“…Cough.”

The moment I entered the depths of the magic realm with Ari, the first thought that came to my mind was how dreadful it felt.

An aura that didn’t allow any other presence.

In that pitch-black darkness created solely to end the world, an overwhelming malevolence was palpable.

In response, I recalled the faces of my dear ones and shouted.

“I won’t let it reach them…!!”

The flames that burned the magic flared up with a loud whoosh in the heart of the darkness made of magic.

“I will protect them…!”

With the desire to protect, the flames that erupted began to incinerate the darkness that tried to harm those precious to me.

“I will ensure their safety…! Definitely…!!”

However,

“Ugh…!!”

The cost of igniting the flames within that magic was far from trivial.

The fuel needed to ignite the flames was none other than myself.

The senses that had been restored by the power sent by the beasts rapidly deteriorated again.

As I continued to emit flames in that state, my body, already excessively depleted from the battle with the gluttonous witch, began sending alarms of agony once more.

Using more power from here on would mean death.

But,

“It doesn’t matter…!!!”

I lightly disregarded that warning.

I had long since braced myself for death before plunging into this situation.

So, I urged the flames that would consume my body along with the magic even more.

“It’s okay to burn it all…!!”

In answer to that will, the flames continued to rise.

Just as I had previously used my tongue, nose, eyes, ears, and legs as fuel, this time, I would burn whatever was left.

Yet, yet…

“…Gah!”

My body had already reached its limit, while the remaining magic was overwhelmingly abundant.

Even if I sacrificed my entire body, it had been far too insufficient from the start to burn all this magic.

“Ha, ugh…!!”

I strained myself to conjure the flames.

But it was far from satisfying in intensity.

It couldn’t be any other way.

What I was doing right now was akin to trying to rekindle a fire with firewood that had already turned to ash once.

It was a miracle that flames were burning at all without something to fuel them.

The magic I burned constituted about one-tenth of the total.

Such a meager result.

If it weren’t for the power lent by the beasts, even that would have been impossible.

However, I could not be satisfied with just this.

I had to muster just a bit more strength; I had to endure just a bit more.

I could protect their smiles.

With only that conviction, I conveyed my will to the flames.

“…I said, all of it!”

Wasn’t there still something left to burn here?

My heart still beats.

I was still alive.

Take it all and burn it.

If that’s not enough, I’d even dedicate my soul as fuel.

I prayed desperately for the flames to kindle, hoping to protect even one more person.

Then, the flames began to burn as I wished.

Beyond my body, to even my soul.

Whoosh─!

Then, the flames roared.

Flames stronger and more radiant than ever before.

My soul, not my body nor heart.

Could it be that it contained the most power?

Using the essence of this witch called me as fuel.

The flames radiated the most splendid and bright light just as they were about to extinguish.

“…As unfortunate as it is, I think this is it.”

However, the flames that had consumed my soul weren’t enough to burn all the magic.

At most, about one-third of it.

For me, it was a disappointing and unsatisfactory result, but ultimately it seemed to be the best I could do.

After that, I just hoped Yoon Si-woo would manage well.

I felt the once-brilliant flames begin to diminish.

The moment that flame extinguished would mark my end.

So, I closed my eyes quietly, awaiting that moment.

But in that instant,

Whoosh─!

“What, is this…?”

A miracle occurred.

The flame that had seemingly lost its power and was about to extinguish began to blaze anew.

As if someone had added fresh fuel to the dying fire.

But who could…?

[Long time no see. Scarlet Evande.]

It was at that moment the voice rang out.

Under the influence of that familiar voice from long ago, I muttered reflexively.

“…Evangeline?”

It was the voice of the former Witch of Rage, Evangeline.

Startled by the voice I hadn’t heard in a while, I tentatively asked her.

“So, this flame….”

[That’s right. It seemed you were in trouble, so I lent you a hand.]

Indeed, it appeared the reignited flame was thanks to her.

But how?

The flames burning the magic should be my power…

As those thoughts crossed my mind, Evangeline laughed softly and said.

[Haven’t you used my powers quite a bit until now? This time, I simply used your powers just as you have used mine before.]

Only then did I feel a sense of clarity wash over me.

And at the same moment, I realized something.

My ability to burn magic came at a cost.

However, for her, who shares her body with me, there was only one cost she could pay to use that ability.

As that thought crossed my mind, I tried to say something to her, but Evangeline spoke first, almost cutting me off.

[No need to feel guilty. This is simply me repaying a debt.]

“…A debt?”

[Yes. For some reason, I’ve been influenced by a certain person and feel compelled to repay my debts like they do.]

Jokingly said, Evangeline then turned serious and spoke to me.

[…You are the one who freed me from this long curse. For you, I will willingly offer my soul.]

“…Evangeline.”

Once, someone I resented so much I wished her dead, I now felt an overwhelming gratitude that made me forget all the struggles I faced because of her.

I could feel the flames burning magic with both our souls as fuel.

More than half of that dreadful magic should have been consumed away.

While I wasn’t completely at ease, this much should be enough…

As those thoughts crossed my mind, I heard Evangeline mumbling softly.

[…And there’s another person who is just as grateful to you as I am.]

At the same moment, I sensed the flames intensify once more.

What was going on now? I thought.

Then, from somewhere, a small voice echoed.

[…Hello.]

Upon hearing that voice, I involuntarily shuddered.

That voice was undoubtedly familiar.

I recognized it.

That voice was…

“Scarlet Evande…?”

It was the voice of Scarlet Evande.

Not my voice, but the voice of the girl who originally possessed the name Scarlet Evande.

Though I occasionally sensed her presence in the past, I had not felt it for some time, leading me to believe she had vanished.

She had always been with me…

Lost in a strange nostalgia, I realized that it was she who had kindled the flame this time.

Although created through experimentation, she too, to a limited extent, was capable of wielding the power of a witch.

It seemed she, like me and Evangeline, had the ability to use her powers.

But regardless of feasibility, I was curious as to why she too had dedicated her soul to harnessing her powers.

She most likely didn’t think she owed me any debt, unlike Evangeline.

Just as that thought came to mind,

[…No. I do have a debt.]

Scarlet spoke to me.

She also felt she owed me a debt.

Not knowing what it was, I tilted my head in confusion, and Scarlet explained.

[You kept your promise.]

“…A promise?”

[The promise you made with the Uncle, to become Scarlet Evande and protect people.]

Upon hearing her reference to the word Uncle, I swallowed hard.

Uncle, Luke Aegis.

The one who created Scarlet Evande and ultimately died for her, that was how I referred to him.

Thinking of Uncle who wished for Scarlet Evande’s happiness until the end made me choke up.

I realized that Scarlet had seen everything.

Unable to find words, Scarlet continued with a gentle tone.

[You went through so much, yet you kept your promise. So, I was really, really grateful.]

“…So, you helped me?”

When I asked that, Scarlet smiled softly and replied.

[That’s true, but it’s not that simple.]

“…What do you mean?”

And I couldn’t help but smile at the response that followed.

[Scarlet Evande is here to protect people. That has always been the case.]

“…Yes. I see. That’s true. Hahaha.”

Slightly moved by her answer, I was smiling, when Scarlet suddenly posed a question to me.

[On the other hand, I’m curious. Is everything alright with you?]

I instantly understood what she was inquiring about.

Though I was to protect others, ultimately I had come to die in the process—was I okay with that?

I chuckled lightly, replying to her.

“I’m okay.”

[You were really struggling at first. But even now?]

“Well, there was a lot of difficulty in the beginning.”

Indeed, as she had said, it had been very tough when I first arrived in this world.

Why was this happening to me?

Why had I, who lived normally, ended up experiencing such hardships here?

“But that’s not the case anymore. Now, this world and the people I’ve met here have grown incredibly precious to me.”

It came to the point where I couldn’t help but want to protect their smiles even if it meant I had to die.

“So now I think it’s fortunate that I ended up here. After all, I’ve been able to protect everyone like this.”

Then Scarlet asked me.

[Really?]

I quietly ignited the flames in response to her inquiry.

That was my answer.

For her as well, being Scarlet Evande sufficed as an answer.

Because those flames were born from true happiness.

A warm yet not burning flame surrounded us.

In that flame, I felt my body slowly turn to ash and drift away.

However, now I could feel the intensity of the flames was enough to incinerate all the magic, and out of that joy, the flames blazed more brilliantly than ever.

Then, as I was engulfed in the flames, I suddenly recalled.

The very first question that had sent me into this world.

[Do you think you can save them?]

Now, I could answer that question.

Look here.

I saved them, I would say.

*

As the people who were desperately taking cover from the falling magic looked on.

They witnessed the scene of red flames blooming from the black sun that fell to end the world.

The flames that blossomed from the black sun shone warmly upon the world for a brief moment before vanishing along with the black sun.

Some realized that the flames, and the girl akin to those flames, had saved the world.

However, there was no longer any trace of her in the world she had saved.