Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat-Chapter 379: The Heart of the City

The Heart of the City

In the heart of the city square, a place always bustling with people, there were even more gathered today. So many, in fact, that the wide plaza was nearly packed with no empty space to be found.

The reason for such a crowd?

“Ladies and gentlemen, the graduation ceremony of Aegis Academy’s 402nd class and the subsequent Hero Commendation Ceremony will commence shortly. Please take your seats.”

Today was the day of the Aegis Academy graduation ceremony, which also marked the day the graduating students were officially bestowed the title of "hero." It was an annual event, but today it had drawn an unprecedented crowd.

“Wow, so many people. I’ve only ever seen this on TV, but it’s my first time attending. Is it always this packed?”

“Not really. I’ve come to this a few times, but I’ve never seen this many people. Sure, it’s a popular event, but this is on another level. I mean, if even you wanted to come, it must be something special, right? Ah, look over there, there are still seats. If we don’t hurry, we’ll have to stand the whole time.”

“Wow, there are still seats available? You really know your way around these things. I’m so glad you agreed to come with me this time.”

“...Actually, now that we’re here, I feel like I should ask—why did you invite me of all people? We’ve only talked a handful of times since you transferred.”

“Hehe, I didn’t want to be alone with no one to talk to, you know? And I knew you were really into this kind of stuff, so I thought it’d be nice to have someone knowledgeable with me. And, well, thanks to you, we found seats!”

“...Whatever. It’s not a big deal.”

Still, despite their small talk, the sheer size of the audience was highly unusual. The number of people drawn to this ceremony was extraordinary, and the reason lay in the graduating class itself.

“Look! Over there! It’s Yoon Si-woo!”

“Oh wow, he rarely makes public appearances these days, but I guess he couldn’t miss his friends' graduation.”

“Whoa, this is my first time seeing him in person! He’s even more handsome than on TV, right?”

“...Yeah, I guess so. Look at all the people screaming. Are those the members of his fan club? I heard they were going to gather here because they were sure he’d show up for his friends' ceremony. Wait, don’t tell me the reason you wanted to come today is because...”

“Huh? Sorry, I didn’t catch that over the cheers. What did you say?”

“...Never mind. You’re not the type to care about that anyway.”

Yoon Si-woo, known for his role in defeating the three witches of Sloth, Gluttony, and Greed, had become a living legend among heroes. His presence alone was enough to make this graduation class special. Even though he had graduated early and wasn’t part of the official ceremony, people flocked to see him and the classmates who shared his time at the academy.

“Oh, here come the graduates!”

“Really? Let me see... Ah, that’s Sylvia Astra, right?”

“Yeah, she was chosen by the World Tree after 500 years and became the head of the Astra family. She played a major role in the battle against the witches. There’s also Dwight Neinhart, the ‘Young Sage,’ who used his magic to stop the Witch of Greed from escaping. And over there, the former Captain Dolos, and Eloise’s daughter too.”

“Wow, you know so much! You’re a real hero enthusiast.”

“Ugh... I just research because I want to support heroes one day. It's for my future career.”

The second reason this class was extraordinary lay in the graduates themselves. Students like Sylvia Astra, Dwight, and Flonne had become well-known even before their official graduation, lauded as the new shining stars of the hero world. Their talent and promise were said to surpass that of the previous "Golden Generation."

“So, you want to support heroes? Is that why you’ve been researching them so much?”

“...I never told you? A few years ago, my family and I were saved by a hero. We thought we were all going to die, but that hero sacrificed everything to save us. After hearing that story, I wanted to do whatever I could to help people like that.”

Others, however, were drawn for more personal reasons. One boy who had been recounting his story turned to look at a corner of the plaza, prompting the girl beside him to bite her lip before speaking carefully.

“...I had something similar happen to me.”

“...Something similar? What do you mean?”

“...Do you remember that day? When the beasts controlled people’s bodies, forcing them to kill each other?”

“...Yeah. I remember.”

It was impossible to forget. That day, one of the worst tragedies in the city’s history, had been revealed to be the work of the Witch of Lust. Thousands had been killed or wounded, all due to the monsters that could control human bodies.

“That day... a hero saved my dad and me.”

“...Really?”

“...It was already too late, though. My mom... she died at the hands of my dad, who was being controlled.”

“Oh...”

“...After that, my dad cried almost every day. It was so painful to watch that I started resenting the hero. I thought, why didn’t they come sooner? If they couldn’t save my mom, why didn’t they let us die too? Pretty selfish, huh?”

“......”

“Eventually, we were in danger again, and that same hero saved us. After that, my dad, who had been crying every day, looked at me and said, ‘We should be grateful to that hero. I’m so lucky that I still have you.’”

Recalling that day, the girl smiled softly in embarrassment.

“It was only then that I realized the hero hadn’t taken our family away but had saved the ones who were left. Once we understood that, we decided to live our lives to the fullest. That’s when I decided to become a doctor, so I could save people the way that hero had.”

“...A doctor? So that’s why you were always studying so hard?”

“...Yeah. Becoming a doctor takes a lot more work than I thought. That’s why I transferred schools—to focus on studying.”

“Well, you’ll make it for sure. You’re the hardest worker in the entire school.”

“...Thanks. Let’s both do our best. I want to be able to proudly tell that hero one day that I made it because of them.”

As the girl smiled at a corner of the plaza, the boy hesitated for a moment, glancing toward the same direction. Realization dawned on him, and he exclaimed.

“Wait, hold on! You mean that hero who saved you—could it be...?”

“Pfft, ‘Could it be?’ Really? I’d be surprised if there’s anyone here who wasn’t saved by them.”

“...Yeah, I guess that makes sense. So that’s why you wanted to come today. I get it now.”

“I just wanted to say thank you in my own way.”

The third reason this class was special? It included her.

In the corner of the square where the boy and girl had been looking, there stood several statues commemorating those who had sacrificed for the city. Among them, two were new. One was of Eve, the witch who had dedicated her life to humanity. And the other?

It was the statue of her.

Scarlet Evande. The hero who had given everything to save the world. Once called a witch, she was now revered as the "Saint of Salvation." Though she wasn’t physically present today, everyone knew she was part of this graduating class. That’s why so many had gathered—to show their gratitude, even if she couldn’t be here.

“And now, we will begin the Oath of the Graduates.”

[“I solemnly swear...”]

As the graduation ceremony reached its conclusion, the graduates recited the hero's oath together, echoing the same words Yoon Si-woo once spoke to the people when he vowed to become a hero.

The same words Scarlet had once spoken as a promise to those who accepted her despite her past.

[“To act for others before myself...”]

[“To never abandon my comrades, no matter the situation...”]

[“To never stop moving forward, even when everyone else has given up...”]

This class had faced chaos and catastrophe as first-year students, enduring a world where witches had returned to threaten humanity. As they stood there reciting the oath, their graduation seemed to signal the end of those dark times and the start of a new era of peace.

[“I pledge, on my honor and name, that until my last breath...”]

[“...I will fight for the peace and safety of humanity.”]

As the graduates chanted in unison, they all turned their gaze toward the statue of Scarlet, the friend and comrade who had fought for humanity’s peace until her final breath.

Everyone in the audience knew who they had to thank for being able to stand here today.

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The graduates lowered their heads slightly toward the statue in gratitude, silently vowing to uphold the same ideals.

[“We swear this here and now.”]

The crowd, the boy and the girl, applauded loudly, hoping the sound would somehow reach her as well.

“Yoon Si-woo, some of the other graduates are planning to gather later. Are you coming?”

As the ceremony ended, Yoon Si-woo looked up from where he was gathering his things. The one who called out to him was Mei, the former class president of Aegis Academy’s Class 1-A.

Though she was no longer officially the class president after graduation, she was still seen as the leader by her peers.

After a moment of thought, Yoon Si-woo shook his head.

“Sorry. I can’t make it. There’s somewhere I need to be.”

“Ha, I knew it. You’re going there again, aren’t you?”

“Heh...”

Mei sighed as if she had expected his answer, a small smile on her face.

“Well, in that case, I’ll let everyone know we’ll meet up later when we can all be there.”

“Huh? No, you don’t need to change your plans just because of me. Everyone else can—”

“It’s fine. What’s the point of a reunion if not everyone’s there? And it’s not just because of you. Sylvia isn’t coming either, and besides...”

Mei trailed off, but Yoon Si-woo quickly caught her meaning. The mention of “everyone” was a clear reference to Scarlet.

Yoon Si-woo couldn’t help but admire Mei’s thoughtfulness. It was little wonder that she was still seen as the representative of their group.

“Well, we’ll have the party when everyone can make it. Go on, you’re already halfway out the door anyway. Oh, and by the way, your fan club is waiting for you out front. If you don’t want to get caught, I suggest leaving through the back.”

“...Thanks. I’ll head out then.”

Thanks to Mei’s advice, Yoon Si-woo was able to slip away unnoticed. His destination? The Astra estate.

Practically sprinting to a familiar room, he opened the door to find someone already there, waiting for him.

“Finally made it? Hurry up and come inside.”

It was Sylvia.

Technically, this was her estate, so calling her a guest didn’t quite fit.

Still, her casual tone made it clear she had been expecting him. Yoon Si-woo raised a brow and asked, “What are you doing here? Weren’t you the first to leave the ceremony because you were so busy?”

“I am working, see?” Sylvia replied, waving a stack of documents at him. Judging by the pile of papers, she wasn’t lying about being busy. This room, after all, had become her de facto office.

“As if you’d be sitting here if you were really that busy,” Yoon Si-woo retorted, taking a seat at the desk next to hers. The same desk that had been placed there months ago.

Sylvia, undeterred, handed him a pile of papers. “Here. Your squad dropped these off. They must think this is your office now, considering how often you’re here. But just so you know, this room isn’t your office.”

“It’s not your office either.”

“Geez, you’re here every day! Aren’t you busy? You’re the great hero who became the head of Aegis, after all.”

“It’s mostly a ceremonial position. Ever since the witches were defeated, the monster activity has quieted down, so there’s not much for me to do. You, on the other hand, must be ten times busier. Yet here you are.”

After the playful exchange, Yoon Si-woo took the papers and leafed through them, before turning toward Sylvia and asking, “...So, how is Scarlet?”

“Same as always. As you can see.”

“...I see.”

Sighing, Yoon Si-woo turned his chair around to face the bed behind him. Lying there was Scarlet, still unconscious.

The room they were in wasn’t just any room in the Astra estate. It was Scarlet’s recovery room.

“...The graduation ceremony is over. I wonder when she’ll finally wake up.”

“...Yeah, really.”

It had been two years since Scarlet had been resurrected by the power of the Holy Sword. Yet even now, as their friends graduated, she still hadn’t regained consciousness.

This room, which had once been Yoon Si-woo’s, was now Scarlet’s.

Her /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ condition was better than his had been, though. Her body was somehow sustained, preserved in perfect condition. All she needed to do was wake up.

But as the days turned into months and then years, the two of them began to worry. At first, they had expected her to awaken any day. But as time passed, doubt crept in.

That was the day Sylvia had moved her desk into this room, reasoning that staying here would give her more time by Scarlet’s side, in case anything happened.

Yoon Si-woo, who had initially questioned the idea, soon did the same. He placed his own desk beside Sylvia’s, turning the room into an unofficial office for the both of them.

Sitting there now, Yoon Si-woo stared at Scarlet and murmured, “...It’s starting to feel like our academy days again.”

“Doesn’t it? I just realized, our seating arrangement is exactly the same as it was back then. You were always on my right, and Scarlet was behind you.”

“Huh. I hadn’t noticed. You were the one who set up the desks, so I guess it makes sense.”

“Yep! This way, I can keep an eye on Scarlet without having to fully turn around. As you know, I’m a very busy person.”

“Right.”

Despite the nostalgic atmosphere, the two couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness. They both wished Scarlet would wake up soon.

Two years had passed since they began waiting together for Scarlet to open her eyes. Though they often teased each other, the two had become close during that time. But they still had an unspoken competition—who would be the first to greet Scarlet when she finally woke up?

Yet even their playful rivalry couldn’t ease the weight of the situation.

As the sound of papers being shuffled filled the room, both Yoon Si-woo and Sylvia suddenly froze.

“...Did you hear that too?”

“...I think so.”

Their gazes turned toward the bed.

Scarlet was awake, staring back at them.

In life, strange things sometimes happen that seem too surreal to believe. Like one day, leaving a comment online and finding yourself as a character in a story. Or discovering that a terrifying witch has been residing within you all along.

“Scarlet...!”

“Scarlet!”

But no matter what you’ve been through, nothing could prepare you for the moment you realize that someone you thought was gone forever is standing right before you again.

“Why... why isn’t she saying anything? Did something go wrong...?”

“Don’t tell me she lost her memory... Scarlet, can you recognize us? Do you remember your name?”

The emotions are overwhelming—joy, confusion, and even a bit of embarrassment.

And so, sitting in the back seat of the academy heroine’s right diagonal seat, as I opened my eyes again after who knows how long, I could only respond to my friends’ frantic questions with one word.

“Evande...”