Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 99

He recalls an old memory. 

 

-Hey. Elric, you don’t have any friends, do you?

 

-Why are you asking something like that.

 

-Because your grumbling makes you look like you wouldn’t have any.

 

The Silver Hero had said that.

 

Elric had wanted to say ‘I have friends’ back then, but he couldn’t. He was already 80 years old. In this place where the average life expectancy was 60, those who were his friends were already dead and gone.

 

-It’s better to make friends. I originally didn’t have anyone I could call a friend, either. But once I got guys like that, the way I look at this world started to change a bit. Though they aren’t exactly to my liking.

 

-Then go save the world with your friends; why did you come to me?

 

The hero did not answer that.

 

Elric came to this conclusion then.

 

It seems this man couldn’t save his friends either.

 

‘How pathetic.’

 

People die eventually. Whether they die in a war, from an illness, or by living out their natural lifespan, they are ultimately beings that reach the end of their lifespan. Therefore, there is no need to be so sad about not having a friend or two.

 

-My friends…

 

The hero slowly opened his mouth.

 

-Are still alive. Though I don’t know when they’ll die. I am here to save those friends of mine.

 

-That’s an answer befitting a hero.

 

With a twisted face, Elric gave a twisted reply and sprawled out on the grass. A clear sky, the sound of chirping birds. It was a peaceful moment, but this world would soon come to an end. It would be destroyed.

 

-We don’t have time to be that relaxed.

 

And the Silver Hero did not want that.

 

***

 

Han Jeyu looked down at his burning body. The scattered forms gathered into one.

 

“I must withdraw for now.” 

 

The figure of the man, gradually fading from his feet upwards, spoke his final words to Hwashin.

 

“This world will be destroyed anyway.”

 

You know that, right?

 

Leaving those words behind, Han Jeyu disappeared.

 

The only people here who knew that this world would be destroyed were himself and Han Jeyu. Just the two of them.

 

The spy Han Jeyu planted within the Association, the reason he knew about the destruction. Hwashin felt his head was going to split from the overflowing amount of homework he had to solve. It would be easier to just study more magic in his previous world.

 

“A-are you okay?”

 

Izawa Chisaki, who had run over, gripped her wooden staff tightly. The butterfly she had sent flying fluttered back to Izawa from above the dead necromancer’s head.

 

Cha Jaeha stepped onto the black sand, which didn’t even show a trace of soot. It was the spot where Han Jeyu had stood.

 

“What happened?”

 

“It seems he used his ability to send only a ‘fake form’ this way. That’s why your attack didn’t work either.” 

 

Hwashin told the two of them about the magician who controlled the zombies and what Han Jeyu had said. Leaving out only the part about the destruction. Izawa Chisaki was horrified.

 

“I-I knew there were experiments, but I didn’t know they were conducted in such a manner.”

 

Cha Jaeha gave no answer other than saying it was bullshit. Only his fierce face spoke for his emotions.

 

Hwashin approached the necromancer.

 

The skeleton sat facing the oasis in front of it. Hwashin sat down beside it.

 

“It’s over. The curse you created, and all the dead souls, must have gone up to the sky by now.”

 

「 The skeleton of the dead magician rattled. The black crests engraved on the bones fell off and scattered into the sand. Next to him was a man the necromancer had never seen before. Because he felt a sense of familiarity, he couldn’t help but think, ‘Is he a magician?’ 」

 

Looking at the floating hologram window, Hwashin spoke.

 

“It seems a little bit of your soul remained along with the curse. How is it? Are you happy now that all your wishes came true? You know, I really hated mages like you. In the world I lived in, all necromancers were black mages. The kind you can only become by killing people.”

 

As soon as Hwashin finished speaking, a hologram window popped up urgently.

 

「 The soul left behind by the necromancer shook its head frantically.

 

‘N-no! I didn’t become a necromancer by killing people. I just wanted to summon my dead little sister. So the magic I learned was necromancy.’ 」

 

It seems hologram windows can be used like this too?

 

Since there had never been a dimension where the protagonist starts off dead, he didn’t know this was possible. In the original work, this dungeon’s protagonist is resolved without even being revealed.

 

“You were a decent guy, then. I guess I won’t have to smash your skull.”

 

「 ‘Th-thank you.’ The soul wanted to raise a hand and sweep it over its chest in relief, but it couldn’t because it was a skeleton. He sat there and stared at the lake in front of him. The sunlight reflected and sparkled. He had never once thought this water’s edge was beautiful. The man asked. 」

 

The figure of a man overlapped over the skeleton. A bizarre situation where the skeleton and the appearance of the dead necromancer overlapped.

 

The man with long black hair and strong features slowly turned his head. He looked at Hwashin. His expression was visible. He had a face that looked like it was about to cry.

 

“….Did everyone really go back?”

 

Magic is a discipline that uses mana. Even if it is an unknown power, in the end, there are rules that govern it. 

 

But occasionally, magic also births miracles. Because it makes incomprehensible things happen right before one’s eyes.

 

The necromancer was dead. This figure was probably a strong ‘wish’ left behind by him.

 

Why was he so obsessed with helping these souls ascend? Perhaps, among the souls he summoned, there was…

 

“Yeah.”

 

Yoo Hwashin looked up at the sky.

 

“They all probably went to a good place. That’s what the rift is originally there for.”

 

Then. That’s a relief.

 

Ssssh—.

 

The figure of the man slowly faded away. The remaining skeleton also turned to dust and scattered into the sky. Izawa Chisaki and Cha Jaeha quietly watched the scene. Hwashin slowly stood up.

 

Hologram windows floated in front of all three of them.

 

「 The necromancer cursed his own life. Himself for summoning his sister as a familiar, himself for causing the residents of the burned village to be born as zombies. His life that had turned everyone into monsters.

 

‘Now I can finally return with a slightly lighter heart.’

 

He slowly floated up into the sky. Thinking that all of life was now over.

 

When he opened his eyes, a familiar light, world, and voice welcomed him.

 

-Oppa!

 

Perhaps, his world might not be over just yet.

 

Black Wish. (End) 」

 

[ The rift in the corresponding dimension has been restored. ]

 

[ For the corresponding dimension, a beginning started from the end, and a new world has opened even for the one who had died. ]

 

[ The corresponding dimension has not ended. A new future is given to the protagonist. ]

 

[ The roles of those dragged in have all concluded. ]

 

[ A total of 3 people dragged into the rift will return to their original world. ]

 

A wind blew across the black sand desert. A gate opened right in front of Izawa Chisaki. Brilliant light enveloped them.

 

“W-Wow.”

 

Izawa stood upon a passage made of light. Shall we go, then? Hwashin smiled softly, and Cha Jaeha was already up ahead.

 

-Black Wish, huh. It’s exactly the same as the title.

 

‘Riel, what happens next? This book. It’s the first time a dead person has been the protagonist.’

 

-Ah, wait a minute….Hahaha, they’re cute. These kids.

 

Riel, having read the newly engraved latter part of the book, said with a laugh.

 

-He looks happy. This book will go to the Happy Ending section later; I’ll let you know when that happens. ….Ah, you know I can’t tell you the exact details since you were involved, right?

 

‘You’re only thorough at times like this.’

 

-That’s how dragons are.

 

-Sniffle. This guy, he’s living very happily. Sob.

 

-Ignore the old man’s tears.

 

‘But really, I am curious about how that mage will live.’

 

When he first faced a dungeon, Hwashin thought the world inside that dungeon was fake. So he had no interest. Whether it was what ultimately happened to the Prince of Albion, or how the protagonist in the school ghost story endured their pain.

 

But now it is different.

 

They are each different dimensions, but perhaps all dimensions might be connected. The ‘rift’ was proving that.

 

Even if just one side is distorted, other dimensions are affected.

 

Perhaps the reason gates open is to provide an opportunity to stabilize other dimensions?

 

Then who on earth is going to help when this dimension faces destruction? I don’t know who it is, but I hope they help out properly.

 

***

 

“Wow. When is this actually going to end.”

 

Nathan looked out over the vast plaza.

 

Endless hordes of zombies appearing. It was an unbelievable number to think all these people were test subjects. Furthermore, since they charged in having lost their minds, unless they were decapitated, they would relentlessly charge again and again. Yeah. Just like real zombies.

 

“Isn’t it because you’re less helpful than expected.”

 

Wang Hao’s sleeves fluttered. The red sleeves, having turned as sharp as blades, sliced through people’s arms, legs, and torsos.

 

“It’s better than killing indiscriminately like you.”

 

“Both of you, focus.”

 

“Adam, don’t just scold me, look at that side—.”

 

While the three were exchanging words, Fomin Ignaty, who was commanding at the front, shouted.

 

“They’re coming—!”

 

“What’s coming…. wo….w.”

 

Surprised with an exaggerated hand gesture, Nathan stepped back. No, it was so massive that he had to step back just to see it. The hordes of Awakened zombies who had lost their reason had gradually gathered to one side, forming a human pillar. Like greed soaring endlessly into the sky.

 

They devoured each other and trampled over one another as they climbed on top. Looking at the precarious human pillar, Wang Hao whistled.

 

“This is truly amazing. It would actually be better if Mr. Cha Jaeha were here at times like this. Isn’t he the only hero among us who can take on a large number of people at once? ….Wait, no.”

 

Yoo Hwashin is here too.

 

Wang Hao covered his mouth with his sleeve and laughed.

 

‘What is that crazy b*stard finding so amusing.’

 

Fomin Ignaty bit his lip hard.

 

‘It might be a bit too much to handle just by ourselves.’

 

If it was simply about killing them, this situation might be resolved quickly. But Ignaty did not want to solve this problem in that manner.

 

There was still hope in his golden eyes.

 

Until just a moment ago, he had thought the experiments were necessary. One could call it petty justice if they wanted. To him, the experiments were necessary for the happiness of the majority.

 

However, even so.

 

‘I don’t have the slightest intention of increasing unnecessary sacrifices.’

 

That is ‘me’.

 

That is the difference between ‘me’ and ‘those’ who conducted those experiments.

 

Even if it was called self-rationalization, Fomin Ignaty thought so.

 

The man’s golden eyes wavered. He found the weak point, the most vulnerable part of the human pillar. He could do it. If he aimed only for that spot, he could bring down the pillar with minimal sacrifice.

 

Having made that resolve, he began to run.

 

“Uwaaah—!”

 

“Wow, this is quite a spectacle. Now now, everyone here, wouldn’t you like to live only seeing happy things?”

 

….Uwaah….

 

Uwaah…

 

U…? Ah?

 

Fomin Ignaty’s footsteps gradually slowed down. Was it Word Command? No, Yoo Hwashin’s voice wasn’t like this.

 

“Who is it?”

 

At the moment of his question, two men who had been hiding behind a pillar emerged. A man who looked to be around the same age as Jeong Mueum from Unit 1, and an expressionless man standing blankly behind him.

 

The shorter man among them waved his hand.

 

“Hello. I am Jin from Unit 3.”

 

“Unit 3?”

 

“The one standing behind me is my younger brother Theo. And I’ve cast a hallucination on all the people in this ignorantly huge human pillar, so it should be fine for about 30 minutes.”

 

Introducing himself as Jin in a bouncy voice, he looked around.

 

“By the way, where might Yoo Hwashin be right now?”

 

“Yoo Hwashin is currently—.”

 

Vwooom—.

 

The distinct noise heard when a gate opens rang out right next to them. A strong, white light washed over them. A single foot wearing a black dress shoe boldly appeared from the gate.