Transformation or Death

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 –

 Escape in Smoke

Puak–!

My fist plunged deep into the villain’s solar plexus. Unable to sustain life any longer, the villain exploded. Along with spraying blood and entrails, the small star power the villain possessed was also scattered into the world. 

‘It’s endless.’

There was no time to rest. I immediately pulled my body back and delivered a kick to the chin of the villain charging at me.

Leaving the staggering and falling one behind, I grabbed the villain in front of it.

Kwajik!

The spot where I was standing split apart like glass shards. Gathering strength from the tips of my feet, I threw the villain I had grabbed upwards.

It was just a bug-like cloud decorating the bright day sky.

While it was still in the air, I quickly raised my hand to my belt and spun the buckle.

[DUBHE.]

A white ring formed on the belt, and without any delay, it enveloped my body.

The green armor turned pure white, and sharp, rugged bear claw-like claws appeared on both my hands.

Dubhe.

The alpha star of the Ursa Major constellation and the first star of the Big Dipper.

Also called the Celestial Pivot, this star is the closest to Polaris among the Big Dipper stars.

Greedy Wolf.

The foremost among the stars I possess, and the power of this star that governs vitality is, ironically, more specialized than any other star I have in taking away life.

[SET. White Bear Twin Thunder Strike (Baekungnagdoiguk).]  

A tingling sensation came from the grown claws. A visibly confirmable flow of current began to run through the sharp metal.

The pale green starlight gathered abundantly in both hands, overflowing, and while the power of this star gathered, countless monsters also approached me.

Rotating my body with my right foot as the axis, I swung the claws in my hands twice.

That force alone was enough to overturn the ground and turn rocks into dust. The bodies of nearby villains were torn apart by the shockwave, and even villains too far to be properly hit were momentarily lifted off the ground, unable to keep their footing.

But it didn’t end there.

Lightning began to strike where I had swung.

Kwagwagwagwang–!

The white lightning mercilessly bestowed death upon the villains that had not lost their breath.

The mixed smells of burnt flesh, blood, and broken buildings permeated the air as a shockwave like throwing a stone into a lake rippled across the land.

A rainless storm blossoming from the ground and a tsunami made of lightning waves.

Truly, a calamity.

[White Bear Twin Thunder Strike (Baekungnagdoiguk) manifestation successful. Replication rate 40%.]

White Bear Twin Thunder Strike (Baekungnagdoiguk).

When the white bear raises its claws to swipe, a massive lightning bolt strikes that spot.

It’s indeed like an electric fly swatter for catching bugs.

As I quickly glanced over the scattered limbs of the worm-like monsters, I raised my hand to the belt buckle again.

“There’s still one left.”

The villain I had flung up earlier was falling back down, struggling.

Reverting my appearance back to the original green armor.

Bending my body.

Twisting my waist.

Straightening my line of sight.

[SET. Reverse Star (Yuksang).]

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A dull green light coiled around my fist.

The villain fell, and I raised my fist.

The star that rises in reverse. Along with the skyward soaring starlight, the villain‘s body exploded.

[Reverse Star (Yuksang) manifestation successful. Replication rate 58%.]

I was slowly getting used to combat.

It meant I had a feel for when to use which technique.

For someone who was a complete novice at fighting to become adept in just two days, it wasn’t just the excellence of the belt, Han Jae-jung’s body must have played a part as well.

Indeed, it was the same body that had overturned a gang of delinquents back in middle school.

I felt its tremendous power once again.

The more I feel this power, the more I think this power is dangerous.

A sense of crisis washed over me first, sweeping away any hint of superiority like a wave crashing against a rock and dissipating.

‘What was I thinking, trying to wield this power for personal use…?’

It’s far too immense for an individual to use without any restraint.

Even if they try to control it through the quest system, its binding force is extremely limited. If I were to simply wield this power as I desired when no quests are available, who could possibly stop me?

A poor, cold, and hungry youth.

It seems a distant prospect to resolve those hardships through legal means with this belt’s random quests.

But if I shift my perspective slightly, there are countless paths of possibility open. Going back to the law of the jungle and reenacting the survival of the fittest would work. There is no shortage of useful prey in modern society where violence would be effective.

‘Of course, I won’t do that.’

That villain was… Ah, I even hit a magical girl already, so does it really matter if it’s a villain or not?

But since I still don’t consider myself a villain , it’s fine.

What matters is the mindset, isn’t it?

For now, as I’ve been called a guardian, I have no intention of laying my hands on anyone other than the quest targets, whatever it is I’m supposed to protect.

Why would I go out of my way to seriously clash with the magical girls?

No, shouldn’t this power have been entrusted to someone with a more righteous belief in power to begin with?

‘What made me think I could handle being a guardian?’

Not to mention, I’m not even getting paid, which is infuriating.

I can’t fathom the intentions of this belt at all.

‘Look at it, able to read my thoughts but staying silent…’

Does it want me to figure it out myself? How vexing.

[All monsters have been defeated.]

Well, such concerns are luxuries when I’m barely scraping by to survive after killing all those villains.

Those ancient Greek philosophers could only indulge in pondering about essence and humanity because slaves did all their work for them, leaving them with abundant free time and full bellies to spout bourgeois ramblings.

For now, I’ll just focus on survival. What right do I have to think about protecting anyone when I can barely keep my own nose above water? I’m starving to death.

Shifting my gaze, I saw the magical girls’ billboard.

Its beauty seemed to nourish my soul just by looking at it. My appreciation for it had changed somewhat since my time as a devoted fan.

‘At least they must be getting paid…’

Of course, they should be paid for risking their lives, but to me right now, it was an object of envy.

Wait, no, having them risk their lives at such a young age while receiving this much attention is abuse.

Moreover, unlike me, they don’t have the help of the belt. Eventually, villains with three stars each will appear as the basic level.

‘Who’s envying who here…’

A laugh escaped me.

Thinking about it again, they were the ones who deserved pity, not envy.

“How pitiful.”

“What’s so pitiful?”

What, a hallucination? Am I hearing things from hunger?

‘This is insane…’

Sadly, it wasn’t a hallucination. In my line of sight, magical girls undoubtedly existed, not just the Red Vega I had parted ways with earlier.

“Quite a few of them.”

Pink Deneb, Golden Aldebaran, White Dubhe, and even…

Blue Sirius.

They had gathered in a group.

The sight could be likened to a gorgeous jewel box.

The characters I had been an ardent fan of lined up in a row. An overwhelming presence. Joy choked my throat, and fear made my hands tremble.

To me, they were accursed jewels bathed in a dreadful light that I loved and feared endlessly.

“Since when did you all notice me?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb.”

“…”

Notice what? When did they even get here? Belt, you should give me a heads up on things like this.

[Multiple magic signatures detected in the vicinity.]

Why tell me now?

Nothing in this world seems to go according to my will.

Suppressing the sigh I wanted to let out, I focused again and looked around.

‘Could it be…’

Cameras. More threatening than any starlight, an artificial light source.

Surely no one is filming this scene right now? Just the thought of it makes me nauseous.

“I’ll warn you. As an S-grade villain right now…”

“Cameras.”

“What?”

“Any cameras?” Interrupting the words of Blue Sirius, who seemed to speak for them, I insisted on asking about the cameras. I’m sorry, but this is related to my trauma.

It’s so frustrating that I’m being so sensitive about something I didn’t even experience directly.

“Cameras? Why?”

“…Obviously!”

Puzzled by Blue Sirius’ question, Red Vega answered. “That villain thinks it’s definitely going to win against us! It wants to broadcast our defeat live on TV!”

Me?

“Huh? Really? That’s incredibly infuriating!”

“How arrogant… An interesting fellow.”

Why do they all believe that without any doubt? Of course, my outward appearance may look monstrous, but that doesn’t mean I’m some pitiful wretch driven by an inferiority complex who takes pleasure in inflicting violence on others.

In fact, I had just been contemplating how to put an end to this very situation of violence.

It’s so unfair.

“How laughable.” 

I immediately refuted them. “Why would I indulge in such a petty amusement?”

I wouldn’t have said that if there were cameras around.

Based on their reactions, it seems this was an emergency gathering without notifying the media, thankfully.

There are no cameras.

That’s what I convinced myself of.

In other words, it meant I didn’t have to experience that deep-rooted panic, the trembling fingers and dizziness I felt at the PC cafe, again. Just imagining it was terrifying.

However, if I stayed put, those who heard the news would come slinking over one by one.

Given the belt’s silence, there were no additional quests either, and I had no reason to face off against these five magical girls here.

Time to leave swiftly.

“Listen up, you all.”

“What, what? Come at us already!”

“Rest assured, you weren’t my objective for today.” Just like yesterday, I reassured them once more, then raised my hand to my belt.

“What, what?! Don’t joke around. I’m not scared. Come at me right now and…”

“Even pro fighters take 15 days off after a fight. You must have had a rough time flying off yesterday, so instead of burning with passion, it’d be better to take a rest, no?”

Is she insane? Fighting right after yesterday? Even pro fighters don’t fight the day after getting knocked out.

Klick. The sound of the buckle turning.

[ALKAID.]

Alkaid, the last star of the Big Dipper, located farthest to the east.

One of the interpretations of the Big Dipper’s shape in East Asia was of maidens leading a bier.

Thus, Alkaid, located at the end, was considered the same as the ‘guide of the bier’ and regarded as the most ominous star.

Yes.

The ominous star, and.

Yo.

The star that twinkles the most when viewed with the naked eye.

Alkaid’s power does not involve any change in appearance.

It simply disappears stealthily, flickering like a twinkling star.

“You’ve all worked hard.” With a polite farewell.

A hazy mist spread out widely. My body, enveloped in that mist, turned transparent, reappearing and repeating the process. The flickering of a star.

Blinking like that, I entrusted my body to the mist and concealed my appearance.

Alkaid.

The escape form that can only be used immediately after completing a quest.

***

Ippotranslation

***   

“Wow… That was scary.”

Even just looking at one of those magical girls was incredibly intimidating, but having a whole group of them glaring at me made my heart shrink. As expected, making a smoky escape is the best!

Anyway, I managed to survive today as well. 

‘Is merely surviving enough for a fulfilling life? How primal.’

I was given overflowing power, yet the most I think about is mere survival. I scoffed at my own insignificance.

What is the ideal form I should embody? What should I protect?

Not knowing anything and unable to decide anything, yet still just celebrating survival in modern society.

No matter how much I continued that dejected contemplation before, the conclusion was the same. 

No matter how much power I have, such contemplation is indeed a luxury right now. Anguish is always a house to be built upon survival.

Since I have no regrets from the fight with the villain, now is not the time to anguish.

‘So let me quickly establish a life foundation first.’

After that, I’ll have a bit of leeway. I cannot be happy like the hungry Socrates, unable to secure meals or a place to sleep.

A conclusion reached from the blurred judgment of suffering cannot be normal.

The place I moved to is a bank. I don’t know how much money I have, but I came here thinking I might have an account of some kind.

‘I haven’t been able to go anywhere because of quests up until now.’

But wait, if it’s a quest, shouldn’t there be a reward when it’s resolved?

If there is a penalty for not responding, there should naturally be a reward for completing it as well.

I’ll have to ask Belt about that later. For now, I pushed open the door of the bank to check my balance, but…

Thump.

“Eh, what’s this?”

It was closed. That can’t be right. Has the time already become that late? It shouldn’t be closing time yet.

As I had that thought, I noticed a printed paper posted to the side.

– Closed early today due to a villain attack nearby.

“Argh!” I cried out as if I had been hit by someone. I’ve already experienced the insufficient card balance message, and I barely have even 30,000 won left from resolving meals! That’s not enough to even get a motel room!

Do I have to be homeless tonight?!

I’ll get to see plenty of stars.

Since there’s no ceiling, that is!