Chapter 99 – The Lord of Despair and Hatred (9)
This is the first real fight. I didn’t have time to think about anything else.
Right now, all Jeon So-hyun can see with her awakened clairvoyance is the gigantic mass of hatred spreading around.
“Ugh…”
She gritted her teeth.
Being able to see things that others cannot makes her more aware and able to feel. Because of this, she can interfere with those things but is also affected on a much larger scale.
‘That’s not just some simple monster!’
To others, it was merely a horrific beast. However, what she sees in Kang Jun-seok exceeds the mere level of a monster.
The hatred and despair radiating from him hit her with raw intensity. Even the police, the Special Task Force, and the Magical Girls are frozen at the sheer concentration of malevolence and intent to kill reflected in his mere presence.
Jeon So-hyun, who was more sensitive to magic than anyone while wielding her power, had to take it head-on. Even considering that her own power might offset it to some extent, the pressure was overwhelming for anyone with ordinary mental strength.
“Pharmacology… Pharmacology breakthrough…!”
But Jeon So-hyun succeeded in enduring it despite the grimace on her face.
Gabi’s relentless training had helped significantly, but the truth was that she was already a tough cookie who had gone through various hardships long before.
“AHH!”
Overcoming the opponent’s ominous energy, blue lightning of Pharmacology power erupted from her outstretched hand.
Magic power and Pharmacology power are completely opposed. She had withstood the opponent’s power, so now the turn had come around.
“What the hell, how is this even happening?”
“The monster’s body is falling apart!”
Screaming in agony, the rampaging monster, Kang Jun-seok, writhed after being struck by the Pharmacology power. Unlike So-hyun, whose senses were intact, this being was losing its rationality and couldn’t withstand it at all.
Everyone watching that scene was shocked.
Because of the opposition, once hit, the effectiveness of that strike was maximized. Even the Special Task Force, which had been struggling to keep up, was left speechless at the sight of the beast crumbling.
‘It’s over…’
Jeon So-hyun, grasping her knees, gasped as she watched Kang Jun-seok, who had lost consciousness, fading with black steam.
It was due to her inexperienced control of power; she had pulled it too hard at once, leaving her completely drained.
“What was that…”
“Team Leader! Oh, he’s still alive!”
One of the Special Task Force members confirmed that Kang Jun-seok was still breathing and shouted at the dazed team leader.
[That’s enough. Withdraw.]
It was then that Jeon So-hyun heard Gabi’s whisper in her ear. So she turned her body away without watching any longer.
“Wait!”
The team leader of the Special Task Force grabbed her at that moment. His eyes were shaking as if he couldn’t believe what he just saw.
“You, who are you? Could you be another experiment…?”
“I’m not some experiment subject. And is it really important?”
She turned back with a cold expression.
“If you couldn’t save him, you should at least have properly hindered him.”
“W-We did our best. We requested backup and…”
“That’s the wrong answer. You knew that all too well.”
Letting out a sigh, she alternated her gaze between the Special Task Force leader and the Magical Girl who was slowly sensing the atmosphere.
“If you had cooperated, it might have been possible. But you didn’t. In the end, what matters most to you is not saving people.”
As a psychic, she could understand better. She could sense the emotions mixed within the dark aura Kang Jun-seok was exuding.
An intense rage and despair, something she had never felt before, and sadness. Knowing that, Jeon So-hyun couldn’t see them in a positive light.
“I never had any expectations in the first place. You were always people like that.”
“What do you know to talk like that…”
With a sneer, Jeon So-hyun left her position. One of the irritated Special Task Force members opened his mouth, but the team leader stopped him.
‘Certainly, the upper brass is definitely harboring thoughts beyond just creating a new crisis response system.’
The team leader himself didn’t fully trust the orders from above. He was aware of the true purpose behind it. They had joined merely agreeing to a system meant to replace the Magical Girls, but they were slowly beginning to unravel the reality of One Road.
“That’s not an incorrect statement, is it?”
“The Magical Girls.”
“It’s all because of you. I’m just a coward who doesn’t want to step forward and a free spirit who belongs nowhere, but you consider Magical Girls as enemies without exception.”
The Magical Girl Clea spoke to him, her expression complicated.
“Especially someone like Casilena, who risks getting hurt to do the job… while the so-called adults are just getting in the way. Are you upset about it? I’m talking about your superiors.”
She laughed mockingly, but they didn’t openly refute her.
The gap between the frontline ranks and the command ranks was significant within the Special Task Force as it gradually grew in size. At least half of the newly recruited members from Korea had genuinely volunteered out of a sense of duty.
However, those controlling them were already entrenched in a political game with intricate and elaborate interests.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can just follow orders and be safe. Nutjobs like Takilas don’t care about that.”
As she left, she made one last remark.
The members of the Special Task Force, each with their own deepening thoughts, stood their ground until police reinforcements rushed over from afar.
*
“Ha.”
“When I forgot the incantation in the middle, I was worried about whether I should wriggle my way out, but I miraculously remembered it.”
As those left behind were tidying things up, Jeon So-hyun arrived at the alley where Gabi was waiting, having concealed her presence differently from before, and took off her mask.
“I messed up.”
After catching her breath for a moment, she sighed while looking at her phone. The videos and photos of her had long since spread across the internet.
Sure enough, her identity was about to be exposed any moment now.
“Isn’t this what you anticipated?”
“Well, that’s true, but now that it’s actually happening, I’m jealous of those Magical Girls who can transform.”
She smiled bitterly. Anticipating the reveal was one thing, but she knew it was impossible to completely hide in today’s world unless she transformed like a Magical Girl.
“That monster. It truly was more than just a simple beast.”
“I saw it too. It was close to a rampaging conglomerate formed from the aura of evil. It’s a complete counter to Pharmacology.”
“Takilas mentioned that, right? There are beings that create such monsters.”
“…Right. Until we catch that guy, we can never stop those monsters in this land.”
Lighting up a pipe, Gabi exhaled smoke while muttering vacantly.
“There are so many wounded souls in this land. Too many, too many. A world where only humanity exists. It’s utterly disgusting and horrific. So what happened? Humans have divided themselves into Celestials, Demons, Fairies, Orcs, and Goblins. Truly, the only race capable of breeding all kinds of hybrid species.”
Jeon So-hyun couldn’t respond to Gabi’s quietly spoken words. The deep and harsh feelings she had just experienced were still fresh in her mind.
“We need to take root as quickly as possible. But will that really be easy? The humans here are nothing but a ragtag bunch. They’re foolishly indulging on a sinking ship, unaware of their situation. If my lord were to govern you, none among you would survive.”
“Y-Yeah, but there are good people too.”
At Gabi’s sharp words, Jeon So-hyun spoke out without realizing it.
Of course, it was sincere. She firmly believed there were those who wanted to correct the wrongs.
“And there’s hope too.”
“Hope?”
Gabi turned her head in the direction Jeon So-hyun was looking. A group of middle school students were emerging from the underground.
Having enjoyed a ruckus, they seemed clueless about what had happened outside and looked bewildered at the gathering rescue teams and police.
“Well, they aren’t much older than me, but still.”
“Isn’t there any guarantee that they won’t become corrupt like the current adults?”
“That depends on how they are raised.”
Without even realizing it, Jeon So-hyun was fixating her gaze on one of them. A female student who stood out with her beauty and presence in the group.
“…Hmph, I guess that could be right.”
Gabi chuckled slightly, but it was a laugh totally different in meaning from So-hyun’s seriousness.
“I heard there was some danger, but it looks like you’re fine. We had no idea what was going on down there.”
“Cough. It happened a bit further away from here. Luckily.”
Lee Jin-ah noticed Jeon So-hyun watching her and stepped out from the crowd to approach her.
Clearing her throat, Jeon So-hyun fumbled around for words. Naturally, she assumed Lee Jin-ah couldn’t see Gabi like any other ordinary person.
“It was a monster. But a rather peculiar one.”
‘Why am I telling her this?’
Breaking the brief, awkward silence, Jeon So-hyun opened her mouth again. However, the words that came out were spontaneous.
“What kind of monster?”
“…Despair, and hatred.”
“I saw it on the news. What Takilas mentioned.”
Jeon So-hyun was flustered, but her mouth acted of its own accord. Yet, Lee Jin-ah nodded, as if expecting this.
“So, the dark figure gives vengeful opportunities to those in despair and corrupts them… Think hard about where that guy is hiding while doing this. It might be tough right now, but if his actions have a purpose, he’ll likely reveal certain patterns soon.”
Lee Jin-ah casually dropped a significant clue and walked away.
Jeon So-hyun stared blankly at her retreating figure.
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