My Trial
Sia couldn't believe the events unfolding before her eyes. The sister who was right beside her had pushed them aside and stepped forward, throwing herself to protect Baba Yaga only to be fatally wounded by the sudden appearance of Cheon Geomhwa. In the slowed time and twisted senses, when she realized the truth, 『Bloom』 the steel flowers had already turned red.
“Aa...” Her sister was collapsing. The ground turned red. The flow of time gradually returned to normal. I still couldn't protect her. Two years ago, and this time as well. In front of my eyes, the sister was injured.
“Aaah...” I had thought I had lost the precious person I had just reunited with. Now, I thought I could finally enter the academy and share a happy life with her. It had only been three days. Even those three days were not entirely Siu and Sia's time.
I thought I had finally gotten my sister back after being taken away by others. It's okay. - I will protect her! I vowed to protect my precious Tiss-unnie as much as my blood brother Siu-oppa, and to protect her when I meet her again. I made that promise.
But the special training was useless. The tears shed in the past had no meaning. The time I couldn't protect my sister was meaningless. - Biiiiii. The tinnitus ate away at Sia's ears. At the moment her vision was about to turn white.
“Sia, snap out of it!” Oppa’s voice woke her from her loss. - Kyaang! “O...ppa?” When she came to her senses, Siu had jumped out and was facing Cheon Geomhwa. Seeing Oppa, who was barely holding on alone against Cheon Geomhwa to protect her and Tiss, Sia felt boiling anger.
“I will kill her.” I will never forgive that woman who wants to take away my oppa after my Tiss-unnie. “Unnie... wait a little.” After confirming that her sister's heart was still beating, Sia poured all the potions she had on her sister's body. Although drinking it is best, for a patient who is unconscious, this was more appropriate.
With this, the immediate first aid would be over. “Die!!!” Instantly recovering her fighting spirit, Sia drew her sword and went straight to Siu's side, pushing Cheon Geomhwa away. - Kyaang! “Interfering...” Cheon Geomhwa quickly retreated from the sudden appearance of the two siblings and tried to finish Tiss.
“Absolutely can't let you pass!” I thought since we were just new academy students, we could finish it quickly. But it wasn't. Siu and Sia pushed away the blooming steel flowers and advanced without retreating a single step. The flower petals spreading towards Tiss's direction had to be blocked no matter what.
Even using their own bodies as shields. “...Impressive.” The two siblings had eyes burning with anger and killing intent. “Unnie... I will protect her.” “I can't take even one step towards Tiss.” Beyond those emotions, Cheon Geomhwa knew well that there was a burning desire to protect the precious ones.
“Is that so...” Understanding the resolve of the two siblings, Cheon Geomhwa instead of chasing them away, faced them sincerely.
[Tiss! Tiss!] Someone's crying voice was heard. My head was fuzzy. The flow of the incident didn't go properly. The desperate attacks, the appearance of White Ghost's silent assassination method. I couldn't think of a reason why I couldn't escape with the Ember in hand.
My head is fuzzy. The fragments of information were swirling in my head. Just as I almost opened my eyes, my head finally worked properly. White Ghost is here. [Thank goodness... Y-you're awake!] I saw Shan, whose face was covered in tears, desperately trying to wake me up.
Sorry, I'm... not okay. [You idiot...! You said we would take care of our bodies together... why did you do something so reckless again.] Sorry. [Huic...!] One strike blocked by me caused 80% of the ichor to evaporate. I tried to move, but my body wasn't listening.
It was the price of taking Cheon Geomhwa's bloom head-on. [O, for now, I'll activate the emergency protocol.] Yes, please. With the analgesic effect, the pain quickly subsided, and my injuries began to recover. The reason Cheon Geomhwa hit me so hard. The reason was so mysterious.
Even from Shan's perspective, that was White Ghost's technique, right? [Y-yes... It's the same as Tiss's technique... No, it's superior.] So it wasn't my illusion. Cheon Geomhwa couldn't be White Ghost's disciple. Then, why is she forcing White Ghost's technique while her body is breaking down?
[Is White Ghost trying to kill us without getting blood on her hands?] If it was to kill me, she would have done it directly. If White Ghost wanted, she could wipe out a person's neck with a flick of her hand from her pocket anytime. There was no reason to bother using Cheon Geomhwa as a decoy.
It's a test. In the game too, and this time too. Thinking about White Ghost's character, this is close to a test. Looking at Cheon Geomhwa's guilty face as she attacked me to the death, it seems White Ghost took the Ember, which is the lifeline to save Roseria. Haaaa.
[Test...? Against Cheon Geomhwa who is already close to S-rank after A+?] You cut off one arm. [But... it can't be balanced like that. Yet, you want to fight... right?] Honestly, I don't want to. Cheon Geomhwa was designated as an ally.
That's why she was trying to steal her to the 7th area by impersonating White Ghost's name. I didn't think White Ghost would intervene at this timing. Should I have considered it a little when Baba Yaga said confidently? The fact that things got twisted like this was regrettable.
[Is White Ghost herself here?] Yes, she's watching us right now. It feels vividly like she's watching us now. Openly, if I couldn't notice this much, the empty space next to the building's rooftop existed as a black hole that couldn't detect anything with all my instincts.
The regret is regret, and the situation has completely gone beyond my expectations. Since White Ghost is watching this fight, there's nothing I can do. So, as always, I have no choice but to do my best given the situation. Even if it wasn't me, since White Ghost and Baba Yaga, and Siu and Sia were involved, Cheon Geomhwa was doomed to die anyway.
We have to fight. [Yes... I was already prepared.] Sorry. [U, no, thinking about it, this isn't something Tiss has to apologize for. I was just dragged into it.] Thank you for saying that.
[Instead, we must win.] Of course. - Kyaak kyaak! “Cheon Geomhwa, you must have gone crazy.” Baba Yaga was even more furious than Siu and Sia. A flock of crows attacked Cheon Geomhwa, and green flames erupted in chaos.
In front of Baba Yaga, whose pride was scratched, Cheon Geomhwa couldn't do anything and had to retreat backward. “It's okay.” “Whitey! Why now...!” When I appeared next to her and spoke, Baba Yaga startled and looked at me.
“Whi... no, furball? Is it you, furball? Are you okay?” “I'm fine.” Sigh. Baba Yaga blinked in disbelief, then let out a sigh of relief. “What on earth happened? That guy's technique is definitely... yours too.”
“Simply put, this is the trial White Ghost is giving me.” “What? What kind of nonsense is that? A trial.” I couldn't hide it now. I briefly explained what happened to Baba Yaga.
“Yes, that's right. I learned White Ghost's technique, the Silent Killing Method.” “You... really were White Ghost's disciple? So you rejected my offer so strongly...” “Ah, that's not it. I only inherited the technique, nothing else.” After saying that, Baba Yaga's face twisted as if she understood the situation.
“Is this situation that White Ghost is testing you?” “Yes. I borrowed your name without permission. I'll face her.” Huuu. Watching Baba Yaga exhale long, I added. “...Can I not help you?”
Baba Yaga's help... To send Cheon Geomhwa away for sure from my current state... there's no other way. In the game too, and now, given White Ghost's personality, it's testing whether I have the qualification to call out her name.
As long as the result can be proven, the process won't matter much. “Can you isolate the space between me and Cheon Geomhwa? No one can intervene.” If Siu and Sia interfere or White Ghost comes in, it's a problem. While saying that, I looked towards where White Ghost was.
“...” As if giving permission, White Ghost watched me silently without saying anything. “Because of these kids?” Siu and Sia, who had retreated a bit from Baba Yaga's magic bombardment, rushed at Cheon Geomhwa like mad dogs again.
“Don't worry. I, this old woman, and White Ghost will set up a perfect barrier so no one can intervene.” While Baba Yaga was preparing to unfold the barrier, I prepared to separate Siu and Sia from Cheon Geomhwa.
“Die! Die! Die!” “Sia, calm down a little. Your breathing is messed up.” Driven by revenge, Sia was going wild, and Siu was supporting her accordingly. Sia was the sword, Siu the shield, protecting me.
“There's no malice.” Just as Cheon Geomhwa's steel flowers were about to bloom again, “Sia, I'm fine.” - Kyaang! In that gap, I intervened.
After flipping the ichor and flinging the steel flowers with both arms, I quickly grabbed both Siu and Sia and escaped outside the range of the steel flowers Cheon Geomhwa was spreading. “Eh... unnie?” “Tiss, are you okay?” “I'm fine. Thanks to Sia, I'm good.”
Wanting to go forward leaving them behind. - Kkoook. Sia grabbed me. “Sia?” Sia's hand was trembling like aspen leaves.
“Unnie, don't go. Don't go. Don't go.” Sia barely managed to say “don't go” and desperately pleaded with me. “Sia, this is the trial White Ghost is giving me.” “Unnie... please.”
“Believe me. I'll definitely overcome it and come back.” “Don't let go of me.” “Don't get hurt again.” “I don't want to lose my sister in front of my eyes again.”
Even though she didn't say it, her heart was read, but I had to shake off Sia's hand that was holding my arm precariously. Thud. “A.” I smiled at Sia, who had a face as if she had lost the world.
“Sia, pray for me.” Huuu. “No... don't go, unnie. Please...” While adjusting my breathing, I entered the complete silent assassination method domain.
“Thank you for waiting.” I lightly expressed gratitude to Cheon Geomhwa, who stood silently waiting for me without saying a word. “What I can do for you... is only this.” Cheon Geomhwa, with a face twisted in guilt, spat out words close to apology, and bloomed steel flowers around her.
- ■■■!!! At that moment, Baba Yaga's black curtain perfectly wrapped around me and Cheon Geomhwa. “Tiss-unnie!!!” Sia's desperate cry faintly came from beyond the curtain.