Chapter : 78
“Where do you think you’re going!”
I swung my pop hammer, creating a gust of wind.
I tried to use the strong wind to control the smoke and push it back into the coffin, but—
“Do you really think that’s possible, Magic Saint!”
All I managed was to keep it from coming too close to me.
The staff and the owner, who had inhaled the black smoke, coughed and sputtered.
“You brat! You think no one notices you always sneak over lunch by a minute!”
“Don’t leave early just because you’re sick! Keep your post whether you collapse or not—I don’t care!”
“Wah! Wah!”
They started grabbing each other by the collar and fighting.
The animal abuser watching this burst into laughter.
“Negative emotions are always stronger than positive ones!”
They’re easy to spark, easy to spread! Once someone lets them out, they’re uncontrollable! They infect everyone around in an instant!
“Love? Justice? Those are just candle-like emotions that go out with a single puff! That’s why our master is inevitably stronger than you!”
Even the mocking voice was soon muffled behind the smoke.
“Ugh!”
I cursed inwardly, careful not to inhale the smoke if I opened my mouth, and swung the pop hammer again.
What should I do?
Ignore him and just find that guy to beat him up?!
Then—
Clang!
“Magic Saint!”
“Cassian!”
Cassian smashed through the glass of the gelato shop facing the square and ran inside.
“Arden?!”
“He’s coming!”
He shouted that Arden had been caught by the angry crowd outside.
“They all seemed completely out of their minds!”
“Then why are you here!”
“You can’t even fight!”
“To take you away!”
“What?!”
“Magic Saint, come out of there!”
“No!”
There are people inside!
I blocked the smoke from heading toward Cassian by changing the wind’s direction. The pop hammer, which usually glows cherry-red, now looked like something crawling up from hell.
“And if we retreat like this! What about the people outside!”
Those who had eaten the Love Gelato—or Death Gelato—and gone crazy!
“We have to bring them back to normal too!”
“Give up!”
“What did you say?!”
I looked at Cassian. His expression was twisted. Not the usual relaxed, easygoing Cassian.
He shouted with that expression:
“I don’t know, Sena?! This power is far too strong!”
Already dozens, hundreds of people have been affected!
“So we have to save them now!”
“No! You’re first!”
You have to be safe first to even talk about the rest!
“There are still more people left! To protect at least them, you have to be there! So!”
Step back for now!
“……”
“I said step back!”
I stared at Cassian shouting.
Only his silver hair shone in the black smoke.
Cassian was resolute. Like someone utterly confident in what he was saying.
To give up.
That was the best option.
“……”
Let’s objectively assess the situation.
Cassian might be right.
Even if not entirely, it could still be the best choice.
I had already used all three of my magic spells just to resist the smoke, barely able to defend myself and Cassian.
Following Cassian’s advice to retreat might actually be the realistic choice.
But—
“Even if it’s impossible in reality, we both know what the right choice is……”
Even if we can’t act on it now, we have to know it.
Even if the path is blocked for now, the direction we must go in the end is that way.
And if someone has to keep reminding us of it—
“Isn’t that exactly what the Magic Saint’s job is?”
To be the light in the darkness.
Just like Cassian’s eyes, shining blue alone in this smoke.
I adjusted my grip on the pop hammer as the wind began to die down.
Cassian’s eyes widened as he looked at me.
“What are you doing, Sena….”
I ran toward the coffin, where the smoke was escaping.
“No!”
‘Sorry!’
I ignored Cassian’s desperate shout.
‘How angry must the people of this age be!’
Only a few hundred people gathered, and it’s already this bad!
‘The world is wrong!’
Cursing at the endless smoke,
Crack!
My pop hammer, losing its light, struck the half-open coffin lid.
The moment it touched, I realized:
This is a losing battle.
But still.
Even if I’m bound to lose.
I can’t just step back and save myself while watching people in danger.
I just can’t.
Even though there’s no gain and only trouble, I cannot stand by while others suffer—
I just can’t.
I believe that when we’re in danger one day, it will be the people with this heart who save us.
“Is it wrong to just wonder if you could live happily with the one you love….”
In this harsh world, it’s nice to have something to pour your affection into!
“Just making them express the anger inside?! What nonsense!”
Being an adult means knowing how to control and handle your emotions! Just because we don’t recklessly explode when angry doesn’t mean we’re not human!
“And! I’m! An adult too!”
I can control this!
“Don’t underestimate the Magic Adult Woman!”
I removed one trembling hand from the pop hammer, holding it back from being thrown off, and pushed forward.
One step.
Two steps.
Up close, I smashed the coffin with my fist.
★★★★★
Magic Adult Woman Seraphina!
Ultimate Move!
Fist of Justice!
★★★★★
Lesson of the day!
Do you think you’ll lose?
Magic not working?
Then!
Use your strength!
Magic is for those too weak to fight!
“I won’t forgive you for using the hearts of those who want to love!”
Light exploded.
“Alright! Break up! Only one man survives in this world! Come out with your sword!”
“Fine! Let’s leave it so that only one of us survives….”
Thunk.
“Woof woof! Woof woof!”
“Fine! I don’t want to live with an ungrateful dog like you either! Take your house, I’ll live as a stray—so see how you fare alone….”
Thunk.
The streets of the Imperial Capital, Ruare, at dawn.
By this time, the people and dogs who had been fighting in the streets had collapsed.
Even Arden, who had been running into trouble by confronting people, had to hesitate to push citizens aside, leaving him standing alone on the street.
What is happening, he wondered.
“Your Majesty!”
A small dog appeared.
Startled, Arden quickly realized it was Cassian’s pet dog, Tofu.
“Al! Alal!”
“….”
He followed the dog’s paw gestures without thinking.
Inside the ruined Limkins Grandma’s gelato shop, Cassian had run ahead, standing dumbfounded.
“Brother?”
The Magic Saint? Arden frowned as he looked around the destroyed shop.
Cassian didn’t answer.
He simply stared toward the inner part of the shop.
“…What are you doing?”
Cassian muttered.
What are you doing?
You didn’t want to be a Magic Saint.
You were only doing this because of money, and you said you’d quit after a year.
If you got hurt, caused an accident, or slipped even a little, your life would be over.
‘No one knew the Magic Saint would appear here today. You could have run and been safe.’
Even then, no one would have blamed you.
“…Then why aren’t you keeping your own word?”
…But in truth, I had also broken my own promise to ignore you and give no help, and ran all the way here.
In the end, neither of us kept our word.
“Brother?”
Arden asked the silent Cassian.
“The Magic Saint?”
“……”
“Could it be that inside….”
He flinched as he peeked into the kitchen where the explosion seemed to have happened.
“…Is she dead?”
He muttered unconsciously.
“What are you talking about!”
She’s alive!
Magic Saint Sena had appeared.
Covered in vanilla and sugar, sticky all over, she staggered forward.
Shaking off the whipped cream dripping from her pop hammer, Magic Saint Sena looked at Arden.
Arden flinched without realizing it.
Was she going to hug him again?
But before Arden could react, Cassian approached first and pulled the Magic Saint into his arms.
