LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 101
Everything that needed to be said had been said.
Still, they remained in their seats, passing the time.
There weren’t any special conversations, but that was alright.
They simply gazed at the stars in the night sky and the gently flowing waves of the sea.
Spending what might be their final moments together was enough.
Suddenly, Shin Woo recalled something and pulled it out from his pocket.
“Do you remember this?”
“This is…”
Hana immediately recognized what the boy was holding.
“I’ve kept this ever since we found it at the shrine when we parted.”
It was a grape-flavored candy, long past the point of being edible.
Receiving that candy felt like it happened ages ago.
At that time, the girl had thought:
“I like strawberries more than grapes.”
“Did I?”
“Make sure to remember your childhood friend’s preferences.”
Hana said with a broad smile.
“So next time, definitely gift me strawberry-flavored treats.”
That statement, presuming a future, brought her a hint of joy.
Shin Woo, with a bittersweet smile, let go of his obsession with the past.
He would give up the grape-flavored candy.
Because now, in the world they were about to envision, there would be a future, not a past.
He held no doubts.
The boy resolved to earnestly believe in the day they would meet again.
*
Shin Woo watched Hana as she came out of the room.
Her outfit had changed.
It wasn’t the familiar academy uniform, nor the white cloak and combat attire she wore when she was the White Lamb.
It was a simple white dress.
There was nothing particularly special about it, but it showcased Hana’s charm perfectly.
The girl stood in front of the boy with a bashful expression.
“What do you think…?”
“You look pretty.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Having such mundane conversation reminded him of earlier days.
Not from childhood, but from just half a year ago. The time they spent chatting in the hospital room.
He wanted to laugh and talk with her like that again.
As Shin Woo’s expression darkened, a hint of sorrow flickered in Hana’s gaze.
But she forced a cheerful smile.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“…Okay. Be careful.”
Hana passed Shin Woo and headed to the ritual room prepared by the Black Goat.
Left alone in the hallway, Shin Woo leaned against the wall and sat down.
Someone approached him.
“Hey, loser. What are you doing sitting there like a dork?”
“……”
A sudden sound of a hollow laugh escaped him.
Come to think of it, it seemed like a similar situation happened before.
When he was feeling down, Hong Yeonhwa came over and slapped him on the cheek.
It still hurt a lot, even now.
“Are you just going to sit there like that?”
“…Then what? What can I do?”
“Damn. Do I have to spell it out for you!? If you’re worried, go after her! At least stay by her side!”
The irritated shout hit his eardrums.
What a loud voice.
Right. That was true.
If he couldn’t be of any help, he might as well be there.
Shin Woo slowly stood up from his seat.
Glancing at the panting Yeonhwa, he said.
“Are you planning to bail again while telling me all this?”
“…What?”
“You did the same last time. You nagged me to death, then ran away.”
Yeonhwa’s expression crumpled. But she had no retort.
“So let’s go together. You’re a friend of Hana too.”
“…Ugh. Stop trying to act all cool.”
“So you’re not coming?”
Staring straight at her, she pouted but ultimately averted her gaze and quietly followed him.
He always felt she was quite shy.
As they headed towards the ritual room, they ran into Si-hyun, who was looking into a mirror.
“Hey, nerd. What are you doing there?”
At Yeonhwa’s question, Si-hyun didn’t take his eyes off the mirror and replied.
“Not long ago, I was living without one eye.”
“Huh? Oh right, when did you fix that? So much has happened I didn’t even notice.”
He was sure that when he left the academy, Si-hyun was one-eyed.
But suddenly, seeing him looking perfectly fine felt completely normal, and he hadn’t realized at all.
“I thought it was my karma. The price for not trusting a friend and being consumed by anger and resentment.”
“…I didn’t understand anything back then. Well, honestly, I still don’t.”
“But here I am, healed without a scratch, while Hana is now trying to protect us by sacrificing her own life.”
He understood what her words meant.
Shin Woo had also struggled with thoughts of self-loathing concerning that same issue.
Back then, he thought he couldn’t do anything.
He believed all he could do was to watch Hana in pain from the sidelines.
But now, that was no longer the case.
He could do something.
He would save Hana.
“I’m planning to try it your way.”
“Do you think it’ll work?”
“I don’t know. But it’s better than just sitting here. No matter how long it takes, or how unlikely it seems. That doesn’t matter. If there’s even a slight chance, I’ll go for it until the end.”
Si-hyun quietly looked at him before nodding.
“If I can help, I will help.”
“First, let’s go. Right now, it’s important to send Hana off.”
The dawn had already broken, and the world welcomed a bright new day.
And Hana was about to die.
To save the world.
The three of them headed toward the room where the ritual would be held.
This place was completely different from the dark and gloomy colors of the shrine.
It was bright, warm, and felt cozy.
Here, it felt like no pain would ever find its way in; it was a sense of relief.
Seeing her friends enter the room, Hana’s expression lightened.
She still looked beautiful and vibrant, with no sign of abnormality.
The Black Goat looked at them and said indifferently.
“Are there still goodbyes left to say?”
“I’ll stay with her until the very end. Is there any reason we shouldn’t?”
“I don’t mind. If you can endure it.”
Of course, witnessing Hana’s death would be a memory they could never forget.
It might haunt them in nightmares forever.
That must be what is right.
They must never forget her death.
He would remember this day for a lifetime.
In the room, there was another figure in the corner.
A girl holding a sinister purple spear, shrouded in an inexplicable sadness in her eyes.
The death of the Messiah cannot happen alone.
It only becomes possible with Longinus, the spear that ends everything.
But if the Messiah dies, Longinus dies too. It has fulfilled all its roles.
In a sense, they could be seen as a community of fate.
Hana smiled and spoke to Longinus.
“I haven’t had much of a chance to talk with you.”
“…Christ. Is this really alright?”
“Yeah. It’s fine. I believe Shin Woo will make it.”
“Then I will believe too.”
“When we meet again, let’s be friends.”
“Okay. I understand.”
Longinus nodded and then turned to approach Shin Woo.
“I’ve fulfilled all my promises now.”
“…Huh?”
“I don’t know where you are right now, but I believe you are doing well.”
“What do you mean? What promises did we make?”
Her gaze was fixed on Shin Woo, but through those eyes, she was looking at something he still didn’t understand.
“You’ll understand everything with time.”
Before Shin Woo could ask more, the Black Goat checked the time and opened his mouth.
“It’s time.”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
Hana stood in the prepared spot.
The crucifix was visible just behind her.
In those final moments, Hana turned to Shin Woo and said.
“I’m sorry.”
“…For what?”
“Just… everything.”
Why was she apologizing?
It was he who wanted to.
Only feeling immense guilt.
“And when we meet again, I want to tell you thank you.”
“…That’s what I want to say too.”
After giving a small smile, Hana fell silent.
Finally, the girl closed her eyes and clutched her hands tightly.
She slowly began to recite her final prayer.
“אלי אלי למה עזבתני”
As she did, a holy light began to shine brightly around her.
Her head sparkled, and her face was filled with radiance.
It was such a divine and wondrous sight that it was hard to believe it was the moment of death.
Suddenly, the world turned upside down, and everyone in the room witnessed a vision in the sky.
The sky, tinged with golden hues, held a colossal shrine covered in clouds, where countless angels sang praises with golden trumpets.
Above it sat an empty throne made of the Holy Spirit, behind which the light of divinity blazed so brightly that no one could keep their eyes directly on it.
As the girl’s prayer came to an end, the vision slowly faded, and they returned to their original space.
Even now, Hana still had her eyes closed, showing no signs of movement.
She appeared like a martyr.
“……”
Shin Woo silently observed the girl.
He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Slowly, Longinus moved closer to the Messiah.
To confirm her death, she thrust the spear into her side.
Soon, red blood and transparent holy water flowed from her side.
Longinus stated blankly.
“Everything has been fulfilled.”
That was the end.
No matter how long he waited.
Hana never opened her eyes again.