Now,
in the empty, hollow, dark room—Rena and Hero Claire couldn't see each other, couldn't even see themselves.
Suddenly, the healer's scream made everything in that world truly stop moving.
The people there suddenly froze.
A leaf that was about to fall to the ground stopped mid-air.
Birds stopped moving.
Even dawn itself felt completely still—no sense of anything continuing.
Seeing that, Rena was startled, and so was Hero Claire. They spoke simultaneously.
What's happening???
The same words.
The same reaction.
But neither of them truly knew.
Then,
a voice appeared.
Clear.
Close.
Yet also… from all directions.
This is… the moment…
Then it paused, but continued.
Where I truly became a coward…
That voice—the one that had been explaining everything from the start.
Yes… Hero Tina's voice.
Hero Claire answered Tina's voice.
If that's the case, why did you stop suddenly???
Hero Rena also answered.
Is there something that made Hero Tina do that???
Hero Tina explained.
Look at what Hero Anna is seeing…
After a brief pause, Tina said firmly.
Something that I, as a mage, should have realized from the beginning…
Then, in a lower tone.
Sorry…
Seeing that, Hero Claire was shocked.
Mana particles…
What mana particles are those????!!!!!!
With a panicked tone, her lips trembling, Hero Claire was in shock.
That's not pure mana coming from a creature that has died!!!!
Simultaneously, both Rena with her instincts and Hero Claire with her analysis coincidentally said.
That!!
Foreign particles!!!!!
Foreign particles???
Hearing that from both of them, Hero Tina answered.
Yes…
Something anomalous…
Which also turned the male heroes into half-monsters!!!
Hearing that, both Rena and Hero Claire were startled and simultaneously said.
So…
Couldn't they be cured right then?
Didn't the otherworldly heroes come??
Then, with a broken voice, Hero Claire said.
Could it be… not as they said???
Hero Tina now fell silent for a moment, swallowing hard enough that Rena and Claire could hear it—as if Tina herself was afraid to say it.
That's right… this is only known by a few heroes, especially those sent to defeat the dragon…
Actually, the human men were taken, and the half-monster male heroes… were not to be cured by the otherworldly heroes…
She paused for a moment, now sobbing slightly.
But….
Exiled…
Hearing that, Rena was startled and thought to herself.
No… impossible…!!!
My secret admirer…
Hero Claire, hearing that, didn't truly care at all… She immediately spoke sharply.
Then what about now!!!!
What happened to the heroes!!!
And what about the otherworldly heroes?!!!!
With a sharp and loud voice,
Hero Claire said.
Then why are you here!!!!!
Meanwhile, Rena could only stare, her lips trembling at what was happening.
Hearing that, Hero Tina only said one word with a shadowed face.
That's… why I'm here…
Hopefully everything can be answered.
Hearing that, Hero Claire could only feel frustrated without speaking, even though she couldn't see herself now—only her vision. Even so, a sobbing sound could be heard, muttering her disappointment about what had happened.
Why.....?!!!
And so, now the two people in the empty, hollow, dark room—where Rena and Hero Claire couldn't see each other or even themselves—could only wait and watch the events that Tina would show again. Even though it had all already happened, one thing they knew was that what they were watching was merely a memory from Tina—a memory of a coward, one that even Tina herself couldn't bear to face….