, the moment I’m called that, my constellation will be defined as one. It’s a name that calls me too weak. Not good.”

Han Jae-jung thought for a moment.

His star is not going to end here. He will look at and choose many more stars to bear in the future.

Then, what should his name be?

“Huh? So that power is not the end yet…”

“That’s right. The night sky is vast. There are still many stars I have yet to look at and catch.”

“…! Then I can’t lose either. I will become even stronger!”

“Yeah, think whatever you want. A name, a name… Ah, I got one.”

After pondering, he soon found the answer.

“Watcher.”

It seemed appropriate to take it from his previous actions.

“Watcher, meaning observer, monitor. Remember that from now on.”

“Understood, Mr. Watcher.”

Red Vega’s flames were completed.

“Next time, I’ll be the one to win! Be prepared!”

With steps that burst forth like a roar from someone, the sound of fire crackling followed the sound of tearing wind.

Her signature technique. One path she has chosen.

One road. Harmony (Fire Sound).

As intense as flames and sound, and yet harmonious like a symphony, may you be remembered by someone.

This technique that she had repeated countless times today, a technique she had used hundreds of times so far. Her already overworked arms were screaming, but the flames cried out first.

The roaring flames that seemed to devour the opponent engulfed Watcher.

Red Vega realized.

He did not try to dodge it.

Just like the bullet he had fired earlier, he let the flames strike him and was blown far away. The Watcher, who had been pushed back for a long time, muttered in a hoarse voice.

“Tch… It’s definitely stronger than before.”

And then he raised his voice, so that not only Red Vega but others could hear.

“Retreating is only this time! Next time, just wait and see!!!”

[ALKAID.]

Smoke was scattered inside the belt. The body that had been blinking repeatedly in it soon became transparent.

His shadow completely disappeared in the smoke.

– Our crimson comet, Red Vega, has brilliantly defeated the villain…

– Wooooooo!!!

The excited voices of the citizens and the still noisy sound of the helicopter’s wings, the various noises that she had not been able to hear during the fight, all struck her ears at once. Red Vega frowned for a moment, not only because it was noisy, but also because the wounds on her body were hurting from the wind.

There was another reason.

The smoke that held Watcher was gradually torn apart by the wind and disappeared. Staring at it blankly, Red Vega thought.

Shouldn’t this cheer be for him, not me?

The long, long battle from the crimson evening to the black night had come to an end.

But what ended was only today’s battle.

She still had a lot to do.

Red Vega forced a smile and struck her signature pose in response to the cheers of the citizens, so that the people who tremble in fear of the villains can feel a little reassured.

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