Chapter 323: Fall. (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 323: Fall. (1)
The performance prepared by Kang So-hyun and his friends that day was, needless to say, a resounding success.
There were unrefined parts, and it wouldn’t be true to say there were no mistakes, but isn’t a festival prepared by cadets supposed to have a bit of a raw charm?
Of course, though the boy himself was unaware, there were factors like Lucifer and the Succubus Legion using their subtle powers of charm.
Or the people Kang Na-hyun—who couldn’t attend the festival—had secretly planted, who mentioned her name at just the right moments to stir up the crowd’s reaction.
Or the fact that the idol group performing before them had, for some reason, completely botched their stage.
Despite various secret machinations, no one could deny that it concluded as a triumph.
Consequently, those watching the stage felt a great many things.
In particular, those who had been enjoying dates with him until just moments ago mostly shared a similar sentiment.
It was the fact that Kang So-hyun had brightened up significantly.
The sharp, edged feeling he had when they first met had diminished, and the way he always acted as if he had no leeway, as if he were being chased by something, had largely vanished.
At least in this moment, it was clear he was truly enjoying the festival, thinking only of laughing and chatting with others.
Those who cherished him felt relieved by his appearance.
Those who didn’t know him well were faced with an unexpected side of him.
And the one who had been closest to him at the start, but had somehow ended up in the most distant place, felt a sense of bitterness as she watched him move forward, drifting further away.
And then…
“Hmm.”
An uninvited ghost, whom no one expected to be here.
“So he knew how to smile with a face like that.”
She thought as she watched the smile of the boy who had finally, bit by bit, begun to move forward.
“It’s not even funny.”
It was utterly disgusting. She wanted to rip it apart. It was unacceptable. Absolutely unforgivable.
A monster who didn’t even deserve to smile with such a face was now pathetically mimicking a normal human. It was so contemptible that she wanted to drag out the true nature hidden in his breast and expose it to the world.
She wanted to snatch away what he held dear, tear it to shreds, and scatter the pieces before his eyes. Then, she wanted to laugh and ask if he could still smile like that.
However, the ghost surprisingly had no intention of making that choice.
Regrettably, what he currently cherished most seemed to be something very precious to her as well.
She was a vengeful spirit, but she wasn’t so far gone that she couldn’t distinguish between things. She was content with simply separating that one monster from the rest of them.
“Yes. It’s enough if it’s just you going to hell with me.”
The ghost suppressed her madness and slowly turned around.
“I told you, didn’t I? That I wouldn’t forgive you even if I died.”
Her chillingly beautiful pink hair fluttered in the autumn wind.
* * *
The first ones to come running toward us as we stepped off the stage after finishing the song were our classmates.
Starting with words of praise for our hard work, even friends I wasn’t particularly close with ran over to shake hands or offer food. The atmosphere was great.
“Wow, So-hyun, I knew you were good at singing, but that was seriously incredible! Are you actually preparing to quit being a hero and become an idol?”
There was Ha-ni, laughing exaggeratedly as she ruffled my hair.
“So-hyun, you did a great job. Does your throat hurt? Here, have a sports drink. You were really cu… cool.”
There was Cathy Noona, wiping my sweat as she handed me an ion drink.
“It’s a hit…! So-hyun! We’re even beating the idols in the online popularity poll right now…!”
And there was Ga-eul, jumping up and down with excitement.
After that, professors, seniors, and friends from other classes gathered, creating a lively ruckus.
“See? I told you it’d be fun if you just did it.”
“…I suppose so. It would have been better if that idiot Lilac hadn’t made a mistake at the beginning, though.”
“Hey, Yu-hak. Don’t cross the line, okay? I saw you mess up at the start too.”
“I didn’t mess up as blatantly as you did.”
I wondered if this would remain a pleasant memory for those two as well.
What was I doing around this time in the original story or the 1st timeline?
I wasn’t sure, but the atmosphere certainly wasn’t better than this.
Ga-eul was dead, and Ha-ni would have been irritably pushing everyone away.
Lilac and Cheon Yu-hak would have been despising each other, clashing over their differing ideologies.
In the first place, the festival couldn’t even be held because of the numerous incidents.
“Guys! Let’s go to the after-party! After-party!”
“…The festival continues tomorrow, you know?”
When I spoke to Lilac, the after-party ghost, with an exasperated look, he started spouting nonsense about how we could just go again tomorrow.
“Ah, even if we don’t perform, we still have to run the cafe and restaurant tomorrow. How can we go to an after-party? Just go and get some sleep.”
“Nope~ Since the side that loses when we tally today’s sales is going to suffer anyway, it’s fine to have an after-party~”
“Uh, Lilac. That sounds like you think you guys beat us…?”
“Oh, are you prepared to handle both the cooking and the drinks tomorrow?”
“Ah, is that so? Let’s go then! We can find out at the after-party!”
“That’s what I was hoping for!”
“Ah, um. Well. Is it okay for me to join an after-party for the Holy Fire and Holy Sword classes?”
“Aww, come on. There’s no such thing on a day like today. You come too, Professor Park A-ram! Professor Cathy, you’re coming too, right?”
“Hmm? Well, yes. Then, since we’re going, shall Professor Park A-ram and I pick up the tab?”
“Huh?! Wait a minute! Cathy, shouldn’t we discuss that before you say it?!”
“Whoa! Thank you!”
“…Ah, if I say I won’t pay now, it’ll ruin the mood. Fine. I mean, how much can cadets possibly eat?”
“Alright then, shall we see if we can pull out the pillars of Professor Park A-ram’s house?”
“Hey, Cathy, you’re paying too!? Why have you been like this since earlier!?”
“You had a fun date, didn’t you?”
“Aha, right. Now that I think about it, I’m in a position where I have to be humble, aren’t I? Haha, fine! Try and pull them out if you can! Don’t underestimate an A-rank Hero!”
Contrary to the Little Witch’s expectations—having braced herself for something like beef—expensive dishes like king crab, lobster, caviar, and shark fin began to be suggested. She hurriedly proposed going to a charcoal grill place instead, and naturally, those teasing her nodded in agreement.
“I’m glad everyone looks happy.”
— You look happy too, saying that.
“Of course I am. I’m so happy it’s almost scary.”
— You, again…
“No, it’s not like that. It’s just a figure of speech. You can’t help but wonder if it’s okay to be this happy.”
I knew what Sun Wukong was thinking, but this time, it really wasn’t that.
It was just a sort of resolution.
I need to work a little harder so that everyone can keep living with smiles on their faces.
— Is that so? Then fine, but I’ll say one thing just in case. Don’t forget that this scene today was completed because you were here.
“Ah, I know that now. I’m the one who worked to create this, so how could I not know?”
I told you, I’m not going to do the whole sacrifice thing anymore.
“So-hyun! Hurry up~”
Everyone, except for the Little Witch who looked miserable at the prospect of the expensive restaurant, was smiling and waving at me.
* * *
“Where are you going?”
And on the flip side of the festival, there was a girl quietly trying to leave.
It was already dark, so it wasn’t strange to head back, but considering everyone was still soaked in the festival’s heat and excited for tomorrow, her heading toward a path without a single light felt quite out of place.
Kang Seo-ha.
The leader of the world’s worst villains, and the Creator of the world.
She was also a girl with a very troubled expression, befitting her age.
She hesitated for a moment, but soon turned around at the voice calling her and faced its owner.
“Where else? I should get going. If I stay any longer, my resolve will waver.”
Kang So-hyun. No, Ha-neul.
The person most precious to her, and the beloved person she had ultimately lost and broken through a stupid mistake.
She didn’t know if the one who went to the restaurant with friends was the original body, or if the one here was.
But what did that matter?
The only thing certain was that he and she had to completely part ways today.
“Oh, I came here specifically to make that resolve waver, though?”
“Yeah, not a chance. Who do you think would waver?”
“Uh, I think you would?”
“I’m going.”
“Ah! Don’t be pouting! Ah! I take it back! I take it back!”
“Hmph. Playing jokes even at a time like this, are you an idiot?”
“Alright, I get it. Even if you’re going, at least eat some meat before you go.”
“Are you seriously telling me to join the after-party and eat meat right now?”
“That’s right. You like meat. It’s beef ribs. Beef ribs. They said they’re going to a charcoal grill place. You won’t get to eat this easily, you know?”
Perhaps because of his smiling face, it really felt like he was saying it was okay to just eat meat and leave.
No, he was definitely trying to hold onto her because he truly wanted her to at least have some meat.
“No, I can’t go that way.”
“You can. Don’t overthink it. Just apologize, eat some meat, and play loudly at the festival again tomorrow. We can just make a promise to see each other again next time.”
“If I apologize, will they forgive me?”
“Well…”
She cut him off.
“Yeah, they’d probably all forgive me. Even if they’re displeased at first, if I eventually bow my head and go in, they’ll all forgive me. I’m not an idiot, I know that much.”
A laugh escaped her.
“But with what face? How could I apologize to the kids I abandoned, to the kids I killed?”
“That, I also…”
“Ha-neul, you only did those things because I brainwashed you.”
“No, that’s not it. I felt like I would have broken if there was no brainwashing…”
“No, it wasn’t just that. I wanted to monopolize you, and I wanted to erase this world that felt like my own shame.”
I can’t be forgiven. No, I mustn’t be forgiven.
“Hey, please don’t overthink it. You’re going to regret all of this later. You’ll end up coming this way eventually, won’t you?”
“No, that won’t happen. I became certain today.”
“Certain of what?”
“Now, I…”
Ah, she had intended to speak calmly, but her lips trembled, and the words wouldn’t come out easily.
She really, truly didn’t want to admit it.
“I’m not the most precious person to you anymore.”
“…What? What are you talking about?”
Perhaps he wasn’t even aware of it himself yet? Or perhaps, within him, she still held a position similar to theirs.
Well, whichever it was, it wouldn’t be long now.
“People more precious than me have appeared for you, and you will never give up this world where they exist.”
“Hey, what are you thinking right now?”
“Ha-neul. You know, the reason I called you a fake was because I didn’t think I could endure it otherwise.”
“I asked what you’re thinking.”
“I thought I was the only one who could save you, that I was the only one who could make you happy by saving you like that… so I was forcing myself to hold on.”
“Stay still. Don’t even think about going anywhere. I told you not to move.”
“But if you’ve already been saved, and the real you has found a new happiness…”
He began to run toward her in a hurry, but he wouldn’t be able to reach this place alone.
“Then there’s no way someone like me, a villain who is no longer needed by you, should be allowed to dream of happiness. Don’t you think an ending where I atone and disappear is much more convincing?”
Calamity-class villains who had been on standby sprang out and blocked his path.
He ran, swallowing the strike of Zeus—clad in blue lightning—with a black shadow.
She pressed down on him with gravity, but he escaped the gravitational field by force, stacking multiple reinforcements.
A massive giant appeared to block his charge, but blooming jet-black flowers fluttered and slashed the giant to pieces.
He wasn’t without wounds.
Since he was overexerting himself, he was likely approaching her while sustaining injuries.
However, his advance finally came to an end.
The moment he clashed with the Red Butler, he was eventually pushed back again.
“Get lost…!”
[It would be best to calm down a little.]
She approached him as he tried to stack even more reinforcements to break free from the suppression.
It might be a bit cowardly, but since it might be the last time, wouldn’t this much be okay?
As she slowly approached him, his neat face was right before her eyes.
There was no trace of Ha-neul’s appearance, yet it was a face that looked only lovely to her.
This was her friend. At the same time, her love. And now, the face that would become her enemy.
She closed her eyes and leaned in with her lips.