Burn, world.

I muttered it once more, watching the blaze sweep past the side of my head.

Burn. World.

They were still screaming. Spewing heat from their throats, frantically clawing at the flames devouring their flesh. Once every hair on their bodies was burned away, they would return to their pure, primordial state. A handful of ashes. The fragile form of a sperm, ready to crumble if grasped.

That is how everyone returns to where they belong. Just as the caged bird returned to the red-light district where it belonged, you useless lot will be crushed into the floor. Become my fertilizer, and let me stand tall even without shoes.

As I entertained these thoughts, their figures began to look different. No longer sweaty men, but blooming roses. Not roasted meat, but self-immolating ascetics. A shift in perspective brings a shift in perception.

…

Beautiful.

I think I finally understand why the Dragons want to burn the world.

How breathtaking the sight of humans realizing their place and setting their own bodies ablaze.

Having belatedly awakened to the aesthetics of destruction, I sang of mortality while clutching dreams of immortality.

“Roselia…”

In the midst of it all, Baron opened his mouth, his voice still laced with anxiety. No matter how large his build, the true nature of a cowardly ordinary man was this pathetic.

In times like this, an acquaintance must show magnanimity. I spoke to him in a calm voice as he trembled all over.

“Just run. It’s okay.”

“Hah… but…”

“Run. Hurry.”

If running is all you can do, then at least do that.

At my impassive command, he had no choice but to run. When the hour hand moves, the minute hand must follow. Destiny cannot be changed. You are, ultimately, a dog that will offer its fate to me.

Poor thing.

Perhaps one day, you too will be able to set your own body ablaze like them. 

I prayed earnestly, my arms tightening around his neck.

“What the fuck now!”

The moment I knocked on the duty room door, a crude curse answered. But it felt more like hysteria than anger. Honestly, if I were in Duke’s shoes, I would have felt the same.

I scoffed at that, but Baron seemed terrified. He barely managed to open his mouth with a thoroughly frightened voice.

“Du… Duke. It’s me. There’s a problem in the Student Council Room right now…”

“I said, what the fuck is it now.”

“Roselia is hurt badly. I… thought you should know…”

“Hah…”

He didn’t know exactly what had happened yet. He had probably only heard the screams leaking from outside. Arriving before he could grasp the situation was a stroke of luck for us.

He should have posted at least one guard around. Did he trust that stupid pig that much? While I giggled to myself, the door flew open.

“What the hell…”

“…”

“Why does this shit always happen at night.”

“…Duke.”

“Fuck…”

Seeing my state, he dragged his feet as he stepped out. His unfocused eyes suggested he had been huffing gas all night. The large thugs following behind him looked no different.

“Baron… put me down.”

“Ah, okay.”

In front of them, I slumped to the floor as weakly as possible.  With all the strength drained from my body and soot smeared across my face, it was enough to give the impression that I was hurt.

Of course, I hadn’t faked this appearance expecting mercy. Duke casually gestured for Baron to step back and crossed his arms in front of me.

“Explain.”

“Lena escaped.”

“What?”

“I said, Lena escaped.”

I got straight to the point with an impassive demeanor. Then, without any complicated modifiers, I simply delivered the facts.

Fabricated facts, of course.

“While we were doing the night work, some weird guys suddenly stormed in. You know, the losers who are usually invisible. The idiots who used to spread rumors about Lope. They came in throwing a fit, claiming they were rescuing Lena. I’m pretty sure Lope put them up to it.”

“That happened?”

“Hard to believe, I know, but it’s true. Of course, Baron, that fat friend of ours, and I fought back. They were scrawny little shits, so we easily blocked them. But Lena, that bitch, was crazy. When it looked like she’d fail, she suddenly cast fire magic and started spraying it everywhere, not caring who she hit.”

“Magic?”

“Yeah. She must have prepared it for a long time, because there was no casting process, and the fire caught in an instant. Plus, it was magic cast by Lena of all people, so it wouldn’t go out easily. I took some rough measures before coming here, but… at least the corpses will keep burning until there’s not a trace left.”

“And Lena escaped in the meantime?”

“Through the window. She must have prepared a protection spell beforehand, because she didn’t seem to take much damage from the fall. Plus, she had an accomplice outside, so she escaped quickly. That’s all I saw. Go see for yourself, and you’ll realize I’m telling the truth.”

“…”

Duke stared blankly at my face, seemingly at a loss for words. The thugs standing around him wore similar expressions. Uncharacteristically lost in thought, he finally opened his mouth after a long pause.

“Roselia.”

“Yeah?”

“You expect me to believe that?”

What burst from him was not trust, but a hollow laugh. He slowly approached me, cracking his knuckles with sharp snaps.

“Do you actually think that makes any sense? That Lena suddenly orchestrated such a detailed plan to escape?”

“Just go and see for yourself. Then you’ll realize everything I said is true.”

“Fuck, obviously. Because you probably set it all up. But it doesn’t make sense. Are you saying there are idiots in this Academy who actually listen to that bastard Lope?”

“I told you. They were the losers you guys always looked down on. So naturally, their loyalties could shift to him. If they did what he said, he’d do something for them. Isn’t that how it works?”

“Why would he bother?”

“Maybe Lena was that precious to him. You know they were close, too. Back then, didn’t you send Erika because you were sick of seeing Lena carrying Lope’s name around? Why act like you don’t know.”

“Hah…”

As I calmly refuted him, he let out a sigh. He definitely sensed something was off, but he lacked the intellect to argue logically. Toying with such a foolish opponent with my mind was an incredibly enjoyable moment for me.

“So fucking exhausting…”

“I’m absolutely not lying, Duke. I don’t know what Lope’s ulterior motive is, but he sent his people, and they acted exactly according to a thorough plan. That is the truth.”

“Right. Well, I suppose that’s possible. All sorts of things happen in this world. But you know what really bugs me?”

“Wha—Ugh!”

Duke grabbed me by the collar and hauled me up. He looked me straight in the eyes and spoke.

“I’m suspicious that you might be in on it with him. After all, this whole mess started because you suddenly volunteered for the night work. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s true.”

“Finally admitting it. Last time I thought you were suspicious, I should have just tossed you to the other guys. You’re just trying to conspire with Lope to make a fool out of me, aren’t you? Isn’t that right, you crazy bitch?”

Yes. It all comes down to that. The scene Lope left behind that day had tormented me for a long time. If Duke had even half a working brain, things would have been really difficult.

A laugh suddenly bubbled up. It shouldn’t have, but giggles kept leaking out.

“Haha…”

“You think this is funny?”

“…Hah.”

In the meantime, Duke’s hand tightened around my throat. My vision blurred, yet the laughter still came. My consciousness grew hazy, and I felt euphoric, as if I were high on drugs. Thanks to that, I wasn’t flustered at all as I spoke again.

“But that doesn’t make sense, Duke. Don’t you think it sounds strange even as you say it?”

“…What does.”

“If I were really conspiring with Lope, why would I go out of my way to help Lena escape? Why not just escape myself?”

“That’s because you want to contact the mainland…”

“Because of that broken equipment? It’s hard to fix without Lena anyway, so why? And if I were as close to Lope as you claim, Lena would be my rival. Why the hell would I help her escape?”

“…”

“Besides, you know I’m on bad terms with that bitch. That’s why I fought her to the death today. You heard it yourself, so you know I was serious. You’re not going to claim that was faked too? That I deliberately did something so dangerous just to catch your attention?”

“That’s…”

At my point, Duke once again lost his words and faltered. Actually, the moment he acknowledged that there were guys following Lope, everything was already over. Once he admitted one thing, the rest of his logic crumbled in an instant.

Still in a hazy state of mind, I lightly kissed the hand Duke was using to grip my collar. The smacking sound echoed particularly wetly in my ears.

“Why do you keep overcomplicating things? I only want to help you. Don’t you realize that I’m your only true ally in this Academy? I need you, Duke. Maybe even more than your friends do.”

“Now you’re saying that…”

“Duke, please. Let’s not doubt each other, at least you and I. I really need you. You’re all I have left.”

“…”

“…You’re all I have.”

“…Fuck.”

He spat out another curse. But the strength in his grip continued to fade. Certain of my victory, I offered a faint smile.

Duke eventually set me down on the floor. Then, spewing crude curses, he kicked the wall with all his might.

“Fuck!”

“…”

“That son of a bitch Lope… He keeps getting on my nerves for no reason.” 

His unresolved anger shifted toward Lope. Duke clenched his empty fists as if to vent his frustration, then turned to look at the guys beside him.

“Hey. Go find that bastard Lope. Right now.”

“Right now? In the middle of the night?”

“Yeah. He’s probably busy dealing with Lena right now, too. This is the perfect time. Go after him. He couldn’t have gone far.”

“Even if he didn’t go far, how are we supposed to chase him? It’s so dark.”

“Fuck, just do what I say! Don’t talk back!”

The response to defiance was, as always, a threat laced with violence. At his heavy, intimidating voice, everyone around flinched.

But the person he was talking to wasn’t a subordinate, but a friend, and he boasted a build similar to Duke’s. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before crossing his arms, mirroring Duke.

“I’m not going to listen to you this time. You can’t just throw a tantrum every time.”

“What?”

“At first, we followed you because you were proactive and liked to take charge. You were good at fighting, too. But what did we get out of it? How many guys got themselves killed trying to catch Lope? We fucking hate that bastard too, but I don’t want to risk my life for some worthless rag like Lena.”

“Am I doing this just because of that bitch? The problem is that bastard keeps sneaking in and out, fucking with us!”

“Us? You’re the one getting fucked. And after this, he might not even come looking for us anymore. Just leave him alone. Let them survive on their own.”

“You little shit…”

He was spewing curses, but he looked a bit flustered by the unexpected defiance. No matter how reckless he was, he probably didn’t expect his own friends to turn on him. 

But he also knew he couldn’t back down here. Doing so would be tantamount to admitting defeat in the dominance hierarchy among males. 

…

“Haha…”

I’d been thinking this for a while, but his behavior was no different from a baby. Whining for milk. Throwing a fit when someone takes his stuff. Enjoying playing with new toys. And throwing a tantrum when an unexpected situation arose.

Interesting. Truly.

Behind the shell of violence hid an infantile reality. In the meantime, Duke continued his battle of wills.

“Just do as I say. Don’t piss me off.”

“I don’t want to. Why the hell should I go along with such bullshit?”

“You little bastard…”

“What, you gonna hit me?”

Eventually, the other party crossed the line first. Hearing those words, Duke glared at him with a completely unhinged expression. It looked like they would clash at any second.

But that didn’t happen immediately. It seemed his reason, not yet completely evaporated, was acting as a final barrier. In fights among kids, there were always minimal rules. And through that process, Duke’s authority continued to erode.

And stepping in at times like that was the role of an adult like me.

I smiled. Then, I raised one hand and began to chant a spell. Soon, a small flame blossomed in the center of my palm.

“Wait… what’s that bitch doing?”

“What are you… Roselia? What are you doing?”

“What does it look like? I’m helping.”

“What do you…”

Flustered by my action, they merely stared blankly at the blooming flame. Did they think it would take a long time to become a threat? But unlike Lena, I had no reason to hide my spell, so I didn’t need much time, and since I wasn’t trying to create an inextinguishable fire, it didn’t need to be powerful. And so, the flame in my hand grew rapidly.

“Te… tell her to stop! You fucking bitch, right now…!”

“Don’t move. I said don’t come closer!”

And Duke became my effective shield. Panic. Hesitation. Duke. The moment those three elements combined, my spell was complete. 

“…Erden.”

“You fucking…!”

A crude curse burst out belatedly. But it was already too late. Savoring the heat brimming in my hand, I hurled it with all my might at the man standing in front of Duke.

And so, another flame began to burn a man alive.

“Aaaaaaaagh!!!”

“What… what the…!”

“Roselia, that crazy bitch!”

“Ugh! Uwaaagh! Uwaaaaaagh!”

Panicked voices erupted from all around as the scene from earlier began to replay itself. The smell of burning flesh. Limbs flailing in the flames. And the irresistibly sweet taste of chaos. Of course, it was weaker than Lena’s spell, a fire that could be put out if one tried.

But before he could regain his composure, I picked up an iron club lying on the floor. Then, I swung it down with all my strength at the fireball dancing before my eyes.

“Aaagh! Uwaaaaaagh!”

“…!”

“Aaagh! Ugh! Uuuugh!!!”

“…!”

“Ugh… ah… ah…”

After just three strikes of the club, the fireball lost its strength and collapsed onto the floor with a thud. As the stench of blood and burning flesh filled the air, the other guys recoiled, pointing their fingers at me.

“Crazy fuck…!”

“She… she…”

“That… crazy…”

But they couldn’t cross that line. The burnt corpse and the alien standing before it. In a sensation akin to experiencing the impending destruction firsthand, they could only tremble in fear.

What about Duke, I wonder. I turned around with a strange sense of anticipation. Sure enough, his face held a trace of shock. 

But it didn’t last long. He suddenly smirked, walked over to the collapsed man, and began stomping on his head.

“You worthless piece of shit…”

“…! …!”

“Fuck… you dumb bastard…”

“…”

Stomping on a corpse that was clearly already dead provided a distinct infantile thrill. Duke savored that sensation for a long while before slowly raising his head.

“…What are you looking at.”

“…”

“Are you not going to move?”

“Ah… got it…”

“Fuck, move it!”

“Uh… yeah!”

At his thunderous shout, the guys scrambled in all directions. It looked like bugs scurrying into holes when exposed to light. Not that they would actually go after Lope right away, but Duke’s face was nonetheless filled with satisfaction.

As the surroundings quieted down, we naturally faced each other. Before I knew it, the look in Duke’s eyes as he watched me had changed entirely. From just a slightly annoying rag, to something even he couldn’t understand.

And young children tend to translate such unfamiliar sensations into awe. 

This time, I approached him. Duke watched me in silence, then pressed his back against the wall. His attitude suggested he had no idea what to do with this crazy bitch. A trace of fear was even evident on his face.

I smiled at his sudden change in attitude. Strange. Just a moment ago, I was the one trembling. Seeing him shake like this just because I seized the upper hand is truly hilarious. Are all men like this?

…No.

They aren’t all like that.

While I giggled to myself, Duke clenched his fists and swallowed dryly. Then, looking me straight in the eye, he spoke.

“You’re a crazy bitch.”

“I know.”

Sorry to disappoint, but you’re not the first to call me a crazy bitch. The first man to call me that is probably far away by now. Today, I missed him unbearably. As time passed, the desire to possess him grew desperate.

Especially the backs of those pretty hands of his.

A twisted desire for possession manifested like a fetish. I swallowed back the arousal that threatened to burst forth with a sigh, and whispered in a low voice.

“So, shall I tell you a truly crazy story?”