Chapter 113

&R;&e;&a;​&d;& ;&o;&n;& ;​&K;&a;&t;&R;&e;&a;&d;&i;​&n;&g;&C;​&a;&f;​&e;

“Ugh, my head…”

The Academy’s affiliated hospital has a rest area for patients.

When the body is sick, the mind also becomes sick, and when the body is injured, the mind also becomes weak.

A small but cozy green garden, decorated to soothe the minds and bodies of patients.

Seated on a shaded bench, Si-ul, the assistant instructor of Class A, groaned in pain.

The head wound inflicted by the griffon, a high rank monster, was still throbbing.

There was a crack in her skull, and if she hadn’t bent space to block the attack, her head would have been split open.

“…You’ve been through a lot, Si-ul.”

Across from Si-ul, Angelica, who was chewing on a cigarette, smirked bitterly.

Normally, she was stingy with praise, but this time, she didn’t hold back her compliments and encouragement.

If Si-ul hadn’t been on the scene, a major disaster could have unfolded.

“No, it’s nothing. The kids went through more.”

Even now, thinking about it made her dizzy.

What Si-ul witnessed at the site where the rift had opened was:

The sight of the students of Class A engaging in a fierce battle with high rank monsters.

If her parents hadn’t forced her to take the job.

Or if she had grown tired of the offer and refused.

If she hadn’t happened to pass by the national park near District 4.

She didn’t even want to imagine what kind of tragedy might have unfolded.

“Well, that’s true.”

“What do you mean, where’s my praise? Give it back!”

“Didn’t you say it yourself? The kids went through more~”

“That was just lip service. I went through a lot too. The griffon pecked my head. I almost died!”

“Hmph, allowing a griffon to hit your weak spot is a lack of training. Starting tomorrow, come to the training room. I’ll personally train you.”

“Please spare me.”

Senior Angelica has no middle ground!

She won’t go easy on me just because I’m not a student!

I don’t want to dive into boiling magma again!

Si-ul trembled and cried out.

How did she learn the technique of bending space only on the surface of her skin to defend against external attacks?

Only the two of them would know the answer.

By the way, Si-ul still had a seizure whenever she heard the word “training”.

“I’m kidding. You hate it so much that it makes me uncomfortable.”

Although she often shows an unreliable side, as evidenced by this incident, Si-ul is an adult who knows when to act.

She can take care of herself.

“Oh, really? I was startled… I thought I’d have to write a will again…”

“Huff, you exaggerate. Anyone who sees you would think I’m trying to kill you.”

“It’s true.”

Academy teachers like senior Angelica have softened a lot after dealing with students, but the past senior… Ugh, I don’t even want to think about it!

“Rest while you can. You’re not feeling well.”

Angelica discarded the cigarette she had been chewing and took out a new one.

She wanted to light it right away, but the hospital was a no-smoking zone.

Reluctantly, she continued to chew it like gum and stood up from the bench.

“Where are you going?”

“To check on the students.”

“Then let’s go together.”

“Are you sure? You must be tired.”

“I’m the assistant teacher in charge of Class A, aren’t I?”

“That’s true. Alright.”

Angelica had rushed to the hospital as soon as she heard the news that the students of Class A were involved in the disaster in District 4. Although she had arrived quite some time ago, she hadn’t visited the students yet because she was gathering information from Si-ul. She wanted to see them with her own eyes to confirm that they were all safe, despite the reports.

“Teacher?”

But before Angelica could visit the students, one of them came to find her.

Angelica’s gaze turned to the student who had called out to her.

The boy, wearing a blue patient gown instead of his usual uniform, was looking at her.

“Eugene.”

“Were you both here?”

After being coldly rejected by Alice (Frey) and unable to meet Lucia, Eugene had come out for a walk to clear his mind. He wanted to feel the wind and soothe his gloomy mood. While doing so, he had accidentally spotted Angelica and Si-ul and approached them.

Although the students had been immediately transported to the hospital after the intervention of the Celestial Corps, Si-ul, being a teacher, had stayed at the scene until the end to help with the aftermath alongside the heroes. 

That’s why, this was the first time that Eugene had directly met with Si-ul despite knowing that she assisted the other heroes according to Arin. And not only Si-ul but also Angelica, the homeroom teacher, was here. Eugene thought this was a golden opportunity to consult with them about a problem he had been pondering.

“I heard the story. I’m glad you’re safe.”

“I was lucky.”

It wasn’t false modesty.

He had truly been lucky.

Lucia and Alice had defeated the Black Knight.

And he hadn’t been killed by the girl in the red fox mask because of her whim.

Watching the aftermath of the battle between the captains and the girl, Eugene recalled the words he had once said to her.

‘I won’t go down so easily.’

Eugene had said that to the girl.

How arrogant those words had been.

Did becoming a little stronger make him lose all sense of proportion?

To the girl in the red fox mask, Eugene was truly nothing.

If she had wanted to, the fight wouldn’t have even started, and he would have been killed unilaterally.

“I have something I’d like to consult with you, teachers.”

Originally, he had planned to tell the heroes of the Celestial Corps directly.

But the situation had been too urgent, and they had been immediately transported to the hospital, missing the opportunity to speak.

That’s why Eugene hadn’t told anyone about the identities of the two he had discovered by chance.

“It’s about Astaroth.”

That she was not human.

◈

“Ugh…”

The marble floor was stained with blood.

Astaroth threw down her bent umbrella carelessly.

She knelt on one knee and vomited dark red blood.

The pungent smell of blood clung to the inside of her mouth.

Each breath she exhaled reeked of blood.

Her broken ribs were stabbing through her flesh like they were about to pierce it.

“Ah, ahaha…”

Ah, truly.

It was fun.

How long had it been since she last got hurt like this?

Even when she fought against Agares, it wasn’t this bad.

She had intentionally exposed her weaknesses and deliberately taken hits.

She had recklessly done so, expecting some degree of damage.

Thanks to that, she managed to escape before her active time ran out… but as you can see, her condition was terrible.

The shock had caused her internal organs to rupture or lose function.

Her lungs were torn to shreds, causing breathing difficulties, and her heart seemed to be malfunctioning, growing stiffer by the moment.

It was multiple organ failure. If left untreated, she would die without any chance of recovery.

“The body of a ‘human’… is so fragile…”

Returning to the penthouse she had chosen as her hideout, Astaroth blinked her drowsy eyes and looked around. There were no signs of life. The luxurious but empty scenery filled her vision. Only her occasional coughs broke the heavy silence like a curtain.

Wasn’t Regina here yet?

What a shame. She had been planning to ask for help.

There was no one better than her to help forget the pain.

Astaroth hobbled over to the leather sofa and collapsed onto it.

It was soft and comfortable. Must be expensive. She didn’t care, though.

As she watched the sofa get stained with blood, the girl in the red fox mask let out a small chuckle.

“No, it’s better that Regina isn’t here.”

If she had been here, she would have chased her away.

After all, she’s the human I’ve been looking for.

I can’t let her die so pointlessly.

Astaroth raised her bloodied hand.

It was slender and beautiful, with delicate white fingers.

But now, due to the aftermath of the fight, her fingers were mangled and ugly.

Even moving them must have been quite painful, yet Astaroth clenched her fist without hesitation.

A red mist gathered at her fingertips.

A dark aura that would corrode anything it touched.

The pungent stench of rotting corpses stung her nose.

Her nails began to blacken and die.

It was dense death energy, capable of even corroding a devil’s body.

It was the smell of a corpse and the lament of the dead.

“So… this is what you were hiding inside the armor…?”

It was fortunate that I took precautions in advance.

Such a valuable puppet isn’t easy to come by.

Right now, it’s only at the level of a named monster.

Depending on its growth, aiming for something higher is possible.

Her spilled blood defied gravity and floated in the air.

When she slightly opened her clenched fist, droplets of blood seeped through the gaps.

It was so hot that it seemed like it would evaporate at any moment, but her palm was freezing cold.

“…Original rank, 29th. By the name of Astaroth.”

Manifest here and carve the seal.

Corrosive one. Forsaken one.

One who rejects light. One who embraces death.

Eternal life is the same as eternal death.

Eternal death is the same as eternal life.

Sacrifice my blood. Offer my flesh.

Though my body turns to ash, my soul remains here.

Thirsty soul. Insatiable one.

Wandering soul. Suffering one.

Bring your anguish here. Bring your sin here.

Rest is far, far away.

“Come forth.”

Astaroth’s fist contorted and burst with a loud crack.

It didn’t stop at her hand. Her wrist, and even her forearm, turned into a handful of blood.

At the same time, a massive surge of death energy erupted.

The interior of the penthouse rotted away in an instant.

Furniture turned to ash, and the walls crumbled.

The chandelier that adorned the ceiling shattered into pieces.

If there had been any living person here, they wouldn’t have survived.

Flesh would melt away, and bones would lose their shape and turn to dust.

Only Astaroth, hearing the whispers of destruction, smiled joyfully.

Astaroth’s crushed flesh condensed into the shape of a small bead.

The eerie red light, like the fresh blood she had just spilled, cast a shadow on her face.

“Good, the core with the soul is complete.”

Now, all that’s left is the “vessel” for the core.

Unfortunately, while she knew how to create a core, making a “body” was outside Astaroth’s expertise.

A poor vessel wouldn’t be able to withstand the death energy and miserably shatter.

She had considered using the body of the 2nd Division Captain as a “vessel” after killing him, but with three captains present, that plan fell through.

“Since I have business to attend to anyway… hehe, I might as well go meet that guy.”

Wait, Black Knight.

I’ll prepare a good “vessel” for you.

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Astaroth is a collector.

She tries to get whatever she likes.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
I too, would be an unreliable dumb person if the only injuries I suffered from combat tends to be head injuries, heh.