SSS Unknown: Dark Knight's Legacy

"...Director." Under the soft yellow light of a dimly lit hospital room, with the wooden floor crumbling beneath my feet, I sat beside a simple wooden bed. 

Lying on it was a person. A woman. A woman who could be described as ordinary by the standards of a hag. She was plain, from her appearance to her strength. She wasn't beautiful, no longer young, and her figure was far from balanced. She wasn't skilled in magic, nor was she particularly intelligent.

Yet, she was the person I held dearest, the kindest soul I had ever known. Unfortunately… she wouldn't have much time left.

"Alice?..." Her eyes opened, dark with a hint of red, gazing at me weakly. Her voice, fragile and exhausted, was barely audible. Perhaps, I had disturbed her rest.

"Yes, it's me." I forced a strained smile, trying to look cheerful, attempting to bring her some comfort.

"I'm sorry, Alice... for making you come back from the battlefield, only to see me like this…" She tried to smile back at me, but the expression on her face was filled with pain. She was forcing herself to smile, even though part of her body had already turned to black crystallized stone. Poisoned by magical corruption—that was the name of the disease slowly consuming the director.

…I couldn't help her. Not even a little. All I could do now was talk with her.

"No, it's alright, the war is over," I replied.

"So... is everything alright?" Her brows furrowed, deep wrinkles becoming more pronounced, as her eyelids drooped with exhaustion. I could clearly see the worry etched across her aging face.

Perhaps, I shouldn't have said anything. Once again, I had made her anxious.

"Yes, everything is fine, Director. Don't worry, the cure will be found soon!" I forced myself to smile again, trying to calm her down, to reassure her.

I was lying. I was deceiving her with sweet words. The truth was… nothing was fine at all…

"I see... then I'm glad." She believed my words and managed to force a smile—an expression that was as strained as it was painful. She tried to maintain her strength, despite the toll her body had taken.

And, as if it were an instinct, the director turned her gaze toward the window. Her eyes fixed on the darkness outside, a gaze so distant that it almost seemed like she was looking beyond the physical world. What lay before her was an expanse of utter blackness. The sky was completely void of light, though it should have been dawn by now.

"The rain still hasn't stopped, huh?" She managed another bitter smile, her brows knitting together in slight frustration. The relentless black rain poured down, a perpetual cascade of dark water that obscured the horizon. 

This unnatural storm, a manifestation of the disaster, had darkened the sky and all of reality, casting an eerie pall over everything. It was the cause of the magical corruption that had given rise to this insidious disease.

We didn't know where it came from. We didn't know how to stop it. We could only watch as it spread, turning lives into ash, slowly wasting everything in its path. For two long years, this curse had plagued us, and yet we were no closer to an answer. We were all trapped in its grip, with no escape in sight.

I hated it. I hated this disaster, this merciless force of nature that had swept in, ravaged everything in its path, and left nothing but destruction. And worst of all, I had done nothing to stop it.

I stared out the window, my hand clenched into a fist, trembling with frustration, with helplessness. Every fiber of my being screamed against the injustice of it all. Yet, despite it, despite the turmoil inside me, I kept that faint, hollow smile on my face. It was the only thing I could offer.

"...Alice, may I ask you for a favor?" Still gazing out the window, her voice was faint, yet I could sense the quiet plea behind her words.

"Of course!" I replied quickly, trying to force a cheerful tone into my voice, though my heart was heavy. I wanted to sound as normal as possible, to give her some semblance of comfort, even if only in the smallest of ways.

"I want to have a crepe, with strawberry filling."

"...?" I was taken aback by her request, my head tilting in surprise. Of all the things I had expected her to ask for, something so simple, so mundane, didn't fit the gravity of the situation. Was this really what she wanted? It didn't seem to make sense. But then again, perhaps I was overthinking it. Maybe this was just another moment where I was burdened by my own thoughts. After all, it had been so long since I had seen her. I had forgotten something essential—how the director was, at her core, a simple person.

"Get it from the usual place," she said, turning back toward me. Her face lit up with a warm, familiar smile—the kind I used to see all the time when I was younger. 

It was such a stark contrast to the pain and sickness she was enduring now. Seeing her smile like that, as though nothing had changed, somehow made the weight of my own sadness feel a little lighter. It was a reminder that even in the face of great suffering, there could still be moments of joy.

I couldn't help but smile back at her, even if it was tinged with sorrow. If she, enduring so much pain, could still find a reason to smile, then the least I could do was keep my own dark thoughts hidden from her. I couldn't allow myself to show my gloom in front of her now.

"Yes..." I answered softly, my smile becoming more genuine as I spoke. "I'll get it for you."

***

"All because of that disaster." I pressed my lips together, staring at the endless gray sky, distant and heavy with the weight of unspoken sorrow. The tainted raindrops continued to fall, relentless and cold, sliding down the ancient stone roof of the infirmary. They formed a wet, hazy curtain that seemed to hang in the air, as if the very atmosphere had succumbed to the black rain. With every drop that hit, the slate floor beneath them cracked slightly, sending tiny splashes in every direction. Mud, moisture, dark clouds—they had become an inseparable part of the world, clinging to everything and everyone.

It was uncomfortable; I hated the damp feeling, the chill that seeped into my bones, like the world itself was rotting around me.

"Saint's light, protect me. Light Shield." I whispered the incantation under my breath, trying to keep my voice steady despite the growing weight on my heart. Activating my magical circuit, I conjured a shield of light, its radiant glow forming an ethereal barrier around me. It wasn't perfect, but it kept the worst of the rain at bay, the droplets scattering off the shield as though they were repelled by an invisible force. For a moment, I felt a slight relief, the discomfort eased just a bit.

But the wet feeling didn't truly go away. It still lingered, like an unwanted guest you could never quite shake off. The rain kept falling, and it seemed to carry with it something far worse than just water—it was like a ghost, haunting everything, pulling the entire nation into its darkness.

"Let's go." I spoke the words softly to myself, taking my first step into the empty streets.

I walked, my footsteps echoing in the silence, gliding past abandoned shops and homes, their windows shuttered, their doors closed tight. The people I passed wore weary, grim expressions, faces etched with exhaustion and despair. No one smiled, no one spoke—there was only the sound of the rain and the occasional creak of rotting wood.

"...This is bad." I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anyone else. I could hardly believe how bad things had become. The capital, the place I had once called home, had turned into a shell of its former self. It had become desolate, dilapidated, a stark reflection of the world that had been slowly dying for the last two years.

Two years ago, this place had been bustling with life. Merchants haggling, adventurers and mages exchanging stories and goods from across the continent. The streets had been full of life—crowds gathering, children playing, and the sound of laughter filling the air. But now… everything had vanished. The lively market squares were empty, and the cobbled streets had been overtaken by weeds and decay. Only the locals remained, and even they seemed to be waiting for the inevitable end.

Desolate. Terrifyingly so.

The path I used to walk every day felt foreign now, as though the very ground beneath me had changed. The capital, which had once felt like home, was now filled with sorrow, with ghosts of a past I could never return to.

"Two years… just two years." I whispered softly to myself, the words carrying the weight of all that had been lost. The destruction felt like a raw wound in my chest, tearing at me, leaving me breathless. Watching it all unfold—this slow, painful end—hurt more than I could put into words. Yet, all I could do was stand there, helpless, watching as it fell apart.

I clenched my teeth, my lips pressed tightly together as I lifted my heavy steps through the rain, each step dragging me further into the abyss.

Finally, I saw it—a familiar sight through the mist and rain. The sweet shop I used to visit as a child, the one I thought had closed down after the disaster. But, to my surprise, it was still open, though it was clearly weathered by the years of black rain. The windows were cracked, the walls worn down, and the shop's sign hung crookedly, but it was still standing.

"This light, could it be little Alice?" A voice called out from inside. The shield around me probably made me stand out, despite the cloak I had thrown over my shoulders to cover it. The shopkeeper had recognized me immediately.

"Hello, uncle." I smiled faintly, a small gesture that felt both bittersweet and nostalgic. I pulled the hood from my head, revealing my face, though I knew the years had changed me. He still called me "little Alice," and though it was a name from my past, it didn't bother me. It felt warm, like a piece of the life I used to know, and I found it comforting.

"Did the esteemed guest come to buy some crepes?" The baker, a large man with a muscular build and a jovial face, waved at me, his energy bright and lively despite the somber surroundings. His voice was full of life, and for a brief moment, it felt like the world hadn't changed at all.

"Yes, the usual one." I nodded, knowing exactly what I needed to do, though part of me wished I didn't. The crepe was for the director, not for me. Yet, even so, it felt good to be doing something familiar in this desolate world.

"Understood, Captain." He laughed heartily, his deep voice booming as he quickly began preparing the crepe. Despite his large frame, his movements were smooth and practiced, as if he had been making these crepes his entire life. The batter was poured into the molds with precision, the crepes flipped with a practiced hand, golden brown and steaming. Within minutes, a fresh, hot crepe was ready and handed to me.

As I watched him work, memories flooded back. For a brief moment, my eyes widened, captivated by his graceful movements, and I couldn't help but think of the time before everything had changed. His smile was gentle as he handed me the crepe, his expression softening slightly as if to remind me that not all was lost.

"I didn't expect you still liked them," he said, his voice low, as if he still remembered me as the young girl who came to the shop without a care in the world.

In truth, I didn't have much of an appetite anymore. The only reason I had come was because the director had asked for it. But I didn't say that. I wouldn't say that.

"Yes," I replied softly, the words more out of habit than desire. It was enough.

I almost asked, "How is it that you're still here, holding on?" But I quickly realized that question would sound too harsh. He had his reasons, just as I had mine. Instead, I understood, at least in part. Even if the world was falling apart, we should still smile, and still try to hold on to something good. At least that way, our last memories would be happy ones.

"...Thank you, uncle." I gave him a small but sincere smile, holding the crepe in my hands, feeling the warmth of the past in that brief, shared moment.

***

"What? She was moved to the quarantine?"

"Captain Anneliese, she suddenly collapsed and fell into a state of berserk."

"Impossible! I was just talking to her a moment ago!"

I couldn't believe it. How could this happen? I had only been gone for a short time, and now the director had lost her mind and was locked away. She was lying, it couldn't have spread that fast.

Yes, she was lying. That mage was lying.

"Tell me what really happened!" I slammed my hand onto the mage in front of me, shaking her forcefully. I shook her as if doing so would yield a different answer.

I hoped for that, but all I received was a weak "Sorry, I've told you everything," from the mage with tired, pale eyes. Her eyelids drooped as she looked at me with pity, with despair. It was as if she was saying, "I've tried my best."

My eyes widened in helplessness, before finally closing. My entire body felt like it was crumbling. I still couldn't accept it. But I couldn't trouble others with this.

"…Sorry, I lost my composure for a moment." I removed my hand from her.

She wasn't lying. There was no deceit in her face.

It was all just me, playing tricks on myself, unable to accept the truth.

"This is absurd." I put my hand on my forehead and sank down onto a bench outside the room. My mind kept racing through thoughts about that strange disease—the source, the symptoms, and how it invaded the body.

The mage, seeing my state, left. Of course, she wasn't the only patient. This infirmary... no, the entire healthcare system of the country was overwhelmed.

Magical poisoning, there was no conventional way to cure it. Yet, losing one's will only happened when almost the entire body had turned to crystal.

So why had the symptoms worsened so quickly? Was the magical flow in the environment changing somehow?

No, I didn't feel anything different. The level of contamination in the infirmary was zero. So why? I truly didn't understand.

I exhausted myself trying to think, but it was pointless. I wasn't a mage, nor a scholar.

I couldn't do anything.

"Please, someone, make it stop..." I stared at the glowing magical lamp, saying aloud what I truly wanted.

Of course, no one answered. What was I expecting? No god would come to save us. This nation was an enemy of the gods. A country that wasn't meant for humans. A country where even humans like me were seen as monsters.

Perhaps that's why the gods sent this catastrophe here? If so, it was unfair. What's the difference between humans and half-breeds? We all have the right to live.

It was truly, truly unfair.

If only I could do something. Anything.

"Alice…"

From afar, a familiar voice echoed, a voice I had heard many times before. A strong, powerful voice carrying the courage of hundreds of soldiers.

"Commander." I turned toward the voice and locked eyes with him. It was a man with wolf ears and silver-tipped hair, towering nearly two meters tall with a heavily muscled frame. His face was scarred, and his golden eyes burned with unwavering determination. Lagon, the commander of the reconnaissance division.

"The fact that you're here means…" I blinked in surprise as I asked.

"Yeah, we lost. The Red Executioner, she's too strong." Without waiting for me to finish, he immediately spoke the outcome of the battle. A complete defeat, that was our fate.

"Is that so?" I spoke weakly, looking down at the stone floor, avoiding his gaze. My hands trembled, my body weak. All my strength had vanished, leaving behind a fragile form. My heart ached, and my breath was heavy.

I turned pale after hearing that news. Not only had we done nothing to stop the catastrophe, but we had also failed to protect the country.

Regret, shaking, I whimpered, and my voice cracked as I whispered, "I'm sorry, if I had stayed, maybe things would have been different."

Seeing me like that, Commander Lagon sat down beside me. He didn't say anything, just took out a cigarette and lit it. His eyes closed as he exhaled a long breath of smoke.

The bitter smoke filled the air, mingling with a deep sadness and regret.

And so, a heavy silence hung between us. I didn't speak, and neither did he. An invisible distance seemed to grow between us, even though we were sitting next to each other.

Lagon, just like me, stared into the void. After a moment, with a frustrated click of his tongue, he spoke while putting out the cigarette.

"Maybe things would have been different, or maybe you would've been killed. That failure, it's because we were weak. Don't blame yourself." He said to me, urging me not to blame myself.

But how could I not blame myself? I had run away from my duty. A coward like me, I'd rather die than live with this shame.

I was truly a failure. If I hadn't fled, if I had stayed to face her again, maybe everything would have been different. But I chose to run away, to beg for mercy after the first defeat.

It was disgraceful.

He must be disappointed in me.

Of course, he must be terribly disappointed to see me in such a pitiful state. I couldn't take it anymore, the fake smile I had been wearing fell away.

"Hmph, no matter what happened, Alice, you're still the same child you were." With a sigh, Commander Lagon handed me a letter sealed with the royal crest. How did he get this? I didn't know. What did it say? I had no idea.

I needed to know.

I raised my head, looking at him with my wide blue eyes, hoping for an explanation.

"You want to change the situation, right? Then read this and go back to fight." He responded with a somber, regretful tone. He didn't explain further. He didn't let me ask any more questions. He stood up and walked away.

Confused, I froze, unable to speak.

What did Commander Lagon mean? Was he disappointed? Angry? Sad? Why wouldn't he explain? Did he know about the director's condition?

I stood up and tried to follow him, hoping for an answer. But his figure disappeared, and the commander had already stepped into a magical portal and vanished.