Chapter 82 – What is Right (2)
“Wait a second. Is it even possible? You’re just a director, right?”
“…I know what you think of the leadership. But let me be clear, if everyone was rotten, this would have crumbled long ago. There are certainly righteous people among us.”
Director Lee Min-hyung asserted firmly against Karin’s cynicism. Obviously, he didn’t make such a claim without any evidence.
“Regardless of beliefs or tendencies, our priority is saving those who are sacrificed by monsters from another world. Our Frontier operates solely for that purpose.”
And thus, at this very moment, an organization was born in this deep underground secret facility.
For the first time on this land, a complete cooperation between Magical Girls and human society was attempted. Although it started with just a government agency and a few Magical Girls, everyone present could instinctively feel that this project wouldn’t end in a messy way.
“…So what do we do now?”
“First, we need to scout and eliminate the monsters who are presumably hiding. However, we have no idea what kind of creatures have infiltrated, so… we have to wait for now.”
Oh Yoon-seo bit her lip at Aria’s question.
With their current technology, finding the monsters first was impossible. The Magical Girls also had no tracking abilities except for a few specific individuals.
Ultimately, the primary plan was to strengthen their powers while waiting for the monsters to show themselves first.
“Well, that doesn’t sound too bad. We’re in a competition with Casilena, who is rapidly increasing their forces. If we band together…”
“You all are only thinking about results even at a moment like this?”
“Ahhh…”
Right after the Frontier was formed, Aria, standing alone on the roof of the Management Bureau, sighed and thumped Lulu’s head.
“My thoughts haven’t changed. I just figured out what should take priority.”
Her eyes sparkled.
She fully agreed with the very goal of the Frontier, so that wasn’t an issue. Nevertheless, what hesitated her was the disillusionment and anger towards the existing system.
Since meeting Rene, she had been busy digging into the injustices of the social system, but with each encounter, she felt mentally exhausted and worn down.
“I gathered power like this. If there are those who try to hinder this, I might not be able to just hand them over to the police.”
“Aria…”
She clenched her fist and murmured quietly.
Her convictions hadn’t changed. She still believed in people and loved them.
However, she was wavering when it came to the methods to achieve that. Dialogue, persuasion, discussion. She questioned whether those things she had learned would actually change the world.
Seeing Takilas and Rene wielding their power heedlessly to achieve their goals made her heart waver even more.
“Maybe Takilas was right. Weakness is a sin. The weak are trampled and used by the strong, destined to fade away. In the end, the ones who survive are the strong, and only the strong can protect someone.”
“I think that’s a valid point, but it’s too extreme…”
“We need power.”
A faint madness danced in her eyes.
Power, something she had considered a secondary matter after righteous beliefs and a strong heart.
But now, she realized it was the most essential thing to survive in this world more than ever.
“First, contact the others, Lulu.”
“Uh?!”
“Our Frontier is still lacking in strength. Whether we negotiate with Casilena or whatever, we should first increase our scale.”
In a sudden change of atmosphere, Aria instructed Lulu to contact others through the company’s network using the mascots.
It wasn’t a command given to her. It was simply a choice she made to elevate her and her group’s strength.
*
“Hmm. I expected it, but I’m more disappointed than I thought.”
On an ordinary evening. While my roommate Kim Soo-jung was away, I lounged on my bed, searching for news and browsing the internet.
The reason was simple. Three days had passed since I held a public press conference, and I wanted to see if anything had changed.
But it seemed the dumb nuts of the internet, who casually babbled nonsense, weren’t moving either, and neither were the higher-ups who were supposed to lead people.
I had thought they would at least do something to reduce the chaos caused by Casilena and unite the people.
“They’re going to regret this.”
“I don’t think so.”
I scoffed, and Ren, sitting nearby, groaned and shook his head. Since he was frazzled, that signaled communication with the main office, making my eyes widen slightly.
“What news do you have?”
“There’s intel that Magical Girls active in Korea are trying to unite into one.”
“That’s Casilena.”
“No, it’s not Casilena. They don’t seem to have any intention to hide it.”
Ren looked quite shocked. I mirrored that shock with excitement.
“What the heck is going on?”
“S-class or higher Magical Girls like Aria, Karin, and Shuri are also participating in significant numbers. Moreover, neither the companies nor the council seem to be blocking it. Although there’s a precedent with Casilena, they’re not the radical faction either…”
“Why are you so frustrating? Are you doing this on purpose?”
I grabbed Ren’s ear and stretched it. He couldn’t hold out for even a minute before shrieking and spilling all the information.
“It’s called Frontier. Right. It’s about time for you all to feel the winds of reform.”
The information revealed was quite satisfying.
It seemed there were still many with good intentions, so this world wasn’t quite doomed yet.
“Of course, whether it goes well or not is the issue.”
In moments of crisis, cooperation and unity are essential. Would they have the determination and charisma to break through inefficient laws and rules if necessary?
“What’s this? Were you on a call?”
Just then, Kim Soo-jung entered, shaking her wet hair. She tilted her head as she looked at me lying on the bed.
“Yeah.”
“Who, with? I hope it’s not Park Tae-jun.”
“He’s still not in a condition to talk.”
I smirked and fibbed. After I miraculously survived being caught by monsters three days ago, Kim Soo-jung had become even more obsessive since that day.
“Uh… if that’s the case, thank goodness.”
“Why did you come in? Dry your hair properly.”
She naturally shoved her butt onto my bed and sat next to me. Despite my frowning, she laughed it off and tried to stick close to me.
“Hehe.”
“Hah…”
It was impossible to shake her off. Since the moment I began to see her not just as a regular girl but as my friend.
In the end, Kim Soo-jung completely snuggled next to me on the narrow bed.
“I was so worried that day; I have to fill the gap somehow.”
“I told you there was no need to worry.”
“How could I do that?”
She turned to face me, her forced smile fading as her trembling voice came out. Our gazes met, and her eyes were shaking slightly.
“We are weak. We’re just powerless little girls without strength, money, or parents. We’re so insignificant that we could be swayed and torn apart with just a flick of someone’s hand.”
Her voice, struggling to continue, mirrored that feeling.
“That’s why I’m afraid to lose. I just can’t calm down.”
“…You’re right.”
She placed her hand on my body and finally shed tears.
Since there was once a time when she desperately struggled to survive as the weakest, I didn’t reprimand her or push her away. I understood her feelings.
“I want to be a Magical Girl.”
Kim Soo-jung said that while crying.
To me, it sounded like she wanted to become strong enough to control her own fate.
It was a natural thought for a child who had been tossed around.
“You’re right. The strong are justice, and only the strong have the right to survive. Therefore, it’s only natural for living beings to struggle to become strong.”
I murmured while watching her sobbing figure wrapped around me.
I felt a bit uneasy. It was the first time in a while that I had returned to the perspective of the weak, worrying about survival.
A few possibilities flashed through my mind, but I dismissed them all.
I could make the unremarkable Kim Soo-jung a succubus, a vampire, a werewolf, or even a ghoul-like undead to make her strong.
But would that truly be strength? Power that doesn’t fit the vessel inevitably leads to ruin.
I couldn’t selfishly make her strong for my own sake. I didn’t want to see my friend lose herself and perish that way.
[That’s why I’m so tempted by the power of Yggdrasil…]
“Hick…”
At my bitter smile, Ren, who had been quietly listening, flinched in surprise.
“…Thinking realistically, what do we need to do to get stronger? Exercise?”
The next morning, Kim Soo-jung, who had slept entirely in my bed, yawned and murmured on the way to the dining hall.
On the surface, the tear-streaked face from the previous day had vanished, and she had returned to her usual self.
“In modern society, strength is really based on financial power or academic achievements. So make sure to do well on the test you’ll have this morning.”
“Ugh… but no matter how well I study, what if a monster shows up and I die in an instant?”
“Still, do the best you can. Even that will make a significant difference.”
I clicked my tongue as I spoke, and she grumbled in reply. Until we reached the empty seat, Kim Soo-jung didn’t stop chattering.
“Why are you suddenly talking about this? Is it because of the test?”
Just then, second-year senior Kang Jin-soo came and sat in the vacant seat. Surprisingly, he and Kim Soo-jung hit it off, and they were engrossed in conversation, ignoring their meals.
“Yeah… in the end, only the strong have the right to survive. If you fall behind, that’s game over. That’s the reality, damn it.”
He sighed as if he agreed with our discussion. Truthfully, compared to the demon realm, where the weak were mercilessly killed, Earth was relatively better, but I kept my mouth shut. After all, the standards and worlds were different.
“News alert. It’s a breaking report.”
But at that moment.
“There’s absolutely no reason for us to tremble in fear. Is Takilas really a true strong being? This world, this nature, survives not because the strong live but because those who survive are strong.”
And here came those who directly denied my beliefs.
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