While lying in the ward that was used as a shelter, a broadcast announced that all the demonic beasts that invaded the city had been dealt with.
At the same time, the students who had been summoned were issued a discharge order.
Of course, hearing that didn’t mean we were going to just obediently rest.
Having already experienced a major incident last time, we understood how much time and manpower it took to deal with an event of this scale.
There was no way we could borrow help from the heroes on the frontline.
So, I tried to express my intention to assist Ms. Eve, thinking I’d lend a hand, but I was met with a firm refusal.
She said that while it might be different for others, for those of us in the shelter, rest was the priority.
At first, it felt a bit uncomfortable to be told to rest while everyone else was struggling, but with Jessie’s worried words about my condition, I decided to head home quietly.
As I walked home, I thought about how I was glad I had listened to the teacher.
Perhaps due to fatigue, I couldn’t muster any strength in my body.
Taking each step felt like such a struggle that I couldn’t even remember how I got home.
As the teacher had said, I would have easily collapsed in the middle of the way if I had pushed myself too much.
Maybe that’s why, as soon as I got home, I plunged my head into the bed and fell asleep as if I had fainted.
*
Lying still and looking up, sharp claws fell down like a guillotine, ready to slice my neck.
Even if I wanted to resist, I couldn’t even struggle.
My limbs had already been rolling far away from my neck.
All I could do was helplessly watch as death fell away from me.
With a thud, my severed neck rolled on the floor.
I watched my own body, growing cold without even a single moment of running away.
This scene repeated itself over and over again.
I could only silently watch in helplessness.
It was a terrible nightmare.
I knew it.
This was what could have happened if Yoon Si-woo had arrived just a little later today.
This was a world where someone like me could die at any moment.
That’s why my body was shaking.
No matter how strong I pretended to be, I was indeed afraid of death.
And what was scarier than anything was the fact that there was a power so great within reach that could make one fearlessly disregard such things.
Turning my gaze sideways, there stood a girl dressed in deep red.
She stood quietly, as if saying I could ask for anything whenever I wanted.
I squeezed my eyes shut with all my might to stop myself from looking at her.
In that state, I accepted the death that was falling towards me.
The sound of my neck falling echoed.
Again and again, as if asking how long I could endure this.
It really was a terrible nightmare.
*
My head was hot.
I instinctively realized that my physical condition was not good.
Could it be because I had a nightmare?
Since I was young, there had been times like this.
Sometimes after having a nightmare, I would feel sick like this.
I didn’t know if I had a nightmare because I was sick or if I was sick because I had a nightmare, but I always suffered from severe body aches during times like this.
Alone and groaning, I suddenly felt something cold placed on my head.
At that sensation, I felt tears welling up without realizing it.
When I was sick, my mother would stay by my side all night and take care of me.
She would place a wet towel on my forehead to bring down the fever or wipe away the cold sweat all over my body.
I appreciated those gestures, but what mattered most to me was the very presence of my mother beside me when I was in pain.
Aah, mother.
I yearned for that warmth I could no longer feel.
I clung to my mother’s collar, which seemed like it could disappear like a mirage at any moment, and sobbed.
“…Please, don’t leave me alone.”
Then my mother smiled helplessly and sat beside me again, mumbling.
“…Don’t worry. I won’t go anywhere.”
How long had it been since I felt that warmth?
As she gently patted my head like when I was little, I was able to forget my worries for a moment and fall asleep again.
*
…I opened my eyes, coming to my senses.
Was it daze? My head still felt hazy like it was shrouded in fog.
Still, I vaguely remembered that I had felt quite a bit of pain, but now I could tell my condition had improved a little.
As I slowly got up, something fell from my forehead.
Looking at what it was, it was a wet towel.
It was so cold that I could tell it was just taken out of the refrigerator.
“…Who did this?”
Feeling puzzled but thinking I needed to get up, I propped myself against the wall and stepped out of the room, where a delicious smell wafted through.
Is it coming from the kitchen?
As I moved slowly, I saw the familiar figure of Yoon Si-woo cooking with an apron on.
Noticing my presence, Yoon Si-woo turned to me and asked.
“Ah, you’re awake. How are you feeling? Is it okay if you don’t stay in bed any longer?”
“Uh? Yeah… I think I’m okay…”
He seemed to know that I had been in pain.
So the towel from earlier had been placed on my forehead by Yoon Si-woo after all.
Feeling a mix of guilt and gratitude, I hesitated before answering, and Yoon Si-woo smiled, relieved.
“That’s good to hear. Just wait there for a moment. It’s almost done.”
I sat at the dining table and waited for a bit, and shortly after, Yoon Si-woo came out with something in a bowl.
“…Rice porridge?”
What was in the bowl was indeed rice porridge.
It was a vegetable porridge that had various ingredients cooked in it, just enough not to burden a patient’s stomach, which showed that he had put some thought into it.
“Yeah. I thought you seemed to be in pain, so I tried boiling some stuff together. I wonder if it suits your taste.”
He looked worried that it might not fit my palate, which seemed so much like Yoon Si-woo that I couldn’t help but smile a little.
“…It looks delicious. I’ll eat well.”
I expressed my gratitude to Yoon Si-woo and took a spoonful of the porridge and put it in my mouth.
Since I had just woken up, I couldn’t fully taste it, but the freshly made porridge was warm.
I could feel the care in it, and that alone was enough for me to smile slightly at Yoon Si-woo.
“…It’s delicious.”
“…Really?”
“…Yeah, thank you.”
Upon hearing that, Yoon Si-woo smiled brightly.
Seeing him smile made me happy too, and I couldn’t help but grin.
But soon, the smile on my face vanished.
The image of Yoon Si-woo I saw through the screen, and the people who admired him, suddenly came to mind.
“…I saw the broadcast. It said you defeated the witch.”
“…It just happened that way.”
Yoon Si-woo shrugged nonchalantly at my words.
But I had seen it.
The way people looked at Yoon Si-woo with admiration.
Those who didn’t know the truth would see him as a hero.
And Yoon Si-woo would have to remain a hero to them forever, hiding the truth.
So, I asked Yoon Si-woo.
“…Are you really okay with that?”
Are you really okay with that?
Can you really keep pushing through that thorny path?
And Yoon Si-woo replied.
“It’s only because I can do it that I’m doing it. It’s necessary.”
Just like always, he replied calmly, saying he could do it, so he would.
Do people know?
The dedication of this young boy.
The weight of the burden this boy chose to bear on his shoulders.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine that heaviness, and just as I was about to encourage him, Yoon Si-woo suddenly spoke up.
“Oh, by the way, this isn’t widely known yet, but… I think I’ll be the squad leader.”
“…Squad leader? Really?”
“Yeah, it’s almost confirmed.”
I gulped at Yoon Si-woo’s words.
The weight carried by the term “squad leader” was shockingly significant.
I recalled the faces of the squad leaders who had come to the academy for special classes until now.
Leon Lionelle, Martina Ivanova, Natalia Eloise.
All of them were exceptional individuals.
Yoon Si-woo was now going to stand alongside such people.
I already knew this from reading the original work.
That Yoon Si-woo would someday become a person as great as, if not greater than, them.
But hearing the news of Yoon Si-woo rising to such a position made me realize it as if for the first time.
…Yeah, unlike someone like me, Yoon Si-woo was the protagonist of this world.
If there was someone who could save this world, it was surely him, born with that kind of fate.
Now, somehow, I felt a sense of distance.
It was quite a strange feeling, and I probably made an odd expression without realizing it.
Seeing Yoon Si-woo speak hurriedly made me feel that way.
“Ah… don’t worry! Even if I become squad leader, if you’re in danger like today, I’ll always…”
“Yoon Si-woo.”
I interrupted Yoon Si-woo impulsively.
I wondered why I was doing this.
After thinking briefly, I quietly asked Yoon Si-woo, who looked surprised by my sudden outburst.
“If there are people in front of you that you need to save… what would you do if you found out I was in danger?”
Yoon Si-woo stared at me intently.
Somehow, I felt I knew what his answer would be.
“Yoon Si-woo.”
So I called his name again.
And I slowly shook my head at him.
I murmured softly.
“Then you can’t.”
“…”
“While I appreciate that you want to keep your promise to me, you can’t do that anymore.”
At my words, Yoon Si-woo’s expression turned hurt.
Seeing that made my heart ache, but I felt I needed to say what I had to say.
“Yoon Si-woo, I’m always grateful to you. You’ve helped me so much. You are my hero. But from now on, many more people will look to you. Remember the request I made once?”
“…”
“For everyone, become a hero. Not a hero who prioritizes someone, but one who prioritizes many people.”
At my words, Yoon Si-woo mumbled something, unable to express his feelings.
“…You’re really anxious being alone like that.”
I didn’t respond to that.
“…The last time you almost died, you were really scared, weren’t you?”
I didn’t respond to that either.
“And yet, why…”
Even so, Yoon Si-woo, as if he knew everything, asked me with a look of confusion.
I responded to him with a bitter smile.
“Because I find it much scarier and more unpleasant that you don’t go to save those who need saving because of me.”
At my answer, Yoon Si-woo asked with a sorrowful expression.
“…Are you really okay with that?”
I nodded silently at Yoon Si-woo.
And while looking into his eyes, I quietly observed him.
I was okay, so I wanted him to answer back.
After hesitating for a while, Yoon Si-woo shook his head tightly, letting out a big sigh as he mumbled.
“…Yeah. You were that kind of person.”
And he nodded slowly, as if he understood.
“…Thank you.”
When I said that, Yoon Si-woo made a sad expression.
Seeing that made me smile sadly too, but…
I still thought that this would be enough.
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