In this city, there exists an organization called the Central Committee.
It is a group that decides the major and minor affairs of the city, centered around the three prestigious families of Aegis, Astra, and Dolos, along with several other influential figures.
Among them, the one most recognized by the public is none other than Sylvia Astra, who is known to be the future heir to lead Astra.
Despite being a noble lady from a distinguished family, she attends Aegis Academy and is also known for her consistent community service, giving her a fairly positive image.
However, at this moment, Sylvia found herself bowing her head in front of countless people.
“…I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been affected by this incident. We, the Central Committee, promise to dedicate ourselves to ensuring such a tragedy does not occur again.”
With those words, Sylvia slowly lifted her head.
From the gazes of the people looking at her, she felt a deep sadness and helplessness.
Occasionally, she could also sense a mixture of resentment and anger among the crowd.
Although the ones who caused the harm were not them but rather the witch and the lesser demonic beasts, she could not deny understanding their feelings.
The people gathered here were either directly affected by the recent invasion of the demonic beasts or their family members.
Expecting rational judgments from individuals who lost loved ones or perfectly functioning limbs overnight seemed to be a cruel expectation.
Their gazes felt nothing but sorrowful to her.
Thus, Sylvia bowed her head once more and uttered another apology.
“I will ensure that the victims and their families receive all possible compensations. Once more, I am truly sorry.”
“…We don’t need any compensation, just bring back our mom and dad…”
At the sound of a young girl’s voice, trembling with emotion, Sylvia couldn’t bring herself to lift her head.
What those people truly desired was not monetary compensation, as the girl had stated.
However, as mere mortals, they lacked the ability to return what had been lost.
Perhaps they understood this as well.
Yet accepting such a reality was another matter entirely, and she could feel the resentment intensifying, as if provoked by the girl’s words.
As if in proportion to that resentment, the atmosphere among the people grew heated.
In this climate, Sylvia thought it fortunate that she had stepped forward.
After all, if someone other than her with a favorable image had come forth, it would not have been surprising if a confrontation had occurred earlier.
Yet, there was no way to remedy the escalating tension.
The whispers of resentment that once seemed soft began to rise in volume.
Left unchecked, this situation could lead to unfortunate events.
However, in that moment, someone’s voice echoed.
“Everyone, please calm down for a moment.”
The crowd’s attention suddenly shifted to the source of the unexpected voice.
The rising murmurs suddenly ceased.
Instead, people began to chatter amongst themselves.
“…It’s Yoon Si-woo, it’s Mr. Yoon Si-woo.”
“If it’s Yoon Si-woo, that’s the one who defeated the witch, right?”
Among the buzz of voices, Sylvia exchanged quiet glances with Si-woo.
Then, politely, she stepped aside, as if willingly giving way to him.
As if entranced, the people’s focus shifted solely to Yoon Si-woo.
The resentful gazes that had been aimed at him vanished, replaced by friendly looks.
As she watched the scene, Sylvia quietly moved to a corner.
She observed silently while Si-woo addressed the people who had centered their attention on him.
“Everyone here has suffered due to this incident. First and foremost, I apologize. I am truly sorry.”
He bowed his head to express his apology.
However, the reaction from the crowd was vastly different from earlier.
“Wait… Why is Mr. Yoon Si-woo apologizing to us?”
“Exactly. There’s no need for you to apologize.”
Despite their bewilderment, Si-woo steadfastly repeated his apology.
“No. If I had worked just a bit harder, I could have minimized the damage…”
“…Please don’t say such things.”
One person from the crowd approached him, firmly taking his hand and shaking their head.
“You avenged our family’s enemies, didn’t you? If it weren’t for you, we would have been consumed by our frustrations.”
“…Still.”
“Thank you, thank you so much…”
The tearful gratitude from him seemed to trigger something.
Voices of appreciation began to rise from various spots, directed at Si-woo.
“That’s right! Thank you so much for defeating the witch!”
“You’re a hundred, no, a thousand times better than the other heroes who couldn’t come to our aid!”
“You’re the true hero, Mr. Yoon Si-woo!”
The outpouring of support and praise directed at him.
However, Si-woo’s expression didn’t reflect delight at the kind words.
Perhaps it bothered him to monopolize the praise while others were being criticized.
Or maybe the weight of the people’s expectations felt burdensome.
Standing before a crowd was not an easy task.
Yet given the circumstances, he must adapt to it.
Sylvia noticed Si-woo glancing her way, his face showing discomfort, and she mouthed a message to him.
“Expression. Management.”
Whether he received the message or not, Si-woo forced a smile onto his face.
Then, with that cheerful demeanor, he recited the lines he had prepared in advance.
“…Thank you. I will do my utmost to ensure the safety of the citizens moving forward. I will also make sure to communicate with the Central Committee about sufficient compensation. I hope it will be able to assist in easing your sadness, even if just a little. So, I kindly ask everyone to refrain from despair.”
With his words, the crowd erupted in cheers.
“How amazing, he’s such a good person. Someone like Yoon Si-woo should be leading the heroes, not just anyone.”
“That’s right! No one would oppose if Yoon Si-woo became the leader of the heroes!”
“Yoon Si-woo! Yoon Si-woo!”
Even amidst the cheers, Si-woo maintained his smile, but Sylvia could tell he was struggling.
Did these people realize that the one standing before them was still just a young boy?
But perhaps it didn’t matter to them.
In their eyes, he wasn’t a boy but rather the warrior who defeated the witch.
Seeing people shower him with unrealistic expectations, Sylvia felt a bittersweet smile creep onto her face.
They were no different from those trying to put the same burden on her.
It was she and the others who had created this complex situation in the first place.
As she stood there watching, she saw Yoon Si-woo emerge from the crowd moments later, receiving cheers from everyone.
He wore an exhausted expression when he approached Sylvia.
“Thank you for your hard work. You’ve had a tough day managing your expressions.”
“…Standing before people, I’m still not used to it.”
Even after several occasions of such events over the past few days, he still couldn’t seem to adapt, causing his frown to deepen and prompting a chuckle from Sylvia.
While she could understand how he felt, it was an unavoidable circumstance.
“You shouldn’t feel this way, especially since you’re going to become the captain soon. Of course, I don’t particularly like making you do such things, but I see it as necessary. Appointing a captain at your age will be quite shocking. To avoid any dramas during that time, the committee believes it’s essential to build sufficient support among the people.”
“…Public sentiment. Given the reactions so far, I think we could manage without going this far.”
“…That’s true. You’re even more popular than we expected. If it were the monarchical era, you might have claimed the throne, Si-woo.”
At that remark, Si-woo shuddered, shaking his head vigorously.
“Ugh, don’t say that. Just hearing it gives me goosebumps. But yeah, I had anticipated this, yet the weight of their expectations is somewhat burdensome. It feels like something heavy is resting on me.”
“Well, you don’t need to take their reactions too literally. To create a friendly atmosphere towards you, we also planted some supporters here.”
“…Is that so? I thought people were genuinely following me blindly.”
Si-woo smiled as if relieved by that information, while Sylvia simply returned a smile.
Though they might have set the stage, there was no need to remind him of that to avoid adding more pressure.
Lost in that bittersweet thought, Si-woo sighed deeply and muttered.
“I’m tired. This must be the end, right? I really want to go home and rest.”
“Ah, how dishonest. You could have just said you don’t want to be stuck here and would rather spend even a second longer with Scarlet.”
At Sylvia’s teasing remark, Si-woo turned red and shook his head vigorously.
“T-that’s not it!”
“What’s wrong with wanting to see someone you miss? Speaking of which, if it’s not too much trouble, can I accompany you to your house, Si-woo? Since today is ending here, I’d love to catch a glimpse of Scarlet and talk to her, even if just for a moment.”
At her inquiry, Si-woo’s expression turned troubled.
Initially, Sylvia thought it was because she, an intruder, was about to visit, but she quickly realized from the continuation of his words that it wasn’t the case at all.
“Well, I don’t mind, but I wonder if Scarlet will be okay. She was feeling pretty sick just the other day. When I went home yesterday, she was already asleep, probably very tired…”
“She was sick? Why didn’t you tell me! If that’s the case, I have even more reason to go visit. I’ll just stop by to see her face and check on her, okay?”
“…Fine. If you want to come, feel free. I’m heading straight home without stopping anywhere from now on.”
Even as he said that, his expression remained stiff.
Did the thought of going to see Scarlet really bother him that much?
Perhaps Yoon Si-woo is surprisingly possessive.
Sylvia thought that as she felt a strange urgency in Si-woo’s footsteps, following him to his house.
*
Upon arriving at Si-woo’s house, Sylvia glanced around the exterior of the residence.
‘Is this where Scarlet is currently staying? This place is definitely much smaller than our mansion. But for Scarlet, it must be a sanctuary compared to Astra’s mansion, where someone is trying to poison her…’ Such thoughts made Sylvia feel a bit melancholic.
However, the thought of finally being able to see Scarlet soon cheered her up, and she hastily followed Si-woo as he entered the house.
At the entrance, there was already a pair of shoes placed, signaling that Scarlet was home.
“Scarlet, are you there?”
Sylvia called out for Scarlet with an excited voice, but oddly, there was no response.
Could it be that, as Si-woo mentioned, she was already asleep due to her exhaustion?
If that were the case, it would be considerate not to wake her, and regrettably, she might have to leave quietly.
While Sylvia was contemplating this, she turned her head and inadvertently witnessed a shocking sight.
Si-woo walked straight to the door that presumably led to where Scarlet might be asleep, knocking without hesitation, and entered without permission.
Even if they lived together, entering a girl’s room without asking was quite rude.
Unless they were in such a close relationship that seeking permission was no longer necessary, it was indeed a very inconsiderate act, prompting her to reach out and grab Si-woo.
However, as she peered into the open room after him, Sylvia could only tilt her head in confusion.
Inside the room, through the open door, there was no one present.
“What’s going on? Isn’t Scarlet supposed to be here?”
Thus, she asked Si-woo, perplexed, to which he replied.
“…She should be in here. Or at least, that’s what it feels like.”
With a meaningful answer, Si-woo stepped into the empty room.
Sylvia, too, followed behind curiously.
Then she heard it.
A faint sound of someone in distress resonating from inside the room.
Could there be a ghost in the room?
For a moment, Sylvia considered that thought, but soon realized the sounds were emanating from inside the wardrobe.
Upon realizing this, Sylvia gasped.
This is Scarlet’s room.
That meant there’s only one owner of that sound.
“Scarlet!” “Scarlet!”
Once the thought crossed Sylvia’s mind, she rushed to the wardrobe and flung it open.
Perhaps thinking the same thought, Si-woo did so at the same time.
Inside the wardrobe, they saw a girl curled up, gasping as if struggling to breathe.
“Ah…”
And finally, Sylvia could comprehend.
The one who always seemed so strong and composed was, beneath it all, a person who could cry like a child.
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