Chapter 0: Prologue

It’s finally over.

Srrreuk…

The Demon King Belzegor’s massive body crumbled into dust.

The suffocating demonic energy lifted, and a faint light seeped into the ruined Demon King’s castle.

Far in the distance, the hero she loved, Rian, was smiling brightly, holding the Holy Sword Elysium aloft.

“We did it!”

“We finally saved the world!”

“Everyone worked so hard!”

“Rian!”

The mage, Irene, smiled brightly and tried to approach Rian.

She wanted to share this joy by his side.

However, someone else was a step faster than her.

“Hero~!”

Saint Sera, who had approached unnoticed, threw her slender body into Rian’s arms with a sudden embrace.

“Se, Sera?”

Rian seemed slightly flustered, but he didn’t push Sera away, his face faintly blushing as if he didn’t dislike it.

“You truly, truly went through so much!”

“Hero…”

“Sera…”

Naturally, their faces drew closer, as if their lips might touch at any moment.

At that, Irene unknowingly turned her head away sharply.

Her heart felt like it was turning cold.

A throbbing pain pierced her chest.

‘Why… why Sera?’

‘Am I not good enough?’

‘No, that can’t be right.’

‘I love Rian more than anyone…’

Irene’s vision blurred with a mixture of resentment and sorrow.

Then, a familiar silhouette entered the corner of her vision.

A man, covered in dust, leaning against a wall and quietly catching his breath.

‘Logan…’

The person who had always been by her side since she was young.

The person who took her in when she was struggling after losing her parents, and supported her, never shying away from difficult tasks.

It was also he who helped her enter the Mage Tower so she could become a mage and a member of the hero’s party.

If it was him, who always looked only at her, he would surely comfort her in this pain.

“Logan…..”

Irene slowly approached Logan, seeking comfort.

And she carefully reached out her hand to his arm.

However.

Thwack!

“…!?”

Her hand was roughly swatted away.

In this completely unexpected situation, Irene froze without realizing it.

What in the world was happening?

‘He swatted it away?’

‘Logan…?’

Into her ears, as she stood there dazed and confused.

“Ah, sorry.”

“It was just a habit, I didn’t mean to…”

Logan’s voice, soft as usual, reached her.

‘Of course.’

‘He must have been on guard against a possible attack from the Demon King’s remaining forces and reacted instinctively.’

With that thought, Irene forced a gentle smile and tried to speak again.

“Uh, yes…”

“No, it’s okay….”

However, she couldn’t finish her sentence.

Because it wasn’t the affectionate and warm gaze that was always directed at her—

Instead, he was looking at her with a cold, emotionless gaze, as if she were a complete stranger.