Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Life of Downfall (6)

Libra was still engrossed in finding test subjects and developing new drugs. Naturally, she had no time to pay attention to the Archer.

Though he received treatment, he couldn’t get drugs, and with nothing to do, the bored Archer finally decided to draw his bow.

“What else can I do, right?”

It was partly because his hands were bored, and partly to repay the humiliation he suffered before.

“It’s only right to return what I received.”

The Archer smirked. Despite his rising lip corners, his fingertips didn’t show the slightest tremor. A perfect posture like a master archer.

The arrow was aimed at Han Jae-jung’s house. The distance was dozens of kilometers away. That was an irrelevant factor for him.

Eyes so exceptional they could count not just every movement of Han Jae-jung, but even the number of pores and hairs on his head.

Archery skills so precise that he could accurately snipe even from a collapsing building or while falling from the sky.

These two factors were more than enough to lodge an arrow precisely into his house.

“I’ll make up some excuse for Libra later.”

He didn’t particularly want to kill him. But he wouldn’t mind if he died. If he could die from this single strike, it just meant he wasn’t worth more than that.

From what he saw before, he seemed to have something like a future prediction ability, so he should be able to dodge it somehow.

“Ah.”

The Archer finally realized why he was so obsessed with Han Jae-jung.

‘He has aspects that overlap with Master, which is oddly irritating.’

Surviving the Lion, the distinctive white starlight, unnecessarily strong power, prediction ability.

Everything was like a poor imitation of Sky Polaris.

There was something to look forward to, but with the terminal illness restriction, he seemed destined to fall before blooming.

Who could be excited about a third-rate life where one falls before becoming a hero?

It was unpleasant.

It felt like the romance he remembered would be recreated in a distorted form and tainted in that distorted form.

‘So this was why.’

The Archer realized he found Han Jae-jung unpleasant. Though the Archer disliked most opponents, he particularly despised Han Jae-jung.

“No wonder I felt like shit every time I saw him.”

He also realized what scenery he truly wanted to see.

Not such a third-rate tragedy, but a true hero’s epic. A powerful figure straight out of myth. A perfect being with both wisdom and power who could overcome any trial.

For the Archer, that being was Sky Polaris.

He wanted to see once again an era led by such a figure.

In this falling era, he wanted to see once again a star blooming to guide everyone.

But Han Jae-jung approached yet differed from such a figure. That’s why he couldn’t help but find him unpleasant.

It was like the uncanny valley phenomenon where one feels revulsion looking at a human-like doll.

After all, what remained in him wasn’t the power to revive a falling era, but the power to bring about his own life’s downfall.

“A bastard deserves to eat shit.”

The Archer could finally justify all his actions until now.

Not telling Libra about Han Jae-jung’s terminal illness was partly because he wanted to see Libra fall into distress. At the same time, it was because Libra was the most efficient existence to torment Han Jae-jung.

The reason for telling that red magical girl about Han Jae-jung’s lifespan was similar. The worry of those around him would also torment him.

He wasn’t sure if this was just forcibly finding reasons after acting on a whim or if he truly had such intentions.

Anyway, the Archer had acted, and would act now.

For one reason only: to make the one who gave him displeasure eat shit.

It was a simple motive, and therefore an even more intense motive.

“You know what I thought? You really lack romance.”

Still, dying in hardship is more romantic than dying according to your lifespan.

The Archer smiled and released the drawn bowstring.

Swoosh! The arrow containing starlight flew toward its target, drawing a pleasant parabola.

Red Vega saw Han Jae-jung’s surprised expression. That surprise probably wasn’t because of her. After all, his eyes weren’t on her.

‘...What is it?’

Had she failed to set the mood for serious conversation just now? Red Vega continued to stammer out questions seeking the truth while falling into doubt.

‘No, Jae-jung always listened attentively to what I say. He’s not losing focus or dismissing it as a joke.’

Then what was the reason he was ignoring her words?

The answer was simple. Because there was something that had to take priority over her important words. Having quickly deduced this far, Red Vega turned around following Han Jae-jung’s gaze.

After jumping, Red Vega expelled flames in that direction to gain propulsion. At her toes, the temperature of those flames and the friction heat of cutting through the air gathered to concentrate the maximum firepower Red Vega could produce.

Ilro.

This is the one path she found.

Yeomhwaryuhwi.

Her comet, where flames bloom like flowers and flow to illuminate the path ahead.

Red Vega’s kick met the arrow.

Their meeting created an intense shockwave in the air that shook heaven and earth.

Kugugung. The meeting of crimson and red created a sun-like flash for just a moment, and the spreading heat set fire to other buildings.

Something fell amidst that flash and heat.

One was the arrow. One was Red Vega’s body.

‘...Too strong!’

Who would have thought it would have power equal to her finishing move? It was much stronger than anticipated. Red Vega failed to maintain balance in the sky and crashed straight into the ground.

“Ah-hee!”

“He, hehe... I guess I really am half-witted.”

I thought I had gotten stronger, but I still have a long way to go. Red Vega smiled bitterly. Still, it’s not as hopeless as before. If she waits a little longer, other magical girls will arrive as backup.

“Justice is indeed more enjoyable with more allies! Just wait a little longer and other magical girls will...”

An unbelievable sight appeared before Red Vega’s eyes as she shouted this.

Bombardments with power equal to her finishing move were widely scattered in all directions. Like fireworks, crimson lines bloomed chaotically and abundantly.

Those lines didn’t just target this direction but spread to various places.

[This is... Dangerous, Guardian! Quickly prepare!]

“Wh-what about the others...?”

[Now’s not the time to worry about them!]

The mascot shouted intensely.

[That’s meant to check the magical girls coming to help us while bombing us at the same time!]

This time there was no leisure to fire a finishing move. Red Vega hastily gathered magic power and spread it in front of her hands. A huge shield of flames was created.

Kwagwagwagwang!!!!

Enormous roars erupted simultaneously from multiple locations.

[White Davi currently unable to move! Civilian casualties are severe!]

[Blue Sirius. Successfully defended against three bombardments simultaneously. But another follow-up...]

[Orange Altair, only half-succeeded in intercepting... What kind of power is this...]

The voices of other magical girls’ mascots were transmitted through the ribbon. Red Vega’s knees trembled.

The bombardment that came here was just as powerful. The hastily spread shield wasn’t enough. Her palms were more than scraped; it seemed like the skin underneath would show.

“Kugh...!”

While hurriedly hiding the flowing blood and melted skin, Red Vega smiled.

“Mr. Jae-jung, please quickly run away somewhere! I’ll somehow block this... Qu-quickly! Quickly!”

Han Jae-jung firmed his resolve as he looked at her.

“...Ah-hee.”

“Yes?”

“I know what you were about to ask me just now. Yes, Ah-hee, I’m sick.”

There are many truths Baek Ah-hee doesn’t want to know. Most of them were information related to Han Jae-jung.

“I don’t have much time left to live, and I have an illness that will turn me into a villain when that time comes.”

The words coming from his mouth now also belonged to truths she didn’t particularly want to hear.

“So, Ah-hee. The one who should run away isn’t me.”

She wished that wasn’t the truth.

“The one who should run away is you. Is someone who will become a villain worth protecting?”

Truth seems to be quite far from values like love and peace.

Baek Ah-hee sincerely thought so.

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.

Schedule: [Thur, Fri, Sat]

Please rate the series here.

/ippostranslations