Chapter 27: The Descent of the legend.

Kim Tae-hyun is the type to question everything before acting.

Is this decision correct?
Was there a better option?
Is the premise itself flawed?

This caution made him a capable supporter.

“Whoa… What’s gonna come out of that gate?” a subordinate marveled, staring at the monitor.

“Big deal” wasn’t the right phrase here, but Kim let it slide.

“Hope it’s not a dinosaur.”

“With Scarlet Lily around, a dinosaur’s better than some unknown. Good thing we took your advice and got insurance,” the subordinate said, relieved.

Thanks to her, probably.

Scarlet Lily could handle any monster with ease.

“Don’t relax. It’s not over till it’s over.”

A device that duplicates gates.
They’d learned of the Dark Magical Gem’s existence.

What if this was artificial?
What if rural cities were deliberately targeted?
Wasn’t there intent behind it?

Following this train of thought, Kim asked Scarlet Lily to stay in the area.

If it was a ploy to lure other magical girls away, leaving too obvious a trail might raise suspicion.

If only one stayed, she was the perfect choice.

“Surprising you got through to her. She’s known for avoiding government types,” the subordinate said.

“She doesn’t seem to like dealing with us. I try not to lean on her unless necessary.”

Thanks to Frozen Princess, they maintained some connection.

Still, pestering her would hurt her image.

Relying on Scarlet Lily was a last resort.

It was a stellar choice this time, but the problem was the enemy likely anticipated it.

“No telling what they’ll do.”

The mysterious organization behind the Dark Magical Gems.
No info on them.

Member count, leader—nothing was known, making it impossible to predict.

“Huh?” The subordinate leaned closer to the monitor.

“Monster show up?”

“No, a magical girl. But… not Scarlet Lily.”

“What?”

Kim pulled his chair next to the subordinate.

The resolution was low, but it was unmistakable.

“This is…”

A long yellow ponytail fluttering in the wind.

A legendary first-gen magical girl had descended.

Flying to the scene, an unexpected figure was already there.

“…Spica?”

In front of the massive gate.
She turned as I called her name.

“Scarlet Lily, I’ve heard the rumors. You stayed too?”

Transformed, she was exactly as I remembered.

Her look, her cute, bold personality—the Spica I knew.

“Support called me… How’d you end up here?”

“Didn’t know the situation, thought I was the only one.”

Even with fifth-gens around, she knew they’d be outmatched.

Only she had experience against tough foes.
Despite retiring, she stepped up for everyone.

“You weren’t planning to come, right? You can leave it to me.”

Spica has a family.
I didn’t want her fighting recklessly.

But—

“No way. I drew my wand, so I’m cutting down monsters!”

She boldly declared she’d hold her ground.

Did I say something dumb?
Classic Spica.

I wanted to talk more, but an uninvited guest arrived.

“Hahaha! There you are, Scarlet Lily!”

A girl with a shady vibe flew in, laughing jovially.

If memory serves, she’s…

“Mirage Illusion, right? The one who killed the second-gen Armo?”

“Honored you know me. I’m Mirage Illusion, savior of magical girls who hunt mascots.”

She spoke proudly, unashamed.

Her mindset’s clearly not normal.

Fits a fourth-gen troublemaker.

“So the mastermind’s a magical girl.”

“Mastermind?”

“You sent Dark Magical Gems to Reaper Mors, talking about some organization.”

“That happened. Total misjudgment. All dark and broody but too spineless.”

She casually shifted her gaze to Spica.

“Didn’t expect the legend herself, Spica, to show.”

No joy in facing a senior.

Just thick hostility in her eyes.

“What’s your goal?”

“You think I’d just spill it?”

“Don’t villains love bragging about that stuff?”

Spica’s quip made Mirage Illusion laugh again.

“Lady, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’ve got no grand goals. I just don’t want to live leashed to mascots like you.”

Calling a senior “lady” when “sunbae” would do.

…Technically accurate, I guess.
Bittersweet.

“So you’re causing all this for no reason?”

A kind smile aimed at the young girl.

Her lips curved up, but it wasn’t a real smile.

“What’re you gonna do about it? Thought I’d respect a first-gen?”

Mirage Illusion pulled out a Dark Magical Gem.

“Planning to copy it…?”

“Haha, wrong!”

Boom!

The gem disintegrated in her hand, releasing a black aura.

The aura was absorbed into the gate behind her.

Crackle!

Sparks flew as the rift widened.

Emerging were giant crustaceans—lobster-like pincers, walking on two legs.

Dozens marched out in formation.

Not duplication, but activation.
There were types of Dark Magical Gems.

“You little…”

As I started to speak, Mirage Illusion spun around.

“If you’re mad, come get me!”

She taunted and flew off.

“Monsters these days are huge,” Spica remarked.

The lobsters looked over three meters tall.

Size doesn’t always mean rank, but these were at least C-grade.
With tricky abilities, maybe B-grade.

Their tough exoskeletons would make them hard to take down if the matchup was bad.

“I didn’t transform to fight a junior. Let me handle the monsters.”

“You sure? No warm-up?”

“I took out a monster at Han River Park last time.”

“That was D-grade…”

Spica brushed it off, patting my shoulder.

“I don’t do losing fights. Flying’s not my specialty.”

No telling how long these mid-tier monsters would keep coming.

Can’t wipe them out quickly, so chasing the mastermind was smarter.

Plus, fifth-gens were arriving one by one.

“No choice, then.”

I accepted Spica’s proposal.

Resolved, I chased after Mirage Illusion’s fading figure.

Magical girls don’t run.

They protect people.
They fight head-on, never tucking tail.

Mirage Illusion’s behavior was pure disgrace.

“Caught up already? Classic Scarlet Lily!”

Second chase.
Mirage Illusion shouted, glancing back.

She’s fast, but not uncatchable.
Her speed and skill were a notch below Reaper Mors.

Weaving through buildings, we reached the city outskirts.

An empty baseball stadium came into view.

Mirage Illusion landed on home plate.

I touched down on the pitcher’s mound.

“Giving up on running?”

“Knew I couldn’t shake you. You flew to put out a wildfire, right? How do I beat a monster like that?”

She didn’t seem resigned.

She’s got something up her sleeve.

“You know what you’re doing is a crime, right?”

“Of course!”

Instant reply.

“Then why commit terrorism without a purpose?”

“That’s personal. The organization has a grand goal.”

“What is it?”

Mirage Illusion let out a short groan.

“Not telling.”

Purely to mess with me.

Unlike Reaper Mors, it’s not rebellion—her core’s twisted.

“Guess I’ll make you talk.”

Violence solves everything, right?

I’m not into torture like Aurora Lora, but I get serious when needed.

“Scarlet Beam!”

I fired my standard attack.

Holy magic’s deadly to monsters but weaker against humans—like acid cannon versus water cannon.

I adjusted the output, so it wouldn’t kill.

But the beam veered off, flying in a random direction.

Boom!

The stands shattered, debris flying everywhere.

“So that’s the famous Scarlet Beam.”

Mirage Illusion smirked at the wrecked stadium.

As if she knew this would happen.

“Didn’t expect you to deflect it.”

“Surprised?”

“A bit.”

“Pfft, acting tough. It’s all going as planned. Wanna hear something fun?”

She swung her wand widely, and the space around her warped like a kaleidoscope.

A clone identical to her appeared.

One became two.
Two became four.
Soon, too many to count, surrounding me from home plate to third base.

“You’re gonna die here.”