Transformation or Death

A Little Money and a Place to Live Tomorrow is Enough (20)

Between Blue Sirius’s neck and chest. A heart-shaped pendant lay in place of a ribbon.

In the center of the heart was a round jewel like a star, and around it were drawn elaborate lines as if expressing an explosion.

Inside the round jewel shone the compressed blue starlight that had been spurting out everywhere until just moments ago. It was a beautiful color mixing green, purple, sky blue, and white with blue as its base.

As if the mysteries of the universe were gathered in this small ornament, an indescribable spectrum of light sparkled nobly.

Nova.

Like a new star being born, it had a different color than before.

Divine.

That beauty was pure and sacred.

Because she believed when her loved one called her a hero, she could truly be reborn as a hero.

Even though those words had no basis or self-love, her faith was firm.

She believed without doubt that she would create a miracle.

Because you said so.

“My thoughts of you may always be as trivial as the setting sun and blowing wind in the background where you sit, but someday when you wander endlessly in suffering, I will call to you with that triviality that has been passed down for so long.”

She moved her lips, suddenly recalling a poem she had read and noted long ago. Like reading a Bible verse, her serene voice settled over the snow field.

“Truly, truly, the reason I love you is that I have transformed my love into that endless waiting that connects.”

Even if this love cannot reach you, even if it becomes endless waiting, I will love you forever.

“I believe my love will surely stop somewhere too. I only think about my posture of waiting then. I believe that until then, snow will stop, flowers will bloom, leaves will fall, and snow will pour again.”

It’s natural that all things have an end, but change is also natural.

Like these moments when seasons change are natural, my love will transform anew and become love again. With every scattering of fallen leaves, snow, and flowers, it will change into a new love.

Therefore, I believe my love is also natural.

*Sigh*, she breathed out quietly. Her hot breath cooled and scattered as white mist. She moved her head following the direction where her sigh scattered. At the end of her gaze caught a block of ice.

The crude ice tower she had created. The towering structure was majestic as if reaching for space. The sun was setting over its peak. The hot sunlight was ending, melting into the cold.

Even when that sun rises again and hangs at the peak, this tower will not melt. Even if Earth circles the sun a thousand times, this ice will not melt.

This is her faith, hope, and love. An eternal heart.

That will remain unchanged even as countless illusions and countless letters, countless days pile up.

“Repaying kindness with enmity.”

The villain who was beside the tower looked at her quietly and put sarcasm on his tongue. The villain of the Seven Stars containing murky green starlight. Watcher, the observer.

On his shoulder was placed a small butterfly. A butterfly-shaped throwing star.

Blue Sirius turned her gaze to look at a corner of the sky. There, pink light dust seemed to shine slightly.

“Were you trying to imprison me too?”

“Shall I call it efficient? It’s not like you’d die. Just sleep a long sleep for a while.”

“That’s the same thing. If death is the end of life, then eternal sleep is life’s stagnation. Not much difference.”

“No! There is much difference!”

Jason, who had raised only his upper body from lying down, strongly denied.

“Stagnation has an end! Surely someday. But the end has no end! Though they may seem similar, there’s a big difference!”

“Is that so.”

Watcher responded lightly. Seeming satisfied with this, Jason lay back down.

Blue Sirius stared at them intently and muttered quietly. It was a voice mumbling inside her mouth, too quiet for anyone to hear.

“…I’ll repay this debt.”

“There’s no need to do that.”

Not knowing this could be heard, Blue Sirius’s face turned red. With her face flushed, she added, “Although it’s extremely humiliating…! Still, debts should be repaid…!”

*Grind*, the sound of teeth grinding in hatred echoed pitifully. It was the sound of pride being chewed. Even for someone like her who lacked self-love and self-esteem, her hatred toward villains was real.

“No, it’s enough…”

Watcher retorted in bewilderment.

Thudududu. Soon, a disturbing noise came from above. It was the sound of a relay helicopter that couldn’t come close because the villain was rampaging, and then Blue Sirius was spraying widespread cold.

Even if it had come closer, it would have been hidden by the ice’s reflection and thick water vapor anyway.

“Time’s up.”

“It’s over now.”

Someone opened their mouth first, it wasn’t clear who. The cooperation between a magical girl and a villain. If it’s good news, it’s good news, if it’s bad news, it’s bad news. With recent consecutive incidents making public opinion about villains turbulent, this fell into the latter category.

It must have been quite painful not being able to give full credit to their hero for defeating the villain.

Whoosh!

The wind blew and broke the ice. The source of the wind was an arrow that closely resembled a harpoon. A long rope was attached to the end of the arrow’s fletching. Swoosh. That rope pulled taut and then swayed with elasticity.

Soon the rope loosened and a shadow connected to that rope was cast. It resembled a human form yet was different.

“Really just doing annoying things! Useless and full of delusions. You say identity ends someday? Then can you know when that end is? It might not end even after death. Today’s indefinite waiting is no different from death. It’s hope torture.”

It was the Archer. Watcher raised his guard. Blue Sirius did the same. Needless to say, Red Vega, who had suffered the worst from him, was especially alert.

He briefly looked Watcher up and down, but paid no attention to the beings he had harmed and lifted up Jason, who was lying down, like a sack of rice.

“But even if it’s torture, having hope makes it romantic! Kid knows something!”

The Archer laughed heartily and hit Jason’s head once. Jason screamed and complained of pain, but he didn’t care at all.

“I was sorry before.”

He tossed those words to those watching him and pulled out the harpoon-like arrow he had just shot.

“Why is this ice so hard? Damn, even super alloy wouldn’t be this tough. Hey, how about you get into the construction business? You’ll make a ton of money saying it’s safe.”

While grumbling, he nocked an arrow and shot it toward the sky. That direction was toward the helicopter flying in the sky.

-Wh-what!

-Qu-quickly change direction! Turn!

The arrow caught on the helicopter’s landing gear like a grappling rope. The helicopter struggled like a fish caught on a fishing line, but the rope didn’t come loose.

“Let’s use it together! Damn stingy bastards doing nothing….”

Though the sky above became noisily heated, the Archer didn’t care this time either. He flew following the helicopter’s direction of movement. He would probably shoot another arrow to move again when he reached a suitable place.

Given that villain’s personality, there probably won’t be much damage to them unless the reporters carelessly provoke him.

“Aren’t you going to stop him?”

“Unfortunately, I’m out of energy.”

When Watcher asked, Blue Sirius answered calmly.

“We might get a bad reputation.”

“Let them say what they want. I don’t care anymore.”

“But we’re supposed to be a villain and a magical girl….”

After picking up a piece of ice lying nearby, she fiddled with it.

“Shouldn’t we at least pretend to fight?”

Watcher threw the piece of ice just like that. Whoosh! The ice that flew faster than a bullet was caught by Blue Sirius and stopped moving.

For a moment, hands covered her eyes.

“What is this….”

She let out a hollow laugh in disbelief and lowered her hands, but the villain was gone in front of her. Red Vega’s bitter smile was all that remained in her sight.

Pink light was scattered where he had disappeared. A butterfly had flown. The understanding was simple.

Blue Sirius looked at the piece of ice caught in her hand. The solid piece of ice that wouldn’t melt even at body temperature.

The crumpled piece of ice in the villain’s hand somehow resembled the shape of a heart.

“Ah….”

Blue Sirius’s steps faltered. When the tension finally released, her balance disappeared with it. The forcibly revived heart and the dizzying pain felt throughout her body. The new awakening brought corresponding burdens with it.

“Sister!”

How many times today had she been supported? Red Vega ran over and caught her sister who was about to fall.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Now it’s really over. Only when all threats disappeared did it feel real. The incoming fatigue heavily pressed down on her eyelids. Having exhausted her strength, she had no way to resist it.

“Finally… Can go back….”

Through her slowly fading consciousness, she thought of him.

***

Ippotranslation 

***

How many seconds had passed since she closed her eyes?

Thinking this wouldn’t do, she opened her eyes again.

And what she saw was moonlight.

“Did you sleep well?”

Along with the moonlight, what she saw was his face that she had been missing until just now.

“Jae, Jae-jung…? Where… Where is this… How many hours did I sleep…?”

“About 17 hours. And this is the hospital. Obviously. Where else would they take someone who fainted?”

“Then, how did you….”

As Yoon Seol-hwa was confused by the questions, Han Jae-jung immediately noticed her confusion and answered.

“How am I here? White Davi barged in. Apparently, she was also staying at that hotel by chance. She said she thought it was suspicious when she saw you come out. It was fortunate. Later when I checked, that room was in chaos because of the water. Let’s go thank her together.”

Yoon Seol-hwa felt dizzy from the flood of information.

She slept for over ten hours? No, never mind that, was her confinement discovered? Plus, Han Jae-jung almost drowned?

Whether it was because she had just woken up, or due to anemia, or perhaps self-loathing, her vision spun as she felt dizzy.

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Because you almost got into danger again because of me….”

“What are you talking about?”

Han Jae-jung smiled slightly.

“You were my hero, and you came back again. That’s enough.”

That was enough. It really was.

Han Jae-jung wasn’t hurt and Yoon Seol-hwa wasn’t seriously injured either. Despite the twists and turns, she finally returned and saw his eyes.

It was a modest welcome, but it was enough of a welcome.

She wished this moment would last forever, as the moonlight gently fell and illuminated the corners of their mouths.

But when someday in the distant future she would recall this moment after this time has passed. She knew her feelings would be the same as now then. She didn’t need to wish for it. Because she would know without having to ask.

“…That’s right.”

Now she understood.

She didn’t need much. No chains, no luxurious rooms, no self-blame, no being overly conscious of others.

What she needed was some money and a place to sleep tomorrow.

And love.

This much was enough.

“Will you tell me that again tomorrow?”

“As many times as you want.”

Just with that, she could become a hero again tomorrow.

***

Ippotranslation 

***

“I’ve been thinking a lot.”

Jason looked at his brother’s back shadowed in the moonlight. Although the moonlight was fully illuminating him, because the spot where his gaze landed was backlit, Jason couldn’t properly see his appearance.

“There wasn’t any special reason why I took you in. I just thought you looked lonely. By chance, your constellation also had many connections with our constellation.”

Jason didn’t say anything.

“Little one. Do you know about the Ship of Theseus? Whether a ship with replaced parts is exactly the same as before… I don’t think it is. Machines can be replaced without issue, but organizations aren’t like that. Even if we recruit new talent, they can’t fill the empty places of the second and third. The void remains forever.”

He couldn’t say anything.

“Little one, what do you think? If there’s timber that destroys something irreplaceable, makes other trees rot too, what do you think should be done with it?”

September didn’t speak with his usual crude curses mixed in. Carefully, deliberately, he spoke each syllable with sincerity so that the other person could clearly understand his meaning.

“You still don’t understand our challenge even now. Far from it, you’ll probably continue to interfere in the future. It seems your standards are different from ours after all.”

Jason lowered his head like a death row inmate waiting for his death sentence.

“Compass constellation villain, Jason.”

“….”

“I’ll have to expel you from the Argo Family.”

Even until the sentence was passed down to him, September didn’t turn around.

“Leave. And live according to your standards.”

Jason, excommunicated.

***

Ippotranslation 

***

“Well, who would accept someone who buried their brother with their own hands? That would be crazy. That’s just natural.”

The Archer spoke as if it was nothing. Jason’s shoulders were slumped.

Trudging down the street, he kept his head down. The stones that hit his feet felt like himself.

“I just….”

“Hm?”

“I just needed a place to belong… Some money and… A place where I could stretch my legs comfortably….”

But the Argo Family couldn’t become such a place.

“I guess I’m just not suited for organizations.”

“You’re just realizing that now? Even I can tell after not seeing you for a few days. Sheesh, idiot.”

The Archer lightly patted his shoulder.

“Hey, well. Don’t be too disappointed. Actually, I left too.”

“From whom?”

“That bastard Libra. Fuck, I have some dignity, how could I take money from someone who did that to a comrade.”

He smiled as if it was nothing.

“I cut ties cleanly.”

“Will you be okay? You’re clearly unemployed…”

“Fuck, who are you to say anything about me?!”

He got angry for a moment but quickly regained his composure.

“So let’s do well together as unemployed individualists. We’ve become real comrades now. We have nowhere to back down, right? Let’s decide on a name. How about Hell Comrades?”

“That’s shit.”

“Fuck.”

Is it that bad? The Archer tilted his head.

“I’m going to quit drugs too now.”

“That’s a good decision.”

“So this is the last dose.”

“Huh?”

The Archer pulled out a syringe from his chest. The softly glowing liquid was impressive.

“Didn’t you just say you were quitting?!”

“Ah fuck, just this last one!”

“I’ve never seen anyone quit who talks like that! Hey! Throw that away right now!”

“Hey, why are you being like this. It’s my choice! My choice!”

Before Jason could stop him, the Archer stuck the needle into his arm.

“Haha! Here I go, here I go, whoosh! Hiyaaah!!!!”

“You crazy bastard!”

Dizzy head, shaking vision, churning stomach, and a powerful shimmer that surpasses all of this. Like reminiscing about lost memories and being immersed in nostalgia…

-Ta-da!

“…Huh?”

In the hallucination of the drug, he saw a fragment of memory.

-Look! With this, anyone can fight against villains!

The face of a girl proudly holding out a crude machine while smiling brightly.

The belt transformation uniquely obtains starlight from defeated villains or by clearing quests. It’s different from other villains that can’t obtain starlight after completing constellations.

Also, one unique point is that memory loss can occur as a side effect of the belt transformation.

However, this side effect can be overcome by regaining memories while finding starlight.

This is the difference between humans who can become villains and humans who have completely become villains.

Whether they can obtain starlight or not. Whether they can remember themselves or not.

Memory is one of the most important elements that make up a person. Experiences pile up to form memories, those memories pile up to form personality, and personality forms the soul.

Losing memories is no different from losing one’s soul.

The Archer finally realized why he had been obsessed with this drug, this drug mixed with starlight, until now.

Because this was the only way to find his soul.

“What’s wrong?”

Jason asked. His tone showed concern that something serious might have happened because of the drug.

“Ha fuck…..”

The Archer let out a deep sigh.

“I’m screwed.”

Now he’ll never be able to obtain it.

He just cut ties with Libra.

Hope brought despair simultaneously.

***

Ippotranslation 

***

“Haha.”

A man split half blue and half red laughed while sitting on a beast.

“I wonder if it’s ripened enough now.”

He nudged the beast he was sitting on with his foot.

“What do you think, Mr. Scorpion?”

There was no answer. Just a slight growl. It could be interpreted as a warning not to disturb his sleep any further.

“Hmm, so the strong are indeed strong? Originally, the strong are meant to be silent. But your strength has no soul. I can’t feel any will. My ideal goes beyond simple strength to clash wills and determine the winner…. Ah, never mind.”

It’s practically no different from talking to himself. What fun is there in talking to someone who can’t speak?

“Anyway, I have a few targets in mind. Aren’t you curious?”

Paradox looked into the scorpion’s eyes after getting down from it.

“Let’s go sightseeing together. While we’re at it, you can give some evaluations too.”

The scorpion silently closed its eyes.

“Hmm, then I’ll take that as approval.”

Paradox’s eyes lit up differently. Different colors were engraved in his two eyes, and he snapped his fingers. Then the surrounding scenery began to distort, changing from desert to forest.

“The smell of the homeland after a long time is indeed good.”

Paradox began his return home after a long journey.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you would like to support me or read up to 20 chapters ahead, you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee OR by unlocking chapters.

Please consider leaving a good rating and review of Transformation or Death @ Novel Update to show your support if you like the series. It will encourage me to work on more chapters and bring in more readers.

Schedule: [Thur, Fri, Sat]