Chapter 304

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As I was stammering, caught off guard by the unexpected counterattack, Yoo-seong, on the other hand, seemed to have his scrambled brain reassembled.

Stroking his chin, he carefully observed Seri, then nodded as if realizing something.

“A side effect of the mask, huh? Well, mental corruption always leaves aftereffects. It wouldn’t be strange for her to be confused.”

As the one who broke Astaroth’s mind control, Yoo-seong understood Seri’s situation. Easily grasping the truth, Yoo-seong sighed softly.

“‘Papa’… It’s been a while since I’ve heard that title.”

Saying that with a bitter smile, he seemed to be reminiscing about past memories. My already aching conscience stung even more. Lucia’s conscience is as soft as pudding, so it bruises easily. I like getting bruised, but not this kind of bruise.

As can be seen from the fact that Eugene and Alice are Yoo-seong’s descendants, Yoo-seong and Iris had offspring.

In an age of turmoil.

During the chaotic period when the United Federation was being founded.

It was not an environment suitable for having children.

Moreover, having children while fighting on the front lines caused many difficulties.

However, although Iris could have easily lived for a hundred or two hundred years, she could not overcome the aftereffects of the battle with Bael. She would have foreseen that she would not live long and would try to leave behind a blood relative for Yoo-seong, who would be left alone.

Yoo-seong’s efforts for Iris were in vain, as none of their descendants lived long lives. Most died young. Either they awakened their supernatural abilities and died fighting on the battlefield, were involved in unfortunate incidents and died suddenly, or became targets of powerful figures or criminals who held grudges against Yoo-seong… 

All ended badly.

This was one of the reasons why Yoo-seong didn’t get close to people around him. Because everyone Yoo-seong tried to protect died. He probably keeps his distance from the start so as not to become attached. 

Fortunately, he has become much more easygoing now, having reunited with Lucille and made friends like Theresa.

He cut ties with his descendants, fearing that they might suffer misfortune if they were close to him.

That was why he didn’t know that Eugene and Alice were his descendants until now.

…I only intended to play a little joke, but I unintentionally poked at Yoo-seong’s sore spot. My inner Lucille. What are you going to do now? How can you make up for it?

Should I stomp on the head that had bad thoughts? Should I lick his toes and beg for forgiveness? What? Don’t subtly bring up what you want to do. That’s why I don’t like perceptive mamas.

“Well, that’s not what’s important now.”

Yoo-seong didn’t seem to care much.

He frowned, looking at the unsightly training ground (what it used to be).

“It’ll be hard to keep using this place… Call the reconstruction team to rebuild it first…”

Just as there is an ‘Oracle’ specializing in precognition, the Celestial Corps has several subordinate departments. The reconstruction team is a department specializing in reconstruction, as its name suggests. Their specialty is restoring facilities damaged in battles with monsters.

“Moving to another location now would be awkward in terms of time… Since you need time to transcend the wall and contemplate yourselves… Okay, let’s use the remaining time for self-study. Mull over the realizations you’ve gained. If possible, preserve the remaining debris. I have other business to attend to, so I’ll be away for a while.”

“If the God of War leaves, who will teach the children? Are you passing the buck to me again? Haa, I guess I have no choice. Doing what you’re told is the sad fate of a subordinate.”

“I said self-study. Johan, you come with me. I have something important to say.”

“What is it this time? What are you going to make me do?”

“You said yourself that doing what you’re told is the sad fate of a subordinate, right? Just follow me.”

Lightly dismissing Johan’s question, Yoo-seong turned to look at me. Because of what I had done, I flinched without realizing it, but fortunately, Yoo-seong was smiling faintly.

“Lucia, you’ve worked hard.”

“…Ehehe, you noticed?”

Alice’s growth was so dazzling that it was relatively overshadowed.

How could moonlight catch your eye when a supernova is exploding right in front of you?

Just as Alice broke through the wall, so did I.

I had become ‘one close to God’.

The same level as Angelica at the beginning of the semester. It pales in comparison to Alice, but it clearly met the requirements to become a vice-captain.

Originally, I was going to use it to cover up the aftermath of self-harm… But Eugene suddenly intervened… By then, I was already halfway over the wall… I really ended up becoming one close to God by accident. Anyway, Eugene is too much. It was a chance to be stabbed by the Holy Sword. Is it damage control? I haven’t recognized you as my master yet.

“Then see you later.”

Yoo-seong smiled faintly and turned around. Johan looked at the other children one by one, then gave me a brief nod before following Yoo-seong. 

Seri, staring intently at the two people quickly disappearing, suddenly waved her hand wildly.

“Papa, bye!”

“Is that title fixed… Well, whatever. Call me whatever you want.”

“Okay! Papa!”

Seri is really consistent.

To call him Papa even after hearing that.

More than that, I didn’t expect Yoo-seong to accept it so readily.

He refused when I asked if I could call him Daddy.

…Could it be because I called him Daddy?

Should I call him Papa next time… No, this pattern is really not it. It’s that thing when you repeat the same mistake.

Yeah, no way. Human greed is endless and repeats the same mistakes, but how many times have I done that? No matter how clumsy Lucille is and how much I inherited that trait, there’s still a limit. You reflect every time, self-evaluate that you’ve grown every time, and then cause another accident. Don’t you get tired of it?

Okay, I’ll give myself a penalty. If I make a similar mistake again, I’ll take off all my clothes and bark naked, “I’m a livestock below human! Woof woof!”

What? That’s not a punishment? Isn’t it a reward?

Shhh.

◈

‘They’re all monsters.’

Regina, who was observing the situation from a distance, clicked her tongue.

Eugene was going head-to-head with the knight leader, and Alice had awakened to the captain level. They were all unbelievable monsters. She realized once again why Astaroth had paid attention to them.

Regina habitually touched the inner pocket of her school uniform jacket.

The space where she once secretly kept the Red Fox mask.

Now it’s empty, and there’s nothing to grab.

The reality that fact tells her made Regina bite her lip slightly.

‘The mind control is broken. I’m free. I’m no longer a slave to Astaroth.’

Still, she thinks about it from time to time.

Hallucinations that can’t be heard come to her.

‘My beloved friend, Regina.’

Astaroth’s voice calling her that.

She knows. It’s paranoia. She just hasn’t escaped from the nightmare of the past.

She knows, but she can’t easily shake it off. In fact, she suspects that even this is an illusion shown by Astaroth. 

‘Is the real me still a slave to the mask, and Astaroth is watching me rejoice that I’ve found freedom and laughing at me?’ 

It’s just a delusion, but where’s the proof that it’s a delusion?

That’s why she lingers near Lucia.

Being near Lucia somehow made her feel safe.

If she gets far away or can’t see her, the fear of the past fiercely overwhelms her.

‘Even if this is reality… I can’t conclude that the nightmare is over…’

Being near Lucia makes her feel safe, but she can’t let go of all her anxiety.

Astaroth still exists.

She’s still plotting something somewhere in the city.

How can she guarantee that she won’t encounter that girl again?

‘The mask can’t be used on the same target twice. There’s no risk of being mind-controlled again…’

Even so,

She can’t guarantee her life.

It wouldn’t be strange for Astaroth to do whatever she wants.

She might leave her alone because she’s no longer interested.

If she’s not a friend, she might kill her if she’s not interested.

The unpredictability stimulated her fear even more.

‘It’s really pathetic and embarrassing… I want you guys to get stronger as soon as possible…’

Astaroth said.

The ‘Chosen One’ is stronger than the devil gods.

His awakened strength far surpasses them.

If Eugene gets stronger, he can defeat Astaroth.

Regina wanted that day to come as soon as possible. She wants to wake up from the nightmare of Astaroth. She doesn’t want to dream this dream again.

She wants to provide all the information she knows to help subjugate Astaroth, but…

“Haa.”

Regina let out a sigh mixed with lamentation. There wasn’t much information she could provide. For some reason, Lucia already knew what she knew. Looking back, Astaroth took gestures as if she was telling her everything, but she hid only the most important information. She must have been considering the possibility that she would break the mind control, like now. She’s really a meticulous girl.

“Ugh…”

Thinking of the Red Fox mask makes her anxious.

Regina chased after Lucia’s back as if she was being chased.

The girl like the spring sunshine was within sight.

At the same time as the anxiety in her heart subsided, the remaining anxiety pierced her heart like an awl.

Regina reflexively grabbed her wrist.

A stinging pain rushed from the wrist wrapped in bandages.

The traces of cutting her own wrist just yesterday.

Supernaturals recover quickly, so she should have been completely healed by now, but Regina’s wound remained. It couldn’t be helped. Every time she was anxious, she stimulated it, so the wound opened and recovery was delayed.

“Ugh, ugh…”

It hurts.

It really hurts.

It stings. I hate it.

But,

‘At least when it hurts… I don’t think about other things…’

If it hurts even more than now.

Could she forget all the anxieties that don’t disappear?

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Regina clearly didn’t get the title of the story!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Yay! Regina torture continues!!