41. Unreal (6)
As she watched the pure white pillar of light fall upon the top of the Empire State Building in New York—
…the fragmented soul shard of Abeline Starberg closed its eyes.
‘So it was a failure.’
In truth, he had known this might happen.
His trait absorbed all magic, but it could not overcome the “Natural Heavenly Vessel.”
Even in the moment that boy fell into the world he himself had constructed, he had not been able to resist properly.
‘To think I would witness with my own eyes a fate once passed down only in legend…’
In the fifty years during which he had slept in fragments, the world had changed beyond recognition.
A boy born with a special destiny.
A Child of the Stars.
And even girls blessed by the heavens.
The fragmented soul shard of Abeline Starberg fixed into his sight one final image: Flame and Baek Yuseol embracing as they were swallowed by the pillar of light and vanished.
Now they would return to reality and spend ordinary days no different from yesterday.
They would cry and laugh, sometimes grow angry and even fight, but even so, they would spend happy days together.
‘How beautiful… and yet how tragic.’
Why had the heavens entwined those two so fatefully?
If a god truly existed, what in the world was he thinking?
Most tragically of all, he would not be able to see the future they would go on to draw.
‘I… will disappear now.’
He could feel his own presence gradually fading away.
Could it be called a cheap price to pay for trying to absorb the Child of the Stars?
To begin with, the existence he had tried to touch was far too vast for something like a mere soul fragment of a single mage to meddle with.
Perhaps from the very moment he dared to think of absorbing her, this outcome had already been his fate.
Even so, he was satisfied.
Because he had seen “her world” with his own two eyes.
It had been a world truly grand, wondrous, and beautiful.
A mysterious world called Earth, which, despite having no mana at all, had built a civilization surpassing even the Aiter World through nothing but a single energy called electricity.
‘So this is the homeland of the Child of the Stars.’
Thinking that if the last sight he saw was that beautiful world, then this kind of death might not be so bad after all, the fragmented soul shard of Abeline Starberg closed his eyes.
Her eyelids were unbearably heavy.
Even when she tried to force them open, they did not budge in the slightest.
Let’s think about this.
If her eyelids did not want to move, wasn’t there any reason to force them open?
Why go against her body for no reason?
‘I’m so damn sleepy…’
Flame gave up on opening her eyes and let her consciousness slip away again.
“Shh, eat quietly. If we get caught in the hospital room, we’re dead.”
“You’re the one who ate more.”
“I-I was just worried it’d be a problem if you didn’t eat faster…”
“It wouldn’t be a problem at all.”
“Uh, uh. I said I was going to eat that one—”
…No.
She had been about to let it go.
But she couldn’t.
Because the noisy whispering in her ears and the smell of pizza tickling her nose kept dragging her consciousness awake.
Jolt!
At last, unable to bear it any longer, she shot upright and glared.
All the muscles in her body trembled in the process, but pain like that could not suppress her irritation.
“What are you idiots doing?”
The moment Flame’s hollow voice spread through the room, Eizel and Anella, who had been devouring pizza in the middle of the hospital room, froze with their eyes wide open.
An awkward silence.
Eizel lowered her head deeply, her face turning bright red in embarrassment at being caught eating smelly food in a hospital room, while Anella gave an awkward smile and tried to explain.
“W-well… I didn’t know… that you weren’t supposed to eat pizza in a hospital room…”
Anella had lived a life completely detached from that of ordinary humans.
Ever since she had become a Dark Mage at a young age, she had barely survived day by day in collapsing ruins. There was no way she would possess common sense about a facility like a hospital.
Because of that, when she brought pizza to Flame’s hospital room as a visit gift, Eizel had scolded her loudly…
Unfortunately, pizza just happened to be one of Eizel’s absolute favorite foods.
In the end, she failed to resist the temptation of the pizza Anella pushed toward her, and the result was the situation now before them.
“Honestly…”
Flame let out a deep sigh.
“Go ahead and eat. Don’t mind me. I nearly died and came back—what’s a little pizza compared to that?”
“Mmm…”
Anella, still watching her mood, brought the pizza to her mouth, but Eizel no longer touched it and shifted slightly farther away.
She did not want to embarrass herself any further.
“Haa…”
Flame flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“Does your body feel a little better?”
As Eizel dragged over a chair and sat beside the bed to ask, Flame shook her head.
“No. My whole body aches like crazy. I guess I’m getting old.”
“…You’re seventeen now.”
“I’m old mentally.”
That was not wrong.
If one combined her previous life and her current one, then she really was quite old.
“Nom.”
While the tactless Anella continued munching happily on pizza by herself, Eizel and Flame sat in silence for a while.
“How long… was I out?”
“About three days…”
“I see.”
In what could be called a short time, or not so short depending on how one looked at it, they had formed a team and investigated the Seventh Main Tower Ghost Story with only their own strength, going through countless incidents and accidents.
They had learned that Stella Academy truly did hide another world.
They had witnessed the countless ghost stories and spirits living there, and in the end they had encountered a Dark Mage, fought, and won.
“What happened… while I was unconscious?”
The aftermath of the incident.
Eizel slowly began to explain.
“Right after you and Mr. Baek Yuseol came back, the professors rushed in. At that very moment, the mirror shattered into pieces, so a detailed investigation became impossible, and Professor Chekiren also disappeared just like that, so he couldn’t be arrested.”
“I see…”
After the incident had finally settled, the many students who had been dragged into the Seventh Main Tower were all hospitalized in the infirmary.
Because what had happened this time was far too large and shocking to be quietly passed off as something that had happened inside Stella Academy.
[Another attack by a Dark Mage?]
[The Magic World Staggers]
[Dark Mage murder incident—how far will Eltman Eltwin’s reputation fall?]
[Can Stella Academy still truly be called the greatest magical institution…?]
An attack by a Dark Mage was frightening enough, but what was even more frightening was the media assault coming from fellow mages.
Recently, because Stella Academy kept being attacked by Dark Mages, people had been trying by any means possible to drag its reputation down.
This development was exactly the same as in the original romance-fantasy story.
Stella Academy’s weaknesses were exposed, but the protagonist resolved the incident, and it became an opportunity for Eizel’s reputation to rise.
And probably, this time too, it was the same.
She could tell just from the faint smile on Eizel’s face. She had probably been promised an enormous reward.
Anyway, the school was still moving quickly even now to respond to the press.
And in the middle of all that, Eltman Eltwin himself had apparently vanished again somewhere, handling his own affairs however he pleased, which seemed to be causing everyone a great deal of stress.
‘…Well, the principal had always been that kind of person.’
Even in the original romance-fantasy story, no matter what incident occurred, Eltman Eltwin never directly intervened.
There was always an excuse.
Wasn’t it that he could not step in because he was resolving “some even more important matter” than the current incident?
Since the original work never revealed what Eltman was doing during this period, Flame did not know either.
Still, the fact that Eltman Eltwin had moved for some other matter while leaving behind the crisis known as the Seventh Main Tower Ghost Story meant it really must have been that important.
He was not the sort of person who would helplessly retreat just because an incident beyond his reach had occurred.
“Still, there wasn’t a single death. A lot of students are complaining about aftereffects, but… it seems Princess Hong Biyeon is safe too.”
“That’s a relief.”
The mere fact that Hong Biyeon, the original target, was safe was already a huge gain. She was apparently still lying unconscious, but the doctors said simple exhaustion was the cause and that she would wake soon enough.
“Do you think the Adolevit royal family might make a huge issue out of this? If the school gets shut down, I’ll have nowhere to go…”
“They’ll raise hell, sure, but the school won’t be shut down. Stella isn’t the kind of place that goes down that easily.”
In the end, Eltman Eltwin would bury even this controversy.
He would announce a newly developed magic circle system and new technology, and on top of that declare that he himself would move personally to hunt down the Dark Mages.
Stella Academy would arm itself more heavily than before, and that meant it would become the safest fortress in the world…
‘…But it won’t be that easy.’
The Dark Mages’ terrorism would continue in the future too.
And this was not merely about Stella Academy. They would quietly infiltrate the entire magic world and gradually dye it black.
“Anyway, you went through a lot. But you really overdid it at the end. I’m just glad you’re safe…”
“Ah, that.”
At the very last moment, Flame had run toward the full-length mirror, but that had been a trap.
“Professor Chekiren said it. That place was a completely shattered space. The moment you enter it, even your soul gets torn to pieces, and you can’t maintain your sense of self… that kind of world.”
“…I see.”
“But you still came back alive after entering it.”
“It wasn’t through my own power.”
“No. It was thanks to his help again this time too.”
Eizel still remembered that moment vividly.
The sight of Baek Yuseol’s back as he stepped without hesitation into that horrific space that her sixth sense screamed should never be touched.
How had he been able to make that decision so firmly?
“That look in his eyes. I still remember it. Mr. Baek Yuseol didn’t hesitate for even a moment in the steps he took toward you.”
Baek Yuseol was a regressor who had repeated countless stretches of time.
Even if he died, he would live again, so death itself was not something he feared.
But this time was completely different.
“The collapse of the self. If things had gone wrong, he might not even have been able to regress, and might simply have been erased.”
The girls had been able to see in the Library of the Stars how Baek Yuseol turned time back.
‘Death.’
When he met death, he turned back time.
Repeating the same history, dying again and living again, enduring and surviving a road soaked in blood.
But… the “collapse of the self” was death, yet not true death.
If only his soul had been torn to pieces while his body remained intact, then he might have wandered forever through the mirror world with Flame, unable even to turn time back.
Baek Yuseol must have understood that risk more deeply than anyone.
“And even so… he didn’t hesitate?”
To save her, he had come to her and reached out his hand without the slightest pause.
For some reason, Flame wore a blank expression and could not even properly focus her eyes. Eizel stared at her for a moment, then suddenly asked:
“…What kind of place was it?”
“Uh…”
What kind of place had it been?
“A damn awful place.”
And then she corrected herself.
“Still… it was actually a pretty good place.”
Most of her memories from there were blurry.
Like a dream.
But… no matter how dreamlike it was, precious and important scenes were engraved vividly in one’s memory and could never be forgotten.
‘You really will be happy. I’ll make sure that happens.’
At that time, what had Baek Yuseol meant by that?
To me, who has no memories of “reality” at all, even if he said something like that, I wouldn’t have understood it anyway.
Then again, was it really important to seek meaning in those words?
Simply the fact that Baek Yuseol had said those words to her was enough by itself to make her feel considerably—
Read only on MugenCodex.
“…happy?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, no. It’s just… you suddenly looked so happy when you smiled…”
“…I did?”
Was she happy right now?
She thought about it.
But the answer came quickly.
“Yeah. I think I am.”
Very much so.
Sunlight filtered in through the swaying curtains.
Today, her silver hair shone more pure and lovely than ever.
The moon had not even risen yet, so why had the stars appeared first?
“…Ugh…”
Hong Biyeon slowly opened her eyes.
Those eyes, so very much like red rubies, gradually took in the world.
“P-Princess!”
Someone made a huge fuss and shot up from her seat. The enormous headache caused by even such trivial noise and stress made Hong Biyeon frown.
Inform the doctor immediately.
Call the nurse.
The princess has awakened.
Even amid the clamorous voices of her faction members making a fuss, Hong Biyeon remained quiet.
‘Ah…’
I must have been asleep for a long time.
It was not difficult to realize that much from their reaction alone.
She had, if only for an instant, been stripped of all her magic. Perhaps sleeping for such a long time was unavoidable.
‘…Still, I’m alive.’
Every morning, whenever she opened her eyes, she thought:
Today too, I’m alive.
Lavishly enough—
Then I should live as hard as I can.
Because tomorrow, I may not be able to open my eyes.
When she pushed herself upright, the girls of her faction rushed over in a panic to support her.
The sensation of her hair falling down over her neck like a silver waterfall irritated her strangely today. Someone must have continued caring for it while she slept, because the texture remained soft as ever.
“…Water.”
“Right here!”
Taking the bottled water, she replenished herself quickly but slowly, with grace.
“Princess, what do we do…”
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“My head hurts, so…”
“Yes, ma’am! We’ll be quiet!”
Could they maybe not answer with that much military spirit in a hospital room, at least?
The faction members “quietly” made a great fuss as they ran about calling nurses and looking for doctors in order to care for Hong Biyeon.
And in the middle of that, the hospital room door opened.
“…Hello, little sister? It’s been a while.”
Why exactly was Hong Si-hwa leading Adolevit’s magic knights and forcing her way into the hospital room?
“W-what…?”
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
The faction members hurriedly tried to block Hong Si-hwa’s path, but they had no choice but to be overwhelmed by the presence of real magic warriors.
“Don’t be too wary. Today, I came here to protect my little sister.”
“…Protect? What nonsense.”
When Hong Biyeon frowned and said that, Hong Si-hwa clasped her hands over her chest with an exaggerated expression, as though her feelings had been terribly hurt.
“Your big sister came all the way here for you, and if you treat me that coldly, your big sister will be ever so sad.”
“Just tell me why you came.”
Her headache still had not faded, and with Hong Si-hwa showing up and causing a commotion on top of that, the stress was pushing itself to its limit.
“My reason? I already told you. I’m here to protect you.”
“What are you even…”
“It’s the king’s order.”
“…What?”
His Majesty personally gave the command?
Only then did she realize that the situation was not normal.
To begin with, why had Hong Si-hwa brought the magic knights here in person?
Wasn’t the reason obvious?
“It’s been decided that Stella Academy is currently far too dangerous. This time too, little sister, you were kidnapped, weren’t you? His Majesty wishes for our little sister to return to the kingdom.”
“That…”
“Still, I figured you’d stubbornly insist on staying here~ But! How could this big sister stand by while her little sister remained in such a dangerous place? I personally requested it of His Majesty. I said, since little sister seems to be in so much danger, wouldn’t it be better if the kingdom protected her, even if only for a little while?”
Even as Hong Biyeon’s face grew paler and paler, Hong Si-hwa continued speaking, her own cheeks flushed bright red.
“It won’t be for long~ Only until the principal does something, maybe? Mm-hmm, yes. Let’s say… just spend summer vacation in the royal palace. Ah… well. And if even that isn’t enough, then maybe you’ll have to give up a semester or so, but that’s still better than staying somewhere dangerous, right?”
It was a lie.
Once she returned to the kingdom, they would never let her go back to Stella.
That would go beyond merely damaging Hong Biyeon’s career.
It would mean suppressing her and binding her down.
At present, the royal palace was hell to Hong Biyeon.
Nobody wanted her there, and nobody would stand on her side.
And most importantly, if she left Stella…
Then she would never be able to see someone who could only be seen here again.
‘Not yet. Not yet…’
The place where she belonged was Stella.
Her plan had been to build up her position at Stella, prove her ability, and little by little increase her influence.
But Hong Si-hwa was trying to rob even that opportunity from her.
“You don’t want to? Too bad. It’s a royal order.”
As if driving a stake into her chest, Hong Si-hwa declared it so simply.
It was an order that could never be defied.
Resistance was impossible.
And yet—
‘You think I’m going to just let myself be bound like this?’
She was no longer the Hong Biyeon of the past.
After entering Stella and meeting many different people, she had changed completely.
She had not the slightest intention of meekly allowing herself to be trapped inside a cage like some bluebird, exactly as Hong Si-hwa wished.
