Chapter 17 : Awakening made of glucose candy

The battle raged on, and reinforcements arrived. Personnel erected barriers to minimize damage to the building and healers tended to the wounded. However, no other magical girls directly engaged in the fight.

Helicopters appeared overhead again. Filming, no doubt, from the safety of their airborne perch.

Bright Lily and Miracle Sunflower – Dahye and Harin – continued fighting with Peng and my support. Peng was definitely more helpful than I was. There wasn’t much I could do.

With dozens of clashes happening in the blink of an eye, I couldn’t risk opening the door. My kinetic vision couldn’t keep up with their speed, and it would likely put us in more danger.

So, what was I doing?

“Tch!”

“Ugh!”

I cast the rudimentary healing spell Persica had taught me on both of them. It could only heal minor scratches, but it was better than nothing.

Dahye extended her magical staff, blocking Stylidium’s relentless attacks. While she was competent in close combat, it wasn’t her specialty, making counterattacks difficult. The reason they were locked in this back-and-forth was because Stylidium was engaging in a straight fight.

Peng could handle it if Stylidium used her paralyzing venom, but there was no reason for her to resort to such tactics. Her usual fighting style wasn’t this clean.

She reveled in dirty tricks. Taking civilians hostage. Wielding debris from collapsed buildings to threaten bystanders. Redirecting attacks towards the vulnerable. This straightforward battle was unlike her.

Even while using the air as her foothold, Stylidium showed no sign of slowing down. Dahye, familiar with her attacks, dodged skillfully. The problem was Harin.

This was Harin’s first real battle, and facing Stylidium was like encountering a final boss.

“Harin! It’s better to leave it to Dahye and get treatment below! We’ll have a better chance of winning!”

“No!”

“Don’t push yourself!”

“If you’re not going to help, then just protect Jangmi!”

Using her tattered left arm as a shield, Harin thrust out her right fist. Unlike her previous precise punches, this one was clumsy and awkward, clearly hampered by pain.

Stylidium, never one to miss an opportunity, immediately switched her target to Harin. Binding Dahye’s staff with vines, she unleashed a barrage of attacks on the younger girl.

Crack

“Aaack!”

“Harin!”

Her left arm, bruised blue-black, finally gave way.

“Hmph!”

A swift kick sent Harin plummeting.

Before the impact, a gust of wind enveloped Harin. Peng, using his magic, cushioned her fall.

“Gah!”

“Harin!”

Peng reached the battered girl and glared at Stylidium. Seemingly amused by his defiance, she ceased her attack and simply observed.

“A pity. With a little more growth, you could have been a worthy opponent.”

“Why are you doing this?!”

To Dahye’s anguished scream, Stylidium deigned to respond.

“Since when did we ever politely declare war before fighting? This is normal. Not cowering in some corner! This is our true nature.”

She extended her vines, pushing us against the building’s exterior wall. We were trapped, unable to move.

Then, she pointed at the hovering helicopters.

“Devils! What was our purpose in coming here?! Wasn’t it to ensure the survival of our people?! Then why are you just watching?! Rise! And fight! Don’t worry about anyone else, just come out!”

It wasn’t the devils, but the other magical girls, who responded to Stylidium’s cry.

“I, I’m leaving!”

“You never said it would be like this!”

“Unni…”

“Let go! I’m about to die!”

They fled, abandoning any thought of fighting. They even deactivated the protective barrier and left the healers behind. Stylidium, emboldened, sneered at their retreat.

Like claiming a trophy, she lifted Jangmi with one arm. She caressed her cheek as if wiping away dust before putting her on display.

“So, were you happy living with those magical girls, hiding from us?”

“Unni…why are you doing this…?”

“I told you in the beginning. Betrayal means death. Oh, you don’t know what death is yet, do you? Hahaha!”

“Eek!”

“Oh, right. You’ve finally opened a dimensional gate. Congratulations.”

“Go back… Please stop fighting… Let’s go back to our old neighborhood, cough…”

“You’re really stupid, aren’t you? I’ll gladly take your ability. Now, sleep tight.”

“Keheok…”

I could see it clearly even from a distance. Stylidium’s hand tightened around Jangmi’s throat. The girl desperately clawed at her arm, but her strength was no match. Her legs trembled violently, her mouth opened in a silent scream, struggling to breathe.

Thump-

Peng’s magical energy surged – rougher and more powerful than usual.

Humans often defined a magical girl’s awakening as occurring in moments of crisis. The reality was different. If a mascot fairy channeled a surge of magic into their contractor, it triggered an awakening.

So, how did a fairy increase their magic capacity? Through consistent use, expanding their magic stone, or by consuming a sudden influx of sugar.

Unlike me, Peng was a higher-ranking fairy. However, overconfident in his talent, he’d neglected his training.

I see…he ate ‘candy’.

***

Senior! My hands, my body…they’re trembling. Even in an emergency, you told me not to eat those glucose candies! But I did, and now my magic stone is suddenly huge…I can’t control all this magic…

But I had no choice. You were trapped, and Harin was nearly dead. I had to awaken her somehow.

Don’t worry! Who am I? I’m Peng, the elite of the fairy realm! This is nothing…Huh? Harin isn’t reacting.

You said they usually awaken with this much magic. Did you lie to me?

Uh, um, no. You must have meant lower-ranking fairies. So, um, j-just one more.

Gulp

Ah, aah! I’m not controlling the wind, I am the wind! Look! The world is all wobbly! Nya, I’m so happy.

This isn’t right. I need to check on Harin. Whoa, so much light…pouring out of her. Her broken arm is healed! The awakening was a success!

“%$! Are @$! you okay?”

What’s wrong? I can’t hear everything Harin is saying. And her voice is weird. Like a boy, but also like a girl. Ahahaha, Harin is a girl.

“Ah, Harin! Kill that devil!”

Ahaha, her words are slurred. And she forgot to add ‘nya’ at the end…But she understood! She’s beating up that filthy devil!

“%$! Concen@#%$trate!”

Ah, Senior! When did you get here? I can’t hear you properly either. Ahahaha.

***

“Ah done, hehehe.”

“What? You ate two?”

“Harin, are you okay?”

This is bad. It’ll take at least a day for him to return to his senses…and even then, will he be completely alright?

The effects transferred directly to Harin. She had awakened. A golden warmth enveloped her, mending her broken arm. But she was far from her usual cheerful self.

Like a caged hunting dog, starved and then unleashed, she tore into Stylidium. Jaw, abdomen, solar plexus, temple. Simple, brutal blows. Peng’s wind, infused within her fists, turned Stylidium into a rag doll.

Exoskeleton armor? It had cracked not long ago, but Stylidium was already a mess, like a worn-out punching bag.

“S-Stop…”

“…”

“Stomach…no…”

“Harin, stop!”

Only when Dahye placed a hand on her shoulder did Harin freeze. Her hand was stained crimson. Not her own blood. Fluid from between Stylidium’s legs dripped down Harin’s hand.

“T-Teacher…”

Recognizing Dahye beside her, Harin collapsed.

A devil’s blood is blue. All devils share this trait. So, this red liquid…?

“Honey!”

A voice suddenly called from behind us. A neatly dressed human man. The thought that civilians were restricted from the area vanished as I took in the scene.

He stumbled and fell, then rose again, running towards Stylidium. Reaching her battered form, he gently stroked her face.

“We agreed to stop fighting!”

“Sorry, something came up…”

“Hospital…let’s go to the hospital.”

The man tried to lift Stylidium, but she was too large and heavy for him. He collapsed under her weight with each attempt. Yet, he persisted, desperately trying to carry her away.

Dahye offered to help, extending a hand, but the man pushed her away roughly. In his tear-filled eyes, I glimpsed a flash of pure hatred.

Yesterday, at the press conference, Stylidium had mentioned being married. This man, so desperate to take her away, must be her husband.

From the ground, I picked up a broken ring. The gemstone was missing.

From the helicopter above, a red light blinked – the telltale sign of a recording camera.