“Si-woo, it’s best to head back and rest for today.”

“Pardon? But there’s still a lot left to wrap up…”

After confirming that all the Lesser Demonic Beasts wreaking havoc in the city had been defeated, Yoon Si-woo was taken aback by Eve’s suggestion to return and rest.

A quick glance around revealed a chaotic scene, thanks to the rampaging beasts.

With the situation requiring immediate cleanup and restoration, it seemed a missed opportunity to leave when every hand was needed.

Confused, he asked, and Eve responded with a wry smile.

“But, Si-woo. Even if you’re trying to act fine, you’re actually quite exhausted, aren’t you?”

“…How did you know?”

“Even if I look this way, I am still your teacher.”

“…”

The words struck directly, leaving him unable to counter.

She was right; he was indeed quite tired.

The inherent regeneration of the Holy Sword was one thing, and the usage of Lucy’s ability in an emergency had drained a significant amount of his stamina.

However, that didn’t mean he was inclined to simply go off and rest.

Despite his fatigue, he was still under the blessing of the Holy Sword.

His recovery speed was notably faster than that of ordinary people; with just a little time, he would recover from this level of exhaustion.

“It’s not like I need to rest. There won’t be any more combat, so I can help with the cleanup.”

Upon saying that, Eve spoke with a firm tone.

“It’s fine. Even without your help, the others can manage with the cleanup.”

“But…”

“Si-woo.”

Suddenly, as she called his name, Eve turned her gaze slowly toward him.

And Yoon Si-woo observed.

Her expression was full of regret, looking at him with sorrowful eyes.

“Before long, you’ll have plenty of things you need to do, Si-woo. At that time, I won’t be able to help you.”

“…”

“So, please, just rest today. Understood?”

Feeling a weight of guilt for placing such a heavy responsibility on him through her words, Yoon Si-woo silently nodded.

He hoped that, even just a little, her sense of guilt towards him might lighten.

*

After returning home for the first time in a while, Yoon Si-woo noticed a pair of unfamiliar shoes at the entrance.

Scarlet had fallen asleep earlier and he had brought her to the shelter.

Seeing these shoes, it seemed she had regained consciousness.

…After losing so much blood, is her body okay now?

Knock knock.

“Scarlet, are you there?”

He knocked gently on the door to check on her condition, but there was no response.

Logically, she was probably just asleep from exhaustion.

Just as he turned to leave the door, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

What if she was unable to respond because she felt unwell?

With that thought, his worries began to escalate rapidly.

Given the severity of her earlier injuries, it felt too risky to leave without confirming if she was truly okay.

However, entering the room of a woman who might be sleeping without permission felt a bit… inappropriate.

Inside Yoon Si-woo, concerns for Scarlet and hesitations about whether this was ethically okay weighed heavily.

Yet, it didn’t take him long to decide which weight on that scale was heavier.

“……Excuse me for a moment.”

…Just checking on her condition, that’s all.

Muttering to himself, he carefully opened Scarlet’s door and stepped inside.

Upon entering, he saw her sprawled out on the bed, seemingly unconscious.

…Was I wrong to think she was okay?

Just as he was about to leave the room, a sound broke the silence.

“Ugh…”

Scarlet emitted a groan.

Clearly, it sounded like she was in pain.

“…! She’s burning up…”

He quickly turned her over from her side and found her entire body drenched in cold sweat.

Touching her forehead lightly, he could feel the heat emanating from it.

Any onlooker would agree that she was not well at all.

Realizing this, he immediately intended to carry her to the hospital, but before he could exit the room, he recalled that he shouldn’t show her condition to others.

If someone suspected something strange, it could lead to complications.

For now, he placed a cold towel on her forehead to try to lower her fever.

That was all he could do.

She was suffering, but that was the extent of what he could provide.

“……Damn it.”

Unconsciously, a curse slipped from his lips.

His hands trembled with anxiety.

If something were to happen to her…such thoughts wouldn’t leave his mind.

So, he felt compelled to do something more, searching for ways to help when he noticed her sweating profusely again.

Perhaps wiping her down would be a good idea.

Thinking that, he took a dry towel and began to wipe the cold sweat from her face, only to notice that her clothes were drenched as well.

Her body needed a wipe down, too.

As a matter of basic decency, he decided to slide the towel beneath her clothes to dry off the sweat.

However, it proved to be more difficult than he had anticipated.

Due to the Holy Sword’s blessing, Yoon Si-woo’s senses were far more acute than others.

Perhaps that was why:

The feel of her skin through the towel.

Her labored breaths.

The scent of sweat clinging to her damp body.

All began to overwhelm his mind with strange thoughts even amidst this emergency.

Yoon Si-woo found himself unable to continue wiping as a surge of self-loathing welled up within him.

What am I doing? What the hell am I doing?

As he began to berate himself, intending to at least go replace the cold towel on her forehead.

Just then, a soft touch grabbed the hem of his shirt.

Turning around, he found a girl clutching his garment.

“……Please, don’t leave me alone.”

The girl’s terrified plea sounded like a whimper, reminiscent of a child.

Seeing her like that, Yoon Si-woo couldn’t help but let out a sigh internally.

Despite her strong appearance that he always admired, deep down, she harbored such fragility.

And he already knew that.

He remembered the day she had tried to take her own life, the look she had shown him begging for help.

That was why he had vowed to protect her.

With such deep fears and anxieties, she feared being alone more than anyone else, yet she also pressed on without giving up.

That brilliance shone so brightly it was blinding.

Remembering that resolve within him, Yoon Si-woo whispered gently to the trembling girl.

“……Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”

If that’s what you want, I’ll stay by your side forever.

As he promised her, gently petting her head, the girl seemed to relax.

He stayed with her for hours.

Changing the wet towel and tending to her deeply exhausted body.

This time, there was no strange sentimentality felt in his touch.

He merely hoped, like a night watchman protecting a flame, that her light wouldn’t fade.

Whether by his sincere intent or not, her fever had dropped significantly, and the girl was now able to sleep peacefully.

*

After leaving the orphanage and finding a new house, Yoon Si-woo had lived with Lucy all his life.

The spirit residing within the sword had never eaten, so of course, she had never cooked for anyone.

Thus, the porridge he was boiling now for the sick Scarlet was the very first dish he had ever prepared for someone.

As he cooked, Yoon Si-woo discovered that cooking for someone, no matter how trivial it might seem, requires consideration for that person.

After Scarlet had entered this house, he had always accepted the meals she prepared without thought.

But Scarlet never sought any thanks from him.

She simply treated it as a given.

Perhaps that was because consideration was simply in her nature.

While lost in that thought, he heard footsteps approaching from the kitchen.

Fortunately, she appeared to be feeling better, and Yoon Si-woo presented her with the first porridge he had ever cooked.

He felt anxious about whether it would match her taste, but seeing her smile and hear her say it was delicious, it filled him with an elation that felt as if he could fly.

Was that how she felt each time he savored her cooking? As he pondered this, she looked worried.

“……I saw the news. It said you defeated the Witch.”

At those words, Yoon Si-woo shrugged his shoulders and replied that it just happened that way, that he was merely doing what he could.

Scarlet probably understood, but she was still casting worry-laden glances in his direction.

Though he appreciated her concern, he didn’t want to only see that worried expression. So, he deliberately shifted the topic.

“Ah, speaking of which, this is still an undisclosed piece of news, but I might become the squad leader.”

“……Squad leader? Really?”

“Yeah, it’s almost confirmed.”

Given how momentous this news was, leaving even Yoon Si-woo feeling a bit dazed, he found himself eagerly anticipating Scarlet’s reaction.

Would she be surprised? Would she be happy?

While he waited for her response, he noticed her expression shifting to one of distress.

Why does she look like that? As he pondered the reason, the promise they had made surfaced in his mind.

A vow to protect her whenever she was in danger.

Seeing her tremble earlier, it seemed she was feeling anxious, thinking that if he were to become squad leader, it might hinder his ability to keep that promise.

Understanding this, Yoon Si-woo quickly opened his mouth to alleviate her worries.

“Ah—Don’t worry! Even if I become squad leader, if you’re in danger like today, I’ll—”

“Yoon Si-woo.”

Suddenly, cutting him off with a serious tone, she called his name, prompting him to shut his mouth.

Her demeanor seemed unusually serious.

As she stammered for words, she looked directly at him.

“When there are people you need to save in front of you… If you learn that I’m in danger, what will you do?”

At that question, Yoon Si-woo stared at her closely.

His answer was already determined.

He had promised and vowed.

To protect her.

As he was about to respond, she called his name again.

“Yoon Si-woo.”

She said it slowly, as if knowing what answer he would give.

It felt like she truly did know, as she shook her head softly and muttered.

“Then, you can’t.”

“…”

“While I appreciate your desire to keep that promise to me, you can’t do it anymore.”

Yoon Si-woo felt as if someone was tightening their grip around his heart at those words.

Why? He wanted to scream out.

Because he had seen her.

Her vulnerable self.

The one that begged for help, asking him not to leave.

With a vivid memory of that moment, it was hard for him to see her speaking like this.

However, before he could articulate his feelings, she continued speaking.

“Yoon Si-woo, I’m always grateful to you. I’ve received immense help from you. You’re my hero. But many more people will come to rely on you from now on. Remember that promise I made to you?”

“…”

The promises she made to him.

There were several, but the one he valued the most was the trust she had placed in him.

Though she didn’t voice it, it was clear that she found things difficult and frightening.

So she had silently cried for help, begging him to come to her aid.

That was the request Yoon Si-woo valued the most.

Yet, she said this.

“Be a hero for everyone. Not a hero who prioritizes someone, but one who prioritizes many others.”

A request for more than just herself, something to prioritize above all else.

And that was far too heartbreaking.

So, he asked her.

Knowing full well.

“……Being alone makes you anxious like this.”

The sight of her trembling with worry.

“……Almost dying this time, you were extremely afraid as well.”

The fragile side of her existing underneath that strong facade.

“Yet why…”

He asked, knowing the answer.

Why do you refuse to prioritize yourself?

With a bittersweet smile, she replied.

“Because it’s far more terrifying and unpleasant if you miss saving someone because of me.”

A sigh escaped him.

He wanted to tell her that if that’s what she desired, he would prioritize her over anything else.

Yet, she truly wished for that?

“……Are you really okay with that?”

When he asked, she nodded without hesitation.

Seeing that, he recognized once again.

Who she truly was.

Her gaze pressed him to respond.

That gaze felt so painfully strong.

“……Right. You always were that kind of person.”

Unable to withstand that pain, he nodded.

Then, just like always, she said.

“……Thank you.”

Yoon Si-woo thought.

She truly was someone like a hero.

Much like the heroes in his stories, she sought the path of righteousness, unwaveringly.

He admired that quality about her, loved that aspect.

But today, her unyielding righteousness felt unduly cruel.