Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Youth in the Prophecy - 3
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"That young man... that young man defeated the monster."
Yeah. I defeated the monster.
"My god. This is a miracle. A miracle!"
No. This isn't a miracle. Not a miracle at all.
"The goddess has finally granted us a miracle. Finally!"
That incompetent woman did nothing. She never has, and she never will.
"Out of the damn way, you cripples! Move it!"
"What... wait, you're that revolutionary priest?"
She's no revolutionary priest. She's just a pitiful woman who's lost everything.
"Revolution...? What the fuck. What a shitty name. Whatever, just help already! Hurry up!"
"Y-Yes, Priestess! What are you all doing? Move!"
"Right! Help the hero! He's our hope!"
No.
I'm not a hero.
Just a young man who wanted to save the girl in his arms.
A hero saves others. That's what makes a hero.
So I'm not a hero.
I'm just...
...
...
...
"Oppa. Wake up."
A small hand shook my body vigorously to rouse me. It was a situation so familiar by now, yet somehow it felt off. The girl wasn't straddling my chest yelling her lungs out or calling me a murderer. She was just gently shaking my shoulder.
"Get up. It's already morning."
Morning, huh.
"...How long was I out?"
I asked, dread lacing my voice. Kate forced a smile as she answered.
"Just one day. So get up. The priestess said to check if you're okay before letting you go."
"I'm fine."
"Then get up already, oppa. And open your eyes."
"..."
Only then did I open my eyes. Unlike yesterday, both eyes took in the familiar ceiling at once. I remembered a blade lodged in one side. Kate tilted her head, staring at that eye.
"Can you see okay?"
"Yeah. I can see fine."
Must be my imagination. I turned my head this way and that, but both eyes captured the surroundings without issue. No pain or discomfort. Frowning, I scanned the room and spotted a mirror, confronting my reflection.
And there, eyes glowing an eerily vivid blue met mine.
That means...
"Good... Ah, you can't move yet!"
Kate rushed to stop me as I tried to rise from bed. But I brushed her hand aside and strode to the door, flinging it open with all my strength.
Thud.
"Whoa! You scared me."
The door handle slammed into the wall with a harsh bang. The woman, back turned as she fiddled with something, flinched and let out a startled yelp. Leaning on crutches, she sighed; her back looked much gaunter than before.
"Vanessa."
"You're up, Luca."
Vanessa slowly turned to me. A neatly severed ear, a raggedly torn cheek, and crudely painted eyes passed by before her other side came into view. She met my piercing stare and cocked her head.
"What? Something weird?"
"...No. Nothing."
Vanessa's remaining eye sparkled as she watched me. In the dim room, seeing that glowing blue eye, I finally realized whose eye now filled my socket.
"...It's nothing."
"Doesn't seem like nothing, but whatever."
She stretched her tense muscles and plopped into a chair, staring at me as if awaiting my questions. But I couldn't open my mouth and just stood there frozen.
A long silence stretched. Finally, she spoke first.
"Rachel's fine, Luca."
"Okay."
"She's waiting outside right now. She saved a coachman who said he has family in the capital. You can just hop on."
"Thanks. I'll repay you later."
"No need. I told you—I owe you too much already."
I didn't reply. Vanessa fidgeted with her fingers before speaking again.
"Bobby got taken by the gangsters. A deal's a deal, they said he's theirs now. They'll put him to good use, as promised. Not sure how many customers will show up in this disaster, though."
"Good for him."
"And the saintess..."
She trailed off. After a long pause, she continued.
"Surgery just finished not long ago, so she's sleeping now. But she'll wake soon. Want to see her?"
"No."
I answered instantly and turned to leave.
"I'm heading out now."
"Then she wanted me to pass on a message."
She held me back not with her hand, but her words. Slowly, she relayed Sera's message.
"She knows you won't take her with you. So if she wanted to follow, this was the only way."
I brought a hand to my eye. There glowed a blue iris. Suddenly, a ridiculous childhood dream popped into mind—not even funny enough for a chuckle.
"..."
I paused at the door, trailing fingers over the rough wood. Splinters pricked my skin amid faint pain. Finally, I spoke.
"Bella..."
"..."
"What about Bella?"
"That kid."
Vanessa spoke in an irritated tone, but her voice trembled slightly. I immediately regretted asking and bowed my head, wanting to plug my ears.
"She's alive."
Words I should feel relieved by, yet they rang hollow somehow.
"And?"
"And..."
She hesitated deeply, as if wondering if she should say it. But truth couldn't be hidden. Finally, Vanessa spat it out like it crushed her.
"But... she won't be the same as before."
"What do you mean?"
"She won't see anymore."
Those words weighed heavy on my shoulders. But she pressed on.
"She won't hear either. Won't speak properly. And she'll probably sleep a long time. Yes. But she's alive, Luca. That's what matters."
"..."
I didn't answer. Instead, I closed my eyes. Familiar darkness draped over me like a curtain down to my feet.
She's alive, huh...
In the end... I couldn't change a damn thing.
I...
"Um... that's not true, Priestess."
Kate's voice snapped me back. I opened my eyes to see her smiling, clutching my clothes. Spotting my gaze, she turned to Vanessa.
"Because Bella will be able to see again."
"What do you... Ah, damn it, Kate."
"Why? You already gave Bella one of your eyes, Priestess. What's stopping me?"
"You... you can't, Kate."
"Why not? Just receive that blessing thing. And I'm closer to Bella than you anyway. Stop pretending you care about her when all you do is scold her."
Her tone bit sharp, but her voice brimmed with excitement beyond cheer. Kate grinned brightly, then looked at me.
"She always hogs the captain role in pirate games anyway. Pisses me off. Now we'll both wear eyepatches—she can't lord her looks over me anymore."
"Kate..."
"Oppa."
Suddenly, Kate took my hand. Unbelievable heat radiated from her tiny palm.
"Thank you. For saving Bella."
"I..."
"Doesn't matter what you think. You brought back my most precious friend."
"Not completely."
"Close enough."
Kate tugged my hand, bending me at the waist. Drawn by that faint but insistent pull, I bowed my head.
"As long as she's alive, we'll all be happy together someday."
Her face filled my view. Barely half my size, she cupped my cheeks with both hands.
"Thank you. Hero oppa."
She pressed a light kiss to my forehead.
Once before, I'd received a forehead kiss. But no déjà vu this time. That day, the woman who kissed my stone-hard brow brought despair. Now, no despair—just bright summer sunlight warming my forehead.
"...Haa. Damn. Whatever."
Vanessa shook her head with a sigh, then reached into her bosom and called Kate.
"Kate. Come here."
"Why?"
"Give this to Luca for me."
From her hand emerged a small pendant etched with the Ennesic Order's emblem. Yet it pulsed with strangely potent magic.
"What's that?"
"Something I... borrowed from the cathedral. From the archbishop's room. Pretty important relic to the Order. One the goddess herself handed over during her descent. No power on its own, but I tucked some useful talismans inside."
"Uh... that's..."
"What, spit it out, Kate."
"Nothing."
Vanessa eyed Kate suspiciously as she trailed off, shrugged, and handed over the pendant.
"Meant it for the kids, but giving it to you instead, Luca. You need it more."
"No need."
"Please. Take it as thanks. It's all I can do."
I tried refusing, but Kate had already stuffed it into my inner pocket. Resigned, I bowed my head—then Kate whispered in my ear.
"Uh... actually, knowing it'd go to you, I slipped a letter inside. Keep it from the priestess, read it on the way. Got it?"
"What nonsense are you writing now, Kate?"
"Nothing!"
Kate shouted loudly on purpose and backed away, flashing a mischievous grin.
"And be nice to Detective sis. I told you—she likes you, oppa."
"It's not like that."
"I know. That's why—be good to her. Okay?"
"...Got it."
I nodded reluctantly and glanced at Vanessa, unsure what to say. Finally, I muttered briefly and turned.
"Well. I'm off."
"Bye! Hero oppa!"
"Yes. Thank you."
Kate's hearty farewell was followed by Vanessa's unbelievably gentle voice. As I opened the door, she added one last thing.
"May blessings be upon the hero of the prophecy."
Pretending not to hear, I stepped out. The talisman weighed solidly in my pocket. Shaking off the shadow clinging to my heels, I pressed forward.
"...Luca. Hello."
Rachel stood by the carriage right outside. Without pausing, I headed straight for it.
"You look okay."
"Yes. I am."
Normally, she'd toss in a joke or two, but Rachel just nodded silently. I boarded and collapsed into the seat.
"You look okay too, Luca."
"Yeah."
"...Right."
Again, she nodded wordlessly, then suddenly stared at the ground. I watched her before facing forward.
"If you don't want to come, you don't have to."
"It's not that."
"Then why."
"Well..."
She hesitated deeply, scuffing the dirt with her foot. Finally, she lifted her head and spoke cautiously.
"Luca."
"Yeah."
"Shouldn't you go back?"
"Where."
"...There."
Her finger pointed one way. Not toward the capital.
Exactly the opposite.
My gaze lingered there long. Thoughts from yesterday—before the walls I'd toppled at the Demon King's Castle—poured from Rachel's lips.
When others said it, I could deny it outright. But from Rachel too? I had no words. Yesterday's scenes crawled back: the world crumbling like a sandcastle in minutes, the capital knights' wreckage, people wailing amid ruins.
A world without me was so fragile.
But...
"Did I say something stupid?"
As thoughts swirled, Rachel murmured softly. Before I could reply, she shook her head and hopped into the carriage with her usual energy.
"Ugh. Let's go. No more nonsense."
"Yeah."
I signaled the coachman. The carriage lurched into motion.
Leaving the castle, I never once looked out the window. Afraid passing sights would shove fate in my face again, I surrendered to the jolts, head against the wall.
"Hey, Luca."
After a long while, Rachel spoke first.
"Ignore what I said earlier."
"What."
"You know. Ignore it. I just... wanted to say thanks."
She glanced at me but couldn't meet my eyes, staring at my shoulder instead. Her voice sank low.
"I acted all high and mighty. But without you, I'd have died. It was really close this time. Thought I was done for."
"No need to thank me. You helped me a lot too."
"Not the same weight. You spent precious time coming to save me. Can't thank you enough with words... but thank you. Forget hero stuff—just as a person, thanks for saving me."
"..."
"I'm serious. Really... thank you, Luca. Truly..."
Her voice caught somehow. I tried meeting her eyes, but she kept dodging. Finally, staring at the floor, I exhaled deeply.
"..."
"..."
"Rachel."
"Yes?"
"..."
Creak.
The carriage shook roughly. Dust swirled up. Watching it, I answered Rachel's long-ago question from another carriage ride.
"I'm from Lorenheim."
"..."
She watched me silently, then bit her lip as realization dawned, staring at the floor with me. Between averted gazes, my story flowed.
"I was just a plain country bumpkin. Sick of my village, dreaming of cities I didn't know. The only reason I stayed till twenty? My whole world was there."
"That... girl?"
"Yeah. Eli. She was my entire world."
Suddenly, my ringed finger throbbed. I stroked the smooth band and continued.
"...But as you know, I got this ridiculous 'hero' title and set off to slay the Demon King. Stained my hands with so much blood. Knights dead because of us, innocent demons... even Eli's."
"Not your fault."
"Maybe. Maybe it was all just their fate. And like people say, maybe becoming a hero is mine too. I've denied it, but yesterday I felt it. A world without me... crumbles so easily."
Finally, I glanced out the window. The sun had set, darkness settling. Even a firefly's glow—if no light comes—sinks into eternal night.
"Yeah. Maybe I really am necessary. If I don't protect the world, demons might destroy everything. But Rachel..."
"Yes."
"...I miss her so much."
My lips dried. I swallowed hard, head bowed.
"My world without her is fragile too."
"Luca."
"Yeah. Someday, I might have to throw myself for the world. Probably will once everything's done. But before that, just once... I want to see Eli."
"Luca."
"Just once is fine. Even just seeing her... that's enough. Eli... I miss her so much..."
"I understand."
Rachel's hand settled lightly on my head. I closed my eyes, burying my face in my hands.
"You'll see her soon."
"No need to comfort me."
"No. You will. Definitely soon. So let's hurry to the capital."
Her words echoed softly in the dark. Stroking my hair, she said.
"We'll go meet her."