Chapter: 321
“Yoon Si-woo…”
Trusting himself, he asked me to wait just a moment before charging at the enemy.
Watching him run off, his body wrapped in self-consuming power, I felt my insides burning with anxiety and impatience.
The reason I was so nervous wasn’t just because Yoon Si-woo was wielding the dangerous power of a witch.
I looked in the direction he was running, sword raised high.
There, from within the smoke, a giant demonic beast’s shape loomed hazily.
A monster I couldn’t even scratch with all my power.
My heart trembled as I watched Yoon Si-woo rush toward such a formidable opponent when suddenly a thought struck me.
Wait a minute.
Does Yoon Si-woo even know what kind of abilities the enemy possesses…?
Oh no.
He probably had no clue.
I had been so flustered that I failed to pass on the information to him.
“Wait, hold on…! Yoon Si-woo…!”
Realizing my critical mistake too late, I shouted with wide eyes, but Yoon Si-woo was already launching himself at the demonic beast before my voice even reached him.
At that moment, I couldn’t help but imagine him, just like the fury beasts before, disappearing without a sound.
I closed my eyes tight in despair, picturing Yoon Si-woo being trampled like a bug along with Ari, who lay on the ground, wingless.
Kaaang—!!!
Just then, the unexpected sound of impact jolted me back to reality.
What I saw first was Yoon Si-woo bouncing away from the clash.
Fortunately, he seemed to be unharmed.
Damn, thank the gods…
“What the…?!”
In contrast to my relief, Yoon Si-woo appeared horrified that his attack hadn’t affected the enemy at all.
He must have been oblivious to how dangerous the situation he had just faced really was.
I yelled to him, desperately trying to warn him in case he hadn’t realized.
“Yoon Si-woo, be careful…! That thing has the ability to reject interference…! Attacks won’t work, and anything that touches it will be erased…!”
“Rejects interference…?”
Hearing about the enemy’s abilities, Yoon Si-woo reacted almost like I did when I first learned about Beatrice’s power.
Such a nearly invincible ability must have seemed utterly absurd.
Moreover, it was the first opponent he faced where his attacks didn’t work at all, adding to his confusion.
Since Yoon Si-woo had never faced the witch of gluttony before, this was likely the first time he encountered an opponent completely outside Lucy’s ability to cut through everything.
Still, it was a relief that at least Yoon Si-woo wasn’t completely erased by the enemy’s ability, unlike the others who fell before.
At any rate, Yoon Si-woo had now realized the impossible nature of defeating the enemy.
So, I thought to suggest that we give up for today and retreat.
Unfortunately, that was the only option left, and I wanted to relay this to Yoon Si-woo.
However,
“Ah…?”
I saw him gripping his sword.
Despite just witnessing the futility of his attacks, Yoon Si-woo stood up once more, clutching that sword.
Looking at him, I found myself mumbling in disbelief.
Why? Why isn’t he giving up?
We just saw it. We can’t do anything at all.
So why, why?
The opponent’s power was so unreasonable that I couldn’t help but think our resistance was futile.
Thus, this was a reckless act that I should stop.
At the same time, I found myself holding out hope against my better judgment.
After all, he told me to trust him.
[It’s not too late. I’ll somehow make it work.]
Always.
[Come back, Scarlet.]
Always.
Every time I thought about giving up, he was there to miraculous save me.
He told me to believe in him; maybe this time he could make something happen too.
“……”
So perhaps that’s why.
I couldn’t stop Yoon Si-woo as I watched his back yet again blocking the path of the demonic beast.
Yoon Si-woo raised his sword toward the beast.
Even I, who had no knowledge about swords, could feel how beautiful and elegant his stance was.
In that state, Yoon Si-woo silently drew his sword down.
As though he were telling me not to give up.
As if to say he believed in me.
Once again, I found myself watching Yoon Si-woo, who would cut through the impossible like it was something radiant.
-■■■■■■■!!!
With a rustling sound, a long scar appeared on the previously indestructible leg of the beast.
From that wound, crimson blood burst forth like a waterfall, and the beast bellowed in rage, realizing it had been wounded.
Simultaneously, as if the power that had been concealed out of anger was suddenly released, the true form of the beast was revealed.
It was a creature that could only be described as immense.
Resembling a half-elephant, half-rhinoceros, it gazed down on Yoon Si-woo with eyes that were dozens of times bigger than his body.
The very ground shook under the fury of this colossal being, but Yoon Si-woo stood firm, unwavering, raising his sword toward the beast.
“Come at me. This time, I’ll behead not just your leg but your neck.”
-■■■■■■!!!
Having received a scratch from what was practically a speck of dust to it, the beast was further provoked by the challenge.
The truly furious monster lifted its leg to stomp on Yoon Si-woo.
But just then,
“Bai, stop.”
At that moment, a soft voice rang out, freezing all movements.
The voice belonged to Beatrice, who had been quietly observing us from nearby.
Then, Yoon Si-woo, who had been confronting the beast, slowly turned his head towards Beatrice.
It wasn’t just because her single word had stopped the beast.
It was the overwhelming aura she radiated that made everyone forget about the giant beast, reminding us that the true threat in that place was none other than her.
And as I gazed into Beatrice’s eyes, which captured the focus of everyone, I swallowed hard.
“How dare you hurt Bai. You’re interesting. I might find this a little engaging.”
Unlike before, when her expression had been empty, her gaze now possessed a slight spark of interest as she looked at Yoon Si-woo.
A chill ran down my spine.
Her gaze felt like that of a curious child observing an ant crawling on the ground.
“If so, I might have a tiny chance, a one-penny possibility with Eva.”
Beatrice murmured that and then redirected her gaze from Yoon Si-woo to me.
At that moment, Yoon Si-woo positioned himself to shield me from her gaze.
“……”
Even though I couldn’t see her directly because of Yoon Si-woo blocking my view, I could feel Beatrice’s eyes staring piercingly at him.
The tension was so thick it felt suffocating when the previously still beast snorted, turning its attention to Beatrice.
“That’s enough. Even if not now, we’ll end up fighting soon enough.”
Then Beatrice said that and continued speaking to us with her usual languid tone.
“It’s been a while since I saw something entertaining, so I’ll let things slide for today. Don’t forget what I said. We’ll see each other again later, Eva.”
As Beatrice spoke, the beast’s massive nose coiled around her, lifting her into the air.
In an instant, the beast took her atop its back and vanished, disappearing before our eyes.
“……”
…Did it just leave? Really?
Still in shock about Beatrice’s departure, I stood there blankly.
Slowly, Yoon Si-woo approached me, offering something.
-peeep…
What Yoon Si-woo handed to me was Ari, who appeared smaller and was panting as if trying to recover her drained energy.
The moment I felt the warmth of Ari in my hands, the tension released, and I plopped down on the ground.
“Ah… ugh, sob…”
At the same time, tears burst forth as I thought about the dead demonic beasts and felt relieved that at least Ari was alive.
And I realized that Ari’s survival was thanks to Yoon Si-woo.
If it hadn’t been for his help, I would never feel this warmth again, and I wept as I expressed my gratitude to him.
“Thank you… thank you, Yoon Si-woo… If you weren’t here…”
While I was crying and trying to compose myself, Yoon Si-woo silently stayed by my side.
Finally, as I stopped crying, Yoon Si-woo gently asked me.
“…Scarlet, could you tell me what happened with those guys earlier?”
“Well…”
I explained everything to Yoon Si-woo.
About the current situation where we couldn’t stop the Witch of Gluttony without obtaining the sacred remnants.
Also, about the hide-and-seek story Beatrice had told me and how if we didn’t find her and take her down, it would mean the end for all of us.
After sharing all that with Yoon Si-woo,
“……”
I realized what the one and only way to resolve this situation was.
And it seemed Yoon Si-woo came to the same realization.
But still, I couldn’t say it.
I’d seen Yoon Si-woo injure the demonic beast.
I knew his strength was our only hope to take down Beatrice.
Yet, barely recovering from a state of collapse, and feeling pale after just using his strength moments ago.
How could I say it?
At that moment, I felt Yoon Si-woo’s gaze on me.
He was quietly looking at me.
Silently urging me.
His gaze.
But I couldn’t say it.
I shook my head.
“But… but…”
I stammered, making excuses.
However, Yoon Si-woo didn’t scold me.
He didn’t get angry.
“Scarlet.”
He just looked at me with a soft, understanding gaze and quietly called my name.
It was a single word that shattered all my defenses.
“…Yoon Si-woo.”
So in the end, I had no choice but to speak.
As he wished.
As we needed to.
“Please help… I need your strength to save everyone…”
To ask for his help.
As always, to ask him to sacrifice himself.
Yet even with such a cruel request,
Yoon Si-woo smiled and replied.
“Gladly.”
As always, he would gladly do so.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.