Episode 123

I heard about the real Yerine, but I couldnt ask the details because I didnt have time.

I just found out that she was doing well and that she felt sorry for me even though I dont know why.

Thats why shes begging the woman to help me.

Would it be okay to go right away?

Just before returning to the human world, the woman asked in a worried voice.

There are only about three hours left, so I think its better to go with ease.

I looked at my friends leaning on the tree and said.

I have to go quickly and turn Ikers attention to me.

That way, while Iker is distracted by me, those kids will be able to escape safely.

The more aesthetically pleasing you are, the more terrifying you are.

I wiggled my fingers.

I kept thinking about whether I could do well and survive.

No. Lets not think about bad things.

I clenched my right fist and repeated it inside.

I have to survive.

A life where I can help others with my power.

A life where I can fix the world little by little with my strength.

The life of those who love me and who I love.

My life as Yerine Spade was like that.

So I couldnt give up easily.

It was too brilliant to let go.

Well, I will survive, right?

In front of Cassius, I said I was okay, but I seemed scared.

Still, I thought this level of childishness would be okay.

The woman who heard me stared at me with surprised red eyes.

Just once, if you tell me that I can live and that I will survive, I think it will be very encouraging.

Why?

Its blurry as if theres water in front of my eyes.

If you dont mind, would you do that?

The woman squeezed my hand at the words.

Long, thin fingers were stained with blood and wrapped around rough hands.

Warm warmth was delivered.

Even if I dont say so, you know.

It was a calm voice like a ripple spreading over the calm surface.

With a soothing echo, warmth seemed to spread throughout the body.

That you will survive.

Something came up from deep in the throat.

I really wanted to live.

Because I missed the people who I love and who love me so much.

The word survive to me came as more precious than any other jewel.

..Thank you.

Yes.

The woman put her hand on my head and patted it lightly and said.

Just do what I said before. Dont forget to come in contact with the biggest monster and say your wish correctly.

Yes.

Tell your wish that you want the mana absorbed by the monsters to return to its original place and to return it to you at the end.

Her voice, which recounts the precautions, contained worries and affection like parents who taught their children what to do and what not to do.

Ill be sure to. Thank you.

Yes, if you keep that, there will be no problem.

The woman smiled and said.

Ill send your friends right near you if you think things are clear after you go.

Yes, Id appreciate it if you could. If it doesnt finish in three hours, send them to a place where the Crown Prince couldnt find them.

Dont worry, Ill send them to the safest place possible.

I look forward to your kind cooperation.

I said, looking away from my friends who were sleeping.

Theyll be shocked when they wake up, so please do your best.

Okay.

Saying so, the woman stretched out her right hand.

The smoke rising from the tip of her finger drew a vortex.

Then the smoke clumped together to form a huge mirror-like figure.

Beyond that, there was a rainbow-coloured vortex.

The Crown Prince is still in the Academy.

I see.

If you get through here, youll get in front of him.

Thank you.

I bit my lips pretending to be okay, but my steps didnt fall off.

I had to go, but my legs didnt move.

Well, do you mind if I ask you one more question before I go?

Eventually, I stopped and talked.

Sure.

As expected, she didnt push me.

She seemed to know well why I was doing this.

You can ask me two or three questions, not one. You can ask me a few more questions.

There is no high or low tone, but her voice seems to contain warmth for some reason added.

If time permits.

When I turned around, her sweet and gentle red eyes were looking at me.

If those who saw child Yerines red eyes and said it was a curse to look at those eyes, wouldnt they have thought completely differently?

They wouldnt have known.

They wouldnt expect this eye to save someone.

Will the day come when we meet again?

The woman smiled silently.

It was not an awkward smile when it was difficult to answer.

It wasnt even a fake smile to act.

She seemed genuinely pleased to be asked this question.

Well, Im not sure.

Her voice was heard in the gentle breeze.

Still, this one is for sure.

Her red eyes shining like rubies folded in a line.

If you call me when something as difficult as it is today, I will help you as much as I want.

She spoke in a whispering soft voice.

Because you said thank you to me.

Her face flushed as she talked like that.

And it shone brilliantly like the moon floating in the black night sky.

And I promised that kid.

Her red eyes fluttered slowly as if holding water.

The vortex beyond the smoke-made mirror was darker than before.

As if it was calling me.

I knew I had to get going.

.Yes.

I said with the other hand overlapping in her hand, which was wrapped around my hand.

Thank you.

She now knows that I really have to go.

Two pairs of hands fell off each other, and as soon as they fell, I turned away.

Finally, my foot fell off the ground.

Im really going now.

Yes.

I tried not to look back on purpose.

I feel like Im going to cry when I see the faces of Cassius and other kids who are asleep.

I extended my right hand into the mirror.

The moment I touched the rainbow vortex, I felt my body being sucked into the air.

It was like crossing a river that I couldnt really come back from.

I closed my eyes and thought to myself.

Bye, everyone.

Until I say hello again, bye for a while.

***

The first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was the smell of blood.

A disgusting smell.

When I opened my eyes, the scene that the dragon woman showed me unfolded.

injured people, kneeling professors and students.

Even the shadow of a giant monster floating in the air.

There, do you dare to defy me?

A creepy deeply imprinted voice came into my memory.

It was a mean voice full of arrogance.

I felt the monsters coming toward me through the wind.

I looked up quietly.

That way he cant kill me.

Theres nothing you can get out of killing me.

Iker was floating in the blackened sky with a monster.

The monster stopped moving when my eyes met with that arrogance gold eyes.

Yerine.

His eyes calling my name shone with madness.

His face was flushed with joy.

Ill do whatever you want.

I opened my mouth heavily.

It was a must-do thing to stop him, but while I was saying that, it was awkward and difficult to bear.

If you accept my terms.

Then Iker twisted his mouth and laughed.

As if hes laughing at me.

Yerine, youre mistaken about something. You are not in a position to propose a deal.

The monsters that stopped moving began to approach again.

The monsters came close enough to block my view.

With their terrible mouth with sharp teeth sticking out.

Now youre weaker than I am. I dont have to listen to your proposal.

Iker came down from the air and landed in front of me.

To be honest, I dont need you that much right now.

A low warning voice came out between the twisted lips.

In short, it meant that it doesnt matter if he just kills me now.

But I knew it was a lie.

I know youre not.

I looked straight at his low golden eyes and said.

Youre letting me live because you need me. If you were, you would have killed me right away when you didnt need me.

Youre smart.

Iker lowered his upper body and whispered in my ear.

Smart kids are such a nuisance.

Then he straightened his upper body again and said.

Thats cute but.

I didnt want to hear his voice anymore.

I interrupted him and immediately said the conditions.

Stop the attack on the Academy now. Youve got me, so dont attack others anymore.

Iker looked at me with an interesting look at me talking like that.

It was like looking at a tropical fish in an aquarium, so I felt bad.

Thats my deal.

Hmm. I dont want to listen though.

Didnt you see me teleporting earlier?

Ikers face was slightly stiffened by the words.

You put a teleport restriction on me, but I got out.

It was scary.

However, I smiled intentionally so that I wouldnt look like that.

Cant you tell from that? I can still fight, I can run away.

..

But if you accept my terms, Ill follow you without that.

I heard a buzzing sound from behind.

It was the voices of professors who shouted No.

I couldnt bear to raise my head.

It was even more so when I heard Professor Frains voice mixed with tears.

Okay, Ill give you a special listen.

Surprisingly, I was a little surprised to see the answer.

When I looked at him with a suspicious look, Iker grinned and opened his mouth.

Follow me without saying anything and without resistance. Thats the condition I push.

Without saying anything.

Without any resistance.

As soon as I heard that, I got goosebumps.

Nevertheless, I had no choice but to answer.

Okay.

Then Ikers golden eyes folded in a line like a crescent moon.

At that very moment, I felt a dull pain in my shoulder.

Huh?

The view began to turn upside down.

Then I realized.

That Iker used stun magic.

Okay, so you just have to follow me without saying anything and without any resistance.

As soon as I lost my balance and tried to fall weakly, Iker grabbed me by the shoulder.

Under the dark sky without the moon or stars, I could see Ikers face with shadows.

Isnt this okay?

The face of the devil, stained with madness.

The golden eyes, seen through the gradually closing view, were dancing joyfully.

Good night.

The devil whispered in my ear.

As if to become a doll with no words, no resistance.