As the massive tree ladder shattered, a cloud of dust rose into the air. High above, Goin continued to summon chaos insects as he flew around.
In the distance, the howls of the chaos insects could be heard. The sounds of students fending them off echoed. And the voices of the juniors doing their best rang out.
If only all these sounds had merged into a cacophony of noise. I might have been able to dismiss this situation more easily, but the desperate struggle of those fighting made it impossible to ignore.
Being able to hear so clearly was a problem. Right now, I wanted to focus on what was happening here.
I tapped my ears with my palms, trying to dampen the sensitivity of my hearing. The dust clogged my breath, but I kept tapping my ears because I couldn’t concentrate.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A high-pitched ringing filled my ears.
“…"
The impact had caused a persistent ringing in my ears.
Ironically, it made it easier to concentrate.
“…Hoo.”
I staggered to my feet. My short-sleeved shirt had come untucked from my skirt, and one of my shoes had come off during the fall, leaving only a sock on that foot.
“…"
Standing in front of that bastard in such a disheveled state made me feel like I had been humiliated, even though I was the one who had been beating him.
“…"
I took off my remaining shoe and sock as well. I then tidied my shirt and tucked it back into my waistband.
“…" “…"
The bastard remained silent, watching my actions.
I felt the coolness of the earth and the chill of the dirt beneath my bare feet. The heat in my head and heart, ignited by the fight, began to cool.
‘No, it’s not the coolness; it’s because my thoughts have shifted…’
In truth…
This wasn’t the time to be fussing over my appearance. There was something I needed to ask him before anything else.
But I was afraid to hear the answer.
“…"
The fact that this bastard had kept Goin occupied here while he used a portal to come to this place meant the answer was already clear.
…
‘So, that’s how it is. Then, my actions are also decided.’
I faced the Prophet.
“…" “…"
A wrecked appearance. The face under his hood was still torn and mangled. His limbs were like broken marionette strings, barely held together by black threads.
A wounded girl. A wounded man. We were both a mess.
“…Where is Hilde?” “Are you looking for the possessor?” “Don’t answer my question with a question. Just answer what I asked.” “…"
The Prophet no longer seemed surprised by my words. He simply nodded calmly and replied.
“…I’ve taken care of her so she wouldn’t interfere with the plan.” “Plan, taken care of…”
…
I see.
I see…
‘Because of you, instead of me…’
-Lara, I can’t let you be in danger. -Lara, I love you. -Lara, do you want to protect the academy city? -I see… if that’s your wish.
“…"
Why does the image of that slender neck, hidden beneath her long silver hair, come to mind? The sight of those snowy-white eyebrows that were visible just beyond her slightly turned head.
It’s such a small thing. Something that can’t be seen anywhere else.
‘I won’t be able to see that anymore, will I?’
My mind was hazy from my ragged breathing, and my eyes were dry from the confusion of the situation, but somehow the words that came out of my mouth were clear.
“Did you kill her?” “…Who knows.”
The Prophet dismissed it indifferently, as if it didn’t matter.
But I couldn’t afford to be indifferent. I had a duty to hear and witness the truth.
Hilde’s death. Even if she had become a pitiful, cold corpse, a foul-smelling heap of organic matter, I couldn’t pretend not to see it.
‘I have to witness her end and confirm it myself.’
So I asked again.
“Did you kill her?” “…She’s probably dead.” “Did you kill her?” “…" “I’m asking if you killed my lover. Answer me properly. We swore to be together forever.” “I see. So, like the ‘Saint’ Ymir… you also loved the possessor…”
The Prophet looked at me with eyes shadowed by deep darkness. In those dark eyes, I could see fragments of longing and regret for the past.
“…"
There was a moment of silence. The Prophet looked me straight in the eye and spoke.
“I killed her.” “…I see.”
I got the answer I wanted.
“[The Thunder Spear of Radiance] Brunhilde is trapped within the belly of the Beast God, ‘The Wolf.’ No matter how transcendent her fate may be, she won’t be able to resist the abyssal power contained within the Beast God’s body.”
“…" “…In the end, this world is nothing but a place where everything is governed by the forces of the Beast Gods and the World Tree. I intend to use the power of the strongest ‘Dragon’ to change the structure of this world and restore the source of life and death hidden within the World Tree.”
“…" “This world, bound by such a wretched cycle, will be replaced by a truly normal and ideal world that awaits you. So don’t get in my way any further.”
Why is he trying to convince me now?
Is he scared? Or just annoyed? Or does the ‘you’ who knows everything about this world find ‘me’ frustrating?
“I don’t know anything about that.” “What?” “I said I don’t know.”
I don’t know.
Pingchang doesn’t know about such complex and grand things. Don’t expect some grand narrative of salvation from Pingchang.
What Pingchang loves is simply tea and macarons—a peaceful, ordinary life. There’s no way a world you create, which disregards even that, could be so ideal.
“So I’m going to kill you.” “…"
I traced a spiral with my hands and drew upon all the ether within me. The battlefield, shrouded in dust, was now etched with a clear pink hue.
Once, I lost everything and then walked this path again.
Like a spiral. The path I had taken turned in another direction. I made the same mistakes, foolishly repeating them.
‘But even so, the reason I don’t lose my way is…’
Pink fragments floated up in my mind.
-Stop following me.
A surge of regret in my heart.
-Lara, why are you following me?
Memories flooding my mind.
-Lara, thank you for staying by my side.
A poignant ache in my chest.
-Lara, please stay by my side forever.
The moment I reached the ‘Transcendent,’ Even you, who had been by my side, disappeared. The starlight that once guided me vanished, leaving only darkness.
From now on, I must walk alone.
I could no longer follow in your footsteps.
“…"
Darkness.
In the world of the void that had once been filled with my colors, I now saw darkness. It was the memory of this world that had existed since the beginning, the other face of ether, the force of life.
The abyss. Death. History. Yin and yang.
These were what were called the universe. This universe was made up of the Taiji.
“…"
I saw the universe. And within it, I saw the name of the path I had chosen.
Guardian of the Nine Worlds. One who sees through everything.
‘Look at the path Clara has chosen.’
Though my fate was [Sacrifice], The path of sacrifice chosen by one who leads is the fate of a guardian. The fate named Sacrifice began to shine in a different direction.
Vroooom—!!
The noble pink spiral intertwined. The massive web that had risen like a tower was drawn into my body. In the distance, I could see the spirits of the swords watching us. I could see Urd, cheering from the Well of Fate. I could even see that their true name was ‘Norn.’
The self-chosen ‘Past.’ The ‘Present,’ left as fragments.
“Urd, Verdandi…”
Now I could see the flow of this world. The rainbow-colored vision enveloped my stigmata, glowing white-hot.
And then, the wolf’s fangs closed in on me. This would happen in 1.2 seconds.
Boom—!!
I raised my hand to block the ‘future’ attack. A heavy impact reverberated through my hand as I looked into the abyssal eyes staring back at me.
I felt the murderous intent emanating from him. I knew it wasn’t driven by personal feelings.
“It’s useless.”
The Prophet muttered as he unleashed the power of the giant wolf. The black aura of the ‘Dragon’ also poured out from his body.
“I have to stop you now. To save ‘them’…” “…"
How foolish.
You, who chase the greater good more than anyone, disregard the greater good. I, who chase emotions more than anyone, disregard emotions.
We were the same soul, yet could we be more opposed?
“Sometime… for everyone to be saved…!” “…”
You, who know everything, Can’t even see that the girl in front of you shares the same soul.
“I will…!”
As the Prophet unleashed the black aura, all kinds of chaos insects resurrected from the ground. He gripped my collar, his robe fluttering as he illuminated ancient magical circles across his body.
Whoosh—!
In an instant, the scenery changed. The cold air brushed against my cheek. We had jumped high into the sky.
Higher than the sky where Anna and I had previously ascended. In that lofty place, the Prophet summoned the giant wolf’s maw.
“Be sealed—!!” “…”
This, too, was something I had foreseen with my rainbow-colored vision. In the ‘present’ I had returned to, I grabbed the Prophet by the collar in response.
“[Bifrost]…!” “What…?!”
Our surroundings shifted in an instant.
Whoosh—!
Once again, we leapt through space.
What I sensed next was the smell of acrid smoke. And the cacophony of noise all around us.
The Prophet looked around, astonished.
“We’ve returned…?!”
The ability to leap through space. The oath of one who protects the academy city.
‘Clara’s perception abilities… all for this…’
As we each prepared to attack, our fists collided.
On one side, a rainbow. On the other, black.
Boom—!!
With the impact, Our space-warping abilities activated once more.