Raising Yanderes to save the world

”’It hurts! My body is burning. I will not allow myself to go down!”

The corruption yelled back, readying an attack that could not be blocked by the pair fighting her in time. But Kael’s barrier blocked it and neutralized it.

”Kael-”

”I am fine. Focus on the main fight. The sooner you end that thing, the sooner I can drop this barrier.”

Kael reminded Leon, and the Hero nodded with an unhappy expression. Leon decided to concentrate his holy power into his attacks and waited for Adrian to break the calamity’s outer shell before striking.

It was a good display of teamwork, with both sides reading each other’s movements and adapting accordingly. Kael could almost believe that his brother had deliberately chosen Leon to free first because he knew they would work well together...

Not that it was possible. But it certainly seemed that way.

But no matter how much they hacked and slashed at the corruption, it kept raising its head like a hydra, refusing to stay down.

”Darn you! Why do you keep coming back? Just die already!”

Leon yelled, pouring all his power into his next strike, which pierced Selene’s heart. The powerful blow dispersed the corruption in a single hit, freeing Selene’s body...

Or at least, that was how it seemed.

But Selene’s body was only a vessel for the corruption to reside in. Her consciousness had already been devoured by it.

Even if Kael wanted to help her, he would only be helping the corruption. So he spoke up before Leon could make his way to Selene and discover the truth for himself.

”Leon, don’t get close to Selene. Just...burn her body if you want to get rid of the corruption. That would be the best thing we can do for her.”

Kael told the Hero as he walked closer to them. The barrier around them also disappeared as Leon’s solemn eyes met Selene’s pitiful state.

She slowly opened her eyes, but the madness was gone from them. Instead, there was a steady calmness that made Kael feel uneasy.

”You...”

He started, not knowing how to address Selene anymore.

According to the corruption, this had been Selene’s destiny one way or another. She was born with corruption, so it was only natural for her to die with it as well.

But that did not mean Kael did not feel sorry for her.

”I...I...”

Selene looked like she wanted to say something. Her eyes rested on Kael with a pleading look that made him step closer to her.

He leaned in to hear her out, but Selene refused to say anything more. Instead, a giggle forced its way past her throat as she struggled to control herself.

”It is...all over...after all...”

Those were her last words before her body went cold.

As soon as she died, the power of corruption holding the others hostage started to crack as well. Soon, it shattered, allowing them all to escape from their separate dimensions.

”Darn it! That was so annoying! Where is that chick responsible for all this? I ought to give her a piece of my mind-”

Lyra complained, only to see Selene’s dead body lying on the ground not too far away.

It made her temper cool down a little, but not enough for her to calm down completely.

The one who felt the worst about the situation was Kael, and for good reason.

Instinctively, he knew that there was no way he was responsible for what had happened. But his heart did not seem to agree. Especially with the added information about the events from two years ago.

The more Kael thought about it, the guiltier he felt.

Iris noticed his mood and placed a hand on his shoulder to ground him back in reality.

”None of this is your fault. There was nothing you could have done for her, even if you had the chance. So stop beating yourself up over something that is not your fault.”

Iris was right. This was not Kael’s fault.

But it certainly felt like it was when things like this kept happening around him.

The awkward silence was finally broken by Nathan.

”Ugh, what are we going to tell Kana? I don’t think she’ll appreciate us killing her sister without discussing it with her first.”

That made the air feel even more tense. Kael knew he should not feel guilty about what had happened, but he could not help himself.

He had become involved in this situation, and now things had reached this point.

Moreover, he had uncovered a truth that should never have been discovered. But now that it had, there was no way to hide it anymore.

”Actually, I think we have a bigger problem on our hands right now than Selene’s death. The corruption gave us some information that I don’t think any of us will like.”

Kael took a deep breath before he began telling the others everything he had seen and heard from the corruption.

By the time he finished, everyone wore grim expressions, realizing the severity of the situation.

The one who looked the most troubled was Adrian, and for obvious reasons.

”Brother Adrian, this is...”

”Not a good situation. I realize that as well. If the corruption was telling the truth, then the entire elf race is compromised.”

Adrian looked stressed, not knowing what to say or do. Kael did not know either.

The tense atmosphere was finally broken by Lyra’s confident voice.

”Hey, are we sure we can trust the corruption? Somehow, I don’t think it had our best interests in mind. It might just be spouting nonsense. We won’t know until we verify its claims, right?”

She asked, and Kael felt almost foolish for not considering that possibility. He did not want to admit it, but maybe he really was getting duller by the day...

Or perhaps the exhaustion was finally catching up with him. He was starting to feel light-headed, and his eyes were slowly closing as well.

”Teacher Kael-”

Someone caught him before he hit the ground, and Kael let out a sigh of relief before finally falling asleep.