episode_0065

In this situation, where she was even revisiting memories from her first day in the dorm, Daphne wondered why her dream had brought her here.

‘Surely, am I…?’

She had heard before that when a person is on the verge of death, their past memories flash rapidly before their eyes like a kaleidoscope.

What had she been doing before she started dreaming?

‘…I was kidnapped.’

And caught in an explosion. Daphne seriously wondered if she was in a near-death experience.

Dying wasn’t frightening. After losing her family, she had become somewhat detached from death. Knowing that it could come at any time, death was no longer perceived as a special disaster.

More than anything, there was almost no one in reality who would miss her.

And yet, she felt a lingering regret.

No, was there really no one?

Regardless of her will, the memories continued to replay.

“You’re not sick, are you?”

“No. I’m not sick. I’m healthy! Hehe…”

Violet, her naive and unpredictable roommate.

The time before the entrance ceremony passed quickly. They ate sandwiches together, talked. She could look back on the short, awkward, but somewhat enjoyable time.

Revisiting memories was interesting.

Suddenly, Daphne recalled someone in Violet’s appearance.

***

The memories before her eyes rapidly changed.

‘This scene now is… the entrance ceremony day?’

She still remembered. A demon beast had intruded during the freshman welcoming ceremony. But surprisingly, a girl who looked exactly like Violet next to her had smashed a window with a hammer. She heard it was her clone.

‘In an emergency, the most important thing is to guide the evacuation route.’

She borrowed the hammer from Violet and widened the space. She broke the remaining glass and covered it with clothes to prevent scratches. This should be enough for others to escape.

The moment she and Violet fell back to catch their breath, the wall exploded, and a mid-level demon beast, Cranos, burst out. The colossal theropod, pursued by the students’ attacks, staggered, covered in blood. The demon beast concentrated magic power at its mouth for a final desperate attack. Its snout pointed towards Daphne and Violet.

‘Stay calm, as trained. You can do it.’

She felt fear, but without showing it, she activated her unique ability.

A blessing unfolded, and a powerful shield deployed. The breath shot by Cranos, sensing a mortal threat, collided with the shield. The weakened beam scattered into multiple rays, causing collateral damage to the surroundings, but no one was injured.

“Haa… haa… What a relief. I was able to block it.”

Relieved, Daphne took a ragged breath. With her ability, she had finally been able to protect someone for the first time.

‘My efforts weren’t in vain!’

The moment she walked forward, barely concealing her joy.

“Screech!”

She turned around at the scream from behind. Violet had collapsed. The moment she was about to rush to her, something fell from the sky.

With a thud, Violet’s form, standing before her, was crushed and knocked down by something large and white.

Daphne’s eyes widened. She involuntarily shuddered.

The tragedy of that day overlapped before her eyes. The demon beast attack, her fleeing family,

And her younger sister hit by a car. The past, which she thought she had buried, was replayed, piercing her heart like a dagger.

“Aaaahhhhh!”

She screamed and ran.

‘This time, I can save her!’

But this time too, she was too late. There was no need to check her pulse. Violet had been crushed by the air conditioner outdoor unit and died instantly.

Nevertheless, she poured and poured magic power. No, this time I can save her. I can save her.

Nothing happened.

Daphne realized that she had failed again.

They hadn’t known each other long, but it had been enjoyable. Her kind and cute roommate, she couldn’t save her.

Immediately after, the deep wound in her heart, which she thought had healed, burst open again. Regret flooded her.

“Aaaah! No! Miss Ruzilin! This time too…! Uwaaaah…! Oh…”

She had trained and practiced for times like this, yet she was so powerless.

“Hmph… hmph… I’m sorry… Even now… I…”

Even now, I couldn’t do anything. Please forgive me…

To Daphne, who was helplessly clutching the girl’s body, a miracle occurred.

“Aargh…!”

The girl, who she thought was dead, let out a short cry and sat up. Daphne recalled the unique ability the girl had spoken of.

“Ah… um… so, this one is Miss Ruzilin’s clone… her unique ability, right?”

“Probably…? I don’t know either, but it must be!”

I see.

Though she didn’t fully understand the situation, one thing was clear. The girl, Violet, was not dead.

When she regained her composure, she found herself fiercely hugging Violet and shedding tears.

Thank you. For being alive, no matter what.

After that day, a corner of Daphne’s heart, a space that had always been empty, began to fill without her realizing it.

***

Before the aimlessly replaying memories, the current Daphne realized one important point.

‘Miss Ruzilin resembles my younger sister.’

An unpredictable, unstable personality, and a big appetite. But not greedy.

“Look! Daphne, Daphne. I brought delicious food.”

Especially her personality that obsesses over sweet snacks, innocent yet pure.

“Sorry! I didn’t eat it, my clone did… but it was because I was hungry.”

Thus, when Violet took her snacks, she simply couldn’t get angry.

‘I understand, how hungry she must have been to do that.’

Watching her eat the snacks deliciously, the image of someone else, who had a big appetite and loved sweets, overlapped.

And the moment she saw a sleeping Violet sobbing in pain and fear, she subconsciously couldn’t help but recall Laurel, who had cried for her parents from her bed as a child. She simply couldn’t ignore that pitiable plea for help.

That’s why she used her healing ability over Violet’s head every night, taking care of her.

At the time, she had simply acted on impulse, but now, looking back at the past, she understood why.

Yes, I might have been superimposing Miss Ruzilin with my younger sister.

At first, it was out of pity. It was too hard to see you in pain, so I remembered my sister, who would groan and look for our parents every night.

So, the day Miss Ruzilin pushed me off the bed. What I said then was sincere.

“Thank you for forgiving me for pushing you earlier. Daphne really is a good person!”

“…I’m not that good of a person…”

I, Daphne Grace, am absolutely not a good person. Everything I’ve done so far might just be a pretense to comfort myself.

I was just a foolish girl caught in the trap of the past.

But as time passed, my thoughts about you gradually changed.

Still innocent, loves to eat, and an impetuous child who acts on impulse. Yet, she knows how to admit her mistakes. A girl who knows how to get angry about things that aren’t even her business.

You were a good person.

Looking back, the time I spent with you over the past month was always joyful and pleasant. There were odd incidents and frequent mishaps, but I think it was the best time I spent at this academy.

It was all thanks to you.

Right, now I understand. Why I fell into this dream.

I was kidnapped. By the nasty gang within the school. The blessing of the Azure Eye was on the verge of breaking under hours of continuous attack. I was scared, there was no one around me.

Just then, you appeared. And you wonderfully punished the bad people. You bravely saved me, and you even blocked the fireballs.

Am I dead? Or did I just faint? If I died, please don’t blame yourself. You were very brave.

My only friend. Violet.

I was truly grateful.

Daphne’s recollection began to blur at some point. The world started to turn increasingly white. She instinctively knew. She had reached the end of the dream.

“…!”

She came to her senses, opened her eyes, and looked around. It was a hospital room.

***

Back to the present time.

Daphne gently patted Violet’s sobbing back. At this moment, Violet was not the playful, mischievous student she usually was, but merely a helpless, timid, and exhausted girl. The spoiled Violet slowly opened her mouth and explained to Daphne what had happened while she was asleep.

“Well, actually…”

She finished explaining everything: taking Daphne to the hospital with Irene’s help, challenging Martina to a duel in a fit of rage, and the outcome of the duel. She didn’t bother to mention the trivial and messy details, such as how she dealt with the Perian siblings or the gang.

Daphne hugged Violet even tighter, feeling sorry for her. How difficult it must have been, how frightening and painful.

“You must have had a very hard time. Come here…”

“…Thank you…”

Violet slowly pulled away from Daphne’s gentle embrace. Suddenly, Violet became curious and spoke.

“Daphne.”

“Yes?”

“What if, by chance, you found out some bad guys were plotting something wicked? And it was happening in our neighborhood. And I felt like I would lose if I confronted them. What should I do?”

Violet thought of the board’s wicked conspiracy. She recalled the outcome of the great catastrophe that would happen three months later. For Violet, who had been pushed to the brink of defeat in the duel, it now carried even greater weight.

What could someone like me possibly do?

Daphne, having received a sudden question, was puzzled but answered as best she could.

“It would be right to fight back, but if you don’t have the strength, it would be right to run away.”

“Run away? B-but wouldn’t that be too cowardly? Wouldn’t it be better to confront them?”

Daphne thought. It seems she’s asking because of the duel she just had.

Looking at her expression, Violet’s face was very dark despite having won. What Daphne had heard was merely fragmented information, but Violet’s choice had been reckless. Violet herself seemed to be deeply troubled by it.

‘Miss Ruzilin seems to have lost her way right now. Is the choice itself what frightens her?’

Daphne thought for a moment before giving her answer.

“Well, I think Miss Ruzilin is missing a few things.”

“…?”