Chapter 343: The Reincarnated (5)
“I’m sorry, Yura.”
Tagore Hill, imbued with the aura of the Demon God, was a place where crimson-black embers fell instead of snow.
The embers, half-burnt ash, were a visible aftermath of the authority that obliterated everything.
And.
This power of obliteration affected not only space.
“I think this is the end of the line for me.”
Yura stared at Anjey, who bowed her head deeply.
More precisely, at her legs. Her amputated legs, a result of the curse. The stumps where her prosthetic limbs met her flesh…
Blackened veins spread vividly across her thighs, and the swollen flesh around them looked ready to burst. A wave of anger surged within Yura—why hadn’t Anjey said anything sooner?
“Don’t apologize. There’s no need to feel sorry.”And so, Yura couldn’t hold her back. Instead of blaming her, she gently patted Anjey’s slumped shoulders and helped her to her feet.
“You did your best. Honestly, I think it’s amazing that you made it this far with those painful legs.”
“Yura, I…”
“I said it’s fine, didn’t I?”
Yura’s expression was more relieved than regretful as she comforted her.
“Seira, do you still have some mana left? Can you take Anjey to the rear?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, Seira.”
Though Anjey couldn’t completely conceal her guilt, she eventually turned to leave with Seira. She knew, too, that Yura had no intention of stopping her.
“Yura, and Kyrie. Thank you both for everything.”
“…Take care, Anjey.”
“Yes, Kyrie. If you return safely later on…”
“Stop saying ominous things and just go.”
Kyrie practically pushed Anjey away.
She lacked the insight to fully understand her thoughts, but she noticed that Anjey’s face, burdened by guilt after declaring her withdrawal, seemed somewhat relieved.
“Yura, are you okay?”
So Kyrie, too, turned away quickly. Though she had shared trust and camaraderie with Anjey, it was still hard for her.
She didn’t have the emotional capacity to dwell on someone who had already left, especially when Yura’s shoulders still bore the weight of the situation, unlike Anjey, who seemed lighter.
“…Are you worried about me? Oh, really?”
“I mean, you seem to be pushing yourself.”
Yura’s words were teasing, but Kyrie averted her gaze, mumbling softly.
Although they had known each other for more than 15 years, Kyrie still found it hard to act casually around Yura.
It wasn’t because there was a wall between them. For Kyrie, Yura wasn’t just a comrade but a maternal, protective figure.
Yura…
She was the one who greeted everyone with a smile after a tough battle, the one who always pointed the way forward.
“How am I pushing myself?”
Seeing Yura struggle made Kyrie’s heart ache, too.
“They say the Demon God is sleeping on Tagore Hill. If that’s true, then we’re headed for a showdown, aren’t we? At the very last moment, Anjey leaving like this…”
“It’s okay. This was part of the plan all along.”
“…Oh.”
“And honestly, I feel a bit relieved that Anjey left.”
Yura smiled brightly and patted the seat beside her.
Her gesture of feigned nonchalance made Kyrie hesitate, but she couldn’t resist Yura.
Sitting cautiously, Kyrie glanced at Yura before asking,
“Why relieved? Do you dislike Anjey?”
Kyrie tilted her head, puzzled. Though she had grown taller and exuded maturity compared to 10 years ago, she still showed her childish side around Yura.
“How could I dislike her? Anjey has fought so hard until now.”
“Then?”
“Well…”
‘Maybe it’s because I knew it wouldn’t work out from the start?’
Swallowing her words, Yura let out a sigh and looked up.
Six months after expanding the Binella’s Blessing slots, despite pouring in 250,000 points, Binella was ultimately excluded.
Anjey, having been with her longer, had cost over 300,000 points, but now that she was out, it felt stifling, as if something was weighing on her chest.
The effort to keep her until the end felt wasted, leaving a hollow emptiness in her heart.
Faintly, unwillingly, she realized the truth:
Kyrie and Seira, who had followed her this far without issue… the remaining two were different.
Some were born to walk the path of heroes. No matter how many extraordinary means one employed, those who weren’t destined simply couldn’t succeed.
Family, village, generation—those who clung to such fleeting things would fade without a trace before the passage of time.
But heroes, who always stood tall, would shine arrogantly upon history.
A typhoon and a mirage.
A dragon and a mudfish.
The immense gap between them couldn’t be bridged by a few extra years of training or better elixirs.
Those who weren’t born heroes could never become one, no matter how many points they poured into it.
If she had known this earlier, she wouldn’t have taken her as a companion.
When she realized her limitations, she should have coldly cast her aside.
But Yura couldn’t.
Now, she regretted it, but when a companion she had grown attached to was left behind, it was hard to make the right decision.
[Class Change 300,000pt]
[Resurrection 350,000pt]
[Star of Wishes 777,777pt]
…
[Remaining Points: 575,340pt]
‘If only I’d sent her back when she was struggling earlier.’
The results were as they were. If she had been cold-hearted, she might have used the Star of Wishes twice already.
‘Stupid girl.’
Bitter thoughts and a wry smile.
Suddenly, a wave of anxiety surged through her. Beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead, and her heart pounded.
“…Ugh.”
Yura clenched her teeth and pounded her chest. She couldn’t afford to let weakness take hold now.
See?
Kyrie was looking at her with worried eyes.
“Yura, are you okay?”
“Anjey’s legs were utterly crushed, yet she didn’t even say she was in pain.”
“Anjey is a trained warrior. You’re just an ordinary…”
“That’s not the point.”
Hoo—Yura pretended to rummage through her backpack and brought out a bottle of cold water for just 1 point.
Gulp, gulp—only after the illusion that the knot in her chest was dissipating with the cold water did she feel slightly better and able to breathe again.
“I mean, I’m just in the rear, not even fighting. How could I have the audacity to act like I’m struggling?”
Sighing repeatedly, Yura tried to push away her negative thoughts.
It wasn’t about the wasted points on Anjey or Binella.
It was about the two who, despite being born ordinary, walked the path of heroes as a spearman and shieldbearer.
The two who had always fought alongside Kyrie without a single complaint.
Even when they were struck and sent flying by a giant’s kick or faced the roaring wrath of Guanglang, they never retreated.
Yes.
Now wasn’t the time to lament the points already spent. It was time to be grateful to those who worked so hard to ensure they all made it here safely without anyone dying.
“So, I’m fine. But what about you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, with Anjey gone, you’re the only one left to take the vanguard, Kyrie.”
“…”
“Will you be okay?”
“I-I’ll be fine!”
“Hah. Judging by how you’re stuttering, you don’t seem fine.”
Was Yura trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere?
She looked at Kyrie with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Poke, poke—
As if her playful expression wasn’t enough, she began poking Kyrie’s firm sides with her fingers.
“I-I said I’m fine… Stop it!”
“Are you really fine? Hmm? Hm?”
“Ah! Hahaha!”
Kyrie, clearly ticklish, squirmed and twisted her body in discomfort.
“I’m not fine! I’m not fine, so stop it!”
Unable to endure anymore, Kyrie restrained Yura’s hands. Although Yura started the tickling, she couldn’t escape Kyrie’s grasp as an ordinary person.
Gasping for breath, Kyrie glared at Yura with dagger-like eyes.
“You’re so mean!”
“What’s so mean about it?”
“You always do this! When someone’s trying to worry about you, you dodge it completely. And when I come to my senses, it’s always me being the one worried about!”
“Is worrying a bad thing?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
Kyrie leaned in close, her face unusually serious.
“I’m an adult now. I’ve grown up!”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. Kyrie is an adult.”
“…You’re saying it like a joke again.”
“No, really. Who would see you as a child?”
Yura said with a faint smile. Then her gaze dropped slightly, scanning Kyrie’s body almost deliberately.
At over 170 cm tall and with a strikingly mature figure, Kyrie’s physique was anything but childlike.
“Even Anjey always called you ‘Miss Kyrie.’ If that’s not treating you like an adult, what is?”
“Anjey is polite to everyone. I just want you to rely on me more, that’s all…”
“Kyrie, you’re unusually persistent today. Is this rebellion? Hmm?”
Yura’s smile deepened as she cut Kyrie off.
“Kyrie’s really grown up. I could never have imagined this defiance from the runny-nosed kid back then.”
“A-ah…”
“This sister is so hurt. I was already burdened by not being able to fight, and now even Kyrie tells me to lean on her. Does that mean I’m just a bystander now?”
“That’s not what I meant. I just think you’re carrying too much alone…”
As Yura heaved exaggerated sighs, Kyrie’s voice softened again.
“Never mind. Let’s drop this conversation.”
Yura patted Kyrie’s slumped shoulders. Despite her size, Kyrie was still a child at heart.
She was well past her twenties, yet with just a bit of reprimand, she’d fold her opinions like a paper fan.
Of course, she never showed this side to enemies, but that was simply her putting up a tough front to mask her naivety.
But Yura thought it was fortunate that Kyrie hadn’t fully matured yet.
Adults weighed benefits and losses. Only with a pure heart could someone achieve true self-sacrifice and goodwill.
“Then what should we talk about?”
“Something fun. Something that makes you smile just by hearing it.”
“Hmm… I don’t know anything like that.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I know it, you probably know it too.”
Kyrie crossed her arms, deep in thought.
“Hearing the same story twice is boring. Don’t you think so? Even if it’s interesting the first time, the second time is less fun. Especially if it’s something you already know…”
“Then, why not talk about something we haven’t done yet?”
“Something we haven’t done?”
Kyrie tilted her head curiously, observing Yura’s now revitalized smile.
“Like thinking about what to do after this fight is over.”
“…I don’t know. Would that be fun?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? We’ll be hailed as great heroes who defeated the Demon God. People all over the world will cry tears of joy and faint when they hear our names.”
“That… might be fun.”
Kyrie scratched her head shyly, a faint smile playing on her lips. Imagining herself being celebrated as a great hero made her feel a ticklish excitement deep inside.
“Ah, right.”
Suddenly, Kyrie’s eyes widened.
“I have something I want to do.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“I want to meet your fiancé, Yura.”
“…Fiancé? What are you talking about?”
A string of question marks popped into Yura’s mind. Fiancé? She didn’t have one…
“You’ve always said you left a fiancé back in your hometown.”
“…”
Yura’s face turned pale in an instant.
What’s this? Was she talking about Hyun-jun? Had she ever told Kyrie about him?
No matter how much Yura racked her brain, she couldn’t recall ever speaking about it.
Yura, who drank until her memories vanished when drunk, couldn’t remember what she might have let slip in a drunken haze.
“Wh-what would you do if you met my fiancé?”
Still, Yura didn’t outright deny Kyrie’s words.
The thought of having promised her future with Hyun-jun… the word “fiancé” was too sweet to refute.
“I’m curious, of course! Who could he be that you’d cry out his name so passionately when drunk? Something about loving him so much? And then you curse him, calling him a bastard?”
“…”
“Could this be the so-called bad-boy type that’s trendy these days? Is Yura’s man also a bad boy?”
“Did I… really do that?”
“Yup! That’s why the Emperor told the nobles to stop proposing marriage alliances to you.”
“…”
“And now that I think about it, even the Commander seemed down when he heard about your fiancé. Apparently, he has a nine-year-old grandson. Heh heh.”
‘Nine years old? That’s crossing the line. Hyun-jun’s probably 20 years older than this Yura, though.’
Oblivious to Yura’s thoughts, Kyrie giggled and kept talking. Watching her, Yura’s eyes narrowed.
“Why’d you stop talking all of a sudden?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing!”
Kyrie flinched as the air grew suddenly chilly.
“What’s this ‘nothing’ about?”
“…More importantly, I’m wondering what kind of person your fiancé is. What if he turns out to be weird?”
“Are you trying to change the subject? And for your information, he’s not weird. He’s just a bit… reserved.”
“Reserved? Now I feel like I want to oppose this marriage.”
Kyrie looked at Yura with a concerned expression. To her, Yura’s fiancé was someone who had to be the most perfect man in the world.
“He’s not reserved! He’s incredibly generous! And why would you oppose my marriage?!”
“Well, shouldn’t I know who this guy is? I can’t stand seeing tears in your eyes, Yura!”
“Oh, my goodness! What’s gotten into you today? You’re being ridiculous!”
Perhaps because a vulnerable topic had been brought up, Yura’s face was now beet red.
With her apple-red face, she lightly smacked Kyrie as if to shoo away her teasing.
But she didn’t dislike it.
Someday, when all these battles were over, imagining a future where they all found happiness together—it was quite a delightful thought.
Of course! The chances of Kyrie meeting Hyun-jun were this small!
But imagining didn’t hurt, did it?
Even if Kyrie couldn’t meet Hyun-jun, and even if Yura returned to Earth, she could still wish for the happiness of her comrades who had fought alongside her.
She had grown too attached to this world for her own good.
She wasn’t supposed to grow attached.