How to Stop Me
Yoon Siwoo was blankly recalling what had happened during lunchtime. To be honest, he had originally only followed Captain Martina here in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Scarlet's face. However, thanks to the help of Marin—a girl he had agreed to become friends with after meeting her at an arranged marriage meeting not long ago—something completely unexpected had occurred.
'You didn't come all this way just to do nothing, did you? I'll set up a spot where you can talk to Miss Scarlet alone, so finish up quickly and get moving.' A friend who offered to create an opportunity for him to be alone with the girl he fancied. He was more used to being envied than cheered on, so receiving someone's support in his romantic endeavors was a first and deeply embarrassing, but how could he possibly kick away such a golden opportunity?
When the two who had set the stage left them alone, leaving him with Scarlet, he hadn't wished for much. He would have been more than content just to talk and spend some time together.
'The other day, there was this incredibly grueling class... and, well, I held on by thinking of you.' Was that why? The moment he heard her say those words, he felt as if his heart had stopped. It was beating so frantically fast that it felt as though it weren't beating at all.
'Thank you, Yoon Siwoo. I was able to find the strength because of you.' She had said. Thanking him, telling him she found strength because of him.
He had always dreamed of this. He had yearned for it. He had strived all this time to become someone the girl could trust and rely on. Although he always claimed he was fine and that he did it because he wanted to, honestly, there were times when it was hard. There were moments when he was crushed by the pressure of meeting everyone's expectations, plagued by doubts about whether his actions were truly the best choice.
'So hang in there, too. Because I believe in you more than anyone else in this world.' That was why her words, acknowledging his struggles, were a reward in and of themselves. The smile she gave him along with those words made him forget all the hardships he had faced until now. Even a single drop of sweet nectar found in a barren desert could not have offered such dizzying sweetness and bliss.
He had never imagined he would hear such words, to the point where he momentarily wondered if he was dreaming. But the voice of the Holy Sword of Truth, which continuously whispered that her words were true, made him realize this was reality. She had truly said that she believed in him more than anyone else in the world. He was just so incredibly happy—
Startled by Lucy's shout, he snapped out of his reverie with a gasp. Wondering what was going on, he looked around and saw his classmates staring at him with puzzled expressions. Yoon Siwoo cautiously asked Lucy internally, 'Uh, Lucy? Did something happen?' At his question, Lucy replied in an utterly exasperated voice.
Sure enough, Martina was standing at the front with her arms crossed, looking in his direction as if waiting. Rising from his seat and stepping forward before it was too late, Martina muttered with a slightly dissatisfied look.
"......Yoon Siwoo. I know you're only here as a teaching assistant, but aren't you letting your mind wander a bit too much?"
"......I'm sorry, Captain." After apologizing for Martina's reprimand, Yoon Siwoo grumbled to Lucy out of sheer embarrassment. 'You could have called me a little sooner...'
Of course, he gained nothing from complaining and was only scolded for being pathetic. As he accepted his mistake and quietly apologized to Lucy, Martina's voice rang out.
"Anyway, Yoon Siwoo. You will spar with this student here. Control your strength, but make it as realistic as possible so she can gain proper experience. Got it?"
Hearing that, Yoon Siwoo looked at the student standing next to Martina and blushed. The red-haired girl he had been thinking so intensely about just moments ago was staring straight at him. His heart felt like it would burst just from making eye contact, and now he had to spar with her?
Though momentarily flustered, he realized he had no choice. He couldn't exactly tell his direct superior, 'Um, Captain, my heart flutters every time I look at her, so I don't think I can spar.' So, he nodded for now, but then a sudden wave of worry washed over him. He had bad memories when it came to sparring with her. There was a time when an accident during a spar had left her hands covered in blood. As he hesitated, Martina grinned and spoke.
"Since Instructor Eve will be assisting, you don't have to worry about actual injuries. Go ahead and fight fiercely."
Those words relieved his anxiety. Unlike their previous spar in reality with protective gear, there was no risk of a real accident this time. Of course, even within an illusion, the pain would feel real, but he just had to control his movements carefully to ensure she didn't get hurt. With that thought, he looked at Scarlet and saw her bowing slightly, her eyes curving into a gentle smile.
"I look forward to our spar."
"......Yeah." Honestly, shouldn't I be more worried about whether my heart can take this than the actual spar? Yoon Siwoo thought to himself.
Standing opposite Scarlet, Yoon Siwoo looked around. Since only the two of them were inside the magic barrier, the surroundings were quiet. Although people outside would be watching them through a screen, the illusion made him feel as if they were completely alone. As he tried to calm his racing heart, Scarlet took her stance and spoke.
"It won't be like our last spar. I've been working really hard, you know."
It was a novel feeling, as he had never seen her speak with such confidence before. But right now, he needed to focus on the spar, not his impressions. Yoon Siwoo internally told his heart to behave, then drew his sword from thin air. The moment his hand gripped the hilt, his pounding heart miraculously calmed, and his trembling subsided. Only then did he look at her not as the girl he liked, but as his opponent, and spoke.
"You can go all out. Show me everything you've got."
These were by no means arrogant words. No matter how strong Scarlet had become, he was exceptionally powerful even compared to other Heroes. Knowing this fact well, she silently raised her aura in response to his words. Through his five senses, heightened by the blessing of the Holy Sword, various details about his opponent flowed into him. Normally, anyone would be tense when facing an opponent stronger than themselves, but she was different. Her eyes, her breathing, and her aura all declared one thing: she was about to come at him with everything she had.
Acknowledging her resolve, he took a mid-guard stance and pointed the tip of his sword toward her. Their gazes locked, and in the next instant, as if by unspoken agreement, they lunged at each other simultaneously.
The first clash. Seeing her attempt to deflect the flat of his blade with her fist, he pulled his sword back while simultaneously drawing another to strike at her opening. In the past, this single blow would have decided the match. However, without taking her eyes off his blade, she reacted to the attack, lightly leaping backward to successfully evade it. She's definitely improved. He gave her a knowing grin, and her lips curved upward as if she understood. He swung his sword again as a sign of praise, and she dodged it as if to say thank you.
As they exchanged several more blows, he could clearly feel how much her skills had grown. Even though he was holding back, how many students could react to his attacks like this? As he smiled, watching Scarlet narrowly but surely evade his strikes, she took a step forward and closed the distance. He blocked her right fist, which was enveloped in flames, with the flat of his blade. The moment he blocked the attack, he released his sword, leaping backward to widen the gap.
He used a sword, while Scarlet fought barehanded. If the distance widened even slightly, she would be at an overwhelming disadvantage. In response to his silent question of how she would handle this, she grinned and thrust her left arm forward. A crimson light flashed from the gem embedded in the palm of her prosthetic hand. A condensed blast of flames erupted, completely engulfing his vision.
"......You've really gotten a lot stronger." After the flames swept past, Yoon Siwoo deactivated the barrier created by the Holy Sword of Protection and stepped out. As he muttered in admiration, Scarlet replied from across the field with a triumphant smile.
"I told you, I've been working hard. Because I want to fight by your side one day. I wanted to become strong enough to be of help to you."
It was completely unexpected. He had never dreamed she was harboring such thoughts. Yoon Siwoo imagined a scene where she fought alongside him. He hated the thought of her being in dangerous battles. Yet, how could he dislike the fact that she had strived to become strong enough to help him, all to stand by his side? If such a day truly came, he would simply have to protect her so she would never be in danger. Honestly, hearing those words made him so ecstatic he could barely contain himself. He had been reluctant at first, but now he was incredibly glad they had sparred. As he desperately tried to suppress the corners of his mouth from twitching upward in sheer joy, Scarlet's voice reached him.
"But I guess I'll still never be as strong as you. That attack just now was my best shot." She spoke while scanning his body, which didn't have a single scratch on it. At her words, he felt a pang of worry. Just as he was about to reassure her that she was already plenty strong so she wouldn't lose heart, she murmured.
"I'm so glad. That you're so strong that I can't defeat you even when I give it my absolute all." As she said this, she smiled with an expression of profound satisfaction. Staring straight into his eyes, she slowly nodded and spoke.
"You don't have to hold back anymore. Let's really do this like a real battle." The moment she finished speaking, Scarlet lunged at him. Facing her sudden charge, he swung his sword first, utilizing the difference in their reach just as before. It was an attack she would normally have to dodge backward or block to counter. But her response was different from before. Without blocking or dodging, she ran straight toward the blade without slowing down.
"Ugh...!" At this rate, she would lose at least an arm. He immediately pulled back his sword to abort the attack and summoned the Holy Sword of Protection to block her instead. A deafening boom echoed as her flame-shrouded fist collided with his barrier. Using the recoil to leap back, he shouted at her for her reckless behavior. "What are you doing...!"
"I told you, we're doing this like a real battle," Scarlet replied in a calm, nonchalant voice. Then, tilting her head with a puzzled expression, she asked, "Surely you wouldn't stop your attack in a real battle just because you're worried I might get hurt, right?"
"What on earth are you talking about..."
"You see, you mustn't do that." No sooner had she murmured those words than she lunged at him again. *Clang!* As he blocked her strike, she stared straight at him from point-blank range and said, "In a real battle, you must never hesitate or falter."
Swinging her fist once more, she murmured. Her eyes, her breathing, and her aura all made it clear: if he only defended, she would not stop. "Because that won't be enough to stop me."
Scarlet closed the distance as she rushed forward. He couldn't understand why she was suddenly acting so strangely. In the midst of his confusion, Scarlet drew close and whispered in a voice only he could hear, "You remember our promise, right?"
At those words, his heart sank. A promise he had made to her in the past flashed through his mind. *Boom!* A heavy impact rattled against the barrier he had deployed. He blocked the subsequent attacks. Defense, defense, defense. But she didn't stop. Charging relentlessly, she was demanding something from him. He finally realized what she wanted him to do. But there was no way he could do such a thing...
Even as the thought crossed his mind, she murmured in a sorrowful voice, "I'm trying so hard to keep my promise. Are you not going to do the same?"
He recalled their conversation from lunchtime. Her words about how she was trying her absolute best to be happy just to keep her promise to him. At the same time, Scarlet's murmur reached his ears. "I hate people who make promises they can't keep."
He clenched his teeth. Deactivating his barrier, he swung his sword forward. *Splat!* Blood sprayed as the blade sliced her hand. Yet, Scarlet smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons in satisfaction. "Yes, like that. But it's not enough."
Scarlet rushed him. He swung his sword to stop her. Blood sprayed from her arm. But she didn't stop. "More."
He swung his sword. Her leg was slashed, making her stumble. But she didn't stop. "More."
The red-haired girl walked toward him, her entire body dyed in crimson. His sword trembled. No, was it he who was trembling? Step by step, she approached him, whispering in a soft voice, "If it's too hard, let's practice. I'll show you how."
One step. Pointing to her own chest, right where the source of her life resided. "Stab me here. If you stab me here, you can stop me."
One more step. She took his hand, which was frozen and trembling too much to move. Guiding the sword held in his grip, she aimed it directly at her own heart. "You can do it, right?"
The final step. Guided by her hand, the sword plunged forward as a whisper echoed in his ear. *Thud.* The sensation of piercing through flesh, the feeling of a heartbeat slowly fading away, and a warm, crimson liquid—as red as the girl herself—flowed down his hand.
Yoon Siwoo stared blankly at his hand, which was rapidly staining red, before lifting his head to look at the girl. Toward him, she whispered with a radiant, blooming smile.
"I knew it. You really are dependable."