LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 94
Teleportation is impossible to adapt to.
I felt it last time, but the nausea that follows is worse than any motion sickness.
Shin Woo tried to steady his body and looked around.
The landscape was completely different from the place he had been standing just a few seconds ago.
The only common point was the magic circle drawn on the floor.
“It doesn’t seem like the academy…”
It wasn’t a familiar scene, and considering it was a secret underground, the blue sky above didn’t fit.
At least the weather is nice for no reason.
In response to the boy’s mutter, the Red Dragon dusted off his clothes.
“Of course. The enemies wouldn’t just sit idly by while their magic circle was drawn.”
“That may be true, but what are we going to do now?”
“From here on out, we fly.”
Fly?
At the unexpected answer, Shin Woo tilted his head.
There were no planes or anything around to suggest flying.
The boy’s question was soon answered.
The figure of the Red Dragon that stepped forward suddenly began to change.
With a crack.
Accompanied by a rather unpleasant sound, the man’s body twisted violently and transformed into an entirely different being.
Only then did Shin Woo recall the dragon descending from the sky yesterday.
He had entirely transformed into a dragon, with not a trace of human form left.
Without even opening his mouth, he spoke to everyone through magic.
[Get on my back.]
“…I never expected to have an experience like this.”
“Riding a dragon. Not bad at all!”
Yeon Hwa smiled brightly and was the first to mount the Red Dragon.
Following her, others began to climb aboard one by one, leaving only one person behind.
Shin Woo extended his hand to her.
“Let’s go, Hana.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Hana smiled and didn’t refuse Shin Woo’s kindness.
Seeing the two holding hands, Yeon Hwa sulked and muttered.
“Geez. Even in this situation, they’re flirting. What a pain.”
Yeon Hwa glanced over at Si-hyun, hoping for some solidarity.
But she only stared blankly, as if lost in thought.
“Hey. What’s wrong?”
“…Huh?”
“Why are you spaced out? Are you scared?”
Si-hyun shook her head, mumbling.
“No. Just thinking about something.”
“Get your head in the game. If you die like that, no one will save you.”
“Ha ha. Thanks for worrying. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Worry? Don’t flatter yourself. Just eat dirt.”
After this, I’m not sure how things will unfold, but this moment might become the most crucial turning point for humanity.
It’s pretty ironic that there are no heroes, just a bunch of academy students in this situation.
[We’re departing. Hold on tight.]
Finally, the dragon flapped its wings and flew into the air.
Looking down from just below the clouds, the city came into view in a wide perspective.
Thus, the feeling of unease was instantly noticeable.
“I don’t see any people.”
“Hey, did you invade that city too?”
In response to Yeon Hwa’s sharp question, Hana shook her head first.
“We didn’t go to the area near the academy.”
“It’s not just there. Over there too. There are no people at all in that area…”
The atmosphere turned tense.
One word naturally came to mind from those words, but saying it out loud wasn’t easy.
The Black Goat broke the silence and spoke bluntly.
“It seems it has begun.”
“Begin what?”
“Their plan.”
Yeon Hwa yelled in frustration.
“Stop beating around the bush and explain clearly!”
Then, Longinus, who had been quietly standing at the back, explained instead.
“They’ve turned everyone into holy water.”
“…Everyone? They did it overnight?”
“There are probably still some people left. It likely started near the academy.”
While they were taking a moment to regroup, what exactly had happened?
Did they waste time on an isolated, uninhabited island where nothing could be observed?
It didn’t make sense.
Setting aside the feasibility of it, why?
“What could be the reason for going that far…”
“They’re trying to amplify the effects of miracles through holy water. To include all of humanity worldwide.”
“That doesn’t make sense! If they’ve already turned to water and humanity has disappeared, how is that supposed to help humanity!?”
The one who answered the boy’s question was none other than Hana.
She spoke quietly in a low voice.
“That person said that when original sin disappears, humanity will reach a higher level. The constraints of time and space become meaningless. In essence, even the past of being dead doesn’t matter anymore. Ultimately, life and death become unimportant.”
“……”
Where is the sense in that?
In the end, that’s merely a story based on one sacrifice.
If Hana doesn’t die as per the council’s plan, it becomes nothing more than a pointless assumption that won’t come to fruition.
And yet they go ahead and start something recklessly?
If they fail, humanity will perish!
Now, they had no choice but to pick one.
The option of saving both Hana and humanity was gone. They had to choose one.
Yesterday’s memory suddenly resurfaced.
As he exited the pure white room, the figure in the shadows had said.
“If you escape from here, humanity will perish.”
Was it because he regained a memory through the Holy Grail?
Or perhaps because he delayed a night negotiating with the Black Goat in the temple?
Whatever the concrete reason was, it could no longer be undone.
As despair washed over him, a girl approached Shin Woo.
Hana squeezed his hand tightly and said.
“It’s okay. There’s still a way to fix this.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
Reassured by her solid demeanor, hope returned to Shin Woo, but he couldn’t shake off his anxiety.
In the end, he couldn’t hold back and asked directly.
“Are you thinking of accepting the council’s plan…?”
“Fool. I would never do that. No matter what happens, I won’t. So don’t worry.”
Only after receiving her firm answer did Shin Woo finally feel relieved.
“Okay. I’ll trust you.”
“Great. Now, let’s defeat the council quickly.”
[We’re almost there.]
“Look, there’s the academy.”
“We’re back again.”
They looked down at the academy from the sky and once again solidified their resolve.
Now, the end was truly within reach.
*
When they landed, the feeling was one of desolation.
Already, there was no sign of people inside the academy.
Only the sacred holy water overflowed on the floor.
“…This is more grotesque and terrifying than if it were filled with blood.”
Si-hyun’s remark was largely agreed upon by the others.
Considering what that sparkling liquid was made of, that was only natural.
Even in such a situation, the Black Goat maintained his usual calm demeanor as he spoke.
“There are probably still some people left. After all, at least a minimal number of people is needed to proceed with the ceremony.”
“What do you intend to do now?”
“First, we look for the principal or vice principal. We need their key cards.”
The principal or vice principal.
As Shin Woo pondered their whereabouts, he soon noticed something strange and asked.
“The vice principal is on your side, so why didn’t you get the card right from the start?”
“That guy vanished just before the war started. If he hadn’t, the council would have noticed that the holy water was being prepared already.”
“…What?”
That doesn’t quite add up.
After all, it was the vice principal who informed Shin Woo of the holy water’s existence.
“He showed me the holy water. He even proposed a deal to join the side of the apostles.”
“Hmm…”
In response to the boy’s words, the Black Goat stroked his chin and hummed.
Just then, someone approached from far away, revealing their presence.
Everyone focused on it and stared ahead.
The Blue Shark was the first to recognize the identity of the person and relaxed his expression.
“Gray Wolf! You’re alive!”
A tall man with a lean physique, messy gray hair, and a wolf mask approached.
As he drew closer, he spoke.
“Where the heck have you been? What about the captain and you four? What’s behind you?”
“It’s a long story. For now, think of it as a temporary alliance.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on, but at least it’s good to see everyone safe.”
The wolf scanned each person one by one.
When his gaze landed on Hana, it didn’t waver and lingered there for a long time.
“…Is that the White Lamb?”
“Hello, Mr. Wolf.”
The two had hardly exchanged words, resulting in an awkward relationship.
“Where’s the mask… Never mind, I hate bothersome things.”
“Are the other apostles okay?”
In response to the Pink Hawk’s question, the Gray Wolf scratched his cheek and replied.
“Yeah, everyone is assembled and waiting. But some are unaccounted for.”
As he said that, he counted on his fingers and listed the missing apostles.
“Green Horse, Sky Bug, and even Gold Lion. I thought you all were dead.”
“Do you think we would die that easily?”
At that moment, the Black Goat, who had been quiet, finally spoke up.
“Is the Sand Crocodile there?”
“Yeah. All the surviving apostles are together. Should I take you there?”
“Sure. We need to go right away.”
“Then follow me.”
They followed the wolf towards the hideout where the apostles were hiding.
On the way, the Black Goat quietly approached Shin Woo.
“They will split into two groups.”
“…Now?”
“Yeah. You guys find the principal. If you happen to get the key card, go to the basement of the main building first.”
Though it felt a bit sudden, Shin Woo reluctantly nodded.
It was better to move comfortably among themselves than to be awkward with the apostles.
“Hana, you…”
“I’ll follow you too.”
“Alright.”
Thus, Shin Woo and the academy group parted ways and headed down a different path.
The wolf said nothing and continued to guide them.
Finally, the Black Goat’s group arrived at the hideout.
The Blue Shark clicked his tongue and mumbled.
“Even hiding, what’s up with the cafeteria? That’s just embarrassing.”
Boom!
As soon as they entered, the door slammed shut roughly.
It was too dark to see anything, and they squinted at the space.
In the dim light, they sensed a presence. It was hard to tell who it was.
The Black Goat spoke nonchalantly.
“The Sand Crocodile is missing.”
In an instant, light reflected sharply in the dark space.
It was the Gray Wolf’s sharp claws.