Transformation or Death

Chapter 36

Let’s Become Close Friends (4)

Blue Sirius gazing out the window with tear-filled eyes exuded an untouchable charm.  

She was truly beautiful, yet a loneliness that one dared not approach swirled around her.

Suddenly, she turned her body toward Baek Ah-hee. Baek Ah-hee, who had been blankly staring and made  eye contact, shuddered. It was a shocking chill as if ice had entered her body. Blue Sirius looked even more beautiful today. 

A foreboding beauty.

“I’m sorry, I left you unattended after you came all this way. What brings you here?”

“Ah, that, well…”

Baek Ah-hee hesitated. Should she really bring up that villain now? Wouldn’t it just unnecessarily add more distress?

Seeing her like that, Blue Sirius gave another bitter smile.

“Ah…yes, yes! That’s right! Hehe…”

She nodded with an embarrassed laugh. It must have been memorable since it was something she said so often. In reality, Baek Ah-hee frequently asked Blue Sirius for combat tips or secrets to getting stronger.

But the answer she received was always the same.

“I’ve said it many times, but I’m not strong. It’s better not to expect too much. Moreover, each magical girl’s powers vary greatly, so it’s better to find a fighting style that suits you rather than fighting according to others’ advice. Also…”

The same answer that came back every time. This time was no different. However, today there was more said afterwards.

“Vega…no, Ah-hee. Don’t be too surprised and listen.”

Once again, that foreboding beauty from earlier could be felt. The reason was her eyes.

“This time…I was advised to…retire?”

Her eyes held a dim light like frost on flower petals. A beauty that looked like it could melt away at any moment.

“…Huh?”

“It’s not strange really. It’s still strange that I’m still active at this age. I’ve heard rumors about it from time to time before. It’s just… This is the first time I’m hearing it directly in person.”

The retirement of a magical girl.

That timing is abnormally early compared to other professions. It could even be compared to figure skaters, among athletes known for their early retirement age.

Most magical girls consider retirement in their early to mid-twenties.

“Ah, but Big Sister Sirius is still strong! But why retire…”

Even as she spoke, Baek Ah-hee knew.

A magical girl’s retirement is not simply because her strength declines.

“That person must have been mistaken!”  

Magical girls have a unique characteristic.

They do not age.

After their bodies develop to a certain point, the effects of aging significantly slow down as if they are less affected by the passage of time.

There is no loss of strength due to aging.  

Since they can maintain their prime condition and fight, how could there be any loss of strength?

That is why there is another reason for their retirement.

“I heard you’ve become even stronger this time! It’s not time for you to step down yet, Big Sister.”

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Humans have limits. 

No matter how much someone may enjoy attention, if they continuously receive excessive attention, they will wither away.

It’s like giving a plant too much water – it will lead to death.

“The dilemma is…now I have to keep moving…”

Having to smile in front of others while constantly seeing corpses. Being praised when you save someone, but receiving condemnation when you fail to do so.

If the body affects the mind, then the opposite is also true.

A ravaged mind creates a ravaged body.  

The body does not age and quickly recovers from injuries. But the mind is different. Once a wound is made, a constant oozing discharge comes out of it. The names of that discharge are sorrow, guilt, self-loathing, and so on.

If you keep swimming in those things.

Someone will hint to you.

It’s time to rest now.

Don’t kill yourself trying to save others.  

Magical girls do not decide their own retirement. The sense of responsibility cultivated from protecting people since their teenage years prevents them from doing so. Someone else tells them.

You are no longer in a state where you can continue working.

Above all, it is a shameful thing, and that shame further creates the desire to retire.

“Of course, I’m not saying I’ll do it right away.” Blue Sirius responded to Baek Ah-hee’s gloom.

“It just means I’ve reached that state too. It means you chose the wrong person to ask your question. Ah-hee, you started as a magical girl quite late, didn’t you? That’s why you’re so anxious. But you don’t need to be. You’re already becoming plenty strong. If you try to run ahead too quickly from here, you’ll only stumble.”

“But, but now there are stronger villains coming…”

“Ah-hee.” 

Blue Sirius’ voice was soft but firm.

“Our falls mean death. We cannot get back up.”

It was coincidental, but it resembled what the monster had originally asked about.

“Magical girls retire early. So until then, we have to protect as many people as possible. Ah-hee, our deaths have no value. Do you think the villains will stop their activities if we die? Our deaths won’t make the villains disappear. In the end, it will only result in a momentary emotional impact.”

Blue Sirius, who had been a magical girl for nearly 10 years, placed an extremely light value on life. There was no praise, joy, or respect.

Death was simply death.

It had no value whatsoever.

“Ah-hee, walk. Don’t run or fly. Walk without tripping. Then someday, you’ll be able to reach the strength you wanted.”  

Baek Ah-hee wanted to ask.

Then how many corpses must I leave behind with those steps?

In the end, she couldn’t ask. 

Blue Sirius, she couldn’t even fathom the number of corpses Blue Sirius had seen, which is why she didn’t dare ask.

Over the past 10 years, how many corpses had she shouldered? How much suffering had she endured from it? It was unimaginable.

However, even if she couldn’t imagine it now, she would soon know.

She too was a magical girl like Blue Sirius.

After a little more time passes, she will be in the same position.

***

Ippotranslation

***

In the end, the visit only added more emotional burden.

“Haaa… Aah.”  

She sighed again and felt a sharp pain in her side. It seemed she was in more pain than before from shouting earlier. 

[Guardian…]

Her mascot, Ribbon, called out to her sadly. As they shared emotions, Ribbon knew how immense her sorrow was.

She had just learned consecutively that her respected senior was severely injured and may have to retire.

It was an agonizing situation. 

Her attempt to solve her worries ended up not resolving anything and only brought new troubles.

“Ribbon…” 

She hugged her mascot while sobbing. When she touched it, the previously invisible mascot took physical form, an adorable cat-like plush doll.

She buried her face in its soft fur and cried hard. The distinct sensation seemed healing.

[Guardian…]  

Unlike before, the mascot muttered in a scolding tone.

“Ah why, just let me be for a bit.” 

[I’m not a doll, Guardian…]

She lightly dismissed the mascot’s complaints and calmed her troubled heart.

She understood the saying about valuing one’s life.

But shouldn’t the attitude change depending on the situation?

‘Isn’t it strange for a magical girl to run away just because it’s dangerous?’

Baek Ah-hee wondered if she was too young to understand.

[Guardian.]

“Umm… Being a magical girl is really difficult, Ribbon…”

[Guardian.]

“Do I really come across as that reckless…? Ribbon, am I a bit rash?”

[Guardian! It’s dangerous!] 

“Huh? What is…”

As she moved her face away from Ribbon’s body, there was a face right in front of her.

“Not looking around while walking is indeed rash.”

“…?!”

A creepy hand swiftly approached and covered her mouth before she could cry out in surprise.   

“Mmph mmph!”

She tried to scream but it was too late. The person had already restrained her arms with his other hand to prevent her from transforming, and whispered quietly, “Stay quiet.”

She was gripped by fear. Facing the overwhelming power of the villain while defenseless, her legs went limp.

She wanted to resist but her body was paralyzed from the tension, like prey locking eyes with its predator. She was dragged away by the villain while frozen in place.

“This alley should be secluded enough.”   

The villain pulled her into a dark back alley and swung the hand that was covering her mouth.

Her body flew through the air and hit the ground hard, sending searing pain through her back. Even so, her falling technique reduced the impact.

“…Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“Does a villain need a reason to attack people? Or would you believe me if I said I had no choice?”  

“If you tell me…”

With trembling legs, Baek Ah-hee forced herself to stand up. Was it because of the lingering trust she had in him? It only made the shock worse.

Perhaps villains would always be villains after all.

“Sure, I’ll tell you. I was threatened that if I don’t attack you, I’ll be killed.”  

Red Vega immediately knew it was an obvious lie.

This was someone who wasn’t even afraid to fight other villains if they got on his nerves – who could possibly threaten him?  

Red Vega wiped her face. She felt a slight dampness. She was so shocked that tears had welled up.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“But I’m telling the truth, it’s sad you don’t believe me.” 

The villain shrugged casually. Baek Ah-hee grit her teeth as she watched him. Was he mocking her?

Though often mistaken for being gentle, she was fundamentally hot-blooded. 

Her emotions fluctuated greatly – she felt deeply moved but also angered easily.

If provoked, she didn’t let things go and often misunderstood.

The appearance of her first true rival filled her with surprise. 

But after calming her pounding heart, her passion flared up again.

“Then I’m glad you attacked me.”

If this was an ordinary civilian, they would have just died without any resistance. Considering herself fortunate to be attacked, she clenched her fist. The fear she felt earlier was now crumpled away.

As she tightened her fist, a small spark ignited in her palm – a gemlike flame. Her mascot Ribbon placed its hand over the spark, transforming into a ribbon.

From an ornate jewel-encrusted handle extended a red ribbon, similar to those used in rhythmic gymnastics rather than ribbons for clothing. She twirled the ribbon overhead, forming a circle.

“Dress up!”

[Dress up your star!]

Light gushed out like a waterfall from the circling ribbon. The red light formed a curtain, shielding her body from the outside world.

The clothes she was wearing turned to ash and blew away. Her naked body was enveloped in stardust, which transformed into flames, and those flames in turn became new garments. 

She shed her physical body and donned a fantasy attire.

Over a white dress resembling a school uniform bloomed a red outer skirt, along with various ribbons, frills and jeweled accessories adorning her. Her untied hair glowed crimson like fire from the stardust, flowing in two long strands.

The curtain concealing Baek Ah-hee opened up, revealing her transformed appearance. 

Finally, the curtain coalesced at her chest into a jeweled ribbon brooch.

And thus, Baek Ah-hee became Red Vega.

“Streaking across your heart like a crimson comet! The arrival of Red Vega!”

The villain applauded in admiration at her transformation sequence, which took less than a second from start to finish – far quicker than his own three-second minimum per transformation. 

Though lacking defensive systems, that rapidfire transforming ability seemed more convenient than belt transformations.  

The grass is always greener, he supposed. It just looked easier than his method.

Red Vega took a fighting stance and asked sadly, “…Can’t we be friends?”   

“I’m afraid not.”

The villain tapped his belt. The quest completion chime hadn’t rung yet, meaning he needed to torment her further.

“My apologies. I won’t hurt you too badly, so just accept it without resisting.”

“Your way of speaking is a bit strange!”  

Red Vega clenched her fist and charged at him.

“Of course, I refuse!”

“Then you’ll just get hurt.”  

The villain also readied his fist to meet her attack.  

Their fists collided.