*
The moment Zhang Wei transformed with the item.
Geuru, watching from inside the soap bubble, felt a sharp thrill run through her.
‘Th-that’s……!’
It was the “Miracle Change (Transformation)” she had longed for so desperately.
The dream she had dreamed for all five years of her life was right there……!
All this time, whenever Geuru watched animation and shouted, “Miracle Change—Transform!” Jurim had said things like,
“No matter how much you shout, you can’t do it, so just eat your food,” or, “I guess Geuru can’t because she’s not a magical girl,” or, “Watch your pronunciation,” and so on…….
The days when he had done nothing to encourage her and only made snide remarks flashed past like a revolving lantern.
With keen eyes, Geuru checked the transformation item on the man’s chest.
‘It does look a little like the Yorelei (magic stone) of Beiyi that Taemin oppa was wearing as an earring before…….’
It seemed to use explosive magical power to transform, but she felt she would only know the details if she saw it for herself.
‘I want that item……! I want to see it!’
I want to pull up its blueprint and take it apart!
Geuru desperately clasped her two hands together.
‘Geuru too…… Geuru too! I want to do Supreme Miracle Change—Trans-form (watch pronunciation)!’
Soon, Geuru’s expression changed completely. The desire of a five-year-old who wanted to transform was more serious than ever.
*
Meanwhile, Zhang Wei, who had suddenly found himself at a numerical disadvantage, could not hide his bewilderment.
Chiiiiik—!
The armor around the bullet mark was still burning.
His right arm, made of metallic fiber, and everything from his shoulder to the back of his neck had been blown away.
Terrifying power…….
His face turned deathly pale, and even while he was fully occupied blocking Chuen’s offensive, he had no choice but to keep watch on the drone’s movements.
Still, as long as he stuck close to Chuen, it would not be able to shoot.
Keeping the distance between himself and Chuen as short as possible, Zhang Wei continued their exchange of blows.
At that, Chuen gave a faint smile.
[“You’ve become quite the coward, Zhang Wei.”]
[“……!”]
[“When you die, I’ll summon your soul down among the vengeful spirits you killed.”]
Having said that, Chuen kicked him in the chest and widened the distance.
At the same time.
One goldfish moved Geuru’s fork and aimed it at him.
“Bang!”
Then Zhang Wei turned his body, taking a defensive stance to block the attack.
But.
‘Why?’
The drone showed no reaction at all.
While he was wondering, Chuen quickly approached from behind and struck an acupoint at the back of his neck.
“Guh!”
Thud!
With a single groan, Zhang Wei collapsed just like that.
“Phew…….”
Chuen let out a breath and turned his body over with her foot.
Zhang Wei was stiff as though paralyzed, only his eyes rolling.
In the meantime, Geuru came running over excitedly and used the fork like a lever to pry the item out from his chest.
Tuk—!
Geuru picked up the item that had rolled to the side and raised it high above her head.
[Metallic Armor Changer (S)]
‘Now Geuru can transform too!’
When Geuru rejoiced, Chuen quietly clapped for her.
‘Uhehe.’
After saying tank you, tank you, Geuru hugged the item tightly to her chest.
Watching the child with a gentle smile, Chuen strode over to Geuru.
“Thank you, On Geuru.”
She continued, giving a cupped-fist salute.
“You were the Supreme. ‘Nosa’ says he was impressed by your power too.”
‘Th-the Supreme!’
At hearing the title Supreme for the first time, Geuru’s face flushed with excitement, and she rubbed her nose.
‘Geuru, becoming the Supreme already.’
Under the weight of being Supreme, the fork grew heavy.
Just then, Chuen held out her palm. A blue-silver goldfish popped out above it.
“This is my master. His name is Nosa.”
“Ooh!”
Geuru bowed from the waist.
“Hewwo.”
The blue-silver goldfish lightly brushed Geuru’s plump cheek with its tail.
Then it went over to Iromi, floated her up, and carried her to the main wooden hall.
“Huh?”
“I’ll only bring her this far. I have to go now. I’m sorry.”
With the collapsed Zhang Wei slung over her shoulder, Chuen spoke as though she truly felt apologetic.
“……I got in the way in all sorts of ways.”
“Geuru’s otay! I got this too.”
Geuru proudly held out the transformation item.
Even so, Chuen kept her mouth firmly shut and lowered her eyes with an expressionless face.
“You don’t need to worry. That won’t happen again.”
From her dry, emotionless tone, there was somehow sadness. Apology and self-loathing as well.
Chuen, who had been stealing from fields because she was hungry.
Chuen, who had said she had no home because she was being chased.
Chuen, who had been fighting a villain until just now.
Geuru did not know what story she had……
“Then goodbye, On Geuru.”
“Chuen unni.”
Geuru stopped Chuen, who was about to leave.
“Hm?”
“This year, Hyeonak said they’re picking new members.”
“New members?”
Nod, nod.
She did not know what story there was, but she knew Chuen was a kind and strong person.
“If you become Hyeonak, you get a house, and there are lots of snacks in the pantry, and you can make lots of friends.”
Showing her the fork, Geuru spoke with determination.
“And, Geuru is Hyeonak’s Nakasan. The guild members will be protected by Supreme Geuru.”
“…….”
Geuru toddled over and hugged Chuen tightly.
“So if you come to Hyeonak, unni, Geuru will protect you too.”
“Ah…….”
After hesitating for a moment, Chuen felt Geuru put strength into the arms hugging her, and she gently hugged the child’s back in return.
A tiny child saying she would protect her.
Did this child know she was in danger right now?
Even with that single toy drone, countless places were already targeting the child.
The reason Chuen had gone into hiding was also because countless people came looking for her to uncover Jjapso’s identity.
She had simply run away because she did not want to put the child in danger. As always…… because running away was the easiest choice for her.
Chuen parted her lips.
“……I really have to go now.”
“Okaay. See you next time, unni!”
At that, Chuen gave a nod so slight it was barely visible, as though she had resolved something, then kicked off the ground with a tak and disappeared.
“Huaa…….”
Geuru went over and sat beside Iromi.
Iromi, sleeping soundly, did not seem to be hurt anywhere, but just in case, Geuru sprinkled syrup here and there over her.
Just then, one goldfish came swimming through the air, floating gently, and tickled Geuru’s face.
Geuru smiled broadly, and the goldfish seeped into Iromi’s body.
Soon, Iromi began talking in her sleep.
“……Good, please take that bastard away…….”
Was she talking with the goldfish?
Before long, the goldfish slipped back out and said goodbye to Geuru.
“Bye-bye~”
When Geuru waved her hand, the goldfish vanished like an arrow.
Beside the sleeping Iromi, Geuru quietly looked up at the stars that seemed as if they might pour down like a waterfall.
She had wanted to see the stars together with Daddy.
“When is Daddy coming back?”
*
Chiiiiik—
The tip of the cigarette burned, and Jurim exhaled deeply.
Because his magical power had drained away all at once, he staggered as he walked one step at a time across the snowfield.
Recently, the Master of the 99th Floor had been appearing far more often.
It was a warning sign.
Even as he grew increasingly soaked in cold sweat, Jurim spoke as though it were nothing.
“You’re coming out often.”
—Because, chijik—, it’s necessary.
Because it was necessary.
The sentences the Master of the 99th Floor uttered had grown longer, but they were laced with noise.
“……Looks like you still haven’t changed that stupid idea of yours?”
The Master of the 99th Floor answered only by slowly closing its eyes.
Soon, when the snowfield disappeared, Jurim crushed the cigarette underfoot.
A faint crease formed between his brows. He looked up at the sky, where the stars seemed to pour down like a waterfall.
“This is a bit of a big problem.”
Leaning his back against a tree trunk and folding his arms, he murmured.
At the same time, he recalled the time when controlling his magical power had been difficult.
—Danger. Geuru.
Back then, the Master of the 99th Floor had judged Jurim to be a danger factor to Geuru, and that had been the root of the trouble.
As long as Jurim was human, he could be swayed by emotion and fail to control his power.
The Master of the 99th Floor, on the other hand, was different. It was a creature with a system of thought unlike that of humans.
It thought like a program operated by a set algorithm, and it recognized Jurim as a dangerous factor capable of inflicting fatal harm on Geuru.
The problem began there.
After that, the Master of the 99th Floor had begun trying in earnest to devour his soul in order to control Jurim.
Wiping away the sweat running down his neck, Jurim closed his eyes for a moment to steady his mind, then moved his feet.
Dawn would come soon.
Recently, the way Geuru had been injecting magical power into him whenever she had the chance made him suspect that she had somehow noticed he was secretly going out at night.
“…….”
He had to go back. He could no longer make the child anxious with worry over her parent.
His limping, staggering form soon began to walk properly, as though nothing had happened.
Jurim straightened his back and lifted his head.
A cool wind blew, drying his damp clothes.
For now, he could only hope that the glove-making machine he had brought from Japan would be able to do something.