Clearing the Traces…
Silence fell over the night forest… after the deaths of the two slave traders. The campfire had been extinguished. Darkness returned to the gloomy forest.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves… revealing the mossy ground soaked in a pool of red. Organs were scattered. Chunks of flesh lay scattered. A corpse lay sprawled like a dead dog on the damp ground.
Marry El Rose crouched in the middle of the slaughter field. She cradled a black-haired boy who was close to death.
The moonlight reflected in her eyes. Her blue eyes were glassy. She was sad not because she had killed two criminals, but because she had almost failed to save an innocent child.
Marry walked to the edge of the grassy ground. She carefully set the little boy down.
Then she returned to the blood-stained mossy ground. She snapped her fingers and said, "[Blood Rose Manipulation: Blood Rose Tendrils]!"
The mossy ground cracked… From the cracks in the ground, blood rose tendrils sprouted. The tendrils were covered in thorns, a deep red colour.
They grew, coiled, twisted, and swung through the air like slimy tentacles.
Blood Rose Tendrils: A familiar monster shaped like blood rose tendrils that turns sinners into fertiliser.
Blood roses bloomed at the tips of the tendrils, whispering like hungry monsters.
The blood rose tendrils moved, dragging every piece of Garel's body and devouring Bragg's corpse.
Crack… Crack…
The sound of bones cracking, blood being absorbed, and flesh being chewed. Even the criminals' clothes and swords were not spared.
There was no disgust. No pity. The blood rose tendrils simply devoured their prey like a predator would devour its prey.
Marry watched the cleansing calmly. Her blue eyes remained cold, allowing her familiar to devour all traces of the sinners. Until they were clean… nothing left.
Moments later… the slave traders' corpses had become fertiliser. Marry approached the blood rose tendrils. Her delicate hands touched the blood rose petals. The blood rose monster purred as if enjoying its master's caress.
Then… Marry touched the ground and looked at the rose tendrils one last time and said, "Come back!"
The blood rose tendrils trembled… and retreated into the ground. The crack in the ground narrowed. And when the last blood rose flower withered, the blood rose tendrils disappeared. The forest was silent again.
—
Waking Little Thomas…
Marry turned and approached Thomas's tiny body lying in the grass. His tiny body was covered in red and blue spots, covered in bruises. The boy's face was pale, his breathing laboured.
Marry paused for a moment… she stared at Thomas with teary eyes. She had almost failed to save the little boy. She sighed.
She took a small bottle of silvery purple liquid hanging from her waist, a regenerative and calming potion.
She sat down in the grass… she rested the boy's tiny head against her thigh. Then… she slowly opened the boy's mouth… and poured the potion liquid.
A drop… two drops… the liquid dripped into the boy's tiny mouth.
A few seconds passed… The boy writhed in pain. A silver light flickered from his body… illuminating the gloomy forest. The red and blue bruises slowly faded. The cuts and abrasions regenerated.
When the silver light faded… the pain faded. And the bruises and cuts on his body disappeared… as if he had never been hit.
His dark eyelids slowly opened…
"…U-ugh… w-where… am I…?"
Marry smiled faintly… she pulled the hood of her cloak a little deeper, hiding her face. She opened her red lips… and a soft, melodious voice came out.
"You're safe now."
Little Thomas looked up… staring at the figure of the young girl in the crimson robe before him. His eyes widened.
"Wh… who… are… you…?"
"I'm nobody… I just happened to be passing by."
Thomas tried to sit up… he looked left and right… searching for the rough men who had beaten him.
"T-those… slave traders…?" his voice trembled. "W-where… are they…?"
"They've run away in fear…" Marry replied briefly. "You don't need to be afraid anymore."
Thomas stood up… touching his body. Examining every inch of him. His hands, stomach, face, all the bruises and wounds had healed.
"Ha… ha… it's… all… gone…?" he whispered, almost in disbelief.
His torn clothes were the only thing left as a witness to the slave traders' cruelty. He stared at Marry in amazement.
"…A-are… y-you… t-the one who… s-saved me?"
Marry was silent for a moment. She nodded slowly.
Thomas was stunned. Then… he remembered the children's story his grandmother used to tell him before bed. His eyes widened.
"D-don't tell me… y-you—"
Marry stiffened for a moment. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. She thought little Thomas knew her identity…
"Was little Thomas even slightly conscious… during the massacre?!" Marry muttered to herself.
"Y-you… must be… the shadow hero… t-the one who loved saving people… and then… just… disappeared… t-that…?"
"Shadow hero? Huh…" For a moment, Marry's eyes went blank. "Not the blood executioner?!"
Thomas's eyes lit up… he became excited.
"I-I… I've heard that story…! About the shadow… hero…!" Her voice rose, though it still trembled. "Y-you… y-you must be her…!"
Marry took a deep breath. Then… she simply nodded weakly.
"…Maybe so."
Thomas chuckled. "T-thank you… Sister Heroine…" Her hands were still trembling as she bowed respectfully. But her tiny face held a look of relief.
Marry smiled slightly. She stroked the boy's black hair.
"Does anything still hurt?"
Thomas looked up… he shook his head.
"No… s-everything is… healed… j-just… my clothes… are… torn…"
"They can be replaced. The important thing is that you're safe…" Marry stepped away from Thomas. "Now, let's go home. Your family must be worried about you."
Marry took a slow step… But little Thomas tugged at the hem of her robe.
"T-thank you… for s-saving me… c-can I… ask you one more favor…?"
Marry turned her head. Her blue eyes met the boy's teary black ones.
"C-can... can you... s-s-s-take me out...? I-I'm scared... s-lost..." Thomas said anxiously.
Marry nodded lightly. "Follow me!"
Thomas's dark eyes sparkled. "T-thank you... Sister Heroine..."
Marry slowly walked out of the dark forest... little Thomas followed closely behind, holding onto the hem of his robe. They walked out of the gloomy forest.
When the sound of their footsteps faded away, all that remained were the cinders of wood, the remains of the campfire that had witnessed the slaughter that had been cleared away.
—
Escorted Home by the Shadow Heroine…
On the way home… Marry walked calmly… Every step was as elegant as if she were a princess.
Thomas followed behind. He watched her graceful steps. Her black eyes glistened with tears.
"S-Sister… s-so… e-elegant… I-I… I'm sure… she's a… great person…" Thomas thought.
The two of them continued walking… leaving the misty, dark, and gloomy forest behind.
Marry looked up at the sky. It was a reddish orange… dawn was beginning to dawn. Her footsteps stopped. She turned to little Thomas.
"…Don't tell anyone what happened tonight."
"H-huh…? W-why…?!" Thomas tilted his head. His small voice sounded confused.
"For now… just say you're lost. Don't make the villagers worry. And don't mention me."
Thomas paused for a moment. He seemed hesitant. But then he nodded.
"O-okay… f-for… everyone's sake… I-I'll… keep this a secret…"
Marry sighed… then continued on her way. A few moments later… the lush forest trees passed by. Green fields stretched out before her eyes…
Marry paused for a moment. She gazed south… ahead, a village awaited her, and there… a small, silver-haired little girl was fast asleep.
Marry imagined her beloved little daughter, Caelan El Rose, still asleep, hugging a stuffed rabbit.
Her red lips curved like an inverted crescent moon… she couldn't wait to see her little daughter's tiny face. But suddenly… the hem of her robe was tugged by another tiny hand.
Marry looked down… Thomas tugged at the hem of her crimson robe. His tiny face looked hesitant. He opened his lips.
"W-when… I… g-grow up… c-can… I… b-be… a… h-hero… l-like you, Sister…?"
Marry sighed lightly. She smiled faintly. Her hand touched the boy's black hair.
"If you have determination and keep practising… nothing is impossible."
Thomas's dark eyes began to well up with tears. He listened intently.
"S-so… I-I c-can… g-grow strong… b-become a hero… l-like Sister…?!"
Marry smiled faintly. "Of course… and you know what?! Being a hero doesn't always mean being strong… the most important thing is that you can protect the people you love."
Thomas clenched his fists, "I-I… I-I'll train… Sister. I-I'll… b-become a hero… who can… p-protect… people…"
"Good luck," Marry said briefly.
Just as Marry was about to take a step… a small voice called out to her again.
"E-eh… s-sister heroine… w-what's… y-your name…?"
Marry paused… she held her chin. Then... she turned to little Thomas and said:
"…I'm just a traveller. But… you can call me… Red."
Thomas smiled broadly. "T-thank you… for s-saving me… Sister Red…!"
—
Returning Home…
Mary and little Thomas continued their journey. They headed south… until they reached the village. Mary's blue eyes scanned the tightly locked houses.
Mary stopped in the middle of the road. She turned to Thomas and said:
"We're here, Thomas. You can continue on to your home… We'll part ways here," she said softly.
Little Thomas paused for a moment. He knew… he was leaving the shadow heroine he admired. His dark eyes met Mary's. He smiled and bid her farewell.
"I-I… I-I'm going home now, Sister… t-thank you… s-for seeing me off…"
"Go home… your family is waiting. Be careful on the road!"
"Hmm… okay, Sister. I hope… we can meet again someday."
Little Thomas walked toward the village gate. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead… testifying to the hell he had endured.
Thomas stopped in front of the village gate… he turned to look back. But the shadow of the heroic sister had already disappeared.
Thomas's face darkened slightly. The cold air penetrated his pores. And the faint scent of roses lingered in his nose. Fragrant yet bitter.
"…S-Sister Red…"
Thomas let out a light sigh. He immediately turned and ran toward the village. He continued running along the deserted road… until he saw a fruit stall standing by the roadside.
An old woman sat in front of the stall. Her face was sad. It was Grandma Dora—Thomas's grandmother.
Thomas ran toward his grandmother… he ran, calling out to her.
"G-Grandma…!"
"THOMAS!?"
Grandma Dora stood up. Her eyes widened. Surprised to see her grandson home. Safe. Alone.
She immediately ran to greet him. She stretched out her wrinkled arms and embraced the little boy. Tears welled up as she embraced his tiny, dirty, ragged body.
"Where have you been!?" Grandma Dora asked anxiously. "Oh… your clothes! Your body! What happened!?"
Thomas lowered his head. "S-sorry, Grandma… I-I… I-I… got lost in the forest… I-I c-can't… go home…"
Grandma Dora grumbled, half-crying. "You idiot… why are you so careless!?"
But unlike her scolding… her hug grew tighter and warmer.
For a moment… the world stopped. Grandma and her grandson embraced. Grandma Dora cried… and was grateful. The world hadn't taken her beloved grandson.
—
Marry in the Heart of a Little Boy…
After they both calmed down, tears of anxiety and emotion had been released. Grandma Dora held her grandson's tiny hand and returned to their home.
Arriving home, Grandma Dora walked to the kitchen to get warm porridge for her beloved grandson. When she left the living room, little Thomas was alone in the living room.
Thomas sat back on the warm sofa. He curled up on the sofa, hugging his knees.
He closed his eyelids. His thoughts went back to a few hours ago… when his life was on the line, but he was saved by the shadow heroine, Sister Red.
"…R-Red… t-thank you… s-for s-saving me…"
He touched his black hair… and felt the lingering warmth of the nun's hand.
"I… I-I n-never c-thought… I w-would actually… m-meet… the Shadow Heroine…"
His hands trembled… as he held his tiny belly. He still vividly remembered the harsh kick from the slave traders. But he quickly shook his head.
He convinced himself he was imagining Sister Red defeating the slave traders… and sending them fleeing in terror. He smiled and let out a sigh of relief.
He stared at the ceiling… but his innocent thoughts drifted far into the future. Imagining himself having become a Shadow Hero and reuniting with Sister Red.
"I… I-I h-hope… w-we can… m-meet again, Sister Red…"
In the eyes of the world… Marry was known as a bloody executioner who killed evil tyrants. But tonight—for the first time in seven years since the world had forgotten her—a little boy recognised her.
But not as an executioner, but as a shadow heroine… who appeared in a critical moment to save innocent children… and bring new hope to the black-haired boy.