“Hera-nim. Is there something good happening?”
“Umm..?”
While walking down the street with Iris, she interlocked her fingers with mine and asked.
“I just thought… your face looks a bit brighter.”
“Ah….”
Did it show?
Ever since I met Dania-ui Eonni, a lot of my worries have disappeared.
The dark delusions that tormented me have also been greatly resolved.
It felt like a massive comfort to be certain that Eonni and Lily wouldn’t hate me anymore.
“Yeah. That did happen.”
As I smiled, Iris slightly blushed and wrapped her arms around me.
“I’m happy that you’ve brightened up, Hera-nim…!”
Seeing cheerful Iris, I couldn’t help but smile back.
‘…Lately, it feels like only happiness has been coming my way.’
Things are going well with Lily again, I’ve made good friends in Iris and Ariel, and I’ve finally met Dania-ui Eonni, whom I wished for so long.
I can say I’ve more than enough happiness.
Even if some relationships didn’t turn out as I hoped… it’s clear that we all love one another.
‘…I just need to maintain this happiness moving forward.’
I resolved to hold Iris’s hand even tighter.
In this place I got possessed, living peacefully with the people I love. That’s all I’ve ever hoped for, from the past to this moment.
With that promise in mind, I looked forward to tomorrow with a hopeful heart.
But the sky was indifferent, and reality was harsh.
…..And it didn’t take even a day for me to realize that.
*
“Good morning, Sera-yang.”
Iris, who had been holding hands with me yesterday, approached me with a smile.
“Good morning.”
I gave her a smile and sat down, noticing Ariel quietly sitting next to me, opening a book.
“Ah.. Hello, Ariel..”
Maybe because of what happened last time, I was a bit cautious, but I tried to act natural and spoke to her.
“Yeah. Hello, Sera.”
Surprisingly, Ariel calmly accepted my greeting. She smiled at me once and then delved back into her book.
Still, she looked much better than last time when she seemed drained.
After attending morning classes with them, lunchtime came.
As always, Lily and I were having lunch together at the front of the class.
“Iris. What did you do with that guy this weekend?”
Lily asked with sharp eyes while Iris blushed shyly.
Then, Lily began to concentrate as Iris cheerfully described how their time went.
Peaceful time continued.
The sunny weather and the laughter of vibrant youth surrounded us; it was truly a lively place.
As I walked through the academy’s garden, bright energy seemed to seep into me from all around.
Fresh couples walked around the garden, holding hands shyly.
A dedicated female student was walking diligently with her book.
Male students were laughing and running together with friends.
And then, a massive black sky overwhelmed them.
“…..Huh?”
And that enormous sky easily enveloped the peace of this place in despair.
My smile slowly faded away.
Like a scene caught in slow motion, the happenings in front of me were etched vividly into my eyes.
At that split second.
Hell unfolded at the academy.
“Ugh!! My arm..!!”
“Ahh!! Eric!! Eric!!”
“I can’t see..!! I can’t see ahead..!!”
In that moment, I almost lost my mind.
“What….?”
My head felt dizzy as if it couldn’t grasp the reality in front of me, and I just blinked vacantly.
*
*
While I stood still, loud explosions burst in my ears from everywhere around me.
Even so, I was still unable to move.
“W-What is happening…”
Just a moment ago, the academy was full of vitality…
In an instant, it transformed into hell.
Monsters were rampaging everywhere, and blood was scattering through the air.
“Someone… someone help..!”
“Hey… get a grip… get a grip..!”
“This is just a dream…”
Students were getting hurt.
The peace I wanted to protect was crumbling in an instant.
“Ah… no..”
“Eonni!!”
While I muttered blankly, Lily rushed to me and pushed me behind herself.
BAM!!
Then, a massive explosion echoed in front of us.
“Lily!!”
My heart sank as I looked desperately at Lily.
Fortunately, she was firmly holding out her Sacred Sword in front.
“Ariel, Iris. Evacuate with Sera. I’ll handle this.”
Even in a situation that could induce chaos, Lily spoke calmly.
Could it be that her confident spirit was relayed? Ariel and Iris managed to steady themselves and took a combat stance beside Lily.
“I’ll help you, Lily.”
“…Sera. Don’t go anywhere; stand behind us. I’ll protect you.”
Her reassuring energy steadied me as well.
‘…This isn’t the time to be scared.’
They were much younger than me yet took the lead, and I couldn’t falter.
I calmed my frantic heart and looked ahead to see a large figure cloaked in a mantle.
No… should I even call it a figure?
[Hehehe… This energy is from the Sacred Sword… You are the Hero…!]
An eerie voice that sent chills down my spine spread around.
A giant figure, about three times the size of an average man, draped in a massive cloak.
But what lay hidden under the cloak wasn’t a living creature.
“Mel…Rum…”
A being that was nothing but bones, devoid of life.
With a single breath, it could summon death and spread its infamous dark magic—the Lich.
The strongest undead that had lived for thousands of years.
The third division commander, the immortal king Melrum.
He was staring blankly at Lily right in front of me.
[I will personally take your life, Hero, haha!!!]
As he threw back his head and let out an odd scream, a massive green fog began to cover us.
“Stand behind me!”
However, just before the mysterious fog could reach us, Iris stepped forward, extending her hand, and a pure white barrier protected us.
Right behind her, Lily charged forward without hesitation, clutching her Sacred Sword tightly.
“Die.”
In an instant, Lily reached Melrum and lifted her Sacred Sword, striking down hard.
SWISH-
Lily’s blade cut through Melrum’s body effortlessly.
Yet unfortunately, Melrum still had a wicked grin, clutching Lily’s Sacred Sword.
[You still can’t utilize the power of the Sacred Sword properly. Such a novice.]
“…..!!”
As Lily squinted at him, perhaps sensing something, she quickly spun around and raised her Sacred Sword to her side.
Then, she was struck by a heavy blow from somewhere, sending her flying sideways like a bullet.
“Lily!!”
I screamed in a desperate voice as I looked toward her.
In the direction of the blow stood a figure clad in pitch-black armor, resembling a knight.
I knew that being all too well.
The strongest among the division commanders, capable of matching the Demon King’s strength purely in terms of might.
The first division commander, Dark Knight Tyrus.
I intended to rush toward Lily right away, but a curtain formed by the green fog rose up, blocking my path.
[Don’t interfere with them; come and play with me.]
Melrum, with a chilling voice, slowly approached us.
He was nothing more than a gaunt skeleton, yet the aura of death radiating from him made the surrounding air feel desolate.
“Stay away.”
“Stay back.”
Iris and Ariel spoke at the same time.
As soon as they finished speaking, fierce flames and golden spears of magic rained down from the sky towards Melrum.
WHOOSH–!!
CA BOOM–!
Once again, Melrum’s body was torn apart.
But once again, he merely gazed at us, his sinister smile undiminished.
I stepped in front of Ariel, who looked confused, and stared at Melrum.
“Has the Demon King… arrived?”
Even speaking felt scary.
I prayed inwardly that it wouldn’t be true.
[Hmm..?]
Melrum tilted his head as he curiously looked at me.
‘Please, just not the Demon King…’
I didn’t fully grasp what was happening, but I knew there was an assault underway.
With the first and third division commanders here, the second division commander was likely somewhere as well.
Why did this happen?
In no story had the division commanders moved as a group before.
But leaving the reasons aside, the most important thing was whether the Demon King had come here.
If she had come here…
At that point, it would be utterly hopeless.
‘Please… please don’t let the Demon King be here…’
But contrary to my desperate wish, Melrum bared his rusted teeth at me.
[Your intuition is quite sharp. Yes… today, all sprouts, including the Hero, will vanish like dust in this place.]
My last straw of hope shattered so easily.
“Ah… no…”
What on earth..?
What on earth should I do?
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