How Can I Bring Them Together?
How can I bring the two of them together? Yujin and Aris. The protagonist and the main heroine. Dawn Swordsman is a story that revolves around Yujin. Well, obviously. He's the protagonist, after all. If he weren't the main focus, he would've been kicked out of his own starring role.
The 'original novel' wasn't actually that long. It was a web novel, but in terms of physical volumes, it would span about four volumes. Peculiarly, the atmosphere of the first half and the second half was night and day.
Volumes one and two, which covered Yujin's first year, were a typical academy fantasy. It was a classic school life story where the Golden Generation—overflowing with talent but lacking in experience—grew by facing incidents and hardships centered around the academy. They fell in love, bickered, fought monsters, and thwarted the evil schemes of villains, weaving a tale where the ordinary and the extraordinary intersected. It wasn't entirely peaceful, and there were times they had to fight with their lives on the line. Still, the overall atmosphere was bright and lively.
Every major character in Dawn Swordsman carried their own emotional scars. Yujin had his guilt over the little sister he couldn't protect. Aris (and Frey) had the trauma of abuse left by her stepmother. Arin suffered from obsessive-compulsive anxiety because she had abandoned everyone and survived the Great Disaster alone. Anastasia and Leo harbored similar traumas. The plot of the first half of Dawn Swordsman was about these deeply wounded children meeting, comforting one another, shedding the shackles of their pasts, and growing into adults.
But once the story entered the second half, the mood shifted completely. Winter break after the second semester. A snowy day. The descent of the first Main, Astaroth. If everything up to that point had been an academy growth story, this was the exact moment the genre flipped into an apocalyptic survival.
The threat of annihilation loomed in an instant. The overwhelming power of the Mains. The resurgence of the Great Disaster. The monsters pouring down were like a rain of despair. Countless heroes died. Students were sacrificed. Society collapsed, and the system crumbled. As if the peace of the first half had been nothing but a lie, everything was engulfed in flames.
When Dawn Swordsman was being serialized, this was a highly polarizing arc. Many criticized the sudden 180-degree shift in tone, as well as how most of the cast—aside from the Cheonmyeongdae Captains and the Golden Generation—were completely sidelined and forgotten. Since the bare minimum requirement to fight a Main was being Captain-level, anyone who hadn't reached that boundary of supernatural power was reduced to a background extra. It was the tragic fate of those who couldn't keep up with the power scaling. Even if they did appear, it was only for a fleeting moment, and they rarely provided any actual help.
It was a grim, depressing progression that could easily pass for psychological horror. The desperate struggles of the heroes. The tiny sprouts of hope blooming amidst the ruins. In the end, even the Golden Generation and the Captains fell one by one, but Yujin awakened once more, transcending even the boundary of 'Close to God.' One who has reached Godhood. The very reason the Gods of the Four Seasons had bestowed supernatural abilities upon humanity. The supreme state they desired from humans. On that day, a new season was born.
It wasn't by Yujin's power alone. It was all because of 'love.' Yujin's desperate desire to protect his beloved created a miracle. Yujin's pure love for Aris, and Aris's profound love for Yujin, transformed him into the Savior.
'Which is why the two of them absolutely must fall in love.' Otherwise, this world is going to end, you know? If Yujin doesn't awaken as the Savior, everyone is going to die a clean, swift death. Now that Astaroth has already made her appearance, it's going to be extremely problematic if Yujin and Aris don't start loving each other as soon as possible.
Judging by Astaroth's words, it seems humanity won in all the previous timelines because Yujin awakened, but there's no guarantee this timeline will play out the same way. The Mains aren't just going to keep losing forever. After losing time and time again across multiple loops, they must have prepared a countermeasure or two to take Yujin down. Right now, they're leaving Yujin, the 'Chosen One,' alone for some unknown reason... but who knows, maybe even that is part of their plan?
Wow, thinking back on it, I really screwed up big time. What on earth was I thinking, interfering with Yujin and Aris's first meeting? Even if it was unintentional, I caused a massive disaster without even realizing it. This won't do. I have to do something about this...
'But what should I do?' Knowing Aris's personality, pushing her too hard will only backfire and make her uncomfortable. Right now, Aris doesn't have any romantic feelings for Yujin. Well, maybe she has a tiny bit. But it's probably nothing more than the basic interest she'd have in any male classmate.
On the other hand, there was a high probability that Yujin was already paying attention to Aris. Yujin's trauma. The little sister he couldn't protect. A girl who resembled that sister. Since he was unconsciously projecting his deceased sister onto Aris, he was bound to have some level of interest in her. If I play this card right, I might be able to sketch out a decent plan...
"Lu... Lucia..."
A gentle tug on my sleeve snapped me out of my thoughts. We were on our way to school. Because we had woken up early and left ahead of schedule, there weren't many students on the streets. Perhaps my dazed walking looked strange to her. Aris tugged my sleeve again and spoke.
"W-What... are you... th-thinking... so deeply... about...?"
Though she stuttered, her pronunciation was much clearer than before. This was one of the ways Aris had changed. She used to carry a pen and notepad everywhere because of her severe stutter, but now, even if she stumbled, she expressed herself through spoken words. She was putting in the effort. To change. To grow. She couldn't stay mute forever, so she was trying to overcome it head-on.
It would have been wonderful if that change had been sparked by Yujin. Still, it made me just as happy. Unable to hide my pride, I reached out and took Aris's hand in mine.
"I was wondering how I could make you even happier, Aris."
"Y-Yes...?!"
"That's what I was thinking about."
Aris's hand was small and soft. There was no roughness to it. Since she had only recently begun her training, she hadn't developed any calluses yet. If possible, I wanted her hands to stay as soft as a child's forever. Was that too greedy of a dream?
"You know, I really want you to be the happiest person in the world, Aris."
"Ah, ah..."
Aris flusteredly blushed. Though she was embarrassed, she didn't let go of my hand, clearly not hating the gesture. It wasn't a lie or empty flattery. It was my absolute, unadulterated truth. I sincerely wished for Aris's happiness.
In the original story, Aris was the happiest girl in the world once she became Yujin's lover. Shaking off her tragic past, overcoming her own weakness, and promising her future to the man she loved. And that man was Yujin—simple, kind, a bit of a pushover, but single-mindedly devoted to loving Aris more than anyone else in the world. Yeah, what could be happier than that?
Just wait, Aris. I'll make sure you get your happy ending! And in return... well, let's see. Have you ever thought about raising a puppy? I hear Golden Retrievers are incredibly gentle. Woof, woof.
Screeech. The low sound of the sliding door opening echoed. Perhaps because there were only a few students in the classroom, the sound, though not loud, was more than enough to shatter the quiet atmosphere.
Although Aris had distanced herself from books, there was one time of day when she still read. The few minutes after arriving at school before classes started. That brief window was the only time Aris opened a book. Watching her diligently turn the pages with a warm smile, I turned my head toward the door.
A boy with hair as black as obsidian stood there blankly. His deep blue eyes, looking as if they held the blue sky itself, scanned the classroom. Finding the eyes turning toward him uncomfortable, Yujin hesitated to step inside.
Well, Yujin's performance had been spectacular. Hardly anyone in the academy didn't know his name by now. Not just the first-years, but the entire student body knew about Class A's field training incident. In particular, Yujin's heroic deeds were still the talk of the school. He must have drawn quite a few stares on his way here. Yujin hated being the center of attention. I guess I have no choice. Should I help him relax a little? I stood up and walked toward him. I really wished Aris could be the one doing this, but that was a far-off dream for the current Aris. Let's save that for next time.
"Morning, Yujin," I greeted him with a bright smile. Yujin hesitated for a moment before replying.
"Ah... Morning, Lucia."
"You're out of the hospital! How are you feeling? Are you okay now?"
"Thanks for asking. All my injuries are healed. I'm completely fine."
"Mhm, I'm glad."
"..."
Why was he acting like this? Yujin's expression seemed incredibly stiff. His face was slightly flushed, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He looked exactly like someone standing under the blazing sun on a scorching summer day.
"You don't look so good. Are you still in pain?"
"N-No! I'm fine. I told you, I'm completely healed."
"Really? Your face is pretty red, though..."
He didn't look fine at all. I reached up and pressed the back of my hand against Yujin's forehead. Whoa, he's burning up. This is way too hot for a normal body temperature.
"Your forehead is boiling! Do you have a fever? Are you okay? Should I take you to the infirmary?"
Having a supernatural ability didn't make you immune to the common cold. Even superhuman ability users were still human. When their bodies were injured and weakened, they could easily fall ill. Seeing him at school today, he must have been discharged yesterday. Since he was in a hospital bed until just yesterday, it wouldn't be surprising if he hadn't fully recovered.
"N-No, don't worry about it. I was training my ability intensely since dawn, so my body's working overtime. I guess the heat hasn't dissipated yet."
"Ah, I see. Well, as long as that's all it is."
I accepted his explanation cleanly. Right, that made sense. Yujin was an extreme hard worker. His innate talent was outstanding, but what truly made him who he was today was the sheer effort he poured into blooming his potential. A hard-working genius, so to speak. Even if he had just been discharged yesterday, there was no way he would skip training. He probably woke up before sunrise to swing his sword. If nothing else, his work ethic was truly admirable. It's easy to say, but waking up at dawn every single day is no simple feat.
Lowering my hand from his forehead, I spoke with genuine sincerity. "Training since dawn... you really are diligent, Yujin."
"Uh, yeah..."
As expected of the protagonist, he was built different from the start. Never growing complacent with his natural genius, always pushing himself.
"Yeah, it's cool. I should learn from you."
Since Lucia is a heroine, I need to work hard so I don't fall behind. Lucia is technically on the weaker side among the Golden Generation, after all. Sure, she's exceptionally strong compared to ordinary students. If the Golden Generation didn't exist, she could easily take the top spot among the first-years. Super Regeneration is actually an incredibly top-tier supernatural ability, and Lucia herself is a highly talented genius. The problem is that their league is just too saturated. A genius only stands out among ordinary people. When geniuses gather, even a genius becomes average. And naturally, among geniuses, there are always those who are even more monstrous.
"I've been a bit lazy lately... Alright, time to pull myself together and get back to basics."
I didn't want to blame Aris, but it was largely her fault. She kept visiting me at all hours, stealing all my free time. I have no time to self-harm! No time to train my Super Regeneration! I slapped my cheeks lightly to refocus. I need to hook Aris and Yujin up as soon as possible. It's a bit sad to think about Aris finding someone more important to her than me, but I can't stop. Once she's dating Yujin, she'll depend on me less, which means my personal time will skyrocket back to normal. I'll finally be able to train my Super Regeneration in peace.
"Ah, sorry. I kept you standing at the door. Come on in."
Yujin was still standing in the exact spot where he had opened the classroom door. We couldn't keep talking at the threshold forever, so I stepped aside to let him through.
"...?"
Yet, for some reason, Yujin didn't budge. He looked like he had something to say. As if to prove they were a match made in heaven, his hesitant, fidgety expression was a carbon copy of Aris's. What was it? Did he have something to tell me? As I stared at his conflicted face... Ah! I clapped my hands together in realization. There was only one reason Yujin would hesitate like this.
"Heh, I see."
"W-What do you mean?"
"It's because of that, right? You must have had plenty of time to think while you were in the hospital."
It's no use trying to play dumb. Lucia has already figured it out.
"You've decided on your wish, haven't you?"
"...Huh?"
I took a step closer to Yujin. I wanted to whisper in his ear so we could talk privately, but due to our height difference, my lips couldn't reach. I stood on my tiptoes, stretching myself as high as possible. It was still a tight squeeze, but I could make it work. Couldn't he bend down just a little? It would be so much easier. Mmm, I'll have to teach him some manners later. The height difference between Aris and Yujin is even greater than ours. When a girl stands on her tiptoes, a guy is supposed to bend his knees! No matter what my inner self is, I'm currently a girl, you know?
"What is it? Tell me. I told you I'd grant you anything. No need to feel pressured."
I lowered my voice so no one else could hear, whispering directly into his ear. My breath brushed against Yujin's ear. He shivered, perhaps finding it ticklish. I quietly waited for his answer... but Yujin kept his mouth firmly shut. Was it just my imagination? His face seemed to grow even redder. Just how hard did he train this morning? He barely got out of the hospital, yet he's already pushing himself to the limit. What if he collapses again? Or... could he be embarrassed because I'm whispering to him? Haha, no way. This is Yujin we're talking about—the guy who didn't even bat an eye when the 'original' Lucia practically threw herself at him. There's no way he'd be flustered by something like this. Maybe my voice was too quiet and he couldn't hear me? Or maybe...
"Is it a wish that's hard to say out loud? Or do you just not want to talk about it here?"
I glanced around. This was the classroom. Yujin and I weren't the only ones here. It would certainly be awkward to blabber about wishes in public. Besides, what kind of wish would a kind, simple boy like Yujin even make? It would probably be something small and modest. Wait. He's hesitant to speak here? Hehe, could his wish be for me to help him get closer to Aris? Yujin secretly cares about Aris, and since I'm close to her, he might see this as the perfect opportunity. But that would be a bit of a waste. My favor isn't just some empty promise. It's a real, absolute wish. It's a golden ticket to do whatever he wants with a girl named Lucia. If he said, 'Be my slave for life,' Lucia's human rights would belong to Yujin forever. It's a verbal contract, but a wish is absolute. Yes, absolute. I wouldn't have offered it if I weren't prepared for that. He-het, though there's no way Yujin, who is just as sweet as Aris, would ever ask for something like that.
"Then tell me later. Promise?"
"...Alright."
Why was he sweating so much? Was he hot? It was truly bizarre for Yujin, a fire user, to feel the heat. I wiped the sweat from his forehead with my sleeve and gave him a playful wink. Other students were starting to trickle in. Had time flown by that fast? I waved goodbye to Yujin and headed back to my seat.
Aris was still reading her book... actually, no, she was staring right at me. For some reason, a dark shadow hung over her face. Her eyes looked so sharp that for a split second, I almost mistook her for Frey.
"Aris? What's wrong?"
"...N-Nothing."
Seeing her stutter, it was definitely Aris. With a dull thud, she snapped her book shut. It seemed she had lost all interest in reading.
Aris glared over my shoulder. Her gaze was so intense that I was about to turn around to see what she was looking at, but she suddenly threw herself into my arms as if to stop me. Since she often acted spoiled like this, I naturally hugged her back and patted her on the back. She must have been craving some warmth. Aris's physical appearance matched her inner self. Despite her age, her mind and body hadn't fully grown. She was still a child who yearned for human warmth. Her biological mother had passed away so early she couldn't even remember her, and her stepmother was... well, a monster. She had Frey, but since they shared the same body, they couldn't embrace. Perhaps Aris was seeking a mother's love through me. That would explain why she clung to me so often. If that was the case, I had to hug her as much as possible while I still had the chance! Once she starts dating Yujin, I won't have many opportunities left to hold her!