Chapter 35: The Hero Who Was Too Bright to Keep.

A scene from an old memory.

『”Arciel, you have too much affection.”』

Before becoming a relationship where they understood everything about each other deeply, Seo Jin and she surprisingly clashed opinions from time to time.

『”Such a character is certainly an advantage, but…. it is not very good in a battlefield like this. You have to throw away what you have to throw away in order to win.”』

The judgment of choosing only the most optimal ‘strategy’ from the player’s point of view.

At the time, Seo Jin prioritized such efficiency.

‘The game has become reality, but the fundamental rules themselves are the same.’

This way of thinking was a judgment made because he remembered how powerful the enemies would be in the future in the ‘Aegis Project’ game.

It was also a kind of defense mechanism.

The tragedies that Seo Jin, who had fallen into an unfamiliar world, had experienced so far while being pushed by the situation.

For a young man who was just an ordinary college student, the countless deaths of people around him that he had experienced directly on the front lines where monsters that eat people popped out… were not memories that could be easily overcome even as a euphemism.

『”Kkeureuk…. S, save me….”』

『”Mom… Mom….”』

Of course, he was shocked. Seo Jin, who had grown up normally at best, found it difficult to accept the situation itself where people around him were dying in vain like consumables.

Every moment of enduring in a situation where comrades who had just introduced themselves in the same unit were rolling around with their bodies cut in half in just one day felt so worthless.

Therefore, he couldn’t bear it unless he convinced himself with the forced logic that this world was just a game, and if he tried to calculate the loss of each unit in a strategy game, he could never win… so this consumption was natural.

‘If soldiers are consumables anyway, whether it’s in the game or in reality….’

Every day, the pieces of flesh torn apart in front of his eyes were not people around him, but just units in the game… It was such a harsh environment that he could only protect his own heart in the middle of it, so Seo Jin chose to rationalize it instead.

『”It was the same in this mission. Rather than returning to save the Alpha Company in the middle, it was a safer judgment to enter the deep area and quickly finish the mission. In the end, the contaminated area would have been removed more quickly and the sacrifice would have been reduced.”』

On the other hand, Arcel was different.

『”I don’t know. I just… If I try a little harder and can save people, I want to help.”』

She was a strong person.

She was a true hero with a strong determination to be able to keep her own ideals without losing even those that Seo Jin had given up with efficiency as an excuse in an overwhelming situation…

『”Because that’s the responsibility that suits my strength.”』

No matter how difficult the time, she always prioritized others, tried to help those within reach, and didn’t even want a reward.

『”I’m sorry. I only know this way….”』

Courage that is even more valuable because it is taken for granted.
Shining like the sun that can never be reached,
Full of goodness and ideals,
That’s what she was like…

『”Is it a luxury to hope for a tomorrow where even a few more people can smile?”』

Why she didn’t take care of herself every time and went out for others.

It was frustrating to watch her get hurt while trying to help more people and save more people.

But that wasn’t just the frustration of watching a foolish choice from a distance… it always became an unknown emotion and shook his heart.

Every time he wrapped the bandage on the wound she risked to save someone,
Every time he saw her always smiling face without showing any pain,
Every time he found bruises on her fair skin,
Seo Jin scolded her without realizing it.

『”Arciel, you have too much affection.”』

No matter how strong you become, you are only one person.

There are things you can’t do alone.

Even if he tried to stop her like this, the answer that came back was always the same from then on.

『”Even if it’s impossible for me, you can do it, right?”』

Even if she is lacking, one person who can fill that deficiency.

Arciel trusted Seo Jin’s potential rather than her own abilities.

『”I believe it. If Seo Jin helps, we can definitely do even more. So I will never give up.”』

The reason why she could follow her beliefs without shaking was thanks to the conviction that she would someday achieve that impossibility with someone’s help.

A trust that he didn’t know when it had been built up so thickly,
That upright and honest expectation contained a very large expectation.

It was a weight that Seo Jin could never accept.

But as they say that those who are expected by others unknowingly try to live up to that expectation.

Did he become impressed by spending a lot of time together, overcoming difficult adversities together, and always watching her innate kindness and altruism from the side?

Next to her, Seo Jin also naturally changed without knowing it.

Before he knew it, he was also fighting to protect people like someone he admired, not just making judgments for victory.

He may not always have such sublime goodness in his heart like her, but at least he wanted to become a person who walked that path together… before he knew it, he had become like that.

Because they were each other who became more and more alike as they were together and got to know each other. The wish she wanted became the thing he wanted.

From then on, Seo Jin used all the means and knowledge he remembered from the original game to make Arcel strong.

So that she could practice her upright ideals forever.

Giving her strength was not all. He fought alongside the true hero. For the future she was drawing, Seo Jin also acted and practiced together, and watched the fate change.

A much more positive war situation than the story of the original he remembered. Humanity that has not lost hope. His hero, who was recognized by many people as his achievements piled up, and the beliefs that did not change despite that. He had watched the dedication from the side.

As Seo Jin wanted, Arcel established herself as everyone’s hero.

And even to the point of receiving the highest honor of the Allied Government to commemorate the hero who showed the greatest merit in protecting humanity, the ‘Guardian Medal’…

Even that honor was not enough compared to what Arcel had done so far, he still vividly remembered the time when everyone praised and envied her even now.

Really a lot of people gathered.

In order to watch the new hero being created, the street outside the Allied Government building where the award ceremony was taking place was packed with people.

And Arcel, who went on stage with countless cheers, was really breathtakingly beautiful.

In the square where the sunlight was pouring down, wearing the symbol representing the highest honor on her chest, and her speech to the many people about the hope of the morning that would appear after the darkest night was one of the results that Seo Jin would never forget.

The awkward smile she showed after meeting again after all the schedules were over-

The voice that whispered shyly that she was really nervous inside when they were left alone-

Taking off the medal she had received and giving it to Seo Jin directly, saying that she would not have been able to come this far without him, and the lips she stole before his answer as well….

『”This is a medal I’m giving you.”』

A shy smile after stepping back.

Every moment was so beautiful that it was a memory that was overwhelming just to recall it.

It became the most valuable treasure Seo Jin had found in this world.

He vowed that he could really endure anything in order to protect the starlight reflected in her eyes that day.

He had no doubt that the justice and belief that Arcel held would change the predetermined fate of this world and save everyone…

But the name of the hero who was more righteous than anyone else was tainted so easily.

『”As a result of the special investigation, it is declared that the field commander ‘Arciel Daylight’ is responsible for the failure of the [Dawn of Humanity] operation on charges of embezzling operation budget, improperly appointing personnel, disobeying orders, and 12 other charges. However, considering that the accused has already died, no additional disciplinary action will be discussed.”』

With just one failure, those who praised her dedication disappeared like a handful of sand.

No one remembered what kind of battles Arcel had fought so far, what kind of sacrifices she had made, and how much she had been hurt but still moved forward for everyone.

All that was left for the hero who was defiled with infamy was only one spot in the national cemetery.

At the time, Seo Jin didn’t even feel betrayed by such a world.

There was only one reason, it was because of too deep despair.

The sadness of losing the most precious person in vain came first, so he couldn’t see anything.
He just blamed and pessimized his own shortcomings.

But… he knows now.

『”If you follow me, I’ll tell you all the stories you’re curious about, Teacher.”』

The truth that Arcel’s death was not a failure of any fate, but simply a sacrifice of trivial interests. He realized it belatedly and sensed it.

The reason why he couldn’t die with her when he lost his precious her was this.

The moment he realized that there was revenge left to be repaid, he vowed to achieve it no matter what.

He won’t say that it’s for her.

If Arcel had been alive,
Because she was so kind, she would have stopped even this for sure.

But, even so, the revenge he couldn’t give up was really-

『”Teacher’s revenge, I’ll help you. In return, I want something.”』

It was also a selfish choice.

In order to achieve the desired result, Seo Jin was prepared to endure anything.

Even if the price was… the result of betraying even his own heart towards her…

『”From now on, please hold me every night.”』

Seo Jin, had no choice but to accept it.

『”How is it? Isn’t it a pretty good deal?”』