Extra in a Romance Fantasy

180 – Memory (4)

Boom!

An explosion erupted.

And that explosion—

Screeech!

In an instant, it turned countless monsters to ashes.

However, despite such an event, the horde of monsters showed no signs of diminishing, still filling the surroundings.

The sight was one that would sap the will of anyone facing it.

Yet, the face of the spellcaster, Beluid, remained utterly unshaken.

Silently, he began preparing the next spell.

From the very beginning of the battle, Beluid had been like this.

Continuously casting spells as if performing a simple task, methodically reducing the number of monsters before him.

And there was someone watching Beluid’s figure out of the corner of her eye.

‘…Incredible.’

It was Rachel.

As she observed Beluid continuing the fight, Rachel quietly marveled within herself.

The sight of Beluid unleashing magic to fend off the monsters was more impressive than any magician Rachel had ever seen.

This wasn’t merely a comment on the power of the spells or the amount of magical energy.

The speed of his casting, the distribution of his mana—everything was as natural and perfect as breathing.

On top of that, his composure remained unshaken even in the face of an endless horde of monsters.

What Beluid displayed now could easily be described as the ideal image of a magician that all others should aspire to.

‘…I can’t lose either.’

Watching that figure, Rachel felt not just pure admiration but a burning sense of competition and determination.

Of course, she didn’t entertain the thought of being able to defeat Beluid.

However, she believed that at the very least, she must not be outdone in spirit.

With such an intense resolve nestled deep within her heart, Rachel began to draw upon her magical power.

In truth, Rachel’s condition was far from ideal, even if one were to say it lightly.

Before arriving here, she had already expended a significant amount of her magical energy, mental fortitude, and physical strength while battling monsters, even resorting to using the Celestial Sphere, a high-difficulty vision spell from the Tower of Magic in the Sky, to defeat the shadow.

Thanks to that, she had managed to overcome the shadow and reach this place, but it was fair to say that her condition was practically at its limit.

Yet.

She could not afford to stop.

“……”

Rachel’s gaze swept around her.

She saw those fighting the monsters nearby.

Aira and Cedric, covered in small wounds and drenched in sweat, were holding the line against the monsters.

Alexis was using magic at just the right moments, coordinating the overall situation.

Chris was hunting the monsters efficiently with calm judgment and appropriate distribution of magical power.

Wilhelm was unleashing an overwhelming barrage of magic with his immense power.

Though they appeared fine on the surface, Rachel knew.

They, too, were close to their limits, just like her.

Nevertheless, they were fighting against the monsters without showing a hint of struggle.

With others putting in such effort, she could not simply stand still, claiming to be a little tired.

The situation was precarious.

They were managing to hold back the monsters, but it was a fragile state that could collapse with the slightest misstep.

Thus, Rachel could not remain idle.

If she did, the front lines would surely crumble.

And if that happened…….

‘……’

Rachel’s gaze shifted once more.

This time, it was directed toward the back of her group.

There stood a man, eyes closed, quietly standing still, incongruous with the urgent situation around him.

‘…Lord Wade.’

Wade Hebron.

The man who had saved her life, and the one who had suddenly entered her heart one day.

Thanks to him, her life had changed.

If it hadn’t been for him, she would have either died in the rampaging dungeon or, even if she had survived, it was clear she would have been dragged back to her family.

If that had happened, her life would have flowed in the direction her father, the head of the family, desired.

And she would have simply nodded along, unable to offer any resistance.

But what about now?

She had become a student of the renowned Professor Patrick, her entry into the Tower of the Sky was confirmed, and she was already being expected to learn that vision magic.

Moreover, she had officially become a competitor in the succession struggle of the Eldrid family.

She had gained the ability to defy her father’s and the head’s will.

That was something the old her could never have imagined.

If it had been her before entering the academy, she would have dismissed it as a fanciful dream.

And it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all this change began with that man, Wade.

Of course, he hadn’t solved everything for her.

He hadn’t handed her the current status or position.

But he had given her courage.

The courage to change her circumstances, to fight against her environment.

And as a result, Rachel had transformed her life.

Thus, Wade was not only someone Rachel was immensely grateful to but also someone precious to her.

When she first heard the news of Wade’s death, she was deeply shocked.

She denied it over and over, insisting that Wade couldn’t possibly be dead, but as time passed, that belief began to waver.

And when that moment came, the strongest emotion she felt was powerlessness.

If only she had strength, if only she had a background.

She thought that Wade would never end up in such a state.

In the end, her benefactor, her precious person was in danger, and she could do nothing.

She couldn’t even become someone he could rely on.

That powerlessness consumed her heart and body… and she changed.

She devoted herself even more to training and began to pursue power.

To gain strength.

To build influence.

If Wade were alive, this time she would protect him.

Perhaps her wish reached the heavens, for Wade was alive and had appeared before her once more.

As she looked at Wade, who lay still with closed eyes, Rachel thought.

‘…I will protect him.’

This time, she had decided to protect Wade.

Though it was different from the situation she had imagined, it was her turn to shield him now.

Even if it meant sacrificing her own life.

So.

‘I can’t just stand still.’

She couldn’t remain idle.

Just because she had reached her limit, she couldn’t give up the fight.

Thus, Rachel began to prepare her magic.

*

Slash!

With a sharp swing of her sword, another monster was cleaved in two.

But there was no time to rejoice in the outcome; Aira had to move immediately.

The monsters surrounding her were still relentless, and she was tasked with protecting her companions from the creatures charging at them.

The moment either she or Cedric stopped moving, the front line would be breached in an instant, and it was clear that the companions behind them would be in grave danger.

Therefore, Aira could not afford to halt her movements.

She quickly regained her stance and swung her sword once more.

It was a simple motion, one she could have executed effortlessly on any other day, but even this mundane action caused her body to creak and cry out in pain.

Her body had reached its limit.

Aira’s current skills were unmatched compared to her peers, yet even she had her boundaries.

The battle had dragged on for far too long.

And against monsters that were anything but easy to defeat.

With no opportunity to rest properly during the fight, it was no exaggeration to say she had already reached her limit.

Magic and stamina, all of it.

Yet, even in such a state, Aira did not stop.

She continued to move, again and again.

Because she had to protect.

The companions behind her.

And, behind them, Wade.

Wade Hebron.

She had received a debt of gratitude that she could never repay.

If it hadn’t been for him, she would have succumbed to the cursed sword and committed an irreversible act.

She would have killed an innocent person with her own hands.

If that had happened, she would not have escaped expulsion, and naturally, an indelible stain would have marred her family and her father’s honor.

He had prevented such a future.

From that point on, she grew stronger.

To repay her debt to him.

And… to be by his side.

At first, she had claimed it was to “protect him from dangerous women,” but now she knew even a child could see through that.

It had all been mere excuses.

She simply didn’t want to lose him to another woman.

The moment that realization struck her was, ironically, when she heard the news of his death.

When the rumor of Wade’s death reached her, she was shaken to the core.

Denying it vehemently, yet negative thoughts kept creeping in.

To escape those dark thoughts, she pushed herself mercilessly.

Not even allowing herself a moment to think.

However, the more she tried, the clearer her mind became, and thoughts of Wade constantly swirled in her head.

Amidst that endless stream of negativity, one day she realized.

That she held him in her heart.

With that newfound understanding, she transformed.

She pushed herself harder than before, even participating in social gatherings that felt out of place, gathering strength.

To gain power.

If he were alive, to gain the strength to protect him.

If he truly was dead.

To gain the power to take revenge on those who had driven him to death.

And after all that bone-crushing effort, here she stood now.

The past version of herself would have collapsed long ago.

No, she probably wouldn’t have even made it this far.

Tightening her grip—

She clutched the sword in her hand as if it might break.

—

“I will protect him.”

I will protect him.

I must protect him.

With those words echoing strongly in her mind, Aira whipped her creaking body into action.

To protect him.

To protect someone precious.

Though it bothered her slightly that the reason he was in such danger was to save another woman.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Still, Aira didn’t care.

She knew well that he was just that kind of person.

And even knowing that, she had come to hold him dear.

Swish!

Once more, Aira’s sword moved, and another monster fell to its end.

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but the sword seemed sharper than the one she had wielded before.

Even though her body had long since reached its limits.

Thus, the two women moved their bodies, fueled by their will, despite having already hit their limits.

To protect someone precious.

And that wasn’t a story limited to just the two women.

Alexis, Cedric, Chris, Wilhelm, and Beluid.

Each moved their bodies, carrying their own intentions in their hearts.

With willpower, mental strength, and sheer force, they fought against the monsters.

It was a scene so intense and desperate that anyone would be captivated by it… yet, the most striking figures in this place were different.

Boom!

Two men were engaged in battle, creating a thunderous noise that shook the very heavens and earth.

Ethan and the Cult Leader.