It burns.
It blazes up.
Not far from home.
The streets, familiar after passing by so many times, are ablaze with fire.
The trees lining both sides of the street,
The favorite restaurant often visited to settle a meal,
All have burned down, leaving only the dark, sooty stains in their wake.
It was indeed a tragic scene, but
What felt most tragic and horrifying to Yoon Si-woo
Was the sight of a girl,
Screaming in the middle of the burning street,
Her crimson tears flowing like the flames,
A sight that resembled Scarlet.
But he knew without asking,
That this was not the girl he knew.

Yet, why was that?
He felt an urge to scream and cry out just like that.
But it seemed as if even the tears that should have flowed freely from him were dried up,
Choking under the black smoke that filled the sky.
Instead of crying out, only small whimpers escaped his lips,
And it felt as if something was weighing heavily on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Ah… Ugh…”
After momentarily groaning in agony,
Watching the girl who was still wailing, Yoon Si-woo realized
What tormented him so deeply.
It was the weight of the promise he once made with her.
If I cease to be myself, then please kill me.
A promise he desperately denied,
But the time to fulfill it had come.
At this moment, it weighed down on him more than ever.

“Ah…”
His hands trembled.
Yoon Si-woo momentarily glanced down at his shaking hands.
The crimson flames wrapping around the street
Were staining his hands with a similar ominous light.
As the image of bloodied hands emerged,
Memories he wished to erase replayed in his mind.

“I’ll pierce here. If I stab here, it’ll stop.”
Piercing something with his own hand,
While someone’s heartbeat slowed down along with it.
A chilling sensation as something warm,
Red like that girl, flowed down his hand.
That vivid sense clung to him,
And Yoon Si-woo shook his hands vigorously in shock.
But no matter how hard he shook,
The foreboding light that stained his hands did not fade away.
The sensation from piercing her heart during sparring wouldn’t disappear either.
So he tightly clenched his hands, trembling,
As if those bloodied hands were telling him:
These hands that once soothed the crying girl
Now had to pierce her heart with a sword, just like that day.
But he did not want to accept it, shaking his head in denial.

“Damn it…! What the hell is that?!”
“Why has a perfectly fine student suddenly gone like that…”

At that moment, he heard shouts from those nearby.
People were shouting, looking at the girl in the flames.
The emotions in their voices were confusion, chaos, fear.

“I don’t know for sure, but be careful! Just now, another student almost burned to death! She’s definitely not one of us!”

The enemy.
At that ominous mention, Yoon Si-woo wanted to raise his head and protest—but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t formulate words to convince them.
After all, from this side,
The girl, pouring out a disturbing light of flames,
Was indeed,
“A witch…! A witch has appeared! Inform everyone!”

Seeing her as nothing but a witch,
In the midst of this unbearable reality, he noticed other heroes approaching, unable to even dare reach the flames.

“Ah, Captain Yoon Si-woo…!”
“Are you here to support us?”

Upon making eye contact with those who recognized him,
Yoon Si-woo felt an urge to tightly shut his eyes.
In their gazes, alternating between him and the girl,
He could see the unspoken wishes:
“Hero, please kill the witch.”
Having seen that familiar light countless times,
He felt their gaze upon him.
Everyone was hoping he would kill her.

“Not just one person, but become the hero for all.”
Suddenly, without realizing it,
He felt his legs start to move.
Heading towards the direction of the girl engulfed in flames,
Pushed forward by countless stares.
One step after another.

“Ah, ah…”
At that moment, he heard someone behind him, filled with despair.
Turning around, he saw Sylvia looking at him with indescribable eyes,
Desperate to stop him, knowing the promise he had made with Scarlet.
With a frantic shake of her head, she spoke,
“Ah, no! You really can’t mean it…?”

Yoon Si-woo quietly looked at Sylvia, who was pleading with her eyes not to do it.
Among all those present, she was the only one who genuinely didn’t want him to kill the girl.
No, she wasn’t the only one.
He didn’t have any desire to kill her either.
But, countless others were hoping for the witch’s death.

“…I’m sorry.”
With a simple apology, he turned away from Sylvia.

“…! No… Nooo!!!”
Ignoring Sylvia’s scream of despair,
He began to slowly step forward,
Towards the burning flames,
Wearing pure white armor.

To keep his promise.
To kill the witch.

*

The moment he stepped into the blazing flames, the first thought that struck him was, ‘It’s hot.’
It may sound obvious, but it was rather shocking.
The armor he wore from opening the Holy Sword provided protection far beyond what the ordinary protective barrier could offer.
To feel such heat penetrating through that level of protection meant the flames surrounding him were immensely powerful.

[…Si-woo, be careful. The flames themselves are laced with magic. If you even slightly touch them, they won’t stop until there’s not a single bone left.]

Even without Lucy’s warning, he felt it.
The danger of these flames.
It felt like a fire born to scorch everything that exists in the world.

Aaah—!!!
He caught sight of the witch, screaming in the distance,
Spouting flames that burned everything, with her crimson tears flowing down.
Just by witnessing her, he could sense it all.
The resentment and hatred that existence held for this world.
And that existence could not coexist with this world.
…Next time we meet, I said to wield my sword, not converse.
When he had once spoken to her, she appeared fine,
But now, she seemed far from capable of any conversation.
It looked like the witch was consumed only by the thought of burning everything around her.

“…Damn it.”
It was hard to accept that the girl who despised causing harm to others had turned into such a being,
But he transformed that emotion into fury and gripped his sword tightly.
Sure, you wanted me to end you; I’ll do it as you wished.
I’ll keep my promise to Scarlet.
With that thought, as he took a step forward,
Aaaah—!!!
“Ugh…!”
The flames roared violently, as if declaring they would not permit him to approach.
The flames, now burning hotter than ever,
Made the air inhale as if it were scalding his lungs and scorching his skin, causing him to scream.

[Si-woo…!]
“It’s, okay…!”
He focused his gaze on the witch despite Lucy’s worried calls, struggling to keep his haze of pain at bay.
So this is the witch of wrath.
Unlike the fake he had previously defeated, this true witch’s strength was of this caliber.
Standing before the monster that nearly led Astra to extinction, he could feel that this strength was not a mere sham.

[It’s impossible to get any closer! Si-woo, you won’t be visible in these flames, so use my power! Though I’ve already used it to the edge, you should be fine for a moment! Cut her down at once through these flames!]

At Lucy’s urging to use her power, he bit down on his lips.
Today, he had already borrowed Lucy’s power quite a bit to overcome the demonic beasts.
It was dangerous to use for too long, but to take down that witch, he had no choice but to borrow the power of a witch, Lucy.
One strike should do it.
As he resolved and was about to unleash Lucy’s power,
“…?”
However, Yoon Si-woo felt something unsettling and paused, looking at the witch, spewing flames that seemed intent on incinerating him.

[Si-woo…?]
Lucy’s voice called out, confused by his hesitation, but more than that, something far more vital caught his attention.

“…Why?”
Yoon Si-woo voiced his thoughts towards the witch,
Firing flames upon him.
The heat he felt beyond his armor, the force.
With this level of power,
It could burn down an entire district, not just the street.

Aaah—!!!
At this very moment, filled with resentment and hatred for the world,
“…Why aren’t you burning more?”
He asked, but as expected, no answer came.
But he found the answer within himself.

“…Ah, I see.”
With a hollow expression and a faint smile,
He put away the sword of humility in his hand.

[Si-woo?! What are you doing? Why are you putting away your sword?!]
Lucy shouted in bewilderment, but by then, his mind was already made up.
After all, he intended to kill the witch
Because he thought Scarlet was dead.
That she had completely vanished,
That there was no more hope left.
But,

“Still, you’re there, right?”
From the witch’s actions, which refrained from burning people despite being able to,
He found a glimpse of hope.
Or rather, he wanted to believe there was hope.
And having a reason to change his actions was enough for him.

At that moment, Lucy was about to chide him loudly.
[Si-woo, you don’t really think that girl is still alive, do you?! That’s just your wishful thinking! Hurry and bring me out again—]
‘Whether it’s just wishful thinking or not doesn’t matter.’
Even if it’s 1%, or 0.1%, or even less than that,
If there is even a glimmer of her resisting the witch trying to burn everyone,
A slight chance that he could bring her back,
Then he would bet on that possibility.
Silently responding to Lucy’s words,
[…What the hell do you plan to do?]
Lucy questioned him with a sigh, sensing his determination.
He quietly pulled out the truth sword from the void, grasping it in his hand.

A white dagger made from a single-horned beast’s horn.
This dagger, essentially not meant for battle, held a special ability beyond its usual effects.

“Activate the Holy Sword.”
With those words, the white dagger slowly transformed.
The blade, once white, became translucent, shining like colored glass.
This was the true form of the truth sword.
In this form, it could not inflict harm on a physical being,
But if he struck, he could connect the victim’s soul and convey messages, regardless of the distance, for a certain period.
This was his first time using it, and he wasn’t sure if it would work in this situation, but if he could get his voice through to Scarlet, who might be resisting…
Perhaps she might regain her consciousness.

[…Even if the child’s consciousness still remains, it can’t bring her back; it can only deliver your voice. Furthermore, to use that ability, you must cross the flames, and you actually wish to risk your life for such a gamble?]

However, hearing what couldn’t even be called a plan, Lucy muttered in disbelief, then coldly asked him,
[…Si-woo, do you remember the contract we made?]

Of course, he remembered.
The contract to become stronger than anyone else.
For witches, contracts are absolute.
If he died here, he could not fulfill that contract.

‘So, are you trying to stop me?’
But he turned the question back on her.
In truth, he knew she wouldn’t try to stop him.
Because Lucy,
[…How selfish you are. How could you even ask that when you know there’s no way I could stop you if you truly wish to do so?]

She had always been weak toward him.
Feeling a bit guilty at her sulking tone, he smiled ruefully, and as if having given up, Lucy spoke.
[…Very well. That girl is your driving force to become strong, so go ahead and do as you please. You’re a fool who risks his life over a woman, just like always.]

‘Don’t worry, I won’t die.’
Even though he couldn’t be entirely certain, he said this to reassure her, and Lucy muttered as if to dismiss it.
[No need for pathetic excuses now. Moreover, this time I won’t let you die no matter what.]

She sounded completely annoyed, but he chuckled as they finished their brief mental exchange, gripping his sword again.
On the other side, whether she knew his thoughts or not, the witch continued to unleash flames with all her might.
The heat emanating from those flames still felt intense.
Though the heat was the same, having changed only his objective made it feel somehow more bearable than before.
Indeed, like Lucy had said, he must possess that egocentric nature.
With a smirk, he raised his sword and aimed it at the witch, addressing Scarlet.

“Don’t be angry for me breaking our promise. You were the first to break it.”
The first one who broke the promise of never acting recklessly.
Yet he promised not to kill her.
He would surely bring her back.
With that declaration,
He breathed in,
And began running toward the witch.

Blood-red eyes filled with malice stared directly at him.

Aaah—!!
The heat just moments ago felt mild compared to the overwhelming heat enveloping his entire body.
“Ahhh…!!”
A searing pain shot through his body.
The blisters from his burned skin burst, sending sharp pain coursing through him, forcing a scream from his lips.
Yet, it was a pain he could endure, and he didn’t stop.
If he were to lose her forever, he could happily bear this level of pain.
But soon after, he realized that even that pain was nothing compared to what was coming.

“Cough!?!!”
With a thud, his body swayed.
A ringing in his ears, denying the sounds around him.
The organs exposed to the heat had given out.
Was it that the closer he approached, the stronger the flames surged?
But in that moment,
“This is nothing!!”
The power of the indomitable Holy Sword instantly restored his body.
The cost of that powerful ability was his lifespan.
Even though Lucy had warned him against recklessly using it, he used it without hesitation.
However, the time he bought from it was a mere second.

“Kgh…!”
Before he stabilized, darkness swallowed his vision again.
In an instant, both his balance and sight were compromised once more.
He restored his sight,
But again, in a heartbeat,
His senses went dark faster than before.

[Si-woo…!]
Realizing the recklessness of his actions, Lucy cried out in horror.
He quickly understood that he should not overuse his powers.
“Ugh, ah!”
He staggered, taken aback, then healed his body.
As soon as his vision returned, he checked if his course was still intact,
But once again, a wave of dizziness plunged him into darkness.
However, this time, he wouldn’t restore.
Though his sense of balance and sight were compromised, he had just grasped that his legs were still moving straight toward the witch.
If he didn’t acclimate to this state, he wouldn’t be able to arrive before his lifespan ran out.
So, to heal,
Only when he felt he could no longer take another step.

“Ugh!!”
The further he ventured, the more intense the heat of the flames grew, and the destruction of his body accelerated.
Yet in that manner, he could cover a few more steps between restorations.

“Guh…!”
Of course, even with that, the time gained was just a heartbeat.
He lost track of how many times he had repeated healing and breaking down in those few seconds.
Continuing that wretched sprint,
Negative thoughts surged through his mind without him realizing it.

“Cough, ah!!”
Why must I endure this pain?
Does it even mean anything to continue along this path of suffering?
Is it right to believe in a miracle so improbable that it changes things?
Every time those hesitations surfaced,
His steps threatened to come to a halt,
But,
‘I believe in you more than anyone in this world.’
“Cough, ha!!”
At that thought, he pushed through all hesitations and took another step.
What I believe in isn’t some miracle; that’s why he could.
Just as she believed in him more than anyone else in this world.
He, too, believed in her the most.
He believed in her strength and kindness.
He believed she wouldn’t lose to some witch.
With that conviction,
He could take that next step.

“Aah…!”
In the midst of it all,
His blood boiled,
His breath ignited,
And even if his body turned to ash and faded away,
“Aaah…!”
He continued to heal,
And then heal again,
And again.
As he continued, he began to sense that even the lifespan he had to offer was running thin.
If that were the case, then in exchange,
He would offer his soul,
His mind,
Give everything he had.
God, if you exist,
Let me reach her.
He pleaded earnestly,
Taking one step,
Another,
Yet another.

“Ugh, aaaaaaaaaah…!!!!”
Thus,
When he reached the point where he could no longer discern whether he was screaming or not,
“…Ah.”
Finally,
His foot landed,
The tip of his sword touched her.
“…I’ll use my wish card.”
He could finally convey the words he so desperately wanted to say.
“Come back, Scarlet.”