Selina's Story
"From this moment forth, Kail—who dared to call himself a Hero without the blessing of the Creation God—we hereby exile you to the harshest land on the continent, the Tarnass Ice Plains."
"Ha… haha."
The audience chamber of the Holy Palace. The day everyone betrayed him without hesitation, each for their own reasons.
The Hero Kail. No, the fake Hero Kail laughed like a madman as the sword that had slain the Demon King was tossed carelessly before him.
And Selina turned her back on him.
She even fabricated lies to further tarnish the fake Hero Kail.
Because she believed—truly believed—that salvation would surely come to Talian because of it.
"First, regarding the false fame piled up by the fake Hero Kail under a lying name…"
Even before the judgment on the fake Hero was fully pronounced,
Selina fled the audience chamber like a fugitive.
Only after the doors closed, fully muffling the voice of the Hero whose faith was crumbling, did she finally exhale the breath she'd been holding and slump against the corridor wall.
Her two hands, gloved in leather, trembled uncontrollably.
That was when it happened.
"A splendid performance, Miss Selina."
From the shadows of the corridor corner, someone called her name familiarly and approached.
"You…"
It was the cardinal from the Holy Kingdom who had first proposed the deal to her. Selina hid her shaking hands behind her back and forced her voice to sound as emotionless as possible toward him.
"You'll… keep your promise, right?"
"Of course."
The cardinal nodded leisurely and added,
"We guarantee the miracle of the Saintess, the true proxy of the Creation God. Moreover, we will dispatch all of us cardinals—each possessing power beyond that of a Legion Commander Grade—to Talian as swiftly as possible. At longest, one year. Within that time, we promise to save you from that vile curse plaguing Talian."
A firm assurance.
The one lifeline that could truly save Talian, obtained by throwing the Hero she had once truly believed in into the gutter.
But before she could feel any joy, Selina bit her lip hard.
Two silhouettes crossed in her mind.
The solid, reliable back of the man who had stood firm before the despairing darkness at the top of the Demon King's castle, gripping his sword without retreating an inch, shielding everyone.
And just moments ago, the pathetic silhouette discarded on the cold floor of the Holy Palace, having lost everything in the world.
But that lasted only a moment.
Right… he's exiled to Tarnass anyway.
She chanted it to herself like a mantra, hypnotizing her own heart.
Tarnass is the harshest land on the continent, under everyone's watch. We won't meet again… No, now that it's done… it's done…
"Then… we'll be waiting."
"If there's another chance later, we'll meet again. I must go greet the next guest, so farewell."
For some reason, Selina's head felt heavy and limp, but she forced a nod and exchanged brief farewells with the cardinal before leaving the Holy Kingdom without a shred of lingering attachment.
But in the end, salvation never came.
Talian's skies grew heavier and murkier with black hues day by day.
The days of barely clinging to survival, desperately awaiting aid from the Holy Kingdom.
Selina paced near the border dozens of times a day, wondering when the Saintess and cardinals would arrive.
Yet even after a month, two months, seasons changed, not a single ant was dispatched from the Harennes Holy Kingdom.
In the meantime, the Swelling Fallbirth curse devoured Talian more viciously.
Exhausted from waiting, her kin collapsed one by one, transforming into swollen monstrosities, and Selina had to end their lives with her own hands every night, swallowing bloody tears.
And finally, the day a messenger arrived from the outside world.
"The Holy Kingdom… has fallen?"
The news leaking from Kardan's makeshift tent at the rearmost lines—after the capital had completely crumbled—was too horrific to believe as reality.
The archbishop's exposé that the Harennes Holy Kingdom had secretly colluded with demons for centuries.
The Failer Empire's declaration of war in furious response.
And the revelation across the continent that all the Holy Kingdom's miracles—even the existence of the Saintess—were thorough deceptions.
"……."
Thud.
The twin daggers in Selina's hands rolled limply to the ground.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the dirt floor.
Her breathing grew ragged, her vision blurring wildly.
The Saintess isn't coming. The cardinals aren't coming.
They never had the power to purify Talian's curse, nor the will to do so.
It had all been a glaring red lie from start to finish.
No—worse, the Swelling Fallbirth curse might even be their doing.
In the end, she hadn't betrayed Kail for her kin's salvation.
She was just a stupid, ugly traitor who had danced to the whims of demon-colluding trash, driving the one true benefactor who had bled for Talian into hell.
"Ah… aaaah…."
A guttural wail erupted from deep in her throat.
The nauseating guilt of crushing Kail for nothing.
The perfect, utter despair that Talian now had no hope left.
Selina slammed her forehead into the dirt, clawing at the ground, screaming in silence.
And in that horrific disillusionment and regret—enough to make her want to tear her own flesh and die—the nightmare she had hoped would never end finally reached its close.
…
When she opened her eyes and looked around, the new sun was already poised to rise.
"Another… same nightmare."
Ever since reuniting with Kail, the nightmares of the past and the crushing guilt had grown more tormenting with each passing day.
Every waking moment felt like punishment.
Naturally, her escapes into exhausted sleep had lengthened.
Selina swept her hands over her face and rose.
Her joints ached from huddling on the cold floor all night.
But she had no time to tend to her fatigue.
The only reason she lived on, bearing guilt and self-loathing that could kill her any moment, was for Talian's salvation.
Selina hurried anxiously toward where Kail was.
"A fake like you…."
"Mocking the Creation God and strutting around shamelessly…."
"Why, why show up now… You should've acted like the fake Hero you are…!!"
Voices swirled in my ears—the many people I'd met, spitting at me, glaring with resentment, their twisted faces jumbling chaotically.
Then familiar faces appeared.
"We started as a strict transactional relationship, and I never lent my strength for a fake in the first place… Sorry about that."
Adelrin Einis, the most beautiful star of the Magic Kingdom, master of jewel magic.
"A trash who abandoned even a warrior's pride—you being my comrade makes me sick."
Daruen, descendant of barbarians, always the sturdy shield of our party.
And finally.
"I hate myself for ever loving a sinner like you, even briefly…."
Ferne, the cardinal candidate dispatched from the Holy Kingdom when I was first recognized as Hero and invited to Harennes—offering to aid our journey. The woman who healed my festering wounds, came to my side, but ultimately left me.
The faces of my former Hero party members—everyone except Selina—who betrayed me filled my vision as my eyes snapped open.
"Hahk, hahk."
My breath caught in my throat.
I forced my sweat-soaked body upright, clearing my vision.
My head throbbed like it would split.
Then, through my hazy mind, a trembling voice pierced.
"O… oppa."
"Leysila…?"
My little sister hugged my waist tightly, as if she'd been waiting.
Looking down, I saw her clutching my clothes like she'd never let go again. Her pale cheeks and hunched shoulders made it clear she hadn't slept a wink while I was out.
"……."
I silently reached out and stroked her head.
Only then did her trembling slowly subside.
…Yeah. At least my one and only family was always safe by my side.
That alone calmed my racing heart, bringing relief as it steadied.
As I savored this brief reunion with my sister, a voice came from the side.
"Are you… feeling better, sir?"
Turning, I saw the village chief approaching hesitantly.
Behind him, people clearing the burned village ruins froze, watching me.
The chief stopped before me and bowed deeply.
His wrinkled hands trembled faintly.
"The adults… we showed such shameful behavior. Truly, we're sorry."
His voice dripped with deep shame and regret—an apology for the curse-laced resentment they'd hurled at the fake Hero amid the terror of the Hellfire.
"……."
I stared at him blankly for a moment.
No massive rage boiled from my depths, no profound disappointment.
The reactions of the weak at the precipice were the same as ever.
So I'd respond the same as always.
"No."
I stood, brushing dirt from my clothes.
"I was the cause in the end. If the fake Hero Kail hadn't let that demon slip away that day, none of this would've happened… I should be the one apologizing."
"Th-that's…."
At my calm reply, the chief faltered, lips moving silently.
I passed him and scanned the surroundings again.
In the distance, silver hair caught my eye—someone watching quietly.
Selina.
Even after confirming I was awake, she didn't approach, standing awkwardly at a distance.
With Leysila clinging to my pant leg, I walked slowly toward her.
Our eyes met, and she lowered her head like a criminal.
"Whatever the reason, thanks for protecting my little sister to the end."
At my curt thanks, Selina's cat ears twitched.
Her eyes widened in surprise, then her lips trembled as she whispered,
"Yeah…."
I had no intention of prolonging the talk.
We both knew too well she'd protected Leysila only as part of the deal to lift Talian's curse.
"Let's head out before it's too late."
"……."
"I want to wrap everything up fast and part ways with you."
"……."
No excuses or pleas.
Selina just stared at the ground, biting her lower lip.
Squeeze.
Out of my sight, she hid her hands behind her back, clenching her fists so hard her sharp nails dug into her leather gloves.
"Yeah… we should."
She barely squeezed out the words and nodded.
"Right."
I turned away without regret.