Chapter 61: Those Who Can Never Be Forgiven (12)

The Blessing of the Gods.

Among them, the girl who carried the Guide’s Blessing had died.

I had become numb to death since coming to this world, but the death of someone blessed by the gods felt different.

Those who summoned me here claimed this was all part of the gods’ plan—kings, princesses, and countless others.

They said the warrior was righteous, noble, and filled with conviction—chosen by the gods.

Even though I came from another world, I swore I would save this one.

That was what it meant to be a warrior, and those chosen by the gods were special girls, also bearing their blessings.

At first, I thought it was absurd.

I didn’t mind sacrificing my own life, but there was no reason for these girls to be put in danger just because they were chosen by the gods.

That’s why I tried to take on everything by myself, only to realize I was ignoring their convictions.

The word together.

Serah had taught me its meaning, and it still lingered in my heart.

But perhaps a part of me also believed that those chosen by the gods couldn’t succumb to evil and would never die.

The warrior and the Five Heroes—300 years ago, though tainted by demonic energy, none of them had died.

My companions and I had faced countless dangers, yet we had always prevailed.

Maybe I thought it was impossible for the gods’ chosen to lose to evil.

That belief shattered when I heard Serah’s words.

She recognized the identity of the corpse and was visibly shaken.

Her trembling body continued with the funeral rites, and I couldn’t help but wonder—why did she die?

The Unyielding Rock was a girl blessed by the gods.

If her destiny was to die here, why was she chosen in the first place?

“Are you okay…?”

Serah’s careful question broke through my thoughts.

She’s such a kind-hearted girl.

Despite her own tragic life, she always considered others’ feelings.

I wanted to repay that kindness.

I wanted to restore the Sacred Sword and cleanse her body of corruption.

But everything was falling apart, and I couldn’t bring myself to meet her gentle gaze.

The Rock’s death meant my companions could also die unexpectedly someday.

It also meant we had no way forward.

Even with the World Tree visible ahead, we couldn’t take a single step closer.

What a foolish situation.

We should’ve been more cautious.

We should’ve prepared better.

But thoughts of saving the Rock and purifying Serah had overlapped, and I’d made a rash decision.

Laura and Natalia must’ve realized we were lost by now.

How could I possibly apologize for this mistake?

“…There’s no way back now, is there?”

“Even if there were, we wouldn’t find it.”

Laura and Natalia were discussing plans for setting up a base camp nearby.

Given that we had no idea where each step might lead, it was the best option for now.

But it also meant we couldn’t do anything.

We didn’t know who the enemy was or how to resolve this situation.

Even so, neither of them blamed me.

I was grateful for that, but my heart was still restless.

We set up tents and lit a fire.

Outside, I could hear Serah talking to Laura, but I couldn’t focus on anything.

In this unfamiliar world filled with strangers, Serah had been my salvation.

I had to find a way to save her.

How could we meet the Elves?

How could we find a way out?

How…?

Nothing came to mind.

“…What are you thinking about so much?”

“Just wondering who killed the Rock… and what we should do next.

Because of me, everyone is lost now.”

Serah walked in after lifting the tent flap.

She had been speaking to Laura and Natalia moments earlier.

Her worried expression made it clear that the Rock’s death weighed on her too.

She sat down quietly beside me.

Her usual rough tone was gone, replaced by a calm and gentle voice.

Hearing her speak like this brought back memories of her in the subspace.

The words she had said then—about creating a happy ending for just the two of us—had brought me so much comfort.

But I was a fool who hadn’t repaid that kindness.

“Su-hyun, you thought everything would work out in the end, didn’t you?”

Hearing her call me by my name for the first time startled me.

Her voice in the tent was soft and kind, different from her usual demeanor.

She must’ve noticed my unease and took her time to speak, carefully choosing her words.

“Those blessed by the gods possess talents others don’t.

They are destined to help the warrior defeat the Demon King.

The Five Heroes of old were corrupted by demonic energy but didn’t die.

Maybe you thought those blessed by the gods couldn’t die at the hands of others.”

My heart pounded as if she had read my thoughts.

I couldn’t stop the nervous beating, and as I stared at her, she didn’t avert her gaze.

She was right.

I had believed everything would turn out fine.

At first, I didn’t know what to do.

I thought sacrificing myself to save the world and my companions was enough.

But in the capital, Serah had used the sacred flames to save me, proving my thinking was wrong.

In the Highlands, I had tried to swallow the stone containing the Demon King’s power, ignoring the aftermath for others.

But Serah had taken my place.

It hurt.

It hurt so much to see someone else suffer because of my choices.

I learned the true value of together that day.

In Edirne, Serah reached out her hand to me again—for the sake of a happy ending just for us.

She was the only other person from Earth in this unfamiliar world.

Despite her difficult life, she remained unyielding and strong.

If that wasn’t a miracle, then what was?

The gods’ choice.

The warrior’s party doesn’t lose.

All of this was destiny…

That’s what I had thought.

But the Rock’s death proved that even the chosen could die.

“…I’ve had some scary thoughts.

You’re right—we were summoned to this world by the gods’ choice.

So I thought we were bound to have a happy ending.

But learning the Rock died… it’s changed my perspective.”

Silence filled the tent again.

I couldn’t look away from Serah, and she didn’t look away from me.

She seemed to be hesitating, lost in thought, before finally speaking again.

“When we were summoned to this world, I met my destined person and fell in love.

So I believed there was a reason for me to be here.

But Su-hyun, if you’re carrying the weight of this world all on your own, let it go.

You don’t have to take all the responsibility on yourself.”

“Serah…”

Serah took a deep breath before continuing.

“Even those blessed by the gods can die to those who choose evil.

But the person you love wouldn’t blame you for their death, nor would they want you to.”

Even if they died, they wouldn’t blame me.

As she said this, she gently patted my head.

A happy ending for just the two of us.

Defeating the Demon King and returning to our original world together.

Her words gave me hope, but I could sense her determination beneath them.

Perhaps it was the cold, but her hand seemed to tremble slightly.

Or maybe it was because she didn’t want to see anyone else die.

I didn’t want to see that either.

The Rock’s death had been painful enough.

I wondered what I could say to the Black Gale, who was now alone, or to the Red Tail tribe, displaced from their home by the battle.

The thought worried me already.

But without resolve, nothing can be achieved.

I had vowed to save everyone without any sacrifices and to return to our original world with Serah.

So now wasn’t the time for negativity.

It was time to rise again.