The Price of Indomitability
A massive tear in space opened in the air at the Witch's gesture. Since she called it a passage to the outside world, was it something like the Anywhere Door from the cartoons? I had no idea where it led, but... if I went in, I wouldn't be coming back in one piece. In this world, the land permitted to humanity was but a tiny fraction. Stepping out into the world blanketed in Magi meant certain death.
The Witch gestured with her chin, as if telling me to enter if I was ready. If I didn't go, the kids would die. If I did, I would die. Forced to choose between the two, the answer was already decided. Standing before the portal the Witch had opened, I glanced back. The faces of the children, who had come to occupy such a massive place in my heart, filled my vision.
Ah, maybe this is for the best. If any of them were to die, I didn't have the confidence to keep holding on like this anymore. So, this was an inevitable choice—a way for me to remain true to myself, standing strong until the very end. Praying with all my heart that they would have a future filled with hope—unlike the original novel—I stepped through the portal.
Too late.
"Ah, ah..."
Too late.
"Ah... ah, aaah..."
He was too late.
"Aaaaargh! Aaaaaaaaargh!!"
Confronted with an unacceptable reality, Yoon Siwoo shrieked.
Tears streaming down his face, Yoon Siwoo asked himself over and over again. Why did this happen? Because I was too weak to break through a mere barrier? Because I hesitated, worrying about the consequences? Whatever the reason, the fact that he was too late remained unchanged. The fact that the girl had sacrificed herself to save everyone remained unchanged.
He had always known she was that kind of person. That was precisely why he had trained relentlessly day and night to prevent such a tragedy. Now, Yoon Siwoo wept, consumed by a crushing sense of loss and despair, as if the very meaning of his existence had been torn away. Then, with a wet cough, something other than a scream erupted from his throat—a sound so wretched it seemed to echo from the deepest depths of his soul.
Staring blankly at the dark red fluid he had coughed up, Yoon Siwoo's strength failed him. With a heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground. He had been forcing his body to move through sheer, ironclad willpower alone to unleash his Holy Swords. But once the spirit breaks, even the sturdiest body is reduced to nothing more than a lump of flesh. Now that the mind supporting his physical form had shattered, the backlash of squeezing out power far beyond his limits finally caught up to him.
Having sustained damage to both his body and mind that would be incredibly difficult to recover from, Yoon Siwoo looked as though he would fade away right then and there.
But there was still someone left who could not bear to watch him break.
The Holy Sword of Indomitability materialized beside Yoon Siwoo's head, radiating a brilliant light. Normally, the sword's power was limited to enhancing its master's physical capabilities or helping them resist Magi. But in this moment of dire crisis, the Holy Sword of Indomitability unleashed itself, manifesting its true power.
As the light emitted by the Holy Sword of Indomitability enveloped him, it was as if time itself was winding backward. Color returned to Yoon Siwoo's deathly pale face, and a spark of life reignited in his dull, fading eyes. Feeling strength flood back into his limbs, Yoon Siwoo slowly pushed himself up from the ground.
...Lucy, what on earth is this...?
The severe damage he had sustained had vanished without a trace. To Yoon Siwoo's bewildered mental question, Lucy replied.
...If such a power existed, why didn't you tell me sooner?! If I had known... if only I had known, I might have been able to save Scarlet...!
As Yoon Siwoo screamed in furious indignation within his mind, Lucy murmured softly.
The true power of the Holy Sword of Indomitability was to grant the fallen the strength to rise once more. The price for such an incredible ability, which fully restored both mind and body, was—
Yoon Siwoo gasped. Now that he knew the cost of using this ability was his very lifespan, he understood exactly why Lucy had kept it hidden from him.
Just as she said, the moment he realized Scarlet Evande was in danger, he would have recklessly abused the power without giving a single thought to his own lifespan. Lucy simply hadn't wanted to witness that. Though bound by a contract, they were each other's only family in this world. Even he wouldn't want to watch his family fight while shaving away their own life.
To the silent Yoon Siwoo, Lucy murmured with a heavy heart.
...How could I ever resent you? Yoon Siwoo replied.
She was not to blame. The fault lay entirely with him, for not becoming strong enough to protect Scarlet under any circumstances.
Watching Yoon Siwoo, whose mind had been restored only to be instantly consumed by self-loathing and guilt, Lucy let out a soft sigh.
...What? What do you mean by that...?
Scarlet... is alive?
Yoon Siwoo snapped out of his daze at Lucy's words. It felt as if a single ray of light had pierced through the pitch-black darkness. Right. Why am I giving up so easily? If there's even a slight chance she's still alive, just as Lucy said...
Yoon Siwoo shouted to the other students. "Anyone! Does anyone have something Scarlet used?! Anything at all!"
He had wept as if his world had ended, collapsed while coughing up blood, and then miraculously recovered to stand and shout in desperation. Watching him, Sylvia, who had been crying endlessly, realized that he hadn't given up yet. Sensing what he was trying to do, a final, fragile thread of hope bloomed in her chest.
Her hands trembling violently, Sylvia quickly searched her pockets. She recalled the time she had gone with Yoon Siwoo to rescue Scarlet after she was kidnapped by Sator. Ever since then, she had kept it close to her heart, waiting for the day she could return it—a friendship ring identical to the one she wore on her own left index finger. Clutching it with desperate prayer, Sylvia handed the ring to Yoon Siwoo.
Taking the ring, Yoon Siwoo focused his mind with everything he had. The bloodstains that once coated it had long since been wiped clean. But he prayed, begging it to find her, somehow, please.
And in response to its master's desperate plea, the Holy Sword of Truth answered.
Tears welled in Yoon Siwoo's eyes once more.
"...Is it true? Really...?"
"...Yeah. She's still... alive..."
These were tears of profound relief and joy.
Because the blood had been washed away long ago, the connection wasn't precise enough to show what she was doing, but it was more than enough to pinpoint her location and confirm her survival.
At his declaration that Scarlet was still alive, a murmur rippled through the students. Hearing the commotion, Martina, her face pale from severe mana depletion, questioned Yoon Siwoo.
"...So, a student was kidnapped by a Witch, and that student is still alive?"
"...Yes. If we go to rescue her right now, we can save her."
"...I see. Then we have to go get her. I don't know how, but you seem to have recovered completely. Do you know her exact location?"
"Yes, it's not that far from here. Over there, near the North Forest—"
The moment Yoon Siwoo pointed toward a corner of the forest to the north beyond the defensive wall—
A colossal roar reverberated from the direction of the forest.
Several students collapsed to their knees, their legs giving out.
It was a furious, monstrous shriek on an entirely different level from any beast they had encountered before—a sound so terrifying it paralyzed their bodies from miles away. From the center of the forest, Yoon Siwoo saw a massive fireball soar into the sky. At this distance, the trees—which had once grown sky-high under the blessing of the World Tree before being burned down—looked no larger than a finger. Yet, the fireball appeared so immense it was as if a second sun had risen in the heavens.
Only when the colossal fireball unfurled its wings did Yoon Siwoo realize it was shaped like a bird.
Beholding the creature, Vice Captain Canna trembled as a nightmare from fifteen years ago rushed back to her.
"...It's that thing."
The monster that had burned to death the former captain, vice captain, and seven members of the 4th Division fifteen years ago. And five hundred years ago, one of the strongest beasts that had burned down the World Tree alongside the Wrath Witch.
In a hollow voice, Sylvia uttered the name of the beast that had brought a tragic end to the long history of the Astra family, who had guarded the World Tree for generations.
"...The Bird of Ruin, Finis."
Yoon Siwoo realized with a jolt that this was the very monster that had burned his parents to death. His hand shook as he watched the direction the beast was flying.
It was heading straight toward the spot his finger had just pointed to.
Yoon Siwoo turned to Martina, his face pale with shock.
"...Change of plans. The rescue mission is canceled."
Immediately after, a thunderbolt of a declaration fell from her lips.
"Captain Martina!!!"
"...As long as that thing is on the rampage, going there is suicide. Besides, with a disturbance of that scale, low-grade monsters will start swarming in droves soon. Rather than a rescue mission with near-zero chances of success, prioritizing the safety of the city... is our duty."
Yoon Siwoo grabbed Martina as she turned away with cold resolve. "She's still alive! Scarlet is over there...! I'll go, even if I have to go alone!"
"Yoon Siwoo, deserting your post during a mission is a severe crime. Prepare yourself for the incoming horde of monsters." Martina brushed off his hand.
Hearing this, Sylvia ran forward and grabbed Martina.
"Then I'll go...! I can use the power of spirits, so I can withstand the Magi—"
"...Young lady of the Astra family, I understand your desire to save your friend, but acting beyond your capabilities is nothing but foolish bravado. I doubt your friend sacrificed herself just for you to throw your life away so pointlessly."
"No... then what about Lady Scarlet...? *Sob*, please, no... I beg of you, please... please save Lady Scarlet..."
Sylvia fell to her knees, clutching the hem of Martina's trousers. Casting aside all her pride as the heir of the Astra family, she clung desperately to the captain to save her friend.
Watching her, Yoon Siwoo also dropped to his knees before Martina.
He pleaded with Martina from the bottom of his heart. "Please, I beg of you, Captain... I don't want to lose someone precious to me to that monster again..."
Martina flinched at his words and looked back. As she stared down at his pleading face, she recognized the features of her old comrades with whom she had shared life and death. She bit her lip.
"Yoon Siwoo, you... You're the son of those seniors..."
How had she not recognized him until now? Though his hair was white, unlike the black hair and eyes of those two, his gaze was a spitting image of that gentle couple. The two who used to brag to everyone that they had had the most beautiful baby in the world.
The guilt of their deaths, occurring so shortly after their child's birth, had always been driven like a spike into her heart.
Due to laws designed to prevent heroes from losing focus on their duties by obsessing over the families of deceased comrades, she had only been able to receive occasional updates that their child was growing up without lacking anything in the city. That was the real reason Martina could never bring herself to be truly harsh to children around Yoon Siwoo's age. She was always haunted by the thought that one of them might be their child.
And now, their son was kneeling before her, begging. Saying he didn't want to lose another precious person to the monster that had killed his parents.
In truth, she wanted nothing more than to rush off and rescue the kidnapped girl without a second thought. But she was a captain leading countless soldiers, and a Hero charged with protecting the citizens.
She had already exhausted a massive amount of mana trying to break the barrier quickly. Facing that fiery chicken—a beast she would barely stand a chance against even at peak condition—was practically a death sentence. Rationally, staying put was the correct choice.
But... but...
Martina bit her lip so hard in her agonizing dilemma that a drop of blood dripped from her chin.
The droplet was crimson.
It reminded her of the girl with hair as red as that blood. The girl who had sacrificed her own arm and wore a prosthetic just to save people. The girl who had sacrificed herself to be dragged away alone by a Witch to save her friends.
Finding herself weighing the pros and cons in hesitation, Martina let out a long, heavy sigh and spoke.
"Ah, fuck it. I can't do this shit anymore."
Spitting out a curse, Martina pulled an emergency mana recovery potion from her coat and downed it. She felt a trickle of mana begin to refill her completely drained body. It was strictly for emergencies, meaning the effect was mediocre while the side effects were absolute hell—she'd be bedridden for days.
But fuck it, who cared?
"Hey, Canna. Call Natalia for backup. It's her day off, so she'll be at home. If she complains, tell her I'll grant her any favor she wants later. Knowing her, she'll sprint over immediately. A shitload of monsters are about to swarm this place, so get the kids to safety."
After barking orders at her vice captain, Martina looked down at Yoon Siwoo.
"And you, Yoon Siwoo. Stop crying, get up, and get ready. With that overgrown firebird on the loose, bringing a crowd of half-baked soldiers is pointless anyway. It's just going to be you and me."
Seeing Yoon Siwoo's face light up as he scrambled to his feet, Martina helped Sylvia up, who was staring at her with tearful, pleading eyes, and offered a smirk.
"Don't worry, young lady. I'll bring your friend back safe and sound even if it costs me my life, so just wait here. Trust me—I'm one of the top five Heroes for a reason."
Sylvia nodded blankly. Giving her a reassuring nod back, Martina's expression hardened as she began to gather her mana. Just then, Canna grabbed the hem of her coat from behind.
"...Captain, are you really going with just the two of you?"
"You saw it yourself. Numbers don't mean shit against that thing. Besides, we can't afford to pull troops away when a horde is coming. Don't worry, I'll make sure the rookie comes back in one piece."
"...Who the fuck is worried about the rookie?! You know that monster is an absolute freak of nature! You're in no condition to fight right now. If you go like this, you're going to die!"
Complaining about me every single day, and yet she worries at times like this.
Martina chuckled softly, looking at Canna's tear-rimmed eyes.
"Canna, ever since I was a kid, my dream was to be a cool-as-hell Hero. But calculating every little risk before jumping in? That's just not stylish. So whether I kick the bucket or not, I'm saving that kid. Besides, I made a promise to Professor Eve. I told her I'd return the kids safely. When you're an adult, you keep your word."
Canna spat back crossly at the smiling Martina.
"...You really are a crazy bitch."
"You have to be a little crazy to be cool. Honestly, you're the second craziest person in our division after me, so if I bite it, you're the next captain."
"...Shut the fuck up. If you don't come back alive, I will never forgive you."
"Well, I'd better make it back just to avoid your wrath... I'm off then, Vice Captain."
"...Take care, Captain."
And so, a rescue team of only two leaped over the defensive wall.