Beneath the Clear Sky

The second match of Duel Season (6), the free-for-all, had ended. Just like the first, the result was first place. With only two matches left, securing first in just one more would successfully defend the top spot.

What’s the next match going to be? Tower of Trials (Boss Rush)? Or a Point Contention Match?

Well… honestly, it doesn’t really matter what it is. Still, I hoped the next one would be the Tower of Trials. After all, it was a virtual-reality match fought individually rather than in groups. The moment I stepped onto a floor, I could activate Speed Limit Release and take down the boss in one go. Or I could pull out a massive amount of explosives like I did at the forward base and cause a huge explosion. I could finally do all the things I hadn’t been allowed to do in the actual arena.

Of course, I could also take first in a Point Contention Match. It’s just a pain. The urban Point Contention Match was exactly what the name implied: an individual had to face off against a crowd to seize points. Just like the free-for-all we just finished.

If the next match is Point Contention… they’ll definitely target me again. Class C and B might not, but Class A would come straight for me without question. And unlike the cramped arena, the field this time would be an entire city. They’d set traps, launch ambushes—use every trick I taught them during villain-response training—to try and eliminate me. So I really hoped the next match would be the Tower of Trials. Fighting while holding back to avoid inflicting fatal injuries was far more stressful than going all-out with every ability I had.

With that thought, I left the Colosseum and opened my smartwatch, sending a message to Arthur and Asuka.

The messages stopped there. Asuka had probably switched to a private chat to explain.

…I guess I’ll just sit and wait until they arrive.

Arthur and Asuka had said they’d be quick, but since their treatment wasn’t completely finished, I had no idea when they’d actually show up. So I decided to rest on a bench until they came.

The moment the thought crossed my mind, I walked over to the bench I’d been eyeing earlier and sat down.

“…This one’s actually pretty cool.”

Unlike the other benches baking under direct sunlight, the one I chose was shaded by the tree behind it. As a result, it was far less hot. No, it was downright cool.

“……”

I leaned back against the bench and stared blankly at the people passing by.

“Mom, Dad, you saw my match today, right? You saw how much stronger I’ve gotten?”

“Of course we did. Our son’s skills have improved a lot.”

A classmate walking with his family.

“Honey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I only blacked out once, so I didn’t get hurt that badly.”

A pair of classmates clinging to each other and flirting despite the sweltering heat.

“Hey, I heard the academy cafeteria food is insane.”

“It really is. Once you eat there, you’ll definitely regret enrolling anywhere else.”

Classmates heading toward the cafeteria with friends or acquaintances.

Everyone’s expressions were bright. Everyone wore cheerful smiles. Just watching them was enough to make me smile—an aura of pure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠happiness radiated from them all.

But the smile on my face didn’t last long.

…There’ll be an attack.

I looked up. A clear, cloudless sky stretched overhead. On any other day, the sight would have felt refreshing. Today, it only made me feel stifled.

If the Named show up, even that sky will change.

Just like it had with Delusion. Greed—Grid—would appear alongside the rift as well. And when that happened, those bright expressions, those cheerful laughs, that happy aura…

They’ll all change.

Bright faces would twist into fear. Cheerful laughter would turn into screams. Happy auras would become ones of terror. Everything would sink into despair.

“Haa.”

A heavy sigh escaped me. The Corrupted could appear at any moment, yet the people around me had no idea. Honestly, part of me wanted to warn them. Tell them the Corrupted were going to attack today and that they should evacuate while they still could.

But I couldn’t. They wouldn’t believe me, and even if they did, it would only cause mass panic.

…Yeah. You’re right.

Just as Terra said, I had done everything I could to prepare. I’d informed the Chairman, the Principal, Instructor Kang Cheol-su, and the main cast—everyone I could trust and who trusted me—about the impending attack. Even so, it still felt like a stone was pressing down on my chest.

— Lee Yoo-jin, Duel Season cannot be canceled. In fact, that is exactly why it must not be canceled.
— Think about it. Only a few months ago, every major institution in this country had been infiltrated by the Corrupted. And we had no idea.
— Thanks to you, we’ve caught most of them, but people are still anxious. If we cancel an event that only happens once a year because of a Corrupted attack, what do you think the public will believe?
— Yes, they’ll be terrified. They’ll think nowhere is safe. So prepare as much as you can, but Duel Season must not be canceled.

I recalled the conversation I’d had with the Principal and looked at the people around me with a heavy heart. The fact that I couldn’t completely rule out the possibility of these classmates—my peers—dying left a bitter taste in my mouth.

As if sensing my mood, Terra sent a comforting message.

Yeah. I remembered. The day I’d been hospitalized after fighting Delusion. I learned that twenty of my classmates—people I hadn’t even known—had died. It had been so hard to bear. I’d tried to shake off the gloom by claiming my quest rewards, but the relief had lasted only a moment. If anything, the depression had only grown worse afterward.

Still, I’d forced myself to smile, to act like I was fine, to pretend nothing was wrong. And the one who saw through me was Kang Cheol-su.

— You, and every student who enrolled here, are not hero candidates. You are already heroes. Proud warriors who can face death at any time. So mourn their deaths, but do not let it break you.

His rough yet sincere encouragement had helped ease the knot in my heart.

…Proud warriors, huh.

He was right. If the Corrupted attacked, my classmates—every student and instructor in the academy—wouldn’t run. They would fight. They would risk their lives to protect even one more person: family, lover, friend, acquaintance.

…I just have to work even harder.

I decided to push myself further for the sake of those willing to die protecting others. The moment I made that resolution, the bitter feeling vanished completely. A smile returned to my lips.

“Feels a little cooler now.”

I felt the weight on my chest lift. Enjoying the refreshing sensation, I nodded and activated the hologram function on my smartwatch. Just as I was about to ask Arthur and Asuka if their treatment was finished—

“Lee Yoo-jin, so you were here.”

“…Noah? What are you doing here?”

Noah had appeared. What was going on? He was supposed to be in the reception room with Gloria.

“Weren’t you with Gloria?”

Don’t tell me he’d already returned to the Vatican… That can’t happen… I still needed to ask him to help with Asuka’s talent, the Light Dragon Blood.

Fortunately, my fears didn’t come true.

“Lee Yoo-jin, would you come with me?”

“Why?”

“My mother wishes to meet you.”

“…Me?”

“Yes, you, Lee Yoo-jin.”

Oh. That was fine by me. In fact, it was a good thing. Meeting Gloria was far more important than lunch. Opportunities like this didn’t come often.

“…Still…”

“It’s okay, really. Lunch isn’t something that only happens today. We can just eat together next time.”

While keeping my promise with the two of them was important, meeting Gloria ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠took priority. I nodded and followed Noah.

“…Even so.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. More importantly, is Gloria’s reception room this way?”

“Yes, it is right here.”

Noah slid the door open with a soft rumble.

“You may go in.”

“…What about you?”

Why was he telling me to go in alone?

“Mother instructed me to wait outside until your conversation with her is finished.”

What? Why? I gave him a puzzled look, and he answered quietly.

“I do not know either. All I was told was that she has something to discuss with you alone.”

…Something to discuss alone? And in a closed room?

What’s going on? This kind of event never happened before.

Still, it definitely wasn’t anything strange. Gloria had loved only one person her entire life—a pure, devoted love.

“…All right, I understand.”

I nodded and stepped inside. The door closed behind me with a soft click. At the same time, a gentle, soothing voice that eased the heart drifted to my ears.

“Welcome.”

Following the voice, I walked further in and saw Gloria seated in a chair, sipping tea.

Clack. She set the teacup down and looked at me. The moment our eyes met, I felt something wrap around my body. Ropes made of holy power.

…But why?

“As I thought, my feeling was correct.”

“……?”

What feeling? I tried to ask, but—

What? Why can’t I speak?

My mouth moved, but no sound came out. Seeing my reaction, Gloria smiled faintly and rose from her seat. She approached me slowly, pulling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠something from her robes.

It was… a knuckle duster engraved with a cross.

Wait, why? Why is she equipping a weapon?!

Panicking, I struggled to move my body. Gloria spoke as she walked toward me, the sound of her heels echoing.

“Struggling is pointless.”

Step, step. She stopped in front of me, holy flames igniting in both hands.

“I had a very good impression of you. After all, you helped my son awaken his true feelings.”

However, she added, her gentle smile vanishing completely.

“I never expected you to possess such an ominous aura.”

What was this, déjà vu? I sighed inwardly as I watched Gloria do exactly what the Martial God had done to me before. At the same time, I struggled desperately, begging to be allowed to speak.

“I wonder what you wish to say so badly that you’re struggling like this.”

It’s something incredibly important!

“Hmm… Normally, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would not grant the right to speak to someone with such an ominous presence… but you did help my son. So I suppose I can make an exception this once.”

The moment Gloria muttered those words, my voice returned like a dam had burst.

“A-Aah!”

“Well then, what is it you wish to say?”

Gloria asked in a gentle voice, as though listening to a final plea. Yet her posture made it clear she was ready to strike at any moment. I took a deep breath. Once my heart had calmed somewhat, I shouted.

“Please let me make one phone call to the Chairman!”