Chapter 66: I’m not a savior!

Thump.

Thump-thump.

Yoo Shina found it hard to collect herself amidst a pounding heart she had never experienced in her entire 20 years of life.

‘He, he, he called me, a p-princess······?’

The shameless outfit was forcibly put on her by The Prankster, who demanded she dance for him.

The girl, who had always worn only comfortable clothes, was already mortified by the fact that she was forced to wear such an outfit by a specter’s command.

The strangely low-cut chest and exposed leg line made her so embarrassed that she truly wanted to bite her tongue off and die.

But why?

[Because of the Princess.]

The moment the man in a sleek black suit and white mask, Phantom, a Calamity-grade specter, called her a princess,

‘I thought such a feminine outfit would never suit me··· but in your eyes, I look like a princess······?’

The girl secretly began to like the dress.

Even though she was a strong-willed girl who had learned various forms of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts since childhood, she was still a young, fresh 20-year-old.

Perhaps precisely because of how she had grown up, now that her girlish heart had begun to burst forth, she found herself uncontrollably twisting her body and indulging in all sorts of fantasies.

‘I, I, I just held Phantom’s h-hand······!’

Yoo Shina recalled the warmth of his hand still lingering on hers.

He was surely a specter.

A being from a dimension incomprehensible to humans.

‘It was warm··· just like a normal person······.’

And when she held Phantom’s hand, his gaze had slowly swept across her face, then her chest, waistline, and legs.

His gaze, which lingered particularly long on her chest, had initially struck her as odd.

‘Now I understand why······.’

The jet-black aura emanating from him felt like a sharp wind.

It didn’t actually cut her skin, but every time it brushed past, an inexplicable chill caused her body to tremble involuntarily.

‘Phantom was worried about precisely that.

Seeing how much bare skin was exposed by my outfit··· he was wondering if I would be afraid when he unleashed his power···.’

Furthermore, even though he possessed the power to instantly defeat The Prankster, he patiently waited until the girl came onto the stage and took his hand.

He had waited for her to come to his side, knowing that if he recklessly unleashed his power, The Prankster might harm her.

As Yoo Shina realized that all of Phantom’s small actions were for her, her eyes welled up slightly with tears.

‘Old man··· my grandfather said Phantom was nothing but a cruel specter··· but he’s not at all, from what I can see.

His dark, deep eyes were calm and filled with concern instead······.’

With such immense power, how could he show such consideration for a frail human and pitiable girl like herself?

‘Is he truly a specter······ no, what even *is* a specter in the first place?

It’s just a blanket term for beings that humans can’t understand, isn’t it?

Phantom was classified as a specter, but he has never harmed a human, nor has he created any underworlds or rules.’

As Yoo Shina’s thoughts reached that point, a word she remembered from the data her grandfather had shown her about Phantom came to mind.

《Savior》

The title Tsuki had used to call Phantom during the Eclipse Incident.

‘At first, I dismissed it as an insignificant word, but thinking about it now··· that word, Savior, might actually······!’

Just as specters appeared on the ‘Day of Genesis’ when the sky split open, intending to kill and harm humanity, perhaps there were also beings diametrically opposed to them, beings who crossed over to protect humanity?

The sole being who appeared to ‘save’ humanity from specters, that must be···.

“Phantom, you’re not a specter···! You were a Savior···! You were a being who crossed over to rescue humanity from specters, and we’ve been mistaken all this time······.”

The man, Phantom, who continued his lonely struggle for humanity even though no one recognized him.

As soon as Yoo Shina realized his noble mission and sacrifice, transparent tears streamed from her eyes.

“You’ve been silently walking this solitary path for us, even while being misunderstood as a specter······.”

Phantom showed no particular reaction even after hearing the girl’s words.

But Yoo Shina, seeing his black eyes through the white mask, felt as if he was saying this:

–[I am not lonely.

This is merely my karma.

It is natural to save you.]

‘I need to tell my grandfather immediately.

That Phantom··· he’s not a specter.

I don’t know if God exists, but if He does, then Phantom is the Savior God sent for humanity···!’

As if having made a decision, Yoo Shina took a step closer to Phantom and knelt before him.

“Thank you for saving me··· Savior-nim···!”

****

Why am I standing here, in the middle of the B1 stage, wearing a cheap suit and a chuunibyou mask?

‘I thought this outfit was cool when I was a kid··· but now that I’m wearing it, I feel like dying from embarrassment···.’

And why is the woman in front of me staring at me with such sparkling eyes?

‘Of course, it’s true I came to save you guys··· but isn’t that a bit too much of a worshipful expression?’

Is it that Savior meta again?

I’ve been mistaken so often now that I’m used to it, so used to it.

‘Well··· it seems the specter is gone, so I just need to leave quietly, right?

Notification Window, please activate Shadow Movement—’

Ding!

[Hooowoooooo~! Sihyun-nim, your outfit today is so cool! Phantom, saving everyone while bathed in moonlight in the darkness! I, I’ve fallen for you all over again······!]

[♥(〃´૩`〃)♥]

After showing up for the first time in a while, all you have to say is a chuunibyou fashion compliment?

Your fashion sense is stuck in puberty too.

‘You read all my thoughts about being embarrassed earlier··· you’re messing with me, aren’t you?’

[N-no, I’m not!! Sihyun-nim looks cool in anything! The moment the girl playing Christine came onto the stage and took your hand, you transformed into Phantom as if you’d been waiting! It felt like watching a play!]

I was just hiding on stage to watch the sunset, you know?

The top is open here, so you can see the sky clearly.

‘But who knew this place would suddenly become the center of an incident··· I really didn’t.’

However, completely oblivious to my thoughts, Notification Window darted around, showering me with pink hearts.

[Sihyun-nim’s mysterious aura is also cool······ Heeheehee♡♡ Next, I’ll add prince-like outfits to the beginner package—]

‘Stop right there.’

[H-huh?]

—Grab!

Sensing that it would scheme something strange again if left alone, I grabbed Notification Window and earnestly pleaded.

‘Please, I beg you, don’t put anything weird in the beginner package or new abilities······ I’ll wear what you ask sometimes, okay?’

[H-huh?! R-reallyyyy??]

[(≧ᗜ≦)]

Rather than being forcibly dressed in something weird··· it’s better to put it on myself.

‘I promise, so just activate Shadow Movement for now.

I can’t stand the way people are looking at me; it’s too much pressure.’

[Heeheehee···! Sihyun-nim, you promised~! Then, I’ll initiate the transfer now!]

The moment Notification Window was about to activate Shadow Movement.

—Thud!

Suddenly, the girl in front of me knelt down and adopted a prayer-like posture.

“Thank you for saving me, my friend··· and everyone else, Savior-nim!”

Starting with the girl’s action, the people below the stage who had been staring blankly at me also began to kneel, one by one.

‘Uh, why are you guys suddenly doing that?’

—Thud! —Thud! —Thud!

“Ah··· yes, that’s right.

That person is definitely the Savior who came to save us!”

“I heard he only appears in dangerous situations of Calamity-grade or higher··· but even though this was only Disaster-grade, did he rush here after hearing innocent children were being sacrificed······!”

“I see··· the reason he wears a mask is intentionally so children won’t be afraid if they see his face······!”

“To think we’ve been categorizing such a noble being as a specter all this time··· just how greatly have we misunderstood······.”

One by one, people began chattering on their own, starting an impromptu worship of me.

All sorts of misunderstandings and delusions were a bonus.

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at the absurd situation.

‘The mask was put on me by our household’s princess to keep me from cheating, you know?’

And what’s this about only appearing in dangerous situations of Calamity-grade or higher?

Do you think I went to those places to save you guys?

Notification Window forcibly summoned me there!

‘I’m busy enough just looking out for my own life, so what’s all this talk about a Savior?’

Of course, I have compassion and sympathy.

If someone is hurt or gets into an accident right in front of me, I naturally have the desire to help.

But that’s only when I’m in a safe condition.

‘I have no intention of sacrificing myself to save complete strangers.’

And the situation where people mistake Phantom for a Savior isn’t good for me at all.

I’ve thought about it before, but if people consider Phantom a ‘saving figure,’ they’ll obviously be shouting for help all the time.

‘Rather than being seen as ambiguously good, I should just make them see me as part of the red team.

That’s a hundred times better.’

It seemed I would have an easier future if I scared them into not misunderstanding again.

—Whoosh!!

[Sihyun-nim! Shadow Movement is ready!]

‘Ah, then before we move, tell that blue-haired girl in front not to get the wrong idea.

It’s troublesome if she keeps thinking she’s been chosen by the Savior.

Just tell her to open her eyes and face reality, then let’s leave immediately.’

[Hehehe.

Leave it to meee!!]

However, entrusting Phantom’s final words to Notification Window at this moment was something I would regret for a long, long time.

Because···.

[You have opened your eyes, chosen maiden.]

It wasn’t like some Digimon’s chosen children, but it twisted my words and conveyed them strangely!

‘No, how can you use “open eyes” and “chosen” like that!! You’re seriously doing this on purpose, aren’t you?!’

[Hwaaaaaaah—!! N-no violenceeeee—!! ㅠ3ㅠ]

****

Even after Phantom left, Yoo Shina remained on stage, kneeling and staring blankly for a long time.

Had her body gone limp after encountering a Calamity-grade being?

The reason the girl was simply kneeling blankly and gazing at the sky was because of Phantom’s last words before he left.

[You have opened your eyes, chosen maiden.]

Phantom had personally declared Yoo Shina to be a chosen, special being.

“He acknowledged me··· for understanding his true feelings···!”

Until now, Phantom had been walking a solitary path, fighting a lonely battle.

Simply for humanity, to protect people from the irrational beings known as specters.

‘But Phantom must have been lonely too.

No one recognized him··· and he was even misunderstood as a specter in the end.’

Then, before him, as he grew weary, appeared the girl with sky-blue eyes.

How much comfort must it have brought Phantom when this girl, whom he met fatefully on stage, realized his true identity and knelt to express her gratitude?

‘That’s why, before he left, he expressed his gratitude to me.

Calling me the chosen maiden who opened her eyes to the truth···!’

The mere fact that Phantom, such a noble being, had acknowledged her, sent shivers throughout Yoo Shina’s body.

And she resolved.

She had to reveal Phantom’s truth to everyone, to more and more people···!

“Ah······ I finally understand.

Phantom··· no, you······! As the only woman chosen by you, I will take responsibility and announce to the world··· that Phantom is not a specter, but the true Savior who will rescue humanity······!”

Her sky-blue hair and eyes sparkled even more brightly, illuminated by the pouring moonlight.

Yoo Shina’s appearance exuded such a noble aura that she seemed to overlap with the image of a saintess from a story.