The Second Laboratory
The Plague Rat belatedly berated himself.
'You idiot!'
It was obvious, but the Arishion family represented magic. Their family head was one of the continent's top archmages.
But that man? He'd fought purely with physical strength.
Like a knight, using raw power instead of mana, and the force he wielded—presumed to be aura—distorted and erased the surrounding mana.
In other words, his very existence was the natural enemy of mages!
'He's a fake!'
Why hadn't he realized it sooner? The approach had been sloppy from the start.
Tossing a coin bearing the family crest to some random thug?
How could he know who that thug would give it to?
People trying to reach him usually came through other branches, not street rats, for strict information control.
Yet this guy had come right up front? His repeated failures had clouded his judgment, leading to that complacent thought—it could happen. But now reason had returned too late.
'...I got played. My mistake.'
Critical intel was already exposed, and he'd even carried out the job.
If the real one found out?
'I'm dead.'
He didn't know the affiliation, but it was probably someone dispatched from the imperial palace or a temple.
No way he'd leave now even if told to. So instead, he had to provoke him further, lure him deep inside.
To kill him.
"Grrruuugh!"
Crunch!
He gritted his teeth against the pain of his shoulder being crushed.
It was fine. A crushed shoulder could be healed. Money wasn't the issue.
Eliminating this man for sure. Smashing that mask and confirming his face—that was as vital as his own life right now.
"Hey. Answer me. Or you planning to die like this? Eh, not a bad deal."
More pressure on his hand.
The Plague Rat stopped provoking him and bowed his head.
A posture of submission.
"S-sorry!"
"Don't waste my time. Plenty of others to guide me."
"N-no! Sorry! Really sorry! I'll guide you right now!"
Good. At least he wouldn't die before reaching the destination.
And once they arrived at the key spot?
No problem. He'd prepared insurance there for emergencies. He could escape this man at least.
"How far we going? Pretty deep."
"We'll arrive soon."
"Hey. How many bodies supplied?"
"A-above average! This'll give way better results than usual...!"
"Damn right it will. Unless you wanna die."
They descended underground through an entrance of unbelievable size, crafted by human hands.
The old man trailing behind had vanished long ago.
The masked man glanced around slowly before speaking.
"Hey, rat bas—"
Stop.
His advancing feet halted.
Sensing something ominous?
Too late. A massive cavern. An abandoned lair, presumed to have once housed an ancient monster.
Flash!
Something's eyes opened in the darkness.
Using variant orcs and trolls as the base, combined with corpses and black magic, plus ancient magic restored from lost tomes through superior technique.
The monster born from modern and ancient technologies awakening in the dark opened its eyes. A beast-like horror covered in fur from head to toe parted its lips.
"Fuuuuh... "
Even its casual breath carried poison.
The monster's gaze fixed on Eugene. His uncovered red eyes met the beast's.
"Gaaah!"
The Plague Rat, who had donned a gas mask from his pocket, bolted forward to hide behind the real monster.
"Haha! I'm saved! Saved!"
He spread his arms wide to the beast.
"Hurry! Pick me up!"
The monster reached out, grabbing his body. Thick skin shielded him as his view slowly rose.
I'm saved.
No matter how strong that guy was, he couldn't pierce this arm to kill him!
AoE attack?
It might break through, but casting it took time. Enough for him to escape.
"Hahaha! Die, you fake—"
In that instant, the Plague Rat saw it.
Eugene's robe flared open.
Through the gap, a pristine, luxurious priestly robe embroidered with golden threads gleamed.
But more importantly, that pitch-black sword that had severed the bigshots' necks was being drawn.
Sword aura? No. Smaller, fainter. But denser. Compressed to the extreme.
'...Blood?'
That was the last sight he beheld.
Slash!
What Eugene had learned at the academy wasn't just swordsmanship—precise mana control and Ash's techniques too.
Did he need a massive slash? Inefficient. Impossible before, but without even first-stage release on the sword, he could control this amount.
Eugene spun without hesitation, blocking the falling hand aiming for his head with his sword.
"Groooarrrgh!"
The now-masterless monster raged, hammering down wildly with its fists.
Its immense weight and power drove Eugene gradually into the ground.
He didn't budge, calculating the force and weight of each descending punch. Sword clashing fist created a strange rhythm.
The beast, thrilled by its overwhelming dominance, even matched the beat as it pounded away.
Boom! Boom! Rumble!
He could deflect them.
But could he strike hard enough to stagger the monster?
Impossible. Even at Eugene's strength—high knight level—the foe seemed stronger than the last one.
Deflect without immediate counter? He'd be the one taking hits.
'But severing it?'
If he focused all power at once. Possible.
Hummm!
Red light swirled around Eugene's sword. The two embedded gems glowed in their colors.
If the yellow one were there too, it'd look like a traffic light—simple, intense light enveloped the blade.
'Sever it in one go.'
Might strain him a bit.
Eugene's body was enveloped in the blessing.
"Hup."
It descends.
Eugene prepared to sever the hand. Snipping the Plague Rat's neck through the fingers was easy, but that tough skin and muscle? Piercing and slicing wouldn't be simple. And he couldn't hold the stance long!
'I can do...'
Ping.
In that moment, a signal from Eodukshini arrived.
Rooaaar!
The monster bellowed, thrusting its fist.
Ping.
Another signal, and Eugene sensed Eodukshini drawing near.
Instead of swinging, Eugene leaped back.
The fist targeting him sliced through air.
1 second.
'Dangerous.'
2, 3 seconds...
'Better just block...'
For a split second, doubt hit: Is this right?'
'Wait, is Eodukshini actually trying to kill me?'
The fist closed in on his face.
Then a familiar voice echoed.
"Stop!"
The fist froze mid-air.
"...Grrr?"
Spiderweb-like threads bound the fist tight.
Not just that—translucent strands restrained the entire monster. It thrashed to break free.
"...You guys were nearby, huh?"
Two familiar figures emerged from the dark.
Mosik and Jenella.
Mosik was drenched in unknown blood, Jenella no exception.
Hop!
Eodukshini bounced from Jenella's head to Eugene's shoulder.
"Where you been?"
-Nearby. That old guy led us here.
Good call sparing the geezer.
No clue where he was now, but probably close.
He had a Mana Oath on him, after all.
-Business done?
"Yeah."
Flutter—
He shed the blood-soaked robe.
No need to hide anymore.
All witnesses would vanish anyway.
He shook his hair, sword dangling. Jenella and Mosik naturally flanked him.
Reliable comrades. Shoulders squared, back straight.
"Alright."
He grinned at the monster.
"Let's get started."
Was it an illusion?
For that instant, the monster's eyes reflected not rage, but fear.
One hour earlier.
Step, step, step.
Mosik and Jenella followed an old man's lead somewhere.
They arrived in an iron cage.
The old man bowed politely.
"Please wait inside."
"...In here?"
"Yes. No worries. You're safe. He didn't permit your death."
No veto power.
He looked frail, but could snap both their necks in an instant.
Jenella entered meekly, feeling vibrations through the walls: thud, thud, thud.
"...Eugene's safe, right?"
"Of course."
Mosik stayed calm even here.
In meditation pose, he opened his eyes serenely.
"He's strong."
'...But it really doesn't suit you.'
His calm eased her. But...
A hulking frame that screamed "3 sets of 1000 reps" meditating? Total mismatch.
Jenella sighed deeply, sorting her thoughts.
Eugene's sudden change. She knew why. Guessed why no prior explanation.
But the tomboyish guy showing that side? Felt so off.
'Scary at first.'
Now's Eugene evoked that initial terror. Those darkly sunken red eyes through the mask.
'War God's Priest.'
In that moment, he wasn't a student—he was the War God's incarnation.
'...He's fine, right?'
As if soothing her worry, Eodukshini peeked from her pocket.
-No need to worry about Master. He's fine. No way that demon gets taken by small fry.
Eodukshini was Eugene's divine beast. A special case revived by him.
Thus, he shared some of Eugene's thoughts and emotions.
Joy. Mixed with slight worry. About showing this side to friends.
'...Kinda soft. Tsk. If only his personality wasn't such a mess.'
Jenella asked with a baffled look.
"He's a priest, but you call him a demon?"
-After all I've suffered from him!
"Karma."
-...
"Don't cry. Makes me feel bad."
-That's the point!
Slimes cry too, huh.
"...!"
Suddenly, vibrations eased. They held breath, focusing senses.
Eodukshini perked up. Mosik sensed unease, abandoning meditation, hand to his waist.
Jenella too. She felt the Oath—her Duty from her father—stirring.
"...Mosik! Open the door!"
"Got it."
Mosik slashed the cage open.
Sword ready for surprises, he scanned warily.
Jenella rushed out, gauging the monster's position.
"...Over there! Can you break the wall?"
"Yes!"
Bam!
Mosik kicked the wall to shards. What classes taught foot-mana infusion?
Questions later.
Crossing quickly, Jenella prepped magic. Her eyes beheld horror.
'...People dying.'
Death. Literal. Living things dying. Not just dying.
An automated system tortured them horrifically, abusing body and mind, extracting negative energy...
Was this hell?
-Ignore them.
Eodukshini covered her eyes. Mosik clenched jaw, guarding her rear.
Jenella didn't stop. Couldn't. Wasting time here meant more victims.
'Sorry.'
Hold on a bit longer.
'Eugene. Eugene can save them.'
He's a priest. If not... at least free them.
Rage boiled at the Arishion family, but she suppressed it.
Not yet.
"Can't break this. Find a door."
"Door here."
Bang bang boom!
Through the shattered door, they saw it.
A giant monster holding a headless corpse in one hand.
Eugene stood before it. Not just standing.
Boom! Boom! Rumble!
Pummeling down. He parried with swings, but wouldn't last.
'...Help him.'
Jenella readied her spell.
But doubt crept. Failure? No help, just harm?
Before then, Eodukshini looked up. Slime and human eyes met.
-Can you do it?
"...I can."
No. Must.
-I'll guide position. Movements too. Boosts success rate?
Eodukshini had tailed Eugene secretly, teaching her magic.
She knew how to make spells more effective, higher odds.
-That direction. Fist targeting Master—time it right.
She nodded; Eodukshini did something. Eugene paused, withdrew divine power from sword, leaped back.
Monster swung fist. Jenella glared, pouring will.
Lessons from father.
-Not because of duty. When you need and want it—our power grows.
-Huh?
-Not clear yet? You'll understand someday.
-Yeah!
"Stop!"
Normally, it shouldn't. Her 1-circle level was insufficient.
But the curse-blessing etched in her heart amplified her power, enabling the impossible.
...Halt!
It stopped!
"...You guys were nearby, huh?"
Eugene's gaze met theirs; Jenella nodded, rushing to him.
Eodukshini on shoulder, Eugene shed bloodied robe, raised sword.
Trusting solid comrades at his back.
Smirk!
A smile suiting his handsome face.
He said,
"Alright. Let's get started."
A new bond.
A fate that should've shattered beyond repair.
That fate hit its turning point, thanks to a boy sent by the gods.
Without him even knowing.
And right now was that starting point.