Transformation or Death

While Nameless (3)

“Wow, she’s crying.”

“You’re a bad man.”

Sagittarius admired her tears while Jason scolded Han Jae-jung.

“You two shut up… Ah-yoon, this is all a misunderstanding.”

Han Jae-jung pushed past their shoulders blocking his way and approached Joo Ah-yoon.

“Mis… Understanding?”

Joo Ah-yoon asked back, her shoulders trembling.

“Don’t lie about it being a misunderstanding… That only makes me feel more pathetic…!”

His head hurt. Where did it go wrong? Han Jae-jung held his forehead. Just seeing him with those guys suddenly couldn’t have created such a misunderstanding out of nowhere.

He should assume that a pre-existing misunderstanding exploded because of this incident.

“During the Argo Family attack before… And during the recent flood disaster… They were involved in everything! Be honest! You’re close with them! They’re much more helpful allies than me! So… So… You’re trying to abandon me….”

As if proving Han Jae-jung’s thoughts, Joo Ah-yoon sobbed while expressing her thoughts.

“Why would I abandon you, are you crazy?”

Jason being helpful? What nonsense. If anything, he’s been more of a hindrance than help so far. Han Jae-jung was disgusted.

“Me being close with those guys…? What are you talking about? They’re all uninvited guests. They’re not colleagues or anything.”

To begin with, Jason was one of the main culprits of the recent flood disaster.

Though he might not have intended it, he contributed in part to the catastrophe where tens of thousands died.

“I don’t team up with villains.”

Han Jae-jung still harbors deep hatred for villains. Even though he himself takes on the form of a villain, that aversion hasn’t disappeared. They kill parents and torment loved ones. He had absolutely no desire to get along with beings whose value judgments differ from humans.

He had absolutely no intention of opening his heart to unpredictable villains.

Moreover, he doesn’t know not only what’s inside these two villains but also their objectives. If he at least knew their objectives, he could predict their behavior patterns, but he doesn’t even have that.

Right now, isn’t Sagittarius the one who bombed the city for momentary entertainment? This crazy guy might blow up this cafe whenever he loses his mind. How could he get along with them?

“Then what kind of relationship is it?”

“There is no relationship! There’s nothing specific to call it!”

It’s not even worth calling them bad friends. Though they unilaterally call themselves comrades, Han Jae-jung absolutely refuses that title.

“T-then….”

“It’s all a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding. We don’t have any special relationship. Ah-yoon, you’re the only one I can reveal everything to and entrust my heart with.”

That’s why he called her now to reveal his secret. If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t even consider this. There’s no worry about being treated as an enemy, and there’s trust that she’ll keep the secret. She could be called the person he can be most free with.

Although he’s been hiding it until now under the excuse of respecting her feelings. Now he’s come to terms with the lifespan issue and various disturbances have passed. On top of that, he has a rough idea for a solution. Now was the right time to tell her.

‘No, it was strange that I’ve been hiding it all this time.’

It became clear when these villains barged in and caused this misunderstanding about being colleagues. She is his only colleague.

Hasn’t Joo Ah-yoon sworn to share his fate since he became a villain? He should have trusted her from the start. She would worry, of course. He would have done the same.

But rather than trying to stop his transformations, she would continue the life of protection while thinking together about how to live longer.

“So don’t have any strange misunderstandings.”

Han Jae-jung declared firmly.

“What? We weren’t comrades?”

“Didn’t I tell you before that was just my one-sided claim?”

Sagittarius clicked his tongue as if disappointed. Jason couldn’t understand why Sagittarius kept making a fuss.

“…Really?”

Joo Ah-yoon asked with an anxious attitude, still unable to resolve her doubts.

“Yes, really.”

“Then why did those guys come…?”

“Well…?”

Even Han Jae-jung didn’t know that. They weren’t even in regular contact. He had no idea why they had invaded the Cafe.

“… Brother. Hold my hand.”

Joo Ah-yoon’s eyes changed as she grabbed his wrist and stretched out her other hand.

“Parrot!”

[I know!]

An invisible steel ball floating around flew and attached to her hand. Han Jae-jung lost his balance and fell into her small body, and she moved her other hand to bring the steel ball to her waist.

Swoosh. The steel ball unfolded into a W-shape, like a bird. At each vertex was a round lens.

“…That’s.”

Sagittarius muttered while watching the steel ball’s transformation. As it transformed, the belt’s five lenses lit up and a voice flowed out.

[Deneb!]

[Denebola!]

[Deneb Kaitos!]

[Deneb Algedi!]

[Deneb Dulfim!]

Five stars resonated. Stars that exist in different constellations gathered together to form a new constellation.

[CONSTELLATION OBSERVATION!]

[Are You Ready?]

“Transform!”

[CASSIOPEIA!]

The constellation’s name is Cassiopeia. Lines were drawn in the shape of the Cassiopeia constellation, and those lines wrapped around Joo Ah-yoon’s body.

An appearance adorned with pink decorations on white-based armor. The cape has bird feathers attached. Her appearance changed in an instant.

Her small frame transformed into a large build that far exceeded the average adult male’s size.

“Fly.”

Then she disappeared instantly with Han Jae-jung.

The Archer had seen this kind of movement many times before.

Just before disappearing, there was a butterfly-shaped throwing star in her hand. A weapon that was like a key for movement.

“Hmm… Maybe I should come back later.”

“You have no thoughts about being ignored like this?”

“Ignored, you say?”

Jason looked at the Archer with a dumbfounded expression.

“Well, we are uninvited guests. Who would be happy about a night raid?”

He even has a history of trying to kill Han Jae-jung. Not knowing this fact, Jason’s tone was somewhat softened. If he had known, he would have been confident in berating the Archer’s mental state for 30 minutes.

“Still, they should have heard what they had to say.”

Regardless of what Jason was saying beside him, the Archer quickly rolled his eyes. His eyes, which could see through walls, detect frequencies, light paths, and even infrared, proved useful once again.

He instantly grasped the scenery within a 1km radius. At the very edge, he spotted Han Jae-jung’s shoes.

“So that’s just your point of vi… Ack!”

The Archer grabbed Jason’s neck and rushed out of the café.

Then he shot an arrow toward where he had found the trace of pursuit.

“I can’t hold back my curiosity, fuck!”

***

Ippotranslation 

***

“Is brother stupid?”

“Why suddenly?”

Han Jae-jung looked down at the night streets with a bewildered expression. Looking at the situation, he was a civilian being kidnapped by a villain. He hoped no one would report this.

“If a villain breaks in at night, obviously they came to kill you, what else could it be?”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Based on the data so far, it had been half attack, half proposition.

“They came to assassinate… Those damn bastards, how dare they take advantage of when brother’s only companion is away…!”

“You adapt quickly.”

Good resilience. Who knew she’d adapt to that title so quickly. Her characteristically excited voice sounded particularly comfortable today. Sometimes having big emotional swings helps.

“But I don’t think it’s assassination? Those guys are idiots, but they’re proud idiots… Would sneaking around to kill match their personality?”

Even though it was a life-threatening situation if Joo Ah-yoon’s words were true, Han Jae-jung remained calm.

“Tch, is that not it? Well, that Archer guy is pretty pathetic….”

While it might not be true for Jason, it could be for the Archer. Isn’t he that vicious villain who bombed when defenseless at home before?

“No, if so, they could just snipe from far away, why come close… No, that self-proclaimed warrior Archer might do that….”

Han Jae-jung thought about what their purpose might be. Because of the Archer, everything he thought seemed to make sense.

After pondering a bit more, Han Jae-jung decided to give up thinking. Knowing their purpose wouldn’t particularly help anyway.

“You’re really not close with them, right?!”

“Yeah, I told you we’re not close.”

Though Joo Ah-yoon asked again anxiously, Han Jae-jung immediately denied it.

“That way of talking doesn’t seem like you’re not close…? Ah… I guess it could make sense if it’s brother.”

“What did I do?”

“You get along casually with everyone~! You snake-like bastard!”

“Hey now, I maintain boundaries very well.”

It’s just that others ignore those boundaries and come in. Han Jae-jung frowned while thinking of Baek Ah-hee, Haru, and Ara’s faces.

“Besides, I’m more like a bear than a snake… ugh.”

Whoosh! There was a sound of wind, and an arrow grazed past his hair.

“See! They did come to kill you!”

Joo Ah-yoon immediately scattered butterflies in various directions. The throwing stars scattered in the air began to fly freely in paths that no one could predict.

They moved further and further away, teleporting each time arrows came flying.

“First, let’s shake them off and then go to our house… Oh no!”

Gradually, the frequency of incoming arrows increased. Joo Ah-yoon began focusing more on dodging rather than moving.

Phew! An arrow flew and hit the butterfly meant for the next teleportation.

“The accuracy is increasing.”

Han Jae-jung was certain as he watched this sniping.

“Ah-yoon, Ah-yoon.”

“What is it, brother? I’m having a hell of a time here!”

“You really look like you’re having a hell of a time, but listen for a moment.”

Han Jae-jung pointed to the rooftop of the building right below.

“These arrows are meant to delay our movement. Their goal probably isn’t to shoot us down…”

“But to make us stop, right?”

“Right.”

Joo Ah-yoon sighed deeply and obediently followed his words.

“If you’re wrong, I’ll kill you.”

“I’ll probably die from an arrow first anyway.”

As he predicted, once they stopped in one place, the arrows stopped coming.

Instead, after a few seconds, a shadow cutting through between buildings appeared. Of course, it was the Sagittarius constellation’s villain.

Joo Ah-yoon stood with her arms crossed, while Han Jae-jung rested his arm on her shoulder, both waiting in a casual pose for their arrival.

“Phew, arrived.”

The Archer let go of his rope in mid-air and landed on the rooftop in what’s known as a superhero landing pose.

“Ugh… Keh….”

Jason was in his arms. He seemed to be holding his neck. Jason, foaming at the mouth, kept hitting his arm.

“Ah, right.”

When he released his arm, Jason collapsed limply.

“Hey, isn’t it too much to run away immediately? I’m really hurt.”

“Were we close enough for you to feel hurt?”

“Maybe not with you, but with me we were.”

The Archer pointed his finger at Han Jae-jung.

“Hey you. You said you didn’t know the purpose before, right? So how do you know now? Just tell me this. Then I won’t be annoying. Really. I swear.”

Joo Ah-yoon and Han Jae-jung sighed deeply at the same time.

“Sigh, you shot all those arrows just for something like that?”

“Oh my, just come back peacefully next time. Why so stubborn?”

“Shut up! When I’m curious about something, I need to resolve it right now!”

The Archer burst out in anger. If they kept hearing that loud voice, their ears might start bleeding. Since it wasn’t particularly something that had to be kept secret, Han Jae-jung opened his mouth.

“A trigger.”

“What?”

“You need a trigger to recover memories. At least that’s how it was for me.”

“Me too.”

Joo Ah-yoon agreed.

“You need a trigger to remember when you contracted with the star.”

That was all. There was nothing else to say. Even Han Jae-jung himself didn’t know more.

“So how do you know that! We don’t have memories of when we contracted! How the fuck do you know about this trigger?”

“Why are you asking me?”

The Archer irritably tapped the ground.

“Hey, you shouldn’t do that. At least you…”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“I told you about your terminal illness! But if you act like this, I’ll…”

The Archer stopped mid-sentence. He was thinking of making a threat. He was planning to tell the truth to Joo Ah-yoon, that Odette…

“Oh no.”

He already said it. The Archer clicked his tongue, regretting his slip of the tongue.

“…What?”

Joo Ah-yoon asked back.

“Terminal illness…? What does that mean, brother?”

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