Chapter 85: The Monster in the Laboratory #4

Chapter 85: The Monster in the Laboratory #4

“Alice, your master is me.”

I declared it, just in case. It couldn’t hurt to try.

“……”

“Are you listening? I’m Estel Frostwind. The owner of this laboratory. I can even authenticate it with my magic if you wish.”

“Intruder, attempting to deceive with baseless statements. Not worth responding to.”

Of course, it was useless. I had expected as much.

‘Living alone for so long must have corrupted her mind too much. She can’t even recognize her master. Stupid thing.’

Alice, the laboratory maid, simply stared at me with vacant eyes.

What kind of existence did I appear to be in her eyes?

Probably just an object to be eliminated.

“⋯Intruder. Failed to intercept on first encounter.”

Alice muttered.

Her voice was cold and clear. Like a glass cup filled with ice water, with droplets forming on the surface.

Alice casually swept her gray hair back. The black headband she wore suited her well.

“Response protocol updated. Continue attack until intruder’s biological signs are definitively eliminated.”

Following her words, Alice transformed the blade attached to her arm.

Whirrrrr-

The blade, which had been in the form of a long sword, changed into a shape with multiple sharp teeth.

Not stopping there, the teeth began to rotate at high speed like a chainsaw.

“Intruder likely possesses regeneration capabilities. Therefore, attack methods that maximize physical damage should be utilized.”

A shiver ran down my spine.

That, that woman?

Even though I can resurrect after death, being shredded to pieces by a chainsaw while alive would never be a pleasant experience.

And Alice’s assessment was correct. The greater the physical damage, the more power is consumed upon resurrection.

My “Immortality” trait is powerful, but not infinite. Furthermore, using the “Instant Resurrection” trait accumulates direct damage to my core, the relic box.

This means I can’t be complacent just because I can revive.

And, I had a question.

“Hey, but do you have to say all that out loud?”

“⋯?”

“You could just think it and move on. Why are you talking to me?”

Alice, who had been approaching with her furiously rotating chainsaw arm, stopped abruptly.

Alice’s eyes widened slightly.

After a moment, Alice said indifferently.

“⋯Intruder’s observation, valid. No need to state my response protocols. “

“Right?”

“Feedback complete. Will review. Thank you for the helpful suggestion.”

Alice slightly lifted her apron and bowed her head. Involuntarily, I bowed my head in return.

How nice it would have been if it ended peacefully like this.

“Resuming, elimination sequence.”

Alice shattered my fleeting hope and swung her chainsaw.

This is unavoidable. No matter how skilled a fighter, no one would choose to block a chainsaw with their bare body.

I quickly bent my back and placed my hands on the floor.

Grind-

With a chilling sound, the chainsaw narrowly grazed past my nose.

Of course, a commercially available chainsaw isn’t that impressive as a weapon.

Although its power is terrifyingly depicted in mass media, especially zombie movies.

In reality, a chainsaw stops immediately if it encounters a hard foreign object. Despite its imposing appearance, it requires careful and delicate use in reality.

But this is the world of “Nine Stars.”

It’s a dirty world where chainsaws are expected to break through walls. I was like the only two-eyed person in a world of one-eyed people.

Kaka-kak!

The chainsaw that grazed past me sliced through the desk, cabinet, and wall. Or rather, “scratched” might be a more fitting description.

“Mark, run!”

“But-!”

“No buts, you’re just getting in the way! I don’t have the luxury to protect you too!”

“Ah, understood!”

Mark backed away towards the door.

Alice’s gaze fell on Mark. Her eyes glinted like a cold hunter’s.

“Intruder B, attempting to flee. Preemptive interception.”

Alice abandoned me and rushed towards Mark.

Despite being a monstrous creature that slices people with a chainsaw, her gait was as light as a feather.

Mark froze in place. Even if he tried to run, he would be cut down from behind.

Kaga-gang!

Just as Mark was about to become a victim of the chainsaw serial murder, I intervened.

Sparks flew from the blade of my frost sword, which blocked the chainsaw.

“Lady Estel…!”

“Go quickly. And tell the others to escape the laboratory too. As far as possible.”

Mark nodded. He seemed to realize that trying to help me here would only be a hindrance with his own strength.

Mark turned his back and ran away with all his might.

“Intruder B, Orc 1 individual, escaped… Intruder A is interfering. Intruder A, combat power significantly increased beyond expectations. High-risk entity. Serious threat to laboratory security.”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t say all that stuff out loud?”

“⋯Need to adapt to new format. Will take some time. Difficult to compensate at the moment. Apologies.”

Whether it was my imagination or not, Alice’s cheeks seemed to have a faint blush.

“You don’t even recognize your master. What a disloyal servant.”

“Another fallacy. Intruder A is not my master.”

Snap!

Finally, the dagger blade, unable to withstand the shock, shattered and flew into the air, spinning.

I took a step back to create distance, holding a spare dagger in one hand and gathering magic in the other.

Indeed, Alice is strong. Befitting the title of monster.

I understood why Carmilla, unable to handle this one creature, had to retreat.

“Alright, I’ll teach you a lesson until you come to your senses.”

But there is an immutable law.

A servant cannot be stronger than their master.

What I needed was a momentary opening, a fleeting gap.

***

“Mark! Why are you the only one coming out!”

Jonathan glared at Mark, who had escaped.

After Mark quickly explained the situation, Jonathan turned towards the entrance without a moment’s hesitation.

“Let’s go. Everyone follow me.”

“Are we leaving Lady Estel alone?”

“Of course. Estel’s judgment is absolute. If Estel thought our strength wouldn’t help, then that must be correct.”

Jonathan escaped the laboratory, grabbing as many research materials as he could without looking at them.

My heart pounded incessantly. Loud noises intermittently echoed from within the laboratory.

‘Estel can’t lose.’

Jonathan firmly believed it. Unlike him, a fake hero, Estel was a superhuman possessing the power of immortality.

However, the opponent was also formidable, which bothered him.

The monster in the laboratory. A powerful guardian that even Carmilla had to retreat from.

‘She can’t lose… but there’s no guarantee she’ll win either.’

Anxiety began to creep into Jonathan’s mind.

Jonathan shook his head vigorously.

‘Damn it, don’t waver! This isn’t the time. I’m their leader.’

He looked at the faces of Mark, Wild, and Buffalo. The hulking figures were all cowering like frightened baby birds.

Jonathan had the responsibility to lead the orcs.

‘My duty is to ensure these guys return alive, no matter what.’

Jonathan calmly assessed the current situation, his mind tense.

After a moment, he made his decision.

“You guys, go back!”

Jonathan shouted roughly.

“Warrior Orc, what do you mean? Lady Estel is still…”

“Don’t you understand yet? Estel is staying in the laboratory to save you, to tie down the monster. So, if the monster comes out of the laboratory and kills you all, it’ll all be for nothing. Estel’s sacrifice will be in vain. So you must live.”

“Then are we leaving Lady Estel alone? Even so…!”

“I will stay here. If Estel wins, I will return to the village with Estel.”

The orcs read the determined resolve on Jonathan’s face.

“If Estel and I do not return, there is no need for revenge. Do not send anyone to the laboratory. And in case of such an event, there is a course of action in the bottom drawer of my office; refer to it to manage the village. You three help each other. The elder will also help.”

“What if, by any chance-“

BOOM-!

Just as Wild was about to ask a question, a huge explosion echoed.

A snowdrift soared into the sky, and fragments of the laboratory ceiling scattered everywhere.

Swish-

A small, black figure emerged from a hole in the laboratory ceiling.

“Damn it…!”

Jonathan’s face turned pale.

“Intruder B, C, D, E, a total of 4 entities confirmed. Must eliminate all to prevent future threats.”

Jonathan saw a human young lady for the first time.

But even without having met her before, he could guess her identity from her aura alone.

‘Is that the monster!’

Jonathan gritted his teeth.

‘If the monster came alone… it means Estel is…’

His legs felt weak, and he staggered. When all the ominous premonitions finally became reality, his mind became as precarious as a candle in the wind.

Jonathan sensed his impending death.

If Estel was defeated, Jonathan had no way to fight back.

“Go! Hurry!”

Jonathan screamed at the top of his lungs. The orcs rushed through the snow, running wildly.

The blowing blizzard obscured objects even at close range, hindering visibility. The blizzard helped the orcs at this moment.

If they put some distance between them, the monster wouldn’t be able to chase them.

“Estel, I understand what you meant. This is the time when a leader must step forward.”

Jonathan smiled.

Death was imminent. But it was Jonathan’s death alone.

His subordinate orcs would survive. And the orc village would continue to exist and prosper.

He felt a pang of regret.

He felt like he finally understood a little bit of what it meant to be a leader, but here Jonathan had to finish it.

If he could retain this experience, this feeling, and return to the village, he would do much better than before.

But that was a futile wish now.

“Come on.”

Jonathan gripped the sword hilt with both hands.

He felt the Orc Warrior’s armor lending him strength. The trembling in his legs stopped, and the muscles in his forearms bulged.

It seemed the armor was finally acknowledging Jonathan as a leader.

‘This armor will be buried in the snow with my corpse for a while. The old man will be furious!’

The monster took a step forward.

Jonathan heard only the monster’s cry-like sound and the howling blizzard.

‘I’ll buy you time. 30 seconds, no, even just 5 seconds.’

Jonathan swallowed hard.

He didn’t intend to defeat the opponent. His mission was to use Orc Combat Techniques to the fullest, to parry as many attacks as possible, and to buy time for his subordinates to escape.

However, at that moment.

CRASH-

From behind the monster, another sound was heard.

The feeling of something else breaking through the laboratory ceiling.

The blizzard momentarily stopped, and a strange silence fell.

As if by agreement, Jonathan and the monster both looked towards the laboratory.

There…

“I’ve kept you waiting.”

Estel, covered in dust, was smiling slyly.