LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 86
Shin Woo looked at Hana, who was silent.
After a brief moment of panic, he quickly calmed his shaken heart and regained his composure.
To be honest, he couldn’t help but be surprised.
Given the girl’s previous actions, he never expected her to behave this way.
The moment she followed him out of the cathedral, he naturally thought Hana had abandoned her life as a White Lamb and returned to her original self.
However, her current actions completely shattered Shin Woo’s expectations.
It wasn’t just the boy who was shocked.
Everyone present was at a loss due to the sudden behavior of the girl.
Lea, who had practically sacrificed her life for one last attack, wore a pained expression.
“What…?”
The Great Mage, unable to comprehend the situation, soon realized that the light shining down from the sky felt strangely familiar. It overlapped with the scene he witnessed during the battle with the Apostle, prompting him to recall the girl’s true identity.
“So it was you…! How dare you deceive me…?”
“……”
Filled with resentment and anger, Hana simply lowered her head.
She offered no rebuttal or retort.
On the other hand, the White Shark, who was watching the situation in bewilderment, soon shouted with a relaxed smile.
“Well! Our newcomer wouldn’t betray us! I believed in her! Was this all part of an operation to catch us off guard? Huh?”
“White Lamb, where did you leave your mask? Come here quickly.”
“……”
Even with their friendly calls, Hana remained silent.
She just stood there, deep in thought.
Si-hyun watched the situation with a complicated gaze, while Shin Woo took cautious steps closer to Hana and asked.
“Is that your choice? To stand with the Apostle?”
“Hey, cocky brat. Who told you to approach carelessly? Hand over the Holy Grail and behave yourself.”
Of course, regardless of the situation, their relationship remained one of enmity.
Especially for the Apostle, Shin Woo was merely an arrogant little brat who stole the Holy Grail.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the White Shark aimed to shred the boy apart.
But Hana wouldn’t allow even that.
Thud!!
“W-what’s happening?”
An overwhelming force pressed down on her body.
Not just her, but everyone except Shin Woo succumbed to the same pressure, bowing their heads to the ground.
“Everyone stay still. I’m not going to tolerate any more fighting.”
“What… Hey White Lamb! What is this nonsense!?”
“Shh.”
She simply placed a finger to her lips, and at that moment, the White Shark couldn’t even make a sound, let alone open her mouth.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
Though forced into submission, once the situation calmed down, Hana exhaled and looked at Shin Woo.
Their eyes met, and Shin Woo flinched for a moment but soon spoke calmly.
“I’ll follow whatever choice you make.”
“Really?”
“Really. This time, I’ve resolved to act only for you.”
Hana then smiled sadly.
It was so heart-wrenching it was hard to keep looking at her.
“Even if it means losing everything?”
“I don’t mind.”
Shin Woo answered without a hint of hesitation.
To him, the girl in front of him was everything.
After a moment of silence following the boy’s reply, Hana finally nodded.
“…I understand. Then help me.”
Did she have a separate plan in mind?
Even though she merely regained lost memories, the girl definitely felt different from before.
Not just in the sense that she was no longer a White Lamb.
Compared to Yu Hana, whom he had seen before leaving the academy, she exuded a mysterious sense of otherness.
Just as he was about to ask what they should do next, a strong wind blew down from the sky, causing Shin Woo to hastily shield his face with his arm.
As he struggled to lift his head, he noticed a massive shadow growing larger as it blocked out the sunlight.
Something was coming down to the ground.
Realizing that the flapping giant was a pair of wings, he recognized the shape of the enormous shadow as resembling a dragon from legends.
When the Red Dragon finally landed on the ground, he was suddenly in human form.
His gaze quickly scanned the surroundings before settling on a spot.
The Great Mage, who had already turned into something almost completely liquid.
She was also busy glaring at the dragon with burning eyes.
“I never expected to reunite like this. Why did you rely on something like the Holy Water?”
“Shut up…! I have nothing to say to you!”
“You foolish child. You’ve had a hard time.”
It was a farewell filled with empty formality that felt devoid of warmth.
Overcome with rage, she couldn’t hold back her tears and exclaimed.
“Why… do you have the same face as my Master…? My Master would never do that…”
“Don’t cling to a meaningless past. The person you knew has been dead for a long time.”
“…I know. I know that better than you do.”
Now, her body had transformed to the extent that it was hard to even discern her human form, becoming completely encased in Holy Water.
Just before losing consciousness entirely, Lea uttered her last words.
“Master. Master… Please help me…”
Her last desperate plea echoed like the begging of a child.
Shin Woo, who had been watching the scene until the end, frowned.
For some reason, a sense of guilt washed over him, feeling as if it were all his fault.
The Red Dragon, casting a brief glance at the pool of Holy Water, nonchalantly turned away and withdrew his interest.
“I came down because of the commotion. Looks like you’ve awakened your powers completely.”
Soon, his golden eyes shifted towards the boy.
Shin Woo inhaled deeply at the indescribable presence lurking within the indifferent gaze of the man.
This man was no ordinary person.
A notch above the other Apostles. Such pressure he had felt only from the Black Goat.
“It seems you’ve reclaimed the Holy Grail as well. Then we can return. Where is that person?”
“Ugh. Ugh!”
“What are you two doing?”
The Red Dragon couldn’t hide his confusion upon seeing the Pink Hawk and Blue Shark lying flat on the ground, unable to speak.
Soon realizing who the culprit was, he turned to Hana and asked.
“Is there a reasonable reason for tying those two up? If not…”
The man’s sharp eyes fell on the two students in uniform standing calmly behind the girl.
Unlike the Apostles, they were unbound and standing just fine.
Anyone seeing such a scene was bound to have reasonable doubts.
“Did regaining your memories lead to second thoughts?”
“I won’t betray you. But please, don’t touch those two.”
“Hmm. That’s not difficult. But is that really all there is?”
The Red Dragon pondered as he stroked his chin.
“Beyond just leaving them alone, if you want to take them with you, that’s impossible.”
“…Why?”
“Because they’re human. You’re the only exception. If you truly want to be with us, you need to show your sincerity.”
That was essentially asking her to become a Demon.
Shin Woo shivered but mustered up the courage to speak.
“I made a deal with the Vice Principal.”
“Huh?”
“…I agreed to help on the Apostle’s side in exchange for meeting Hana.”
“Haha. You intend to betray humanity and become an Apostle?”
With a condescending tone, Shin Woo replied calmly.
“I have the Holy Grail. That should be of help.”
“It doesn’t seem like you’re joking. Do you really have that intention? Even if it means becoming a Demon?”
“Yes. I’m fine with that.”
Whether he was human or a Demon didn’t matter to Shin Woo.
As long as he could be with Hana, he was prepared to be anything.
“Ultimately, it’s not my choice to make. Speak to that person directly and get permission.”
“……”
At this point, the boy hesitated.
It wasn’t that his resolve had suddenly faltered.
He was simply very concerned about the Black Goat’s attitude during their time in the cathedral.
He too was trying to use Hana after all.
What exactly he intended to do was unclear, but it was evident he planned something bad for Hana, who had regained her memories.
Going back to him would only result in the same situation repeating.
Is this truly the right choice?
He said he would choose for Hana, but did that mean he had to return to the place where that monster was?
At that moment, Shin Woo locked eyes with Hana.
She gave a slight nod and spoke softly.
“It’s okay.”
With those words, the anxiety that felt like a lie vanished.
Right, there was no need for him to shoulder everything alone.
The Hana in front of him was much stronger than he was and knew far more.
Simply following her plan would surely be the best option for Hana.
Shin Woo firmly believed that and nodded his head.
“Yes. Understood.”
“Good. What do you plan to do about the other human behind you?”
Si-hyun pondered for a moment before responding.
“For now, I’ll follow as well.”
“Well, since I don’t plan on killing you at the White Lamb’s request, do as you wish.”
With those words, the Red Dragon took the lead and headed back towards the cathedral.
The others present began to move in response to his lead as well.
And so, once again.
Shin Woo’s party entered the tiger’s den.