I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

The evening sun cast the room in its orange shade. The wall across the glass door of the balcony reflected its glow. The evening had settled in.

Sera's ghostly figure was seated over my bed. The look on her face was different from before—her usual bright expression was now devoid of any emotions, her eyes seemed hollow. She was staring at nothing, as if she had already accepted her fate.

'I want to die.' she said.

Tears never fell. She might have already cried enough. The pain was still eating her away.

It felt to me that—she truly believed there was nothing left for her in this world.

I remained silent for the time being. With my 'Ruler' skill taking effect, my thought process accelerated severalfold. My mind was processing Sera's words.

I wasn't someone who comforted others with empty reassurance. I knew—I knew that no words could erase what she had seen—what she had endured.

But I wouldn't ignore her suffering either.

Sera, despite being someone else, was now a part of me.

I wiped my mouth with my sleeve. Standing up from the floor, I sat beside her. Slowly, I reached out to her, my fingers hovering over her transparent form. I knew that I couldn't touch her, but I wanted to show her that I was here.

I had to be careful with my words.

"Sera." My voice was quiet. "I too saw it all."

Her translucent body slightly flinched.

"I know what they did. I know what they took from you. And I know the weight you're carrying." I continued. "Because right now... I carry it too."

I steadied myself and let out a breath.

"You think you weren't worthy? That you failed them?" I clenched my fist. "Then tell me this—if you weren't worthy, why did they call out to you? Why did they look to you even in their final moments?"

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"They believed in you." My voice was sharper now. "They called you their Queen because, even at the very end, they still had hope in you."

There was a slight pause before I reached out to her.

I knew she wasn't physically here. But still…

"You're still here, Sera." My voice softened. "That means you still have a choice."

I saw Sera's fist clench.

"I won't ask you to forget. I won't ask you to move on. The dead don't come back, and no justice will ever serve them peace."

She shut her eyes.

"But those who did this to them?"

My gaze hardened.

"They will suffer."

Sera's fingers twitched.

"You wanted to die?" My voice didn't waver. "Then let that part of you die. Let the Sera who was helpless, the Sera who could do nothing, die here and now."

I leaned forward, taking a proper look at her face, my eyes locking onto hers.

"And in her place, let a new Queen rise."

I let out a heavy breath.

"I won't tell you to forget. I won't tell you it wasn't your fault. But if you truly want to honor them... then live."

I wasn't the type to offer warmth, but I would offer resolve.

My gaze focused on her, not with pity—but with understanding.

Silence stretched between us.

Sera's translucent form flickered, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out. Her fingers twitched, her hands curling into weak fists.

Then, to my surprise—she laughed.

'Ha… Haha… Hahahaha…!'

It started soft, but it quickly grew louder. It turned more unhinged.

'HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!'

A quiet, broken laughter.

'...A new Queen?' Her voice was hoarse. It felt almost mocking to me. 'Human, do you even hear yourself?'

I kept my cool.

She lifted her head, looking at me with her dull, empty eyes.

'They believed in me, and look where that got them.' Her voice trembled, anger and sorrow twisting together into something maniacal. 'Hope didn't save them. I didn't save them.'

Her form flickered. I saw a faint glow pulsing through her body.

'They screamed for me.' Her fingers clutched at her chest as if trying to hold herself together. 'They begged… and I did nothing.'

'Their Queen did nothing!'

She stretched at her white hair, her pointy ears drooping slightly.

'So tell me, Human… how do I live with that?'

She shook her head, staring right through my soul.

'How do I carry this guilt… when I can still hear them every time I close my eyes?'

"..."

I said nothing. I just waited for her to calm down. But my eyes never wavered from hers.

'I'm tired, Zane…'

Her voice cracked.

'I don't want to fight anymore—'

She looked at me, and the moment our eyes met, she stopped mid-sentence.

There was a reason I hadn't looked away.

I wanted her to believe me. Truly believe me.

That she wasn't alone.

That she was a part of me now.

And I wouldn't let that part sink into despair ever again.

Sera swallowed, her throat dry.

'You really think…' she murmured, '...that I can still stand up?'

I didn't hesitate.

"Yes."

The certainty in my voice startled her.

'W-why?' she asked.

And I knew exactly what she was thinking.

Why would you believe in me? We just met. I did nothing for you. I am nothing to you. So why…?

"Because…"

I let the words hang.

Not because I didn't know what to say, but because I knew—if she just read my mind—she would understand.

And... she did.

The moment my thoughts finished, Sera's eyes widened. Her lips parted slightly.

Her fingers curled into fists as she looked down.

Then, she laughed again.

'Haha… ahaha… AHAHAHAHA!'

This time it was different.

It wasn't happiness.

It was everything else.

She clutched her stomach, shaking as her laughter cracked, her voice breaking in between.

And I waited. I didn't stop her. I didn't tell her it was okay. Because I knew—this wasn't just laughter.

This was her finally letting it out.

And when the laughter faded, she exhaled.

She looked at me.

'Zane…' she called me by my name.

'You're insane…' she muttered, narrowing her eyes at me.

I smirked. "Probably."

Sera folded her legs and crouched down, hugging them tightly as she sat on my bed. She buried her face between her knees, then turned slightly to glance at me sideways.

'Do you… trust me?'

"I always have," I said. "From the moment our consciousness became one."

'Pftt—' she chuckled softly.

'You know what?' she asked.

Seeing her state had improved, I deactivated my Ruler skill.

But just as I did, Sera placed a hand on her cheek and spoke in a teasing tone.

'You really are a smooth talker. That Ruby girl is really lucky.'

"What—" I flinched, shifting backward—only to lose my balance and fall off the bed.

Bam!

'Hahaa… Hahahaha! Hahaha!' She burst into laughter, her voice ringing throughout my room, but it was only audible to me. 'You are such an idiot!'

'This damn ghost!'

I let out a deep sigh.

Well… at least she seemed fine.

Moments passed as Sera continued sharing her stories. She started from her childhood, recounting memories from when she was just a baby—I had no idea how she remembered all of it, but I didn't really mind.

Seeing that bright smile return to her face was the only thing I cared about right now.

In this entire universe, I was the only one who could see her. And for her, I was the only one she could share her stories with.

And I liked that—knowing there was someone who understood me better than I did myself, someone who accepted me despite everything.

Time went on, and before we knew it, evening had turned into night. The warm orange glow cast over my wall had faded, replaced by the stark white hue of the street lamps outside.

I exhaled slowly. For the first time since meeting her, Sera looked… at peace. Even if just a little.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

I glanced down. My wristband vibrated. A notification was blinking on-screen.

Tapping on it, a holographic window appeared before me.

<Anna Ashborn>

[Where are you? We are all here.]

[Hurry!]

[I am gonna eat all your food!]

[I will count to ten.]

It were messages from Anna.

"This girl…"

'So, it's time, huh?' Sera's voice echoed in my head.

"I guess," I replied.

I had promised them that today, all four of us would have dinner together. And during that, I would tell them the truth—about my multi-elemental abilities.

'Nervous?'

"Only a little."

'Don't worry,' Sera said calmly. 'They are trustworthy.'

"Mmhhmm." I nodded.

I grabbed a jacket from the hanger and, after locking the door, stepped outside the Astral Tower.

The moment I set foot outside, the cold air wrapped around me. With every breath, a faint fog escaped from my lips.

For a moment, I tilted my head upward. The sky was clear, a vast canvas filled with countless stars, their glow resembling moonlight reflected on a still river.

"Alright."

Time to face them.

I jogged toward the open cafeteria.