Chapter 157

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“…The surgery results aren’t good?”

Angelica’s voice was filled with unmistakable concern.

Eugene’s injuries were just as severe as Alice’s.

No, they were even more severe.

Near-fatal levels of excessive bleeding.

His skull was fractured, and his entire body had been torn apart.

Most serious of all was the loss of his right arm.

Angelica knew what it meant for a swordsman to lose their dominant arm.

The fight against otherworldly monsters has been ongoing for about 300 years, and the prolonged war has dramatically advanced medical technology.

There have been countless supernaturals who lost parts of their bodies during combat, and the technology to aid such Heroes has also evolved over time.

Prosthetics to replace lost limbs were developed long ago.

In fact, there are quite a few Heroes who, after losing limbs, return to the field with prosthetic arms or legs.

However, the compatibility of prosthetics varies from person to person, and they are generally less efficient than natural limbs.

“No, the reattachment surgery was successful.”

The doctor spoke. Despite his heavy tone, his answer was surprisingly positive.

“The amputation was so clean that the surgery itself wasn’t difficult. The cellular tissue, bones, blood vessels, and nerves were all reattached without issue. Now, all that’s left is to monitor his progress.”

“Then why…?”

Why do you look so grim?

Though she didn’t finish her sentence, the doctor seemed to understand her question and nodded slightly.

“It’s just that…”

The doctor furrowed his brow, deepening the wrinkles on his forehead, which bore the marks of time.

“There’s an unresolved question.”

“A question?”

“It’s about Eugene’s recovery speed.”

The doctor adjusted his thick glasses.

His tired eyes were filled with doubt.

“It’s too fast.”

“What?”

“His recovery speed. It’s not that supernaturals haven’t always had fast recovery speeds, but even considering that, his is abnormally fast. At first, I even mistakenly thought Eugene’s supernatural ability was related to recovery.”

Supernaturals develop stronger self-healing abilities as they reach higher levels.

A supernatural who has reached a certain level can recover from serious injuries within a few days without lasting effects.

While they can’t regenerate lost body parts, they can heal most injuries on their own.

Eugene has surpassed the level of a student.

It’s no exaggeration to say he rivals veteran Heroes currently active in the field.

Naturally, his recovery ability would be exceptionally superior… but even considering that, his current recovery speed is hard to comprehend.

“It’s only been a few dozen minutes since the reattachment surgery, yet his right arm is almost fully healed. It’s not comparable to a regeneration-type ability, but it’s almost on par with one.

Wasn’t Eugene’s supernatural ability pyrokinesis? Could it be that his ability isn’t pyrokinesis but some other special type?”

Such regenerative power.

Even a captain-level Hero would struggle to match it.

“Moreover, judging by Alice’s condition, it’s highly likely that the enemy entity the students faced had the power to suppress and worsen recovery. 

In fact, the reattachment surgery shouldn’t have even been possible. The severed right arm should have rotted before he could be brought to the hospital.”

Yet the surgery was successfully performed.

Shortly after the reattachment, it was almost fully healed.

And it’s not just his right arm.

“To be honest, Eugene could be discharged tomorrow without any issues.”

No matter how you look at it, it’s strange. It’s too fast. For such severe injuries, he should have been hospitalized for months at the very least.

“It’s definitely strange.”

Eugene’s rapid recovery is a blessing.

But it’s abnormally fast, and the reason is unknown.

He wasn’t like this the last time he was hospitalized.

Angelica rested her chin on her hand and fell into thought.

Eugene’s ability is pyrokinesis.

The ability to control fire.

It has nothing to do with recovery…

‘Could it be that his ability isn’t just pyrokinesis, but something else hidden?’

Or perhaps something is accelerating his recovery.

It’s all a mystery, but there’s no way to know for now.

Angelica decided to set aside her doubts and simply be grateful for Eugene’s recovery.

Whatever the reason, it’s a relief that her student is recovering without lasting effects.

Amid all the terrible news, it was the one positive piece of information.

◈

Arin sat on a chair in the hospital hallway.

Leaning back against the chair, she stared blankly at the ceiling.

Her focus was blurred.

Was it because her glasses were broken?

No, Arin’s eyesight wasn’t bad.

In fact, it was quite good.

The reason she wore glasses was purely as a psychological limiter to control her supernatural ability.

It had nothing to do with her vision.

So why was her vision so blurry?

Arin let out a heavy sigh, as if exhausted.

Her right arm ached. It was fractured.

Her danger sense had allowed her to avoid most of the danger, but a momentary emotional lapse had led to a small mistake.

Still, it wasn’t a serious injury. It would heal completely within a few days.

‘…It doesn’t even hurt that much.’

Compared to Eugene, who lost an arm, this was nothing.

Arin felt a lump in her throat. Her chest felt heavy. She had just heard about Alice’s condition.

She was in a coma. It was unclear when she would regain consciousness. If she was lucky, she might wake up tomorrow, but she might never wake up. That’s what a coma meant.

“Again…”

This time, I’m the only one unharmed.

Among the friends who were at the scene.

Only she had escaped without significant harm.

Danger sense was always like that.

Her supernatural ability only detected dangers to herself. It was indifferent to the dangers of others. An ability that protected only her.A power that allowed her to remain unharmed while everyone else was injured or killed. 

That was danger sense. Arin hated this ability. She had often wished it was more like her father’s ability.

“Was it the wrong decision?”

Should I have stayed at the scene?

Instead of leaving it to Eugene and Alice.

Should I have fought alongside them then?

The choice she made wasn’t wrong.

Evacuating the people was absolutely necessary.

Because they were evacuated in advance, the damage from the spatial rift was minimized.

But if I had stayed and fought alongside them.

Would things have been different?

Would Eugene have been unharmed? Would Alice have been safe?

Could I have prevented Lucia from… disappearing?

When she first heard the news of Lucia’s disappearance, Arin’s heart sank. She hoped she had misheard. 

She prayed it was a mistake. That there was some misunderstanding. That it was an error. But unfortunately, it wasn’t a mishearing or a mistake. 

Lucia had vanished without a trace. Arin knew what it meant to disappear at the scene of a spatial rift. It was another way of saying ‘death’.

Of course, Lucia’s case was a bit different.

Before Alice lost consciousness.

There’s something she told me.

“She went willingly…”

A hollow laugh escaped me. The woman with the Red Fox Mask. A mysterious woman who reminded me of Astaroth. Lucia followed her, they said. Of her own will. Walking on her own two feet. All to protect Eugene and Alice.

“I should have stopped her.”

When Lucia said she would go to find them.

If I had stopped her, saying it was too dangerous.

I could have prevented this situation.

I could have stopped her from disappearing.

I had the chance. I had the means.

“…”

…But if I had.

If I had held Lucia back.

If she hadn’t followed that woman.

If she hadn’t disappeared.

“…Then what about Eugene and Alice?”

Lucia sacrificed herself so the two of them could survive.

They were pushed to the brink of death, but they managed to cling to life.

If Lucia hadn’t been there, wouldn’t they have been killed on the spot?

“…”

So, was it right not to stop her?

It’s all just hindsight now, after everything is over.

I didn’t know it would turn out like this back then, did I?

Why didn’t I stop her?

Even though I knew it was dangerous.

What should I have done then?

My head throbbed. Even though only my arm was injured, I felt a splitting headache. My stomach churned. 

Feeling a faint sense of nausea, Arin lowered her head. She clenched her mouth shut as if squeezing it. 

Surprisingly, no tears came. It was as if she had cried so much that she had dried up. It was just an empty feeling. I thought I had done well.

I evacuated the people.

I stopped the monsters from leaving the exhibition hall.

I saved many lives.

As a student of the academy, I performed admirably.

I did well, I thought.

Finally, I could be proud of myself.

I thought I had left behind the helplessness of five years ago.

I thought I had finally changed from the past.

But looking back, it seems like nothing has changed.

“I should have… stopped her…”

Arin clenched her teeth.

I should have stopped her. I should have prevented it.

That thought wouldn’t leave me.

Eugene and Alice survived because I let Lucia go.

Even that kind of self-rationalization couldn’t calm my heart.

The emotions boiling inside me felt like they would burst my heart any moment.

At that moment.

When Lucia said she would go to find them.

I wanted to tell her.

That the woman knew her.

That she was looking for her.

That moving carelessly was dangerous.

But I couldn’t say it.

The moment I tried to speak.

My danger sense warned me.

“…Ha.”

The sneer that escaped her lips was filled with disgust.

It was a deep, cold contempt directed at herself.

As if trying to hide her distorted expression, Arin covered her face with her hand.

The voice that came out sounded forced, as if squeezed out.

As if confessing, Arin muttered.

“…Pathetic, really.”

Lucia.

Actually.

I didn’t stop her on purpose.

Even though I knew the woman was looking for her.

I tried to stop her.

But at that moment, my danger sense went off.

I was safer if I let you go.

So.

I hesitated.

I faltered.

I should have said it.

I should have spoken.

Even as I thought that.

I couldn’t do it.

I just watched your back as you left.

For my own safety, I turned a blind eye to my friend’s danger.

By the time I came to my senses, it was already too late.

I wanted to vomit everything inside me right now.

I always acted righteous, pretending to be good and just.

But the reality is this.

Dirty, vile, disgusting.

The outside may shine, but the inside is ugly.

Nothing has changed from five years ago.

In the midst of the Great Calamity.

I turned my back on people asking for help.

Relying on my danger sense, I stayed safe alone.

That endlessly selfish child.

I’m no different.

“I…”

I can’t be like you.

Lucia, how could you do it?

How could you sacrifice yourself like that?

You were always like that. You sacrificed yourself without a moment’s hesitation.

Because of your super regeneration. Because you heal quickly.

That’s not the reason.

Super regeneration doesn’t take away the pain.

Even if I had super regeneration, I could never be like you.

Her radiant golden hair came to mind.

Her beautiful cherry blossom-like eyes appeared.

Her bright, childlike, pure smile flickered before my eyes.

I admired her, and I hated her.

When I looked at her, I felt so filthy in comparison.

You’re too dazzling.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Arin’s hesitation was only for a moment.

A mere moment, but it was all it took for Lucia to leave.

In the end, it was irreversible.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
The price of survival, yet also the most painful.

That being said, could Lucia have unconsciously evolved? Highly doubtful though, considering that it looked like only Eugene was blessed.