Ch.202Foreshadowing (2)

Lezia, who had been giving off a gloomy aura for a while.

She was always timid by nature, but recently, she had become so dreary that she reminded one of dark storm clouds.

I had some idea why. She had mentioned it directly herself.

Both internally and externally, it must be a difficult time for her as the protagonist.

That’s why I arranged to have a private conversation with Lezia.

“Young Master… I came because you suddenly asked to meet, just the two of us.”

“Welcome, Miss Lezia. I simply wanted to have a casual chat. Was that presumptuous of me?”

“N-no, not at all! It was just unexpected, and, well, talking with you is actually quite… pleasant.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

I smiled faintly.

It’s naturally the role of someone like me to care for the mental well-being of main and supporting characters.

We walked through the academy streets, exchanging various bits of small talk.

After accumulating a few trivial exchanges, I finally eased into the main topic.

“Miss Lezia. Have you been troubled by something lately?”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“Well, your complexion has been noticeably darker recently.”

“Was it that obvious? I tried my best to hide it…”

“The others seem to have noticed too. We’re not just casual acquaintances, after all.”

“……”

Had I hit the mark?

Lezia bit her lip briefly.

Behind her trembling green eyes, I could see deep-seated worries.

The girl, who seemed lost in thought, soon parted her lips.

And opened up about the shadow that was tormenting her.

“Sometimes… I feel so inadequate.”

Hunched shoulders.

The awkward protagonist confesses her own weakness.

“Everyone else is growing… but I feel like I’m standing still, constantly falling behind.”

Perhaps it was a kind of inferiority complex.

Amelia, who pioneered the realm of her unique magic.

Irene, who broke through barriers and became a star in the night sky.

Sharlotte, regarded as the strongest domain artist of the modern era.

And the recently joined Neria, who was blessed by the stars from birth.

With such monsters by her side, it was inevitable that she would compare herself to them.

“I wanted to be helpful to you too, Young Master. I wanted to become someone who could lend strength to others, just as you’ve done for me. It might be presumptuous of me to say…”

There are generally two types of inferiority complexes.

One turns its thorns outward toward others, while the other whips inward at oneself.

In Lezia’s case, she was clearly the latter. She was born with a snow-white inner self.

The protruding stone was not brave enough to harm others.

She was only harsh to herself.

“But I’m always lacking.”

I listened to her lament without saying much.

Objectively speaking, Lezia was quite strong.

It was just that some around her were on an entirely different level, but she herself was still counted among the strongest in the academy.

She could easily overpower ordinary faculty members. She was among the top ten forces I could deploy in an emergency. Among her peers, she was unmatched.

Currently, Lezia’s power was comparable to that of Sharlotte, who was previously considered the strongest.

‘Lezia, Irene.’

Excluding those two who were in a league of their own, there was no one in the academy who could match the girl.

Moreover, compared to the original story, Lezia was growing at a terrifying pace.

Originally, she shouldn’t have been able to defeat professors or even mid-to-upper tier students at this point.

But now, she had not only reached the top but was at a level where she could gaze up at the world beyond the stars.

From others’ perspectives, even these laments might sound like deception.

‘Still.’

I understood.

Despite achieving such steep growth, the reason she remained anxious was…

“You’re afraid, Miss Lezia.”

“……”

It must be because of the memory of almost losing someone due to her own inadequacy.

Specifically, when the cultists attempted to kidnap her.

Irene had rushed in to stop them, but as a result, fell into a comatose state.

It could have easily become an irreversible tragedy. It certainly would have been if not for me.

That seems to have remained as trauma for Lezia.

-Y-Young Master! Irene…!

-I’m sorry… It’s because I was inadequate…

-I thought both of you might, *sob*… I was so scared…

-Thank you for coming back safely, *sniff*, th-thank you.

It must have been a heavy burden for the fragile protagonist.

She probably thought that if she had been stronger, if she had shone brighter, no one would have gotten hurt.

She likely blamed herself, thinking everything was her fault. That was just the kind of person Lezia was.

Similarly, the pink-haired girl timidly nods her head.

A gloomy light in her pupils.

“Irene was in danger because of me. You were too, Young Master.”

“As I said before, it wasn’t your fault, Miss Lezia.”

“I… just didn’t want to make excuses.”

“I think that’s an admirable attitude.”

How could someone be so fragile yet so upright?

Weak enough to break countless times, yet possessing the will to reinforce herself with steel.

Though not yet complete, she was the protagonist I admired.

A faint smile blooms on my lips.

And then I murmur softly.

“You’ll certainly do well.”

To the sunlight hidden behind the dark clouds.

To my protagonist who may be downcast now but will soon shine.

“Because that’s the kind of person you are, Miss Lezia.”

I recalled a scene from the original story.

In the center of a world burning with blood-red flames, a girl descending with a pure white light.

Pink hair fluttering in the wind, fresh green light shimmering in her pupils.

Wings sprouting from her back like an angel. This was none other than Lezia’s final awakened form.

The chorus descending with starlight erased the darkness that had seeped into the earth.

It erased despair and delivered carefully folded hope.

[I won’t… leave you alone anymore.]

[Let’s go back together. To the home where everyone is waiting.]

[To a place where it’s okay not to be alone.]

The scene I considered the absolute best in the original work.

It was the moment that convinced everyone why Lezia was the “protagonist.”

Despite her frustratingly slow growth rate, there was a reason her fan base was solid.

As much as she was clumsy at the beginning, as much as her growth was slow, the emotion that returned at the end was overwhelming.

“I believe in you.”

Lezia was destined to reach the pinnacle.

Irene, Neria… she would become stronger than anyone could compare.

After all, in creative works, the protagonist is meant to be the one who leads the world.

The one who finds light amidst all unreasonableness. The one who doesn’t give up even when colors fade.

That was the protagonist I saw.

That was you, as I saw you.

“So, Miss Lezia, please believe in yourself too.”

But.

In a way, I didn’t want that future.

I wished you could remain a child forever.

‘The condition for Lezia’s awakening is… the death of someone dear.’

A character she had grown close to, or a friend she was emotionally attached to.

Only after losing one of them would the girl awaken her latent essence.

It was beautiful, but at the same time, a cruel price to pay.

I wished you wouldn’t have to suffer.

Even knowing it was impossible.

“That you can do it yourself.”

“But what if… what if I still can’t?”

“That’s okay too. Because I’ll be by your side, Miss Lezia.”

“……”

I stroke her pink hair.

Her scent, reminiscent of spring, subtly colors the tip of my nose.

Then I whisper.

“Don’t be afraid. No matter what mistakes you make, no matter what failures you encounter… I’ll be supporting your back from behind.”

Lezia didn’t answer.

She just stared up at me, lost in thought.

In response, I show her a mischievous smile.

With my hand that has gently lowered, I take her hand.

“Hehe.”

The ring finger where I once placed a ring.

I slowly caress it.

The ring that once protected her and crumbled to dust.

As I feel the emptiness, Lezia mutters.

It was a response that clearly revealed her distress.

“I-I’m sorry. I broke the ring…”

“It’s alright. That’s what it was meant for in the first place.”

“Still… since it was a gift from you, Young Master, I wanted to treasure it.”

“I’ll give you a new one later. Someday when we come of age.”

“W-what…?”

Lezia is flustered, as expected.

Her cheeks gradually flush.

“D-does that mean…?”

“Do you dislike the idea?”

Her face reddens in real-time.

Heat rises to her head.

Driven by embarrassment, even her eyes were moist.

After stammering a few times, the girl soon bows her head deeply and answers.

With her slender fingers, she timidly grips my sleeve.

“P-please do…”

“Hehe. It seems I’ve made you look forward to it.”

A fresh breeze blows.

We were walking side by side through the academy streets.

I gazed gently at you, filled with warmth.

At you, whose dark clouds had somewhat lifted, making you appear brighter.

‘Yes.’

I wanted you to shine like that.

Without being tainted by the night, maintaining your eternal innocence.

***

Feeble child.

Things won’t go as you wish.

The world has already been caught in an irreversible tide.

In the future where I step, no light will exist.

So resign yourself. Despair, wail, and paint bitter regret.

You are merely a doll that has strayed from fate.

Not even a single teardrop is yours to claim.

“■■■■.”

I’m coming to meet you.