Consciousness rises.

The spirit settles once again into the body that has truly ceased to be human.

An overwhelming force flows through the body, and as its flesh reconstructs, the sensations of the returned left arm are felt.

These were not trivial things that could easily be overlooked, but what was important now was not such matters.

The only thought occupying my mind at this moment is one.

“Ugh…!”

I must save Yoon Si-woo.

That was all there was.

Still, the surroundings remained a sea of fire.

If this continues, Yoon Si-woo is in danger.

With that thought, I focused all my spirit on extinguishing the flames engulfing my surroundings.

Even while I stumbled, grappling with the unfamiliar sensation of wielding this power.

Desperately, and earnestly.

Perhaps that longing resonated.

Soon, the flames that had threatened to swallow everything began to calm down.

Now, all that remained was the air shimmering with residual heat and the billowing choking smoke.

And then, there was Yoon Si-woo, groaning softly as if in pain.

It seemed he lacked even the strength to maintain his abilities, as the white armor enveloping him began to slowly fade.

Inside the armor, Yoon Si-woo’s condition was grave.

His gaze was dull, and his body bore horrific burn marks.

Though he appeared on the brink of death, it was clear that he was in a state where he couldn’t even regenerate.

It was my fault; Yoon Si-woo was in this state because of me.

Overcome by guilt, I couldn’t lift my head, but then,

“…Scarlet?”

Yoon Si-woo’s voice reached me.

As I lifted my head at that voice, I saw him struggling to gaze at me.

When I grimaced in pain, he paused for a moment, and then muttered,

“…You came back, huh?”

And with a smile as if that was enough, he looked satisfied.

“Y-You idiot…!”

I unintentionally shouted at Yoon Si-woo in exasperation.

“Why… why…!”

Words failed me.

Why did he do something so foolish?

Why had he pushed himself so hard for my sake?

There were so many things I wanted to ask, so many thoughts swirling in my mind.

Yet, what spilled out of my mouth was only the short refrain of “Why, why?”

And in response to my brief question, Yoon Si-woo seemed to understand.

“Because we’re friends…”

Just that one phrase.

A short answer meant one thing: he needed no other reason for enduring all this.

“Ah, aa…”

At that, my held-back tears burst forth.

What could I possibly say to someone who risked his life simply because we were friends?

I too wanted to help the precious people around me, which is why I had attempted to perish alongside the Lesser Demonic Beasts.

Yet the outcome was not helping my dear ones; it was inflicting this kind of suffering on them, and that guilt felt larger than ever.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

With my tears, the words of apology flowed endlessly from my lips.

It was Yoon Si-woo’s hand reaching out toward me that finally silenced my apologies.

Wiping my tears away with his trembling hand, he slowly shook his head.

As if to say that wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

In that moment, I realized what he longed to hear.

So, I held back my tears.

I remembered that apologies weren’t something friends exchanged lightly.

Toward my foolish, dense, and yet incredibly precious friend,

“…Thank you. Thank you for saving me, Yoon Si-woo.”

I spoke those words, filled with gratitude as much as my guilt.

At that, Yoon Si-woo brightened as if he found immense joy in my words.

“…Don’t mention it.”

He replied to me with such ease.

Just then, wanting to laugh without realizing it, I felt a shift.

“…! Yoon Si-woo!”

Yoon Si-woo’s body swayed.

Quickly extending my arms, I caught him as he started to fall, feeling him gasp for breath while being held tight against me.

Damn, this wasn’t the time for a conversation.

“Just wait a moment…! I’ll take you to the hospital or anywhere else as fast as I can!”

I shouted at the sight of him needing treatment urgently, but I felt Yoon Si-woo’s head shaking gently as if to stop me.

Yoon Si-woo slowly lifted his head.

Looking at me, his face drained of any color while the smile had vanished.

In a voice that seemed to squeeze out his last strength, he whispered into my ear.

“Scarlet.

Run away.”

Amidst my embrace, Yoon Si-woo’s body crumbled as though he were collapsing.

“Yoon Si-woo…?”

No response returned.

In a panic, I gently shook Yoon Si-woo as I held him.

“This guy!!!”

Suddenly, a voice filled with malice echoed from somewhere.

“Get away from the Captain, you witch!!!”

With a thud, blood splattered from my hand gripping Yoon Si-woo.

Was it a sniper shot?

Though my hand immediately healed, upon glancing around after that sudden attack, I noticed countless gazes from beyond the fading heat and smoke.

And another attack came flying toward me as if they aimed to separate me from Yoon Si-woo.

For a moment I thought, “Why?” but soon recognized the reason.

How must I appear to them in this moment?

Why Yoon Si-woo told me to run away.

“The Evil Witch of humanity’s hope who has brought them down is right here.”

Sadness etched across my face, I gently laid Yoon Si-woo down to the ground.

Though they were aiming precisely, I couldn’t let Yoon Si-woo take any hits.

As I laid him on the ground, I took in his face.

You must have realized how difficult it would be to clear up misunderstandings with dialogue.

I will follow your lead, as you asked.

Until the day we meet again.

Stay alive.

The sword piercing Yoon Si-woo’s heart fell to the ground with a clang, echoing.

Simultaneously, a tremendous wall of flames rose between the people and me.

“Ugh…!”

“Captain!!”

A moment later, as the temporarily magnificent wall of flames dissipated, cries filled the air.

“…! The witch!”

“First, rescue the Captain!!!”

Leaving one fallen hero behind, the Evil Witch vanished without a trace.

A little time later, the story spread that the leader of the 2nd squad, Yoon Si-woo, had been defeated at the hands of a witch disguised as a first-year student at the Aegis Academy, Scarlet Evande.

“How could this happen!?”

An emergency meeting was convened at the central committee.

One of the council members, having just received the news, slammed his fist on the table and shouted loudly.

The target of his shouting was the heir of Astra, Sylvia Astra, who had just arrived looking pale as if her soul had left her body.

Though he was just a mere council member, he ignored that fact and shouted.

“The witch who brought down Captain Yoon Si-woo is none other than Scarlet Evande, whose identity was guaranteed by Astra during the previous hearing! What is the meaning of this!? Is Astra in league with the witch!?!”

Such a rude comment.

Yet perhaps due to the peculiarity of what had just happened, no one tried to stop him.

Even Sylvia, the party in question, was not angry, merely shaking her head in a daze, muttering, “No, no…”

Seeing her, the council member sighed, holding his head.

After all, her demeanor did not look like that of someone colluding with a witch.

Rather, she appeared only a victim shocked by the unexpected identity of someone she had thought was merely a friend.

Since this gathering wasn’t actually the place to assign blame to anyone, he inhaled deeply to regain his composure and then turned to the person who had just delivered the news.

“What is the state of Captain Yoon Si-woo?”

“They say it’s a miracle he is still alive. They did their utmost to treat him, but it is little more than an empty shell… He probably won’t awaken anytime soon.”

“Damn, with Vice Captain Lucas and now Captain Yoon Si-woo in a coma, and even former Captain Telos….”

A gloomy air enveloped the room.

Not just because of the loss of personnel, but the weight of having those who held greater roles being incapacitated.

Especially currently, pertaining to Yoon Si-woo, who had become a symbol of hope, leaving humanity in despair was certainly a grave issue.

The council member sighed softly, murmuring.

“What is the public’s reaction?”

“…It’s awful. We’ve tried to suppress the news, but wherever you go, it’s all about Yoon Si-woo and that witch. Many are saying the Lesser Demonic Beasts attack was also because of her.”

Just then, while they discussed the witch, Sylvia, who had been sitting absentmindedly, abruptly yelled as if leaking out her frustration.

“That’s not true! Scarlet would never do such a thing! Do you know how many citizens’ lives she has saved this time? How can you say such things!?!”

“No… We’re just passing along what everyone is saying….”

The council members began to stir at her words.

Seeing her, normally composed, on the verge of tears and shouting made them waver in their stance.

However, one among them paid no heed to her reaction.

“But the fact is that the witch harmed Yoon Si-woo is not in question. Isn’t it?”

It was Diakonos Dolos.

Toward him, Sylvia shouted in rebuttal.

“That’s true, but still…! ”

“I understand the witch was quite familiar with Yoon Si-woo. Since she harmed someone she was once close to, it wouldn’t be strange to suspect that she hid her malice from the get-go.”

Diakonos spoke authoritatively, as usual, making a logical case.

But to the people, he appeared to be unleashing cold anger.

After all, today he lost his father, Telos.

Sylvia knew that and couldn’t bring herself to respond, merely listening to him when he continued.

“I heard the witch was seen escaping through the sewers just moments ago. It’s unacceptable to let her escape like this.”

“Then what do you propose we do…?”

“Given that this is the witch who battled Yoon Si-woo, judging by the fact she didn’t finish him off, she must have been desperate to flee. If she’s weakened, then the captains could subdue her if they join forces.”

“Subdue her!? That won’t do!”

Sylvia shouted, as if panicking at the suggestion of killing Scarlet.

Diakonos, however, muttered in a cold voice toward her.

“Is Astra in a position to voice opinions right now?”

“…What?”

“During the last hearing, didn’t you say that if anything happened to her, Astra would take full responsibility? If we let that witch go free and she regains strength only to return as an even stronger enemy, can Astra possibly bear that responsibility?”

“Ugh…”

Upon hearing the word ‘responsibility’, Sylvia’s pupils shook.

Now, she represented a noble house.

For someone in her position, that’s a burden that shouldn’t be mentioned lightly.

As she trembled at his words, Diakonos spoke.

“I’ll let this slide this time. But don’t speak carelessly about responsibility in the future. It’s a serious matter.”

With that, he turned his gaze from Sylvia back to the others.

“I apologize for imposing on the exhausted heroes today, but please convey this.”

He spoke with resolute firmness.

“Before the witch escapes from the city, find her and eliminate her.”

Hearing those words, Sylvia thought.

This way, Scarlet would die.

I must stop it.

I definitely need to intervene.

Visions swirled about her mind.

The flames.

The witch that harmed Yoon Si-woo, who also intended to set her ablaze.

Those flames.

In the end, Yoon Si-woo collapsed after failing to keep his promise to Scarlet.

Is it right for me to fulfill her wish in his stead?

I don’t know.

I can’t discern what’s right.

But, while burdened by the weight of responsibility I had once declared,

Sylvia found herself unable to say a word against Diakonos’ order to kill Scarlet.