Chapter 234: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 234

"What the... is that?"

One of the heroes guarding the northernmost frontline of the city suddenly widened his eyes in surprise.

Up in the sky, something unknown was scattering starlight, flying rapidly from the city towards the outside.

Martina had set up an anti-air defense magic at the frontlines to prevent an attack by flying beasts, but that magic only targeted anything approaching the city from the outside.

It didn’t work on things flying out from the city.

“Captain Martina, I’ve spotted a suspicious flying object!”

Though the hero quickly reported what he had seen to his captain, 

“That light... could it be her?”

By the time Martina arrived after receiving the report, the starlight had already passed the barrier and was flying out beyond the city.

*

Meanwhile, up on the starlight, Sylvia, who was soaring through the sky and leaving the city behind, soon felt a change in the air against her skin, and her expression hardened.

Her instincts were screaming at her.

It’s dangerous from here on.

A cursed land filled with magic where nothing but witches and beasts could survive.

Looking around, not even a blade of grass, let alone any animals, could be seen. A normal person would collapse, coughing up blood, just from breathing the air.

For the first time in her life, Sylvia was experiencing the air outside the city, and she felt her body trembling in fear.

But that fear couldn’t turn her back.

If she went back now, just thinking of the situation Scarlet would face...

Shaking her head once to clear away her weak thoughts, Sylvia flew straight ahead.

The further she flew, the thicker the dark magic in the air became.

Even though the sun was shining in the cloudless sky, the dense magic in the air made everything feel dim.

Yet, even in such circumstances, Sylvia smiled bitterly and murmured to herself,

“At times like this... I’m glad I’m an Astra.”

Sylvia focused and reinforced the spirit power surrounding her body.

The Spirit of Stars, known to be the antithesis of magic.

The only reason she could move freely in this thick magic was because of that power.

If she hadn’t been an Astra, she wouldn’t have had this ability, and she wouldn’t have dared to come out of the city to save Scarlet.

In this moment, Sylvia was genuinely thankful that she had been born an Astra.

Even though that bloodline had caused her so much sorrow, at least in this moment.

Without stopping, Sylvia continued flying towards her destination.

Though the thick magic hung like mist, making it impossible to see far ahead, it didn’t matter.

Yoon Si-woo’s white dagger.

The Holy Sword of Truth, that dagger, was telling Sylvia where the owner of the ring she always carried close to her was.

However, there was one thing Sylvia didn’t know.

The Holy Sword of Truth had the ability to provide detailed information on someone’s status and location.

But to use that ability, a connection to the target through a medium was required.

For example, something like a strand of hair or a ring that had been stained with blood.

But Scarlet’s body had been transformed and reconstructed as a witch, so the remnants of her old body weren’t enough to establish a complete connection.

As a result, the Holy Sword of Truth could only tell Sylvia Scarlet’s current location.

It couldn’t inform her of Scarlet’s condition.

And that was why...

Why Sylvia couldn’t arrive sooner.

Why, when she did arrive, Scarlet was already a wreck at the hands of the extermination squad.

“Stop!!”

When Sylvia urgently shouted for them to stop,

It was after the First Elder’s sword had already pierced Scarlet’s neck.

And that was why...

“Ah...?”

With a face full of shock, the First Elder pulled his sword back from Scarlet’s half-severed neck, the blade dripping red with blood.

As the sword was withdrawn, Scarlet’s body slowly collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.

Sylvia, taking in the slow-motion scene unfolding before her eyes, stumbled towards Scarlet’s fallen body, clutching her hand, and muttered,

“Scarlet... please... open your eyes... no, right? It’s not, right?”

The voices of the people around her asking why Sylvia was there didn’t even register as she dazedly murmured to herself. Then, looking down, she noticed the warm sensation against her legs.

A pool of red had already formed, staining her legs.

Sylvia shuddered in terror.

The warmth of the red blood gushing from Scarlet’s neck,

And the way Scarlet’s body was growing cold in contrast,

Terrified Sylvia so much that she cried out, pleading desperately with Scarlet.

“Please... please open your eyes... no, it can’t be... it can’t...”

But despite her desperate pleas, Scarlet’s hand didn’t move.

Her face, gradually losing all signs of life.

Sylvia finally realized the truth.

She was too late.

Once again.

“Aaah! Aaaaahhhh!”

Sylvia’s voice rang out, full of despair, for she had rushed here with all her might but had failed to save her.

She had promised.

She had sworn that this time, she would help her.

Why, then, why again?

Overcome with regret and sorrow.

With grief and self-reproach.

Sylvia screamed.

At that moment,

[■■■■■■■■■!!!!]

A roar echoed from somewhere, and a massive ball of fire shot up from the center of the burned forest.

The fire took the form of a gigantic bird.

The massive ball of flame soared high into the sky before descending to where the people were gathered.

“Th-That’s...!”

“The Bird of the End...”

The extermination squad, their voices filled with shock and despair, could only whisper as they stared at the enormous flaming bird before them.

They knew what a terrifying presence stood before them and that once faced with it, surviving was no longer an option.

But those in the extermination squad had come prepared to die.

They stepped forward, shouting, determined to protect what they valued more than their own lives.

“Protect Lady Sylvia!!”

“Even if we die, we must ensure Lady Sylvia survives!”

[■■■■■■■■■!!!!]

The beast roared at them.

And for some reason, that roar reminded Sylvia of her own scream earlier, as she quietly thought to herself.

Maybe that beast is mourning, too.

Is it enraged because it’s sad?

The beast was preparing to unleash a furious wave of flame, as if declaring that none of them, not even Sylvia, would leave this place alive.

Sylvia felt it.

No matter how hard they tried, she and everyone else here would die to that beast.

And yet, she didn’t feel any fear or sadness. It felt almost like she was being punished.

As the flames of the beast began to bear down on them, Sylvia, with tears streaming down her face, gently embraced Scarlet’s lifeless body.

I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.

She murmured an apology that would no longer reach her.

And then,

Sylvia felt a faint push against her body.

*

Somewhere, a voice echoed.

I won’t forgive them,

I can’t forgive them.

The voice, filled with sadness, rang out inside her head.

When I raised my body, there was a child standing there, crying.

Perhaps because of the overwhelming sadness,

The child was furious with the people.

Standing in front of the child, I asked,

What made you so angry?

At my question, the child angrily replied,

I’m so angry I can’t bear it.

Those who hurt you,

I’m going to hurt them just as badly.

Realizing that the child was angry for my sake, I was grateful, but I gently told the child,

Just because you’re angry, doesn’t mean you should hurt people.

The child shouted in frustration.

How can you say that when they’ve hurt you again, giving you another wound that will never heal?

It’s not even the first time, but the second time, and I still remember how much you suffered because of them.

So why can’t I burn them all, just like back then?

At the child’s words, I shook my head.

When I did, the child yelled,

I’ve held back so much.

It’s already been 500 years since I’ve been wanting to storm in and burn them all.

At that, I asked the child,

Then why did you hold back?

The child, with a frustrated expression, answered reluctantly.

...Because you regretted hurting people the last time.

Hearing the child’s answer, I smiled bitterly and said,

Yes, I regretted it a lot.

I realized that no matter how much I lashed out in anger at people, in the end, I was the one who felt sad.

Stroking the child’s head as if to console them, I softly said,

This time, I don’t want to regret it like that.

So, could you hold back for just a little while longer?

At my request, the child looked at me with a complicated expression and asked,

Are you really okay with that?

I nodded.

Yes, I’m okay.

Then the child reluctantly nodded in agreement.

If that’s what you want, I’ll do as you say.

After staring at me silently for a moment, the child finally pulled me into a tight hug and murmured,

Don’t be in pain anymore,

You’ve already suffered so much.

I don’t want you to be in pain anymore.

Feeling the warmth from the child’s body easing my pain, I smiled and said,

Thank you, until next time.

[It was nice seeing you again.]

With those words, the child fluttered their wings and flew off somewhere.

*

I stood there for a moment, staring blankly at the sky, before turning around at the sense of people nearby.

Surrounding me, with complicated expressions on their faces, were

 people watching me.

I wondered what they were thinking as they looked at me.

Were they seeing me as the savior who rescued them from the beast?

Or as a monster, risen again thanks to the beast’s help, despite the fatal wound?

I couldn’t know.

But one thing was certain—no matter what they did, I wouldn’t harm them.

As those thoughts crossed my mind, I began to feel light-headed, my body swaying, perhaps due to the wound I had sustained earlier.

And that was when it happened.

Suddenly, there was a flash.

A bright light exploded out of nowhere, like a flashbang going off.

"Ugh..."

"What the... why now..."

The people grabbed their eyes in pain, disoriented by the unexpected burst of light.

Thanks to my sturdy body, I quickly recovered from the flash and opened my eyes to see...

"Though I’m late, it seemed like you were in trouble, so I came to help, Scarlet."

Before me, perched on a gathering of stars, was Sylvia, tears streaming down her face.

Sniffling, she wiped her tears with her sleeve, then stopped crying and extended her hand to me, as if urging me to hurry up.

“Let’s run away. Just the two of us.”

The last thing I saw before losing consciousness,

Was Sylvia’s tear-streaked, yet brightly smiling face.

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