Kurenai’s Last Words.

Standing at the door, my heart was beating so loudly that I could hear it.

“Do we really have to do it now!? I’m not ready yet!”

Panicked, I pleaded.

“Absolutely, everything is prepared and ready.”

Olar retorted.

“But... but... but, what about my friends and family!?”

“They are already here, waiting amongst the crowd.”

Don!

What!? They went as far as to bring them here and make them watch!? How cruel and evil!

“So, I don’t even get to say my last words!?”

At this point my heart hammered in my chest, trying to escape.

He looked at me confused.

“Of course you do, right on stage in front of everyone present.”

Haaaaaah!? So I have to say my goodbyes in front of everyone!?

“I don’t even know what to say...”

Defeated, I muttered, despair filling my eyes.

“Ugh. You are overthinking this too much, Kurenai. Just thank everyone properly and get it behind you.”

Olar’s voice shifted to his usual annoyed tone.

Really? That’s how little I mean to everyone... My execution is just a side story? Not even the main plot!?

Frustration filled his face, so he grabbed me by my shoulders and pushed me right through the door.

Staring at the ground, I felt too devastated to lift my head.

Yet, as he kept on pushing me, everyone around us continued to happily chatter.

Eh?

Lifting my head, I looked around, realizing... There is a massive festival ongoing.

What is going on here!? Is this how they hold their executions? Just have a full-blown festival, with food stalls as well as games and costumes!?

At least I’ll die among such a-

My thoughts were cut short, and my eyes widened as I located a cafe specialized around sweets.

Oh... my... goooosh! Just look at all those pastries... cookies... cakes... How unfair!

“At least let me enjoy the festival as well! Ooop!”

I accidentally blurted my thoughts out loud again.

Dreading his reaction, I slowly turned my head to face him.

“We don’t have time for that right now, you can enjoy it after we are done.”

His voice sounded even more frustrated and exhausted from pushing me along.

Haaaaah!?

“How do you imagine me doing that!? Just become an undead and participate in the festival? I’d get cleansed by the holy knights before I could finish even one strawberry tart!”

I shouted at Olar, who just raised his eyebrow.

“Did you sustain lasting damage? What kind of nonsense are you spewing?”

Olar coldly questioned. His glare alone said more than words ever could.

Ehm.

“Aren’t I about to get... executed?”

I inquired, innocently fluttering my eyelashes at him with big puppy eyes.

“...”

Hearing that, his face darkened.

I could literally make out how badly he wanted to hit me over the head.

“Actually... Quite a good idea. Maybe I should do that!”

He shouted at me so loudly, even his veins started bursting.

“No, no, no, no, nouuuu!”

After calming myself down, I walked alongside Olar.

“So then what is going on here?”

“Our yearly school festival.”

“How come I haven’t heard anything about this?”

“Because you were recovering the entire time we set it up.”

Wasn’t that only a few days!? Impressive how quickly they set everything up...

“There we are... finally.”

He sighed deeply as we arrived at the scaffold that I saw earlier.

Sweat uncontrollably streamed down my entire body.

“I-I-I-I t-t-thought-”

“Shut it. Just go up there.”

Gulp.

Gathering my last mental strength, I slowly made my way up the stage.

Then out of nowhere Asako ran up as well, hugging me tight before facing the small crowd that gathered.

“Thank you to everyone who gathered here today! I know this wasn’t planned, but please bear with me.”

Asako bowed forward to the crowd, instinctively, I followed her lead, unsure of what was even going on.

“Since... Today, the Emperor himself has sent over a medal for Kurenai!...”

The crowd cheered as Asako announced.

The Emperor, a medal, for me!?

I just stared at the crowd dumbfounded, trying to rationalize everything.

“... In recognition of Kurenai’s valiant efforts in saving the Academy-no... the entire capital! While also taking care of Gideon alongside her duties and responsibilities!”

Frozen in place, I just stood there as the crowd cheered.

“Thank you, Kurenai!”

“You are not as scary as everyone says!”

“Thank you!”

A few people from the crowd shouted.

“That’s all your doing, Kurenai. It’s all the people you saved.”

Asako whispered to me.

Slowly looking through the crowd, I indeed recognized a few of the people from the incident. Especially the girl whom I had engulfed with my water sphere, who smiled at me with tears streaming down her face.

Meanwhile, Olar snuck up on me.

“Well done, Kurenai.”

Kyaaa...

Despite Olar startling me, I was too emotional to react as I usually do.

Seeing everyone safe and healthy made me realize...

I saved them, huh?

A single tear rolled down my face as my eyes teared up more.

I started happily wiping away the tears and thankfully bowing to the crowd over and over, unable to say a single word.

It took so long that in the meantime the sun fully set and everyone quickly lit torches and lamps.

At the same time, the president, Renji, and his secretary, Maiko, watched from afar.

“You were right, she actually did it.”

Maiko said to Renji, who sat on a box looking quite pleased with himself.

“Indeed, she achieved the first step. Just as I had hoped.”

His grin grew wider.

“You really think she’ll be able to finish it?”

“Only time will tell... How the Crimson Witch will deal with what will inevitably follow...”

After properly thanking everyone, I headed off the stage, where a lot of familiar faces awaited me.

“Akira! Hikari! Mom and Dad!? Tomoko as well!? Even Saki... and Lucian?”

A warm feeling spread across my body as I rushed over to them, Mom instantly hugging me tight, without holding back, almost suffocating me.

But I didn’t mind, as I really missed them all just as much.

Just then, I felt something tug at my shirt on both sides, left and right.

Glancing over, I found...

“Kaede and Fumiko!?”

Not just one cuteness overload, but two!? I really am hovering on clouds...

Worst part... I was so delighted that bubbles started to form around me, rising into the sky!

The happier I got, the more bubbles I involuntarily created.

Luckily everyone assumed it was part of the festival and enjoyed the gorgeous bubbles floating everywhere.

“Kurenai, there is another surprise for you.”

Asako told me as she joined us.

“Something you haven’t seen yet... and that goes for most of you, too.”

Tomoko added, making everyone’s heads snap toward her.

Hyuuuuu!

Hyurururu!

Hyuuuu!

Byuuun!

Unexpectedly, one after another, high-velocity projectile flew straight into the sky with screeching and whistling noises.

Everyone’s gaze snapped right into the sky, following along the projectiles.

Booooom!

Baaam!

Dokkaan!

The projectiles exploded beautifully, spreading all kinds of gorgeous colors across the dark sky.

Woooooah!

It turned into an even more stunning show as the bubbles reflected the explosions and colors. Turning this into a one-of-a-kind memory for everyone at the festival.

Enjoying the so-called ‘fireworks show,’ according to Tomoko, truly made me feel special today.

Who wouldn’t be? Surrounded by all your loved ones.

I consider every single one of them a precious and dear family member.

Hehe. That makes our family quite big!

What used to be just my parents and me... turned into all of this...

Everyone was gleefully smiling, chatting, and enjoying the show with me.

“Thank you, everyone. It’s only thanks to all of you that I’ve managed to come this far! Every single one of you gives me the courage and motivation I need to chase my dream.”

Mom and Dad as well as Tomoko looked proudly at me, Hikari and Akira both teared up, Kaede as well as Fumiko were too busy fighting each other... Saki, Asako as well as Lucian seemed satisfied... too satisfied... suspicious!

“My dream of becoming a legendary hero!”

I proclaimed, raising my fist into the air.

“The Crimson Witch!”

Hikari added, raising her fist as well.

“Our one and only noble vampire!”

Saki sneakily added, raising her fist as well.

“You can do it!”

Everyone else joined in, cheering.

Eh!?

“I’m not a witch, nor am I a vampire!”