Chapter 64

Ｒｅad o‍ｎ Kａｔ&R;​e​αdınĝＣafε

How can I bring the two of them together?

Eugene and Alice.

The protagonist and the main heroine.

“The Dawn of the Sword” is a story centered around Eugene.

Of course it is. Eugene is the protagonist. If he wasn’t the main lead, he’d have been replaced by now.

The original wasn’t an exceptionally long novel.

It was serialized as a web novel, but in print terms, it spanned roughly four volumes.

Interestingly, the atmosphere of the story’s first half was drastically different from its latter half.

Volumes 1 and 2, covering Eugene’s first year, were typical academy fare.

A golden generation brimming with talent but lacking experience faces trials and tribulations while growing at an academy. It’s the classic school-life tale.

Romance, conflicts, battles against monsters, and opposition to villainous schemes unfolded in a world where the ordinary and extraordinary intertwined.

Though not always peaceful, the tone was generally lighthearted and dynamic.

The key characters in “The Dawn of the Sword” each carried emotional scars.

Eugene bore guilt over a sister he couldn’t protect. Alice (Frey) suffered the pain of abuse left by a stepmother. Arin struggled with obsessive guilt for abandoning everyone during the Great Catastrophe to survive alone. Anastasia and Leo similarly dealt with their own traumas.

These wounded individuals found solace in one another, shedding their past burdens and growing into adulthood—this formed the narrative of the first half.

However, the tone shifted as the latter half began.

Winter break after the second semester.

A snowy day.

The arrival of the first Devil.

The descent of Astaroth.

Up until then, it was a coming-of-age academy tale, but from that moment, the genre flipped into full-blown apocalypse.

An impending crisis of destruction loomed suddenly.

The unparalleled might of the Devils.

The resurgence of the Great Catastrophe.

The swarms of monsters falling like a rain of despair.

Countless heroes perished. Students sacrificed themselves. Society collapsed, and systems disintegrated.

The peace of the earlier chapters felt like a lie as everything was consumed by fire.

This shift polarized readers when “The Dawn of the Sword” was serialized.

The abrupt 180-degree tonal shift, sidelining almost all characters except the Celestial Corps captains and the golden generation, drew heavy criticism.

The minimum threshold to contend with the Devils was captain-class strength, leaving anyone below that level irrelevant. It was a bitter fate for the powerless. Their appearances were fleeting at best, and even then, they seldom contributed meaningfully.

A grim tale of despair.

The desperate struggle of heroes.

The sprouting of hope amidst the chaos.

Ultimately, even the golden generation and the captains fell, leading to Eugene’s second awakening, surpassing even the realm of “one close to a god”.

The one who transcends godhood.

The ultimate aspiration sought by the Four Seasons Deities who granted humanity supernatural abilities.

That day, a new season was born.

But Eugene’s triumph wasn’t his alone.

It was all about love.

Eugene’s desperate desire to protect his beloved triggered the miracle.

Eugene’s pure love for Alice, and Alice’s unwavering devotion to Eugene, turned him into the savior.

That’s why the two must fall in love.

Otherwise, the world’s doomed, isn’t it?

If Eugene doesn’t awaken as the savior, everyone will perish.

With Astaroth already making an appearance, the clock is ticking.

Unless Eugene and Alice start loving each other soon, things will get messy.

From Astaroth’s comments, it seems prior iterations ended with Eugene awakening and humanity claiming victory, but who knows if that’ll happen this time? The Devils surely wouldn’t keep losing without devising a strategy. There’s no telling why they’re currently leaving Eugene, the “chosen one”, alone, but perhaps that’s part of their plan too.

Whoa, thinking back, I’ve caused a massive mess.

What was I thinking, interrupting Alice and Eugene’s first meeting?

Even if it was unintentional, I’ve created a disaster without realizing it.

I can’t let this slide.

I need to fix this somehow…

But how?

Alice’s personality means pushing too hard would only make her withdraw.

Right now, Alice has no particular affection for Eugene. Or perhaps she does? Either way, it’s probably nothing more than casual interest in a classmate.

Eugene, on the other hand, is more likely to be aware of Alice. Eugene’s trauma—the guilt of failing to protect his sister—and Alice’s resemblance to his late sister mean he likely projects his feelings onto her, harboring some affection.

If I can leverage this, I might be able to steer things in the right direction…

“Lu… Lucia…”

A tug at my sleeve broke my train of thought.

On the way to school.

Having left early, there weren’t many students around.

Was my dazed expression that odd?

Alice tugged my sleeve and spoke.

“Wh-What are you th-th-thinking about so… so int-intensely…?”

Though her words stuttered, her pronunciation was clearer than before.

This was one of the changes in Alice.

She used to stutter so much that she carried paper and pen to communicate. Now, despite the stammer, she expressed herself verbally.

She was trying.

Trying to Change, Trying to Be Different

Alice was trying to overcome her struggles.

She couldn’t remain silent forever and was now determined to face her difficulties head-on.

If this change was inspired by Eugene, it would’ve been even better.

Still, it was a joy to witness, regardless of the reason.

Unable to hide my pride, I clasped Alice’s hand in mine.

“What can I do to make Alice happier?”

“W-What are you s-saying?!”

Alice’s hand was small and soft.

It didn’t have the roughness of someone hardened by training. She hadn’t trained long enough to develop calluses yet.

Hopefully, her hands could stay like this—childlike and delicate. Was that too much to hope for?

“I mean it. I want Alice to be happy.”

“Ah… ahh…”

Alice fidgeted, her face flushing red.

She seemed embarrassed, but she didn’t pull her hand away.

I wasn’t lying, and I wasn’t saying it as empty flattery either.

I sincerely wanted Alice to be happy.

When Alice became Eugene’s lover, she was the happiest person in the world.

She let go of her unfortunate past, overcame her weaknesses, and promised a future with the man she loved.

That man, Eugene, was simple, kind, and perhaps a bit naive—but he loved Alice wholeheartedly, above all else.

Honestly, what could be happier than that?

Just wait a little longer, Alice.

I’ll make sure you find your happiness!

And as for repayment… hmm, oh, I know.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a dog?

I hear Golden Retrievers are so gentle.

Woof woof.

◈

Clatter.

The sound of the door opening echoed quietly.

Since there weren’t many students in class yet, the noise wasn’t loud, but it was enough to disturb the silence.

Although Alice had distanced herself from books, there was still a time she reserved for reading.

The few minutes before classes began after arriving at school.

That brief window was the only time Alice read.

Watching Alice eagerly turn the pages, I couldn’t help but smile. Then, I turned toward the sound.

Standing in the doorway was a boy with jet-black hair, as dark as obsidian.

His piercing blue eyes, like the clear sky, scanned the classroom.

Eugene stood there, hesitant, as if burdened by the gazes that naturally turned toward him.

Eugene’s recent achievements had made him well-known.

Hardly anyone at the academy didn’t know Eugene now.

The entire school, not just the first-years, had heard about Class A’s field training.

Eugene’s feats during that time were still a hot topic.

He must have drawn a lot of attention on his way to school.

Eugene didn’t like excessive attention, but it couldn’t be helped.

Should I give him a little nudge to relax?

I rose from my seat and walked over to him.

Honestly, I wished Alice could play this role, but that was still too far beyond her current abilities.

Maybe next time.

“Hi, Eugene.”

I greeted him with a bright smile.

After a brief hesitation, Eugene replied.

“Oh, hi, Lucia.”

“You’re out of the hospital? How are you feeling? Are you okay now?”

“Thanks for worrying about me. Everything’s healed, and I’m completely fine.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that.”

“……”

What’s this?

Eugene’s expression seemed oddly stiff.

His face looked slightly red, and a sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead.

He looked like someone standing under the blazing summer sun.

“You don’t look so good. Are you still uncomfortable?”

“No, no! I’m fine. I told you, I’m all better now.”

“Really? But your face looks a little red…”

You don’t look fine at all.

I raised the back of my hand to his forehead.

Whoa, it’s burning up.

His temperature was way too high for a normal human.

“You’re burning up! Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want me to take you to the infirmary?”

Supernaturals weren’t immune to common illnesses.

They might be extraordinary, but they were still human.

If their bodies were weakened or injured, they could still get sick.

Since Eugene came to school today, he was probably discharged just yesterday.

It wouldn’t be surprising if he wasn’t fully recovered yet.

“Ah, no. It’s nothing to worry about. I’ve been training my abilities since early this morning, moving around a lot, so I guess I haven’t cooled down yet.”

“Oh, I see. If it’s just that, then good.”

I accepted his explanation.

So that’s what it was.

Eugene was a tireless hard worker.

Though he was naturally gifted, it was his effort that allowed him to realize his potential.

The so-called hard working genius.

Even after being discharged yesterday, he wouldn’t have skipped his training.

He probably woke up before dawn to practice his swordsmanship.

It’s easy to say, but waking up early every single day is no simple task.

I withdrew my hand from his forehead and spoke sincerely.

“Training from dawn? You’re so diligent, Eugene.”

“Uh, yeah…”

That’s the protagonist for you—different from the rest from the very beginning.

A natural genius who never slacked and always strived to improve.

“Wow, that’s amazing. I should follow your example.”

Lucia, as a heroine, couldn’t afford to lag behind.

Especially since she was one of the weaker members of the golden generation.

Compared to the average student, she was undoubtedly extraordinary.

Without the golden generation, becoming the top of the first-years wouldn’t have been difficult.

Super regeneration was an incredible supernatural ability, and Lucia herself was an overflowing bundle of talent.

The problem was the closed league of geniuses she was stuck in.

A genius shines among ordinary people; among other geniuses, they’re just average.

And even among geniuses, there are always those who outshine the rest.

“I’ve been slacking off a bit lately… but alright, time to refocus and get back to basics!”

It wasn’t fair to blame Alice, but honestly, she was a big part of it.

She kept visiting me all the time, stealing away my personal hours.

No time to practice self-healing!

No time to train my super regeneration!

I slapped my cheeks lightly to reinvigorate my resolve.

Let’s quickly set Alice up with Eugene.

It might be a little bittersweet to see Alice cherish someone more than me, but it had to be done.

Once Alice and Eugene were together, she wouldn’t rely on me as much, giving me back my personal time.

Then I could focus entirely on honing my super regeneration.

“Oh, sorry. I’ve been keeping you standing in the doorway. Come on in.”

Eugene was still standing in the exact spot where he’d first opened the classroom door.

We couldn’t just keep chatting by the entrance, so I stepped aside to let him pass.

“……?”

Yet, Eugene didn’t move. He just stood there, looking hesitant as if he had something to say.

His expression reminded me of Alice—awkwardly dithering like she always did.

What’s this about? Does he have something to tell me?

That uncertain look on his face… Oh!

I clapped my hands without thinking.

There was only one reason Eugene would be hesitating like this.

“Oh! I see.”

“Huh? See what?”

“It’s about that, right? You must’ve had plenty of time to think while you were in the hospital.”

No use dodging this—Lucia’s already figured it out!

“You’ve decided, haven’t you? On your wish.”

“…What?”

I stepped closer to Eugene, leaning in to whisper.

But, because of our height difference, my lips couldn’t quite reach his ear.

Standing on tiptoes, I stretched to make up for the gap. It was barely enough, but I managed.

Would it hurt for him to lean down a bit? It’d make this so much easier.

Hmm, I’ll need to educate him about this later.

If my height difference with Eugene was tricky, Alice’s would be even more of a challenge.

Men should bend their knees a little when a girl stands on tiptoes to talk!

No matter how they feel inside, I’m still a girl here, you know?

“What is it? Tell me. I told you I’d grant whatever you ask, so don’t feel pressured.”

I lowered my voice, ensuring no one else could hear.

My breath brushed against Eugene’s ear, and he shivered slightly, as if it tickled.

I waited patiently for his response… but Eugene remained silent, lips firmly pressed together.

Was it just me, or had his face turned even redder?

How hard had he been training this morning?

He’d just been discharged, yet he must’ve overworked himself again.

Was he feeling unwell, or… could it be because I was whispering to him?

Haha, no way. This is Eugene we’re talking about.

Even when the original Lucia threw herself at him with all her might, he didn’t falter.

There’s no way he’d be flustered over something like this.

Maybe my voice was too soft for him to hear?

Or perhaps…

“Is it a wish that’s hard to say? Or is it that you don’t want to say it here?”

I glanced around.

This was the classroom, after all—not exactly a private setting.

It would make sense if he felt awkward discussing his wish here.

Still, knowing Eugene’s kind and earnest nature, his wish would probably be something small and modest.

Wait, was he hesitating because…

Could it be a wish about getting closer to Alice?

Eugene was clearly curious about her, and since I was close to Alice, he might see this as his chance.

Hmm, that’d be a bit disappointing.

This wish wasn’t just a throwaway promise.

It was a genuine opportunity.

A chance to ask for anything and make it come true.

He could even say, “Be my servant forever.” and I’d have no choice but to agree.

Sure, it would be a verbal agreement, but this wish was absolute.

Yes, absolute.

If he didn’t have that level of resolve, I wouldn’t have offered in the first place.

Hehe, though Eugene was as kind hearted as Alice, so I doubted he’d ever ask for such a thing.

“Then tell me later, okay? Promise?”

“…Alright.”

Why was he sweating so much?

Was it really that hot?

For someone who handled fire, Eugene sweating from the heat was quite something.

I wiped the sweat from his forehead with my sleeve and gave him a playful smile.

More students were starting to trickle into the classroom, and time had already flown by.

I waved to Eugene before returning to my seat.

Alice was no longer reading.

Instead, she was staring at me.

Her face was shadowed, her gaze a little too intense.

For a second, I almost mistook her for Frey.

“Alice? What’s wrong?”

“…Ah, n-no.”

Her stammering confirmed it was indeed Alice.

With a soft thump, she closed her book, seemingly losing interest in reading altogether.

She glared over my shoulder, her gaze so heated that I instinctively turned to see what she was looking at.

But before I could, Alice gently pulled me into her embrace.

This kind of affection was nothing new, so I naturally embraced Alice back, patting her gently on the back.

It seemed she was craving warmth.

Alice was someone whose outward appearance matched her inner self—she had never really grown, neither in body nor in heart. She was a child who longed for human warmth.

Her biological mother had passed away so early that she barely remembered her, and her stepmother had been… well, let’s just say she hadn’t been ideal. Frey was around, but being the same person, he couldn’t offer her the comfort of an embrace.

Perhaps Alice was seeking the maternal affection she’d never had through me. Maybe that’s why she clung to me so often.

If that was the case, I should hold her as much as I could while I still had the chance!

Once she starts dating Eugene, there won’t be many opportunities for me to hold her like this anymore!

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):

Lucia is clueless.

But she’s still a good girl.

She tries hard in her own way, so I praise her a lot!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
It’s 2v1, Eugene, give it up. You won’t wi—o-ohh, he awakened again.