A boundary line indicating that a barrier has unfolded is drawn just one step behind.
As I gazed at it for a moment, I swallowed hard and took a step back outside the barrier.
Then I moved forward one more step, returning to where I had been just a moment ago.
However, I felt nothing.
Nothing at all.
“…It really doesn’t feel any different.”
Realizing that I could pass through the barrier without any hindrance, I muttered blankly.
The memory was still vivid.
The horrific sensation that had told me I was not allowed to enter this city when I passed through the barrier.
But now, nothing was stopping me from entering the city anymore.
I had now been permitted to step officially into the city!
“Really, it doesn’t feel any different…!”
What a remarkable achievement this was.
I was so thrilled that I leapt around, going in and out through the barrier with a big grin on my face.
I quickly stopped when I realized people were looking at me with a mix of pity and cuteness.
…But it’s not my fault for being excited! I was genuinely happy!
While I was relishing the moment of being able to move around through the barrier, I sensed someone else nearby who was just as thrilled as I was.
“The witch can pass through the barrier without any resistance… I had a feeling she might be able to distinguish miasma, but this is really…”
It was Dwight.
He was so impressed by my ability to move freely through the barrier that he was eagerly asking Ms. Eve about the magic.
“Teacher… Could you please explain what that magic was, just a little more…?”
“Oh, that? It’s a secret device hidden in the barrier that Violet told me might be useful for when other friendly witches appear in the future. As I mentioned earlier, it’s a spell that distinguishes miasma and lets certain beings pass through—”
“That’s because Principal and I needed it since we are descendants of Aegis and Violet, right? That magic only activates for those who have that blood flowing through them. It must need our consent to prevent misuse—”
Dwight, who had been chatting with the teacher about the magic, suddenly muttered as if suppressing something.
“Ugh, but there’s something I need to investigate… Damn, if it weren’t for that, I could be researching this…”
Dwight looked as if he were a kid who’s just been told they have to wait before they can eat the delicious snacks right in front of them, let out a sigh, and looked really disappointed.
“I wish I could talk about this all night, but I guess I’ll have to do it later. Teacher, I have some things I need to do. Could we discuss this magic later?”
“Sure. Since you’re a descendant of Violet, I’ll tell you anything I can.”
After receiving a promise from the teacher, Dwight turned his head toward me.
Meeting my gaze, Dwight smiled lightly, just like the night he helped me escape.
“I’m glad we can see each other again. It feels a little late to say this, but anyway, congratulations on coming back.”
Receiving that greeting made me feel the reality of returning to the city, and I couldn’t help but feel a little choked up.
“…Yeah, thanks.”
“I wish we could all share the joy of reunion, but unfortunately, I have something I need to take care of. It looks like I have to go first today. I’m sorry.”
To Dwight, who was apologizing, I shook my head with a smile.
“Why apologize? We can see each other anytime now.”
“…I see. Then let’s meet again next time.”
Saying that he indeed had something urgent to attend to, Dwight was about to head off somewhere when he suddenly stopped as if he had remembered something.
“…By the way, I have a favor to ask.”
He quickly turned back, looking as if he just had an epiphany.
“A favor? I can help with anything manageable, since you helped me a lot.”
I nodded at his words.
Then, Dwight looked at me with a gaze that was unusually earnest and pleaded.
“Really…! Then could you let me study your body later? After hearing the teacher’s story, I can’t suppress my curiosity about the relationship between a witch’s body and miasma!”
“Uh… w-well? I don’t really—”
I was about to nod, a bit flustered by his request.
“Absolutely not! Such a request can’t be authorized by me, as I’m in charge of Scarlet’s protection!”
I was immediately restrained by Sylvia.
“Uh, Sylvia…? I’m fine with it—”
“It’s not fine! Scarlet needs to be more cautious with her own body! It’s not something you can just let anyone touch, okay?”
Honestly, I thought it was alright, but it seemed Sylvia did not share that belief.
Hmm… Surely, as she said, a witch’s body could be dangerous if mishandled.
I had to agree that there was a need to be careful.
“Well… if that’s the case, then it’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped…”
Conveying that intent, Dwight left with a face that showed his disappointment.
Watching Dwight leave while shaking her head, Sylvia soon approached me and asked Ms. Eve.
“Teacher, is there anything else Scarlet needs to do?”
“Yeah, my original goal was just to get Evande inside the barrier.”
Since Ms. Eve had completed her task of letting Evande inside, she shrugged her shoulders and answered like it was no big deal.
Then Sylvia took my hand as if she had other things to do.
“So, Scarlet, how about we head to our house for today?”
“House…? Our house would be…?”
“It would naturally be Astra’s Mansion, right?”
Her casual mention of Astra’s Mansion as my home caught me a bit off guard, but then I recalled that she was my caretaker and monitor.
Thinking about it, it was only natural for me to stay at the Mansion.
However, that didn’t mean I had to head there immediately.
With that thought in mind, I looked at the group of children gathered behind us and spoke to Sylvia.
“Um, Sylvia…? I thought we could have a small gathering with the kids to celebrate my return today.”
“…As you mentioned to Dwight earlier, we can see each other anytime now. I heard they’ve all been running around gathering people all night last night, so how about we rest today and meet next time?”
Sylvia’s words reminded me of the situation.
Come to think of it, they had all been busy asking people for help for me all night long.
But seeing them shake their heads as if they were fine, they didn’t seem too tired.
While thinking about that and about to voice my opinion, Sylvia’s next words made me change my mind about heading to the Mansion.
“…Yoon Si-woo is at our Mansion right now.”
The person I needed to see most was there.
*
After briefly conveying my happiness about reuniting with the kids and the intent to catch up properly next time, I followed Sylvia to Astra’s Mansion.
“You can use the room that Scarlet used to stay in before.”
The familiar yet comforting atmosphere of Astra’s Mansion immediately welcomed me back.
Although, to be honest, that wasn’t really the issue right now.
After hearing Sylvia’s words, my mind was consumed with one single thought.
“…Is this it?”
“…Yes, this is the room Yoon Si-woo is in.”
Considering my feelings, Sylvia guided me directly to the room where Yoon Si-woo was located.
But, at that moment, I felt my body stiffen as I grasped the doorknob.
Yoon Si-woo was in there.
The one who saved me, who had fallen unconscious as a price.
As those thoughts rushed in, guilt and fear swept over me.
“…”
But I couldn’t run away from this.
I had to face him with these two eyes to acknowledge the sacrifice he made for me.
So I gripped the doorknob tightly with trembling hands and turned it.
And the moment I saw Yoon Si-woo lying on the large bed inside the room,
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped my lips involuntarily.
I wanted to deny it.
His skin was unnaturally pale.
He lay motionless in bed, with devices attached all over his body, looking near-corpse-like, like someone without a spark of life.
No, this can’t be true…
“Ah… ugh…”
I approached the figure lying there, trembling in denial.
But the moment I looked down at his face, I could no longer hold back my sobs.
I couldn’t deny it; it was too familiar a face.
“Ah… Yoon, Si-woo… Yoon Si-woo…”
I cried out his name and sank down right there.
As I knelt, Yoon Si-woo’s hand came into view.
Numbly grasping that hand sent chills throughout my body.
Because it was the hand that always lifted me up.
The hand that had saved me when I was about to give up in despair.
I knew Yoon Si-woo’s hand.
Yet, that warm, strong hand was now so cold.
Like a dead person’s.
The contrast created a chilling cold that spread from my hand and up my arm throughout my body.
As the cold permeated my body, I felt as if my lungs had frozen over, I could hardly breathe.
And in that pain, I once again realized the truth.
The very hand that had lost its warmth was none other than my doing.
“Ah… nooo…!”
I flailed helplessly.
That the strong Yoon Si-woo had been reduced to this pitiful state.
That it was because of me that he had become like this was too agonizing to bear.
“…Scarlet.”
At that moment, a silver light enveloped me.
Wrapped in the cold of guilt, I was quietly embraced by Sylvia.
Regaining a bit of composure from her warmth, I turned to her, my voice trembling.
“S-Sylvia… will Yoon Si-woo be okay…?”
“…To be honest, I don’t know.”
Sylvia replied to me in that manner.
I could see her infusing Yoon Si-woo with the blessings of the World Tree.
But there was no significant change.
‘Is it too much even for me at this moment…?’ I heard her muttering in frustration.
Could even the fragments of that miracle, which had completely purified the miasma-filled forest, not restore Yoon Si-woo?
While I was lamenting that, at that very moment,
“Still, Scarlet.”
Sylvia placed the White Dagger beside Yoon Si-woo’s head.
The Holy Sword of Truth, she handed it to Yoon Si-woo and said to me.
“Please don’t blame yourself too much. Yoon Si-woo wouldn’t want you to do that.”
Sylvia conveyed her message.
If it weren’t for Yoon Si-woo, she wouldn’t have come to help me.
He had protected me even in his current state, and even after this, he had continued to keep me safe.
Thus, I nodded my head at Sylvia’s words.
“…Okay, I’ll stop blaming myself.”
I spoke those words, gazing at Yoon Si-woo’s hand.
I looked at my hand that held his hand.
My hand was fine.
It was warm and moved well.
“…I shouldn’t just dwell on guilt.”
It was all thanks to Yoon Si-woo that I was here.
I thought back to the miraculous experiences I had recently gone through.
That I could become such close friends with Sylvia.
That I was acknowledged by people and ultimately could affirm myself.
It was all because you protected me.
“…Yoon Si-woo, thank you.”
Every time I faced a hardship,
“You saved me.”
Yoon Si-woo saved me.
“You protected me.”
Yoon Si-woo kept me safe.
“You are my hero.”
Yoon Si-woo was my hero.
That’s why I swore.
“…Just wait a little longer.”
For you, who saved me.
For you, who protected me.
“I will save you.”
Now I would become your hero.
I vowed to save you.
To protect this world where you exist.
“Whatever it takes.”
Definitely.
*
“Scarlet…”
The next morning.
As I held onto Yoon Si-woo’s hand throughout the night, Sylvia came looking for me, her expression in shock.
“What’s wrong, Sylvia?”
“That’s just it…”
As I asked what was going on, she said there were suspicions that someone had committed treason.
It was a serious matter, and there was to be an interrogation about it.
Of course, it was surprising news, but Sylvia’s serious expression made me ask for further details.
“…Really?”
“Yes…”
I couldn’t help but be as shocked as she was.
Because the target of the treason suspicion was none other than,
“…The Dolos Family.”
One of the three families of the city, and also Flora’s family.
The Dolos Family.
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