episode_0045

After the investigation concluded.

We took a carriage in the direction of the dormitory building.

As the sun had already set and darkness had fallen, we decided to return to our respective rooms for now.

The children were all exhausted.

“It’s already so late… no wonder I felt tired.” “M-me too, my eyes feel like they’re closing.” “You were crying all day. It’s strange you didn’t collapse in the middle.” “I-is that so…?” “Do you even know how annoying it was thanks to you?” “S-sorry…” “…I wasn’t telling you to get sulky.”

The carriage clanked along.

The two girls sat side-by-side, conversing. At first glance, their conversation might have seemed like teasing, but seeing them close together, it didn’t seem that way. Subtly, the atmosphere was more relaxed than before.

‘It’s better than I expected.’

Perhaps it was because of the memories of the basement. It seemed a strange bond had blossomed in the process of entrusting their backs to each other and confronting the monster. A villainess allowing the protagonist to sit next to her. It was a scene unimaginable in the original work.

A proud smile escaped me.

“Heh heh.” “…What’s so funny?” “Nothing at all.”

Well, what was so good about it? Perhaps it was the relief that the episode had concluded well. Although it deviated somewhat from the original plan… I thought it was a sufficiently valuable story. Now that a new light has been revealed.

‘I’ll be able to do better from now on.’

Everything was still going smoothly. I quietly savored my anticipation for the events to come.

***

And then.

That anticipation shattered the moment I returned to the dormitory.

…

Only a chilling silence settled in the space. It was a stillness tinged with strangeness. Normally, I should have heard a voice, albeit a bothersome one, greeting me and asking if I’d returned. But now, only heavy silence pervaded. Inside the dark room, there was no sign of anyone.

…Irene-nim.

Just in case, I called out her name. But as if mocking my last bit of patience, no answer came. Only a terrible emptiness lingered. Thick darkness swallowed the surroundings. The night sky visible through the window. Perhaps due to the clouds, no stars were visible tonight. In the faint, loss-tinged landscape, I stood frozen for a moment.

-A few suspicious individuals have appeared on the shopping street. -The shopping street… that’s not far from the dormitory building. -Has anyone been harmed…? -None have been reported so far. -That’s a relief. -Well, there might be hidden victims.

The conversation I had carelessly dismissed brushed past my ears. An ominously flickering intuition. My inner self, which had been full of joy just moments ago, turned cold. I muttered quietly. “Where could she have gone?”

Clap!

I clapped my hands. Immediately after, the scene in my sight changed. Teleportation, activated in a brief instant. I was now in front of the dormitory building. I scanned around, but saw nothing.

Clap!

I clapped my hands once more. This time, it was the path leading to the shopping street. Again, there was nothing unusual. I didn’t stop, continuing to clap.

Clap! The carriage stop, nothing. Clap! The main street, nothing. Clap! The alleyway, nothing.

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Dozens of claps echoed, and each time, the background swiftly changed. My claps had become emotionally charged. My vision flickered ten times a second. I fiercely pursued the Fox’s tracks.

Clap!

The repeated clapping stopped in an alley not far from the shopping street. Perhaps due to its convoluted paths, it was also a place students rarely visited. I quietly gazed at the ground.

…

A basket lay fallen. As if someone had dropped it while grocery shopping, spilled ingredients lay scattered at my feet. It was the basket the Fox always carried when going to the shopping street.

‘Why.’

Do bad premonitions never miss their mark? Beside the messy floor, an unfamiliar aura lingered thickly. Although it was faint enough that an ordinary eye wouldn’t even perceive it… it was clearly the trace of dark magic. My eyes could not be deceived.

Whoosh-.

My shadow flapped in the passing wind. After a brief silence, I let out a hollow laugh. It was a bitter, mocking laugh.

“Ha.” “Baob. Those bastards.”

***

Meanwhile,

The Fox awoke on a cold floor.

“…Ugh.”

My eyes fluttered open to a splitting headache. What reflected in my wavering pupils was none other than a landscape shrouded in darkness. Behind me, I felt the characteristic chill of a stone floor. A dizzying groan escaped my dry lips.

“Ugh, haah…”

Even with her vision swimming, the girl slowly pushed her upper body up, furrowing her brow. She couldn’t breathe properly. It was due to the shattering pain that permeated her entire body. It felt as if she had become glass on the verge of shattering, breaking into pieces. It was a side effect of excessive sleep magic.

“Ugh, cough, haah…!”

Especially Irene, who had no immunity to magic. The Fox had to suppress her screams and writhe on the ground for a while.

After such a moment passed.

“Haah, haah…”

Her headache gradually subsided. As her ragged breathing slowly returned to normal, only then could the girl look around. It was a space covered entirely in pitch black. The Fox muttered blankly. “Where am I…?”

A dazed murmur. The first thing that washed over her was a feeling of bewilderment. Her dark eyes scanned the surroundings. How did she end up in a place like this? The girl replayed her hazy memories. She was certainly shopping on the street, but it seemed she heard footsteps following her from the moment she entered the alley. Irene, sensing something suspicious, did not let down her guard. The moment she gripped the sword at her waist and turned around.

“…Was I caught?”

Her consciousness ended there. The last thing she saw was a red flash. It was an unsettling light. Irene quietly held her breath. First, she needed to assess the situation. Her dark pupils swept through the darkness, scrutinizing each detail of the surrounding environment. The most noticeable thing was a set of iron bars.

…

The Fox was trapped in a narrow prison. As she examined the tightly enclosed iron bars, a sudden sense of déjà vu washed over her.

“Damn it.”

An expletive involuntarily burst out. Because she had been in a similar place just a few months ago. A slave auction house where countless beasts were gathered. The girl bit her lip as the memory passed like a trauma. Was it their doing again?

“No, they wouldn’t have chased me all the way to the academy…” “Then who could it be?” “Kidnapping someone in broad daylight at the continent’s top educational institution.” At least she knew they weren’t sane. Her mind was stained with confusion. The mental unease turned into stress. Finally, a headache slowly crept up. As she groaned, pressing her brow, a strange noise suddenly reached her ears. It was someone’s footsteps.

Thump-thump-.

Footsteps echoed down the long corridor. They were approaching the iron cage where Irene was imprisoned at a leisurely pace. Just then.

“Don’t just stand there blankly, crouch down…!” “…?!”

Something touched the Fox’s shoulder. Surprised, she turned around and saw a finger sticking out between the bars. It seemed to be someone trapped in the cell right next to her. A youthful voice whispered softly.

“Unnie! Quickly, pretend to be asleep…!” “W-what?” “Before the devil comes, hurry…!”

The footsteps were now right in front of them. Hesitant, Irene decided to follow the advice and lay down. As if she hadn’t woken up yet.

…

Thump-.

Immediately after, the footsteps stopped in front of the iron cage. As she calmly continued to breathe, two men began to converse behind her.

“She doesn’t seem to have woken up yet.” “It appears so.” “What shall we do?” “For now, leave her until tomorrow. There are still many test subjects to handle.” “What about the failures we processed today?” “Move them to the lowest level.” “Yes, understood.”

Test subjects, processed, failures, lowest level. These were somehow ominous words. The Fox involuntarily clenched her fists. She felt as though her tail might twitch from the tension.

“By the way, we’ve acquired a very useful ingredient.” “Indeed. There haven’t been many experiments using fox beast-kin as samples until now.” “It was supposed to be an infiltration operation conducted as a diversion… to think it would bring us such an interesting creature. We should give rewards to the surviving members.” “They’ll surely be pleased.” “She’ll make a good offering to that person.”

A blatant gaze was felt. A resonance that stained the darkness with stickiness, a voice glistening with repulsive desire. Irene involuntarily thought. “I’m looking forward to the upcoming experiment.” Even if something went wrong. It felt like something was very, very wrong.

***

It’s cold.

It felt as if my heart had stopped beating. In the chest of that child from long ago, there was always an ice shard plunged in. A sensation I had long forgotten.

‘How long has it been.’

The chilling air swirling around. My mind was cold, stinging, and quiet, like snow falling on a winter night. A cool breath escaped my lips. Strangely calm. An inner self devoid of even a hint of tremor. I was swimming in a world dyed with tranquility. The sensation of slowly sinking gave a strange sense of stability.

A brief meditation. As I sat for a moment with my eyes closed, a girl’s voice suddenly called out to me. “Commander-nim.” … “All members are ready.” … I raised my bowed head. Before my eyes were the members of Astro. All of them wore white robes. They stood in a disciplined stance, awaiting orders. Is it time? I slowly rose from my seat.

The members’ gazes focused. A fierce bloodlust raged. They stood in their places, each fully armed. They were assassins awaiting orders.

“The Trees have declared war.” “”…”” “It’s not exactly picking a fight, but… unfortunately, they touched a friend I cherish.” Once they crossed the line, I had no intention of being lenient. If something was taken, it must be reclaimed. I planned to clearly show them whose possession they dared to covet.

“It seems a cleanup is necessary… Will you join me?” “”All as you command.”” The members all bowed their heads in unison. As I smiled in satisfaction, the Vice-Commander next to me handed me my robe. It was also pure white.

“Commander-nim.” “Thank you, Neria-nim.”

Flap-.

I donned the robe without hesitation. After straightening my disheveled collar, I lifted my feet from the ground. It was time to begin the reconnaissance.

“Then, shall we go?” I muttered within the flickering shadows. “To find the Fox.”