Noah's POV
In my past life, I once heard someone say, "Life is full of ups and downs."
"If life ever feels too peaceful... then disaster is just around the corner."
Now, in this life, I've verified it.
Everything had been going too smoothly the last few days, ever since Lyra's mother was saved. It was peaceful.
No chaos. No fights.
Even today had started off well.
But now, looking at the chaos in front of me…
I was stunned. The scene from last year at the academy flashed through my mind.
I didn't know what I should prioritize first—my family or the dying people right in front of me.
"Noah."
My body wouldn't move.
"NOAH!"
Was someone calling me?
"NOOAAHH!!!"
A sharp and loud voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I turned to look—Layla and Scarlett were watching me with worry. Olivia and Lyra were helping others nearby.
"Snap out of it, Noah," Layla said.
"Are you alright, Noah?" Scarlett asked.
"Ah—yes. Thanks for waking me up," I replied, turning to face the chaos ahead.
The Emperor was locked in a fierce battle with the Empress.
Charlotte was being tended to by the priests of the church.
The Pope and Archbishop were busy helping people.
Shadow monsters were emerging from every direction. Royal guards were fighting them off, but the numbers were overwhelming.
My parents and Lyra's mother were also holding off the monsters, continuously.
This scene again... even civilians were being attacked.
Why do heroes never come on time?
"Mana Domain."
I activated my domain to assess the situation outside—and sure enough, it was worse.
Now, I was certain. Even the Hero Association is either corrupted or utterly useless. There's no way they'd still not be here otherwise.
"Astral Mirage Clones."
Ten clones appeared at once.
"Half of you, help the injured. The rest—kill the monsters."
As I ordered, they all vanished into action.
Layla, with her scythe, was on a killing spree.
Scarlett summoned her shadow army, holding back enemies at two gates—alone.
Due to an explosion, there were now more than two entrances.
As I scanned the battlefield, my eyes landed on Charlotte.
Her body was bloodied.
Her chest was pierced, and a dark shadow burned there, preventing the wound from healing.
The priests were struggling to keep her alive. The Pope examined her, but even he simply shook his head and moved on.
Right now, every life mattered.
He couldn't waste time on someone beyond saving—even if she was a princess.
But she was still alive.
Fighting for her last breath.
Could Olivia save her with her divine power?
"Warp Step."
I teleported right beside Olivia, surprising her as she battled monsters alongside Lyra.
"I need your help."
"Wha—"
Before she could finish, I wrapped my arm around her waist and teleported us directly to Charlotte's side.
"Wha—Saintess?"
One of the priests gasped.
"Move aside, I'll check on her," Olivia said, immediately understanding my intention.
She placed her hands over Charlotte's wound. Silver light radiated from her palms, flowing into the wound.
"It's working!"
"The shadow is diminishing," a priest observed.
"No, it's not. It's just pretending. The real shadow has already reached her heart—it's only buying time. At this rate, she won't last long," Olivia said, continuing her efforts.
"I can keep her alive for an hour—maybe." Olivia's voice trembled.
"No, this can't be," I muttered.
"N-Noah..."
A weak, barely audible voice reached my ears.
I recognized it instantly—Charlotte.
"N-Noah, am I going to die?"
"No, idiot princess. You won't die," I said, trying to reassure her.
The soul imprint on my chest burned fiercely—it felt her pain.
"Noah, I missed you everyday. I've waited for this day—to dance with you..."
"Today was my best day. I won't regret dying... if the last face I see is yours," she whispered with a faint smile.
"Can't you see? Olivia's here—she'll heal you," I insisted, even though I knew the truth.
Charlotte, however discarded my words and continued.
"I never wanted us to be apart. It's all my fault... I wasn't brave enough."
"I wanted to be by your side, but all I did was push you away."
"I guess this is my punishment for the pain I caused you."
"If I had a second chance, I'd never break our engagement. I'd force my father to let me marry you immediately."
"It's selfish, I know... but I still dream of you."
"Maybe I'll redeem myself through death."
'Don't say that....'
"I hope you live happily..."
'You want me live happily..'
Just then, the shadow on her chest stirred violently.
"She's losing the will to live," Olivia warns. "Her heart is giving up."
"No—it's accelerating. If this continues, she'll die in minutes!"
"It's fine, Noah," Charlotte breathes. "Don't worry about me."
That's when I lose it.
"You truly are selfish," I said coldly.
Everyone—including Charlotte—looked at me in shock.
Even the shadow paused its movement.
"You hope for me to live happily—after watching you die in front of me? You want your dying words to haunt me for the rest of my life?"
"You think death will redeem your past? What about the trauma you'll leave me with?"
"Do you...even care what I want?"
Every word pierced her like a blade.
The shadow inside her stopped completely. Olivia caught my signal and maintained her healing.
"You...don't want me to be happy....at all," I said.
Tears fell from her eyes. My heart ached, but I didn't stop.
"Y-You never loved me, Charlotte."
"NO!" she shouted, eyes overflowing.
"D-Don't say that!"
"But it's true—"
"No, it's not! I love you, Noah! I want you to be happy!"
"Then tell me—would I be happy if you died?"
She flinched.
"D-Don't you hate me?" she asked softly.
"If I hated you… why would I have danced with you?"
"Why would I...still be here?"
She trembled.
She was completely lost now.
She had thought dying would bring her redemption—but after hearing me, she had no idea what to do anymore.
"Then… what should I do?" she whispered.
"Did you mean those words you said earlier?" I asked.
She nodded, breath shallow. "Y-Yes."
"Then live. Not for the empire. Not for redemption. Live for yourself."
"Death won't give you what you seek. Only by living will you find it."
"Live… for myself?"
"Yes. Don't you want to?"
"Noah, she has five minutes left!" Olivia warned.
I turned to Charlotte. "Answer me."
A pause. Then—
"No… I don't want to die, Noah!"
"I want to live—with you."
"Then stay alive. That's the first step."
"Olivia, what's the real problem? Why can't you heal her?"
"It's the amount of shadow poison in her. Her heart is marked by it. After five minutes, she'll become like Arthur—or worse—a mindless monster."
"If we had someone who could nullify status ailments, my divine power would've worked by now."
(Status ailments include poisoning, paralysis, etc.)
"Hmm... do I have something that can remove status ailments, system?" I muttered.
[Affirmative. Your skill "Revive" can do the same job.]
"Right, but why didn't you tell me before?"
[You didn't ask. My duty is to keep you safe. I couldn't care less about others.]
"Tsk...Fine."
"Olivia. I think I can do it."
"What are you—"
She tried to ask, but I stopped her.
"Revive."
I raised my hand above Charlotte's wound and whispered.
A green mana circle enveloped her body.
The light entered her wound. The shadow tried to resist—but was defeated instantly. Within a minute, all the poison was gone. Only the physical wound on her chest remained. My skill couldn't heal that.
But I have done everything I could, now rest is upto her.
"Her condition is back to normal now. How in the world did he do it?" Olivia thought, as she looked at me.
I looked at Olivia, who understood instantly.
She channeled her divine power—and this time, the wound began to heal.
I stood up.
The clones were doing their jobs, but I couldn't slack off either.
The situation here was under control—thanks to my parents, Alea, the Pope, Archbishop, nobles, and royal guards.
But the situation outside was still dire.
I had to see it for myself.
This had to be a diversion—attacks in multiple places at once.
"Whoever did this… what is their true goal?"
Just as I was about to step out, the ground trembled violently.
The air grew heavy.
I dashed outside—and saw ten massive dark portals open in the sky.
Giant shadow monsters poured out, slaughtering civilians.
A few members of the Hero Association were there—but they were helpless against the sheer numbers.
"If only someone like the Headmaster were here..." I muttered, looking toward the sky.
Just then I heard a deep, voice from above.
"You missed me, brat."
I looked above, then smiled.
Now there is hope.
—To be continued...