Chapter : 26
I’ll Save You in the Bad Ending Route
Black Magic
“This is the spirit of wind….”
The wind spirit had beautiful green eyes.
When our eyes met she smiled softly, like a spring breeze.
Up close, she felt unmistakably not of this world—as if she were something made purely from the beauty of nature.
She reached her hand toward me.
“Do I… reach out too?”
“Yes! Try taking her hand, miss! Then the spirit will feel your soul.”
Spellbound, I stretched my hand toward the wind spirit.
My fingers brushed a green hand made of wind.
So I really have no choice but to become Aira?
What do you think, Spirit?
A strong burst of wind mana flowed from my palm to my heart.
But then—
the gentle-eyed spirit’s face twisted into horror.
She flung my hand away, and a violent wind slammed into me.
“Ah!”
“M-Miss!”
I flew backward from the sudden impact.
The force lifted me completely off the ground and hurled me toward the wall.
I was absolutely going to crash into it.
I squeezed my eyes shut in terror.
But before I hit the wall, something wrapped tightly around my waist.
Strong arms caught me, holding my weight and the wind’s force in place.
“Haa—!”
I was so shocked I could barely breathe.
“Y-Young master?”
“Rowen, isn’t this training a bit too rough?”
Aaron’s low voice came from right behind my ear.
I tried to look up at him, but he gently set me down on the grass.
His face was stoic as ever, but he clearly looked rattled.
I quickly thanked him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re not hurt anywhere?”
“N-No.”
But my heart pounded wildly.
That really scared me… If Aaron hadn’t caught me, I’d be in trouble.
I had no idea why the spirit pushed me away.
The wind spirit turned her face from me and hid behind Rowen.
While I fixed my ribbon and neatened my clothes, Aaron began interrogating Rowen.
“What happened?”
“I-I don’t know either… The wind spirit suddenly…”
Rowen glanced back at the spirit hiding behind him, clearly upset.
“I was just trying to help Lady Aira since she couldn’t use her magic properly… Miss… I’m really sorry…”
“N-no, it’s fine. You were just trying to help…”
I tried to answer calmly, but my legs still trembled.
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t understand why the spirit rejected me.
Seriously? Shouldn’t she like me since we share the same attribute? Even spirits are rejecting me?
Spirits hate those whose hearts are impure.
They can see human souls—if a soul is cloudy at all, they flee immediately.
Is my soul really that bad?
Or did she notice I’m a soul from another world?
My chest tightened.
“In any case, it’s unthinkable for a spirit to attack a benevolent mage.”
Aaron glared at the sylph, then addressed her politely.
“Sylph, why did you do that?”
The spirit only shook her head silently, staring at Rowen with sad eyes.
Rowen sighed, but Aaron cut in.
“Anyway, Aira, rest. Exams are important but your body comes first.”
“…Yes.”
But I doubted I could rest at all. What now?
Seeing my expression, Aaron suddenly took out a notebook and pen.
“You’re having trouble using magic, right? Maybe your theory’s shaky.”
He scribbled something, tore off the sheet, and handed it to me.
It read: Magic listens to the resonance of the soul.
“What’s this?”
“From a new book. I recommend it. They’re selling it at the bookshop near the Academy. Haven’t read it myself yet but it’s been getting great reviews. Maybe go back to basics. You might find what’s wrong—with a little rest.”
“…Thank you.”
Warmth spread through me.
It felt reassuring to have Aaron on my side.
Rowen, who had been watching us, asked timidly:
“Um… young master, why are you here, anyway?”
“Those thugs we caught.”
“Oh—the ones Lady Aira defeated? The ones with the illegal weapons?”
“Yeah. One of them escaped.”
I froze. The two kept talking.
“We put out a wanted notice, but who knows how that’ll go.”
“Hmm… is there a good dark mage around? Someone could use tracking magic…”
“Actually, I got acquainted with Demian from the Belpet family recently…”
I suddenly felt like I shouldn’t be listening.
I excused myself and slipped away.
One thug escaped, but I wasn’t worried.
Aaron and Rowen will catch him in no time.
In the game, they’re the ultimate crime-fighting duo.
Especially Aaron—he hates criminals more than anything.
I’d leave it to them.
Me? I needed to calm my mind—and visit a bookstore.
Right after lunch, I walked to Loas Street, the bustling road in front of Loas Academy.
Shops selling all kinds of fantasy goods lined the colorful cobblestone road.
I passed a general store with quills of every color and soon found the bookstore.
A young woman greeted me as I stepped inside—Alia, the NPC I’d seen countless times in-game.
“Welcome to the Bookstore of Wisdom.”
Students browsed problem sets and spellbooks.
Feels like high school cram days…
Remembering, I approached Alia.
“I’m looking for Magic Listens to the Resonance of the Soul.”
“It’s in the new releases section.”
There it was—gold and silver embossed hardcovers.
Only one copy of Aaron’s recommendation remained.
He even keeps up with new releases. So diligent.
I flipped it open and skimmed.
Dense magical theory everywhere.
I squinted hard, hoping for a hint—
and a line froze me in place.
…Spirits can see souls. In particular, they reject souls tainted by black magic.
My breath hitched. Too perfect to be coincidence.
I bought the book immediately and walked out.
On the street, I reopened that page.
Spirits especially hate souls connected to black magic.
When they touch such a soul, they see black smoke.
I remembered the wind spirit’s face—utter terror,
as if she’d seen something horrific.
This confirms it.
My arrival in this world is tied to black magic.
Just like every fantasy setting—black magic = bad.
It’s the power used by those who serve monsters—
paid for with human souls.
And Aaron recommended this book to me.
He said he hadn’t read it yet… I hope he never does.
He’s the game’s top strategist.
If he connects me to black magic, who knows what he’ll do.
My guard could never drop.
Then another thought struck me—
the shopkeeper from Moon’s Shadow Rare Books:
“Unless you are here to find a diary, this shop won’t welcome you again.”
Could it be…
Aira’s diary is tied to black magic?
Did I possess her body because of black magic too!?
I imagined the real Aira—sweet, weak, called the Angel of Wind—
casting black magic.
Why? How?
Then something clicked.
If Aira used black magic…
she would’ve gained something.
But instead she lost her body—to me.
So what price did she pay?
Only one answer.
I need to find that diary.
That’s the only way to learn
why I’m here
and what happened to the real Aira.
My skills. Black magic.
Everything.
My head spun—
and then I heard a sound down a nearby alley.
“Help… Help me…”
An old man’s voice.
A ragged figure lay crumpled on the ground, muttering.
I approached cautiously.
“What’s wrong? Do you need help?”
“I’m hurting… so hungry… miss, please help…”
“How can I—”
A huge shadow fell behind me.
“Wh—who?!”
I turned—
but the man blew sleep powder straight into my face.
Sweet scent—then crushing drowsiness.
My knees buckled.
“Heh! Idiot!”
The “old man” threw off the ragged cloth—
one of the thugs from before.
A scarred eye glinted as he sneered.
“You… you!”
Rage boiled up, but strength drained away.
Aaron had said one escaped…
“I swear, nobles are useless. Life’s too easy, so you fall for the dumbest tricks.”
No—no… I can’t pass out here…
His jeering laughter echoed as darkness pulled me under.
My ears rang. My body felt like stone.
Men’s voices floated through the haze.
“What should we write? ‘We’ve got the girl…’?”
“Tell them to come to the forest. And if they bring anyone else, the brat dies… Say we’ll trade.”
“Good.”
Disgusting words dragged me awake.
My mouth and limbs were tied tight.
My clothes were scuffed.
I was in a damp, half-underground cell.
Outside the tiny window—it was fully dark.
My head throbbed.
I’ve been kidnapped, haven’t I?
Never imagined I’d get isekai’d into a game only to… get kidnapped.
My mind reeled.
My pulse hammered loud enough to burst through my skin,
but I forced myself to stay calm.
Right. This is a classic game event.
Companion gets kidnapped by villains.
Hero comes, villains go to jail.
Sure, there’s no protagonist here—
but I knew four S‑tier characters personally.
I wasn’t dying that easily.
And…
I replayed what the thugs said.
They needed me for leverage.
That meant they couldn’t kill me yet.
I exhaled—or tried to.
The gag pressed tight over my mouth.
Aaron and Rowen will come. Just stay calm.
Even in a tiger’s den, stay sharp.
My heart pounded, but I forced myself to observe.
Right now, information is survival.
