Transformation or Death

A Little Money and a Place to Live Tomorrow is Enough (15)

“Why. Why, of course….”

“Of course? That’s just your standard, why should I follow it? No, how did you even know about this place in the first place?”

“I don’t know. I just ran and ended up here. But that’s not what’s important right now! Comrade, please stop my brother.”

“Again, why should I?”

Asked for the reason again. Jason answered without hesitation.

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Why is it my duty? I have no obligation to save those people. Obviously no obligation to save your brother either. My only comrade is you, Jason, not anyone else. So why should I?”

The archer asked back suspiciously. There was a hint of displeasure in his voice.

“What?”

“This isn’t about a comrade’s duty. I’m talking about my own duty right now.”

What is he talking about? The archer couldn’t understand.

“If I’ve done something wrong, I must take responsibility, and if something is wrong, I must correct it. I made mistakes through my actions, so I must take responsibility and make it right. With all my power.”

“Then why are you asking me?”

The context doesn’t match. The archer showed more displeasure, but Jason seemed to have no time to care about that as he continued speaking without stopping.

“Doesn’t ‘all power’ mean using all of one’s strength? And power doesn’t just mean physical force. It can be intelligence, wealth, and sometimes connections.”

He emphasized the word ‘connections’. It was referring to someone in front of him.

“My connection with you is my power, comrade.”

How can he say such things when we’ve only known each other for a few days? The title that was accepted playfully now carried weight that pressed down on the archer.

The archer groaned. For him, saving people wasn’t something worth caring about at all.

Rather, he felt repulsed. Why should he waste energy on such things? It would be more beneficial to spend that time finding even a small clue about discovering his dream. Aren’t they a race that will naturally multiply as much as they lost today anyway?

Of course, the archer was human before becoming a villain. But that wasn’t reason enough to protect humans. He felt no sense of kinship and even less sense of guardianship.

“Wouldn’t it be stranger not to seek out my comrade in using all my power? Even if you find me disgusting, even if you despise me, I must make this request. Even if it means breaking this connection, I don’t care.”

But Jason keeps saying we must protect humans. That was what he understood least of all. The archer couldn’t understand many aspects of Jason.

In a way, it was inevitable.

The only thing they had in common was having no dreams, and they hadn’t known each other long. It was natural they didn’t understand each other.

“I am now fulfilling my duty. Therefore, I make this request to you. Please help me. Lend me your strength.”

Jason bowed his head.

“…Let me ask one thing.”

The archer scratched his head and asked.

“Asking me to save your brother… Well, I can sort of understand that. But I don’t get the people part. Aren’t you a villain? Why would a villain ask to save humans? Ah, are you like some whatever who can switch between human and villain?”

“That’s… Not it. I cannot become human. So your guess would be wrong.”

Jason raised his head slowly and answered.

“The humans too. They are our comrades.”

“What? Did you take an arrow to the head?”

“Just hear me out. Didn’t you call me comrade because I have no dreams and am wandering?”

“That’s right.”

“Those people over there are the same. Most of them have no dreams. They just live day by day to earn money and have a place to sleep tomorrow. Everyone there is wandering.”

Living just for a little money today and a place to live tomorrow. No dreams, just wanderers living day by day.

Therefore, they are comrades.

All those who have lost their way are his comrades.

“So shouldn’t we protect them? Among comrades, what reason is there to question?”

“If someone stronger had said those words, it would have been really cool….”

Even though he knew it wasn’t true, the archer held back a bitter smile as those words felt like they were blaming him.

“That’s why I’m asking you, the strong one, right now. How about it? This is all the reason I have for asking. Now make your choice.”

“I won’t help people.”

The archer firmly refused.

“My arrows are too precious to waste on shooting for such kinds.”

“Live well and eat well.”

Jason also firmly turned his back.

“However.”

When the archer’s voice was heard, his footsteps stopped.

“I can help a comrade.”

“Oh ho.”

Jason turned back toward him with interest.

“One shot. I’ll lend you just one shot. I won’t help more than that. I have no intention of saving that foolishly rampaging villain, nor do I plan to save those idiots who would die from mere water currents.”

“You sure have a lot of conditions. But thanks anyway.”

“Just give the signal anytime. At the most crucial moment. I’ll shoot right then.”

“That’s reassuring. I’ll count on it.”

“Alright.”

Jason bowed his head slightly and left. The moment he took a step, his figure vanished like a lie. Like watching a ship departing beyond the horizon, as if advancing somewhere.

It didn’t seem like he used abilities like turning a belt or anything. But where he disappeared, starlight faintly remained.

“…That guy, is his ability really about making others lose their way?”

Maybe he has other abilities he’s not aware of….

“Ha, talk about having no dreams.”

The archer sat down with a dejected laugh and took out his bow.

“How can someone without hesitation in their actions have no dreams? He’s just unaware of it.”

Muttering curses, he checked the bowstring. The tension was normal. It was strong enough to shoot arrows as far as needed.

“Lucky bastard. I don’t even have any clues here.”

After finishing the bow inspection, the archer rummaged through his belongings once more. He found a few pieces of half-eaten jerky. With his mouth feeling idle, he put them in without hesitation.

While chewing on the jerky, he searched his pocket further. Then he grabbed a hard syringe and a small leather pouch.

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it, he had received drugs from Libra. He was planning to use them as a reward for himself after important matters were finished.

“…Should I use it now?”

The temptation suddenly came. This small leather pouch looked more enchanting than any world-class beauty. The tiny starlight contained within it. But why does such a small thing captivate people’s hearts so much?

Looking alternately at the syringe and the pouch, the archer fell into deep contemplation. Using it now wouldn’t be such a bad decision. Before starting the work, taking a small hit for motivation…….

“Never mind.”

The archer soon shook his head. It’s too precious to use now. Who knows when Libra will make more.

But it’s also wasteful to postpone it indefinitely.

Instead of using it now, let’s use it after shooting the bow.

“Good.”

The archer filled the syringe with drugs, his heart pounding. So he could use it right away after the work was done.

He hadn’t yet questioned why he, who had little interest in most things, was obsessed with this light powder and not other drugs.

***

As Blue Sirius ran while freezing the water below, Red Vega flew over to join her. Blue Sirius couldn’t hide her joy about her surviving comrade.

“Vega!”

“Sister Sirius! You were alive!”

“You’re also safe… no, you’re not. I’m sorry, I should have been able to defend that far….”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Blood stains were clearly visible on Red Vega’s shoulders and back. There was no need to think about whose blood it was. While it seemed she hadn’t gotten burns since she handled fire, she apparently couldn’t avoid injuries.

“W-why would that be Sister Sirius’s fault!”

“If I had done a bit better, this wouldn’t have happened… no, I’m sorry.”

Blue Sirius was about to sink back into depression but gathered herself and urgently moved her feet.

“Let’s focus on elimination for now.”

“Yes!”

Red Vega also increased her flight speed to match her running pace.

“How many personnel can move right now… that is, how many are there who weren’t indirectly damaged by our fight and have minimal injuries?”

“Uh… well….”

A smile leaked from her lips.

“There aren’t any? That’s fine. That’s actually better.”

Rather than having someone else get hurt needlessly, it’s better if she gets hurt alone.

“Let’s focus on chasing that guy for now. That monster can control water and even manipulate temperature at will. The range is probably… enough to cover this entire area.”

Blue Sirius was horrified. Everything in sight was water. This wasn’t even a water city, just a regular city. Blue Sirius was speechless at this tragic devastation.

Without creating ice beneath her feet, there wasn’t a single place to step. How many people lost their workplaces and homes in today’s chaos?

And now, if she doesn’t stop it, there will be more victims.

But how? Despair creeps in.

Can I do it with my current abilities? It’s too much for Red Vega to evaporate all this water. The same goes for herself. She couldn’t freeze all this water, and even if she did, it would just melt again.

Even with help from that suspicious monster from earlier, how much progress could they make?

If that guy can control this water infinitely, there’s no hope.

Blue Sirius’s steps faltered for a moment. It wasn’t because her mental state affected her physically.

She acted as she had been doing until now.

She launched herself at the same height and created ice where she needed to step. This was the problem. Acting the same way she had been.

“…Is the water level decreasing?”

The water height was different from just before. Lower. The water level is shallow. It’s not because they’re far from where the flooding started. Blue Sirius is still chasing the monster. The distance isn’t that great.

This means the enemy’s ability isn’t the same as before.

It’s not from the starlight. It doesn’t seem like the enemy’s ability has reached its limit.

Then there’s only one answer.

“It’s not about the ability… it’s about the resources.”

“What?”

“Vega, I think I’ve figured out that monster’s ability.”

“What? It’s the ability to control water….”

“There are two types of water control abilities. The ability to create and control water, and the ability to control existing water.”

“…Ah!”

Red Vega’s eyes widened as if she understood what Blue Sirius was trying to say.

“That guy is the latter. The ability to control only existing water. These waters probably came from the existing sewers.”

The rumbling ground whenever new water was used must have been from drawing water from underground water facilities. Or maybe it was from drawing up underground water.

Either way, it doesn’t matter. The reason the enemy is moving now is probably because there’s no more water to use here.

“So this is our chance. We need to end this while the enemy has no resources….”

“W-wait, Sister Sirius. Then… doesn’t that mean that monster is looking for a place with water?”

“That’s right?”

“…What should we do?”

Red Vega’s face turned pale.

“On the path that monster is taking… there’s a river.”

“…Ah.”

Blue Sirius’s face also turned pale.

That’s right. There’s a river on that monster’s path. And additionally…..

“…No.”

The hotel where Han Jaejung is staying is also near that river.

If that monster can control all the water in the river, several kilometers radius would instantly be submerged, destroyed, and sink. It would be hard to expect people to survive.

Especially those underground.

The moment that monster reaches the river, it’s over.

This city, and her life.

“…Vega!”

“I understand!”

They need to defeat the monster before it reaches the river. Blue Sirius’s footsteps became more urgent.

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