Chapter 168

&R;e​a&d; ​oｎ ̈Ka&t;Re‍a&d;iｎg&C;ａfｅ

The pouring rain grew increasingly fierce.

The flowers prepared for Yui were being swept away by the rainwater.

Unable to stand it, Eugene sighed and picked up the bouquet.

Shaking it lightly to remove the water, he looked at the man before him.

4th Division Captain.

The Storm, Karma.

The Great Calamity five years ago.

He was the hero who defeated the sixth demonic beast in history.

Of course, he didn’t do it alone, but he was the main contributor.

He lost his sight in that battle, but he still remains active.

When Eugene had heard the stories, he had felt a vague sense of admiration…

‘But something feels heavy.’

Eugene struggled to keep his gaze from drifting downward. It was hard to meet his eyes. Well, Karma’s eyes were closed, so saying he was meeting his gaze wasn’t quite accurate.

Facing Karma directly was quite awkward. A chill ran down his spine whenever he saw those slightly curved, closed eyes. It felt like a snake coiling around his entire body, making him shiver involuntarily. He almost took a step back but managed to stop himself.

“No need to feel so burdened, junior. Ah, can I call you junior? I’m also a graduate of the Southern Academy. Don’t mind my position. Just think of me as a regular senior from the Academy and feel free to treat me comfortably.”

How did he know I’m from the Southern Academy?

Eugene was startled but then nodded.

Right, the uniform. I’m wearing the Academy uniform right now.

I’m too tense.

Eugene tried to relax his shoulders.

Even if he couldn’t completely let go of his tension, he needed to calm his mind a bit.

Judging someone based solely on their appearance isn’t right.

Preconceptions kept pushing his thoughts in a negative direction.

This was the person who had helped him by confronting Astaroth.

One of the captains of the Celestial Corps.

For Eugene, he was an object of admiration and a long-held goal.

“…Then I’ll call you senior too.”

“Sure, I’d be happy with that.”

When else would he get a chance to call a captain so casually?

It should’ve been a happy moment… but something felt off. Eugene’s neck felt cold.

All the time he saw Karma’s smile, it felt like looking at a stiff mask.

A forced mask.

A mask to hide his true feelings.

A smile that was a facade.

It was natural, yet unnatural at the same time.

A soft smile that, ironically, only heightened his wariness.

But without showing it, Eugene spoke.

“I’ll explain everything that happened.”

Karma had asked to know the details of his conversation with Astaroth, and Eugene had no reason to refuse. 

Astaroth was a dangerous figure being monitored by the Celestial Corps. They were likely on high alert for even the smallest clue. 

Eugene moistened his lips with a dry swallow and slowly recalled the events.

What should he say, and how much?

He pondered but quickly reached a conclusion.

Eugene laid everything out as honestly as possible.

That Astaroth was the mastermind behind Lucia’s kidnapping and that she had taken Lucia hostage to demand something from him.

There was a faint hint of hope in Eugene’s voice as he spoke.

Maybe, just maybe, he could get help to save Lucia.

Despite his suspicious appearance, Karma was a captain of the Celestial Corps.

If he could get help, there would be no greater reassurance.

“Hmm, I see…”

Karma rested his chin on the back of his hand. He furrowed his brow slightly, organizing Eugene’s explanation in his mind. At the same time, he muttered something under his breath.

“Masked monsters… what Elijah told me… then… perhaps this case is also… connected…”

To Eugene, it was an incomprehensible whisper.

With a burning heart, he waited for Karma’s response.

“I see. Thank you for telling me, junior.”

Karma clapped his hands lightly. Eugene flinched. 

Even small actions made distrust sprout. Unfounded suspicion was no different from prejudice, so he shook his head slightly to shake it off, but the uneasy feeling didn’t easily fade. 

Looking at that seemingly fabricated smile, he wondered if being honest had really been the right choice.

“…No, it was nothing. I just told you what happened.”

“Not at all. The information you provided is very useful. Yes, indeed. If handled well…”

Karma’s eyes narrowed again.

His closed eyes stretched as he spoke.

“…It might help rescue your kidnapped friend.”

“R-really?!”

Eugene exclaimed, his face lighting up. He stepped forward, shaking off his instinctive hesitation. 

Karma tapped Eugene’s shoulder as if to calm him down. Only then did Eugene realize he had gotten too excited and awkwardly stepped back. He had taken one step forward but ended up taking two steps back.

“If she’s your classmate, she’s also my junior. Don’t worry. We’ll do our best to rescue her.”

However, Karma paused.

The corners of his lips curved.

His closed eyes turned toward Eugene.

“Junior Eugene. What do you want to do?”

“Me, me?”

“Yes, I understand. The kidnapped friend must be someone very important to you, right?”

Of course. Though they hadn’t known each other long, it had been enough time for Lucia to leave a mark on Eugene’s heart. 

A girl etched into his mind in a way that could never be erased. 

To Eugene, she was undoubtedly someone precious. Now that he had even lost Yui, she might be the ‘most’ important person to him.

“Will you just wait quietly until your friend is rescued?”

“That’s…”

“I don’t think so. Your expression says it all.”

Karma smiled bitterly. The wind barrier ensured no sound would leak out, but he still checked for any signs of people around, just in case. He thickened the wind barrier to block any sound from escaping.

“To be honest, the Celestial Corps is in a bit of turmoil right now. It’s classified information that can’t be disclosed to outsiders, so I can’t tell you the details… but I can tell you this much. It’s somewhat related to rescuing your junior Lucia. Of course, as an outsider, you can’t be involved in or connected to this matter.”

“…”

“That’s why I’d like to make a proposal.”

Karma tapped the epaulette on his shoulder.

An ornate dragon-shaped gold ornament.

A symbol proving he was a captain of the Celestial Corps.

The emblem representing the 4th Division Captain.

“Junior Eugene. How about transferring to the 4th Division? Your position… let’s say, my temporary aide would be appropriate.”

“What?! Wait, what are you…?!”

“It’s a temporary service. Only for the duration of this classified mission, with that condition attached.”

“…”

Eugene’s pupils shook. It was hard to understand Karma’s words. No, it wasn’t hard. It was straightforward. Interpreting Karma’s intentions wasn’t too difficult. But accepting it was a different matter.

“The Celestial Corps is preparing for a classified mission. I’m asking if you’d like to participate in it.”

“But I’m still a student at the Academy… I haven’t even graduated yet.”

“Your skills are on par with active members. I’ve roughly estimated…”

Karma smiled faintly as he spoke.

“You’d probably be just below a vice-captain, wouldn’t you?”

Eugene fell silent. He doubted whether his skills were truly at that level. Just below a vice-captain would mean he was right below someone like Teacher Angelica. 

Honestly, it didn’t feel that way at all. When he had faced Teacher Angelica recently, she still felt comfortably above him. 

He was aware that he was growing quickly, but he didn’t feel like he had reached that level yet.

“You’re just lacking in field experience, not in skill. Besides, I’m not asking you to take on a difficult mission. As you said, you’re still a student. I’m not expecting anything major from you. For you, the mission would only be auxiliary.”

“…”

Why is he making this offer? The Celestial Corps is full of veterans with both skill and experience. There’s no reason for him to reach out to someone like me, who’s still just a student. Is the Celestial Corps that short on manpower?

“If you’re not interested… well, I won’t force you.”

The choice is yours, junior Eugene.

Karma’s trailing words sounded faint.

Eugene raised his head and looked straight at Karma.

The 4th Division Captain, still wearing an inscrutable smile, came into view.

The classified mission the Celestial Corps was preparing for.

How was it related to rescuing Lucia?

He didn’t know. And because he didn’t know, Eugene asked honestly.

“If I join that mission, can I save Lucia?”

“I can’t give you a definite answer.”

“But it’s possible, right?”

“I can definitely say that. Of course.”

“Then there’s no reason to hesitate.”

It felt like he was falling for the sly man’s trap, but if it meant saving Lucia, he didn’t care.

Even if it meant jumping into a pit of fire.

“I’ll do it. Please take care of me.”

“Hoho, you’re brave. So young, too.”

Karma placed a hand on Eugene’s shoulder.

As if cold scales brushed against his cheek, Eugene’s expression stiffened.

But he didn’t back away. He stared at Karma with wide eyes.

“I’ll be in your care for the time being, junior.”

…It was a truly chilling smile.

A smile like a doll trying to mimic human emotions.

Exquisitely crafted, but still like a painting on a mask.

Faced with a smile that was hard to read, Eugene bit his lip and steeled his resolve.

◆

‘I’m not sure if it was the right choice.’

Karma worried that he had made the decision too hastily.

Bringing Eugene, who was still just a student, into the Family extermination mission.

Even if he planned to keep him in the rear and not send him into actual combat, it was still a dangerous decision.

‘But there’s no other way. This is the best I can do.’

According to Eugene, Astaroth was targeting him.

The reason was unknown, but even without knowing the cause, the result would still happen.

The masked girl who called herself a devil had set her sights on Eugene.

Today, he had been lucky to be nearby and stop her, but there was no guarantee that luck would hold next time.

If Eugene were left alone and Astaroth came for him again, things wouldn’t end well.

‘It’s better to keep him close and protect him.’

Only a captain could stand against Astaroth, after all.

Also, Karma had another reason for wanting to keep Eugene close.

‘Bait to lure Astaroth.’

If the girl in the red fox mask continued to target Eugene, he would make excellent bait.

Karma hadn’t exactly lied. If his guess was correct, the Family extermination mission was also related to rescuing the girl named Lucia. 

Karma looked at the boy in front of him in the lightless darkness. He sensed Eugene’s presence by reading the flow of the air. Eugene’s form was almost perfectly outlined in his mind.

“I’ll be in your care for the time being, junior.”

Karma smiled softly, trying to reassure his junior as a senior.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
If it weren’t for that smile that screamed, “I’m suspicious!”, there would be less suspicion.

Karma is stupid and doesn’t know that.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
New favourite character.