Transformation or Death

Chapter 140

A Little Money and a Place to Live Tomorrow is Enough (2)

“Why did that bastard come here?”

Surely they hadn’t sent him as a messenger to promote harmony just because they received that small amount of money.

The Archer was a fool, but not an idiot without awareness.

He knew why Libra had visited the Argo Family this time.

The request for reconciliation was just an excuse.

The real objective was to assess the current state of the Argo Family.

It was a visit to choose who would receive the newly developed drug. Similar to visiting a store to select items.

“Then is that guy the target for the new drug?”

“Well, what does it matter?”

The Archer pulled out some jerky he had stored away and chewed it slowly. It was his favorite snack after drugs, perfect for killing time.

“I just need to watch whoever gets screwed over.”

He had no intention of taking sides. Unless Libra hired him with a generous amount of stardust. He had absolutely no desire to deliberately get involved in the fight.

If the Argo Family offered similar conditions, he’d probably side with them.

“As long as I can get my share from these idiots’ battlefield….”

But living only for profit wouldn’t enrich his life. Even filling up on wealth and pleasure left him unsatisfied, as if there was a hole that couldn’t be filled.

He had a void. A void so vast that other villains couldn’t even imagine it.

Most villains lament that if they’re given desires, they should also be given the ability to fulfill them.

But the Archer was the opposite. He had the ability but lacked the desires to fulfill.

Despite being a villain, he couldn’t empathize with other villains, lacking the common ground of pursuing desires.

Basically, villains are individualistic, but because they have strong desires to achieve their goals, they tend to respect others’ goals.

But the Archer had no such consciousness. Of course, he didn’t receive respect either.

In that sense, he was truly an individual.

An outsider who couldn’t belong anywhere.

“…Fuck.”

The Archer swallowed the jerky he was chewing and spat out a harsh curse. No matter how much he chewed this persistent dissatisfaction, it couldn’t be swallowed.

This dissatisfaction cannot be digested.

“…I really have no romance in me.”

He turned his eyes away from the Compass constellation villain. Instead, he faced himself directly.

This time-killing is just an escape.

Now is not the time to waste time meaninglessly.

He needs to find his purpose. Find his memories. Recover what was lost.

How?

That needs to be thought about gradually.

“That Votis bitch kept her mouth shut tight….”

Right after regaining consciousness lost from the fatigue of fighting Han Jae-jung, the Archer immediately confronted Botis.

About his lost memories and his identity.

However, Botis didn’t give back a single word.

He pressured him with all possible violence, curses, threats, and intimidation, but Botis continued his silence until the end.

Of course, this could be because his body weakened after what he suffered from Han Jae-jung. Perhaps due to the impact of nearly dying twice in succession, his body wasn’t like before. His reflexes had dulled and his strength to pull the bowstring had weakened.

The Shepherd constellation has fifteen stars. The Archer constellation has twelve stars. He was already at a disadvantage in terms of firepower, and his condition wasn’t good. Moreover, he confronted him in close combat rather than his specialty of long-range combat.

From Botis’s perspective, he might not have been threatening.

“If violence isn’t enough, then with greater violence…!”

Just wait a little. Once I fully recover my condition, I’ll deal with you through sniping and bombardment. I’ll cut off your limbs, pluck out your eyes, and leave only your tongue, creating a situation where you’ll have no choice but to answer.

Then it’s Han Jae-jung’s turn.

He would continue the unfinished fight and find out why he was so happy at that time.

Once he recovers his memories and emotions, surely he’ll be able to reach his goal.

Kuk kuk kuk. The Archer laughed frivolously.

“Wait. Since that man has four arms, should I say six limbs instead of four…?”

Then he stopped laughing as an insignificant question arose. At that moment, he felt a sense of incongruity behind him.

“Ugh… Uwup.”

“Who’s there!”

Whoosh! Without any delay, he turned around and nocked an arrow to his bow. If he had been in his original condition, this series of actions would have appeared to happen simultaneously.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the same speed as before.

“Uwuwuwup.”

“…You?”

The Archer was shocked.

The identity of the figure who appeared behind him was none other than the Compass constellation villain.

The situation where the one he had been observing for entertainment just moments ago appeared behind him.

‘Did he notice I was watching? That’s impossible. The distance is too great. Several kilometers apart and this…? Impossible.’

However, there are no absolutes in this world.

The words ‘impossible’ were denied as that fellow arrived here just now.

‘This guy. I thought he was awkward because of his foolish behavior, but is his intuition sharp? No, how did he get here in the first place? He was definitely over there until just now…..’

Trying to hide his confusion as much as possible, he asked in a sharp and fierce voice.

“What business do you have with me!”

“Uwuwuwup!!”

The Compass constellation villain didn’t answer and just staggered.

“…! What is it!”

The Archer, perceiving this as a prelude to an attack, quickly shot an arrow.

“Uweeek! Kuheok!”

The arrow precisely pierced the shoulder of the Compass constellation villain who had started retching.

His weak body fell backward from the arrow’s impact, and rainbow-colored vomit created localized rainfall in the night sky.

“What the fuck!!!”

The Archer dodged all of that vomit rain with incredible reflexes. His physical abilities, pushed to the extreme in the face of crisis, allowed such a miraculous feat.

“Y-you, what are you!”

The Compass constellation villain shouted while suffering from the arrow’s pain and the nauseating bile.

“W-what is this sudden violence! What did I do! What did I do to deserve such treatment… Kuheok!”

What he spat out was watery blood. Surely the pierce was in the shoulder, not the stomach or chest. He didn’t understand why he was coughing up blood when neither his esophagus nor windpipe was injured.

“Is this… How… I die…?”

“Ah, no, hey….”

“I just lost my way… What a horrible end… Ah… My brothers… I’m sorry… I’ll close my eyes here without clearing our name….”

“W-what? What kind of villain dies from just a shoulder wound….”

“A normal villain like you wouldn’t understand! Kuheok! Kuluk! Kuluk!”

Covered in filth and blood, his exaggerated theatrical manner of accepting death with dignity was so strange that even the Archer, who usually enjoyed making light of things, found it difficult to respond.

“Ah… How unfair… I just lost my way… I was just practicing to get used to my ability… To die like this from a blind arrow….”

“You’re talking really well for someone who’s dying, aren’t you?”

“I am dying!!!”

Kuluk kuluk. The Compass constellation villain spat out blood and shouted as if wronged.

“With no dreams… And a weak body… I’m telling you I’m dying…!”

“…?!”

The Archer caught one unmissable statement. A high-ranking villain who completed their constellation, yet has no dreams? Could they possibly not know their purpose?

“What did you just say?”

“That I’m dying….”

“Before that!”

“About having no dreams… You mean that?”

“Yes, that!”

He hadn’t misheard. The Archer approached him with a broad smile.

“W-what is it! Don’t tell me you’re coming to confirm the kill…? I, Jason, may be weak but I’m not without shame! Rather than suffer such humiliation, I’ll romantically take my own life…!”

“So your name is Jason. Right. Listen here, Jason.”

Before the Compass constellation villain could reach for the strange device at his waist, the Archer lifted him onto his shoulder.

“I know a place that’s good at treatment.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’ll save your life. But in exchange, you’ll have to spill everything you know.”

A villain who doesn’t know their purpose. A mutant exactly like the Archer. At this unexpected discovery of a clue, the Archer couldn’t contain his laughter.

“…?! W-what are you talking about! To literally practice giving someone an illness then the cure, have you no conscience?! How is your mother? It seems you haven’t received proper home education!”

“As villains, we should naturally be vile.”

“Well….”

Jason fell silent for a moment before nodding.

“That’s not wrong.”

“Right? Then don’t die. Get ready to spill everything you know.”

“Listen here. There seems to be some misunderstanding, but I don’t have any great information….”

“I’ll be the judge of that!”

With renewed vigor and more nimble legs, the Archer moved swiftly between the abandoned buildings.

“Shut your mouth and follow me!”

Perhaps due to the excitement of finding a clue here, the Archer failed to notice someone’s intrusion due to his narrowed vision.

Not Jason, the uninvited guest who came through the use of ability, but the real invited guest.

***

Ippotranslation 

***

“I’m going to invite them!”

“Who…?”

“Obviously my aniki (big brother)!”

“Ah, okay….”

At Haru’s words, Baek Ah-hee nodded with a reluctant attitude.

“I’m going to invite my comrade who became homeless overnight into my nest! Oh, this rhyme is amazing! The hotel I’m using has many rooms! I can give one up! Kuh, this is maho shojo (magical girl)… Good deeds, goodwill, public benefit!”

As if it was already decided internally, Haru highly praised her good deed that hadn’t even been done yet. Baek Ah-hee anxiously questioned her.

“Haru…? You’re a grown woman now… Shouldn’t you not casually invite an adult man to your room? Don’t you think…?”

“Eh? Should you be saying that?”

The characteristic tone without warmth sharply pierced Baek Ah-hee’s heart.

“I’m… Well, that’s… Special? So. Well, we had consultations… To handle some official work together… Right! I’ve been visiting as part of work until now!”

“Ugh… I know that’s a lie too. I’m not stupid… You are too cruel….”

Haru stuck out her tongue in disgust and frowned. This raw attitude without any consideration dug deeper into Baek Ah-hee’s heart.

“Anyway, I’ll gift a luxurious life that he could never taste in his lifetime to aniki, who’s a commoner among commoners, no, almost like a slave….”

“Ahem! Is that really a good idea, Miss Haru?”

Ara cut in and interrupted Haru’s words.

“What’s with that sudden way of speaking. Do you want to become an announcer after retiring?”

“Shut it. Miss Haru isn’t that close with Mr. Jae-jung. Suddenly suggesting living together, wouldn’t that be too burdensome?”

“What do you think my relationship with aniki is!”

“Then what is it?”

“Uh… Well….”

After thinking deeply, Haru opened her mouth again.

“We’re bound by a blood oath!”

“Liar! You never made anything like that!”

Baek Ah-hee immediately objected.

It was a blatant lie obvious to everyone here. Haru’s claims about being sworn siblings were entirely one-sided. Han Jae-jung found her declarations of brotherhood burdensome.

That must be true.

It has to be…!

“Ho, honto desu yo (It’s true)! I swear I’m not lying!”

“Haru, where did you learn something like that!”

“Anyway! Your suggestion is too one-sided! It’s almost violent!”

Ara strongly argued.

“So Mr. Jae-jung should stay at our cute Ah-yoon’s house to preserve his precious self. They’re close and have known each other for a long time.”

“Since when did you start calling senior Pink like that?”

“Why is Sister Ara deciding that?”

“But they’re clearly a man and woman. Since it might be scary for cute Ah-yoon to stay alone with a man, I’ll go in as a bodyguard… Heh… Hehehe… Heheh….”

Haru looked down with contempt at Ara who was lost in her fantasies.

“Isn’t it just that senior Ara wants to live with senior Ah-yoon!”

“W-who does! I don’t have any personal interests at all!”

In truth, she was trying to create not only living arrangements with Ah-yoon but also meetings with the Watcher.

Haru and Baek Ah-hee didn’t believe her claims at all as they continued walking. Baek Ah-hee anxiously glanced around, looking here and there.

Even if they disguised themselves with hats or masks, people with keen eyes would surely recognize that they were magical girls.

Usually, they would have happily given autographs or taken photos, but not today.

Because today was Han Jae-jung’s discharge day.

‘I have to greet him right as he’s discharged…!’

Since the seniors had been taking turns nursing him, she hadn’t been able to spend much time with him. More precisely, she hadn’t been able to tease him much.

As she might have less time with him now, Baek Ah-hee wanted to spend as much genuine time with him as possible.

Though they hadn’t been told what time he would be discharged, it was currently 8:30 AM. Even if Han Jae-jung was discharged early, he wouldn’t have left before this time.

“What? He’s already been discharged?”

“Yes….”

But what they heard upon arriving at the hospital was news of Han Jae-jung’s discharge. Baek Ah-hee was impressed by his unnecessary diligence while also feeling disappointed.

“Without any contact to me…..”

“…Why would aniki contact you?”

“This can’t be….”

“Why can’t it be?”

“Fine, I lost this time. Hmph, I’ll contact him first then!”

“Why are you sulking? Ah-hee? Ah-hee?”

Ignoring Haru who kept asking questions beside her, Baek Ah-hee made a call.

Although Han Jae-jung had phone phobia, after countless calls, he had generally come to answer Baek Ah-hee’s calls.

After several rings, the call connected.

“Hello?! Mr Jae-jung! Isn’t this too much? How could you without saying anything to me….”

“Sorry.”

Though he apologized, there wasn’t any emotion in his voice.

“I had something to do. I’m busy. I’ll contact you again later. Bye.”

“…What?”

Then the call ended without any hesitation.

“W-what… This can’t be… Mr Jae-jung treating me so… Coldly? No. Something’s wrong. This is wrong. Is this a dream? Am I dreaming right now?”

“Tsk, Ah-hee. Since we’re at the hospital, maybe you should get checked. Ah, is there a psychiatry department here?”

That day, Baek Ah-hee’s world crumbled.

***

Ippotranslation 

***

“You answered well.”

Han Jae-jung felt a hand stroking his head. It was affectionate. It was warm, as if nothing could be more so. Though the body temperature was slightly low, the affection contained within was incredibly hot.

“Yes… There was a call for Jae-jung too. I had forgotten. Since you could be tracked by GPS, I’ll turn it off for now? Is that okay?”

“….”

“Jae-jung, you don’t use the internet either. Hehe, just like me?”

The hand that was stroking his head gradually moved downward and began caressing his cheek. Han Jae-jung didn’t avoid the touch but accepted it.

More precisely, he couldn’t avoid it.

Clank. The chains wrapped around his arms and legs scraped against the ground, spilling cold metallic sounds.

“Instead, I brought things like books and board games so you won’t be bored. How about it? This. Remember? You know, we played it when we went to that board game cafe before.”

The person who had chained him shook the board game box with an innocent smile. Just as he hadn’t avoided the hand, Han Jae-jung didn’t avoid the culprit’s gaze either and met it directly.

“… Seol-hwa.”

“Hm? What?”

Yoon Seol-hwa.

A connection bound more tightly than these chains.

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