Regret...

Seichii was hurrying back to the group when his gaze landed on Masumi, kneeling on the ground.

Her hands glowed faintly with a green hue as she worked on Hibino, who lay unconscious in Meiko's lap.

Meiko's face was pale, her trembling hands brushing through Hibino's blood-streaked hair.

Seichii froze for a moment, his mind racing as dread seized him.

Then, without hesitation, he sprinted toward them.

"M-Masumi-san, you're awake!"

He exclaimed, his voice cracking as he dropped to his knees beside them.

"W-what happened?! How did Kawamura-san get such a heavy wound?"

His frantic eyes darted between Masumi and Hibino, searching for answers.

Masumi didn't respond, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Beads of sweat ran down her temples as her healing magic flickered, the light barely holding steady. Seichii's concern deepened.

Before he could press further, a shaky, tear-choked voice broke the silence.

"I-it's my fault..."

Meiko murmured. Her voice was low, broken, as if the words themselves were too heavy to bear.

She clutched Hibino's limp hand tightly, tears falling onto his motionless form.

"I-it's because of me that Hibino got hurt,"

She continued, her voice faltering.

"It's always my fault... always."

She gazed down at Hibino, her lips trembling, as she gently stroked his hair.

Her words were steeped in guilt, each one dragging her deeper into despair.

Standing turned to Masumi again, hoping for some reassurance, but her silence only added to the tension.

Standing a few paces away, Shigeru observed the scene quietly, his piercing eyes scanning every detail.

His calm demeanor masked the growing unease in his mind.

(Masumi-san...) he thought, narrowing his gaze on her glowing hands.

(She's already used her power twice today. Healing magic takes at least half a day to recharge.

How is she awake already, let alone using her powers?)

The thought gnawed at him, but he kept his questions to himself, silently analyzing the inexplicable situation.

.

.

.

A few minutes ago...

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.

.

"HIBINO!! YOU NEED TO WAKE UP!"

Meiko's anguished scream shattered the stillness.

Her voice was raw, laced with desperation as she cradled Hibino's head in her lap.

"OPEN YOUR EYES! LOOK AT ME!"

She pleaded, her voice cracking.

"YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ANSWERED MY CONFESSION!"

Her tears fell in steady streams, her swollen, red-rimmed eyes fixed on his lifeless face.

"I WON'T LET YOU DIE! EVEN IF YOU REJECT ME, YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME ALONE HERE—NOT LIKE THE OTHERS!"

Her sobs grew louder, echoing in the air as she tightened her grip on Hibino's hand.

(No!)

She thought, panic seizing her as she felt his pulse weakening beneath her trembling fingers.

(His pulse is fading! I can't let him die! I have to do something—anything!)

Frantically, she looked around, her tear-blurred vision searching for a miracle.

Her gaze landed on Masumi, who was slumped under a nearby tree, her hands loosely gripping the glowing blade, Zanu.

For the first time, a flicker of hope ignited in Meiko's heart.

(Masumi-san! She can help! She helped Hibino before—she'll help him again!)

Without hesitation, Meiko lifted Hibino in her arms.

Her legs were trembling from the icy ground beneath her, and she stumbled with every step. Yet, she refused to loosen her grip on him.

"Just hold on, Hibino,"

She whispered through gritted teeth, her tears flowing freely.

"I won't let you die—not before me. You just wait!"

Stumbling and nearly falling, she reached Masumi. She dropped to her knees, shaking Masumi's shoulders frantically.

"MASUMI-SAN!! WAKE UP!"

She cried, her voice cracking with desperation.

"HIBINO IS INJURED! PLEASE HELP HIM, OR HE'LL DIE!"

Masumi stirred faintly but didn't respond. Her half-lidded eyes flickered briefly before falling shut again.

"MASUMI-SAN!"

Meiko screamed louder, her hands trembling as she shook her.

"DO YOU HEAR ME?! HIBINO IS DYING! YOU HAVE TO HELP HIM!"

Her voice broke, and her strength faltered. Her hands fell limp, resting against Masumi's shoulders as she lowered her head.

Tears cascaded down her face, dripping onto the frozen ground.

"Please..."

She whispered weakly, her voice barely audible now.

"Please save him..."

As her hope began to shatter, a faint sound of footsteps reached her ears.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Shigeru appeared beside them, his calm composure betraying the urgency in his wide eyes.

"What happened to Hibino-kun?"

He demanded, his voice sharp but steady.

"How did he get injured?"

Meiko slowly turned her tear-streaked face toward him. Her lips trembled, and her voice came out in a fragile whisper.

"It's my fault..."

She confessed, her eyes glistening with pain.

"Because I was careless... because I always have been. Hibino always ended up protecting me.

It wasn't just today... it's always been like this."

Her trembling hands gently brushed through Hibino's hair as a small, broken smile played on her lips.

"He's always been there for me,"

She continued, her voice cracking.

"Every time I made a mistake, every time I was arrogant, I knew he'd be behind me, taking the punishment on himself."

Tears fell freely down her face now, her small smile fading into anguish.

"B-but because of that arrogance... today, Hibino is like this," she said, her voice quivering.

"It's my fault... it's always been my fault. I'm sorry, Hibino. I'm so, so sorry..."

She bowed her head over him, her sobs wracking her fragile form as Shigeru stood silently, watching the heartbreaking scene before him.

Fsh!!!

A sudden flash of dark light shot from Masumi's eyes, cutting straight through Masumi's chest.

Shigeru's body stiffened. He could feel the energy pulsing around him, an intense surge that seemed to distort the air itself.

Sweat trickled down his face as he instinctively scanned his surroundings.

(W-what was that!?)

He thought, heart racing.

(A fierce, tremendous energy just flickered nearby! What is happening!?)

"Mmn..."

A soft groan broke the tense silence. All eyes turned to Masumi, who was slowly rubbing her eyes, clearly disoriented.

"Why is there something so noisy!?"

Masumi muttered, yawning as she stretched.

(She's awake!?)

Shigeru thought, his mind reeling. The hopelessness he'd been feeling moments ago was suddenly replaced by a spark of hope, and his eyes softened with relief.

"M-Masumi-san..."

Meiko whispered, her voice cracking as she stepped forward.

Masumi blinked, noticing Hibino slumped in her lap, his breathing shallow, his pulse barely detectable.

"W-what happened to Hibino-san!?"

Masumi asked, her voice laced with shock.

"Masumi-san, please! You have to help Hibino!

Because of my ignorance, he was attacked by the demon! His pulse is weakening!"

Meiko cried out, her grip tightening around Masumi's hand.

Masumi stared at her for a moment, stunned by the urgency. Then, with a firm nod, she spoke.

"Yes, I will help Hibino-san!"

Masumi quickly knelt beside Hibino and placed her hands on his chest, chanting softly under her breath.

A gentle light began to glow from her palms as her healing magic flowed into Hibino's body.

Slowly, the gaping wound on his side began to heal, the skin knitting together as his pulse steadied.

The color returned to his face, and the pain that had contorted his features melted away.

.

.

.

"And it's done,"

Masumi said, her voice quiet but filled with satisfaction. She slumped to the ground, exhausted.

"Masumi-san, are you alright?" Seichii hurried to her side, supporting her as she sat.

She smiled weakly at him, her cheeks flushed from the exertion.

"I'm alright, Seichii-kun. Thank you."

Meiko let out a sigh of relief, her body going limp as though she had been holding her breath the entire time.

She gently caressed Hibino's hair, her tears falling freely now, each drop expressing more than words could say.

"T-thank you..."

Meiko whispered, her voice trembling.

Masumi smiled warmly, feeling her heart swell with happiness from Meiko's gratitude.

"But how did Hibino-san even get injured like that? These demons shouldn't have been able to hurt him so badly,"

Ryuu asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Carol, who had been standing silently by the side, couldn't help but snicker at the situation.

"What else would you expect to happen? If you're all lovey-dovey, saying 'I love you' in the middle of a battle?"

Everyone froze, staring at Carol in disbelief. Meiko's face turned a deep crimson, and her eyes widened in embarrassment.

"M-Meiko-san...is it true?"

Masumi stammered, her gaze fixed on her friend.

Meiko hesitated, glancing around nervously before nodding slowly.

The silence that followed felt heavy, and then, Masumi broke it with a burst of pure joy.

"FINALLY! YOU DID IT, MEIKO-SAN! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!"

She screamed, lifting Meiko into a tight embrace, her face beaming with excitement.

Seichii chuckled softly as he watched the scene unfold.

"Cute..."

Masumi released Meiko, and the two girls exchanged a meaningful glance before Meiko spoke again, her voice a little more subdued.

"But… Hibino fell unconscious right after I confessed," Meiko said, looking down at the ground.

Masumi's smile softened as she gently patted Meiko's head.

"You gathered all your courage to say what was in your heart. I'm sure you'll get the answer you want."

Meiko looked up at her, a faint smile curving her lips. "I hope so..."

.

.

.

Meanwhile, Ryuu couldn't keep his eyes off Ryoko, who had been sitting on a rock, silently nursing her injured foot.

His gaze lingered, and his expression softened with concern.

He walked over to her, kneeling down in front of her.

"Ryoko-san, let me help," he said gently, carefully lifting her foot to examine it.

Ryoko's cheeks flushed with surprise.

"R-Ryuu-kun, what are you doing...!?"

"It's sprained!"

Ryuu replied, his brow furrowing as he examined her foot with focused intensity.

"It must have been when that demon hit me with the shadow orb,"

Ryoko explained, her voice quiet but firm, though her face was still red.

Ryuu pulled a small box from his bag and opened it, pulling out a healing salve.

"Let me treat you. We can't have Masumi-san heal you again; she's already exhausted from using her magic three times. I'm sorry, Ryoko-san."

Ryoko shook her head, her voice firm despite the pain in her foot.

"No. I won't let Masumi-san take on any more burden. It's just a sprain, I can manage."

Ryuu didn't back down, continuing to treat her foot despite her protests.

"What were you thinking?"

Ryuu suddenly asked, his voice filled with joy.

Ryoko grasped as he gawked at Ryuu.

"How do you—"

"I just know,"

Ryuu said, offering her a warm smile.

Ryoko's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure.

"I was just thinking… why and from where did all these top B-rank demons appear? Why were they so weak?"

Ryuu nodded.

"Exactly. Those demons weren't that strong, even though they were top B-rank.

They seemed more like lower C-rank demons. It doesn't make sense… something's not right."

They exchanged a quiet look, both deep in thought.

"Well," Ryuu said, breaking the silence. "Let's forget about it for now. We need to reach the town as soon as possible."

Roar!!!

Suddenly, a loud ROAR echoed from behind the trees, freezing everyone in place.

"W-what was that? More demons? You must be kidding me!"

Seichii shouted, his voice thick with tension.

"All of us are exhausted. We can't fight more demons in this state!"

Rika added, panic creeping into her tone.

The ground beneath their feet trembled as the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps reached their ears.

"They're coming! What are we going to do!?"

Carol cried out.

Just then, a small voice came from behind them.

"Here."

They all turned to find Rajin standing at the edge of the forest, pointing ahead.

"There's a town,"

He said calmly, walking toward it without hesitation.

"Rajin, wait!"

Shigeru called, but Rajin was already moving.

"It's a town! Everyone, let's head there! It must be where the people are trapped!"

Shigeru urged, his voice filled with urgency.

They began running toward the town, but the demons weren't far behind.

"Meiko, we might not escape them!"

Ryuu said, his face grim as the sound of the demons' pursuit grew louder.

"You all go ahead!"

Ryoko shouted, her voice resolute.

"I'll stop the demons!"

She stepped forward, raising her hand to summon her ice sword, but her legs buckled beneath her, her body trembling with exhaustion.

"Ryoko-san, what are you doing!? Your leg is sprained! You can't even stand, let alone fight demons!"

Ryuu shouted, rushing to her side.

"I said, I'm fine!"

Ryoko snapped, brushing him off.

"You all can go ahead. I'll hold them off!"

Before she could finish, Ryuu swept her off her feet, carrying her in a bridal style as he sprinted toward the town.

"Ryuu! Put me down! I need to fight!"

Ryoko protested, her face turning red as her heart raced.

"As if I'd let you fight alone while you're injured!"

Ryuu shot back, his voice firm.

"We'll escape the demons together."

Ryoko blinked in stunned silence, a small, soft smile tugging at her lips.

Rumble!!!

Suddenly, the ground shook with a deafening ROAR.

"Everyone, run!"

Shigeru commanded, as they all pushed forward.

They raced toward the cliff that marked the edge of the forest. Behind them, the demons were closing in, but Ryuu was ready.

He raised his hand, summoning his fire sword.

"Upper Intermediate Level Magic... WORLD FIRE!"

With a swift slash, a wave of crimson fire erupted from the sword, racing toward the demons.

BOOM!!! The explosion sent shockwaves through the forest, and the trees caught fire as the flames spread rapidly.

"Woah! The whole forest's on fire!" Seichii shouted, glancing back.

"This might slow them down…"

ROAR!!!

The demons weren't even slowed, emerging from the flames unscathed, their terrifying presence unwavering.

"Not even a scratch!?"

Ryuu gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief as the demons continued to advance without hesitation, unaffected by the blast.

The group ran faster, hearts pounding as they reached the edge of the forest.

They could see the town just ahead—almost within their grasp—but the demons were closing in.

"We have to make it to the town, now!"

Shigeru urged, his voice full of urgency.

"Look out!" Masumi shouted, pointing behind them.

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet trembled again as a massive roar reverberated through the air.

The demons had increased their pace, a chilling growl rising from their throats.

"Are we even going to make it!?"

Rika cried, her face pale with fear.

"Keep running!" Ryuu shouted back, his voice strained. "We can't stop now!"

With each step, the town's protective array grew nearer. The shimmering magical barrier surrounding the town flickered faintly in the distance.

They were almost there—just a little further.

"Once we're inside the protective array, the demons won't be able to touch us!"

Shigeru said, his voice determined.

But even as they neared safety, the roar of the demons became louder, and the ground began to rumble beneath them once more. The footsteps were deafening.

"They're right behind us!" Seichii shouted, glancing over his shoulder. "Faster!"

With one final burst of energy, they reached the cliff's edge and leaped over it.

"Just a little more, come on!!"

Seichii's voice cracked as he pushed himself to run faster, his legs burning from exhaustion.

His breaths were shallow and erratic, sweat pouring down his face, stinging his eyes.

The weight of their pursuit was wearing them down, but they had no choice. They had to escape.

"Wait! Look behind!"

Masumi suddenly shouted, her voice piercing the air.

Everyone whipped their heads around, eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"T-the demons... they're disappearing!"

Masumi cried out, her finger pointing in disbelief.

The group stopped dead in their tracks, all of them stunned by the sight unfolding before them.

The demons, once menacing figures chasing them with ferocity, were vanishing into thin air.

Their forms flickered, twisting like smoke, and then—nothing. Gone. As if they had never existed.

"T-they're really disappearing... But how?"

Shigeru muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, unable to comprehend what was happening.

His heart raced as he scanned the empty space where the demons had been, his mind scrambling for answers.

(Just what the hell is going on here!?)

Ryuu thought, his gaze fixed on the fading shapes of the demons.

A dark foreboding sensation crept through him, a feeling that things were far from over. But for now, they were safe.

Or so they thought.

"Phew, well at least we're safe,"

Seichii sighed, his shoulders sagging as he began to relax, walking forward with a sigh of relief.

But before he could take another step, he froze.

His eyes fell on Carol and Rajin, who were standing motionless at the corner of the cliff.

They were trembling, their bodies stiff with fear.

It was as though they were caught in the grip of a terror far beyond anything they had just faced.

Seichii furrowed his brow in confusion, walking toward them.

"Hey, what's up with you two? Why are you shaking like that?"

He asked, his voice laced with concern.

Carol slowly turned her head, her eyes wide with horror.

Fear was etched clearly on her face, and her lips trembled as if she was too terrified to speak.

She raised her hand shakily, pointing toward the town below.

"B-b-blood..."

She whispered, her voice barely audible, but it carried a weight that made Seichii's heart skip a beat.

The group exchanged puzzled glances before they all turned to look down the cliff.

But what they saw was beyond anything they could have imagined.

Their breath caught in their throats as their eyes widened in horror.

The entire town, once a serene, frozen landscape, had been transformed into a nightmarish scene of carnage.

The white, icy streets were now drenched in deep crimson blood.

The once-pristine buildings stood like dark, twisted monuments to death, their windows shattered, doors hanging open in the breeze.

But it was the people—their bodies—that froze their blood in their veins.

The town was littered with mutilated corpses, torn and scattered across the streets in grotesque positions.

Some were cleaved in half, their bones protruding from the mangled remains.

Others were unrecognizable, their faces eaten, chewed down to the bone, their eyes wide open in shock and horror.

The bodies were strewn across the ground, limbs askew, lying in pools of their own blood.

A sickening, metallic smell filled the air, mingling with the icy winds, making it hard to breathe.

The ground was slick with blood, the once-pure snow stained a deep, unholy red. There was no sign of a struggle; it was clear these people had been slaughtered mercilessly.

The blood had begun to congeal, forming grotesque puddles that shimmered in the pale light.

The sounds of the wind seemed muffled, as if the air itself was holding its breath.

Time seemed to slow as the group stood frozen, staring at the unimaginable horror below.

The screams of the fallen, now silent, echoed in their minds as they tried to process what they were seeing.

The group stood on top of the cliff stunned as they looked down at the town which was now turned to hell...