“…Cough.”
The mont I entered the depths of the magic realm with Ari, the first thought that ca to my mind was how dreadful it felt.
An aura that didn’t allow any other presence.
In that pitch-black darkness created solely to end the world, an overwhelming malevolence was palpable.
In response, I recalled the faces of my dear ones and shouted.
“I won’t let it reach them…!!”
The flas that burned the magic flared up with a loud whoosh in the heart of the darkness made of magic.
“I will protect them…!”
With the desire to protect, the flas that erupted began to incinerate the darkness that tried to harm those precious to .
“I will ensure their safety…! Definitely…!!”
However,
“Ugh…!!”
The cost of igniting the flas within that magic was far from trivial.
The fuel needed to ignite the flas was none other than myself.
The senses that had been restored by the power sent by the beasts rapidly deteriorated again.
As I continued to emit flas in that state, my body, already excessively depleted from the battle with the gluttonous witch, began sending alarms of agony once more.
Using more power from here on would an death.
But,
“It doesn’t matter…!!!”
I lightly disregarded that warning.
I had long since braced myself for death before plunging into this situation.
So, I urged the flas that would consu my body along with the magic even more.
“It’s okay to burn it all…!!”
In answer to that will, the flas continued to rise.
Just as I had previously used my tongue, nose, eyes, ears, and legs as fuel, this ti, I would burn whatever was left.
Yet, yet…
“…Gah!”
My body had already reached its limit, while the remaining magic was overwhelmingly abundant.
Even if I sacrificed my entire body, it had been far too insufficient from the start to burn all this magic.
“Ha, ugh…!!”
I strained myself to conjure the flas.
But it was far from satisfying in intensity.
It couldn’t be any other way.
What I was doing right now was akin to trying to rekindle a fire with firewood that had already turned to ash once.
It was a miracle that flas were burning at all without sothing to fuel them.
The magic I burned constituted about one-tenth of the total.
Such a ager result.
If it weren’t for the power lent by the beasts, even that would have been impossible.
However, I could not be satisfied with just this.
I had to muster just a bit more strength; I had to endure just a bit more.
I could protect their smiles.
With only that conviction, I conveyed my will to the flas.
“…I said, all of it!”
Wasn’t there still sothing left to burn here?
My heart still beats.
I was still alive.
Take it all and burn it.
If that’s not enough, I’d even dedicate my soul as fuel.
I prayed desperately for the flas to kindle, hoping to protect even one more person.
Then, the flas began to burn as I wished.
Beyond my body, to even my soul.
Whoosh─!
Then, the flas roared.
Flas stronger and more radiant than ever before.
My soul, not my body nor heart.
Could it be that it contained the most power?
Using the essence of this witch called as fuel.
The flas radiated the most splendid and bright light just as they were about to extinguish.
“…As unfortunate as it is, I think this is it.”
However, the flas that had consud my soul weren’t enough to burn all the magic.
At most, about one-third of it.
For , it was a disappointing and unsatisfactory result, but ultimately it seed to be the best I could do.
After that, I just hoped Yoon Si-woo would manage well.
I felt the once-brilliant flas begin to diminish.
The mont that fla extinguished would mark my end.
So, I closed my eyes quietly, awaiting that mont.
But in that instant,
Whoosh─!
“What, is this…?”
A miracle occurred.
The fla that had seemingly lost its power and was about to extinguish began to blaze anew.
As if soone had added fresh fuel to the dying fire.
But who could…?
[Long ti no see. Scarlet Evande.]
It was at that mont the voice rang out.
Under the influence of that familiar voice from long ago, I muttered reflexively.
“…Evangeline?”
It was the voice of the forr Witch of Rage, Evangeline.
Startled by the voice I hadn’t heard in a while, I tentatively asked her.
“So, this fla….”
[That’s right. It seed you were in trouble, so I lent you a hand.]
Indeed, it appeared the reignited fla was thanks to her.
But how?
The flas burning the magic should be my power…
As those thoughts crossed my mind, Evangeline laughed softly and said.
[Haven’t you used my powers quite a bit until now? This ti, I simply used your powers just as you have used mine before.]
Only then did I feel a sense of clarity wash over .
And at the sa mont, I realized sothing.
My ability to burn magic ca at a cost.
However, for her, who shares her body with , there was only one cost she could pay to use that ability.
As that thought crossed my mind, I tried to say sothing to her, but Evangeline spoke first, almost cutting off.
[No need to feel guilty. This is simply repaying a debt.]
“…A debt?”
[Yes. For so reason, I’ve been influenced by a certain person and feel compelled to repay my debts like they do.]
Jokingly said, Evangeline then turned serious and spoke to .
[…You are the one who freed from this long curse. For you, I will willingly offer my soul.]
“…Evangeline.”
Once, soone I resented so much I wished her dead, I now felt an overwhelming gratitude that made forget all the struggles I faced because of her.
I could feel the flas burning magic with both our souls as fuel.
More than half of that dreadful magic should have been consud away.
While I wasn’t completely at ease, this much should be enough…
As those thoughts crossed my mind, I heard Evangeline mumbling softly.
[…And there’s another person who is just as grateful to you as I am.]
At the sa mont, I sensed the flas intensify once more.
What was going on now? I thought.
Then, from sowhere, a small voice echoed.
[…Hello.]
Upon hearing that voice, I involuntarily shuddered.
That voice was undoubtedly familiar.
I recognized it.
That voice was…
“Scarlet Evande…?”
It was the voice of Scarlet Evande.
Not my voice, but the voice of the girl who originally possessed the na Scarlet Evande.
Though I occasionally sensed her presence in the past, I had not felt it for so ti, leading to believe she had vanished.
She had always been with …
Lost in a strange nostalgia, I realized that it was she who had kindled the fla this ti.
Although created through experintation, she too, to a limited extent, was capable of wielding the power of a witch.
It seed she, like and Evangeline, had the ability to use her powers.
But regardless of feasibility, I was curious as to why she too had dedicated her soul to harnessing her powers.
She most likely didn’t think she owed any debt, unlike Evangeline.
Just as that thought ca to mind,
[…No. I do have a debt.]
Scarlet spoke to .
She also felt she owed a debt.
Not knowing what it was, I tilted my head in confusion, and Scarlet explained.
[You kept your promise.]
“…A promise?”
[The promise you made with the Uncle, to beco Scarlet Evande and protect people.]
Upon hearing her reference to the word Uncle, I swallowed hard.
Uncle, Luke Aegis.
The one who created Scarlet Evande and ultimately died for her, that was how I referred to him.
Thinking of Uncle who wished for Scarlet Evande’s happiness until the end made choke up.
I realized that Scarlet had seen everything.
Unable to find words, Scarlet continued with a gentle tone.
[You went through so much, yet you kept your promise. So, I was really, really grateful.]
“…So, you helped ?”
When I asked that, Scarlet smiled softly and replied.
[That’s true, but it’s not that simple.]
“…What do you an?”
And I couldn’t help but smile at the response that followed.
[Scarlet Evande is here to protect people. That has always been the case.]
“…Yes. I see. That’s true. Hahaha.”
Slightly moved by her answer, I was smiling, when Scarlet suddenly posed a question to .
[On the other hand, I’m curious. Is everything alright with you?]
I instantly understood what she was inquiring about.
Though I was to protect others, ultimately I had co to die in the process—was I okay with that?
I chuckled lightly, replying to her.
“I’m okay.”
[You were really struggling at first. But even now?]
“Well, there was a lot of difficulty in the beginning.”
Indeed, as she had said, it had been very tough when I first arrived in this world.
Why was this happening to ?
Why had I, who lived normally, ended up experiencing such hardships here?
“But that’s not the case anymore. Now, this world and the people I’ve t here have grown incredibly precious to .”
It ca to the point where I couldn’t help but want to protect their smiles even if it ant I had to die.
“So now I think it’s fortunate that I ended up here. After all, I’ve been able to protect everyone like this.”
Then Scarlet asked .
[Really?]
I quietly ignited the flas in response to her inquiry.
That was my answer.
For her as well, being Scarlet Evande sufficed as an answer.
Because those flas were born from true happiness.
A warm yet not burning fla surrounded us.
In that fla, I felt my body slowly turn to ash and drift away.
However, now I could feel the intensity of the flas was enough to incinerate all the magic, and out of that joy, the flas blazed more brilliantly than ever.
Then, as I was engulfed in the flas, I suddenly recalled.
The very first question that had sent into this world.
[Do you think you can save them?]
Now, I could answer that question.
Look here.
I saved them, I would say.
*
As the people who were desperately taking cover from the falling magic looked on.
They witnessed the scene of red flas blooming from the black sun that fell to end the world.
The flas that blossod from the black sun shone warmly upon the world for a brief mont before vanishing along with the black sun.
So realized that the flas, and the girl akin to those flas, had saved the world.
However, there was no longer any trace of her in the world she had saved.
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