Chapter 76: After winter.

She skillfully leaps over the debris blocking the hallway.

There were so many things to do that this debris hadn’t been cleared away yet.

It’s familiar territory now.

Knock, knock—

After knocking, she waited quietly.

It felt like she waited quite a while, but there was no answer.

“Teacher, may I come in?”

She opens the door and steps into the room.

The inside was mostly cleaned up, somewhat resembling its former appearance.

The bed where Seohee sat with Chayeon in front of her on the first day was also neatly made.

In these times that could be considered a state of emergency, finding a place this intact was rare even in Jindal.

The teacher was not visible.

Could she have gone out somewhere?

She had intended to stop by one last time before leaving, so she was a little anxious about what to do if she didn’t come back.

Correction.

There was another place to stop by last.

Well, since Teacher Seohee has clairvoyance and X-ray vision, she would quickly realize Chayeon had stopped by and come looking for her.

Since there was plenty of time, let’s wait a bit.

As she was about to sit on the bed, her gaze suddenly turned to the mirror on the dressing table.

Come to think of it, there was a dressing table in my room in the dream that looked exactly like this one.

Was that dressing table a subconscious recreation based on the memory of seeing it in Seohee’s room?

Chayeon went to the dressing table and sat down.

In the mirror, a girl with sparkling ruby-colored eyes was staring intently back at her.

Thinking about it, it’s been a while since I consciously looked in the mirror.

There were no mirrors in the dorm rooms at Jindal, and even when I went to the bathroom, my gaze strangely didn’t go toward the mirror.

I might have been subconsciously rejecting it.

Black hair with red tips swayed.

“Hmm, is it a little too big?”

She had that suspicion anew.

No, it’s a certainty.

My hair is a bit longer, I seem a little taller, and my chest has gotten bigger.

My face looks more mature than right after the change, too.

This body, it does grow.

She stealthily puts her hand on her chest.

Is it too late for this curiosity?

She casually lifts them up.

They were light.

Arena’s had more weight to them.

This time, her curiosity turned toward her hair.

She hasn’t been tying her hair up since that day.

“I think I’m kind of pretty.”

[What the.]

“Why, what is it?”

[…Nothing.]

She gathers her hair and tries a ponytail.

It was a familiar hairstyle.

After undoing it, she roughly combs it with her fingers and brings it forward over her shoulders.

It looks a little more mature.

She tries braiding her hair.

This was difficult because she wasn’t used to it.

This time, she parts her hair on both sides, into pigtails.

“Chayeon likes that hairstyle?”

Pause.

Chayeon, who was holding her hair in pigtails, freezes in place.

Her head turns creakingly like a tin doll.

“T-Teacher… how long have you been there…?”

“Not too long.

Since when Chayeon started fondling her chest?”

“Oh…”

All the blood in her body rushed to her head.

Chayeon’s face turns as red as those eyes.

Still, she hadn’t been caught making the problematic statement that even Heukgu was shocked by, so perhaps that was somewhat fortunate.

“If I had known Chayeon liked that style, I would have bought you a set of hair ties?”

“No, this was just out of curiosity…!”

“Okay, okay, just sit there.”

Seohee gently dissuades Chayeon, who was flustered and trying to get up, and approaches her.

Seohee, standing behind Chayeon who was sitting on the chair with her head bowed, gently strokes Chayeon’s hair.

Then, she began to braid the side hair that was hanging down on one side.

Chayeon stared with wide eyes as Seohee braided her hair.

When Seohee skillfully finished, a girl with a completely different image, her side hair braided and hanging down, was looking back at her in the mirror.

“How is it?”

“You’re skilled.”

“That’s not what I was asking about my skills.”

“…It looks more mature.”

She was going to say it looks older, but she changed the expression because it felt somehow off-putting.

“It suits you.”

“…Can’t you undo it?”

“Why? It’s pretty, though?”

“It is, but still…”

As Chayeon trailed off, Seohee smiled and undid her hair.

Her long, straight hair swayed without a single tangle, returning to its original state.

“Chayeon, do you know you have incredibly blessed hair?”

“Yes, roughly.”

“Look at this kid. She says it so casually.”

Swish, swish.

Seohee, who had already brought over a comb, gently brushed Chayeon’s hair.

“You’re leaving today, right?”

“Yes.”

“I see. I wonder what I’ll do, feeling lonely for a while.”

Two months.

Two months have passed since that day.

Jindal was holding its ground with a small number of survivors, carrying out restoration and rescue operations.

Chayeon’s clearing out all the remaining demons in Jindal, and the fact that her heart was unharmed, played a big role.

“Before you go…

…You’ll stop by, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Let’s go together, Teacher and I.”

Leaving the comb, she patted her on the back, and Chayeon got up from her seat.

She quickly followed Seohee, who was leaving the room ahead of her.

The two of them left the building and headed toward the back mountain.

They went over a low hill, following a well-paved path.

Before long, two mounds appeared.

One was neatly maintained and had a tombstone, but the other one clearly looked makeshift.

It was Yeonkyung’s grave.

“Yeonkyung unni, I’m here.”

Seohee approached the roughly made grave and placed the wildflowers she had picked along the way in front of it.

“The world is in such chaos that there’s nowhere to get proper flowers.”

Chayeon watched Seohee talking to Yeonkyung, then stepped forward herself.

She took out a pair of black leather gloves from her pocket.

“I’m so sorry it took me so long to return these.”

Next to the white wildflowers that Seohee had placed, Yeonkyung’s black leather gloves were laid down.

That day, the day Seohee was saved and the heart’s control finally stopped, Yeonkyung gave instructions to everyone amidst the pouring winter rain.

–It’s not over yet. There might be survivors! Find the survivors while wiping out all the remaining demons!

Leaving the newly awakened Seohee to rest, Yeonkyung held her position.

The remaining people, including Chayeon, went to search for survivors according to Yeonkyung’s instructions.

After the search of the area was over, and they had rescued some survivors, what Chayeon saw upon returning was Yeonkyung collapsed on top of a puddle and Seohee silently sitting there holding her hand.

Next to them, the heart, completely purified from its wounds, was throbbing.

Getting this far was a miracle in itself, Wolmyo said nonchalantly.

The power to save lives, the power to resurrect, naturally demands a great price.

The moment she revived the star, Yeonkyung’s death was certain.

And yet, Yeonkyung had survived until Jindal.

How she was able to do that, neither Seohee nor Wolmyo knew the reason.

“Is it a little more comfortable over there? I wonder if you’ve relieved some of the burden on your shoulders now.”

Seohee glanced at the grave next to her.

She was lying next to her husband.

“After that day, responsibility was unni’s catchphrase.”

After losing her husband to the demon, Yeonkyung constantly blamed herself.

It was all her fault, constantly, constantly.

Even when Seohee, Yuna, and Wolmyo denied it, Yeonkyung blamed herself, crying for days and nights.

Then, one day, Yeonkyung suddenly stopped crying.

–I’m going to be the director.

To fulfill her responsibility.

After that day, Yeonkyung didn’t cry.

She maintained a strictly professional relationship with her friends and distanced herself from personal feelings.

The other three also accepted Yeonkyung’s attitude and kept their distance from each other.

“I was afraid that unni was gradually losing herself, that she would become someone I didn’t know.”

Seohee quietly murmured.

As if Yeonkyung would lose all human emotions and become someone who would sacrifice the few without hesitation for the sake of the many.

Was it just a concern?

Although she showed an increasingly cruel side, in the end, she couldn’t continue that charade until the end.

There was still affection left in her, her true nature remained, and there was lingering attachment.

It was a painful irony that she was caught by Mephistopheles because of that lingering attachment.

“Talking about responsibility until the end, that’s just like you, unni.”

When she was alone with Seohee, Yeonkyung conveyed her last words to Seohee.

–Yeonkyung unni…

–Seohee… is that you? I can’t see well. Can you tell everyone? …Yeah. Just tell me.

…I’m sorry, I couldn’t take, responsibility…

“I wonder what responsibility was to unni.”

With those words, Seohee blankly stared into the air.

Seohee’s appearance looked so ephemeral that just as Chayeon was about to reach out her hand, Seohee opened her mouth again.

Her voice was the same as usual.

“Chayeon, do you have time? Isn’t Arena waiting for you?”

“…That’s right. I think I should get going soon.”

“Yeah, go ahead. Teacher will stay here a little longer and then go.”

Seohee patted Chayeon on the shoulder.

Chayeon hugged Seohee without a word.

Oh my, you’ve become such a spoiled child, Seohee stroked Chayeon’s hair.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Yeah. See you again soon.”

Chayeon left Seohee behind and went down the path she had come from.

Unlike herself, Seohee unni is an adult.

She will overcome it soon.

She believed that the slight trembling she felt when she was hugged would soon subside.

She came down from the mountain and headed west.

Ruined buildings were visible, and people gathered here and there for restoration work.

How many places on Earth are as safe as this one?

But according to the stories she hears, it’s not necessarily the case.

A few days after the outbreak of Hexennacht, strange signs appeared among the survivors.

They could see something like a hologram in front of their eyes, and they could gain special abilities by using something called points.

Points could be obtained by catching demons, and the abilities acquired with the points became powerful weapons to resist demons.

People called this emerging hologram a status window.

Even among those with status windows, each person had unique abilities or traits, and usable weapons were different.

Humans scattered in various countries used their newly developed abilities to ensure their survival.

After a month, some regions regained stability through the people who had developed status windows.

As safe places emerged, people tried to take refuge there, and forces began to form around them.

Those who had developed status windows were called Hunters.

[We were born after the first Hexennacht.]

Heukgu shared his thoughts after hearing the news.

[That is a very distant old story. At that time, many humans had faith and worshiped divine beings.]

The first Hexennacht.

Demons poured into the human world by Mephistopheles.

[I’m not sure, but our deities suddenly appeared. At first, we seemed to have human forms too… it’s been so long that I don’t remember well.]

And, something called deities is born.

[Perhaps it’s the other way around. It’s not that humans intervened in the war between deities and demons.]

-Demons invade the human world, and as a defense mechanism for humanity, deities and supernatural powers are manifested.

At the time, the beliefs, thoughts, and paradigms of the majority of humanity were based on faith in divine beings and such worldviews.

On the other hand, in modern times, gods and deities were often dismissed as superstition.

Instead, the situation where demons invade and the world is destroyed reminded modern people of something different.

Games.

Most of those who awakened as hunters were young people.

To them, this situation was something they had only encountered in games or novels.

Thus, a resistance ability suited to that level of thinking and consciousness is activated.

The second defense mechanism of humanity, facing the second Hexennacht.

[Of course, all of this is just my speculation.]

At the time, Heukgu finished the story like that.

It was a story that didn’t matter to Chayeon anyway.

Whether it was deities or supernatural powers or hunters, what was important was that the population that could fight against demons had increased.

Because it would definitely be helpful in the work that Chayeon would have to do in the future.

Before she knew it, she had passed the ruined buildings and was reaching the outskirts.

Jindal’s grove is to the northwest.

To the right of Jindal’s grove, that is, to the north, is the maple forest that Chayeon had visited once.

Silence reigned.

The quietness brought back memories of that day.

Yeonkyung ordered a search, and while Chayeon was searching here and there to find survivors, Jin Sira appeared and blocked her path.

[…You’ve come.]

Heukgu muttered, and Chayeon also flinched and stopped.

A memory she had temporarily forgotten.

Heukgu’s vow to dedicate everything to her.

Jin Sira’s purple eyes shone.

There was no expression on her face.

“Brother.”

Sira, the Baekgumiho, called Heukgu in a voice devoid of emotion.

[…It’s time to leave. Even if I disappear, I have taken measures to suppress Mephistopheles.]

“…Heukgu.”

[Thank you for everything until now.]

“…Why.”

Why, why did you make such a promise.

She couldn’t bring herself to say those words.

Because she knew better than anyone else that it was to save Seohee, and for Chayeon who wanted to save Seohee.

[It’s okay, Chayeon. You are no longer the child hiding in the blanket that day.]

[You stood up on your own. There was no need for me to infuse strength or stabilize your mind. You stood up with your own power. Be proud.]

[You’re speechless. Why don’t you act like the vessel of this body.]

Heukgu’s resonance, like the one she had felt once before, was comfortable and peaceful.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Thank you, t-thank you, ugh.”

[Geez, you’re still as prone to tears as ever.]

In the end, she burst into tears.

She had received so much.

To Heukgu, Chayeon was already hell.

He had taken her out of the dark room.

The day Heukgu first came in, her daily life was ruined, but still, if there was someone she could truly call Dad, it was…

Grind.

Suddenly, she heard a harsh grinding sound.

Wiping away her tears and lifting her head, she saw Sira, no, the Baekgumiho, glaring at her while grinding her teeth.

Her face was contorted as much as possible.

She was glaring as if she were looking at an enemy.

“…Really, you guys, are the worst!”

The Baekgumiho threw away her refined way of speaking and spat out those words.

“…Huh?”

“You’re the worst, the worst! What’s with dedicating everything! Don’t be ridiculous! Don’t be ridiculous!”

Thump, thump, she stomped her feet in frustration.

Clang, clang, the bells hanging from her waist rang.

“Hey, you!”

“Y-Yes?”

Due to the overwhelming force, she involuntarily used polite speech.

“Don’t think this is the end. Someday, I will definitely take away everything, your brother’s body, his heart, everything! Not in this way, but so that he can only think of me!”

With those last words, the Baekgumiho turned around and tried to fly away… but then turned back again.

Her eyes were gently drooping, and her eyes were filled with tears.

It was Jin Sira.

“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

[Hurry up and go!]

“Y-Yes!”

And, this time, Jin Sira disappeared from sight.

“…What is she, anyway.”

[Hmph, sorry. She’s my sister… don’t try to understand that crazy woman.]

Before she knew it, her tears had dried, and the cool breeze blowing over the marks only made them feel numb.

As she entered the western path, the collapsed stone walls and desolate branches disappeared, and the path began to fill with pink.

There are two famous attractions in Jindal.

With Jindal’s grove in the northwest, there is the maple forest to the north, and the cherry blossom path is famous to the west.

Although many places had collapsed, the cherry blossom path, which was miraculously intact, was in full bloom, spreading the scent of flowers.

Spring had already come, and the ground was covered with white and pink petals, creating a scene that could only be seen in movies.

For Chayeon, who had entered Jindal last summer, it was naturally a scene she was seeing for the first time.

As if she had returned to the world before, she was walking leisurely along the path, feeling the peaceful atmosphere, when she caught sight of a familiar silhouette in the distance.

She was waving her hand vigorously.

“Jeon Chayeon! You’re late!”

“I was saying goodbye to Teacher.”

“Hmph! Really.”

Arena puffed out her cheeks and put her hands on her hips.

Now that she was aware of it, she felt it anew.

The height difference had decreased quite a bit.

“Is Byeol at the entrance?”

“She’s already at the entrance.”

“Is it okay for her to be alone?”

“There are other people with her. And I think she’ll be fine alone.”

At those words, Chayeon chuckled.

It’s just as she said.

She still couldn’t forget Byeol’s line.

I ripped off that b*tch’s face.

“Let’s go quickly.”

“…Yeah!”

Arena smiled brightly.

Chayeon smiled along.

Seohee and the others in Jindal will take care of things well.

There was still work for Chayeon, Arena, and Byeol to do.

Even if hunters, beings different from those with supernatural abilities, had appeared, the world was still in crisis.

To deal with the remaining demons, they are expected to move with fire in their feet.

So, for now, it would be okay to walk a little slower, right?

As if Arena knew what Chayeon was thinking, she walked along the cherry blossom path, matching her slow pace, contrary to what she had said.

“Wow-“

When the wind blew, cherry blossoms fluttered.

It was a spectacular sight.

Chayeon and Arena admired the scene while looking up, and then smiled.

There is still much left, but it’s okay now.

She was no longer afraid of demons.

The two girls held hands tightly and moved forward.

The unusually long winter had passed.

Where they had passed,

New buds were sprouting.

-The Black Fox of the Supernatural Academy, End.