I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 67

A tense standoff continued, the sharp edge of the blade at White Sheep’s throat, a threat that could deliver a deadly strike at any moment.

White Sheep remained calm, making no sudden moves. She halted her attack, opting instead to engage in conversation.

“Do you really want me to remove my mask?”

“Don’t play games. Take it off now, or I’ll cut you down.”

“Despite what you’re saying, you’re hesitating. Why is that?”

“Shut up.”

Si-hyun retorted coldly, but couldn’t completely conceal a flicker of hesitation. White Sheep seized the opportunity. A radiant wave of light pulsed from her, pushing everything around her away—including the threat behind her.

Thrown backward, Si-hyun quickly regained her stance, summoning multiple swords of light in mid-air, her gaze filled with relentless determination.

Why did she look at her with such intensity?

White Sheep couldn’t understand, but there was an unsettling feeling in her heart. A lingering sense of unease she couldn’t shake.

But now wasn’t the time for introspection.

Her allies were still engaged in battle with the shrine maiden, and she had a task to complete—to find the Grail and return.

She couldn’t forget her teacher’s orders either. As White Sheep murmured softly, radiant chains sprouted from the ground, trapping her opponent within a cage of light.

The blades in the air slashed at the radiant prison, following Si-hyun’s gestures in a deadly dance, cutting into the walls of the cage. Despite her efforts, the cage remained durable, resisting her assault.

It became evident, even after just a short exchange, that there was a significant difference in skill. In a one-on-one fight, White Sheep had little chance of winning.

But they weren’t alone in the shrine.

A crackling blue lightning bolt surged toward her. White Sheep turned and extended her hand, conjuring a protective barrier of holy light around herself, just barely absorbing the brunt of the lightning’s power.

Grinding his teeth, Si woo shouted.

“Yoo Hana! If you keep resisting, I’ll force you to come with me… I won’t lose you this time!”

“…”

White Sheep was in a precarious position, flanked by enemies. Continuing the fight here could lead to unforeseen complications.

Retreating to reposition herself seemed the best course. Her best bet was to break through Si-hyun.

As if sensing her intent, Si-hyun emerged from the cage, sword in hand, watching White Sheep intently.

White Sheep raised her hand, conjuring a staff of light that stretched into shape.

Both girls lunged forward simultaneously.

Their weapons collided in a fierce clash, followed by Si-hyun’s summoned swords, which launched toward White Sheep in rapid succession.

One, two, three strikes—all blocked with flawless precision by White Sheep. It was an impressive feat. The Hana he’d known was never this agile.

The radiant aura surrounding White Sheep appeared to enhance her physical capabilities, making her faster and more powerful.

Si woo wasn’t idle either.

Drawing a deep breath, he released a fiery breath that surged toward her.

Unfazed, White Sheep leapt into the air, grabbing a nearby pillar and using its momentum to propel herself back down. Light surged around her staff as she gathered power.

She directed her attack at the bandaged girl with the sword.

Si-hyun lowered herself, locking her gaze upward, swinging her sword at just the right moment.

Another fierce clash ensued.

“Ugh…!”

This time, Si-hyun was clearly at a disadvantage.

She tried to hold her ground but was steadily forced back, unable to fully block the attack.

The light sword in her hand flickered and vanished.

White Sheep’s staff shot toward Si-hyun’s chest, but at the last second, Si woo intervened, deflecting the blow just enough that it only grazed her side. Even so, the glancing impact left Si-hyun visibly injured.

In contrast, White Sheep showed no reaction to the sword embedded in her shoulder.

After all, she’d endured much worse during her six months of rigorous training under her teacher, fighting beasts within the Gate. A mere wound like this was nothing.

She touched the wound, and, as if rewinding time, it healed instantly.

New swords appeared around Si woo, soaring toward her like arrows, but they, too, were blocked by her defenses.

White Sheep fought with a calm, almost mechanical efficiency, as if nothing could phase her.

But for the first time, she seemed visibly affected, muttering in disbelief as she watched her opponent.

“…Are you imitating my abilities?”

Eyes closed, Si woo appeared to be concentrating deeply. Gradually, a holy light began to bloom around him.

—

“It’s… a bit unsettling,” a classmate had once told him.

He understood what they meant, and he couldn’t blame them for feeling that way.

Ability Mimicry.

That was the power he’d awakened to.

Just as the name suggested, it allowed him to replicate others’ abilities.

Even with such potential, people’s reactions were often mixed. During his first year, he’d struggled with control, but his potential alone had earned him plenty of attention and praise.

But it wasn’t an all-powerful ability.

While its potential was great, the requirements for its use were quite restrictive.

First, he couldn’t copy multiple abilities simultaneously—something that made sense, given that each person was limited to one ability.

The second, more crucial condition was that he needed a deep understanding of the person he wanted to mimic, not just their power.

In other words, knowing the “Ice Knight” Johan’s ability meant nothing if he didn’t know Johan himself.

All the abilities he used came from people he knew personally, whether they were classmates or instructors.

The closer he was to someone, the more accurately he could replicate their power.

That meant, of course, that the ability he could most perfectly replicate was that of his lifelong friend, Yoo Hana, with whom he’d spent every day of his life for eighteen years.

“So…”

If you are Yoo Hana,

Then I should be able to use your ability too.

Desperately hoping, Si woo concentrated on replicating her power.

In the dark space of his mind, a vision of light gradually took shape.

As he delved into her power, he began to understand its mechanisms and how it worked.

A radiant light enveloped him, a warm energy filling the air around him.

White Sheep appeared surprised, but he maintained his focus, diving deeper into the power.

A wave of exhilaration surged through him.

He was able to replicate her power. It was impossible unless he knew the person well.

This meant the person before him was truly someone he already knew.

“Yoo Hana. It really is you.”

“…”

“You’re—ugh!”

He clutched his head, a sharp pain suddenly piercing his mind. An image etched itself vividly in his thoughts.

It was…

The golden chalice he’d seen earlier.

The object Hana had referred to as the Grail.

But why now?

The light from the Grail dispelled all darkness in his mind, flooding his inner world.

Even the light he had conjured through Hana’s power seemed to vanish.

And the hand lifting the Grail…

The owner of that hand was obscured, but somehow…

When he opened his eyes again, he felt as though the understanding of the ability he’d nearly grasped had slipped far beyond his reach.

The light surrounding him had also faded, as if it had never been there.

He had failed to replicate the ability.

But this failure felt different from any other before.

He knew he could have succeeded, but… why had the Grail appeared in his mind at that crucial moment?

Why?

“I was honestly surprised. When you mimicked my ability, I felt… an odd sense of familiarity and nostalgia.”

White Sheep’s voice was quiet, as if she were confessing an intimate thought. Yet the sight before him felt too surreal, almost nightmarish.

Si-hyun lay on the ground, bleeding heavily and on the verge of death.

The girl in the white mask, speckled with blood, spoke again.

“I’m curious. Who is Yoo Hana?”

Could she really be Hana?