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Chapter 221: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 221



Sylvia, who had pushed herself to the brink of collapse and attended an emergency meeting, finally returned to her mansion. Now lying on her bed, she thought absentmindedly.


It’s exhausting.


She felt like she might collapse from fatigue at any moment.


Yet, despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t sleep.


‘I’ll overlook it this time. But don’t say anything you can’t take responsibility for next time. Responsibility is a heavy thing.’


“Ugh…”


Over and over again.


The memory replayed in her mind.


Her inability to say anything when told to kill Scarlet kept haunting her.


Was she regretting it?


It was laughable.


Even if she asked herself what she should have done instead, she couldn’t come up with a proper answer.


Biting her lips in self-deprecation, she suddenly heard a distant "boom, boom."


The faint sound of something exploding reached her ears.


With her blurry eyes, which looked like they could fade at any moment, Sylvia glanced outside the window.


The night sky was filled with fireworks.


On any other day, she might have enjoyed such a rare sight, but not tonight.


There was no way she could enjoy it.


Because she knew that those fireworks meant Scarlet was being pursued right now.


Sylvia frowned and drew the curtains closed.


Though she could no longer see outside, the sound of fireworks continued.


Just as covering the sky with one’s hand doesn’t make the stars and moon disappear, turning her eyes away didn’t change the fact that Scarlet was being hunted.


The sound ringing in her ears seemed to hammer home that fact.


Listening to the noise, which endlessly triggered her guilt, was unbearable.


She wished she could find some relief from the torment, even just a little.


With that thought, Sylvia squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears.


And so, silence came.


“…”


But even though she could no longer hear the sound, her heart didn’t feel any lighter.


“Ugh…”


On the contrary, she suddenly felt a pang of fear.


What if, during the time she had blocked her ears, the sound had stopped?


It was an utterly contradictory emotion.


‘I don’t want to hear it,’ she thought.


But at the same time, she found herself hoping, ‘Still, I hope the sound doesn’t stop.’


It couldn’t be helped.


Because if the sound stopped, it would mean there was no longer a need to pursue Scarlet.


And even though she could simply remove her hands and check if the noise had really ceased, her hands, which covered her ears, refused to budge.


Part of her was afraid of hearing the sound, but…


What if, when she removed her hands, she really heard nothing?


“Ugh, sniff…”


So, Sylvia, still covering her ears, trembled and sobbed for a long time.


She didn’t know how much time had passed.


Collapsed as if she had fainted, Sylvia, lying face down on the bed, eventually sensed something vibrating nearby and slowly lifted herself up.


[─────]


Through the hands that had long since lost strength, she heard a familiar beeping sound.


It was the communication device ringing.


Peeking through her half-closed eyes, she saw the communicator had fallen to the floor and was vibrating noisily.


Hesitating for a moment, she wondered if it was urgent, and released her hands from her ears to pick it up.


[─Ah, ah, can you all hear me...?]


It was Mei’s voice, using the line designated for the first-year students, calling everyone.


Once enough people had joined the line, she began to speak.


[It looks like everyone who can join is here, so I’ll start. Remember how I asked Dwight to follow Jessie earlier? I was worried she might do something reckless, and before we parted ways, Dwight used a sight-sharing spell on me.]


Hearing Mei’s words, Sylvia tensed up.


[Thanks to that, I just saw it… Scarlet, that girl.]


Hearing the name slip out, Sylvia gasped without realizing it.


Did something happen to her?


Panicking, she pressed her ear to the communicator.


[I thought I should let you know what I saw, so I called everyone. I’m going to tell you what I saw, so…]


What followed left Sylvia even more bewildered.


Scarlet, who didn’t resist even when attacked by Jessie.


Scarlet, who stopped Jessie, even though she was exhausting herself by repeatedly attacking.


[That’s all I saw.]


Scarlet was exactly the same as the girl Sylvia knew.


It was a story too unbelievable to accept.


After all, Scarlet had lost her reason and even tried to hurt Yoon Si-woo, going so far as to attempt to burn her, too.


[She looked just like the Scarlet I know. Seeing that, I started thinking that Maybe hurting Yoon Si-woo was just an unfortunate accident. But if we leave her as she is, she’ll be captured and executed…]


But if Mei’s story was true.


If Scarlet was still the same girl she knew…


Then what on earth should I do—


[...So what are we supposed to do about it?]


At that moment, someone muttered from the communicator, as if they had read her thoughts.


At those words, Mei spoke with hesitation in her voice.


[Ugh... so, I just think that if she’s still our friend, we can’t let her die—]


[So, are you saying we should help her now?]


A cold voice cut through the air, followed by a moment of silence.


After a brief pause, the same student who had spoken earlier continued.


[Everyone, get a grip. Mei, I know what you’re feeling! But Scarlet is a witch, and we’re supposed to take her down! What you’re suggesting isn’t just disobeying orders, it’s treason! You all know how serious a crime that is!]


The student’s words were aimed at the others, who were confused by Mei’s suggestion to help Scarlet, trying to remind them of the absurdity of it.


Mei, clearly aware of the gravity of the situation, responded with a voice laced with hidden hesitation.


[I know... but, but…]


[But what! Is there any reason for us to risk everything just to help her?!]


The student shouted back at Mei, his voice tinged with frustration, as if asking what they could possibly do in the face of reality.


And it was true.


It wasn’t as though they didn’t want to help Scarlet, the girl who had once been an invaluable friend to them.


But the fear of what would happen afterward made them face reality.


They couldn’t bear the consequences of taking that risk, and it made them give up and abandon that desire.


It wasn’t shameful—it was the obvious thing to do.


Even though it was the obvious thing to do.


[There is…]


Mei.


That girl, and only that girl.


[There is a reason!]


She shouted.


It wasn’t the obvious thing, and giving up wasn’t right.


She shouted that aloud.


[It’s in the Hero’s Oath. A hero must never abandon a comrade, no matter the circumstances.]


Her words were idealistic.


Words that ignored reality, spoken aloud only to be ridiculed as foolish, but Mei said them anyway.


[We’re aspiring heroes. So, at the very least, those of us who are Scarlet’s comrades, we can’t abandon her!]


But no one could laugh at her words.


She wasn’t a prodigy, just someone with awkward talents.


Yet, despite her shortcomings, she had pursued the path of a hero more earnestly than anyone else.


Because they knew how steadfastly she had walked that path, aiming for a profession that embodied ideals.


[Anyway, even if it’s just me, I’m going to do it. Well, Dwight said he’d join me, so it’ll be the two of us.]


There was surely fear in her as well.


But Mei spoke with a resolute voice, unwavering in her conviction.


[...You’re seriously crazy. How are you going to deal with the aftermath?]


One student muttered that she was crazy.


Sylvia thought the same.


How could she deal with the aftermath? How could she take responsibility for this?


At the same time, Sylvia wondered how Mei could act like that.


The answer could be found in what she had said earlier.


‘A hero must never abandon a comrade, no matter the circumstances!’


Mei could act that way because she still considered Scarlet a comrade.


Because she still trusted Scarlet that much.


Sylvia’s thoughts trailed off at that point, and she muttered to herself.


“...I still have a long way to go.”


She smiled bitterly.


When had it been?


Was it back when they rescued Scarlet after she had been kidnapped by Sator?


Back when she first learned who Scarlet really was, she, too, had said the same words as Mei.


A hero must never abandon a comrade, no matter the circumstances.


She had once prided herself on her belief in Scarlet, convinced that her faith in her friend was unshakable.


Faith.


Yes, faith.


When had she stopped believing in Scarlet?


It was because Scarlet had lost her reason and tried to burn her alive, hurting Yoon Si-woo in the process.


In that moment, she wasn’t Scarlet.


That much was undoubtedly true.


But if what Mei said was true—that Scarlet had regained her senses afterward—


Then perhaps it was thanks to someone who, just like her, believed in Scarlet just as strongly.


Sylvia recalled Yoon Si-woo’s back, walking into the flames without hesitation, determined to keep his promise with Scarlet, despite her attempts to stop him.


The belief he held in Scarlet as one of her comrades…


The thought that someone like Yoon Si-woo couldn’t have been defeated so easily by a witch began to stir within her.


Yes, it made much more sense to think that Yoon Si-woo had fought with everything he had to bring Scarlet back.


It might just be wishful thinking, but somehow, it felt right.


Once that thought settled in, Sylvia found herself laughing at her own behavior.


Yoon Si-woo, Mei…


They all still believed in Scarlet.


“…I can’t let myself fall behind, either.”


With that murmur, Sylvia took a deep breath.


Sylvia felt as if the fog clouding her mind had slightly lifted.


She manipulated the communicator and spoke up.


“You’re right. Mei is right. A hero abandoning their comrades—it’s unthinkable.”


[Si…Sylvia?]


Hearing her agree with Mei, the students were visibly startled, their reactions making Sylvia chuckle softly.


She was sick of being paralyzed by the weight of responsibility, unable to act.


As the heir to the Astra family, her position had always demanded she act like an adult. But the truth was, she was still a student. 


Now, she could speak freely.


“I’m going to help Scarlet, too.”


Choosing the idealistic path, the one that doesn’t compromise with reality.


Because, after all—


“I’m Scarlet’s comrade.”


If students didn’t dream of ideals, then no one else in the world could speak of them.


Saying it out loud brought a sense of relief.


But she wasn’t done yet.


“And I have a favor to ask of all of you.”


Sylvia addressed the others, those who hadn’t yet spoken but were surely harboring the same thoughts.


“Can you trust Scarlet, just this once?”


She asked them to join her in upholding their ideals.


[...What are you all planning? If you do this, we won’t just be expelled—we’ll all be labeled as criminals!]


Of course, the reaction wasn’t positive.


This wasn’t the kind of situation where they could just act recklessly.


But Sylvia could sense it.


They were all hesitating, uncertain.


They just hadn’t made up their minds yet.


So, she said—


“I’ll take responsibility. Will that be enough?”


She made herself the key to their decision.


Responsibility—it was such a terrifying word.


But hadn’t she once told Scarlet?


That if the time ever came when Scarlet needed her help, she’d do everything in her power to support her.


She hadn’t forgotten that.


And now, she believed that this was the time.


[But… even if you say that…]


The students wavered, still unable to make up their minds.


Even though Sylvia had said she’d take responsibility, they all knew it wasn’t something that could be handled so easily.


And in truth, Sylvia hadn’t fully thought through the consequences either.


Still, with a face showing no sign of worry, Sylvia asked calmly.


“So, what will you do?”


* * *


The time had come.


Sylvia pulled back the curtains that covered the window and looked outside.


What she saw was the pitch-black night sky.


It seemed desolate and lonely at first glance.


[Everyone, now!!!]


[Alright, fire!!]


[Screw it! Whatever happens, happens!]


The voices from the communicator rang out in unison.


Boom! Boom! Boom!


With loud explosions, dozens of fireworks lit up the night sky.


A spectacle created by everyone working together.


Convincing the students? Had that ever even been a real concern?


[Ha ha! Hey, look at the sky! How could anyone ignore that?!]


[...Hey, you. Weren’t you the one complaining just a moment ago?]


[That was then, this is now! If we’re going to do it, we might as well go all in!]


They had hesitated, yes, but after all, they were aspiring heroes.


At their core, they were bound to pursue ideals.


After all, if they weren’t such fools, they wouldn’t have chosen to become heroes in the first place.


[Do you think Scarlet managed to escape?]


[Dwight will have escorted her just fine. Hey, after all this, she owes us at least one meal, don’t you think?]


[If she has any conscience, she will. But now that we’ve done this, I’m starting to worry about the aftermath…]


[Hey, don’t ruin the mood. Just enjoy the moment!]


Sure, there were responsibilities to bear and consequences looming.


A mountain of concerns lay ahead.


But somehow, in this moment, everything felt so light, so peaceful.


Listening to the noisy chatter, Sylvia chuckled softly, watching the fireworks they had launched.


And with a quiet voice, she whispered to herself:


“See you next time, Scarlet.”


------------------------


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Comments

  1. 😔😟🥰

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  2. tfnc :33 This friendship is so amazing :'((

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