Chapter 198 – Performance Competition (8)
“How is this possible…?”
“Did you really catch him all by yourselves?”
Until the moment we returned, I couldn’t break free from Michael, but when we did return, what greeted us was an already concluded situation.
Sandalphon, Rene, Shia, and the others had managed to find Razak’s Nest and eliminate the resisting foes.
An unimaginable fact. I glared at Ren, asking why he hadn’t mentioned this sooner, but he seemed even more stunned than I was.
“As you can see, we caught him. It looks like the competition led to a joint capture in the end. I imagine the performance evaluations are almost similar too.”
[How foolish! What’s the point of competition like this!]
“I had no choice.”
Of course, I was furious at Sandalphon, who was smirking despite having trolled Michael, but he acted as if it was quite natural.
“Takilas and Michael, you both understand now that the only SSS-ranked performance on Earth has essentially vanished. All that’s left are trivial performances. Terrorism, murder, kidnapping, rape… this world is littered with opportunities. If we take them one by one, I think the outcome will be decided eventually.”
[When will that happen…]
Michael seemed furious at Sandalphon’s nonchalance, but that wasn’t my concern. Instead, I diverted my gaze. Rene and Shia, they must have been insufficiently strong to catch someone like Razak.
“You’ve both grown.”
“We had to.”
“…Be honest. I’m not a fool.”
I chuckled, glancing at the arguing angels, and pressed Rene further.
Sandalphon wasn’t an idiot. And he certainly wasn’t weak enough to be outmatched by someone like Razak. If Sandalphon had dealt with it seriously, Rene and Shia wouldn’t have been able to intervene at all.
“That’s right. Everything was according to Sandalphon-nim’s plan.”
“I figured as much.”
Rene, who was watching the others, quietly yet candidly revealed the truth. I had somewhat anticipated it.
“Why did this happen? If you managed to harm Razak, then essentially…”
“It would be similar to me. I want to lounge around here, but does he want differently? Whatever the case, he seems to want to stay here for a while.”
I felt a sense of relief wash over me. From now on, even if we ran around frantically, it would likely lead to the same outcome anyway.
“Are you planning to leave now?”
“You all should tough it out for a bit. I mean, this situation isn’t bad for me at all. What was supposed to be a vacation turned into work, and luckily it has become really simple and relaxed.”
I nodded to the surprised Rene and Shia as I turned my back.
Of course, it’s a hassle, but compared to ruling the demon realm or leading a war there, being a magical girl is easy.
“The fairies are having a blast. To be precise, Yggdrasil is.”
“W, Yggdrasil…”
“You guys lost contact with Yggdrasil, but I still know. That cosmic tree has excellent business acumen.”
I clicked my tongue, recalling the enormous tree that grew in space as I punched Ren, who was getting riled up.
The beginning was an unprovoked meeting brought on by my will, but it felt like everything that followed was unfolding according to Yggdrasil’s intentions.
“Before I go, deliver my message to the Management Bureau head, Director Lee Min-hyung of the cooperation organization Frontier.”
Just before I departed for the home country, I informed Rene of one plan I had in mind.
*
“Look, the Demon King has already lost interest. If we drive forward diligently now, the advantage will be ours.”
[Shut it… In the end, didn’t things unfold as you wished?]
Pointing to the departing Takilas, Sandalphon smiled faintly, causing Michael to angrily grab him by the collar.
Despite Michael’s grim visage, Sandalphon didn’t lose his smile as he straightened his wrinkled shirt.
“Things unfolded as I wished, huh? As if what you and I want are different, Michael. Don’t we all want to win this competition?”
[…Do you really wish to win?]
Michael flinched but received only Sandalphon’s shaded grin in return.
However, she couldn’t question further. She knew deep down that what she desired was different from Sandalphon’s.
[You’d better do well.]
In the end, Michael left the scene in an instant. Sandalphon didn’t bother to ask her about her plans.
“It seems everyone is quite shocked. Michael and Takilas too.”
“But the competition isn’t over yet.”
“That’s right. No need to be too paranoid after fighting together. By the way, I take it you already have a plan?”
Sandalphon approached Rene and Shia, who remained on the scene. At the mention of a plan, both women flinched.
“While we did conspire during the process of catching Razak, that’s it. It’s clear we’ll continue accumulating performances, so you two are important. Furious Michael will aggressively accumulate results, so you two need to work hard enough to offset that.”
“We understand.”
Rene bit her lip. The plan that Takilas had requested would continue as a mechanism for future competition.
“The Demon King has returned to Korea, and while Sandalphon-nim seems indifferent, Michael will undoubtedly be active overseas.”
“That’s likely. Compared to Korea, this world is incomparably vast. So we both need to operate externally as well. There are regions that the magical girls haven’t paid attention to, and they may become battlegrounds.”
Having parted ways with Sandalphon, Rene and Shia soared through the sky, heading towards the Allied Forces Command Headquarters, which was buzzing with festival vibes. They needed to meet Director Lee Min-hyung to explain their plan.
“However, the areas where the Fairy Companies have withdrawn all have valid reasons for it. Violent religions, ruthless dictatorships, ignorant people!”
“Arguably, it’s an opportunity to tackle the festering wounds you’ve neglected for reasons of cost-effectiveness. Do you think Michael will care about that?”
Rene chastised her startled mascot, Fluffy.
“I think this is a blessing in disguise. It’s a chance to enact the true justice that Casilena seeks.”
Rene had already made up her mind. Shia, who had proven her own beliefs, felt similarly. Under the guise of competition, they planned to push forward those issues they’d previously ignored.
“Hey! That’s Magical Girl Rene and Shia!”
“Pl, please keep order!”
But there was something they hadn’t anticipated at all.
That was the fact all their battles were being broadcasted through the media. As a result, throngs of excited people rushed in to see the stars, Rene and Shia, who had captured the SSS-rated monster responsible for massive damages.
“This is…”
“Maybe we should de-transform?”
Unable to deal with the crowd, they had no choice but to de-transform in a secluded area, using Rene’s magic for concealment to finally meet Director Lee Min-hyung as per their original plan.
“I’m sorry, but your achievement is simply too extraordinary. I hope you understand.”
“The damages have also been immense. The gathered magical girls are chomping at the bit.”
Director Lee Min-hyung met with Rene and Shia alongside Karin.
As they de-transformed and then transformed again, both were still somewhat dazed.
“So what exactly did Takilas want me to convey?”
“Simple. Collect information that could be turned into performances overseas and relay it secretly. Then, Takilas will deploy and resolve it.”
“Huh! Seems capturing Razak isn’t the end of things, then?”
Rene flinched at Director Lee’s sigh; he had seen right through it.
“With Takilas’s infamous reputation, he could cause trouble overseas as if he had completely turned the Middle East upside down this time.”
“And we will continue to operate in this land where the magical girl forces have evaporated due to Razak.”
“There have been numerous discussions regarding the recovery of disaster areas, but it shouldn’t be difficult. After all, many countries would not want to keep magical girls, who are foreigners, here.”
He accepted the proposals without issue. If the suggestions had been impossible to implement from the start, Takilas wouldn’t have even brought them up.
“So does that mean the significant tasks are all completed? We can finally return.”
“We can’t be complacent domestically…”
The whole globe is the stage. Seeing him delighted to be able to return home, Rene smiled wryly.
The truth was that even at this very moment, the competition continued within the country.
“Run faster! We’ll be late!”
“Is this right? We’re only chasing a drug addict!”
“But we can’t afford to lose him!”
Aira gritted her teeth as she leapt over the ground like the wind. Ahead of her were three pairs of white wings and fluttering garments.
They were in hot pursuit of a mega vehicle racing through the city, accompanied by the wailing sirens of police cars, with three magical girls and one enchantress leading the charge.
‘Faster.’
Aira clenched her teeth and pushed her speed to the limit. This was no mere matter of performance.
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