episode_0037

Ice generated by magic burst in all directions.

Truly a decisive blow.

If even this is blocked, then there really is no solution.

Perhaps due to the smoke from the explosion, the surroundings are not clearly visible.

“….Did it hit?”

It’s certain that the attack landed.

Blocking at such a short distance is practically impossible.

Even though I protected myself with magic, I couldn’t perfectly defend against the attack.

As the smoke gradually cleared, the figure of the demon woman began to appear.

“Oh no, took a hit just like that?”

The woman who spoke showed no signs of fear.

Something black enveloped the demon woman’s body.

Probably used for defense.

‘She could use shadows for defense as well…’

Even in such a hurried situation, I never expected she wouldn’t even get a scratch…

‘Oh, maybe not.’

Looking up at the woman’s face, blood was trickling from her cheek.

Just a little. However, the situation remains dire.

“Well, nice try. Thanks to your recent attack, you’ve depleted my shadow a bit.”

“Not only pretty but quite skilled too. You managed to shield yourself with magic in such a short time? It’s a shame. If you weren’t human, we could have been good friends,” muttered the woman.

“Sigh… Why are you taking my shadow, or rather, my magic? What do you intend to do with it?”

-Kwajik

“Kyaaa!!”

The sharp shadow pierced through my right shoulder.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that.”

-Kwajik

This time, it pierced through my left thigh.

“…!!!!”

Even if I don’t want to scream, indescribable pain forces sounds out of me.

“Be quiet, could you? If you keep making noise, I’ll have to make you shut up. Just hand over the shadow quietly. Why bother me and cause trouble for yourself?”

Truly overwhelming violence.

“Tsk….”

Even in this moment of enduring agony, I cannot stop the impending disaster.

I must think fast.

If the shadow is taken, I won’t be able to use magic.

It seems likely that the person who stole the shadow is using their magic.

Judging by the woman’s size, her total magic capacity might not be that high.

If my magic is stolen like this, I don’t know what will happen.

So, an opportunity…

“I can hear you thinking. Just stay put. If you don’t want more harm.”

“….”

Frustration. Injustice. And fear.

Feeling utterly powerless against such a strong enemy makes me even more fearful.

“It’s quiet now. I’ll take the shadow nicely. Just stay put. After all, you’re the last one. I won’t kill you.”

“Don’t joke, cough. Do you think… I trust Requiem people?”

“Caught on~? How did you know I’m with Requiem? Yes, I shiver if I were human. Well, as a final gift, I’ll make it less painful for you.”

As the demon woman placed her hand on me, my strength began to drain away.

I am being stripped of my magic by this cursed woman.

Only now do I realize.

The shadow was merely a conduit for stealing magic.

Dark magic, truly a terrifying force.

Now I understand why dark magic is prohibited in all countries.

But now, no strength enters my body.

Completely wrong.

What’s the point of being a master when you can’t even protect yourself, let alone those dear to you?

When he was sad and lonely, I turned away.

Even with power, if you can’t protect those dear to you, what is that power for?

Yes, this is punishment.

Perhaps this is the punishment bestowed upon me by the heavens.

My strength drains away.

My eyelids are slowly closing.

In this fading consciousness, someone comes to mind.

“Bern Flame.”

In such a situation, he’s still thinking about that man…

“I’m so foolish…”

A man with black hair and a stern expression, always stoic and unapproachable.

‘…..’

Usually, just thinking about him makes me angry and frustrated, but…

“Just one last time.”

Just once would be enough.

“I want to see Bern’s face.”

Struggling to hold onto that fading consciousness, but now it’s futile.

His vision narrows, the ringing in his ears from the earlier shock fades away.

Just as consciousness is about to slip away completely, something flashes behind the demon woman.

Something shining in blue.

“Is that… a flame..?”

Just when I thought it was all over.

A flame of hope appears before my eyes.

A flame burning fiercely enough to engulf everything.

Yes, a flame. A blue flame.

The one who wields the blue flame at this academy…

“Ignition.”

Even without hearing the voice or seeing, I know.

The person I wanted to see. The person I wanted to meet again.

Like a beautifully blooming blue flower, the man who handles the flame that burns quietly yet fiercely.

Only Bern Flame.

….

It was dangerous.

On my way back to the dormitory, I heard a loud noise and went to check it out.

I couldn’t just pass by when I saw Shadi being attacked.

I managed to divert attention with an attack.

“Seriously, again? You keep tempting fate to get fired.”

Ignoring Shadi’s words, I looked at the person lying in front of her.

Seeing that sight, I could only stand there in shock.

Her silver hair that should have shone brightly and her ocean-like blue eyes.

Elisha, who shone more beautifully than anyone else.

“Why?”

Asking, Shadi, who was kneeling in front of me, stood up and spoke.

“Oh, it’s you from last time? Good. I was really disappointed I couldn’t steal that girl’s shadow last time.”

“Answer me. Why did you go this far?”

“Bern….”

Elisha had terrible wounds on her shoulders and thighs, with blood flowing profusely from them.

There was no place that seemed unharmed.

Her once white clothes were now stained red with blood, and hot blood flowed like tears down her cheeks.

“Why did you do this?” I asked.

“Oh, I tried to spare her as much as possible~. But what can I do when the boss says to eliminate all witnesses for tomorrow’s plan?”

“Oh, my bad. Pretend you didn’t hear that,” Shadi said.

Shadi, the boss of Act 1 dealing with dark magic.

To describe her: A war orphan who lost her entire family during a major war between humans and demons in the past.

For some reason, she sought out the human knight who burned down her village and killed her family, leading her to Requiem.

Driven by the promise of helping her kill the knight who massacred her family and neighbors, she ended up doing all sorts of dirty work.

After gaining strength under Requiem for years, she came here to acquire an item from the academy.

Assigned a mission to obtain a certain item at the academy, she unexpectedly deviated from her original plan.

Driven by personal emotions, she began stealing shadows from various people until she was caught by the protagonist and received a harsh lesson.

After facing consequences from the protagonist, she was immediately imprisoned in the academy’s underground dungeon.

Shadi, who was imprisoned in an underground dungeon with her magic sealed, narrowly escaped an assassin sent by Requiem and learned a shocking truth.

The knight she had been searching to kill had actually died from an illness several years ago, and she had been living to kill a non-existent person.

Thus, she lost the purpose of her life.

Her misplaced anger and hatred turned towards Requiem, the one who deceived her, and upon hearing her story, the protagonist’s group secretly set Shadi free.

Freed from captivity, she leaves this place to confront Requiem and returns to her homeland.

Later on, she reappears around the final boss.

Around the time of defeating the final boss, she reemerges, offering to help the protagonist who freed her. That is a brief summary of Shadi’s story.

So, I had left her alone thinking she could somehow be redeemed.

However, that choice led to Alisha getting hurt.

She inflicted unbearable pain on Alisha, beyond words.

Why did she make Alisha suffer like this?

Why? For what?

She could have just stolen shadows without going this far.

There was no need to cause so much pain.

I am furious.

I am so angry that I might lose control, but let’s calm down for now.

Let’s cool our heads and reassess the situation.

Looking around Shadi, the shadows surrounding her are very dark.

She uses dark magic to steal and manipulate shadows.

But if she takes too many shadows, she can’t hold onto her sanity and loses control.

Looking back at her now, Shadi is in a highly agitated state.

A tone and demeanor different from usual.

With visible horns and red eyes.

By taking too many shadows, she has fallen into an abnormal state.

Normally, she would only take shadows and disappear, but in her agitated state, she must have done something terrible to Alisha.

When playing games, I tried to understand the antagonists to some extent.

They had their own stories and were twisted individuals due to painful pasts.

Of course, there were plenty who weren’t like that.

But Shadi had lived her whole life as a vengeful spirit, used and then discarded.

So, I tried to understand as much as possible.

Revenge? It’s possible.

Someone who slaughtered your family? You can feel disgust.

But this, this crossed a line.

It went way beyond a line.

Even if she wasn’t in her right mind,

the actions of the rampaging Shadi ultimately reflect what she intended to do.

So, in the end, it was the agitated Shadi.

The emotionally faithful woman who ended up causing immense pain to Alisha.

I was negligent.

It’s my fault for thinking, “The protagonist will solve everything. They’ll get through it somehow.”

Damn it.

I didn’t consider the variables, just passing time carelessly.

Was this world’s Shadi more deeply hateful towards humans, absorbing even more shadows and losing her mind?

Because of my negligence, Alisha got hurt.

She must have been in pain. It must have been agonizing.

That’s why I’m even angrier.

I’m furious at my negligence.

I should have caught Shadi back then.

I should have caught her no matter what.

If I had, if I had. Alisha wouldn’t have had to suffer.

Deciding not to care about the original story and then…

Alisha called out to me with a gentle voice.

“Bern…”

“Alisha. You don’t have to say anything. Don’t push yourself. Now that I’m here, everything will be…”

“Bern…”

Her voice lacked strength.

Her throat seemed hoarse, and her voice barely came out.

Looking at me, she forced a smile.

“Bern, you don’t have to make that face… I’m fine… So…”

“….”

As she spoke, her cheeks were wet.

In the midst of this, fidgeting with her fingers, Shadi released her hand and said.

“Hmm, some shitty memories are coming back. Hey, black-haired guy, you’re going to be my punching bag.”

“Shut up.”

“Oh my, how scary.”

Calm down and compose yourself.

Right now, saving Elisha comes first.

Let’s think rationally.

The most important thing is Elisha’s life.

For now, we need to escape with Elisha.

A small voice reaches me.

“Bern… I’m okay.”

It was Elisha.

Even after being so badly hurt, she was worried about me.

She said that.

“I’m okay.”

..What, what could possibly be okay?

After suffering so much, just…

“….”

It won’t work out after all.

If I run away from here again, I’ll just repeat the same mistake.

So, I won’t run away.

To not regret my choices again, I will move forward.

So…

“For now, you need to take a beating.”

If you can’t pull yourself together, make yourself even if you have to.

Feel the pain Elisha felt.

Feel the fear Elisha felt.

Make them feel the same.