Chapter 113 – Traces

The path out of the underground waterway was horrendously inconvenient, noisy, and chaotic.

Shadowless might have been fine, but for Stella, it was understandably overwhelming.

The underground waterway, which had just moments ago been a labyrinth, was filled with people Shadowless had protected with gritted teeth.

With the labyrinth gone and the hypnosis broken, the people who had regained consciousness couldn’t understand the situation or even remember why they were there.

Naturally, utter chaos ensued.

Crying, shouting, screaming, fainting all over again.

Through it all, Shadowless said nothing.

And so, only Stella, who had been told the situation and the identity of those people by Shadowless, could calm the crowd and lead them out.

Fortunately, Stella’s face was concealed.

Unlike Eliaernes, she had been wearing a clean perception-distorting cloak even before entering the labyrinth.

Thus, Stella guided the hundreds of victims through the underground waterway with urgency.

Though she did get some help from Shadowless, it wasn’t much.

Still, she couldn’t show any signs of struggle.

She had heard that Shadowless had fought for over forty hours while protecting those people.

Eliaernes had fought against a formidable 8th-circle mage to protect Stella and Pina.

Pina had nearly become a sacrificial offering in a ritual that could’ve cost her life. She wasn’t even here anymore.

And Stella…

She had only wandered the labyrinth helping Eliaernes, got suddenly abducted, and heard shocking revelations.

Though it had taken a toll on her mentally, she hadn’t contributed at all to dismantling the labyrinth.

Only her body remained unscathed.

That thought made Stella’s chest tighten. With a heart full of guilt, concern, and unease, she did her best to carry out the only task she was entrusted with.

So what should have taken fifteen minutes took Stella fifty minutes to lead everyone out of the underground waterway.

She handed over the victims to members of Nameless.

Shadowless silently watched her for a long moment, then disappeared without a word.

Left alone to wait for Eliaernes, Stella sat down on the spot.

Her mind was a mess. Her heart heavy. It felt like she might burst into tears at any second.

The black magician who tried to kill hundreds of people, Eliaernes, and Pina, had told her that her mother was alive.

During that conversation, she also learned she was a being created for the sake of Akasha.

Of course, she had no way of knowing whether it was true or not.

But it wasn’t something she could just dismiss as a lie and forget.

Her mother, pursued by the Eustetia Knights and the Marquis of Verheigen, had gone missing.

Her whereabouts unknown.

The black magician who bore an eerie resemblance to her mother.

Akasha.

A created existence.

The reason it had to be Verheigen.

Eustetia, whose blood lacked that of the Hero, Arisa.

And the branch of Eustetia that seemed to know the truth.

The smell of blood, the heavier scent of sweat.

That thumping heartbeat, the voice, cherry blossom-colored hair and eyes.

A small, delicate frame. That warm body heat.

Eliaernes.

She missed her.

Just as that thought surfaced, 

When she was confused, not knowing why it had come to mind, 

“Why are you sitting there like a damn beggar?”

A sharp voice cut through.

“Did you pee again?”

“Eek… n-no… I didn’t… sniff… waaaahhhh!!”

The tears she had held back burst out.

* * *

After the illusion Arisa had left behind ended and I returned to reality, I sat there blankly for quite a while.

Then I began gathering everything from the grave.

Even the cherry blossom. Even my tombstone.

Turns out it was a very expensive pouch, my gravestone slid in smoothly when I inserted it headfirst.

After that, I collapsed the hollow where my grave had rested. Maybe Arisa had anticipated this; the chamber already had several half-broken pillars.

Pillars with Arisa’s fist marks on them.

I brought down just one, just one, and the whole chamber began to crumble. Even the massive stone door blocking us vanished without a trace.

Seeing the chamber collapse, Pina fainted again.

I thought about just leaving her behind, but in the end, I picked her up and exited the underground waterway.

I didn’t know how much time had passed.

It had been dusk when we entered the labyrinth, but when we emerged, the sky was bright.

The noisy, lively streets of the capital. Judging by the number of people walking around, it looked like broad daylight.

So maybe a day hadn’t even passed.

With that thought, Stella, Pina, now recovered, and I walked side by side toward the Academy.

The walk back was very comfortable.

Thanks to Shadowless, who had the good sense to leave perception-distorting hoods for Pina and me.

Along the way, we heard from Stella about the people trapped inside the labyrinth.

People from all across the nation.

None of them knew why they were there, and they hadn’t just lost their memories of being kidnapped, they had lost an entire week.

We don’t know how they were gathered here, but that’s not my concern. Nameless will take care of it.

Also, Stella had learned Pina’s secret.

That she could communicate with and handle spirits.

Upon realizing this, Stella’s eyes lit up and she bombarded Pina with questions as if she hadn’t just been crying moments ago.

Eventually, they hugged and sobbed with relief that they were all still alive.

Time passed.

“…S-So, what now?”

“Eek…”

We had arrived in front of the Academy, but none of us could take another step.

It was easy to sneak out, but going back in was the problem, with no way to escape this time.

“E-Eliaernes. Umm… can’t you just poke that blood thing again? That, uh… pressure point?”

“You were throwing a fit about it earlier, and now you’re telling me to do it again.”

“That’s not…! I didn’t mean it like that! It’s just… ugh… anyway, it’s not like that… what do we do…?”

“Hmm…”

[Purgatory Gate] was still active.

In this state, taking out the ten guards at the main gate in an instant wouldn’t be a problem.

But doing it without drawing attention would be impossible.

Just as I was thinking about what to do, 

“Looks like you could use my help?”

A cheerful voice called out from behind the bushes where we were hiding.

“Eek! Hic! HIEEEEEK…!”

“Gasp…”

Pina fainted, and Stella stopped breathing for a second.

Click-clack, click-clack, 

From the bushes, a woman approached with unnecessarily loud heels.

“Shall I help you?”

Adelia Baros.

“…Since when have you been watching?”

“Since you came out of the underground waterway and were eating those chicken skewers. I like that stall too. The sauce has a delightful flavor. No weird smell from the chicken either.”

“It was pretty good.”

“Fufufu. Let’s go together next time.”

“Are you paying?”

Adelia’s eyes widened.

“Oh my…? You’re not saying no? You’ll really come with me?”

“If you’re paying, I might go, just once.”

“Ahaha! You say that like you’re doing me a huge favor.”

“I am doing you a favor.”

“H-Hey…! Are you insane?! Talking like that to our homeroom teacher?!”

Stella tugged on my sleeve, horrified by my response.

“Fine by me. That’s a great reward for helping you. It’s been my dream to snack with my students at least once. Can I look forward to it?”

Adelia, on the other hand, looked delighted and nodded readily.

Her tone hinted that she had caught on to my intention.

“Yes. But I’m not eating chicken skewers. I’ll be eating something expensive. At a very fancy restaurant.”

“By all means. I may not look it, but I’m filthy rich. I could build a Mage Tower if I wanted to.”

Adelia chuckled and stepped forward, looking genuinely pleased.

“Well then, shall we? Oh, but first, ”

With a wave of her hand, a swirl of dark mana enveloped our bodies.

“You all look like scruffy stray puppies right now, so I’m just hiding you with a little magic. No ill intent, so don’t worry.”

“O-Oh… th-thank you.”

“Eek…”

“Fufu. Now, let’s go!”

Clap, Adelia clapped and led the way.

Stella and Pina followed closely behind.

While walking, Stella quietly asked me:

“…Do you think she knows where we’ve been?”

“Probably.”

“And what we did there…?”

“Seems like it.”

“Gasp… how does she know? Then what should we, what do we do?”

“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry about it.”

Stella chewed her lip.

“…Is there anything I can do to help?”

Her eyes were full of concern.

So awkward… uncomfortable…

What’s with this girl?

“Forget it. Just don’t pee yourself again, dummy.”

“Y-You…! Even when I’m worried about you!! AAAAAARGH! I hate you! You’re the worst! Don’t talk to me!”

“What are you on about? You’re the one who started talking.”

“AAAAAAAARGH!”

* * *

Thanks to Adelia, we returned to the Academy without any problems.

During that time, Adelia didn’t ask a single question or do anything unusual.

She simply escorted us inside and then went about her own business.

There was a brief moment where her gaze toward me changed, but it didn’t last long.

She probably noticed the change in my condition caused by activating my [Gate].

I hadn’t thought of how I’d explain it if she asked.

There was no time for that. I was at my limit.

I couldn’t keep pretending to be fine or act normal anymore.

I went straight to my room and pulled out a prepared bag.

Noise-suppressing scrolls, a gag, herbs, potions, a large sheet, soft towels, cleaning supplies, and deodorizer.

I lugged them all to the bathroom, stripped off every last piece of clothing, filled the tub to the brim, and dumped all the herbs and potions in.

Then I laid out the sheet on the floor, sat on it, and wrapped myself in soft towels.

“Shit… how long has it been since I last did this…”

Letting out a trembling breath, I downed a potion and bit down on the gag.

I tore the noise-suppressing scroll.

With fully recovered fingers, I reached into my meridians.

The gate was wide open.

Closing it… would trigger the backlash.

“Hnnf… nngh…”

I have an unusually high pain tolerance.

Even with limbs twisted out of shape, I can still keep fighting.

But this backlash, 

It’s so brutal that even I can’t stop the tears. If only tears were all, blood gushes from every pore, every orifice.

What happens to my body after that… I don’t know. I’ve never seen it.

All I know is that it ends up utterly pulverized.

Normally, Luna would handle things after that. But since she’s not here, I’ll have to throw myself into the tub.

“Hff…”

Samaela. That damned woman.

Next time I see her, I’ll tear her apart limb by limb.

As I chewed hard on the gag and closed the gate within my meridians, 

Click, the door opened.

“What kind of idiot doesn’t even lock the door? Eliaernes! I found your Terminal! You can cancel your scheduled messag, wh-what is all this…?”

Stella had come in.

She glanced around and turned her head.

Her eyes met mine, still in the bathroom.

“Hmm? What’s with the gag in your mouth? What’s with the bathtub? What are you even doing?”

How did that airheaded fool get in?

Did I forget to lock the door? Did I leave it open?

Why now, of all times?

There was no time to solve any of those questions. I couldn’t even take off the gag to tell her to leave.

The backlash had begun.