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Chapter 93: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 93



Gently stroking the head of Rion, who had fallen asleep in my arms, I looked through her sketchbook filled with drawings she had made.


On the first page of the sketchbook was a drawing of a white-haired boy wielding a golden, glowing sword against a dark sky.


Even though it was a bit crooked like a child’s drawing, it resembled the moment from a few days ago when Yoon Si-woo defeated the monster with the Holy Sword of Radiance.


It was too coincidental to be just a coincidence.


This world is filled with countless unique individuals, and many people awaken their abilities unknowingly when they are young.


So, it wouldn’t be strange if Rion had some extraordinary abilities as well.


I flipped through the sketchbook and looked again at the drawing she said she made of me.


The drawing was filled with red flames, so much so that the new crayons she had used had already become dull.


And in the center of that drawing stood a woman with red hair, boldly wrapped in flames.


What could this drawing mean?


No matter how much I scrutinized it out of curiosity, all I could find was that, even in a world filled with flames, the woman was smiling.


*


"...And so, the evil and wicked Witch of Gluttony was finally defeated by the great hero Aegis. Thanks to him, people were able to live peacefully for a long time."


Sylvia was reading a storybook to the children, who had tired themselves out from playing.


The story of the great hero Aegis.


It was a famous story, so many of the children seemed to have heard it before. At first, some of the children didn’t show much interest, but who was Sylvia?


As she used her spirit magic to depict the journey of the great hero Aegis like a picture, the children cheered and focused intently on her story.


When the story ended, Sylvia closed the storybook, and as the children shared their thoughts, saying it was wonderful and fun, one child raised a hand and asked Sylvia a question.


“But Aegis isn’t here anymore. So, who will stop the witch if she comes back?”


“Oh, well, the other heroes who are here now...”


As Sylvia tried to answer the child’s question, which could be a bit tricky, a boy next to the questioning child shouted loudly.


“Dummy! Didn’t you see it on TV yesterday? Yoon Si-woo hyung will defeat all the witches!”


The boy, recalling the hero induction ceremony that was broadcast yesterday, stood up and swung a toy sword, modeled after the Holy Sword of Radiance, in the air.


“With the shining sword, like this, like this! So, there’s nothing to be afraid of with witches!”


Sylvia, momentarily taken aback by the boy’s shout, soon chuckled and said.


“That’s right. The strong Yoon Si-woo and the other heroes will protect you all, so you don’t need to worry. By the way, you must like Yoon Si-woo a lot.”


“He’s cool! The headmaster said Yoon Si-woo hyung grew up here too. So, I’m going to be a cool hero like him!”


“Hehe, I’m sure you will be. By the way, I used to sit next to Yoon Si-woo in the academy. Would you like to hear some stories about him?”


“Really?! I want to hear!”


The children showed an enthusiastic response to Sylvia’s offer to tell stories about Yoon Si-woo, focusing on her with bright eyes again.


Watching this scene, I felt like I shouldn’t be just sitting around.


It didn’t seem right to leave Sylvia alone to handle all the children, especially since we came here for volunteer work...


Despite the noisy children’s voices, Rion remained asleep in my arms, so I considered laying her down and going to help Sylvia, but,


“Don’t leave me alone...”


Even while sleeping, Rion tightly clutched my collar, refusing to let go.


What should I do? Is it okay for me to just stay like this...?


As I fretted restlessly, the headmaster, who had been watching Sylvia interact with the children with a satisfied smile, approached me.


Carefully, I asked the headmaster who sat next to me while holding Rion.


“Um, is it okay for me to just stay like this when I came to play with the children...?”


“Of course, it’s more than okay. You’re really helping us a lot right now.”


The headmaster answered with a gentle smile, lightly stroking Rion’s head as she slept in my arms.


“I was worried because Rion didn’t seem to want to open up to others. But it seems she’s opened up a bit to you, Scarlet. It’s a relief to know that she’s not completely shutting others out. I have hope that she’ll soon be able to get along with the other children as well. Thank you so much for coming today, Scarlet.”


As I listened to the headmaster’s gratitude and looked down at Rion’s sleeping face in my arms, I thought.


So, you’ve already opened your heart to me.


You want to form a connection with me.


I was so happy about that, but at the same time, I was worried about forming a new connection.


I remembered how I had nearly lost my sanity when facing the Witch of Sloth, half-consumed by the witch’s persona inside me.


Thankfully, I managed to get through it that time, but there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.


Would I be able to get through it safely next time?


What if, next time, I get consumed by the witch’s persona and end up burning my loved ones?


That was my worry and fear.


[Burn.]


The faint whisper of the witch echoed in my ears.


I forced myself to ignore it as I closed Rion’s sketchbook.


*


Rion, who had been sleeping in my arms for a long time, woke up just as it was time to wrap up the volunteer work and leave.


I carefully bid farewell to her, who was still half-asleep.


“I have to go now. Take care, Rion.”


Rion looked up at me, holding onto my sleeve lightly.


In her trembling eyes were sadness and regret.


Because of that, her tiny hand holding my sleeve felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.


It doesn’t take long for someone to form an attachment to someone else.


If she said she didn’t want me to go, it would be too hard to refuse.


But what came out of her small mouth was even harder to refuse.


“...Sis, will I see you again?”


Rion asked with a desperate expression.


How could I tell a child who had already experienced a farewell with no return that being close to me might not be good?


“...Yes, I’ll come again. I promise.”


So, I hooked my pinky finger with hers and made a promise.


The bright smile on the child’s face beyond that pinky promise felt far more important to me.


It was enough to think that this was good.


*


That night, after finishing other schedules, Sylvia suddenly visited my room.


“Um, is there something wrong?”


“...Do I have to come only when something’s wrong?”


“No, it’s not like that!”


I waved my hand, yelling as she responded with a disappointed tone when I asked why she came.


Living in someone else’s house, how could I complain about Sylvia visiting whenever she wanted?


As I shrank back, Sylvia sat on my bed and leaned back, looking at me with her head tilted.


“...Scarlet, I’m curious about something. Can I ask you?”


“Yes, go ahead.”


“Why do you speak formally to me? You don’t do that with others.”


I stiffened slightly at her question and answered.


“...That’s because you speak formally to me.”


“I do it out of habit with everyone, but you only do it with me... You spoke informally once before, remember? I liked it. It really felt like we were friends... But then you went back to being formal...”


...She was probably referring to the time right after we encountered the Witch of Sloth.


It was a mistake.


In the urgent situation, relying on her, I had forgotten to speak formally as I usually did.


Sylvia, slowly sitting up, muttered with sad eyes.


“...Is it because I’m not like Yoon Si-woo, Scarlet’s friend? Is it because you don’t think of me as a friend?”


Her sad face made my heart ache.


The reason I had spoken formally to her was to remind myself not to get too close, not to rely on her.


At first, it was out of guilt for using her, but eventually, it became a habit.


Sylvia was a girl who desperately wanted friends.


She would probably do anything for a friend’s request.


So, if I considered her a friend, gave her my heart, and relied on her.


I might end up making a request that would make her sad without realizing it.


Ah, to be honest, I’m anxious and worried, and I want to ask her too.


Like I asked Yoon Si-woo once, to kill me if I ever harm my precious connections.


But I’ve seen the expression Yoon Si-woo made when I asked him that.


Although it was a necessary insurance, I didn’t want to cause anyone that kind of sad expression again.


So, I had tried hard not to give my heart to Sylvia,


But affection is not something you can control just because you don’t want to give it.


“...No, Sylvia, it’s because you’re important to me.”


Her eyes widened at my words.


Seeing someone sad was this hard.


Affection was a terrifying thing.


“As you know, I’m not a normal person. I might end up hurting those around me... So, I wasn’t sure if it was okay


Not knowing when I might be consumed by the witch's persona.


It was like living with a ticking time bomb, always a nerve-wracking experience.


But if there was a way to prevent that bomb from harming those around me, if a day came when I could live without fear.


Then, I would be able to talk comfortably with Sylvia.


With that in mind, I held Sylvia's hand and made a request.


"...Will you wait until I can speak to you comfortably in informal speech?"


Sylvia responded with a joyful smile.


"...I’m good at waiting."


Seeing her smile, I felt that this was enough.



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