Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Happiness That's Already Passed
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Han bit his lip hard.
'...Why.'
Why?
He glared at Yoon Na-rin, who was breathing raggedly while receiving emergency treatment.
A magic user who couldn't even put up a basic barrier was no different from a living target. Sure, their physical abilities surpassed those of an ordinary person, but in the end, they were just mages focused on ranged attacks.
Killing her would have been easy. All he had to do was aim for a vital spot and pull the trigger.
He definitely had done that. Or at least, he meant to.
So why hadn't he killed her? A sharp question trailed after him like a tag in his mind.
Yoon Na-rin had clearly been off guard. As proof, she hadn't resisted at all and had simply fainted after taking the bullet.
'...I should have just blown her head off.'
No, before that—why had he shot Yoon Na-rin at all? Even though Han U-sol had been right beside her.
Shooting Han U-sol would have been the optimal choice. He was the most dangerous figure from the demon side's perspective, the one who absolutely had to be eliminated.
And yet, for some reason, Han's choice had been Yoon Na-rin.
"……."
Regardless of the outcome, the fact that he hadn't made the right call left a strange discomfort lodged in Han's chest.
It felt like he had become a coward, selfish and lacking conviction, a runaway who always let personal emotions sway him when a decision loomed.
No, he'd always been one to waver before crucial choices anyway, so maybe that was just who he was.
Letting out a self-deprecating sigh, Han turned to face the heroes head-on. His red eyes fixed on Aselrika, who stood at the forefront. She met his gaze squarely.
"Heavenly Fiend. Long time no see."
"Nice to see you."
"Not even a little."
"Just being polite. I'm not thrilled either."
Three years, was it?
It was a displeasing face he hadn't seen in ages. There was no way he could feel pleasant seeing the one who'd severed his left arm.
Aselrika exuded a far calmer and more ruthless aura than she had three years ago. But Han didn't miss the fragments of emotion seeping from deep within her, the ones she was desperately trying to hide.
A suffocating hostility.
Hatred. And vengeance.
"Not expecting much, but I'll ask anyway."
"Then don't."
"Do you know where and how Yoon Kang-woo died?"
"Who knows. Why do you care? By the way, your tone's gotten awfully high-handed. Careful, or you might never get mar…."
"Shut up and answer."
"……."
Her voice dripped with barely contained fury—anyone could hear it. Han clamped his mouth shut.
His tongue itched to retort, 'How am I supposed to answer if I shut up?', but he sensed that one more snide remark might really bring a sword flying his way. So he obediently opened his mouth and replied.
"…He burned himself to death, taking the surrounding magic beasts with him."
"……."
Aselrika fell silent, her face briefly lost in thought, but she said nothing more.
Han watched her impassively before shifting his gaze elsewhere.
The fallen Yoon Na-rin and the dead girl's corpse.
The refugees beyond the barrier.
Han U-sol, arguing against the attack and talking to Anis.
Sure enough, the heroes were in disarray. Not completely chaotic, but they looked busy cleaning up the mess they'd made.
Still, no matter how scattered they were, winning a fight against them was impossible—even in his wildest dreams.
The plan had failed completely. They'd failed to seize the city, and the desperate last-ditch gamble had been foiled by the heroes' arrival. Humanity had quickly sorted out their issues and united.
Han had only one option left: retreat, prepare for the humans who would eventually come knocking.
The number of magic beasts had visibly dwindled, and Kahatel could awaken at any moment. The situation was the worst.
Han called out to Betty, whose eyes were fixed on Anis.
"…Betty."
"Yeah?"
"Let's go back."
"…Yeah."
Betty nodded faintly.
"Anis, let's…."
Han turned to call Anis as well, but froze at the emotions emanating from her.
Hesitation.
And conflict.
She was torn.
Whether over humans versus demons, or Han U-sol versus Betty—he couldn't be sure.
But Anis was weighing something against something else, hesitating.
Even though she could no longer go back.
Even though it was far too late.
"…Anis."
Han called her name as she wavered. Startled, Anis turned to look at the two of them.
"Let's go back."
Han extended his hand. Their eyes met. Staring into her trembling blue pupils, Han thought.
…Anis, your place to return to is here.
It has to be.
#
Anis hesitated, unable to take his hand right away. That brief gap became the signal.
Ronel drew his gun and shouted.
"Don't let them escape! Keep them away from that tattooed girl!"
No, shoot the tattooed girl instead. Ronel muttered under his breath.
The gun barrel pointed at Betty—their only path to escape.
"Wait, Ronel! Anis is still…!"
"Anis or whatever, if they get away from here, that's a bigger headache."
Despite Han U-sol's plea, Ronel pulled the trigger without hesitation.
-Bang!
With the gunshot, the bullet flew forward. Its unwavering straight path seemed to prove that the shooter harbored no hesitation or doubt whatsoever.
And so, the bullet flew stubbornly toward Betty.
Splat!
Blood sprayed. But it wasn't Betty's.
"Anis!?"
It was Anis's blood. Anis had caught the incoming bullet with her bare hand.
Crack! Crackle!
Though her flesh tore, blood splattering, and the holy power lethal to magic beasts seeped into her body causing agony, she had successfully seized the bullet.
"A-Anis! You okay?"
Drip, drip. Betty panicked at the blood flowing from Anis's hand and cried out. And in that moment.
Whoosh!
Anis swung her arm wide,
Thud!
and blood burst from around Ronel's shoulder.
"…Ugh!?"
Ronel writhed in pain radiating from his shoulder. Clutching it in confusion for a moment, he soon realized Anis had thrown the bullet she'd caught right back at him.
'What, throwing it like a damn pebble… a bullet?'
A chill ran down Ronel's spine. If the bullet had veered just slightly, embedding in his chest or throat, he would have died instantly without even knowing what hit him.
"…Ow. Senior. Aren't they the enemy? Yet she's defending a traitor and even counterattacking…."
"That's because you suddenly shot…!"
"I wasn't aiming for her—I was shooting the traitor behind her."
"But…."
"Have you lost your mind?"
"……."
Stung by Ronel's retort, Han U-sol fell silent.
'In the end, she's still just a magic beast.'
Ronel muttered inwardly.
He knew about Anis. He'd heard from Colton, so he had some idea of her background.
'Though I never thought she'd still be alive.'
No, was it really her? Maybe they'd just summoned another identical magic beast. He couldn't even be sure it was the real her.
"Kuh, fuck… it hurts…."
He only knew her from reports; he had no clue what kind of person she actually was. But one thing was crystal clear.
'She's gone too far.'
He looked into her eyes. Madness-filled eyes shook without focus.
He was certain now.
She was beyond rational thought.
She was dangerous.
Treat her as an enemy.
"N-No… Rena… Rena told me to protect Betty… so…."
Anis stared down at her palm, torn flesh steeped in blood.
She hadn't meant to block it. She hadn't meant to throw it.
It had been a spinal reflex, as if programmed into her body. So fast she couldn't even tell if it was her will or Rena's.
What Rena had always whispered to her was singular.
Don't abandon Betty.
Protect Betty. Avenge her against anyone who tries to harm her.
Don't cast aside the one who pitied her, empathized with her, sat beside her in her pain and soothed her.
"…It's decided."
In the silence, Aselrika raised her weapon. Her eyes were ice-cold.
"That girl's an enemy too. Treat her as a traitor."
With those words, every hero leveled their weapons.
"……."
Anis opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came. Even if her voice worked, she didn't know what to say or if she could even defend herself.
Anis stared straight ahead. Everyone looked at her with eyes brimming with hostility. Eyes for an enemy. For a traitor. For a magic beast.
"W-Wait a second!"
"The fact that we were attacked ends it. Step aside and don't block."
"Just give me a moment to explain…!"
"Han U-sol!!"
Of course, not everyone agreed. Han U-sol desperately tried to stop Aselrika, while Reisi and Daniel were merely confused, not hostile toward Anis.
But everyone else regarded her as an enemy, wary and armed.
All weapons aimed…
at Anis Harper.
'…Ah.'
As realization dawned, Anis let out a silent sigh in her heart.
It's really too late now.
She'd known it was irreversible, but that final move had become the blunder that crumbled everything—now truly beyond saving.
Anis finally admitted it.
Only now did she accept it.
Even if she went back, the things she wanted would be gone. The peaceful daily life like before—gone.
"…Betty."
"…Yeah, Anis."
Anis called Betty weakly. Betty, watching her with anxious eyes, replied softly.
"…Let's go back."
Let's go back.
The four syllables circled her lips hollowly.
"…Yeah."
She took Betty's outstretched hand and turned around. Han U-sol was still busy persuading Aselrika.
As she stared, their eyes met. Eyes of pure, unshadowed gold.
In those golden eyes, Anis found the light she'd once admired. The blazing sun-like brilliance she'd longed to approach.
Once, she'd come close to that light. Perhaps, for a fleeting moment, she'd even shone like it herself.
"……."
But now she knew. She admitted it.
She could never shine again.
So.
That's why.
Anis gave Han U-sol her final farewell.
"Anis…?"
"…Sorry."
Sorry.
Please, let's never meet again.
I beg you.
Goodbye.
With those words, Anis vanished.