I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 55

She ran forward recklessly, without a clear destination in mind.

The wound on her side stung. She’d done what she could with bandages, but it hadn’t healed in just one day.

Why was she running like this?

To survive? But if so, why did she want to live?

Questions with no answers filled her mind.

Out of breath, she reached the edge of the city, where a massive gate loomed before her.

And surrounding it were soldiers, their identity concealed.

“…”

She stopped and hid herself.

Noticing the emblem of the Association on their uniforms, it was clear they were looking for her.

What should she do?

Blue Shark had told her to get inside the gate, but could she really break through these soldiers?

The only thing she could rely on was the water bubble protecting her.

But even that wasn’t perfect.

There was no time to hesitate. The soldiers were getting closer to where she was hiding.

If she stayed like this, she’d surely be captured.

Gritting her teeth, she charged forward.

“Target sighted!”

“Permission to fire is granted!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunfire filled the air.

The bullets were blocked by the water bubble, but its thickness gradually thinned with each impact.

At this rate, it would vanish before she reached the gate.

There was nothing she could do but keep running with everything she had, as if her legs might break.

Some soldiers even tried to stop her physically when their bullets proved ineffective.

The bubble repelled them all, but it was reaching its limit.

Pop!

The bubble burst, leaving her completely exposed.

But the gate was just within reach. Just a little further… Just a little…

Bang!

“Ugh!”

She nearly fell forward but somehow managed to keep her balance.

She forced strength into her left leg, limping as she moved forward.

Finally, she reached the gate and touched it.

With a flash of light, she lost consciousness.

—

“The target has entered the gate.”

“Await further instructions from the Association.”

“Understood.”

—

When she regained consciousness, she realized she was lying on the ground.

A sharp pain radiated from her leg.

Is this how much it hurts to be shot?

She thought she’d built up a tolerance to pain, but this was unbearable.

But she didn’t have time to wallow.

If the soldiers followed He in, she’d be killed.

She needed to hide, but what if she ran into a monster?

Either way, she had no way of defending himself in her current state.

Was this bleak future all that awaited her?

A sense of meaninglessness washed over her.

Physical pain, no matter how severe, could be endured.

But what was there to gain by enduring?

Nothing.

In the end, more pain would simply follow.

This wasn’t what she wanted.

This wasn’t why she’d joined the demons.

At the very least, she’d hoped to reach the sanctuary safely.

Why was the academy so aggressive in its pursuit?

Was it because she was the Messiah destined to save the world?

What even was a Messiah?

Why were those who had simply watched the original story now so determined to torment her?

Bitterness toward the world.

Deep-seated anger.

Emptiness.

All the negative emotions she had suppressed came rushing in, like a dam breaking.

She let go of them, one by one.

Pointless emotions.

Any lingering attachment to life.

Treasured memories and wistful longing.

There was no escape from this place.

She would die soon enough.

With nothing left to hold onto, her heart felt lighter.

It was all so simple.

If she’d realized it was this easy, maybe she would have succeeded in ending her life sooner.

Slowly, she stood up.

Strangely, her leg no longer hurt.

The surrounding scenery came into focus.

“…Heaven?”

It was a landscape so beautiful it could easily be mistaken for paradise.

A noble sanctuary stood atop the clouds, flanked by numerous angel statues.

Each one knelt as if in reverent worship.

She limped forward, carefully observing the scene.

Was there such a gate in the original story?

She couldn’t remember. If there had been, she would have recalled it.

Strangely, there was no sign of any monsters.

Monsters weren’t always in every gate, but within a gate, their presence was usually guaranteed.

Unless the gate was on the verge of closing due to the disappearance of the magic core.

Was the gate closing?

But who would be doing that?

She didn’t know.

And she didn’t care.

If the gate closed and she starved here, that wouldn’t be so bad.

With no hope for life, she felt detached.

She continued toward the sanctuary, the angel statues still kneeling.

Finally, she reached the end of the sanctuary.

A towering angel statue with six wings held a staff and flower, its serene smile radiant.

But there was no monster or magic core in sight, nor any people. It didn’t matter.

All she wanted now was rest.

She didn’t want to go on in this painful world.

She collapsed in front of the statue and closed her eyes.

That’s enough. I’ve had enough.

Let it all end.

—

“So, this is where you were.”

A voice broke the silence of the sanctuary.

When she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar holy sword before her.

And, of course, its wielder.

Why was she here?

“Han Si-hyun.”

“Yoo Hana. So you’re done running? I didn’t expect you to be dozing off here.”

Behind Han Si-hyun were several people.

Some were armed soldiers, others academy students, most of whom wore disciplinary armbands.

“Don’t you have anything to say?”

“…”

She had nothing to say.

All she wanted was for them to end this.

Han Si-hyun muttered, biting her lip.

“Even to the end, you refuse to apologize.”

So that’s it.

She hadn’t come here out of duty to eliminate a demon.

It was personal revenge, born from nearly losing her older sister.

She did feel sorry for the student council president.

Even if it was orchestrated by the assistant principal, she had been the one to stab her.

If she’d gone a little deeper, or if she’d been left untreated a bit longer, she might have died.

But she couldn’t bring himself to apologize.

Or rather, she didn’t want to.

I’m suffering too.

I’m the one struggling the most here.

You don’t know anything.

You’re all being deceived by the teacher.

Just like before.

Everyone cares only about their own pain, never acknowledging mine.

Not just Han Si-hyun.

Everyone in this world.

Including herself.

So she was done.

Done with this wretched world.

It was all fake, just a fabricated world.

A mere illusion from a novel.

They say I’m the Messiah meant to save the world?

Then I won’t save anyone.

Let it all end. The world. Myself. Everything.

“Goodbye.”

Just as Han Si-hyun’s sword was about to swing—

“Stop!!”

A desperate voice cried out from behind.

Once again, it was Kim Si woo.

—

“Stop!!”

All eyes turned to the boy who had shouted.

He had followed them all the way here, but he couldn’t hide anymore.

The commander, furious at his subordinate’s outburst, yelled,

“What do you think you’re doing!?”

“Shut the hell up.”

A rebellious voice beside him.

Yeonhwa threw off her mask, glaring at Si-hyun with a fierce expression.

“You ungrateful wench. Is this really how you want to live?”

“What are you talking about? I’m just doing my duty and dealing with a demon. And don’t act like I owe anyone anything.”

“Don’t lie! Who do you think saved you from expulsion? It was her, begging each of our classmates, gathering signatures to stop it! Isn’t that right?!”

“…”

The commander, realizing the situation, ordered his troops.

“They’re enemies! Attack! Lethal force permitted!”

“Lethal force? Great.”

Flames erupted from Yeonhwa’s entire body, spreading across the sanctuary floor.

Only her immediate surroundings and Hana’s remained untouched.

Standing near Hana, Si-hyun scowled.

“Do you understand what this means?”

“Of course. Exterminating pests.”

“…”

Si woo and Valentina removed their masks and uniforms as well.

Valentina glared at Si-hyun.

“I’m no fan of delinquents, but I fully agree with her. Are you really here for a noble cause?”

“What difference does it make? A demon tried to kill my sister. Isn’t that reason enough?”

Si woo looked at her with pity and tried to persuade her one last time.

“I understand. But at least ask why first. There might have been a reason. Or maybe something you misunderstood. So…”

Si-hyun hesitated briefly but shook her head.

“It’s too late. Yoo Hana dies here.”

“You’re really testing my patience—!”

“Wait! Hana’s gone!”

“What?!”

Hana had vanished.

The flames that had protected them from the enemies now served as a barrier.

Where could she have gone?

Yeonhwa quickly extinguished the flames, and there she saw her.

Yoo Hana, pierced by the spear held by a violet-haired girl.

Red blood poured onto the floor.

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