I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Sui**de

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All I desire is but one.

Just one thing.

Even against the passage of ten years, death, and fate —

If I could just see you again.

I would do anything.

I could become anything.

When I slowly opened my eyes, the space I was in hadn’t changed at all.

A narrow space filled with Hebrew inscriptions.

Did I fail?

A momentary sense of anxiety crossed my mind, but I soon noticed the change.

Surely, the thorn crown I had on my head earlier had vanished.

The crown had returned to the place where I first discovered it.

No, it wasn’t that it had returned.

Next to it, a familiar girl was asleep.

The dreamy girl with impressive lavender hair, Longinus.

Without a doubt, she, who had died ten years ago, was here now.

I quickly realized what this meant.

“You have been guarding this place.”

She had been guarding the crown here for an unknown long time.

And now she faced me for the first time.

Gradually, the picture in my mind began to fill in.

“Who are you?”

The girl who woke up asked.

A moment of laughter escaped me.

Right. I had heard the same words when we first met underground.

So that’s what it meant.

I thought that was our first encounter, but in fact, it wasn’t.

Long before that, you had met me—me from ten years in the future.

“Longinus.”

“Do you know me?”

“I have something I want to propose to you.”

The girl simply stared without answering.

I threw out the proposal without the slightest hesitation, convinced she wouldn’t refuse.

“I will save Christ.”

“…Save Christ?”

“Yes. And I’ll save you as well.”

I extended my hand to her.

You don’t belong in this narrow cave.

I will create a new story.

A future where not just one but everyone can be happy.

“So please help me.”

Longinus quietly gazed at my hand.

Her expression was inscrutable, making it hard to gauge her thoughts.

Grasp.

That was an answer enough.

*

I had safely returned to the past.

But it wasn’t ten years ago.

It was a year earlier.

In other words, I had returned to eleven years in the past.

I didn’t know exactly why the crown sent me to this timeline.

I simply wished to meet Hana again and set everything right.

But there was no problem.

In fact, it was a better opportunity. I could execute my plan more perfectly now.

Returning to the past didn’t mean everything had ended.

It would be more accurate to say I had just reached the starting line.

The reason was simple.

Just gathering the three sacred relics wouldn’t solve everything.

As Longinus said, the past, present, and future are all connected.

Twisting the time stream through the crown doesn’t mean it breaks off completely to become a separate world.

Thus, it must continue flowing according to the original future.

Otherwise, the causality of the world would crumble, becoming irreparable.

To be precise, everything must proceed as it did until the moment when Hana becomes a god and dies.

All events must unfold just like the existing fate.

Using the three relics would only be possible after that.

It would surely be difficult.

Watching Hana suffer would be the greatest trial.

Yet, I must achieve it.

If I can’t, Hana will never escape her destiny of being the Messiah.

“I can do it.”

I reaffirmed my determination.

I would do anything for you.

First, I needed to establish a detailed plan on how to proceed.

To ensure predetermined events happen without variables, I needed to stay close to Hana.

In other words, I had to enter the academy.

It wasn’t a hard task.

Utilizing the knowledge I had accumulated over ten years to save Hana would make becoming a teacher for non-combat subjects easy.

I couldn’t stop there.

To control the flow, I had to monitor the two threatening forces around Hana.

The council and the apostles.

I first attempted to infiltrate the council.

Surprisingly, there was a very simple method.

“Oh… Is that kid the one?”

“Are you sure it’s Longinus?”

I nodded casually in front of the old men.

“Yes. But this child only listens to my words.”

“Strange. How did you figure out Longinus’s identity?”

“Suspicious. Not even a Magi could find any information about you. What the hell are you?”

Of course, a Magi couldn’t possibly know my information.

Because I came from the future, eleven years later.

Consequently, I could easily deceive the council.

With a meaningful smile, I offered an ambiguous answer.

“I have been investigating the contents of the Apocalypse for a long time. Be honest with me. Among this year’s incoming students, is there a Messiah?”

As I pried in reverse, the old men couldn’t hide their agitation.

“Hmmm… I didn’t expect you to know that.”

“Your information network is impressive.”

“He’s a talent we can’t just dispose of. So, I’ll ask. Are you willing to collaborate with us?”

“Collaboration…”

I already had my answer decided.

Once I entered the council, I immediately approached the Vice Principal secretly.

“Hm? Who are you?”

“I have a proposal for you.”

The Vice Principal, who had difficulty accessing the council, naturally accepted my proposal.

A double agent.

In truth, I was a bat that belonged to no one’s faction.

Honestly, it wouldn’t be a lie to say I felt no pressure.

I was scared.

I knew all too well how cruel the council and Vice Principal were.

If they sensed even a little of my true intentions, I couldn’t even imagine what kind of backlash awaited me.

Yet, I pretended to be calm.

I feigned nonchalance, acting as if everything were fine.

After finishing all my preparations, spring still chilly approached.

March had come, and it was time for Hana and me to enroll.

It was also my first time stepping out as a teacher.

Getting new glasses, tidying up my scruffy beard, and neatly combing my hair.

While I was looking in the mirror, Longinus spoke to me.

“Where are you going?”

“To the academy.”

“What about me?”

“Wait here. I’ll be back by evening.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Longinus had no immediate role to perform.

It would be insane to just hand her over to the council.

Ultimately, she had no choice but to stay with me, claiming only I could control her.

Leaving the house, I headed to the academy.

I couldn’t help but be captivated by the charming yet nostalgic scenery.

I never expected to walk the academy streets again.

Entering the building, I carefully opened the teachers’ lounge door.

Instantly, all the teachers’ gazes turned to me.

Ignoring the onslaught of attention, I sat straight down at my seat.

Right next to me, a female teacher quietly asked.

“I feel like I’m seeing you for the first time… What subject do you teach?”

I replied stiffly while organizing my desk.

“Science.”

How ironic it was.

I had been so suspicious and confrontational toward the science teacher.

But in truth, that was me from the future.

Even now, it boggles the mind.

Anyway, nothing major would happen in the next year.

To be precise, even if something were to happen, I had to prevent it by any means necessary.

It didn’t matter whether I could pull it off.

I must.

I will succeed.

*

A few days had passed since the new semester started.

I was gradually adapting to the role of a science teacher.

The workload as a teacher wasn’t that difficult.

After all, science was a field I had continuously studied for ten years.

Today too, I was walking down the hallway after finishing class, heading to the teachers’ lounge.

At that moment, I bumped shoulders with someone around the corner.

“Oops!”

“Oh. Are you alright?”

Since becoming a science teacher, I used honorifics with everyone, regardless of teacher or student.

It was to ensure that no one could recognize me as Kim Shinwoo, so as to have as little in common with a student as possible.

I attempted to help the fallen female student who had bumped into me.

But the moment I saw her face, my body completely froze.

“I-I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“…No, it’s fine.”

With red short hair. Blue eyes, and freckles on her cheeks.

I instantly recognized the girl before me.

I see.

Since I returned to eleven years in the past, it was only natural to encounter Sophie.

I hadn’t realized that obvious fact at all.

In a moment of panic, I steeled my resolve gazing at Sophie.

I will save this girl too.

For a world where everyone can be happy.

I pretended to help her up and leaned close, whispering in her ear.

“Have you met the sand crocodile?”

“…Are you on our side?”

“Of course.”

Sophie nodded with a somewhat subdued demeanor.

Right now, she must be firmly convinced that I am a demon.

After all, I used the name of the apostles, so it would be stranger if she thought otherwise.

“After class is over today, please come to the first-year science room.”

“…Okay. Got it.”

She too is now a demon trying to target Hana.

I need to keep her under control.

Later, during lunchtime, I checked the class schedule.

For a moment, I could do nothing but stare blankly at the paper.

In the fifth period, there was a class in first-year class B.

It was Hana’s class.

“Hana.”

Am I finally meeting her…?