Chapter 40 : Magic Girl, Magical Sword Star (2)

-Woong.

Interrupting the conversation was Seolhyang’s mobile phone. She quickly took out the terminal, tapped it with her finger, and stood up.

“Yep. It’s time again. A Gate just opened. Wanna come along to work?”

I couldn’t refuse.

Because Caspar beside me was sparkling with fighting spirit.

***

-Whoooosh.

Facing the wind, we raced through the skies above Seoul as if flying.

“…No. I’m actually flying. How are you so fast?”

I looked at Seolhyang with an incredulous expression. I could just temporarily discard my body and fly, but Seolhyang was clearly a human with flesh and blood.

Moreover, since Caspar had no means of transport, Seolhyang was carrying him on her back. Due to the size difference, it was almost like carrying him on a traditional A-frame carrier.

Yet she matched my speed. Indeed, she was worthy of the S-rank designation.

“Hmm. If anything, you’re the weirder one. Isn’t a person discarding their body and flying through the sky stranger? I think moving by stepping on air like me is actually more normal.”

Is that so?

It would be nice if I could learn something like that too. Or maybe Caspar could learn.

“…Hey. Don’t touch there, there. Where do you think you’re touching someone else’s husband’s body?”

Haa.

I don’t like it. To think I have to entrust my husband’s body to such a strange woman.

“What are you talking about? What wind blew me to harass this not-so-cute man? Ugh, if anything, he seems to be harassing me. Stop staring so hard. Caspar.”

“What? Did you finish talking? Caspar is just interested in your ability. Stop talking nonsense. And, Caspar is kind of cute-. Ah, no. Forget it.”

Seolhyang scoffed and glanced at Caspar.

“Hmph. Staring right through my body. Haven’t received harassment from a man since my body became like this.”

“Ahaha. Um, sorry.”

Caspar smiled awkwardly but didn’t take his eyes off observing Seolhyang.

From head to toe, every part of her body, he seemed to be scanning everything. Though I told Seolhyang off, honestly, he looked slightly perverted.

“…Caspar. You, wait till we get back.”

Was I not good enough?

I need to resume physical training and sparring too. I’ll definitely learn that martial art, whatever it is.

Though the body of a Murim warrior seems different from modern humans… there should be data if I search the Association records. I can just create a new body modeled after a Murim warrior, so learning martial arts shouldn’t be a problem.

Surely, Caspar wouldn’t covet such a kid’s body type. It must be the martial arts.

Hmm, just in case, I should buy a magic girl cosplay outfit too. As for twin tails… Ugh. A bit much, but. I don’t know. If he wants it, I guess I have to.

Thinking such thoughts, I asked Seolhyang about the Gate that opened this time.

“So. A-rank again this time? Did they originally open this frequently?”

“It’s A-rank, but it didn’t open this time. It came additionally from a Gate that opened previously.”

I tilted my head and asked.

“We dealt with all the ones in Korea, right? Even Bulimmunja, which you couldn’t handle because you just fight stupidly, was resolved by my wise strategy.”

Seolhyang whipped her head around and glared at me. With quite a murderous expression.

“I couldn’t clear that place simply because of incompatibility. Besides, you didn’t exactly use your head much either. I heard everything from Grandpa President.”

Seolhyang, in addition to her original Murim abilities, had awakened one additional ability.

Though the detailed conditions were unknown, she supposedly gained power by acting like a magic girl.

What kind of ability is that, I wondered, but apparently, Awakened who weren’t Returnees often had such abilities. Things closer to superpowers.

“Anyway, the one that came out this time isn’t from the Korean side. It was from the Chinese side, but got pushed all the way to Korea during the recent abnormal phenomenon.”

Saying so, Seolhyang gave a rough explanation.

Humanoid enemies with reason. Characteristics of forming armies, and a belligerent atmosphere.

A-rank Gate. The name… Chunqiu Zhanguo (Spring and Autumn Warring States).
*(TL Note: Chunqiu Zhanguo refers to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in ancient Chinese history, known for constant warfare.)*

Another China ruled by countless warlords obsessed with kingship was the name of that Gate.

“…Anyway. That neighborhood’s Gate interiors are ridiculously huge. They are that much safer and more realistic, but raiding them is tough.”

Grumbling, Seolhyang raised her hand to check the current location. A red dot was seen approaching the target point.

Meaning, it was time to arrive at the destination soon.

.
.
.

A short while later.

–Kwaaaaang!

Using the principle of Qianjin Zhui to slam down from mid-air like a meteor, Seolhyang, landing heroically, shouted with a volume from who knows where.
*(TL Note: Qianjin Zhui (천근추) is a martial arts technique for increasing weight/stability, used here for a powerful landing.)*

“Me! Magical★Sword Star, have arrived here!!”

At the impact, like a meteor collision, people immediately looked towards her. What moved then were soldiers wearing iron helmets.

“You fiend! You finally came. Are you in charge of this place?!”

They were worthless cannon fodder. To the point where I didn’t even need to use Magic Bullets, just my dark magic would suffice.

The problem was… there were quite a lot of such soldiers here.

But…

“Wow! It’s Magic Girl-nim! W-We’re saved. Wahaha. Ha. Thank you!”

Eyes sparkling, people crawled out from the gaps in collapsed buildings. I frowned.

‘There are still soldiers swarming around.’

Indeed. The soldiers dispatched from the Gate raised their spears, glared fiercely, and threatened the citizens.

“You scoundrels! H-How dare these lowly commoners!”

But the spears couldn’t reach. Because when Seolhyang flicked her hand, the soldier became a comically cartoonish state.

“Yap!”

Meaning, she blew him away with finger wind. His back seemed broken, but… well, he wasn’t dead, and he was trying to kill people, so it should be fine.

The person just threatened by the soldier was unbelievably calm for someone who almost died.

“I love you! Magical Sword Star!”

Smiling foolishly while waving at Seolhyang. Anyway, so people actually call her that.

“Wow. First time seeing her in person. Really. Really… Such a person exists.”

“Photo. Need to take a photo! Ah, where did I put my phone…”

With somewhat bashful yet somehow cheerful expressions, the citizens looked at her.

Unlike their previous anxious state. As if they had no worries now.

“Do that thing! That! Magic Girl-nim!”
Starting with those words, boisterous laughter spread among the people. People holding up phones to film, people blushing and feeling embarrassed on her behalf.

And people with sparkling eyes were looking at Seolhyang.

Indeed. Seolhyang did not betray the citizens’ expectations.

With exquisite Void Manipulation, she perfectly fluttered her frilled dress, and enveloped her body in Samadhi True Fire that lacked heat.
*(TL Note: Void Manipulation allows control over objects from a distance. Samadhi True Fire is a mystical fire in Daoism/cultivation stories.)*

The girl, armed with endless confidence, smiled.

“Transform.”

Her words echoed softly, briefly. People held their breath in unison, focusing on her. Soon, silence fell.

Leaves fluttered wildly. An unseasonal wind blew, and a waterspout rose within the city center.

Buildings collapsed, trees broke with snapping sounds, but the people were utterly safe.

Literally. Absolutely safe. Meaning no monster, human, natural disaster, accident, or incident could harm the people present here.

Only then did I understand why people felt relieved upon seeing Seolhyang.

In animations for children featuring magic girls, do people get hurt or die? No. They didn’t.

After all, magic girls are symbols of dreams and hope. Villains wait for transformation times, and despite various incidents, the citizens ultimately remain safe.

‘…What on earth. Is she doing.’

It was dumbfounding. I could recognize the technique she was using.

Capturing and controlling all the mana within a radius of tens of kilometers. Extensive Void Manipulation was guaranteeing the absolute safety of the citizens.

Falling signboards landed unnaturally. Children tripping while running around never cracked their heads. The weapons of soldiers attacking citizens bent and broke on their own.

Recognizing every person within the range of a city, completing identification of friend and foe, then blocking all attacks directed at them with Void Manipulation.

It was truly an insane technique, honed over decades from the senses of a natural genius. A power that seemed to reveal her obsession not to miss a single person.

Gooooooh.

And. In the midst of that process, Seolhyang, having completed her transformation, wore a dress shining blue.

Focusing my vision, I could see what she had done. She enveloped her entire body in Body-Protecting Ki and adjusted the wavelength of light.
*(TL Note: Body-Protecting Ki is a defensive energy shield in martial arts stories.)*

The peerless master, having completely released her state of Returning to Simplicity, flashed her eye light.
*(TL Note: Returning to Simplicity (반박귀진) is a high level state in Murim where one appears ordinary but is immensely powerful.)*

“Wh-What…!”

The general, sweating coldly, stepped back, slowly retreating. Beings beyond common sense become deterrents merely by existing.

“…Yes. Fortunately. No one died. But too many are injured.”

The presence of a fierce beast instantly faded. Here, she wasn’t the sword of Wudang, but the magic girl bringing hope to people.

Smiling brightly, her face beaming, she shouted.

“In the name of love and justice!”

Chk.

Seolhyang. No, Magic Girl Magical Sword Star raised her sword high into the sky. People’s expectant gazes focused.

“I will not forgive you!”

Like an actor bowing to the audience on stage, she extended her arm long and swung her sword. Like a magic wand, the sword drew strange trajectories, aiming at the enemy.

“What are you all doing! A-All units charge! Charge!”

And…

Resplendent starlight gathered on the sword.

‘…This. I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere.’

I had seen it before in a martial arts novel.

Sword Ki Forms the Firmament. The realm embodying the stars of the Big Dipper.

-Swish!

With a clean cutting sound, the banners and weapons of all the soldiers were severed.