A Survival Guide for a Counselor in the Apocalypse Chapter 89 - End of "Hermadion" Arc

Chapter 89

 

Leon remained for 40 minutes. After that, my body went into insane overload, and regardless of both his will and mine, he disappeared.

Even so, the battle situation stayed the same. Everyone fought desperately.

Me? I’m on the verge of death right now. Gasping for breath, surrounded by all sorts of magical tools. Through Broken Oath, I could hear what sounded like the ghost of the old man beyond it yelling at me…

 

— 

[It might not be a hallucination. He always scolded you, didn’t he?]

—

 

***

 

The endless tide of enemies began to falter and shrink. It was a clear sign of victory.

10 minutes. Only 10 minutes left now.

Everyone withdrew inside the inner fortress, sealing the massive gates tight, each person either resting or preparing for the coming farewell.

Among them, I steadied my breathing for a moment, then summoned my master again. Only 1% this time. Since I wasn’t fighting and just maintaining form, 1% should be enough…

Even that seemed to strain me… I gagged violently.

“…What is it?”

Appearing in the center just as before, the master looked down at me with clear displeasure.

“If you have the time to call me, you should be taking care of your own body. What is this unnecessary meddling?”

Without answering, I pointed somewhere.

Johanna.

“…She’s family.”

The master followed my gaze.

Since I chose not to remain here, he would also leave. And when he did, Johanna would once again feel his absence.

Perhaps she already knew. About his absence. About his death.

The old man said nothing for a moment, then turned his head away.

“It’s fine. I’ll return. Take care of your body.”

As he tried to force himself back, I spoke again.

“This might be the last time. I don’t have family, so I wouldn’t know… but you do. Talk to her. Don’t regret it…”

The stubborn old man fell silent.

He knew it was the end too. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t wanted to say anything.

Maybe it was just stubbornness. Or something else entirely.

Even if I had seen his past, I couldn’t read his present thoughts like some mind reader.

In the end, he moved.

Turning his back, he walked toward Johanna.

Watching him go, I forced myself to stand as well.

There was one last thing I could do.

My target was Shin Yerim, who was moving busily around.

I approached her and extended my hand.

“You worked hard.”

Her body froze.

Then she gave an awkward smile.

“Y-you… found out…”

“At some point, yeah.”

“…I… see…”

She shrank slightly.

“If this place suits you better, then stay.”

For your growth.

“We might meet again someday. Until then, I hope you achieve everything you want.”

Her eyes widened.

“I–I didn’t think you’d see it as betrayal…”

“I don’t.”

I cut her off.

“Everyone has the freedom to choose. This apocalypse gave us the chance to choose our world. I kind of figured you’d choose this one.”

Her eyes trembled violently.

“You’ve changed a lot. In a good way. Compared to when we first met.”

As if she had never expected to hear something like that, tears welled up in her eyes.

She grabbed my hand.

“Th-thank you…”

Her voice broke.

“It’s… because of you…”

Tears streamed down as she bowed her head, trying to express her gratitude despite her trembling voice.

I held her hand firmly.

“If your breathing or words start getting tangled, do what we practiced. Control your breathing. You remember, right?”

“Yes…”

The farewell drew closer.

In the distance, I could see the master, Johanna, and Lee Hoin talking together.

“I hope you can express your thoughts more often. You’re already doing well, but repeating it will help you understand what you truly want. You’ll gain more confidence too. Try writing a journal. Then read it out loud.”

By the next time we meet, I hope you’ve achieved everything you wanted.

Still holding her hand, I activated Resonance Therapy.

My body creaked under the strain.

 

— 

[It’s not “like” it’s overloaded… You “are” overloaded.]

[You’ll need to focus on recovery when you return. If that’s even possible.]

[Maybe this apocalypse ends in the next chapter.]

— 

 

Yerim opened her mouth to speak, but stopped, startled by the sudden skill activation.

She looked up at me, her tear-streaked face trembling.

“Mental strength is hard to raise.”

“This is…”

She couldn’t continue.

“You trusted me and told me everything. So at least this much… I can do.”

 

— 

[Yeah, yeah. Talking big for someone who’s dying.]

— 

 

Yerim exhaled.

“…Next time… definitely… next time…”

I nodded.

She let go of my hand.

“…Others… are waiting for you.”

She smiled as she saw me off.

When I turned, the master, Johanna, and Lee Hoin were talking.

Their conversation reached me faintly.

“He’s my disciple. He absorbs what he’s taught better than expected.”

Lee Hoin awkwardly bowed.

“With your skill, can you teach someone? Focus on yourself. Especially you… you don’t even have someone to watch your back.”

A brief silence followed.

“Uncle… are you leaving?”

Johanna broke it.

The master looked down at her.

“…Yes.”

Just one word.

That single word deepened the silence.

Johanna stared at him for a long time before asking:

“Shall I bury you next to Anton?”

Even her calm tone couldn’t hide what she felt.

They looked at each other for a long time.

“…Yes.”

“What should we write on the tombstone? Do you have anything in mind?”

“…As if. Write whatever.”

“Then may I write it?”

“Who else would? A passerby?”

A dry laugh escaped Johanna.

“…Have you found peace?”

After a moment’s thought, he answered:

“I don’t know. But… yes. It feels like I’ve fulfilled my long-held wish. I told you before, didn’t I? Too many half-baked fools. When you return, survive well. The losses are heavy.”

“…”

Johanna inhaled deeply.

“Yes… I will. The losses… are too great.”

She repeated it again and again.

The farewell approached its end.

Johanna patted Lee Hoin’s shoulder, giving him a few final instructions.

Then she turned to me.

“Our prayers are for your survival.”

She said she would pray for me.

 

—

[You have defended the “Last Fortress: Hermadion.”]

[The narrator has turned away from Hermadion. Returning to the original world.]

—

 

The long journey came to an end.

After a brief staggering sensation…

We were back on Earth.

In just a blink.

Earth…

I staggered from the shock, but Lee Hoin recovered first.

He flinched and raised his sword.

Someone was watching us from the darkness.