Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: My Hero (6)
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The Black Death.
A disease where blood coagulates and putrefies within the veins, causing necrosis in the extremities and turning the skin and muscles pitch black.
Known as history's worst plague, the Black Death swept across Europe in the 14th century.
At least 100 million people perished. With medicine at the time incapable of even basic quarantine, let alone treatment, the plague struck down nobles and commoners, heretics and priests alike—equally merciless to all.
Mighty nations rotted away from within. Unable to excise the decay, everything was inevitably stained black by the Black Death.
"Anne..."
Mimir had noticed the Black Death's presence relatively early. Knowing the concept of 'contagion,' she hurried to flee with Anne to a safe place.
She had no knowledge of medicine. And with most doctors being madmen who believed bloodletting was the cure for everything, she knew there was no hope once infected.
Asia should be fine. The Black Death surely hadn't reached there yet.
"Haa... haa..."
But disaster struck faster than Mimir could act.
Anne lay gasping for breath, wracked with fever. Her head burned like fire, and pain throbbed through every muscle, joint, and inch of her body.
"Mimir, it hurts... it hurts so much..."
The bed where Anne lay was soaked with sweat. Mimir wiped her down with a damp cloth and placed a cold compress on her forehead. She nursed her devotedly in every way she could, but the illness showed no signs of improvement.
"It's okay. You'll get better soon... it's okay..."
"Hic... I feel like I'm dying... It hurts so much I can barely breathe..."
Mimir bit her lip hard.
She knew no spells to heal diseases, only wounds. She felt utterly powerless.
Clutching Anne's hand, she could only murmur empty reassurances, hating herself for being so useless.
"Mimir..."
"Yeah...?"
"I'm sorry for keep saying it hurts..."
"It's fine. Say it as much as you want..."
I just want you to get better.
I want us to travel together again someday.
I don't want this agony to be your end.
"S-so for now, let's focus on getting you healthy..."
"Yeah..."
There were still so many places we hadn't seen.
From sweltering continents thick with jungles and forests, to enigmatic pyramids and cat statues shrouded in mystery, sunken temples and ghost ships beneath the sea.
And if Anne and I were diligent enough to tour the entire Earth... then what?
"We'll... go to the skies."
"Huh...?"
"After seeing all the land, next is the... the skies. Don't you wonder what those countless twinkling celestial bodies look like up close...?"
This world held countless shining wonders... but the most radiant were in the heavens.
What would it be like to touch the stars, moon, sun, and myriad celestial bodies twinkling in the night sky? What beauty would they hold?
Just imagining it filled her with joy—adventures awaiting us.
At those words, Anne's face softened a little. Even in pain, thoughts of distant travels brought her some happiness.
Yes, that's right.
Our journey isn't over yet.
"Mimir."
"Yeah."
"If we make it to the skies, promise you'll tell me all about it."
Anne's strained voice sounded like a farewell from someone on the brink, forcing Mimir to choke out a reply.
"You too, Anne... promise you'll tell me..."
They hooked their pinkies together.
Promising to share their wonders with each other.
And that promise went unfulfilled.
Mimir lingered by Anne's gravestone long after, under drizzling rain, unable to leave.
Denying the reality of her loss, she wept until exhaustion claimed her in sleep.
The death of the only person she could call family in this world brought Mimir unimaginable pain.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Pain changes people. After years as a shut-in, Mimir transformed.
From a witch who just wanted friends, to one researching magic solely to revive one person.
Her soft, timid nature remained, but she gained eyes to face reality.
Her research reached a point where, given time, it could succeed: an imperfect resurrection, binding a soul to a doll.
But completion would take about ten years—and in a decade, the Dimensional Beast waves heralding apocalypse would sweep the world.
Even if she revived Anne, a world gone with her would render it meaningless.
That's why Mimir still hesitated.
"Mimir."
"..."
"A world under Zero One's control would be so dull, don't you think? Like George Orwell's 1984."
A shrunken realm driven purely by utility and reason, lacking beauties like the Brussels Cathedral.
"It'd be boring as hell to travel with Anne. She'd get sick of it for sure."
Mimir's eyes shifted.
"You know how beautiful the passion of crowds can be. How that energy built this vast forest of concrete skyscrapers."
Nature held beauty, but so did humanity's creations.
Festivals like the Olympics and World Cup, national landmarks... pyramids and Colosseums from antiquity.
Paintings by artists, novels by writers, poems by poets, songs by musicians.
"Zero One's world won't birth any more treasures Anne loved."
Mimir slowly stepped forward.
Clack, clack. She approached and took my outstretched hand.
"Dracula."
"Yes."
"Can I... trust you...?"
I nodded without hesitation. I'd proven my trustworthiness.
We shook twice and let go. Mimir's face hardened with resolve.
"From now on, I'll help you. I swear it on Anne's name."
"I've been waiting for those words."
Mimir—the key force against Zero One—finally joined AOD.
I wanted to throw my arms up in victory, but work remained.
Over there, Lee Gyeo-ul and Shin were still locked in a battle of souls.
Shin was a late-game villain in the original story.
By Red Ark's plot, this was merely mid-story. No matter how twisted the tale, Shin appearing directly in Academy City was unforeseen.
I glanced at my phone.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Mimir's change of heart counts as a 'Fate Inflection.' 50 points awarded. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Unlock the final trait? Charging into Lee Gyeo-ul and Shin's fight now would be like a shrimp caught in a whale brawl.
But I pinned my hopes on that final trait.
Even the world's strongest, Lee Gyeo-ul, couldn't beat Shin without risking full Dimensional Beast transformation.
Enemy top fighter versus our top fighter, both at full throttle.
"Mimir."
"Y-yeah."
"You're about to betray the society. Ready for that?"
"Yeah! T-totally ready!"
Mimir and I rushed to join Lee Gyeo-ul.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Shin and Lee Gyeo-ul were perfect matchups.
Unlike with Aria, Lee Gyeo-ul went all-out against Shin, and Shin reciprocated.
She'd faced special-grade Dimensional Beasts solo in Seoul without flinching, but now, fully awakened, she felt real danger for the first time.
Shin was a formidable foe.
Its massive bulk was bad enough, but thick scales covered its body, deflecting blows.
Targeting weak points was tedious, fatigue built fast, and its savage attacks spiked her Erosion Rate via regeneration.
Red sparks would soon fly.
If the fight dragged on, her only choices were to go full Dimensional Beast or cut tail and flee.
The former's off the table.
If she died, no one on Earth could protect Cheong-ah.
Baek Do-hyun looked after her somewhat... but probably not to the point of sacrificing his life.
She cooperated with AOD because joining it seemed the safest for Cheong-ah.
The Korean Hunter Association wanted Han Cheong-ah executed; the 21st Century Secret Society wanted her awakened.
AOD was the only shelter from both gazes.
That odd vampire Baek Do-hyun wanted neither her death nor awakening, so backing his new group felt wise.
A stronger AOD meant automatic safety for Cheong-ah inside it.
However.
"Not enough to risk my life."
Lee Gyeo-ul locked eyes with the battered dragon in the sky.
Last strike.
This would decide success or failure.
Thus, she gathered convection currents while scouting escape routes.