Sofia, who had barely managed to attend the urgent meeting after nearly collapsing from exhaustion, now lay absentmindedly on her bed, lost in thought.

She felt drained.

It felt like she might collapse at any moment.

Yet, despite being so tired, sleep utterly eluded her.

“I will let this one slide this time. Don’t utter words you cannot take responsibility for next time. Responsibility is a heavy burden.”

“Ugh…”

It kept echoing in her mind.

How she was unable to say anything in response to the order to kill Scarlet.

Was she regretting it?

It was a ridiculous thought.

What could she possibly have done, she wondered.

She couldn’t even muster a proper answer to that.

As she bit her lips in self-derision,

Bang, bang.

A distant sound of something exploding faintly reached her ears.

With a vague gaze that seemed ready to dim, Sofia looked out the window at the sounds.

The night sky was unexpectedly displaying fireworks.

Though it was a rare sight she would have normally enjoyed, she felt no inclination to appreciate it at all.

How could she possibly do so?

Knowing that those fireworks meant that Scarlet was currently in danger.

With a grimace, she pulled the curtains closed to block out the view outside, but the sound of the explosions did not cease.

Even if she tried to cover her eyes, the stars and the moon beyond wouldn’t disappear, and no matter how hard she tried to look away, the fact that Scarlet was being chased remained unchanged.

The sounds only seemed to emphasize that dreadful reality, echoing in her ears.

It was hard to endure listening to that persistent sound that continually provoked her guilt.

She wished for even a moment’s peace of mind to escape from this anguish.

In that thought, Sofia clenched her eyes shut and covered her ears.

Thus, silence descended.

“…”

However, instead of feeling at ease with the silence,

“Ugh…”

She felt a sudden spike of fear.

What if, while her ears were blocked, the sounds had stopped entirely?

It was truly a contradictory feeling.

“Please, I don’t want to hear it.” Even as that thought crossed her mind,

“Still, I hope the sounds don’t cease.”

Yet she couldn’t help it.

If the sounds ceased, it would mean there was no longer a need to chase after Scarlet.

But when scared, one could simply pull their hands away to check, yet her hands remained firmly clamped over her ears.

Part of it was that it was painful to listen, but another part of her was terrified that if she removed her hands, she might not hear anything at all anymore—

“Ugh, huff…”

So, Sofia shook with sobs, still covering her ears for a long while.

How much time had passed?

Like someone who had fainted, Sofia, lying face down on the bed, sensed something vibrating nearby and slowly lifted her body.

[─────]

After blocking her ears for so long, she heard the familiar beep filtering through the relaxed grip of her hand.

It was the call of her communicator.

She opened her eyes slightly to see the communicator rolling on the floor, making noise as it vibrated.

After a moment’s hesitation, thinking it might be an urgent matter, she removed her hand from her ears and picked up the communicator.

[—Ah, can everyone hear…?]

Then, through the communicator on the line designated for first-year students, Mei’s voice called all the kids together.

As the number of connected individuals seemed to be suitable, she began to speak.

[It looks like everyone who can come is here, so I’ll start. Remember how I asked Dwight to follow Jessie earlier? I was worried she might do something reckless, and before we parted, Dwight cast a sight-sharing spell on me.]

Sofia’s heart raced as she listened to Mei’s words.

[Thanks to that, I just saw… Scarlet, that girl.]

She unintentionally gasped at the unanticipated mention of the name.

What if something had happened to her?

In a panic, she focused on the communicator again.

[…I thought I should let you know, so that’s why I called. I’ll tell you what I saw, so just—]

Mei’s continued account was more than enough to make Sofia feel alarmed.

Scarlet, who had been attacked by Jessie without putting up any resistance.

Scarlet, who had managed to stop Jessie’s relentless attacks, even at the cost of her own body.

[What I saw ends here.]

Scarlet remained unchanged from what Sofia had come to know.

The story was hard to believe.

After all, she was the one who had lost control and tried to harm Yoon Si-woo, even putting herself in flames.

[…She looked no different from the Scarlet I know. Seeing that made me think that what happened to Yoon Si-woo wasn’t just an unfortunate accident. But if we just leave things as they are, Scarlet will be captured and executed…]

However, if what Mei said was true, if Scarlet was still the person she recognized—

What was she supposed to do then—

[…So what are we supposed to do?]

At that moment, someone blurted it out as if the thoughts they had been contemplating had escaped.

Mei sighed slightly as she responded.

[Ugh… So I think if she’s still our friend, we can’t just let her die.]

[So does that mean we should help her now?]

A silence fell over the group as the voice, cold enough to send a chill, rang out.

After a moment, the voice from the student who had just spoken continued.

[Everyone, snap out of it. Mei, I understand what you mean…! I get it, but Scarlet is a witch and we’re in a position to take her down! You’re suggesting not only disobeying orders but engaging in treason! We all know how severe that is!]

It was as if that student wanted to demonstrate how absurd talking about helping Scarlet would be to those confused by Mei’s words.

Mei also seemed aware of this, as she replied in a voice mixed with hesitation.

[I know… But, but… ]

[But what! Is there any reason for us to take on such a risk to help her…!]

Then the student shouted at Mei as she responded.

It was a voice filled with frustration, as if to say that what they were facing was reality.

Indeed.

That was the reality.

They all wanted to help Scarlet, who had once been an irreplaceably precious friend to them.

But the fear of the consequences that would follow kept them from facing that reality.

They shut down their thoughts and gave in, acknowledging it was inevitable.

It wasn’t embarrassing; it was simply the natural thing to do.

Even though it was natural—

[But…]

Mei.

She was the only one.

[There’s a reason!]

She shouted it out.

It wasn’t something that should just be taken for granted—that giving up wasn’t right.

She cried out.

[It’s in the Hero’s Oath. A hero must never abandon their comrades, no matter the situation!]

Her words were idealistic.

By not caring about reality, she sat on her tongue, and in a way that made her look like a fool, Mei spoke those ideals.

[We’re aspiring heroes! So at least we, who are Scarlet’s allies, must not abandon her…!]

However, none could laugh at her words.

With a subtle talent that fell short of being called genius.

Still, she had relentlessly pursued her goal of becoming a hero with utmost seriousness.

Knowing how resolutely she walked that path made those who had witnessed it see.

[Regardless, I’m going to do it alone. No, I’ll be with Dwight, since he’s agreed too.]

She was undoubtedly scared.

Yet with a determined voice, Mei declared she would not back down.

[…You’re really insane. What will you do about the consequences?]

Insanity, one of the students said to her like that.

Sofia felt the same way.

What were they going to do about the aftermath, and how would they take responsibility for such actions?

And at the same time, she wondered how they could act like that.

But she could find the answer to that in what she had said earlier.

[A hero must never abandon their comrades, no matter the situation…!]

She could do that because she thought of Scarlet as a comrade.

It was because she had that much faith in Scarlet.

Upon finishing that thought, Sofia muttered to herself,

“…I’m so far behind. What kind of person am I?”

She smiled wryly.

When had it been?

When she learned what kind of being Scarlet was while trying to save her from Sator?

She had told Scarlet the same words as Mei.

That a hero doesn’t abandon their comrades, no matter the situation.

Confident that her trust in Scarlet was unparalleled, and yet here she was looking so dismal.

Trust.

Yes, trust.

Why had she become unable to trust Scarlet?

Because she had lost control and tried to burn herself and hurt Yoon Si-woo.

At that moment, she wasn’t Scarlet.

That fact was undeniably true.

However, if what Mei said afterward was true and Scarlet had regained her senses,

Then it must have been thanks to someone who trusted Scarlet just as much as she did.

Sofia recalled Yoon Si-woo’s figure as he walked fearlessly into the flames to keep his promise to Scarlet, despite her protests.

The faith she had in him as a comrade who knew Scarlet.

That made her think that he wouldn’t have fallen so easily to the witch.

Yes, it was much more convincing to think that he had put in that much effort to bring her back.

Though it was just a wishful thought, it felt somewhat like that.

With that thought, she felt a bit ridiculous about herself.

Yoon Si-woo, Mei.

Everyone believed in Scarlet.

“…I can’t just lose,”

Sofia muttered, taking a deep breath.

It felt like the fog that had clouded her mind was beginning to clear a little.

She operated her communicator and opened her mouth.

“Right. Mei is right. It’s absurd for a hero to abandon their comrades.”

[S-Sofia?]

As Sofia echoed Mei’s sentiment, she chuckled at the puzzled reactions of her peers.

She hated being crushed by the burden of responsibility and not doing anything.

The heir of Astra, though that position forced her to grow up, she was still a student.

Therefore, she could now speak without hesitation.

“I will help Scarlet.”

The path that does not compromise ideals with reality.

It’s only natural.

“I am Scarlet’s ally.”

If students don’t dream of ideals, no one in the world can discuss them.

After speaking, she felt a sense of relief wash over her.

But there was more to say.

“I have a request for all of you.”

Sofia pleaded.

For those students who couldn’t bring themselves to speak like she could.

“Just for once, could you believe in Scarlet?”

To join their ideals together.

[…What do you think you are doing? If we do such a thing, it wouldn’t just be a matter of resignation; we’d all become criminals.]

Naturally, the response wasn’t positive.

It couldn’t be avoided since it wasn’t something that could be recklessly attempted.

Yet Sofia felt it.

That they were all hesitating right now.

That they were just too hesitant to make their mind up.

That’s why,

“I will take the responsibility for this. Will that be enough?”

Sofia said that.

To create an opportunity for them to gather their resolve.

Responsibility was indeed a terrifying word.

But hadn’t she told Scarlet before?

That one day, if she ever needed help, she’d do everything in her power to assist her.

She hadn’t forgotten.

And now felt like that moment had arrived.

[Even if you say that… ]

Those struggling to make up their minds.

Though she had said she would take responsibility, it wasn’t going to be as simple as that.

Sofia wasn’t saying that she had thoroughly thought through the consequences.

Yet, she asked, her expression utterly composed.

“So, what will you do?”

*

Time had come.

Sofia pulled back the curtains that had obscured the window and looked outside.

What existed beyond was the pitch-black night sky.

At first glance, it appeared desolate and lonely, but—

[Everyone, now!!!]

[Alright, fire!!]

[Gah, I don’t care! Let whatever happen happen!!]

As the voices burst forth from the communicator,

BANG!!!

With a loud noise, dozens of fireworks were embroidered across the night sky.

It was a splendid display, brought forth by everyone’s combined efforts.

The persuasion of the kids?

Was that something to worry about?

[Wahaha!! Hey, look at the sky! How can you not be captivated by that!?]

[…Hey, you. Just a moment ago, weren’t you saying something else?]

[That’s that, and this is this! Since we’re at it, let’s make it count!]

Though they had hesitated, they were aspiring heroes at heart.

They were those who inherently pursued ideals.

If they weren’t interested in such things, they wouldn’t be aspiring to become heroes in the first place.

[Scarlet must have escaped safely, right?]

[Dwight will surely escort her well. Hey, after all this, doesn’t Scarlet owe us at least a meal when we meet again?]

[If she has any conscience? But suddenly, now that we’ve done it, I’m starting to worry about the consequences… ]

[Stop dampening the mood and just enjoy it!]

Responsibilities to lose, consequences to deal with.

There were heaps of worries stacked on top of each other, yet—

Somehow, for that brief moment, she felt the most peaceful she had ever been.

Listening to the clamorous voices as she chuckled to herself, Sofia enjoyed the fireworks shot into the air and murmured softly.

“See you next time, Scarlet.”