Chapter 175: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat
Chapter 175
"Si-woo, I think it’s time you head home and get some rest."
"Huh? But there’s still so much cleanup left to do..."
After confirming that all the demonic beasts released into the city had been defeated, Yoon Si-woo was flustered when Eve told him to go home and rest.
A quick glance around showed the chaos caused by the rampaging beasts; the area was a complete mess.
With so much to clean up and restore, they needed every available hand, so being told to go home at a time like this didn’t make sense.
When he asked why, Eve gave a wry smile and said,
"But Si-woo, even though you’re pretending to be fine, you’re pretty exhausted, aren’t you?"
"...How did you know?"
"I may not look like it, but I am still a teacher, you know."
"......"
Since she had hit the nail on the head, Si-woo couldn’t argue.
He was quite tired, just as she had said.
The regenerative abilities of the Holy Sword and the emergency use of Lucy’s power had taken a heavy toll on his stamina.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was just going to obediently go rest.
Even though he was tired, his body was still protected by the blessings of the Holy Sword.
His stamina recovered much faster than that of an ordinary person, so this kind of fatigue would fade after a little time.
"...I’m not tired enough to need rest. There won’t be any more fights, so I can help with the cleanup."
Si-woo tried to reassure her, but Eve spoke firmly.
"It’s okay. We can manage the cleanup with the other people, even without your help."
"But..."
"Si-woo."
Eve suddenly called his name and slowly turned to face him.
Si-woo could see it then.
His mentor looking at him with eyes full of sorrow, her expression brimming with guilt.
"Before long, there will be so many things Si-woo will have to do, and I won’t be able to help you then."
"......"
"So, just take it easy today. Please, go home and rest, okay?"
From her expression, Si-woo could feel the deep remorse of having placed such a heavy burden on him.
Si-woo nodded silently, hoping to ease even a little of the guilt Eve felt towards him.
*
When Si-woo finally returned home after a long time, he noticed a pair of shoes at the entrance that didn’t belong to him.
Scarlet. He had brought her to the shelter earlier after she had passed out.
It seemed like she had woken up and made it back.
...She had bled so much; I wonder if she’s okay now.
Knock, knock.
"...Scarlet, are you in there?"
He cautiously knocked on the door to check on her condition, but there was no response.
Logically, she was probably just exhausted and sleeping.
Turning away from the door, Si-woo hesitated and returned to stand in front of it.
What if she wasn’t answering because she wasn’t in good shape?
The thought crossed his mind, and suddenly he couldn’t stop worrying.
Given the severity of her injuries earlier, it felt reckless to leave without confirming she was okay.
But barging into a sleeping girl’s room without permission was… well...
Si-woo’s mind weighed his concern for Scarlet against the question of whether it was ethically right.
It wasn’t hard to see which side would win.
"...Sorry for intruding, just for a moment."
...Just to check on her condition, nothing more.
Muttering this to himself, Si-woo carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
As soon as he entered, he saw Scarlet sprawled on her bed, sleeping as if she’d passed out.
...Maybe I was just overthinking it, he thought, turning to leave the room.
“Hngh...”
A faint groan escaped from Scarlet.
Clearly, it was a sound of pain.
“...! She’s burning up…”
Si-woo repositioned her properly on the bed and noticed her body was drenched in cold sweat.
He placed a hand on her forehead and felt the heat radiating from it.
It was obvious she wasn’t okay.
Realizing this, he hoisted her up, intending to rush her to the hospital, but stopped before even leaving the room. He couldn’t let anyone see her in this condition.
If anyone were to get suspicious, it could lead to troublesome situations.
So, instead, he quickly grabbed a cold towel and placed it on her forehead to help bring down her fever.
That was all he could do for her.
“...Damn it.”
The curse slipped out unconsciously.
His hands trembled with anxiety.
What if something went wrong with her? The thought wouldn’t leave his mind.
Desperate to do more, he looked around the room, spotting Scarlet drenched in sweat.
It’d be best to wipe her down, wouldn’t it?
He used a dry towel to gently wipe the sweat off her face, and then he noticed how soaked her clothes were.
It’d be better to clean her body too.
Trying to maintain some semblance of respect, he kept his eyes closed as he slipped the towel under her clothes to wipe away the sweat.
It was harder than he had imagined.
Si-woo’s senses were sharper than most due to the Holy Sword’s blessing.
Perhaps that’s why.
The feel of her skin through the towel.
The sound of her ragged breaths.
The faint scent of her sweat.
It all clouded his mind, making him fear he’d start having inappropriate thoughts even in this emergency.
Filled with a sudden wave of self-loathing, Si-woo stopped wiping her down.
What am I even doing?
Cursing himself, he was about to change the now-warm towel on her forehead when—
As he stood up to head toward the kitchen where the fridge was, he felt a weak tug on his collar.
When he turned, he saw Scarlet clinging to his shirt.
"...Please, don’t leave me alone."
The trembling girl, crying softly, looked just like a child.
Si-woo sighed inwardly.
So different from the strong exterior she always showed to the world.
Inside the girl was such a fragile side hidden beneath her exterior.
And he already knew this.
He remembered the day when she had tried to end her own life and the vulnerable side she had shown him.
That’s why he vowed to protect her.
Despite her fear of being alone, her overwhelming dread, she pushed forward without giving up.
She shone so brightly, undaunted by anything.
If he could protect that light, he was willing to do anything.
Recalling that promise to himself, Yoon Si-woo gently whispered to the trembling girl.
“...Don’t worry. I won’t go anywhere.”
If you want me to, I will stay by your side for the rest of my life.
As he made this vow and gently stroked her head, she seemed to relax, showing a look of relief.
Si-woo stayed by her side for hours.
He changed the cold towel on her forehead and wiped her body, which had been struggling earlier.
This time, there were no confusing feelings in his touch.
He simply tended to her as a watchman keeps vigil over a fire, sincerely wishing for her light not to fade.
Perhaps his earnest care reached her because, eventually, her fever significantly subsided, and she fell into a peaceful sleep.
*
After leaving the orphanage and finding a place to live, Si-woo had spent his life with Lucy.
Since Lucy, residing within his sword, didn’t need to eat, he had never cooked for anyone.
So, this porridge he was making for the sick Scarlet was the first time in his life he had ever cooked for someone.
As he stirred the porridge, Si-woo realized that cooking for someone, although a small gesture, required a certain consideration for the person you were cooking for.
Ever since Scarlet had come to live in this house, he had casually enjoyed the meals she made.
Scarlet never asked for gratitude.
She simply said it was something she was supposed to do.
Maybe it was because she was someone with that kind of thoughtfulness naturally ingrained in her.
As he mused over these thoughts while cooking, Scarlet walked into the kitchen.
Fortunately, she seemed to be feeling better, and Si-woo served her the porridge he had made for the first time.
He was nervous about whether it would suit her taste, but when she smiled, said it was delicious, and thanked him, he felt an indescribable joy, as if he could float away.
He wondered if she had felt this way every time he said her food was good.
Lost in his thoughts, Scarlet spoke with a worried expression.
“...Hey, I saw the broadcast. They said you were the one who defeated the witch.”
Si-woo shrugged and replied that it just turned out that way, that he did it because he could.
Scarlet likely understood, but she kept glancing at him with a look of concern, clearly worried about him.
While he appreciated her care, he didn’t want to see that worried expression on her face, so he deliberately changed the subject.
“Oh, by the way, there’s something not publicly known yet, but it seems like I’m going to be made a squad leader.”
“...A squad leader? Really?”
“Yeah, it’s almost confirmed.”
Even Si-woo was still taken aback by the enormity of the news, so he was curious about how Scarlet would react.
Would she be surprised? Happy?
As he waited for her response, Scarlet’s expression darkened suddenly.
Wondering why she looked like that, Si-woo remembered the promise they had made.
The promise that he would come to protect her whenever she was in danger.
Given how she had trembled earlier, holding so much anxiety inside, she might be worried that if he became a squad leader, he wouldn’t be able to keep that promise.
With that in mind, Si-woo quickly spoke up to ease her concern.
“Oh... don’t worry! Even if I become a squad leader, I’ll always come to protect you if you’re in danger, just like today—”
“Si-woo.”
She cut him off abruptly, calling his name, and Si-woo fell silent.
There was something serious about her demeanor.
She hesitated, then asked him a question.
“If there are people you need to save right in front of you... and you find out I’m in danger, what would you do?”
Si-woo stared at her.
He already knew his answer.
He had promised and resolved to protect her.
He was about to say that.
“Si-woo.”
She called his name again.
Si-woo felt as if she knew what he was going to say.
And as if she truly did know, she slowly shook her head and murmured.
“You can’t do that.”
“......”
“I appreciate you trying to keep our promise, but you can’t do that anymore.”
Those words felt like someone was squeezing his heart.
He wanted to scream, "Why?"
He had seen it.
Her vulnerable side.
The way she had pleaded with him not to leave her, to stay.
Remembering that moment, seeing her like this now, was hard for him.
But before he could say anything, she continued.
“Si-woo, I’m always grateful to you. You’ve helped me so much. You’re my hero. But now, more and more people are going to be looking at you. Remember what I once asked you?”
“......”
She had made many requests of him, but the one he held most dearly was when she had told him she believed in him.
Even though she hadn’t said it out loud, he knew how hard it was for her, how scared she was.
She had silently pleaded with tears, asking him to help her.
That was the request Si-woo valued most.
But she said,
“Be a hero for everyone. Not a hero who prioritizes someone, but one who prioritizes as many people as possible.”
She wasn’t asking him to prioritize her anymore; she was asking him to prioritize everyone.
It was unbearably sad.
So he asked her.
He already knew the answer.
“...Even though you’re so afraid of being alone.”
The image of her trembling came to his mind.
“...Even though you were terrified this time when you almost died.”
Her fragility, hidden behind a strong facade.
“Then why...”
He knew, and so he asked.
Why, why don’t you prioritize yourself?
She answered with a bitter smile.
“Because it scares me so much more, and I hate the thought of you coming to save me instead of the people you need to.”
A sigh escaped him.
If you want me to, I would prioritize you over anyone else.
But is that truly what you want?
“...Are you really okay with that?”
He asked, and she nodded without hesitation.
Seeing that, he realized once again who she was.
Her gaze urged him to answer.
That gaze felt so painfully heavy.
“...Right. You’ve always been like this.”
Unable to bear the pain, he nodded.
And, as she always did, she said,
“...Thank you.”
Si-woo thought to himself.
She truly was like a hero.
Like the heroes in stories who pursued the right path without end.
He admired that about her; he liked that about her.
But today, her righteousness felt unbearably cruel.
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