Chapter 326

R̈ê​âd́​ ̃ó​ñ ̀K̀àt̀R̈ëâd́ï​ñg̀Ćãf̀ê​

It was heat.

A scorching heat that felt like it would cook you alive.

A murderous heat as if a blast furnace enveloped the graveyard.

The invisible wall that Astaroth had created blocked outside intrusions. It was a minimal measure taken to prevent the ‘plan’ from going awry due to external interference.

It prevented intrusions from the outside and, at the same time, hindered escape from the inside. The wall was a prison that no one could enter or leave. That included Astaroth, who had created the wall. Because of that ‘condition’, the wall was an impregnable fortress that even the captains couldn’t easily break through.

That wall was shattered in an instant.

The heat trapped by the wall escaped in an instant.

The sudden change in temperature caused a fierce wind to whip around madly.

Regina chattered her teeth. She could feel it. Even if she didn’t see it with her own eyes, she knew. The girl with the red fox mask was there. Astaroth was there. The culprit who had shaken her life to its core and caused her to suffer from mental illness was there.

She had to run. She might really die this time. Her body convulsed like an aspen tree from fear. But what about Lucia? Lucia would be beyond that wall too. Was Lucia running out suddenly also a ploy by Astaroth? She had to save Lucia. She couldn’t let her be kidnapped by Astaroth again. But how? What could she do?

“…Hot.”

Frey’s face hardened. She had been guessing that something unusual was happening. Because she had witnessed the familiar flames erupting. She quickly deduced whose fire it was. Eugene. It was that guy’s fire. The reason she had been able to remain calm even though Lucia had run beyond the invisible wall was because she knew Eugene was here.

Even if he was an annoying guy, she could trust his power.

That guy, who was completely smitten with Lucia, would protect Lucia no matter what.

But something was strange. The fire was too hot. Frey frowned at the scorching heat that felt like it would burn her. Hot? Her?

She was used to heat. The heat of the heat rays was no less than Eugene’s fire. Of course, she had resistance to heat. Yet Frey was feeling the heat. She, who had reached the captain level, was feeling a slight pain from the heat. It was a negligible level of pain, but pain was still pain. At this rate, it was at a level that could kill people just from the aftermath of the heat.

Fortunately, everyone here was a Supernatural, and they had gotten blown away the heatwave with the Sun Sword they had prepared to break the wall, but if not, everyone except Frey would have been burned.

“Was Eugene’s firepower this strong…? It’s a bit much…?”

At this rate, people nearby would be in danger. Lucia would be in danger too. Eugene, that bastard. What on earth was he thinking? He unleashed a technique of this scale even though Lucia was there? Was he thoughtless? Or did he not have time to think? Had she been too careless? If it was the current him, he would be fine even if the red fox masked swordswoman reappeared?

[There’s time to think later. Let’s move!]

At Alice’s words, Frey nodded. She was right. There was time for contemplation later. Even at this moment, explosions were erupting one after another. What she had to prioritize was Lucia’s safety. And she also had to check on Eugene’s safety.

“Alice! Frey!”

For some reason, she even heard an auditory hallucination of Lucia calling her. She was really becoming a severe case. Was she relying too much on Lucia? At this rate, she might be no different from the troublemakers in Class D…

“Regina! Seri! Leo! Anastasia!”

Huh, was it not an auditory hallucination? Frey blinked her eyes. It wasn’t a mistake. She could see the figure of a blonde girl running desperately. She was running hastily, as if being chased, holding someone in her arms.

“Lucia…!”

“Everyone, run! Escape! You’ll get caught up if you stay here!”

“What?”

She tried to approach her out of joy, but Lucia shook her head violently. The sound of explosions vibrated the earth. The tombstones trembled. The ground undulated like waves. Frey’s expression, which had been as bright as a light bulb, gradually darkened. What on earth was happening over there? Was it really Eugene who was fighting…? If so, what was he fighting against? Lucia told her to run away? To her? Lucia knew that she had surpassed the captain’s wall?

“What are you dawdling about? Everyone, run!”

“Re-Regina, wake up. Mom said to run away.”

“M-My legs are giving out, I c-can’t get up…”

“Then I’ll carry you on my back.”

Leo easily lifted Regina onto his shoulder and looked at Lucia.

“What’s going on over there…? No, let’s evacuate first and then listen. But who are you holding? The outfit looks familiar.”

Leo twitched his eyebrows. The number of times he had directly witnessed it was few enough to count on his fingers, but he couldn’t forget it. The crazy bitch who wore the red fox mask. That girl used to wear clothes similar to that. He had a hunch, but he dismissed it with a laugh. Well, of course, it must be someone else. What was he thinking with just similar outfits? There was no way Lucia would be carrying that monster.

“A…a.. aah…”

“Hic, hic, hehe, gueh…!”

“What’s wrong? Why are you guys suddenly like this?”

They suddenly started having seizures. Seri slipped backward and landed on her butt, then started crawling on the floor on all fours. Regina was trembling so badly that even Leo was shaking.

“As-Astaroth…!”

“I-I’m going to die. I’m going to die. We’re all going to die today… O, Seasons. Please have mercy… No, what’s the point of praying to gods who don’t even help? Even if I die, I have to save Regina and Mom… I have to save them… Waaaaah!”

Why was Lucia holding Astaroth? Brainwashing? Was it the mask’s brainwashing? But the mask doesn’t work on the same target twice. Lucia had already worn the mask and failed to be brainwashed, so the mask shouldn’t work anymore? Could there be other brainwashing methods besides the mask? If it was Astaroth, it wouldn’t be strange. No, it would be stranger if she didn’t. If it was Astaroth… if it was that Astaroth…!

“I-It’s okay! Calm down, guys. Don’t cry. Yeah, it’s okay! This child isn’t Astaroth! No, she is Astaroth, but what I mean is…!”

“…What, is this kid?”

Frey reached out her hand towards the girl’s face as if possessed.

She hadn’t recognized it at first because her face was covered by her hair.

But when she looked closely from a close distance, she could see familiar features.

Yes, a face she saw every day. A familiar face she encountered every time she looked in the mirror.

“Alice? Me?”

No. It was similar, but different. Very slightly different. For example, her eyes were slightly sharper than Alice’s. In other words, except for that, they were the same. Who? Who was it?

“Frey…”

The girl called her name. Frey was startled. What? She knew her? She could understand if she knew Alice, but she knew her? Her other personality, Alice? 

What? What was really going on? Could it be that Alice and she had split? Alice? Alice?! Are you inside me? Are you there?

[…]

Ah, there was no answer from Alice! Had they really split?! Did this happen when you become a captain?!

[Ah, sorry. I was so surprised that I forgot to answer… I’m here.]

Alice was just as surprised. She couldn’t help but be surprised to see a girl who looked so much like herself. If Frey’s imagination was running wild, Alice’s thoughts had simply stopped. It was only after a moment of processing that she regained her composure. Alice looked at the situation more calmly.

[You said she’s Astaroth, but not Astaroth…?]

She was her, but she wasn’t her.

Lucia’s playful remark sparked a thought in her mind.

The Devil Gods. They steal human bodies.

Just like Belial had taken Lucia’s body.

The fact that the girl in front of her was Astaroth but not meant…

[A victim who had her body stolen by Astaroth?]

She was Astaroth because her body had been stolen by Astaroth.

But if Astaroth had left the body, then she was no longer Astaroth.

That would explain why Lucia was holding her.

She could deduce up to this point, but even Alice couldn’t figure out what to do next. There were too few clues. Why did she look like her, and why did she know Frey?

“G-g-g-get away from Mom right now! You devil!”

Seri’s attack, risking death, targeted the girl. It was a worthless attack that she swung around randomly. As expected, it didn’t even reach the girl and was thwarted. Without Lucia or the girl responding, Frey grabbed Seri’s fist.

“M-My body is acting on its own…!”

Frey only realized her actions after she had moved. It wasn’t that any special power had been used. It was simply that she couldn’t bear to see a fist swung at a girl who looked like Alice. But it seemed to Seri that it was different.

“Y-You’re brainwashing the strongest among us first… A-As expected of Astaroth! A devil! A monster! A Devil God!”

“I-I’m not Astaroth!”

“D… D-Don’t be ridiculous! I can’t be fooled, even if others are! That black hair! That dark outfit! Even that atmosphere is all Astaroth’s… Astaroth’s… Asta…roth…?”

Huh? She didn’t feel it. That, what was it. Astaroth’s unique atmosphere. The feeling of being overwhelmed. She didn’t feel it at all…? Huh? Could it be just a similar person?

“You… who…?”

Regina asked cautiously. She had seen Astaroth’s bare face. She was one of the few people who knew Astaroth’s face. That’s why she was startled every time she saw Alice. That face was definitely Astaroth’s. But Astaroth’s unique atmosphere was missing. Her impression was also much gentler.

A different person. Lucia’s words came to mind again. She was Astaroth, but not Astaroth. The guess that Alice had made also came to Regina’s mind.

“I-It’s me… it’s me…”

The girl’s voice trembled.

She bit her lip as if trying to hold back her sobs.

She wiped the tears that welled up in her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffled.

“Eugene… I’m Eugene…”

“Huh?”

[Huh]

Frey and Alice gasped at the same time.

What was that supposed to mean?

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Today’s note is… the end of service!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Yeah I still don’t get it, but hey, it marks the beginning of Eugene’s TS life.

Or he’ll get back his body within the next 2 chapters.

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