episode_0127

“Help—!! My child is trapped under the rubble—”

“Ugh— Aaaah—”

“Take slow, deep breaths… Inhale, exhale…”

“Stay calm! There’s a possibility of further collapse, so everyone stay where you are—!!”

I hear voices.

No, I don’t.

I stepped on the wind and leaped, standing above the sky of the third training ground, gathering the debris.

I used my ether, stretching like arms, to pick up the pile of broken stones and hurled them into the center of the hall.

I immediately left the spot.

I threw off the Academy uniform symbolizing a cadet, and loosened my tie halfway.

Rolling up my shirt sleeves, I reached for the [Oracle] attached to Nix.

The Oracle is a type of ether mass.

Even if it’s far from me, it’s connected, however thinly and subtly.

It wasn’t completely detached; it was more like one end was held and stretched out.

And that thin thread of ether became a path for my spiritual body.

Immediately after changing the nature of my body, I went straight to Nix along the path.

Whoosh—!

“Uh— Oof—!”

However, my landing was slightly unstable, and I fell onto her thighs.

“I… I’m giving the young lady a princess carry…”

“Nix!!”

I grabbed her still-floating shoulder and scolded her.

“I told you to stick close to Yuri!”

“Uh… Uh…? Didn’t you call me?”

“What?”

Nix widened her eyes and pointed to the path leading to the outer corridor of the auditorium.

“Jane said you called for Yuri…”

“…That girl, was it.”

“Sorry… I don’t even know what’s going on…”

Cutting everything short and only asking for a favor, blaming her was too hasty.

Seeing her expression, as if she were about to cry, made my heart soften.

“No… Where’s Eve?”

“She should be in the waiting room for the next match…”

“Join that girl and tell everyone here to stay put. If strangers come in, don’t resist rashly. Join the Knights and follow their instructions.”

Nix’s gaze wavered, still seeming confused, so I bowed my head and offered my head to her.

Soon realizing what it meant, she slowly stroked my hair.

Some of the ether responsible for memory flowed into her.

“…I see. Okay, I’ll do what I have to do. The two of them probably went towards the main building.”

“Thank you, Nix.”

Instead of some grand words, I held her cheek and kissed her lightly. Nix then gave me a satisfied look and pushed me away.

“I’ll be back.”

. . .

The Academy was in an uproar.

There was no place where a tremendous noise and screams weren’t echoing from any Oracle.

But that was only for a moment.

Following the instructors’ guidance, everyone was regaining their composure.

“…Where are you, Yuri.”

Did I underestimate ?

These bastards, their smoke screen skills are no joke.

They seemed to have assessed my abilities to some extent; their tactics of gauging the enemy’s momentum based on superior mana sensing were perfectly clear.

I can feel magic from all ‘eyes’.

Like how your nose gets numb and used to a stench after a while, my senses started to dull.

I’ve been keeping an eye on various places since this morning, so fatigue had accumulated, and I even missed some black cloaked figures in my field of vision.

They repeatedly entered and exited my sight, distracting my attention.

Some went so far as to read my aura and look this way, or cast control incantations on the Oracle to disrupt the flow of mana.

“Vermin…”

In ‘Freddy’s Pizzeria’, I’ve become the seeker; This game should be easier.

Let’s think.

What should I prioritize?

Dealing with Moriarty’s remnants? Or should I follow the instructions of the ‘Intrusion Scenario’?

Let’s disregard them all.

The first thing I need to find is Yuri.

One fortunate thing is that her total mana is outstanding.

I don’t want to think about it, but even if she’s afflicted with Moriarty’s curse, her recovery ability alone would be dozens of times better than an average person’s.

The worst outcome here would be for me to act rashly, and come up empty-handed.

In the chaotic sight beyond the ‘Oracle,’ I focused on the areas where those guys frequently appeared.

“I’ll play along once.”

And the moment a black cloak appeared in that area, I extended my ethereal arm beyond the Oracle and grabbed the guy’s scruff.

“Kuhk—”

Without giving him any leeway, I transferred myself there along the path of ether again.

Soon, his neck was in my hand.

“Tell me your purpose and the location of your leader.”

“Kup— Kuhk— Kukuk—”

The back of the main building.

Everyone’s attention was focused on the main hall, making it a relatively quiet place with fewer eyes watching.

Ripping off the cloak and revealing his bare face, what I saw was the face of an ordinary girl.

However.

The expression, lost in unknown pleasure, resembled that of a drug addict, the disparity was too alarming.

“…If you don’t want to die, tell me now.”

“Kutt— Kkkuukkuuk— All— paths—”

Naturally, I subdued his arm with my other hand, thinking he wouldn’t be able to do anything.

Too soft.

“Tell me—!!!”

“The— Kuhk— day— continues—”

The crimson-eyed maniac swallowed the small orb hidden under his tongue. Simultaneously, his muscles bulged.

Whoosh—

His body burst, and he died.

Thud— Drip—

I barely managed to cast Muyeonggab just before his blood and flesh splattered on me.

If I hadn’t, it would have been a serious problem.

Each piece of falling flesh was filled with intense magic, melting instantly upon touching the wall or floor.

I immediately put my hand to my ear and sent a message to Carmoir.

「Be careful… These guys are self-destructing. Don’t subdue them, make sure to behead them for immediate execution. 」

「…Are you alright!!」

「I’m fine.」

After wiping off the sticky blood, I shifted my gaze beyond the Oracle again.

Aware of my appearance, perhaps, the guys started moving away from this area.

Only one.

Except for one who looked familiar, outlined under the cloak.

「If I don’t signal, or there’s no response after 10 minutes, proceed immediately.」

「…As you command.」

With a crack, I broke my still-unpleasant wrist and loosened my shoulders.

「Did you meet Aspi?」

「…Seeing her after a long time, she seems to be even more energetic.」

「She’s probably very angry… Try calming her down.」

Aspi doesn’t go well with these guys who resort to such dirty tricks. Despite waiting for the right time as instructed, it seemed the anxiety wouldn’t easily subside.

It’s why I stationed her with the Knights.

Recapturing her initial motivation would calm her down considerably.

After scattering all the attributes from Muyeonggab, leaving only the pure white armor. I transferred to the next Oracle.

. . .

Whoosh—

It was a slightly cool and secluded place.

A garden where Headmistress Natalia planted many trees by hand to escape the heat in summer.

The shadows cast around should have created a relaxing atmosphere.

But today, I felt only discomfort.

I slowly walked forward.

“…You should not have crossed the line.”

Then, a woman wearing a cloak walked out from behind a tree.

It was Jane.

“…I’m sorry. This is the only way to bring you down—”

She confirmed my appearance and couldn’t hide her surprise.

“…You look a little different than usual.”

“None of your business. Where’s Yuri.”

Jane’s eyes were still wavering, but she moved her lips calmly.

“Don’t worry. I sent her back to her original place along the way.”

“If you’re lying…”

Seeing her sad smile, it didn’t seem like a lie. I immediately turned my gaze to the Oracle, checking the audience of the hall, and confirmed Yuri embracing Nix.

“…Thank you.”

“No… I already owe you a debt of gratitude. I really didn’t intend to involve your family.”

I felt my strength drain, letting my arms fall. I pointed my hand towards Jane, creating an ether blade in my palm, and hid it.

“That sounds like you only intended to involve ‘me’.”

“That’s… my final mission.”

“Final…?”

I hesitated for a moment. It was someone I had formed feelings for, and it was difficult to judge when to cut it off.

Whether to subdue her now, or to kill her.

And that became poison.

“Thank you very much.”

At that moment, Jane put a small orb in her mouth, and I immediately threw the ether blade as I realized what she would do.

But.

Swish— Ting-!

It was deflected by another blade that flew at the same time, and my attack didn’t reach her.

In only a moment while I turned my attention to check for other accomplices, Jane had already bitten and swallowed the orb. Soon, her body was engulfed in intense magic.

“Chelsea… see you soon…”

Crimson magic erupted from her fingertips reaching towards me, and I instinctively stepped back, but.

Whoos—

The same energy covered me— no, repeatedly.

“Kuh—”

I couldn’t avoid all the attacks, and the moment I blocked the magic flying towards me with the [Ether Shield]. Blackness swallowed me.

“Jane—!!”

Even as I plunged into the darkness, I reached out. But that hand… never reached Jane, who fell to the ground, shedding blood and tears.

Magic slowly dug into my skin, instinctually creating an ethereal barrier because of the burning sensation.

Whoooosh—!!

When I cleared the darkness that had enveloped my vision, all the surrounding shadows had turned into villains in black cloaks.

Among them stood someone I knew.

“Long time no see. Since the Dungeon Break…?”

Leif.

A ranger of the Four Holy Knights who fought alongside me on the battlefield.

“You left without even saying goodbye…”

“Haha— I’m sorry about that. Let me formally introduce myself. I’m… Executive, , Persona.”

It wasn’t him.

A dark shadow fell over Leif’s face, which had previously looked like a pure and hardworking girl, then it flowed down to reveal his original face.

“I’ll take your head, you bitch—!!”

A hideous face, covered in burns and cuts.