Chapter 169

As he pointed the sword at Eve, who had become an unwelcome guest—especially now—trembling eyes returned the gaze.

Seeing the shock in her reaction—someone who valued her students more than anyone else—Yoon Si-woo clenched his teeth.

He didn’t want to do something like this at all.

If it had only been his secret that was exposed, he would never have thought about harming her to keep it hidden.

To harm others for his own benefit was against his principles.

However, this time it was not just about him; Scarlet was involved as well.

Having witnessed a side of Scarlet that should not have been seen, he recognized that this was the most certain way to protect her secret.

Muttering to himself, he focused on her actions, his body tense.

As a master of illusion magic, she was not someone to be underestimated; if a fight broke out, it wouldn’t be an easy battle.

Nonetheless, blessed by the Holy Sword, he had an advantage in seeing through illusions.

Regardless, if there were any signs of her using magic or attempting to flee, he resolved to charge in and attack.

At that moment, Eve, who had been quietly watching him, moved.

However, she did not swing her sword.

Instead, she raised her arms, palms facing him, as if to surrender.

“…Calm down. I have no intention of fighting. May I take a moment to talk over there?”

With her arms raised, Eve spoke.

He didn’t respond particularly, but she seemed to think it was an approval as she entered through a hole in the ceiling into the sewer.

If she had the intention to fight, closing the distance against a swordsman like him would have been madness; thus, he could tell she had no intention of combat.

However, to make sure she wouldn’t do anything to Scarlet, he restrained her as she cautiously approached, as if to avoid provoking him.

Eve nodded in understanding, casting a worried glance toward the sleeping Scarlet behind him and asked,

“…Is Evande alright?”

“…Didn’t you say you saw everything?”

“…Yes, I did. I saw Si-woo holding Evande’s limbs.”

From that remark, it became clear she did not see everything he thought she had.

What she witnessed must have been after the battle was over.

He briefly had doubts about whether she had hidden and watched until Scarlet ended up in that state, though it seemed unlikely.

If she had indeed been here from the start, given her character, she would never have merely stood by and watched Scarlet get hurt.

The very reason he admired her was that he knew her care for her students was genuine.

Still, something nagged at him, so he maintained his guard and cautiously asked.

“…Can I ask just one thing? Why were you watching us in secret?”

“You all said it, didn’t you? That it was something that shouldn’t be seen by others. I hid because I thought it might make you anxious if you knew I had seen it.”

As Eve answered, Yoon Si-woo’s hand, holding the sword, trembled slightly.

“…So that means you had no intention of telling anyone from the start?”

As he asked while trembling, she replied.

“…You know it would become problematic if it got out, so I wanted to keep it secret, right? I have no desire to create trouble for you all.”

Even though he knew she was speaking the truth, he couldn’t fully trust her words.

Was it perhaps a disease of the mind?

No, it was probably because he understood the weight of the secret he and Scarlet carried.

To prevent public unrest, he had heard countless pleas from people as he walked through the streets since the day he became a hero.

“Hero, please kill the wicked witch who has taken our loved ones.”

To the people, witches were merely objects of animosity.

They lumped all witches together as enemies, discounting them as individuals.

However, he didn’t blame their understanding of the situation.

He had thought similarly until he learned Lucy’s true identity.

Witches were the masterminds behind the demonic beasts that took his parents away.

Therefore, it was only logical to view them as inherently evil beings.

Thus, despite wanting to believe Eve’s word in front of him, he couldn’t bring himself to trust it.

“…Considering we have a connection with a witch, doesn’t that make it hard? A witch is an enemy of humanity, after all?”

Even with his blunt question, she replied.

“But you’re not like that.”

Eve’s response was completely incomprehensible to him.

“Just how can you say that with such certainty?”

In his confusion, questions filled his mind and spilled out before he realized it.

Then she said,

“I am your teacher.”

She spoke as a teacher.

“While teaching you, I have seen that you and Evande are the kindest of children. If I— as your teacher— cannot believe in such students, who else will?”

Her warm words made him feel the grip on his sword slacken.

The murderous intent he had forced himself into dispersed at her genuine kindness.

Ah, it is the truth.

There was no lie in what she said.

So, perhaps in this world, at least she was someone who saw them without prejudice.

That thought brought him immense joy.

Yet simultaneously, it filled him with deep concern.

To her, both he and Scarlet must surely be precious students.

But the precious students to her wouldn’t end with just the two of them.

He could not dismiss the possibility that one day, she— knowing Scarlet’s secret— could become a serious problem.

As a member of the central committee running the city, he couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t exploit Scarlet’s secret for others’ sake.

He didn’t want to harm her.

But thinking of Scarlet…

He forced more strength into his hand gripping the sword.

In that moment of internal conflict,

[…Si-woo, I don’t think that’s necessary.]

He heard Lucy’s voice whisper in his mind.

‘…But, thinking about Scarlet…’

[So, I mean you shouldn’t worry about that. Have I ever said something to put you at a disadvantage? It doesn’t sound like she’s in a position to go around revealing that girl’s secret either, so relax. Besides, aren’t you reaching your limit?]

At Lucy’s oddly confident words, after a moment of contemplation, he sighed and relaxed his grip.

Yes, as Lucy said, he was indeed starting to reach his breaking point.

As he mentally muttered “Seal,” the pitch-black sword turned white again, and he felt the strength leaving his body.

Recognizing he had abandoned his intent to strike, the teacher visibly relaxed.

Seeing that made a wave of guilt swell within him.

Feeling apologetic for having put her through an unpleasant experience, he bowed his head and apologized to her.

“…I’m sorry, teacher. Given the circumstances, I was feeling anxious…”

“…It’s okay. I understand how you feel, Si-woo. It’s hard to stay calm when both you and Evande are involved. Hehehe, youth, right?”

Her words, intended to alleviate the tense atmosphere, made his face turn red.

…How come everyone he met seemed to know?

Had he been that obvious with his feelings…?

As he was getting shy, the teacher returned to a serious demeanor and muttered.

“…By the way, Si-woo, did you take down that witch?”

At her question, he turned his head and glanced at the body rolling on the floor, missing limbs.

A witch, huh.

It’s probably better to be honest with the teacher.

Thinking that, he shook his head slightly and answered.

“To be precise, it wasn’t a witch. It seems like a humanoid demonic beast. It wasn’t a high-grade one, but definitely stronger than a mid-grade.”

“…I see. So that was it…”

The teacher, looking like she was contemplating for a moment, turned to him and said.

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“…Um, Si-woo, I feel a bit bad saying this, but could you do me a favor in exchange for keeping quiet about what I saw today?”

“A favor…? Yes, I’d prefer that; it would put my mind at ease.”

“…Then, Si-woo.”

The look on her face, gazing at him now, resembled one he’d seen before.

A mix of guilt and remorse about burdening him.

The same look she had when he declared he wanted to become a hero.

With that expression, she said to him.

“…Si-woo, you just took down the witch that attacked the city. Do you understand what that means?”

Of course, he understood what it meant.

Without hesitation, he nodded.

Now, taking on one more burden was nothing to him.

*

Shrieks and wails.

The city was filled with cries from citizens who hadn’t managed to evacuate and the shouts of heroes battling the demonic beasts soaring in the sky.

Amidst the chaos, no one noticed the boy standing atop a building’s rooftop.

Yet,

“A ray of light that can illuminate even the thickest darkness.”

As a beam of light illuminated the sky, the turmoil in the city waned as if it were a lie.

People stared, entranced, at the boy standing with a brilliantly shining sword, higher than anyone else.

And it was clear that the right to voice in this city belonged solely to him.

Addressing the quieted city, the boy declared.

“Rest assured. The wicked witch that invaded the city has fallen by my hand.”

Those who witnessed the scene surely thought:

A hero surpassing the idea of a hero, a champion has been born into this world.