Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Long-Awaited Meat
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-Kyaaaaang!!
The barrier, which had been shaking with growing cracks, shattered into pieces with a dizzying noise.
Ronel took in the sight of the barrier fragments crumbling finely and vanishing into the sky.
It was gone.
The barrier he had believed could never be broken.
The fence that should have watched over humanity, protecting it from above and buying them time.
"S-Sergeant! What do we do?"
"Sergeant! We need to fall back and evacuate the civilians first…!"
His terrified subordinates began urging him on.
What to do.
The barrier had broken, but there was still some distance between its outer edge and here.
It would take the magic beasts a little time to reach this place.
So, should he prepare to fight them head-on?
Or follow his subordinate's advice and retreat to evacuate the civilians?
How should he handle this.
Where was Captain Aselrika?
She held command authority over the expedition force. He should find her first and get her judgment on…
"……."
Ah, damn it. Cold sweat began to bead on his skin.
Was he so scared he was starting to hear things? It already felt like the magic beasts' howls were echoing from far away.
I told them I didn't want to come, but they sent me anyway.
[Ronel, you lead the privates to the front lines tomorrow. You can't afford any mistakes.]
He couldn't afford any mistakes.
If he messed up, he'd be discarded again.
He might end up locked away in that dark, cramped solitary cell once more, just waiting for the day Fergus would come for him.
"…Where's Han U-sol? Find that guy first. And the captain too."
Ronel barely pulled his chaotic thoughts together and opened his mouth.
He'd been right nearby just moments ago. Where did he go?
The fact that no new barrier had gone up yet suggested something might be wrong with Han U-sol too.
"Sergeant, shouldn't we prioritize evacuating the civilians…?"
"Are you scared, by any chance? You keep trying to fall back."
His subordinate flinched under Ronel's sharp glare.
He understood the fear from the sudden situation, but he wished they wouldn't forget their duty.
"I'm scared too, but we can't retreat."
Besides, civilian evacuation was the job of the rookie heroes in the rear. There was no need to thin out frontline numbers to get involved.
Ronel cast his gaze far off, glaring at the old checkpoint that was no longer in use.
It had once served as a station connecting W District and X District, but after the magic beasts invaded X District and the barrier was erected, it had been left abandoned near the outer edge.
The number of magic beasts had surely grown even larger than before.
But that meant their advance would be delayed by a corresponding amount of time.
The only open area wide enough for a massive horde to pour out at once was there.
"Hoo…."
Ronel repeated shallow deep breaths.
There was plenty of time to prepare.
It was scary, terrifying even.
But he absolutely could not mess up.
He could not disappoint him.
"Eat."
The man who entered with two portions of food set the plates down indifferently on the table and said.
"Wow."
Camilla's eyes sparkled at the thick slab of beef on her plate.
It was late night bordering on early dawn.
Having eaten nothing since lunch, nothing beat meat to soothe her starving stomach.
The meat's quality seemed decent enough at a glance.
Not luxurious enough for the wealthy to pay top dollar, but not bottom-tier either.
Either way, it was a feast beyond what Camilla deserved.
For a prisoner like her, just receiving meat was cause for gratitude.
"Where'd you suddenly get something like this? Usually it's just cold rice with beans and a few veggies tossed in."
"Eat first."
The man personally placed a fork and knife in front of Camilla.
How kind of him. What was he thinking?
Everyone knew a fork or knife to the throat could kill.
How long would it take him to draw the gun tucked in his coat?
Camilla's eyes narrowed briefly before returning to normal.
A far more lavish meal than usual.
Handing over utensils himself, as if showing trust.
It was overt goodwill.
Refusing it would be inhuman.
People called Camilla an irredeemable psychopath, but didn't she know better?
That Camilla was actually more diligent and honest than anyone.
"Thanks."
Camilla opted to smile and express thanks rather than jam the knife into his neck.
She picked up the utensils and sliced the meat.
Holding metal cutlery after so long felt heavy and awkward.
She adjusted her grip a few times with flicks of her wrist before seriously cutting into the meat.
The rare meat was special. Camilla chewed vigorously, forgetting all decorum.
The juicy blood not fully drained flooded her mouth in ecstasy.
"To your taste?"
As she ate about half, the man spoke. Camilla nodded with a slight smile.
"Delicious. Come to think of it, I promised to chat with you, but I got too excited eating. Sorry?"
"It's fine."
"Want to talk now? As thanks for the meal. You seemed curious about stuff earlier. Anything you want to ask me?"
Before the meat, she'd planned to just exchange a few bored words, but she'd changed her mind. Seeing him act this way, he probably had an agenda. Camilla decided to hear him out seriously.
"You worked at a lab before defecting, right?"
The man said, glancing at her.
"…I'll get straight to it. I'm looking for a researcher."
"Researcher?"
"Yeah. Not a bad deal for you."
"Hmm. Really? What kind?"
"Human experimentation."
Aha.
Camilla nodded as if understanding.
After Colton rose to head the city, a wave of purges followed.
Not just corrupt executives bleeding the Association dry, but even those skimming petty cash.
Those dragging in slum dwellers from the outskirts for secret private soldier training were no exception. The ones running illegal human experiments on the poor were all ousted by Colton.
But their removal didn't end all corruption.
New factions sprang up to fill the vacuum amid the chaos.
And the method these new groups chose to get ahead was the same as before.
Strengthening private soldiers through human experimentation.
The Association's dirty power struggles in the shadows hadn't vanished.
They were just starting over from scratch.
"Hmm."
Camilla hummed with interest.
This man in front of her was likely part of one such faction.
Even though this was a spot Ronel had secretly prepared, he'd somehow snuck in and reached her.
They must be desperately recruiting talent to aid their human experiments.
It was a manpower shortage right now.
The researchers who'd been involved in illegal experiments had long been rounded up by Colton.
In this situation, who could be better than Camilla?
Qualifications as a researcher? Naturally top-notch.
With her healing ability, she could revive and reuse near-dead subjects.
Scout some naive goody-two-shoes who'd never killed? They'd run off in guilt before even touching a blade.
But Camilla? She'd enjoy it without a shred of remorse.
She was worlds apart from sheltered types who'd only swung blades at mindless magic beasts.
Yes! She'd strapped countless humans to experiment tables, reveled in their agonized screams, and loved that unique sticky red blood!
Wow! What a talented woman!
Where else to find someone more capable, more perfect!?
"What do you say? Want to work under us? You can experiment however you like."
Yes!
Camilla cheered inwardly!
She had no future left anyway.
Too branded a defector to cling to humans, and too long betrayed the demons after severing her contract.
Even if she tried returning to the demons, Kahtel wouldn't accept her after she'd broken the pact once.
Without the contract, magic beasts wouldn't recognize her and would attack.
Right when her future looked bleak!
Unlimited human experiments!
There'd be some boundaries, sure, but this was a dream job.
A dream job securing her safety and escape!
A chuckle escaped her.
See, Colton?
No matter how hard you try, those cancer lumps you hate won't disappear.
"If you accept, we'll fake your escape and hide you."
Seeing her positive reaction, the man stood and extended a hand to Camilla.
For a handshake?
Camilla grinned widely and rose to follow.
However,
-Stab!
The fork plunged straight into the man's throat.
"Gurk…!?"
The man's face froze in shock as his body convulsed.
Bright red blood trickled from the three holes in his neck.
"Sorry. I'm pretty fickle."
-Stab! Stab! Stab!
"Guh, guhhek…."
Blood sprayed everywhere.
She stabbed the fork into his neck, pulled it out, stabbed again, pulled out.
About ten round trips later, as Camilla's body was dyed red, the man's breathing grew faint.
The rare killing was special. Camilla kept stabbing busily, forgetting he'd stopped breathing.
The warm, sticky blood soaked her body in ecstasy.
"Hoo-"
Camilla exhaled raggedly.
Experiments were fun, but this was better.
And that wasn't all.
Soon, how would things end between Han U-sol and Anis? What would Anis do next?
With more fun spectacles ahead, how could she leave without watching?
Camilla savored the blood-soaked afterglow.
Until the warmth turned cold, imprinting the man's final expression in her mind, chewing it over.
Eyes sensing the end of his life as he'd known it.
All he'd built scattering like dust.
Despairing, empty eyes.
But the indulgence was brief.
She snapped out of it.
The outside had been noisy for a bit. What was going on?
-Ring riing!
The phone rang.
Following the sound, it was in the dead man's pocket.
She rummaged through and pulled out the phone.
"Hello-"
―The barrier in X District is broken! Hurry… Wait, who the hell are you!?
"Aha."
―I'm asking who you are…
-Crunch!
"Bravo, Anis."
Camilla left the crushed phone behind and rummaged through the man's inner pocket again.
She pocketed a revolver and keys, then opened the door and stepped out.