episode_0170

Chapter 170 – Fuse

A night hazy with moonlight.

The man standing by the window agonized, recalling a lover he could no longer meet.

“Shakra…”

The man’s name was Gaen.

As a knight of the Dark Cult, he was a devout believer who strived every single day to save this world, which was covered in hypocritical light.

He looked up at the night sky and prayed fervently.

“O Nephelina. I beg you, please reveal the truth to me. Grant me an opportunity to avenge Shakra’s killer. This is my plea.”

A wish repeated dozens of times since that day.

But the goddess, cruelly, did not answer his prayer.

Gaen resented this deeply, yet he also believed that all of it was ultimately due to Repentia, the Goddess of Light.

If it weren’t for Repentia, Nephelina would have been able to descend into this world.

It was then, as he trembled with nowhere-to-go rage and vengeful desire.

Knock knock.

A dry knock stimulated his ears.

Gaen wiped away the moisture that had gathered in the corners of his eyes and opened his mouth.

“Come in.”

Slam!

No sooner had he given permission than the door opened and Ethan, with a smooth expression, entered.

He leisurely looked around, then smiled broadly when their eyes met.

“Long time no see, Gaen. Have you been well?”

“…Apostle-nim, what brings you here?”

“Haha! It seems you haven’t been well. Of course, that makes sense. Your beloved woman died, after all.”

Gaen’s facial muscles twitched.

He almost forgot the fact that Ethan was an Apostle and slapped that hateful face.

He barely suppressed his rage.

“Please refrain from speaking about Shakra. Even if you are an Apostle, that is difficult to tolerate.”

“Is that so? My apologies then. Let’s get straight to the point.”

Having said that, Ethan pulled a nearby chair, crossed his legs, and then dropped a bombshell.

“…I’ve found a lead on Eunrang, the one who killed Shakra.”

“Is that true!?”

“Yes. You know Eunrang is famous these days. From their perspective, he’s a hero. Well, that’s not important. What is important is that there’s a female student who knows a lot about him. It seems they’re quite close.”

“Who is it?”

His voice was calm when he asked, but Gaen’s eyes were blazing.

Ethan waved his hand.

“Haha, calm down. It’s not confirmed yet.”

“It doesn’t matter. Who is it?!”

At the ferocious momentum that threatened to grab him by the collar if he delayed even once more, Ethan whispered conspiratorially with a triumphant smile.

“Alisa Bretes.”

“Alisa… Bretes?”

“Yes. She’s the illegitimate child of the Bretes Count family. She’s also a close friend of Abel, our top priority target for elimination. She has a history of being with Eunrang multiple times wherever he appeared.”

“……”

“It seems there’s also a rumor circulating within the academy that she’s Eunrang’s lover. Isn’t that interesting? The lover of the one who killed your lover.”

Crack crack!

Gaen clenched his fist so tightly it felt like it would shatter.

To dare to be happy herself, after taking away his happiness.

Rage, sorrow, loss, and longing tangled together, complicating his mind. Uncontrolled killing intent seeped out from his entire body.

Then, Ethan delivered the finishing blow.

“Oh, and I just found out that Shakra didn’t just die.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Gaen was agitated by the significant remark.

Just imagining what would come next was agonizing.

Finally, Ethan’s lips parted.

“They say she was murdered after being raped.”

“Murdered… after being raped?”

“Yes. They say she was raped before being killed.”

Gaen’s pupils instantly emptied.

Her death alone was an unspeakable sorrow, but to be murdered after being raped? Shakra’s agony, having her dignity utterly trampled until the very end of her life, became vividly clear before his eyes.

Heat surged from his heart, gushing forth with blood, soon engulfing his entire body.

“I’ll… kill him. Eunrang! I’ll kill you!!”

This was a vow.

A vow to himself, to the goddess, and to Shakra, that he would absolutely keep.

As Gaen lost his reason and declared his revenge, Ethan, who had been watching him with satisfaction, suddenly pulled a syringe from his pocket.

“Take this.”

“Haa… Hmph… What’s that?”

“It’s the serum of a high-ranking demon. I thought you might need it.”

“……”

The serum of a high-ranking demon is dangerous.

The power it grants is truly immense, but if misused, one can be corroded by demonic energy and degenerate into a monster.

There must be an ulterior motive for handing this over.

Yet, despite that, Gaen had no choice but to fall for Ethan’s trap.

Gaen gripped the serum.

“I don’t know what you want, but I hope there isn’t a single lie in the information you just provided.”

“Of course. Eunrang is an enemy of the Cult, isn’t he? I also need that information.”

Ethan smiled faintly.

His suspicious smile, hard to read, made people feel repulsed.

He soon took a step back.

“Then I’ll be going. May your revenge be enjoyable.”

Ethan, adopting an exaggerated bow like a mocking jester, turned his back and left the room.

Alone, Gaen quietly stared down at the serum.

“Shakra. Just wait a little longer. Soon… I’ll avenge you.”

Gaen had always been negative about the numerous academy raids that had occurred so far.

That’s why, in the previous operation, he purposely didn’t participate and merely stood by.

Though he lost Shakra as a result.

In any case, although he saddened over the students’ suffering, considering it a sacrifice for the greater good, even he felt no hesitation at Shakra’s death.

He intended to find information by any means necessary, whether torture or otherwise, and kill Eunrang.

It was at that moment.

Slam!

The door opened without a knock, and a beautiful Dark Elf appeared.

“Brother-in-law! Are you alright?”

“Idra…”

“Ethan Gloucester just came out of the room. Nothing happened, right? Huh?”

Her name was Idra.

As her title suggested, she was a Dark Elf and Shakra’s younger sister.

Bronze skin, slender figure.

Up to this point, they were similar in their characteristics as Dark Elves, but in detailed aspects, such as her slightly droopy eyes and long, straight hair, there were differences so great it was hard to believe they were sisters.

Unlike Shakra, who had a cool and sharp personality, Idra was gentle and kind.

The reason he was able to endure so well after Shakra’s death was entirely thanks to Idra’s devoted efforts.

Gaen desperately suppressed his killing intent.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t lie! Something happened, didn’t it? Is it about my sister?”

Idra was more perceptive than he thought.

At her question, which instantly struck the core, Gaen failed to control his expression.

As his face stiffened, Idra, gaining certainty, came right up to his nose.

“Brother-in-law. Tell me. What did you talk about?”

“That…”

“Hurry! I have a right to know too!”

Gaen found it impossible to tell a lie in the face of her earnest gaze.

He revealed only a part of the truth.

“…It was information about Eunrang, who killed Shakra. They say there’s a woman who might be acquainted with him.”

“Acquainted? Is it definite?”

“Not yet. But the possibility is high. So I plan to interrogate her.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No. It’s too dangerous.”

“Brother-in-law!”

“If I say no, it means no. If something happens, I won’t be able to face Shakra again. Please, I’m begging you.”

He didn’t know how things would unfold.

They might be discovered and captured before even beginning the interrogation, or they might not be able to return even if the interrogation is successful.

As long as there was even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of that happening, he couldn’t let Idra accompany him.

However, that was only from Gaen’s perspective.

Idra also had her reasons for not backing down.

“Then why aren’t you considering my feelings, Brother-in-law? My sister died, and if I lose you too, how am I supposed to live? Huh? Let’s go together! Let’s… take revenge together!”

“Idra…”

“Please. I don’t want to lose you.”

Gaen didn’t know it, but Idra secretly admired him.

She had suppressed her feelings, thinking of him as her sister’s partner, but even so, affection for him still remained deep in her heart.

She couldn’t allow him to be exposed to danger alone.

The two continued their argument for a while.

And in the end, it was Gaen who yielded. He couldn’t disregard the justification of participating in his sister’s revenge.

“Instead, promise that you will absolutely listen to my instructions. Understood?”

“Of course. I promise.”

“Good. Then let’s depart immediately.”

“Yes!”

And so, the two embarked on a journey for revenge.

*

Late in the evening, a beautiful girl was walking down a deserted alleyway.

Her identity was Alisa Bretes.

She had been receiving sword dance lessons until late for a talent show, and was only now returning home.

Even while walking back, she continuously practiced the moves she had learned today.

“Was it like this? No. More smoothly. She said I had to move like flowing water.”

Even though she wasn’t holding a sword, every time she moved her hand, it felt as if a sword was gracefully moving.

Her hand movements were that precise and beautiful.

Although the time she spent learning was short, her achievement was quite remarkable due to her high level of swordsmanship.

It was then.

A man walking from the opposite direction stopped and posed a question.

“Are you Alisa Bretes?”

Alisa flinched and stopped.

She immediately pulled her right foot back, adopting a posture ready to respond at any moment.

“…Who are you?”

“Is that right?”

“I asked who you are.”

“It is her.”

“I said, who are you?!”

At her irritable shout, the man was silent for a moment, then walked forward and stood beneath a streetlight.

He had an ordinary appearance, in his early thirties.

“Who am I? I am Gaen.”

“Did I ask for your name? I asked what your identity is!”

“…Do you remember Shakra?”

“Shakra?”

“Yes. The Dark Elf who attacked you all.”

“Ah!”

A scene flashed in Alisa’s mind.

The sight of a Dark Elf, her silver bob swaying, unleashing daggers like a storm.

Her face contorted fiercely.

“Ha! So, you’ve come for revenge or something? You people have no conscience, do you? After trying to kill us first.”

“I won’t make excuses.”

“So, you’re going to kill me? And you think you’ll get away with it?”

“That’s not important. What’s important is that you’re connected to that fellow, Eunrang.”

Alisa’s expression changed drastically at the mention of Eunrang.

She immediately drew her rapier and revealed her killing intent.

“Just try to lay a finger on Eunrang. I won’t let you get away with it.”

“…We’ve found the right person. If you come quietly, we won’t hurt you.”

“Shut up! Do you think I’d submit to someone like you?”

Whoosh!

Alisa charged at Gaen.

She clearly knew her opponent was superior from the momentum she felt, but staying put would only lead to her capture anyway.

At her desperate charge, Gaen calmly uttered a single word.

“Idra.”

Swish!

Simultaneously, sharp shadows extended from all directions and attacked Alisa.

“Gah!? W-what is this!”

Alisa, flustered by the sudden situation, quickly batted away the shadows.

Clang! Clang-clang! Clang!

Perhaps due to mastering the sword dance, flexibility had also been added to her swordsmanship, which had previously focused only on speed.

With concise and efficient responses, the shadows could not penetrate her body and bounced off.

However, under the ceaseless barrage of attacks, Alisa forgot about Gaen, if only for a brief moment.

That was a mistake.

“Blame that fellow.”

“Ah!”

Alisa quickly turned her back at the voice from behind and saw the tip of a sword approaching.

For an instant, her mind accelerated, making the approaching sword appear very slow. The problem was that her body was even slower, making escape impossible.

She instinctively closed her eyes.

‘Eunrang, I’m sorry.’

Slash!

With that final thought, Alisa lost consciousness amidst a searing pain.