[My parents passed away while fighting the Lesser Demonic Beasts.]

The voice of Yoon Si-woo flowed out through the  TV.

[When I say this, people often think that I became a hero to take revenge on the demonic beasts that killed my parents. But that’s not the reason I became a hero. I became a hero to protect.]

I sat quietly on the sofa, listening attentively to his voice.

[I became a hero to protect what is precious.]

Yoon Si-woo was speaking.

He was sharing the reason why he decided to become a hero.

[It’s not that my parents were not precious to me. However, what I have now is much more precious than my parents who have passed away. I became a hero to protect that, to ensure I never lose it again.]

He valued the present even more than his parents who had passed away.

It was clear, without asking, who he was saying that for.

[To protect you, I stand here now.]

I locked eyes with Yoon Si-woo through the screen.

What filled his eyes was goodwill and concern.

A mix of joy and guilt surged within me.

He goes through all this for me, yet I don’t know what I should do for him.

Then, as if he sensed my thoughts, he said:

[So please don’t get discouraged, even if things are tough. I wanted to say that.]

You smiled as if that was enough, letting me know that.

…

It seemed that was all he wanted to say as the interview came to an end soon after.

The screen, which had been showing Yoon Si-woo’s face, started displaying something else, so I picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

With the TV off, the living room fell silent.

Lying back on the sofa and closing my eyes, I contemplated Yoon Si-woo’s words that I had just heard.

It was evident that the presence of his parents weighed heavily on him.

Yet, in saying that the present is more precious than his parents, I sensed how much he values the relationships he has now.

And surely, I must be included in that.

Thinking that made me feel sentimental.

Just a moment ago, I was filled with anxiety and guilt, but now, my heart felt warmer.

“……Hah.”

Was it because of this?

Having calmed down, I began to reflect on my own behavior and sighed.

Is this what it feels like to be bipolar?

Even trivial matters that I could have easily brushed off before now stirred uneven emotions within me; it must be that something other than myself is gnawing away at me.

I thought I had some control over my emotions, but honestly, every time something like this happens, I feel anxious and afraid.

What if I lost myself completely at this rate?

But despite that, I believe I won’t crumble.

It’s because I have precious people in my life who support me.

Yes, like Yoon Si-woo.

As that thought crossed my mind, I couldn’t help but smile.

I was someone who was weak against goodwill.

Always, it seems this one trait hasn’t changed since I was young.

I used to think that if I showed kindness to everyone in the world, they would treat me well in return.

But the world isn’t like that, and I ended up getting hurt quite a bit.

That’s why I am especially mindful of those who return my kindness.

Friends who told the boys who mocked me for being fatherless to stop.

The junior who came up to me when I was struggling after losing my mother.

I unknowingly gave a piece of my heart to them, feeling anxious that I couldn’t do enough for them.

That’s why I was so grateful to Yoon Si-woo.

He kept treating me kindly.

As I quietly thought about Yoon Si-woo, a sudden thought hit me, and I pulled out my mobile phone.

After seeing him in such a state earlier, I worried that he was still concerned about me.

So I sent a text saying, [Are you free right now?]

Before long, I got a quick reply: [Yeah, I’m free.]

After receiving the text, I stared at my phone for a moment before calling Yoon Si-woo.

“……Hello?”

[Yeah, Scarlet.]

This call was to convey even a little of the gratitude I was feeling right now.

“Ah, um…”

However, hearing his voice suddenly made my mind go blank.

Thank you? I saw the  TV? What should I say?

In a whirlwind of thoughts, the words that finally came out were:

“A bouquet of flowers…”

[…A bouquet of flowers?]

That’s what it was.

The thought that popped into my mind at that moment was about the bouquet I hadn’t been able to convey earlier.

“Ah… That was actually because I went to give you a bouquet right after the appointment ceremony. The director, Maria, and the kids made it, and I was asked to deliver it instead…”

While I was talking about the bouquet, I felt a sense of regret.

I should have given that bouquet to Yoon Si-woo; he would have definitely been delighted.

“…I’m sorry. I should have delivered it.”

I muttered this out of my sudden sense of loss, and I could hear Yoon Si-woo chuckling softly on the other end.

[That’s fine. I received it well.]

His words seemed to reassure me, and I was startled.

“…Huh? I thought it got messed up after dropping it earlier…”

[After you left, Captain Martina fixed it with restoration magic. She said it seemed important, so she did it as a special favor. It’s now displayed in a vase in the office.]

“Oh, I see…”

A wave of relief washed over me at the hear of it being delivered successfully.

I felt like a burden had been lifted off my chest.

In that moment, while thinking that I should thank Martina later, Yoon Si-woo asked:

[So, was that all you wanted to say?]

“Huh? No, wait…!”

I answered hastily to his question.

I didn’t call just to talk about the bouquet.

Thinking about what to say next, one phrase flitted through my mind.

“You know, Yoon Si-woo…”

It was a good phrase to express my feelings, so I whispered it into the phone.

“I will do my best.”

Wishing that this feeling would reach Yoon Si-woo even a little bit.

“Let’s do our best together.”

[…]

As I said that, there was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

I wondered if the call had dropped and checked my phone, but it was still connected.

“…Yoon Si-woo?”

Calling out his name, the call finally disconnected with a click.

Just as I was flustered, I received a message from Yoon Si-woo.

When I checked, it contained a photo.

I wondered, what’s this? and looked at the picture.

In it, Yoon Si-woo was smiling happily with the bouquet displayed in a vase behind him.

Seeing that, I felt an inexplicable joy, and a small smile appeared on my face.

Looking at the picture, I thought.

You said that the present is more precious than the past.

Thanks to you, I feel like I can cherish this world a little more.

I think I can muster the strength to protect this precious world.

Even if, in the end,

Whatever happens to me.

*

“Hah…”

As the girl lay down with her eyes closed and suddenly got up, a hooded woman next to her murmured:

“What’s wrong? Are you in heat or something?”

“…That’s not it! Do you think I’m just one of these toys scattered around here?!”

The girl shouted as she kicked away the beautiful toy that was quivering under her, filled with rapture from the woman’s comment.

Clicking her tongue at the sight of the ruined toy, she soon muttered, recalling the beautiful boy she had been watching moments ago.

“I just feel a thrill thinking about expanding my collection. Ah, I want to play with them soon! If it’s that type, they probably won’t put up much resistance, right? Thinking about how they will eventually kneel before something pleasurable, struggling endlessly… Hah…”

“Looks like you’re really in heat.”

“No, I’m not!”

Panicking, the girl pointed her finger at the woman and shouted.

“It’s because I’m forced to endure because of you! I’m already ready to tear down that annoying barrier, but you keep saying I can’t! Ahh, if only I could just knock it all down and storm in, turning everything into my collection! Why are you so stingy? The plan to use that beastly girl ended up with no results too!”

“No results, huh?”

At the girl’s shouting, the woman grinned and muttered.

“I got what I wanted from the very start. I only sent that fool out because I thought it would be fine as long as she could fulfill that one purpose.”

“…Purpose? Was your purpose just to kill a few humans?”

“Not at all.”

At the girl’s puzzled reaction, the woman shook her head.

“The original purpose was reconnaissance. I’m quite astute, so I figured out its location when that fool cracked the barrier just a little bit.”

“If that’s the case… Are you really talking about that?”

“Yeah, you’re probably thinking of exactly that.”

“Ugh…”

At the woman’s words, the girl shook her head with a face that showed she didn’t even want to think about it.

It was already hundreds of years ago, but just thinking about what was wasted made her shudder.

However, the girl, who had frowned for a moment, suddenly seemed to remember something and asked.

“Wait a sec, you mean to say you actually found out about that?”

“Exactly. I originally planned to take it slow, but with you being so noisy and everything, I felt inspired. Well, after this, you can do whatever you want.”

“Really?! So, once this is over, I’ll actually storm in? Wow! I’m so excited! I’ve been waiting this long to use that!”

Bouncing up and down like a child, the girl laughed out loud.

“Haha! Do humans know? That under their feet lies a bomb that has been dormant for hundreds of years!”