Second Test #3

 

“Everyone is late.”

Mitchell sighed, looking up at the dark night sky.

This is the hill where Estelle’s party had promised to gather.

Since the starting point was fortunately close by, Mitchell arrived at the meeting place first.

“What is that?”

Pang— Pabang—

A red flash of light appeared across the sky.

Mitchell watched the fireworks peacefully.

“Did you set off some firecrackers because you were bored? I guess there’s someone else with free time like me.”

Mitchell, who had no way of knowing the details, had no choice but to think that way.

Thud, thud.

Footsteps were heard in the darkness.

The atmosphere surrounding Mitchell changed in an instant.

Mitchell, who had switched to alert mode in an instant, looked into the darkness.

“Two people… Who are they?”

“Mitchell, it’s me. It’s Wagner.”

Only after seeing Wagner’s face did Mitchell relax his shoulders.

But there was someone else behind Wagner.

A familiar face.

It was Maria from the Adventurer’s Guild.

“It’s a test tube, right? What’s that?”

“I happened to meet him on my way here. But I heard something was off about his return.”

“Huh?”

Mitchell was confused.

Maria walked diligently, paying no attention to Mitchell.

The path was in the direction where the fireworks had just exploded.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

“⋯I don’t know exactly what’s going on. But that signal means it’s an emergency. So the test is over.”

“Exams over? Suddenly?”

“All emergencies happen suddenly and without warning. When you meet others, tell them exactly what I said.”

Maria’s face was dark. Unlike usual, she didn’t seem to have any intention of picking a fight with Mitchell.

‘Jack is the only one who can send that signal. What the hell is going on…’

Maria bit her lower lip.

Worries and fears swirled in my mind without a break.

But if she panicked, there was no one left in the testing room to handle the situation.

A handful of sense of duty forced her legs to move.

“What, why are you following me?”

Maria said sharply.

“Didn’t you hear? The test is over. I’ll let you know later, so you guys go back to Garden.”

“Help me.”

“what?”

Wagner shrugged.

“It looks like something awkward has happened. If I go with you, maybe there’s something I can do to help.”

“Hey. Who’s helping whom⋯.”

“Ah- Hey, Mr. Test Tube. Stop being so smart and just say thank you for helping me out.”

Mitchell rolled his eyes.

Maria narrowed her eyes for a moment, then sighed deeply.

“⋯You’re right. This isn’t the time to be showing off. Honestly, I’m not confident either.”

“Look at that.”

“If something happens instead, don’t blame me. You volunteered to go with me.”

Maria snapped.

They started running through the darkness.

***

—You are too extreme.

This is something Eden has heard since she was little.

—Love and care for others.

The priest who had cared for young Eden had told him this several times.

Perhaps he had already realized that there was something deeply wrong with Eden’s heart.

If the priest hadn’t left Eden’s side early due to illness, perhaps Eden would have developed a proper character like other ordinary children.

But now, it is a meaningless assumption.

“Wh-what on earth are you doing this for⋯!”

An adventurer crawled desperately backwards, his buttocks tumbled.

Eden walked towards him expressionlessly.

Why is this happening?

Eden raised the Sword of the Spirit above her head.

‘Well, that’s because it’s the fastest way.’

Crunch.

The adventurer’s head rolled back. His eyes remained wide open.

I’ve already killed twelve adventurers.

There was no Richie among them yet.

There’s no need to rush. The night is long.

‘If Mr. Michael were here, he would have done it more skillfully.’

Eden realized her own shortcomings.

Warrior Michael.

The one who completed Eden, which was just a dull and blunt sword of Justia.

Eden, who had been as aggressive as a wild beast, finally found her way in life after meeting Michael.

Only after hearing his words did I realize the meaning of God and know what I should do.

—Listen carefully, Eden. The end justifies all means. So, there’s no need to fear.

—Is that okay?

—What do you mean?

Everyone avoids me. They say I’m a demon. Being around me is bound to bring disaster.

“Ha, I see. Do you think I’d be afraid of you? From now on, you don’t need to worry about useless things. Just follow what I say and you’ll have no worries.”

Michael was right.

He always gave simple, clear answers and was confident.

Eden followed Michael and watched him grow into a hero.

Even if he killed a hundred people according to Michael’s command, he did not have to pay the price.

This time it’s the same.

Although countless people’s blood was shed, Michael will somehow manage to clean things up.

As always.

“Where to next?”

Eden wiped the blood from her face.

I felt a little tired, but I still had a long way to go. I couldn’t afford to procrastinate.

Navy, navy.

I could hear people talking nearby.

Eden moved to the sound.

Four armed adventurers. And one girl.

‘She’s a girl.’

It could have been Estelle.

Richie is taking on the appearance of a girl. Of course, he can change his appearance at will, but that’s how he was last seen.

‘How about this time?’

Eden approached the adventurers, hiding her presence like a beast lurking in the darkness.

“Excuse me, how about we resolve this through dialogue?”

The girl made a troubled voice.

Eden paused for a moment and examined the situation before her.

“Isn’t four to one a little unfair? Excuse me? Are you all listening to me?”

The armed adventurers silently approached the girl one step at a time.

Eden only happened to see one scene, but she had a good idea of what was going on.

‘Survival of the fittest.’

If you look at it broadly, the ecology of humans and animals is not that different.

The weak become prey.

Humans have only cleverly hidden that simple logic by adding complicated decorations such as law and ethics.

The girl looked weak at first glance. She was also outnumbered.

It was clear that if left alone, they would be eliminated according to the natural order.

Is it fortunate or unfortunate that Eden intervened here?

‘Maybe both.’

Eden held the rosary with both hands like a sword handle.

And then, he swung it wildly in the darkness.

three-

With the sound of the wind cutting through, the heads of the adventurers approaching the girl all flew away.

“⋯Huh? Excuse me, over there?”

The girl’s eyes widened.

The girl, still not fully aware of the situation, stared blankly at the corpses of the adventurers.

“Hey, everyone? You don’t have a neck? You’re not dead, are you? Are you all okay?”

Eden swallowed a bitter smile.

It was clear that this girl was probably not Richie.

If that foolish impersonation were an act, there would be no other great actor.

‘That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t cut it, though.’

Anyway, everyone gathered here tonight is destined to die by the Sword of Eden.

Just because I was in the same space as Richie.

Blaming bad luck is unavoidable. How many people in this world die because they want to die?

You just have to accept it.

Jeokbuk—

Eden walked out of the darkness.

The girl, who had been in a panic, looked up at Eden with blank eyes.

“Help, help! These guys suddenly have a sore throat⋯.”

He’s really stupid, Eden was sure.

Even if Eden were a well-intentioned adventurer, she would be powerless to help those whose heads had been cut off.

But still, Eden asked out of courtesy.

“Have you ever met Richie?”

“yes?”

“Estelle Frostwind. Do you know her?”

“Uh, Estelle?”

But at that moment.

Surprisingly, the girl’s pupils shook.

‘This woman knows Richie…?’

Eden also held her breath.

It was a completely unexpected reaction.

I just thought she was some crazy girl with a screw loose, but this girl had seen Richie.

“Yes, Estelle. Where are you?”

“Who are you? Why are you asking about Estelle?”

The girl shrugged her shoulders like a frightened herbivore.

This makes it clear.

It was clear that he not only knew Richie, but also had a personal relationship with him.

Eden continued to ask questions, feeling her own good fortune.

“Did you come to take the test together?”

“⋯.”

“Is it around here?”

The girl didn’t answer, but Eden knew that silence meant yes.

Keeping silent is not something that just anyone can do.

Giving your opponent absolutely no clues. This may seem simple on the surface, but it actually requires a certain level of skill.

Just keeping your mouth shut isn’t everything.

Trembling eyes.

Disrupted breathing.

A gaze that is desperately avoided.

All of this was being answered with various nonverbal signals.

‘Perhaps this girl is an acquaintance of Richie’s.’

Eden smiled brightly.

It was funny that, as a monster who couldn’t die no matter how much he died, he was able to make friends and build connections in such a short period of time.

You’re imitating a human.

Something that isn’t even human.

It’s so peculiar.

‘I’ll clean everything thoroughly.’

Everything touched by Richie’s dirty hands must be purified.

That is Justia’s will.

Eden raised the Sword of the Spirit over the girl’s head.