Chapter 40: Back and forth

Simon often felt that he was being too willful.

Overall, the injuries he suffered today weren’t serious. A few days of rest should be enough to recover.

But the sense of loss and irritation in his heart kept piling up, making him uncontrollably want to see that girl.

Even though he knew he should restrain himself, he couldn’t help thinking about her.

And so, he acted on it.

Though the bruises on his body still throbbed with pain, his anticipation of seeing Conflor was enough to make him ignore it.

If he had to describe it, being by her side always brought him a faint sense of… happiness.

Under the dark night sky, moonlight poured down.

Following that light, he saw her, white hair reflecting the soft glow of the moon. The girl he longed for.

Simon raised his hand to greet her, only to realize she seemed lost in thought and didn’t respond.

Not wanting to interrupt, he simply walked toward her.

Just as he was one step away, a strange noise came from the dark alley.

Simon instinctively turned his head and saw a surge of deep-blue magical energy, the lingering trace of frost magic.

What should he do?

His mind questioned, but his body moved first.

He shouted “Shopkeeper!” and grabbed her hand, pulling her back several steps in an instant.

He watched as the spreading frost grazed the edge of her clothes, his heart pounding wildly.

It felt as if he had almost lost his entire world.

“Are you alright, shopkeeper?”

Simon was still shaken.

“Thanks to you, I’m fine.”

The white-haired girl shook her head gently as she spoke.

Good thing he made it. Good thing this world allowed him to make it in time.

That meant he still had hope to live on.

“Simon?”

He looked over and noticed the shopkeeper’s slightly puzzled expression.

“What is it?”

“Your hand.”

She hesitated before saying just that one word.

Only then did Simon realize he had been holding her hand the whole time, and tightly at that.

He could clearly feel her hand, soft and delicate, like a feather resting in his palm, carrying a comforting warmth.

Yet he also noticed faint calluses along her fingers and palm, just like his.

Not thinking much of it, he quickly let go.

Lila, however, was far from pleased.

Simon’s grip had been far too strong, squeezing her fingers together painfully.

And now, she realized something else.

Simon’s feelings toward her, toward Conflor, weren’t just gratitude. There was something more… a kind of affection between a man and a woman.

Though not overwhelming, it was undeniably there.

That realization disgusted her.

She despised such feelings, especially when they came from a man.

She hadn’t cared much during the hand-holding itself, but now that she recognized the emotion behind it, she couldn’t stand it.

If she weren’t maintaining Conflor’s calm and gentle persona, she would have already snapped.

But the most urgent matter was still the ambusher in the alley. Lila suppressed her disgust for now.

Footsteps echoed from within the alley.

Both of them looked toward the darkness, trying to make out the figure.

“Simon… even at a time like this, you still choose her?”

The voice came before the figure revealed itself, stepping out of the shadows.

When they saw who it was, both were stunned.

“…Alice?”

Simon froze, disbelief in his voice.

How could the girl he had known for over a decade become like this?

Her silver hair no longer shone, as if covered in dust. Her once-clear blue eyes were now tangled with dark red threads, exuding an ominous aura. And her face bore a crazed smile he could never have imagined.

“Why… has it come to this?”

Simon muttered unconsciously.

Lila was equally shocked.

Why was Alice the one attacking her?

Then a thought struck her.

Compared to ordinary enemies, there was a far more dangerous threat lurking within the academy.

A demon subordinate.

“Why… why was it you who saved her?”

Alice’s manic laughter ceased. Tears streamed down her face, her expression filled with sorrow.

“You’re Alice, right? Why would you do something like this to the shopkeeper? Why?”

Simon kept questioning, unable to believe the kind-hearted Alice would suddenly try to kill someone.

Alice tilted her head. Her tears stopped.

“Because I love you, Simon.”

Her expression twisted violently. She grabbed her hair, then pointed fiercely at Lila.

“It’s because of her! Because she got in the way, your attention was taken from me, wasn’t it?!”

“As long as she dies, everything will go back to normal! You won’t look at other women anymore!”

Her voice turned hysterical.

‘For such an ugly and cheap reason?’

Unlike the concern she showed outwardly, Lila inwardly sneered.

To her, love was always something ugly, those who believed in it were greedy and arrogant.

They convinced themselves that such feelings were noble, then greedily sought to possess everything about the other person.

They never cared how the other felt, only taking endlessly, until all goodwill was consumed and turned into pure disgust.

She had experienced it before.

That was why she despised it.

“It’s not like that, Alice! I’ve always seen you as my closest family!”

Simon hurriedly explained.

“Is that so?”

Alice seemed to think for a moment.

Then suddenly waved her hand.

Frozen arrows suspended in the air surged forward toward Lila.

But Simon had already been watching her closely.

He reacted instantly.

Without hesitation, he threw himself forward, tackling the shopkeeper to the ground.

Even at the limit of his reaction speed, he couldn’t fully avoid the attack.

Something cold scraped across his back.

Then came searing pain, so intense he could barely stand.

“Why?! Why do you have to protect her?!”

Alice gritted her teeth.

Lila looked at Simon’s back.

His clothes were torn, revealing a long wound stretching across it. Blood flowed continuously, shattering her composure.

A flicker of anger rose within her.

Simon was just her tool.

A tool to extend her life.

His injury shouldn’t have affected her this much.

When she had prepared to block the attack earlier, she had chosen to suppress her power to maintain her disguise.

That was why he got hurt.

Perhaps… it was because he was her possession.

And her possession had been damaged.

That must be why she was angry.

Even so, Lila hid her emotions.

“Simon, let me heal you.”

She gathered holy light in her hand.

The light flowed into the wound, gradually closing it.

“Thank you!”

Simon stood up and faced Alice, his gaze firm.

“Alice, I know you wouldn’t do this. Let’s talk, things aren’t as bad as you think!”

Alice burst into laughter.

He protected her.

She healed him.

Bitterness flooded her heart.

‘Why?’

Why wasn’t it her?

Jealousy burned violently in her eyes.

‘So painful.’

‘So painful.’

‘So painful.’

Her expression collapsed completely, consumed by negative emotions.

Whether it was truly Alice’s will or not.

Her body had already decided.

She would kill the shopkeeper.

And keep Simon by her side forever.

Dead or alive.

The power within her burst forth, tearing through her body.

Black, thorny vines erupted from her flesh.

From her left eye, a bud emerged, quickly blooming into a violet flower.

“Alice…”

Simon called out weakly.

But the monster before him could no longer respond.

Powerless.

Always powerless.

He could only watch as everything he cared about fell apart.

He needed strength.

No matter the source.

The monster drew in mana wildly, the air itself turning a lifeless deep blue.

Simon couldn’t stop now.

He had to protect her.

So he resolved to accept that power.

There was no other way.

But just as he made that decision…

The white-haired girl stepped in front of him.

“Don’t worry, Simon. Leave this to me.”

Her voice was calm and firm.

Then she faced the monster, a mischievous thought surfacing.

‘If you made me angry, I’ll repay you.’

Lila stared at the creature without fear.

“So you’re a monster born from jealousy of my relationship with Simon?”

“Then let me tell you. I do like Simon.”

The monster convulsed wildly.

Its vines lashed out, piercing buildings like steel.

Simon froze.

Even in danger, a faint joy rose in his heart.

‘She… likes me?’

Then Conflor turned back, her expression calm and reassuring.

“Think of it as a dream. When you wake up, everything will return to normal.”

“Wha-”

Before he could finish, a strike hit his neck.

His vision faded.

In his final moment, he saw only a pure white figure bathed in radiant light.