I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Suicide

Chapter 72

He knew who the person labeled a “sinner” before him was.

As a student of the academy, it was impossible not to recognize him.

“…Why is it the Vice Principal?”

The man bound to the cross, barely clinging to life in a battered state, was the Vice Principal, identifiable by his eyepatch and beard.

In response to Si woo’s murmuring, one of the elders above answered.

“Loose ends always get caught. The fact that the demonic beings found out the Grail’s location suggests there was an internal leak.”

“We deliberately spread different pieces of information, each only known by one person. The four places attacked by the demonic beings were only known to this individual.”

So that means…

Is the Vice Principal an ally of the apostles?

But then, what about the incident that night?

This was the very man who had handled the aftermath of the catastrophe in the science lab.

He had helped not only the unconscious Si woo and Si-hyun, but also the dying student council president.

Even Yoo Hana.

Yoo Hana, who had been the only one conscious in that space.

What had happened between her and the Vice Principal in that place?

And why had she fled the academy and been branded a demon that night?

“One strange thing, though—his blood is red.”

True enough, red blood was trickling down the Vice Principal’s face as he hung from the cross.

Gasping in pain, he appeared unmistakably human.

“That’s why we need your help.”

“The Grail purifies all that is evil.”

“Surely, such shallow trickery by a demonic being would be easily exposed.”

The board commanded Si woo, who stood still, glaring at the Vice Principal.

“Touch the sinner.”

“…”

The abruptness of the command left Si woo frozen.

Images from that day, half a year ago, flickered in his mind like a mirage.

“Kim Si woo.”

A cold, harsh voice.

It sounded like a warning, as if reproaching the boy for defying their command.

Yet, Si woo remained standing, unmoving, as if rooted in place.

“Who do you think is to blame for your childhood friend, Yoo Hana, being labeled a demon?”

“….”

“It’s all his fault.”

The story was hard to believe, yet he couldn’t argue with it.

As much as he wanted to deny it, it felt close to the truth.

Finally, the boy took a step forward and slowly approached the cross. He raised his hand as he came face-to-face with it.

“…It’s a false accusation.”

The Vice Principal, who had remained silent until now, spoke for the first time.

His hoarse voice was so faint that one had to strain to hear it. The elders above likely hadn’t heard.

“The incident with Yoo Hana… it was a setup by the academy… You mustn’t trust those old men…”

Two completely opposing statements.

What was the truth, and what was the lie?

He remembered the student council president’s warning just before coming here, to be wary of the board.

Si woo glared at the Vice Principal and asked in a low voice.

“Are you really… a demonic being?”

“…”

The Vice Principal remained silent for a moment, seemingly contemplating his response. Reading the determination in Si woo’s eyes, he gave a slight smile and replied.

“Yes, it’s true.”

“But why…”

“You must have a lot of questions. Why are we targeting Yoo Hana, what the academy is planning.”

He’s wavering.

And that was enough.

“I’ll tell you everything.”

“Are you proposing a deal?”

“If the Grail is not used, I can handle the rest myself.”

Si woo frowned at the man’s assumption that he would comply.

“Do you think I would help a demon?”

“That’s not the point. Make the choice that truly benefits you, not the one that aligns with the group you belong to.”

The more he listened, the more swayed he felt.

He was aware of this, yet he couldn’t bring himself to firmly reject the Vice Principal’s offer.

It was as though he was waiting for something.

What was he waiting for?

“I’ll let you meet Yoo Hana. I’ll help you never be separated again.”

Perhaps this was the very offer he’d been hoping to hear all along.

The man before him might be the very one who separated him and Yoo Hana.

He was keenly aware of that.

In fact, for that reason, it might be even easier for him to achieve his goal with this man’s help than with the academy’s.

“Stop hesitating and use the Grail, Kim Si woo.”

“Don’t you want to see her?”

There was no more time for hesitation.

The time had come to make a choice.

Si woo closed his eyes and reached out his hand.

And a bright light illuminated the dark space.

***

Corpses continued to pile up in the streets.

The once-peaceful city was now engulfed in the chaos of a brutal battlefield.

Yet the archer known as Pink falcon seemed indifferent, casually shooting arrows as if practicing target shooting.

With each arrow, a life was snuffed out.

She didn’t derive any pleasure from the massacre.

She was simply doing what needed to be done, drawing her bowstring out of obligation.

Her pace was not particularly fast.

So naturally, it made one wonder about the state of the other cities.

If this city was in such a condition, one could only imagine how the others had fared.

Perhaps not a trace of life remained in those places.

Especially the city where the Golden Lion, notorious for his hatred of humanity, was located. The reality there would likely be even worse.

White Sheep strolled along the tree-lined path that led to the square.

Where lovers had once whispered sweet nothings to each other, only death and fear remained.

Families who had ventured out to enjoy the sunny day lay dead with hearts pierced.

As she walked, she took in the sights.

Surprisingly, she felt no emotional response.

Which made it all the more strange.

Her mind accepted the deaths of humans, enemies of demonic beings, as only natural.

Her heart was calm, unaffected by the deaths of humans.

But why did she still feel as though something was wrong?

She couldn’t understand where this feeling of unease was coming from.

White Sheep stopped suddenly, her gaze dropping to the ground, fixated on an object there.

A cute rabbit-shaped hairpin.

The girl recognized who it belonged to.

It was the hairpin of the little girl she had helped up in the square earlier.

“…”

She picked it up and stared at it blankly.

She didn’t feel sadness.

She had thought so all along, but now she was unsure.

Perhaps she didn’t truly know what sadness was.

Maybe this strange feeling she was experiencing was sadness.

At that moment, a sudden chill made her look up, and she saw a path of icy blue frost advancing toward her down the road.

She placed the hairpin in her pocket and projected a holy shield.

The ice was halted by the shield, unable to freeze her surroundings.

She then spotted her opponent walking toward her over the ice from afar.

A man clad in armor reminiscent of the medieval era, with a sword and shield.

It was Johan, one of the S-rank heroes she had encountered recently at a shrine in Japan.

The Ice Knight, Johan.

He spoke in a cold, stern tone.

“You’ll pay for this atrocity, filthy demon.”

This was the target.

Yes, the goal was to draw out S-rank heroes like him.

The devastation of the city was merely a means to that end.

So, was the life of that one hero worth more than the lives of countless people in this city?

What difference was there that could justify such an outcome?

Whoosh!

Clang!

“You’re finally here.”

The arrow that flew from behind aimed at the hero, but he deflected it with his shield.

Pink falcon calmly readied another arrow.

“Let me ask you just one thing. Why are you doing this?”

“Is it wrong for a demon to kill humans?”

“Disgusting answer, fitting for the likes of you. I was foolish to even ask.”

The white-haired hero looked genuinely enraged.

Meanwhile, Pink falcon spoke calmly.

“Then let me ask you in return.”

“…What is it?”

“Where is the Archmage? I have a debt to settle with her.”

“Do you call that a question? She’s protecting the people by fighting your kind.”

“What I meant is, which city specifically is she in?”

Johan had no obligation to answer, but he muttered with a frown.

“The United States.”

“Oh… then there’s nothing to be done. A shame to miss the chance for revenge.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s simple. Red Dragon has personally gone to the United States. No hero who went there will survive.”

Red Dragon?

Not much was known about the apostles.

Aside from the fact that they wore animal masks, that was all.

The apostles were classified as the world’s worst terrorist group because of the Golden Lion.

The devastation he alone caused was tremendous, and he still hadn’t been captured.

Other apostles, like the Blue Shark and the Stag Beetle, were also infamous.

But Red Dragon—he had never heard of him.

For some reason, Johan felt a sense of unease in the woman’s words.

Her confidence didn’t seem like mere bluff.

“…Is this Red Dragon stronger than the Golden Lion?”

Perhaps it was an unexpected question.

Pink falcon considered it for a moment before answering.

“It depends on the situation, but yes, Mr. Red Dragon is the strongest among the apostles.”