I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 71

I exited the temple with Lady Falcon and moved towards the city.

I wasn’t sure which city it was.

Currently, not just us, but all apostles have started their activities. Five teams have dispersed across major cities worldwide.

We’re waiting by the fountain in the square until the other teams finish preparing to launch simultaneous attacks on time.

I idly watched the cityscape. The people’s expressions seemed quite bright, fitting the sunny weather. Even in these bleak times, people find small bits of happiness to draw comfort from.

This city might one day crumble under the assault of the beasts. Numerous cities, nations, and civilizations have vanished, turning to dust.

Yet humanity struggles on, somehow managing to hunt down the beasts and close the gates.

Why do they go to such lengths?

Ultimately, this fleeting happiness will only make the impending despair even more painful.

That’s just how things are in this era. True, carefree happiness is a thing of the past, the stuff of history books, from a time before the beasts appeared.

The children playing freely in the square have no idea what awaits them in the future, laughing blissfully without a care.

Splat!

“Oh! Ouch…”

One child tripped and fell right in front of me.

Without thinking, I stood up and helped the child up. The child looked up at me quietly. Thanks to the magic cast on my mask, they probably saw just a plain, unremarkable face.

“Thank you! Hehe!”

The child gave me a deep bow, then ran back to play with their friend. The two children, a boy and a girl, clasped hands and started playing again as if nothing had happened.

Were they childhood friends?

I didn’t sit down again and instead stood, staring blankly at the two of them as they grew smaller in the distance.

“They’ve finished their preparations. It’s time to start.”

“….”

“Mr. White Sheep?”

Lady Falcon’s call snapped me out of my reverie, and I turned my head.

“Is something wrong?”

A question in her usual indifferent tone.

I hesitated, my mouth moving under the mask, wondering if I should speak up. Perhaps, if it were Lady Falcon, she might understand.

We don’t necessarily need to use such extreme methods. S-rank heroes can be summoned without this violence.

We can kill heroes all we want. They’re enemies who pose a threat to us.

But ordinary people? Do we really have to kill all of them too? Is it truly necessary?

“The other teams have already begun. We have no time left to delay.”

“…Yes.”

The look in her eyes as she gazed at the humans told me everything. She didn’t see humans as beings like herself—only as pests to be crushed.

Lady Falcon’s kindness was reserved solely for her comrades.

Thud!

An arrow struck a man’s heart as he walked along the street. He fell without even realizing he was dying.

Such a meaningless death. And unfortunately, there was no one to mourn him now.

In an instant, the square began to turn into a sea of blood. Not just the square but the entire city.

***

Si woo and his group burst into the principal’s office.

“Is it true!? The apostles have started their activities…?”

“Yes. Not only the apostles we’ve identified but also those suspected of being apostles. Eleven of these demonic beings are launching massacres worldwide simultaneously.”

Eleven of them.

The very notion of the apostles was nightmarish. Especially to Si woo, who had witnessed the power of the Black Goat firsthand—he knew better than anyone just how powerful they were.

And eleven of such monsters were moving all at once? This was an unprecedented catastrophe for humanity.

Si-hyun, who had been listening beside him, frowned and asked, “What’s the situation now?”

“It’s not good. Numerous cities are in ruins. The casualties are beyond estimate.”

“We must stop them quickly!”

“We’re already trying. Every available hero, including nine S-rank heroes, has been deployed.”

But the principal’s face looked grim, no doubt due to the severity of the situation.

“The heroes’ efforts have reduced the damage to civilians, but…”

The problem is that the apostles seem to be specifically targeting heroes. At this rate, it’s likely that their original target isn’t civilians but heroes.

However, even if we understand that, there’s little we can do. If we withdraw the heroes, the massacre will resume. We’re effectively using the heroes as shields to protect the citizens.

If even a single S-rank hero falls, this delicate balance will tip.

Surely the association will do all it can to prevent such a loss. Whatever the future holds after this war, it will not be the same as before.

“If it’s this serious, we should step in too! We can’t just sit around at the academy!”

“You are students, not heroes. Sending unprepared students into the battlefield only to lose them would be foolish.”

Si woo bit his lip, but the principal showed no intention of budging.

But he couldn’t just stand by idly. This wasn’t about some noble sense of justice.

Knowing that an apostle was among their ranks, how could he stay silent?

If he wasn’t careful, he could lose them again in the battle.

He couldn’t bear that. He had just rekindled the flame of hope—another farewell was unimaginable.

Just then, the phone on the principal’s desk rang, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Excuse me. Yes, hello. …Yes. Yes, understood.”

Who could it be?

When she finished the call, her face was tense. The principal sighed deeply and looked at Si woo.

“Si woo.”

“Yes?”

“The board wishes to speak with you.”

“…The board?”

***

The board.

Very little is known about them. Even most students at the academy graduate without ever seeing their faces.

Most public duties are handled by the principal and the faculty, so all that’s known is that the board oversees the academy’s internal and external affairs.

Se-hee, who was guiding Si woo, stopped in front of the main building. From here, he’d only need to take the elevator to meet the board.

The only person they called for was Kim Si woo. Han Se-hee, no longer the student council president, wasn’t invited.

“Be careful.”

She warned her junior, who had once saved her life.

“I don’t know why they’ve called for you, but those old men are dangerous. Never let your guard down.”

It was a rather dire warning for just a simple meeting. Si woo took her words seriously and nodded.

“Yes, I will be careful.”

“Come back safe. We’ll be waiting with your brother.”

Si woo stepped into the elevator alone, his destination the topmost floor.

He closed his eyes in the cramped space, lost in thought.

He had some idea that the academy held hidden secrets. Six months ago, he had witnessed shocking scenes—military facilities and underground organizations.

The key point is that the academy was likely involved in Yoo Hana’s death.

They had been determined to eliminate her.

Even though he’d confirmed she was alive, that fact didn’t change. Nor did his resolve to uncover the academy’s secrets and avenge her.

“…”

But he was slightly afraid.

What if the secrets he uncovered were darker and more twisted than he imagined?

If they were deeply intertwined with humanity’s darkest sides?

And if it connected to the core of the events that led to her attempted assassination, what would he do?

He asked himself a question.

Would he be willing to betray humanity for the sake of a single girl?

The answer came more quickly than he expected.

“Yoo Hana.”

Whispering his childhood friend’s name, Si woo steeled himself.

Finally, the elevator stopped, and he reached his destination.

As the door slowly opened, a completely new, unknown space lay before him.

Into the pitch darkness.

He took a step forward.

“Welcome, Kim Si woo.”

A voice echoed in the dark space.

It came from above. Looking up, he could barely make out silhouettes around a raised round table.

As if looking down from the heavens upon the earth.

The structure itself symbolized overwhelming authority.

Si woo spoke without hesitation.

“I heard you wanted to see me.”

“Yes. We summoned you to recognize your accomplishments.”

“…My accomplishments?”

The ongoing war with the apostles was still raging outside.

He’d expected a discussion about that, but accomplishments?

“Protecting the Grail and ensuring its safe arrival here—these are deeds worthy of praise.”

“Thanks to your efforts, our plan is progressing. There’s very little left to accomplish now.”

He didn’t understand what they meant.

But more than that, there was a lingering discomfort.

Why were these people so relaxed?

At this moment, when humanity was facing its worst crisis.

These old men seemed ready to throw a celebration.

“On that note, there’s something we need you to do, Si woo.”

“It’s not difficult. Just a simple, trivial task.”

Click.

Suddenly, the lights turned on, and Si woo squinted at the sudden brightness.

Something lay before him.

When he saw it, Si woo’s face turned pale with shock.

A person, hanging from a cross.

“A sinner.”