Chapter 25: The Unwakened Hero (1)

Always calm and composed in any situation.

Or perhaps acting too indifferent, that was Winstred Sylvia.

Anyone who remembered her would never imagine her wearing a crumpled expression like crumpled newspaper, as she was now.

“Ah….”

Sylvia stared blankly at Theonar as he plummeted from the sky.

She desperately wanted to rush to him and catch him.

But her legs were rooted to the ground, unable to move from that spot.

The reason was—

‘That day… it’s just like that day…’

Because it was reminiscent of the day he faced the demon god alone and lost his life.

“No… I can’t lose him again…”

The sight of him falling haunted her even in the present, tormenting her relentlessly.

If she fell asleep, she’d dream of a hollow-eyed Theonar blaming her with words of resentment.

Even during the day, she saw illusions of him wandering with his neck twisted unnaturally.

But even with such horrific memories, she was happy.

Theo, let’s go eat.

…You always eat the expensive stuff.

I’ll treat you. 

I have money.

That’s the problem, you idiot. 

How are you going to survive acting like such a pushover?

The joy she felt being with him far outweighed the stress from her past.

Though she knew their peace and happiness would one day shatter,

The memories they made together wouldn’t disappear.

But she had been too complacent.

No, perhaps she had turned a blind eye.

Drunk on happiness, she hadn’t wanted to lose this moment, this feeling.

‘Why do I keep repeating such foolish mistakes…?’

Ignoring reality, she had nearly lost him again.

Never again… 

This can never happen again.

‘This isn’t enough.’

To protect her days with him, she had to fight.

Against those damn bastards once more.

‘I can quickly reach the 9th Rank. The problem is…’

Facing them required preparation.

They weren’t opponents she could defeat with brute strength alone.

‘I need to become the family head.’

The Winstred Ducal Family, founding contributors to the Lumiere Empire.

Beyond their power, their meticulously built network of intelligence spanning centuries was something she couldn’t replicate in a short time.

No matter the method, she couldn’t officially inherit right away.

But if something happened to the current family head,

She, as the primary heir, would act as the interim head.

It wasn’t impossible.

In the end, both Theonar and Ian survived.

Both had made it through their crises and were no longer in life-threatening danger.

Vanice was naturally in charge of their treatment.

With her saintly authority and overwhelming divine power, she quickly healed their external injuries and calmed their rampaging magic.

Thanks to her, Ian recovered swiftly and woke up a few days later.

“…Phew, my head hurts.”

Theonar, however, had not.

“Vanice, how is he?”

“He’s fine. He’ll probably wake up soon.”

“That’s a relief…”

In his hospital room were Vanice and Sylvia.

Rozennia had gone to the imperial palace to handle external affairs.

Isabel, fearing danger to the royal court’s closest aides, had strongly opposed her going out.

“…By the way, Vanice.”

“Yes?”

“When did you start smoking?”

“Ah, that’s right. You might be seeing it for the first time. You’ve never been someone who pays attention to others, after all.”

Phew.

Vanice exhaled a puff of smoke from her pipe toward Sylvia and spoke.

“Authority is not omnipotence. You must pay the price for the performance granted.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“…Quick healing?”

“Then let me ask you instead. What do you think my authority has been until now?”

“Hmm.”

“See, you’re quick-witted when it comes to charming men, but acting oblivious at times like this is quite annoying.”

Sylvia couldn’t respond to Vanice’s sharp remark.

After all, it was true that she didn’t even know the exact nature of her comrade’s power despite having spent nearly ten years together.

“Well, looking at this, it seems Theonar kept that secret remarkably well. He always seemed frivolous, but it turns out he’s more serious than I thought.”

After exhaling the remaining smoke, Vanice picked up a bottle from the table beside the hospital bed.

Pop!

Gulp, gulp.

She unscrewed the cap and began chugging it as if determined to drink it all in one go.

“Ahh, Pedro Mountain’s drink really is clean.”

“Surgery…?”

“Puh-haha, I understand your reaction. People think of a saint as someone wrapped in noble character and devout faith.”

With her face now reddened, Vanice looked at Teonar and said,

“My power isn’t about healing wounds but something closer to ‘restoration’—returning things to their original state. It’s not about closing wounds; it’s about rewinding to a time before the wounds occurred. It’s a clear violation of the natural order, which demands a price.”

“A price…”

“Yes, that’s right. To revert the subject’s body, I have to endure equivalent pain. Whether their flesh is torn or their bones are shattered, I must experience it all for my power to work.”

The truth about Vanice’s authority was heavy.

Listening to her story, Sylvia found herself reflecting on her past actions.

‘If I had known, I would have…

Been more careful, fought more safely.’

But using the excuse of not having enough time, she had taken her comrade’s abilities for granted, thinking Vanice would always heal them.

‘That’s why she became so emaciated toward the end, her divine power completely depleted.’

Sylvia recalled Vanice’s gaunt figure, with bones grotesquely protruding through her skin.

To think it was all because of them.

‘Back then, I really didn’t know anything.’

Clang!

Vanice slammed the bottle onto the table.

The sharp sound snapped Sylvia out of her thoughts about the past.

“I didn’t tell you because I hated seeing those kinds of expressions on your faces. So don’t feel too hurt. It’s not that I only told Teonar; he just found out by accident.”

“…I see.”

“Anyway, smoking or drinking is… a kind of painkiller for me.”

Afterward, Vanice quietly kept watch by Theonar’s side for a long time. 

Then, after examining his condition, she said she needed rest and left for the temple.

Left in the now-quiet hospital room, Sylvia leaned against Theonar’s bed.

His entire body was wrapped in bandages.

She gently stroked his cheek and smiled faintly, feeling comforted simply by confirming that his warmth was still there.

* * *

The large-scale attack was like a nightmare.

The aftermath was overwhelming.

Though the imperial family had stepped in to assist with the recovery, the casualties were far too many.

The disaster claimed the lives of a staggering 600 people.

Among them were individuals with promising futures, having been admitted to Arcane Academy.

Even those ranked lower had shown talent in specific fields, making their loss a significant blow to the Empire.

And rumors spread quickly. 

Within less than a week, news of the incident had reached every corner of the Empire.

At the memorial service held to honor the victims, a large crowd of mourners gathered.

Perhaps it was the tragic nature of these bright individuals, whose potential had been snuffed out before it could fully bloom.

The faces of all who came were marked by profound grief.

“…In the end, it has come to this.”

“It was bound to happen anyway, with my term nearing its end. It’s only right for me to step down since I failed to properly fulfill my duty of taking care of the students.”

“But that’s not your fault, Dean.”

“Rose… no, Your Highness, it is my responsibility to guide the students in the right direction and protect them from harm. Since I failed to do so, I must bear the consequences, so please don’t worry. If I may offer you some advice, Your Highness, those in positions of authority must not only enjoy their privileges. Always remember that equal responsibility follows.”

The dean of Arcane took responsibility as the representative and stepped down with a formal apology.

At the same time, they were summoned to the capital for an imperial investigation.

For the few days during the memorial services, a quiet atmosphere lingered.

The sorrow of those who lost friends, lovers, or family resonated deeply.

As the saying goes, “Heroes are born in times of crisis.”

Even in this tragic event, there were those who shone brightly.

The citizens of the empire unanimously praised the individuals who played pivotal roles in the incident.

Antoine Rose, Saint Vanice, Winstred Sylvia, and Aldonia Isabel were among those celebrated.

However, there was one person who stood out the most.

“Did you hear? That commoner saved so many people!”

“Apparently, he wasn’t just good in theory after all.”

“It seems Vanice’s judgment wasn’t wrong. Truly.”

“I heard he’s also quite skilled in combat?”

That person was none other than Theonar.

He saved those who were stranded and on the brink of death, bringing them together in one place.

He took the lead, dealing with enemies and clearing the path.

Moreover, many witnessed him rushing out alone to rescue Ian, who had gone far ahead.

Both students and faculty couldn’t help but shower him with praise.

However, there was one regrettable fact.

Even as nearly a month had passed since the tragedy, he had yet to regain consciousness.