The Angel's Promise
If I were being honest, I wanted to ask the team leader for help too, but I knew she would never allow it. That meant I couldn't go back either. After all, she'd already said it right in front of me—she would prioritize my safety above everyone else's.
"But once it rises to the floor right below us, it will definitely come up here. If your friend is already in a safe place, she'll want him to make it back safely too."
"Yes... I don't want to cause trouble for Oppa either. I'm sorry... for being so stubborn..."
Hearing someone call me "Oppa" was something I only ever experienced with the Founder, so it still felt a little awkward every time. But asking her to change how she addressed me now might make the distance between us feel even more obvious.
"No, it's fine. She must be a very precious friend."
"Yes! We've been together since elementary school... I even asked her to register for the same cram school with me this time. But on the way back... she suddenly fell down... because of me... *sniff*..."
Did they open a gate on that deserted alley and drag her friend away? It didn't really matter anymore. What mattered was that she believed her friend had gotten caught up in this because of her. That wasn't good. If I tried to comfort her half-heartedly, it would probably only make things worse. Here, a more visible approach would be better—something that gave her a concrete way to help her friend, no matter how small.
"Call your friend's name over and over, leaving a short gap between each one. If she's conscious, she might be able to hear your voice. I have pretty good hearing, after all."
Once we got out safely, she would forget everything that happened here anyway. For now, this explanation would have to do.
"Dami-ya...! Kim Dami!"
As her voice echoed down the hallway, I focused as well, straining to catch even the faintest reply. We searched every room from the lower floors upward, avoiding the darkness, but the situation showed no signs of improving. The closer we got to the remaining unchecked rooms, the more her voice trembled with tears.
Was this really the right choice? Even giving everything you have doesn't guarantee the best outcome... and it might only confirm the reality I wanted to deny. Still, the irony was that I couldn't bring myself to do anything less than my best.
My own steps grew heavier the closer we came to the rooftop. I wondered if her friend had simply vanished somewhere, or if we might run into the Field Team Leader after all. That hope was starting to feel meaningless now.
"Dami-yaaa... *sob*..."
"..."
Was it still okay to tell her not to give up? Only two floors remained. Thankfully, the spot where I'd slipped on the stairs earlier only ached a little now. I could still open doors and search with her, but the approaching reality didn't look bright.
"...It's already reached that far."
After checking every room, we reached the stairwell to move to the next floor. The darkness had already risen to the lower levels. I thought we'd had more time, but it seemed to be rising faster than before. The building's layout was the same on every floor, so either the darkness was accelerating, or I was simply slowing down from exhaustion.
Maybe I should send the student back to the rooftop first and search faster on my own. I was just thinking that when—
Kuguguguguung...!
"?!"
I knew the field was full of things I didn't understand, and that unexpected situations could happen anywhere, anytime. But—
Crack...! Crack...!!
"Watch out!!"
Who would normally expect the floor they'd just been standing on to suddenly collapse?
"Kyaa?!"
I spotted a large crack spreading across the floor and immediately pushed the student toward the wall. Before I could throw myself after her, the floor vanished beneath me.
"Ugh...?"
A powerful vibration shook the air like an explosion. Cracks raced through the building, and sections began to crumble.
"Hkkk!"
I must have sprained my back again. At least I hadn't landed headfirst. Falling through the air, I tried to twist around to grab my aching waist, but the debris forced me to stay still.
"Are you okay?!"
"...I-I'm fine."
I said I was fine, but the situation was anything but. It hurt a lot. I'd fallen onto the broken remains of the stairs, and this time my back really felt like it had given out.
"..."
When I turned my head, the darkness had risen right up to my chin. I could reach it if I stretched out my arm. I supposed I should be grateful I hadn't fallen straight into it, but the spot where I'd landed was nothing more than crumbling stair debris. The way up was cut off, and the strange darkness kept rising without stopping.
...This was really dangerous.
"Nngh... Can you keep shining the light for me?"
I'd given her the flashlight because I needed both hands for the door. Good thing, too—otherwise I definitely would have dropped it just now.
"Huu... Ow, ow..."
I managed to push myself up, but I didn't have the courage to reach behind my back. Compared to the training beatings I'd taken from the Field Team Leader, this pain was on another level. Something hot and wet was soaking through my clothes. It wasn't sweat. My gut told me it was blood. Of course it was—falling onto the edge of the stairs would do that. Looking wouldn't make it hurt any less. Right now, not seeing it was probably better.
"...The path's... cut off."
Could I climb the wall debris in this condition? Even if I were uninjured, it would be impossible.
Kugugugugu...
"Kyaa?!"
Psst... thud, thud... plop... tap, tap...!
The building kept shaking, as if it wasn't finished yet. Dust and pebbles spilled from the cracks. It might not collapse right now, but it could at any moment.
"The stairs above you haven't collapsed yet, right...?"
"Huh? Y-yes...!"
"Can you make it up alone?"
"...Then what about you, Oppa?!"
...I probably couldn't move from here. The debris under my feet was already shifting. If I tried anything, this narrow ledge might collapse too. The most realistic option was—
"Go get the team leader... Ah."
Ah, damn it.
"Haa... I'll hold the door."
The most realistic way out was for the team leader to come save me. But for that, I needed the door... and the door was here with me. At least it hadn't fallen into the darkness when I dropped. I supposed that was something.
"..."
...In that short moment, countless thoughts flashed through my mind. I felt sorry for the student. Regret for ignoring the team leader's words. Even a little resentment. If I had to blame someone in this situation, it would be myself—for wanting to play hero in front of a crying girl.
But once the negative feelings reached a certain point, they receded like the tide. What remained was the most rational judgment.
"I'm going to throw the door to you. Catch it properly and run straight to the rooftop."
"Oppa..."
"I'll hold on here. If you get to the team leader as fast as you can and tell her what happened, she'll figure something out. So don't worry."
It was a lie. After the second tremor, the debris beneath me had grown even more unstable. I was gripping a bent rebar sticking out of the wall, but to throw the door I'd have to let go. Any big movement up here and the whole thing might collapse before I even threw it.
Still... I had to do it now. If I sank with the door out of fear, what would happen to her? We couldn't both die. No—falling into the darkness didn't necessarily mean death. The team leader had only said it was "not good." She'd added "very, very" in front of it, but I decided not to dwell on that.
Once I'd made the decision, I had to hand over the door before the rest of the stairs gave way. If the stairs above collapsed after I threw it, everything would be for nothing.
"If you drop this, I'll really resent you...!"
Clatter!
I let go of the rebar, grabbed the door that was barely balanced on the debris, and ignored the pain shooting up my back. Gritting my teeth, I spun once on the spot and used the centrifugal force to hurl the door with everything I had.
It flew in a clean arc and landed safely in her arms.
"Ugh...! I-I got it!"
Thud...! Kugugung...!
The moment I threw the door, my hand instinctively shot back to the rebar. The added weight from the throw had been too much—the debris I'd been standing on was already starting to crumble.
"Go!!"
She turned and ran up the stairs with the door. The moment she disappeared from sight, the real words slipped out.
"...Don't go..."
I... was much more of a coward than I'd thought. My hands, gripping the rebar far too tightly, were shaking violently. I worried that the tension would drain my strength even faster, but thinking about it wouldn't solve anything. I was terrified... No, I was terrified of dying. Trying to conserve strength by relaxing my grip wouldn't work either. If I loosened up now, my arms would give out completely.
"...Seriously... I feel like I'm about to cry..."
Kugugugugu...!
"Ughhh..."
The third tremor hit. I squeezed my eyes shut, swallowing a scream so the student wouldn't hear and stop. But—
Crack...!
The effort was pointless. That sickening sound of something solid splitting forced my eyes open.
"Ah...?"
Crack...! Crack!
Clatter...!
"...!"
Refusing to let go of the rebar out of sheer stubbornness, I felt my body begin to fall. The student must have reached the rooftop safely by now. But why was I still here? ...Don't think. Don't think.
"Aaaaaah...!!"
Whether it was rage, resentment, or fear—and I didn't even know who it was aimed at—my final scream echoed as the darkness surged upward like a wave and swallowed me.
"Ughk...!"
I squeezed my eyes shut. Strangely, the darkness felt... comfortable.
"..."
Soft, even...
"...?"
Flutter...!
"You have the most interesting expression I've seen in a while."
"?!"
A familiar voice. When I forced my trembling eyelids open, I saw a halo of light surrounding me... and realized I was being held. By whom?
"I'm not the type to go around making promises I can't keep, unlike some people."
"...Team leader?"
"But I don't dislike it that much."
Her blue hair rippled like flames as she held me securely with one arm. A bright ring of light hovered above her head, and the same glowing ring shone in her endlessly blue eyes as she looked down at me. White feathers drifted around us, glowing softly before dissolving. When I followed them with my gaze, I saw a pair of beautiful, fully spread wings. With a light flap, they pushed back the sticky darkness and lifted us upward. She whispered teasingly into my ear.
"So be happy. I've come to save you, just as promised."
...From the brink of death, I witnessed the descent of an angel.