194 – Performance Competition (4)
“What’s the overall situation? Who’s winning right now?”
“Surprisingly, it’s neck and neck. They’re slightly ahead, but as you know, it doesn’t really matter.”
“Exactly. It doesn’t matter. The one who catches Razak becomes the real winner.”
I had received a report from Ren about the current progress, but honestly, it didn’t hold much significance. Having caught him once before, I knew just how immense the performance of an SSS-class monster could be.
In reality, if we capture him, we’d be in an extremely advantageous position unless a new SSS-class villain appears, which is why I’ve been running around like this from the start.
“The encirclement has almost closed in.”
I looked down from the sky at the ground below. Compared to the time when Razak’s territory was fearfully expanding, it was clearly shrinking now. Even at this moment, that territory was continuing to diminish. After the initial attempts to overturn the world failed, Razak, who had become the neighborhood punching bag, was running out of hiding time.
[How funny. What are you doing here?]
“That’s a question I’d like to ask, hot-headed angel.”
It was then that I encountered Michael while continuing my search on the ground. I had tried to keep my distance, but given how little ground was left to search, our meeting was hardly surprising.
“It seems Sandalphon is taking care of the aftermath. But then again, you can only think about smashing things.”
[You’re being ridiculous. Do you really think it’s possible to maintain order when challenged by a demon king? Bringing in a foolish traitor like that was probably just to cover your weakness.]
Finding the smirk on his face annoying, I shot back, and of course, this pink-haired idiot retaliated without missing a beat.
“…Anyway, the one who kills first will be the winner.”
Giving up on the conversation, I turned my focus back to the search. But Michael seemed to have the same bizarre competitiveness, and we began scouring the Half-Destroyed City competitively.
“It’s hard to tell if these faint traces of magical energy are his or the ones left by Legion Soldiers.”
Razak likely couldn’t move anymore. He would definitely get caught. This meant he was hiding in the same place he initially took refuge. As we eliminated potential hiding spots, we were sure to find him.
[I was here first!]
“I entered from the opposite side, so back off!”
While flying through the tangled deep subway, I ran into Michael again. Following the traces of magical energy, I pushed away the irritable Michael who had followed closely, but in the cramped passage, his flapping wings refused to back down.
[This is!]
It was then that Michael’s demeanor changed, likely having found something of interest. If this guy with Insight powers showed interest, it meant there was indeed something worth finding.
Naturally, I grabbed onto him.
[How dare this guy…]
“I’m just checking it out too.”
He didn’t seem to expect this, and his face twisted into a grimace. Of course, no matter how ugly his expression was, we were both unable to fight each other.
“It’s absurd and ridiculous.”
And at that moment, someone staggered out from that small emergency exit where Michael had just turned his head.
“What the hell are you two? Why?”
“Razak. I’m thrilled to see you.”
I grinned. Although the guy appearing in front of us was just a minion to relay messages and not his main body, at least we could communicate with him.
Seeing him reveal himself to us first definitely suggested some sort of plot, and that was kind of welcome news.
“My wish was right in front of me. Perfect evolution, endless growth. I was certainly on the brink of success.”
[You foolish one. Did you really think you could reach the pinnacle by toying with magical energy?]
“Shut up, you arrogant little brat!!”
I could clearly sense his genuine hatred toward us just from his voice and tone. Of course, it was just a lamentation that meant nothing to someone like Michael.
Thanks to that angry outburst, Michael froze for a moment. It seemed he had never heard such harsh insults before.
“You, particularly you, Takilas… I want to chew you guys up alive. But who knows, you may be right. Although I’ve gone through evolution after evolution, perhaps it’s still right that I should have lost and died to you.”
“That’s a good realization. So, how about you just surrender?”
“Heh, there’s no way I’d do that for your sake. You’ve been way too obvious, haven’t you? Trying to catch me at all costs.”
As I mocked him, he did not back down either. At that moment, I felt a slight chill. The composure and madness I sensed from him were traits that only those who had given up on life would possess.
“Don’t underestimate me. I have a rough idea of what you’re scheming. So, do you want to gain credit using my life, you little magical girls?”
Razak proudly puffed out his chest as he said this.
At the same time, the situation began to flow ever so slightly differently than I had predicted.
“Don’t play games. Soon enough, after searching through this land, I’ll know exactly where you are.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll let the pigeon next to me know my location.”
This madman Razak was threatening us with his life. At that moment, my and Michael’s eyes met, sharing a glance of uncertainty.
We absolutely cannot allow this guy to slip away.
“I won’t make a childish suggestion for you to fight each other. But if you want my life, you’ll need to satisfy my requirements.”
“This little pest…”
[Let’s see how far an insignificant bug can go, using its life as collateral.]
I revealed my murderous intent, but Michael was different. As if he could win the match no matter what, this proud seraphim complied with Razak’s negotiation terms.
“Are you serious? Where did the pride of Heaven go? Are you actually going to dance at this pest’s tune?”
I was dumbfounded by his unexpected attitude. However, rather than getting angry, the guy I thought would get mad covered a smirk that was creeping up.
[You’re making obvious statements. I know what’s most important. It’s to break and crush you, Demon King. For that purpose, I can use even the most insignificant bug as a tool.]
“You crazy girl. Who’s the traitor here? By violating the rules of Heaven like this, aren’t you also the same?”
Such a statement, which shattered common sense in various ways, surprisingly came from Michael, who was supposed to be the most principled. I was left speechless.
*
‘Rules. True, but there’s something much more important.’
Michael grinned wider as he looked at Takilas glaring at him.
It wasn’t just Sandalphon who was shocked by the fresh and intense shock of the new world and its laws that were beyond imagination.
The change in values and their reset was the case for Michael as well, who had once been a proud seraph. But there was neither goodness nor badness in that change.
Now that Sandalphon had become a Magical Girl, she grew curious about Earth and wanted to learn more, while Michael reveled in the freedom he tasted and wished even more for this world.
[Is that strange? Sandalphon told me countless times to learn the mindset of a Magical Girl.]
“Well learned, doing whatever you please.”
[I’ve heard about the competition among Magical Girls, too. Killing a Magical Girl doesn’t yield credit, but the competition is fierce nonetheless.]
The competition among Magical Girls had once permeated even Korea before Takilas, the irregular and ecosystem destroyer, arrived.
Takilas, too, recalled the first Magical Girl he met when he arrived here, a high school Magical Girl who left poor victims in her quest for credit.
[So this is the natural order. A Magical Girl willing to do whatever it takes for credit. Isn’t that right?]
“Oh, god…”
“What the hell.”
As Michael whispered to the mascot beside him, the mascot hurriedly nodded in response.
Seeing that, Ren sighed and shook his head.
Karma. In some ways, it was also the karma of the fairies and mascots they had sown over time.
“It seems we can communicate. To gain substantial credit, one must pay the price.”
[Stop talking nonsense and state your conditions, bug. If it’s an unreasonable demand, there’s no reason for me to agree.]
“It’s a simple proposal. Especially for beings like you, who act at will and have no concern for taking lives. Over there, far away, in a place humans call the Middle East, I have a bit of a grudge. I’d like you to deal with those who had the audacity to hit me from behind as I took my last steps.”
Razak, who had been watching the tension between Takilas and Michael with amusement, finally revealed his request.
A sudden mention of a grudge against a monster that had destroyed a country. It was such an unexpected statement that both of them were left speechless, unable to respond.
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