Ch.192192. Return (3)

The background changed, and the air was different.

Yet still. All I could see before my eyes was Adel lying on a hospital bed with a respirator.

My body feels so heavy. But it’s not just my body that feels heavy.

“Hey… that bastard…! He’s out! He’s out!”

“You son of a bitch!”

Things keep flying at me from all directions.

Something hit my collarbone, broke, and spilled a viscous liquid. There might be a slight fishy smell.

Cold liquid covered my entire body. If I don’t change clothes quickly because of this ice-cold water, I’ll probably catch a cold.

This time it was a lump of sand that shattered upon impact. That’s somewhat better.

A powder-like substance poured onto my face. Somehow one grain entered my mouth, and it’s extremely salty. When it touched my wounds, I felt a stinging pain.

Then a hard object hit my forehead. Judging by the force and intensity, I’ll probably get a bruise soon.

Ah, I got hit again. In a different spot… I can feel something flowing down near my eye. It was blood.

All sorts of things were hitting my body.

I know I’m a mess. Some of these things were causing bodily harm.

But I didn’t avoid them. Because I couldn’t.

-‘…She’s just unconscious. She’s still alive. So don’t blame yourself too much. And filter what other people say.’

That it’s… not my fault? That I shouldn’t blame myself?

How could that be possible?

It happened because of me. It happened because I failed to subdue Demian early enough.

Unconscious but alive. Unable to function normally.

That can’t be called living.

“My academic life that was in danger due to accumulated warnings—”

“My crime that was reinvestigated thanks to—”

“My child who because of that person—”

“Me who couldn’t even afford a single meal—”

They throw things while stating their reasons.

At this moment, what felt most painful and agonizing wasn’t the objects flying through the air.

The price of failing to protect Adel. That was what hurt the most, what tormented me.

For them, it was an incident where a righteous girl who had extended a helping hand had lost consciousness because of one person.

I must have been their mortal enemy.

“What are you all doing! Stop it right now!”

In front of the sinner, a kind-hearted girl once again stands with her arms spread wide as if to block.

Just from her voice, I can tell she’s furious and breathing heavily.

“I step away for a moment to process the discharge paperwork… What are you all doing? Senior Junon is a patient too, don’t you know?”

And she rebukes those who were connected to the good deeds of the girl named Adel.

“Senior Junon must have had reasons for giving those instructions. As the person who directly rescued Adel, he’s not someone who would act without reason!”

The silver-haired girl standing on the side of justice raises her voice like that.

They seemed momentarily confused, whispering among themselves, as if they had never seen such anger on Renias’s face, which had only shown smiles until now.

But that was only momentary.

“Patient? He’s not a patient, he’s a criminal!!”

“Since we’re on the topic, that guy is at the bottom of the page ranking anyway. He’s never been recognized for his skills or grades.”

“The problem started when a weakling like him went to rescue a hostage. That’s entirely his fault!”

“That’s right, Lady Renias. There was a hostage situation, wasn’t there? But instead of taking proper action, he gave false hope to the Tembris party, and that’s why Miss Adel ended up like that, right?”

The blame converges on one person.

Inappropriate measures, the arrogance of thinking he could handle things alone, and the repeatedly mentioned outcome.

Everyone ends up blaming just one person.

“It’s not Senior’s fault, it’s mine!”

“What? What do you mean…”

“Senior Junon fought with all his might until the end to protect Adel. I arrived there after receiving the signal, but I couldn’t finish the job. Isn’t that all because of my inexperience…?”

No, Renias. The problem isn’t your inexperience…

We need to go back to the root cause of this incident…

“It was my failure… It happened because of my inadequacy…”

She says with a trembling voice, clenching her fists in frustration.

The only one who came to help me was feeling more wronged than I was.

Still, it was fortunate.

“Don’t tell me… you’ve corrupted even this good person with that silver tongue of yours…?!”

“Damn you…! You rotten, despicable bastard…!!”

“What are you all saying? I said it was my fault, so why do you keep blaming Senior Junon…!”

“Noble lies aren’t meant to be used like this.”

“Step aside, Lady Renias. Criminals need punishment. Shouldn’t we take care of that?”

The public is all on her side.

Even without the grand name of the Arcab Party, even without the middle names Posterior and Lantana and their family names.

Just hearing the name Renias, they would immediately conjure an image.

One who punishes those who oppress others with status and power.

A righteous girl who pursues what is right and extends a warm hand to the poor and weak.

A female student who brushes back her silver hair and shows a beautiful smile.

The idol of all citizens living in the principality, and the White Light Magician who defeats numerous magical beasts with her unique magic, the white light.

Even without listing them all, everyone knows that each aspect spreads a tremendously positive influence.

So, no one would blame her. That’s why it’s fortunate.

“Why… WHY! Why won’t anyone believe me when I say it wasn’t the person who was there?!”

“Well, well. It seems this guy has at least a tiny bit of conscience?”

“What… S-Senior? Why are you coming forward! Go back, go back!”

I pass by Renias, who is defending and advocating for me, trying to clear my karma.

No matter how much this pure-hearted girl defends me, this was clearly my oversight, my arrogance, my failure.

No matter what circumstances were hidden, I had to willingly accept this criticism.

‘It’s not the first time.’

It was the same in the past. A resident who collapsed during a march. Soldiers who became exhausted one by one from repeated battles. People who protested after losing family, friends, or lovers.

I was used to receiving such criticism.

What they need is someone to curse and throw stones at, carrying all they’ve lost. Just to release their emotions a little.

“Let go of me, don’t block me and get out of the way!”

“I’m sorry, miss! We can’t let you get hurt!”

“No… no, Senior! Don’t just stand there!”

“Don’t let her go, no matter what.”

“Of course not! What are you even saying?”

Some women wedge themselves between me and Renias, creating distance to prevent any harm from coming to the innocent, kind-hearted girl.

They weren’t wrong. She was innocent.

To accept the fury of the raging residents, I closed my eyes gently.

The stone-throwing would start again. This time, I was prepared to accept it gracefully, as I had undeniable fault.

But.

Someone was pouring out sincere anger from a completely different direction than the front.

“You son of a bitch worse than a dog!!!”

…

Were there more? It seemed likely. Although all of them were people who had received help from Adel, not everyone might have gathered.

Judging by the footsteps getting closer, I might get hurt even more.

The number of people easily exceeded twenty, no, thirty.

But…

‘Why aren’t they throwing anything?’

Something should have been flying at me by now.

Renias had already been separated. There was enough distance and time to continue what they were doing before.

Had my senses become so dull that I couldn’t even tell I was being hit?

…No, that’s not it. I was clearly aware that something had been touching me until just now.

Thwack!

Amidst all this, a rather violent sound suddenly rang out.

It was the sound of something being struck. However, it wasn’t a sensation that reached me.

Wondering if something had happened, I opened my eyes,

“Ugh…”

In front of me, I see a student from another class sprawled on the ground, rubbing his reddened cheek.

That person was hit. Not me.

What’s going on?

“You damn bastards!! Who are you calling a criminal now!!!”

Damn… ‘bastards’?

This place should be full of people with ill feelings toward me. Why is it plural instead of singular?

And… why are there so many people in front of me?

‘What is this?’

Hand in hand.

They formed a circle around me like people playing a traditional Korean circle dance.

***

‘Why, why!’

Why isn’t Senior saying anything? When he could explain everything.

There were a total of three people in the shelter until the rescue team arrived.

If there was someone among those three who knew the details of this incident better than anyone else, it would definitely be Junon.

But… he doesn’t explain.

It’s not an excuse. It’s not a justification. He could proudly explain what he knows.

He was injured so badly that even after sleeping for four full days, he hadn’t recovered from fighting someone who was no different from a magical beast.

He fought tirelessly to save Adel, who had been taken hostage.

That’s not all.

If the marking-type explosives planted throughout the Dubevan had gone off, it wouldn’t have been strange if everyone who went to rescue the hostages had died.

It was also thanks to Junon that they gained time to deal with the source that would have turned the entire building into a cave in Demian’s meticulously planned hostage situation.

The distribution of personnel was truly precise in dealing not only with the hostages but also with the spiritualized magical beasts and the berserk magical beasts affected by the Splash Out.

That’s why they were able to arrive. That’s why the number of victims didn’t increase.

If there was one mistake in this operation, as I’ve been shouting all along.

It wasn’t Senior’s problem, but my own mistake.

‘If you all won’t let go.’

Sssss-

‘I’ll break free by force if I have to.’

I had hoped to never reach a situation where I would threaten people with magic.

My uncles and aunts, they all firmly instructed that one should never misuse power.

Mom and Dad would never want this either.

But I couldn’t stand it anymore.

I couldn’t watch as the senior who had suffered more than anyone, who had pushed himself to the limit, was being treated as a criminal despite his efforts.

To prevent the person who should be the happiest from being engulfed in misfortune after taking on everything.

And to bury this contradictory situation.

The righteous girl draws her sword against the citizens who believe only what they see and specify a target for their resentment.

Without hesitation, she draws out her magic, her most powerful sword.

It was only a matter of time before the girl who had been kind to everyone would snap like an unbridled horse, unable to tolerate the injustice before her eyes.

But this distorted scene didn’t provoke anger only in the silver-haired girl.

“You son of a bitch worse than a dog!!!”

Thwack!

“Ugh…”

The person who was at the forefront, grabbing Junon’s collar to throw a punch, rolls on the ground.

And then.

“You damn bastards!! Who are you calling a criminal now!!!”

Step, step.

They take their positions, joining hands as if to surround Junon.

This strange scene comes into Renias’s view as well.

And she immediately realizes.

‘These people are…’

All people whom Junon had saved.