Chap 15-What Was Lost

 

“Why does it have to be you doing something like that?”

‘Who is it?’

Someone was crying in front of me.

My mind felt hazy.

Beyond the blurry vision, I could see two women.

Blonde hair and a petite frame.

A robe and a pointed hat.

‘Master?’

My master was crying with a desperate expression, completely different from the atmosphere I was used to seeing.

And across from her.

A woman with black hair.

My vision was blurry, so I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I could definitely tell she was wearing an awkward smile.

“You… you were against it until the end!!!”

Dorothy cried out in an agitated voice.

“You’re not at fault at all…”

She trailed off, her hand trembling.

“Dorothy.”

The black-haired woman smiled gently and put her arm around Dorothy’s shoulders.

“It can’t be helped. It’s because I’m too capable. Hehe.”

She was comforting Dorothy.

“Whether Terra is destroyed or not! Just go and kill that bastard!!”

Dorothy clenched her fist tightly.

“With my magic, at least the stronger mortals will be able to survive. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself.”

‘Huh?’

Master?

This is going to be controversial, isn’t it?

The black-haired woman looked down at Dorothy quietly, with an expression as if recalling a slightly old memory.

“I promised a long time ago…”

“To protect… people.”

Dorothy murmured in a trembling voice.

“Don’t you… resent us?”

She chuckled and carefully wiped away the tears flowing down Dorothy’s cheek.

“I promised that too? Not to hate people.”

…

Sweat-soaked hair clung to my forehead.

My body felt heavy, and my lungs were stuffy.

Memories from the dream flashed through my mind.

‘What was that dream about?’

I rubbed my forehead and caught my breath.

But soon, I realized something was wrong.

I blinked instinctively.

But my vision didn’t change.

‘Huh?’

I slowly raised my hand and rubbed my eyes.

My left eye, which I had overworked as usual.

It was fine.

‘Haa… why does it have to be…’

But the right one…

Was just a deep, pitch-black darkness.

I wasn’t that surprised.

I just thought that what was coming had finally arrived.

I knew it from the start.

That the price for recklessly using the Evil God’s power would come someday.

‘Still…’

I slowly sat on the bed and sighed.

‘It would have been familiar if it was the left eye.’

I had been plucking out my left eye every time I fought, so I was annoyed by the fact that I had to adapt again.

‘I’ll have to do it with the right one now.’

I rested my chin on my hand and fell into thought.

Then—

Creak—

The door opened, and my master, Dorothy, walked in.

“Are you awake?”

I suddenly looked at Dorothy.

She was maintaining her usual expressionless face, but I felt a slight hint of irritation in her demeanor.

Dorothy closed the door and approached me.

“Don’t even think about lying. I’ve already seen everything. You’re pretty messed up.”

I flinched.

‘I knew she wouldn’t fail to notice.’

“My magic can’t restore souls. That’s a completely different field. So, what did you lose as the price?”

I hesitated to answer for a moment.

Anyway, having one eye not working was a familiar situation for me.

I didn’t want to worry her unnecessarily.

But my master seemed to think differently.

“Haa… that’s why I can’t help but worry about you.”

Dorothy followed my gaze and sighed very slightly.

“…It’s your right eye.”

Dorothy murmured quietly.

Her expression crumbled slightly.

I turned my head, pretending to be nonchalant.

“I can adapt quickly with a little training. You know that.”

But Dorothy stared down at me quietly, sighed very slightly, and then slowly continued.

“Until you reach level 7, the Evil God’s power is forbidden for the time being.”

‘Huh?’

I tried to open my mouth for a moment, but closed it after seeing Dorothy’s firm gaze.

“……”

Dorothy didn’t take her eyes off me.

Her voice was more resolute and unwavering than ever.

“I don’t want to see your body break down any more than this.”

I looked at Dorothy without a word.

Deep in my master’s eyes, the memory I saw in the dream seemed to resurface.

I remember her crying face in the dream.

Pfft-

Before I knew it, a small smile leaked from my lips.

My master had a cute side for her age.

“Hmm… I think I just had an impious thought.”

Level 7.

Two levels away from my current level.

It might not seem like much of a difference when looking at the numbers, but it was a realm that was on a different dimension from me.

A realm where one had to complete their own story.

Those who learned magic or martial arts had to create their own ultimate techniques and Unique Magic, and those who raised their levels with Unique Ability like me had to achieve the awakening of their Unique Ability.

Less than 200 people in all of Terra.

It might be a realm that I could never reach even if I trained for the rest of my life.

This world is gradually changing from the original, and I am also living in a different way from the original.

As unpredictable situations increase, I knew better than anyone that there would come a moment when I couldn’t survive unless I became stronger.

But to forbid the Evil God’s power until level 7, which might not even come?

…But.

I quietly looked at Dorothy.

My master’s expression seemed as calm as usual, but deep down, there was definite concern and warning.

Could I say ‘I don’t want to’ in front of her face?

I tried to open my mouth, but eventually closed it tightly.

“…Okay. If that’s what Master wants.”

It was a lie.

An answer that flowed out so lightly that even I felt awkward.

Dorothy looked at my face for a moment and sighed.

“……There’s no way someone like you would listen so easily.”

As expected, she didn’t believe me.

But she didn’t delve any deeper.

My master just let it go.

I quietly avoided her gaze.

An awkward silence hung in the air.

Then, I suddenly looked up at Dorothy with a thought that came to mind.

“…Are you okay, Master?”

I quietly continued to speak to her.

“You weren’t supposed to leave the academy.”

Dorothy’s expression twisted slightly.

“You broke the Geass to save me.”

I looked straight at her.

After the war between the gods and transcendents, the world became unstable.

Just the fact that transcendents were staying in Terra was enough to drive the world to the brink of collapse.

There are currently only three transcendents in Terra.

The administrator of the System Management Bureau, the Evil God, and my master.

It was the limit that Terra could accept.

Even that was not enough, so they had to place a Geass through a deal with the scales in the Akashic Records.

The Geass placed on her was…

‘Do not leave the academy.’

Dorothy didn’t say anything.

She just looked at me for a moment,

Smiled bitterly, and slowly replied.

“Don’t worry about me. It’s just that the future that was supposed to come was brought forward a little.”

The future that was supposed to come.

There was no need to ask what that meant.

In the original story, she leaves Terra and returns to the Spirit Realm.

Because of someone’s attack.

And like the great witch she is, my master also knew that future.

Even that she couldn’t change it.

Knowing that she was someone who would leave someday, the fact that it was brought forward by my own hands was even more terrible.

I quietly lowered my head.

I laughed at myself, wondering what was so new about it now.

My life was always like that.

Even before I came here.

I lost my family in my previous life,

And here, the people in the mansion who were close to me.

If I get close, those people end up unhappy.

Then what about Dorothy?

Even my master, who is protecting me right now?

A 10-level magician.

As far as I know, the strongest and most perfect being.

Even such a person will eventually… if I’m by her side…

I realized it now.

I am…

Knock. Knock.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door.

I reflexively looked at Dorothy.

‘Who is it?’

Dorothy quietly sighed and gestured towards the door.

“Come in.”

The door slowly opened.

Creak—

And, one person revealed themselves beyond the threshold.

‘Bella?’

I tensed up instantly.

Bella closed the door and slowly walked into the room.

Why?

The fact that she was here didn’t make sense.

Could it be…?

“You left her memories intact?”

I thought she had erased her memories, of course.

As long as Bella knew about me, not only she but also my plans would be in danger.

“It’s okay. I’ve already checked everything. She’s safe.”

“That’s… that’s not the problem.”

The people involved with me always became unhappy.

Even Dorothy, a transcendent, couldn’t escape my curse.

Then would she be any different?

Absolutely not.

I couldn’t look straight at Bella.

“…If you get involved with someone like me, Senior will be in danger too.”

My voice trembled, but it contained honest emotion.

“So, it’s better to erase your memories now…”

“That’s absurd.”

Bella’s sharp voice cut me off.

She crossed her arms and frowned slightly.

“I am a knight.”

And she said firmly.

“Even if there is any threat, if you are a knight.”

She looked straight into my eyes and continued.

“You have the right to choose your own battlefield.”

When I met her unwavering gaze, I realized.

No matter what I said, she wouldn’t waver.

Pfft-

A small laugh spread through the brief silence.

I slowly turned my gaze away from Bella.

Dorothy looked back and forth between the two of us, then shook her head lightly and raised the corners of her lips.

“Okay, okay. You two must have something to talk about.”

“Master?”

I called out to her, but Dorothy was already turning around.

“Then I’ll leave you two alone.”

And she walked towards the door very naturally.

“Make sure you two talk enough.”

“Wait, wait a minute—!”

The moment I tried to reach out—

Click.

The door closed.

She really left the room, leaving me alone with Bella.

I looked at the door with a flustered face and slowly turned my head.

Bella bit her lip and looked at me.

She looked angry, but somehow also pitiful.

Author’s Note

To think that someone would sponsor 200 coins for a novel like this…

Thank you so much!!!

I will work harder!

But… I will have to take a break on Tuesday and Wednesday due to real-life issues.

I’m sorry… I’ll be back on Thursday!!!