The barrier gate connecting the boundary region and the outside world opened.
What I saw beyond the gate were the hardened expressions of the heroes gathered in a group.
As our eyes met, I couldn’t help but tremble slightly; perhaps it was the memories of being chased out of the city that resurfaced.
At that moment, I felt Sylvia grab my hand from the side.
Turning to her, I saw her face, which seemed to show more tension than mine.
From the hand we held, I felt the trembling born from her nervousness, but…
“……”
It wasn’t only that that was transmitted.
Even amidst her anxious expression, her determined gaze sparkled, and from her firmly grasping hand, I could feel her strong will to protect me at all costs.
With her hand feeling more reassuring than any words, I could face the heroes approaching without trembling.
The heroes came closer, surrounding me, Sylvia, and the people from Astra.
Though they looked quite intimidating, I wasn’t scared.
Thanks to Sylvia, I found no hostility in their eyes unlike before.
“Lady Scarlet Evande.”
Then, someone walked out from behind the heroes, seemingly representing them, and called my name.
“……Principal?”
It was Mark, the principal of the academy.
I had little interaction with the principal, but since he was related to Uncle Luke, I felt slightly awkward.
We had a complicated relationship with Uncle, and there had been unpleasant matters before, so he was not someone I could treat comfortably.
Nevertheless, the principal spoke to me with a completely different business-like demeanor than the first time we met, as if he didn’t care about such things.
“I am Mark, representing the Central Committee. There was a meeting yesterday to decide your treatment, and I will tell you the conclusion.”
I gulped at the mention of ‘my treatment,’ and awaited his words.
“Based on Astra’s testimony and various circumstances, we’ve determined that you are not an enemy of humanity, and we have decided to lift hostilities against you. You are no longer our enemy.”
Hearing that I would not be treated as an enemy any longer, I couldn’t help but break into a smile.
Wasn’t this saying I wouldn’t have to worry about people coming to kill me like before?
As I felt joyous and Sylvia nodded as though it was only natural, the principal bowed slightly and spoke.
“There will be no acts of hostility towards Lady Scarlet Evande from us moving forward, and on behalf of everyone, I would like to apologize for what has happened until now. We are truly sorry.”
“Ah, you don’t have to apologize…! I’m fine with it…”
I waved my hands in surprise at the unexpected gesture of a formal apology.
Although I had experienced unpleasant things, I honestly couldn’t say it was unreasonable for them to be hostile towards me.
If I were in their position, I would likely feel the same.
Especially after hearing that a witch, who was not even human, had turned Yoon Si-woo into that.
As I was having such thoughts, Sylvia asked the principal.
“By the way, can Scarlet go back into the city?”
“……Well, you see. Our Central Committee, along with the heroes who share our views, has decided to accept Lady Scarlet back… however…”
At Sylvia’s question, the principal’s face hardened, and he answered in a grave tone.
Noticing his reaction, Sylvia sighed deeply and muttered.
“Ha, so there’s still significant opposition?”
“……Yes. Given the circumstances, we cannot make a unilateral decision, so we checked public opinion, and it was not positive. If we were to ignore it and bring you back, there was a risk of a riot. They questioned what we were thinking, bringing the witch who turned Captain Yoon Si-woo into that back into the city.”
At those words, I realized.
That most people still disliked me.
Though I thought it was only natural, I couldn’t stop my expression from darkening.
The principal observed my reaction and spoke.
“Given the situation, it was best for us to create a platform to publicly declare that Lady Scarlet is not a malefactor. As representatives of the city, it is not something we can afford to ignore regarding public opinion. I hope you can understand.”
While the principal spoke as if representing an official stance, I could sense his unhidden regret and remorse in his gaze towards me.
Then perhaps, it truly was the best path forward.
So, I calmly acquiesced and asked the principal.
“I understand. Then what should I do now?”
“……We have a prepared location. We’ve made public announcements for anyone who wishes to speak about the matter of accepting Lady Scarlet back into the city, so several people should gather there. You will need to persuade the citizens.”
Persuade, I pondered over the principal’s words for a moment before asking.
“If I persuade them, will I be able to return to the city?”
“Yes. Naturally, if fewer citizens express discontent.”
Conversely, that also meant if I failed to persuade them, I wouldn’t be able to return to the city.
Sylvia looked somewhat dissatisfied with that, but I shook my head slightly at her.
I had thought I would never be able to step foot in the city again, running away as if being chased, but now I was given a chance.
Thus, I smiled.
Wasn’t this already enough to suggest I was being welcomed back?
In truth, it was more to hide the creeping anxiety rising within me.
“I hope so,” I said.
“……I hope so too.”
The principal watched me with a troubled expression, quietly murmuring.
Despite trying hard to appear indifferent, it was evident he had a gentle side.
At least I was able to tell that he did not harbor hatred for me, which allowed me to feel a bit of joy.
“Then I’ll guide you.”
Following that, I stepped toward the location where my treatment was to be decided under the principal’s guidance.
Surrounded by heroes made it seem more like I was being taken into custody.
Even though I was finally stepping back into the barrier I longed to return to, I didn’t feel joy. Perhaps that was because I still held the status of an outsider who had yet to be accepted in this city.
Thus, I arrived at that very place.
And as soon as I arrived, I felt the gazes pouring towards me.
Filled with hostility, mixed with resentment, stitched together with accusations and scorn.
Those gazes, those gazes, those gazes.
And with those gazes, I was reminded once more.
I was a being that was hated.
I looked at the scene before me in astonishment.
The place designated for me to persuade the people was an open ground outside the barrier, in the boundary region.
As a witch, there was no way for me to enter inside the barrier, so it made sense that this was where I was deemed to go.
And being outside the barrier meant that it was a place perceived as potentially dangerous by the general populace.
Yet, this very spot was filled with people.
They crowded here, regardless of age or gender, creating a massive influx.
So, why were so many people gathered in this potentially dangerous place?
It was because of me.
They could not allow the witch who harmed Yoon Si-woo to enter the city.
Their resentment and distrust towards me had driven them to take this risk.
So many people had gathered here out of hatred for me.
That was the reality.
“Lady Scarlet.”
As I stood there blankly, someone called out to me, pushing me up onto the prepared platform.
As I stood on the platform, the people’s gazes fixated on me were all too clear.
My body trembled.
“□□ □□□□─”
The person holding the microphone said something and handed it to me.
I heard snippets but couldn’t comprehend anything.
All I could see were the gazes fixated on me.
“Ah, ahh…”
I struggled to breathe.
I thought I had become immune to the scrutiny of people.
Yet, even during presentations at work or training demonstrations in the army, I never felt so suffocated.
Even while breathing, it felt as if no air was filling my lungs.
It wasn’t merely because there were so many people looking at me.
It was the hostility that was painfully sensitive, more than anything else.
A multitude of dense hostility.
It felt like a torrent flowing from the platform, engulfing me.
I couldn’t breathe.
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