Transformation or Death

Chapter 50

50 – Call me by name (1)

“Tada! Jaejoong, try this. It’s a glow-in-the-dark candy.”

Baek Ah-hee smiled cheerfully as she held the fluorescent-colored candy in front of her eyes. The candy, which was moving anxiously through the air, reached him as expected.

Han Jaejoong dropped his face in fright as he felt a sticky sensation on his cheek.

“I’m afraid it’s bad for my body, so I’ll decline.”

“Ah, it’s a safe material that has passed the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.”

“That’s basic.”

Baek Ah-hee felt sorry for her and ate the candy. Han Jaejoong looked at her as if he was dumbfounded.

“Isn’t the nurse scolding you?”

“Because she’s a magical girl, she’s strong!”

“Ah really…? I’m really envious of that.”

In reality, Red Vega was wearing a hospital gown, but he didn’t look so sickly.

Even with a cast on her arm and bandages all over her body, she moved from place to place vividly.

“Isn’t it? Are you envious?”

“…Yeah.”

Of course, his recovery speed is as fast as that of a magical girl. Even so, I didn’t bother bringing it up.

“No, but Mr. Vega.”

Jaejoong Han asked, clutching his throbbing hair.

“Have you ever thought it strange that a patient came to visit a patient in the next room?”

Red Vega.

Baek Ah-hee, now an adult girl, has been visiting his room since the first day she was admitted to the hospital.

It was a strange sight of patients visiting patients, but both were treated surprisingly quickly, so the medical staff did not hear any complaints.

“…I do not like it?”

“No, I don’t hate it.”

“Of course, I’m going to break in regardless of Jaejoong’s permission. I’m paying for the hospital bill.”

“It must be the Magical Girls Association.”

Special compensation is given to those caught up in magical girl-related disasters.

Most of them are medical expenses.

“I’ll pay for the rest!”

…but that doesn’t mean that the support pays for the entire cost of treatment, so those who are unlucky enough to be victimized by a monster have no choice but to open their wallets with tears in their eyes.

However, encountering a monster and going to the hospital in itself means you are lucky.

nothing happens or die. Usually it’s one of the two.

Being in the hospital like this is proof that you survived even being attacked by a monster.

During treatment, the nurse said things like ‘good luck or bad luck’. It was as it was said.

Even though I was beaten quite often by monsters, I managed to survive and put my face in the hospital here.

“It’s… it is.”

“Right? This is my right.”

“No, that’s not true. You think Vega bought the right to infringe on people’s freedom just because you gave them money?”

“No? Only Jaejoong-sshi thinks that way.”

“Wow, that’s nice.”

A few years ago, the insurance money for the death of a monster was also abolished.

It was because the insurance company couldn’t afford it.

That’s why it’s quite common in this world to be killed by monsters.

Nevertheless, the fact that there are so many people walking around means that they are used to it, not that they are insensitive to safety.

‘Similar post-apocalypse scary…’

As it was a world that was almost destroyed once but was resurrected, in many ways the average was different from what Han Jaejoong was accustomed to.

It must be because of the memory of the parallel world passed down through the belt.

If you ask me to remember it in detail, it’s vague and blurry like a dream… but my mind is used to it.

‘What kind of person am I if I have almost no memories of this side or the other side.’

Once again, I desperately realized the need for memory recovery.

“Excuse me. When are you going to be discharged?”

“If you give permission, I’ll do it right now. It’s a nuisance to Vega-san.”

The method is extremely simple. Defeat monsters to collect starlight. Or clear the quest to increase the intensity of starlight.

In most cases, the two are used interchangeably.

Somehow, time has passed since activating the first star. Now I want to activate the next star soon.

‘That’s how it’s helpful for interpersonal relationships.’

Most of his acquaintances on this side were those who had connections with him before he lost his memory.

The body was accustomed to receiving the gazes of old ties, but the mind accepted them as unfamiliar. The gap was inconvenient. Trauma is also stimulated.

In that respect, the Red Vega in front of me was a comfortable opponent.

It’s a bit uncomfortable from the standpoint of a magical girl and a monster. It wasn’t a problem to see it as a person’s face like this.

‘…not anymore.’

Since a few days ago, she too has been uncomfortable.

“Am I the only one who will come to see you?”

“Is the counselor making personal attacks?”

“I’m asking because I’m really curious.”

Jaejoong Han let out a sigh.

“You heard about my family.”

Of course, he didn’t talk about any other complicated love stories he went through.

“What about your friends?”

Han Jaejoong thought of Jason and shook his head.

‘Not that bastard.’

Then, while thinking about Seolhwa and Ayun, she let out a deep sigh.

There must be more acquaintances besides this, but I couldn’t recall them from my current memory.

“do not have.”

In the end, I didn’t have a single acquaintance that I could proudly introduce to someone.

“then….”

Baek Ah-hee grabbed his hand. It was burdensome.

“Shall I introduce you to a magical girl I know? I think with Jaejoong’s personality, we can be very good friends…”

I know the meaning of this question.

The reason why she visits the hospital so often.

At the time of Libra’s surprise attack, I told her the same thing I had said as a watcher before.

Not only this. When I was prepared to die and tried to transform, she came back.

Jaejoong Han remembers. When Red Vega looked at the wound, he spent more time on the belt around his waist than on any other part.

She already noticed a lot of things.

“I do not like it.”

“…! Hey, is it uncomfortable after all? In what way?”

Baek Ah-hee, as if she had caught Geon-su, blinked with interest and brought her face closer.

Jaejoong Han again moved his body to the side and widened the distance.

“Then, wouldn’t it be uncomfortable to meet a celebrity without a relationship?

“Ah… inconvenient in that way…”

Probably ‘I’m sure it’ll be uncomfortable to face the magical girl!’ I would have thought something like that.

Han Jaejoong’s thoughts were correct. Red Vega looked back on the words he had spoken with Han Jaejoong in the past and felt that what he said was the truth.

“It’s going to get a lot of attention.”

“Yes, it will attract a lot of attention. I hate it.”

“Well, then, even if it’s a private autograph event…”

“Oh, I can’t be the only one who gets preferential treatment. I will politely decline considering the other fans.”

“I don’t want to meet those magical girls who came to visit me…”

“No. If you bring them into my room, be prepared to jump out the window.”

“Jaejoong-ssi is getting more and more exhausted.”

“Have you looked in the mirror?”

who is talking to whom

Strictly speaking, the relationship that started as a business consultation has disappeared considerably.

It was because the inner intimacy increased as they overcame the crisis of life together.

“Do you really want to meet me…? If you’re a normal person, you’ll like it… Ummm, that’s strange… Even if it’s stabbed…”

“The stab was Vega stabbing me in the stomach with fire.”

“I-I didn’t!”

Jaejoong Han had a headache. It would have been much easier if he had been openly arguing, angry, or hitting.

‘No, isn’t it hitting… There’s no answer if it burns again.’

It was the first time in my life that I felt so sick. Han Jaejoong trembled as he recalled the experience of almost being in shock.

Anyway, during this hospitalization, Han Jaejoong was experiencing various inconveniences caused by Baek Ah-hee.

I felt like I was choking on my breath. It was quite annoying.

“That, and when it comes to pears, Jaejoong-san… Oh, it’s nothing.”

yes like this

Baek Ah-hee spoke in a roundabout way and kept glancing at Han Jae-joong.

Han Jaejoong deliberately pretended not to hear. Even if I answered for no reason, I would come back with a twisted answer.

Of course, the inside was burning to black.

When I mention that incident, Han Jaejoong has no choice but to become Eul.

I admire Baek Ah-hee’s way of handling the situation, using the fact of the damage politically to gain the upper hand in the relationship.

People are so cunning. I couldn’t help but feel slightly nasty even though I knew that it was the victim’s right to use things from the past like that.

Still, as long as that incident exists, Han Jaejoong can’t take care of her.

I looked at Baek Ah-hee with mixed nerves. She was laughing, hiding her cold sweat.

It was because of tension, and it was also because of shyness.

She, too, felt uncomfortable in her own way.

“Ah, that’s right, Mr. Jaejoong.”

Baek Ah-hee put her hand on his once again.

“Isn’t it awkward to use honorifics now?”

“Can you stop saying that? I’m a civilized person who knows how to be polite.”

Are you floating again? The question probably refers to the arrogant and relaxed watcher.

Again, Han Jaejoong avoided the circumspect question.

“Courtesy… Civilization…”

Baek Ah-hee muttered blankly and tilted her head. She pulled Han Jaejoong’s hand and made him touch her stomach.

Beyond the thin hospital gown, I could feel the soft and firm skin unique to a trained person. To a body temperature that is hotter than others.

Baek Ah-hee murmured while letting her feel it.

“Courtesy… Civilization…?”

‘Fuck.’

Jaejoong Han closed his eyes tightly.

I didn’t feel any scars, but I could vividly feel the memories of that ship.

Red Vega finally moved his hand up and down and rubbed his stomach.

“Here… it hurts… without a word…”

It would be absurd if someone who had behaved savagely mentioned civility and civility.

I had nothing to say.

Baek Ah-hee let go of her hand. He quickly collected his hands and hid them under the covers.

Baek Ah-hee, who had been absent-mindedly stroking her belly, suddenly came to her senses.

“Ah, not this. Puch, ahya, not this!”

She smiled shyly and slapped his leg under the covers. It didn’t hurt because of the cast.

Why do we relieve ourselves by beating others when we are embarrassed? Han Jaejoong had yet to understand the habits of such a person.

“Yes, I am a sinner.”

“No, that’s not really true. That’s not what I was talking about, but… before that, when Libra and I fought, I spoke in a rude way.”

Baek A-hee covered her mouth and shrank her body timidly. I moved my eyes around and met Han Jaejoong’s.

“That… you can speak casually if it’s comfortable. The name… you can just call me by my real name.”

Moving her eyes again, she averted his gaze and muttered in a trembling voice.

“That, that… Ah, Ah-hee~ You can call me that…”

Her ears went red as if she felt ashamed even though she suggested it.

Jaejoong Han smiled.

“I do not like it.”

“Yes?! Why? This is a valuable opportunity to overcome the barriers of honorifics and titles that have been drawn between us and form new friendships!”

That was the problem.

“Isn’t this a rare opportunity to become secret friends with magical girls? I’ve always dreamed of that! I don’t know about others, but I’m close to magical girls!”

“You’re thinking a lot.”

“Ugh, shady!”

Was it an unexpected word? Baek Ah-hee’s expression hardened.

Me, who knows the other side of everyone’s beloved celebrity and has a secret relationship… It’s a pretty charming imagination.

It’s just a problem because that charm comes from a sense of superiority that I have a secret that you guys don’t know about.

Secret relationships are virtuous, and therefore attractive.

“Vega-san, it seems that you still want a relationship like that, not in the past.”

Baek Ah-hee’s body trembled.

“Be honest, Mr. Vega, that’s not an advantage for me, it’s a relationship that Mr. Vega wants.”

It was a straight line. Han Jaejoong shook his head as he looked at Baek Ah-hee, who was trembling with shame.

‘The other side of my daily life that others don’t know, the identity of my handsome client is actually the monster who hit me hard?! …He must be imagining something like that.’

The reason why the modifier “handsome” is attached is simple. Jaejoong Han had a high level of self-esteem. especially on the outside of oneself.

Although he had no memory, it was because the self-esteem he gained from dating a magical girl in the past has continued to this day.

‘There are other purposes for getting closer. I want a relationship where you don’t have to ask the truth.’

A tacit agreement is sufficient, such a relationship.

He looked at Baek Ah-hee seriously. Baek Ah-hee turned her head and averted her eyes.

“Look into my eyes.”

but was denied. She closed her eyes tightly and turned her head with a stiff movement.

“Sup… Whoa…”

After taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes.

“Yes! I saw!”

“Now ask the question you really want to know.”

He heard her breathing again. Han Jaejoong conveyed his feelings in a low and serious voice.

“You have the right to ask me the truth. It is a legitimate curiosity and a spirit of inquiry without rudeness. On the contrary, I have a duty to answer your questions truthfully. It is a responsibility imposed on me for concealing and deceiving the truth.”

Slowly, calmly, the voice shook Baek Ah-hee’s eardrums.

“What do you want to ask me?”

The sound of his heart shook his eardrums along with his voice. A huge drum-like sound, its beating, vibrated in her mind. It was exciting and tense.

“Well, then…”

Han Jaejoong waited quietly without taking his eyes off her. Whatever came out of his mouth, he would humbly admit it.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been prepared to tell the truth. Ever since I was prepared to die that day.

“then….”

The girl’s lips quivered a few times, her tongue wet those quivering lips, and then she shut her mouth for a moment.

Again, the lips opened.

“…Really, don’t you want to call me Ah-hee? Thinking of getting closer to me…”

“…”

“I’m sorry. Can you give me another chance to ask a question…”