While lying in the ward that was being used as a shelter, a broadcast announced that all the demonic beasts that had invaded the city had been dealt with.
At the same time, the students who were mobilized were given the order to disband.
Of course, hearing that didn’t mean we were thinking of just taking a break.
We all had already experienced a major incident last time, so we understood just how much time and manpower would be needed to deal with an event of this scale.
We found ourselves in a situation where we couldn’t rely on the heroes in the front lines.
So, I tried to express my intention to assist Teacher Eve, but I received a firm refusal in return.
She said that for us, who were 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 Jessie’s worried comment about what kind of support we could offer when we couldn’t even manage our own bodies made me decide to go back home quietly.
On the way back, I thought to myself that I had made the right choice by listening to the teacher.
Maybe it was due to fatigue, but I couldn’t put any strength into my body.
Every step I took felt incredibly heavy. I was at the point where I couldn’t even remember how I made it home.
As the teacher said, it wouldn’t have been strange at all if I had collapsed along the way, trying to show off.
Was that why?
As soon as I got home, I buried my head into the bed and seemed to have fallen asleep instantly.
*
Lying still, I gazed upwards.
Like a guillotine, sharp claws descended to behead me.
Even though I wanted to resist, I couldn’t even struggle.
My limbs were already rolling far away from my neck.
All I could do was watch helplessly as death descended upon me.
With a thud, my head detached and rolled on the floor.
I watched my cold body, lifeless and without spirit, rolling on the ground.
This repeated again and again, countless times.
Helpless, I could only stand by and watch the horrifying scene.
It was an awful nightmare.
I knew.
That this was what could happen in reality if Yoon Si-woo had arrived just a bit later today.
That this place was a world where I could die like this at any time.
And that thought made my body tremble.
No matter how strong I pretended to be, I was truly afraid of dying.
And the very fact that there existed great power that could allow me to not fear such things, just within arm’s reach, was even more terrifying than anything else.
*
Turning my gaze sideways, I saw a girl drenched in crimson.
She stood silently, looking at me as if to say that I could call upon her whenever I wanted.
Without realizing it, I struggled to stop my eyes from moving toward her, clenching my eyelids as hard as I could.
In that state, I accepted the impending death descending upon me.
The sound of my neck snapping echoed.
Again and again, over and over.
As if asking how long I could endure this.
Really, it was a dreadful nightmare.
*
My head felt hot.
I instinctively knew that my body wasn’t well.
Was it because I had that nightmare?
Since I was young, there were times when I felt this way.
Sometimes after having a nightmare, I would also feel unwell.
I wasn’t sure if I ached because I had a nightmare or if I dreamed due to feeling ill, but I always ended up with a bad cold during those times.
As I groaned and suffered alone, I suddenly felt something cold being placed on my head.
At that sensation, I was surprised to find tears welling up in my eyes.
When I was little and got sick, my mother would stay by my side all night.
She would place a cool washcloth on my forehead to bring down my fever or wipe the cold sweat off my body.
Those things were comforting, but what I cherished most was the very presence of my mother, who used to be beside me when I was in pain.
Ah, mother.
I longed deeply for the warmth that I could no longer feel.
Trembling, I clung to my mother’s collar, which seemed like it would disappear like a mirage, and began to sob.
“…Please, don’t leave me alone.”
Then she smiled as if there was no other choice and sat beside me again, murmuring.
“…Don’t worry. I won’t go anywhere.”
How long had it been since I felt such warmth?
That gentle hand that stroked my head as carefully as when I was a child allowed me to forget my worries for a moment and drift off to sleep again.
*
I slowly regained consciousness and opened my eyes.
I felt dazed, as if a fog had just begun to clear in my mind.
Even though I was still hazy, I vaguely recalled the pain I had felt, but now I could tell that my condition had improved slightly.
As I slowly raised my body, something fell from my forehead.
What was it? I noticed it was a damp washcloth.
It was chilled, clearly having just been taken out of the refrigerator.
“…Who did this?”
Feeling puzzled, I thought that I should at least get up. I leaned against the wall and stepped outside my room when a savory scent wafted through the air.
Was it from the kitchen?
As I slowly moved my steps over, I saw a familiar silhouette cooking while wearing an apron.
Then, noticing my presence, Yoon Si-woo turned around and asked.
“You’re awake. How are you feeling? Is it okay to not lie down any longer?”
“Uh? Yeah… I think I’m okay…”
It was clear from his expression that he knew I had been feeling unwell.
So, that washcloth on my forehead earlier was indeed something Yoon Si-woo had put there.
Feeling both grateful and a little guilty, I hesitated to respond, and Yoon Si-woo smiled with relief.
“I’m glad to hear that. Just sit there and wait a little; it’s almost done.”
As those words were said, I sat at the dining table to wait. Before long, Yoon Si-woo came out with something in a bowl.
“…Porridge?”
What he had brought in the bowl was indeed porridge.
It was a vegetable porridge made with a few carefully selected ingredients—not too heavy on the stomach, just right for a patient.
“Yeah. You seemed to be in pain, so I threw some ingredients in to boil it up… I hope it suits your taste.”
Despite his nervous expression about whether it would suit my taste, something about it felt very Yoon Si-woo, and I couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“…It looks delicious. I’ll eat well.”
After thanking Yoon Si-woo, I took a spoonful of porridge and put it in my mouth.
Honestly, since I just woke up, I couldn’t fully taste it, but the freshly cooked porridge was warm.
I could feel the effort that went into it, and that alone was enough for me to smile as I said to Yoon Si-woo.
“…It’s delicious.”
“…Really?”
“…Yeah, thank you.”
Upon hearing this, Yoon Si-woo smiled as if happy.
His smiling face made me smile back.
But soon, the smile that had appeared at my lips faded away.
The image of Yoon Si-woo I had seen on the screen, and the people looking at him as if entranced, suddenly came to mind.
“…I saw the broadcast. They said you defeated the witch.”
“…It just happened that way.”
To my words, Yoon Si-woo shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing.
But I had seen it.
The looks in people’s eyes when they looked at Yoon Si-woo.
Those who didn’t know the truth would view him as an idol.
And Yoon Si-woo would have to remain as that idol for life, hiding the truth.
So, I asked him.
“…Are you really okay with all this?”
Truly okay with it.
Could he continue to walk down such a thorny path unscathed?
And Yoon Si-woo responded calmly as always.
“I’m doing it because I can. It’s necessary.”
Just like he always has, he replied, saying that he was doing it simply because he could.
Do people know?
The dedication of this young boy.
The weight of the burden he had decided to carry on his shoulders.
I couldn’t even imagine that weight, and just as I was about to cheer him on, Yoon Si-woo’s expression suddenly changed as if he had just remembered something.
“Oh, by the way, this isn’t widely known yet, but I think I’m going to become the squad leader.”
“…Squad leader? Really?”
“Yeah, it’s almost confirmed.”
I swallowed hard at Yoon Si-woo’s words.
The weight of the title “squad leader” was shocking.
I recalled the faces of the squad leaders who had come to give special lessons at the academy until now.
Leon Lionel, Martina Ivanova, Natalia Eloise.
They were all remarkable individuals.
Yoon Si-woo would now stand in the same company as them.
I had read the original story, so I knew.
That Yoon Si-woo would become someone as great as them, if not greater.
Yet, hearing that he was stepping into such a position felt surreal.
…Right, unlike someone like me, Yoon Si-woo was the hero of this world.
If anyone could save this world, it was undoubtedly him; he was born with such a destiny.
Now I felt a strange distance between us.
It was quite a strange feeling, and it seemed I involuntarily made an odd expression.
Seeing Yoon Si-woo hastily speak, “Ah… Don’t worry! Even if I become a squad leader, if you’re ever in danger, I will—”
“Yoon Si-woo.”
I called out to him, interrupting.
Impulsively.
Why was that?
After thinking for a moment, I quietly asked Yoon Si-woo, who looked flustered by the suddenness of my question.
“If, when there are people you need to save in front of you… and you find out I’m in danger, what would you do?”
Then Yoon Si-woo stared at me intently.
For some reason, I had a feeling that I knew what his answer would be.
“Yoon Si-woo.”
So, once again, I called his name.
Then, shaking my head slowly, I faced him, who was watching me.
I muttered softly.
“That can’t happen.”
“……”
“It’s admirable that you want to keep your promise to me, but that’s something that can’t happen anymore.”
At my words, Yoon Si-woo showed a deeply hurt expression.
Seeing him like that stirred pain in my heart, yet I felt I had to speak.
“Yoon Si-woo, I’m always thankful for you. I’ve received so much help from you. You’re my hero. But from now on, many more people will look up to you. Remember when I asked you once?”
“……”
“To be a hero for everyone. Not a hero who prioritizes someone but a hero who prioritizes many.”
At my words, Yoon Si-woo murmured with a face that seemed to encompass numerous thoughts.
“…You’re so anxious about being alone, aren’t you?”
I had no response to that.
“…And you were really scared when you almost died this time.”
I had no answer to that either.
“Then, why…”
Yet Yoon Si-woo asked, as if he understood everything.
His face showed that he couldn’t fathom my reasoning.
To him, I responded with a wry smile.
“It’s far more frightening and upsetting to think that you would come back without saving someone you needed to.”
Upon hearing my answer, Yoon Si-woo asked with a sad face.
“…Are you really okay with that?”
I nodded silently in response to Yoon Si-woo.
And gazed quietly into his eyes.
I wanted him to respond, assuring that he was okay too.
After hesitating for a while, Yoon Si-woo finally shut his eyes tightly, exhaling a big sigh as he murmured.
“…Yeah. That’s just how you are.”
Then, as if understanding, he slowly nodded his head.
“…Thank you.”
When I said this, Yoon Si-woo looked sad.
Seeing his expression pained me, and I couldn’t help but smile sadly myself.
But I thought, in some way, this was sufficient.
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