Chapter 187 – Magical Girls in the Sky (7)
“So, if Takilas doesn’t step in, wouldn’t that be a big problem?!”
“…Why are you calling me at this hour to ask about that?”
I chuckled in disbelief at Jeon So-hyun’s words coming through the phone. It was the second day of school, and during the fifth period break, she suddenly started talking about searching for Takilas.
“Don’t worry, just focus on your class.”
I clicked my tongue and hung up. It seemed like she was genuinely anxious, but I didn’t really have anything to say to her while hidden away in this bathroom.
“Aren’t you being a little too casual?”
“Me?”
“You must have more important things to do right now… Shouldn’t you be calling your subordinate again to disguise and run around?”
Ren, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. He wasn’t wrong. The angels, including Michael, were moving recklessly without a break, and I only had one day left of the three I had earned.
“Rushing around won’t solve anything. Just try to get a message to Aria somehow.”
“Ah, to Aria?”
Ren seemed startled for a moment, but he quickly regained focus and began communicating with the headquarters to relay a message to Aria’s mascot.
From what Jeon So-hyun said, it seemed like Aria was trying to take action with her characteristic personality, but it was clear that the angels wouldn’t be merciful, so it made sense to stop her.
“Oh.”
“Are you going to use the bathroom? Go ahead.”
A strange female student walked in just as I opened the door and startled at the sight of me. I laughed softly, leaving her behind as I exited the restroom.
“What are you planning to say when you meet Aria? Don’t tell me you want to…?”
“Whatever happens, it’s her choice. Do you think Aria would want to join hands with me?”
It was a chilly evening after the sun had set. Having transformed, I quickly soared through the sky toward our meeting place.
I could feel the angels’ disturbing holy power continuing to surge. It felt like they were on a mission to burn down every criminal in this country without rest.
“There it is.”
The agreed-upon meeting spot was the rooftop of an ordinary building. There, a girl with red hair stood exposed to the cool evening air, looking at this place.
But judging by her frozen expression, she wasn’t very welcoming. Did I do something wrong?
“Who are you to So-hyun?”
But I quickly realized the reason for her demeanor as she blurted that out the moment I landed. At that moment, I couldn’t help but sigh at Jeon So-hyun’s hasty actions.
“Even when mentioning that you might leave, when the situation changed, and even now, So-hyun spoke about you as if you were close.”
“Not incorrect, right? You know So-hyun awakened her powers and learned to control them, right? She even knocked me around a bit.”
“That was…”
“She just helped me out back then and made me work for her.”
As I revealed the truth to her, the fact that she had lost her composure and fought So-hyun seemed to make Aria mute, glaring at me.
“So, we’re not gathered here to secretly smoke a cigarette or anything?”
“Does she smoke…?”
I tried to change the subject, but Aria’s eyes flashed with a different meaning. I felt a little bad for So-hyun, but that was her own karma.
“You must not like what Michael is doing because of its stark brutality. Sandalphon seems different, but their essence is the same. And they know full well they are armed with overwhelming power. They’re likely mimicking my past behavior and case studies.”
“Just like you did at the beginning.”
“…It’s not even like they’re being laid-back like you either; they’re dead serious about racking up results.”
Aria’s words struck me slightly, and I shrugged.
That’s the biggest issue – if Michael is completely focused on having fun, that’s one thing, but if he’s openly acting with ulterior motives, there’s no way to stop him.
“My feelings have always been the same. Just like the day you rushed at me without knowing anything. I protect ‘our’ order. Changing it, reinforcing it – that’s our job, not some bizarre magical girls from the outside.”
Aria declared to me. Truly, a firm belief characteristic of her, the one I picked as the next hero.
But dealing with ‘angels’ is not easy for a hero who has yet to fully bloom.
“Don’t think too hastily.”
“How can I not? Michael? Uriel? They think they’re real angels, and they’re blatantly messing with people. They’re judging those who couldn’t be judged due to societal restrictions and laws, arousing humanity’s dormant desires. Do you think it’s impossible for people to internally enjoy the thrill of fearing and rejecting their judgment?”
“You’re not wrong. There will definitely be those who get incited by their actions and eventually support them. But that’s a too radical perspective.”
I shook my head at Aria’s anxious expression, letting out a bitter laugh.
It seemed like Aria was deeply scarred by the trauma of being trampled by Rene, who prioritized destructive chaos and personal retribution during that period.
“Those who lean towards extremes will surely support them. They will find satisfaction in punishing the ‘strong’ that used to be classified as villains in place of their pathetic selves. Still, the majority of people won’t follow their actions. This world has grown too large for order to be enforced through force.”
My domination over the demon tribes was due to their instincts and habits — they naturally submitted to the strong.
But humanity, the people of Earth, are different.
Michael, as an angel from another world, must be recalling his native land, where a strong church rooted in Christianity thrives and thinks they can get away with this. In the end, they will only gain the support of a few extreme radicals.
“People here have strong subjectivity. They value their own judgments. The place created by those results is this society. Even if, as you said, they feel a catharsis from their actions, they won’t accept their society crumbling under the sudden appearance of outside entities, and as you worry, the majority can’t support them.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I’m rather confident that I understand both this place and the people fairly well. They won’t.”
I smiled at Aria’s shaking eyes. At least in this land of Korea, the angels’ plans would fail.
In a shaky third world context, they might have a shot. However, they still indulge in the illusion that they are superior to humans, and as long as they engage directly, they will think that all humans will follow them.
If they can’t earn the support of everyone, they are just a head of a single faction; they can never become a ‘true order.’
“Even if they rampage, it’s impossible to forcefully gain support.”
“But causing chaos in society is still the same. Yet, you act like you have a plan… Speaking of which, I heard you fought them when they first appeared.”
“Are you just realizing that now? I’ve had a bit of a bad history with those guys.”
As Aria’s thoughts drifted, she suddenly widened her eyes and stared at me.
Now, it seemed time was ripe, so I decided to tell Aria about my showdown with the angels.
“The most effective way to calm those arrogant doves is ultimately for us to win the fight ourselves.”
“You want me… to team up with you? Why? There are stronger ones than me.”
“It’s meaningless to say that in front of me. But you were the only one who landed even a single hit on me.”
When I pointed at my arm and head with a smile, Aria flinched and averted her gaze.
However, seeing her mood, she didn’t seem inclined to refuse. Challenging angels and heroes in battle? A thrill surged through me.
“Even if we win that fight, though, you’ll still be yourself, acting as you please and taking lives as you wish.”
“Of course!”
Aria’s question seemed to carry a hint of hope, but my answer was already decided.
“…Alright, let’s do it.”
And she finally made her choice. But her gaze shone sharply, locking onto me. A very good, long-desired look.
“I don’t care. Even if this ends smoothly, I’ll block you till the end.”
“If you can.”
At her words, I exaggeratedly bowed while gripping my skirt. I didn’t know if my provocation had worked, but that wasn’t particularly important. After all, Aria wouldn’t waver.
“Michael, Uriel, and Sandalphon. That makes three of them. We are two. What about the other one?”
“I’m not sure how many will be involved, but it won’t end with just the two of us.”
Aria seemed a bit hesitant but still shook hands with me, displaying her meticulousness in asking about our next strategy.
Of course, I wasn’t without a plan either, so I began to sense the holy power growing closer and turned my gaze away.
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