Chapter 147: Aftermath
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 147: Aftermath
Loki sat beside the unconscious Sepia, finally taking a moment to breathe.
He drifted off into space for a while, occasionally stroking Sepia’s pink hair or playfully tugging at her cheeks. Her hair and skin were a bit dusty from the life-or-death struggle with Betzdo, but they still felt incredibly soft to the touch.
—What do you think you’re doing?! Let go! I’m going to do the same to you, just you wait! Get over here!
Sepia’s voice echoed in his mind. If she were awake, she’d probably be shouting at him to stop, even if she never actually moved to swat his hand away.
‘That reaction of hers is honestly the best.’
Unfortunately, he couldn't expect that kind of entertainment from her right now. Sepia was out cold, lost in a deep, heavy sleep.
“She really wouldn’t notice even if someone carried her off.”
She had been completely stunned after seeing his face, stammering and stuttering for a bit before finally drifting off after a short, exhausted conversation. Since he had already sent Joden ahead before coming to find her, Loki was left with nothing but his own thoughts for company.
—You, you, you! What is with that face?!
—What’s wrong with my face?
—Why on earth have you been hiding it until now? Is it because you’ll get cursed if you show your bare face to just anyone?
—No? I just wear the makeup because it’s fun. Where in the world would a curse like that even exist? Miss Sepia, you’ve been reading too many fairy tales.
—.......
He recalled the conversation they’d had right before she succumbed to exhaustion.
‘Is it really that shocking?’
Tsk, tsk. This was why people needed to be more trusting. He had gone around telling everyone he was handsome as naturally as he breathed, yet not a single soul had believed him.
Every time he pulled her cheek, Sepia only let out a faint, unconscious scowl; there was no sign of her waking up. Loki wasn't doing it to rouse her, though—he just liked the way they felt.
‘How long has it been since she’s slept this peacefully?’
Revenge is a madness that consumes the soul. Loki knew this better than anyone, having thought of nothing but his own vengeance for six long months. For Sepia, that weight had been carried for ten years. How had she endured such a grueling stretch of time?
Of course, getting her revenge wouldn't bring her family back to life. Still, he hoped she could finally rest easy now. He knew it was impossible to truly forget one's family, but he hoped that, at least for a moment, she could set the burden down and just sleep.
‘By the way, we were supposed to have tea afterward. I guess that’s off the table for now.’
It was a shame, but today wasn't their only chance. There would be plenty of time for tea in the future.
“Unfortunately, we’ll have to save that tea for later.”
“Ugh... that... no way...”
“Pfft!”
Whether she had heard him in her dreams or was just mumbling, Sepia’s response made Loki chuckle. He poked her cheek again.
“What do you mean, ‘no way’? You’re the one sleeping without a care in the world while I’m stuck on guard duty.”
It would be better for her to be tucked into a proper bed in the Academy dormitories rather than lying on the hard ground, but he didn't have the heart to wake her while she looked so peaceful. Fortunately, they weren't far from the Imperial Capital where the Academy was located. He decided they would head back together once she woke up on her own.
As Loki sat there guarding the sleeping girl, he reached into his Pocket Dimension to pull out a book to kill the time. Suddenly, he sprang up, drawing his cane and scanning the surroundings with narrowed eyes.
He had sensed a presence.
‘Who is it?’
The leg he’d injured while fighting Katsudo was a nuisance, but it wasn't enough to keep him from a fight.
Stay calm. If it’s just a few of the Necromancer’s lackeys, I can handle them even in this state.
‘But what if it’s another high-ranking Necromancer?’
If it were the 3rd, 2nd, or 1st rank, there would be no hope. If it were any of the others, he could at least attempt a desperate escape. The problem was Sepia. Even if he woke her now, escaping in her current condition was a pipe dream.
‘Was sending Joden away a mistake?’
As Loki’s mind raced through various grim scenarios, a voice drifted from the shadows. He let out a long, hollow sigh and lowered his cane.
“Good reaction speed.”
A familiar voice. Familiar ash-gray hair. The dragon who spent every morning at the Academy beating the Special Class students into the dirt.
It was Professor Elicia.
“Haaa... Scaring people is usually my specialty, but you actually got me that time.”
Loki’s tension evaporated instantly, and he plopped back down onto the grass.
“When exactly did you get here?”
“I saw everything.”
Elicia walked over and sat down beside him.
“Then were you here since Sepia started fighting Betzdo?”
“No, I was here since you were planting bombs in the ground.”
Loki stared at her, speechless.
“Then you’ve been here since yesterday?”
To be honest, he wasn't even curious about how she knew he was here. Either the Emperor had told her, or she had tracked him down herself. Regardless, Professor Elicia had been lurking since yesterday.
Wait. That meant...
“Doesn’t that mean you saw my fight with Katsudo from the very beginning too?”
“Naturally. Seeing that you couldn't pierce his shield, you used the shield itself to crush him to death. It was a brilliant bit of tactical judgment—one even I hadn't considered.”
“Ahaha. Thanks for the compli— No, wait! Professor!”
“What is it? Is there a problem?”
There were plenty of problems. The fact that Professor Elicia didn't interfere in Sepia’s fight? He was actually grateful for that. If Elicia had stepped in, the battle would have ended in seconds, but Sepia’s revenge would have been hollow. She needed to do it herself.
‘But that doesn't apply to me, does it?’
Sepia’s fight was about closure, but Loki had only fought Katsudo because the man was a nuisance.
“If you were watching from the start, you could have helped me out a little! I was struggling over here!”
“You seem like the type to get caught up in these sorts of things often anyway,” Elicia replied coolly. “Just consider it valuable experience.”
Loki was at a loss for words. He managed to squeeze a retort out through his disbelief.
“Who on earth considers fighting a high-ranking Necromancer ‘experience’?”
Of course, he knew she was right. One way or another, he had to eliminate the Necromancers to ensure his own survival.
‘Sigh. Since I’m the one who’s kind and handsome, I suppose I should be the one to be patient.’
Besides, he wasn't the type to hold a grudge against his allies. Professor Elicia was one lucky dragon to have a student as magnanimous as him.
“Loki.”
“Yes, Professor? The one who heartlessly watched her student fight for his life?”
“Even though this is my first time acting as a professor... I have lived much longer than you.”
“You’ve lived a long time, sure, you’re a dragon. And since you’re such a strong and ancient dragon, you could’ve saved me a lot of trouble earlier.”
“You’ve been adding a lot of unnecessary remarks lately.”
“Ahaha, it’s a misunderstanding. Professor, you know how much I respect you.”
Loki immediately tucked his tail the moment he saw Elicia’s fist tighten.
“Loki, I don’t particularly care if you’re a busybody. But if you keep meddling in everything like this, you won’t live a long life.”
Loki looked at Elicia. “But I survived, didn't I?”
Elicia looked back at him, her fist still raised.
“Hey, it’s a joke! A joke! Honestly, this serious atmosphere doesn't suit me at all.”
Normally, he would have brushed it off with a laugh, but knowing Elicia was being sincere, Loki continued with a touch of gravity.
“Professor, honestly, I don’t know if my meddling will lead to my death. But I like it this way.”
Loki looked at Sepia, who was still sound asleep. In the original game, she died while trying to take revenge on Betzdo. He had found a way to save her by finding and killing Betzdo first, but her expression had remained dark until the end of the game. Perhaps it was because the revenge she had pursued for over ten years was over without her having done anything herself.
But things were different now. She would surely cry when she was sad, but there would be many more moments when she would smile.
“Besides, if everyone lived without ever meddling in others' business, it might be easy... but life would be far too bleak.”
Loki and Elicia talked as they waited for Sepia to wake. To be precise, it was mostly Loki rambling and Elicia giving short, clipped answers. Sepia seemed to be in a truly deep sleep, as she showed no sign of waking even with them talking right next to her.
‘Still, since Professor Elicia is here, won’t the trip back be a lot more comfortable?’
As he was organizing the things he had to do once he got back to the dormitory, a horrifying thought crossed his mind.
‘After all this, I have to go to the Academy tomorrow?’
Honestly, it sounded like too much of a hassle. Then again, no sane person would boldly ask a professor if they could skip school.
“Professor, do I absolutely have to go to the Academy tomorrow?”
“...........”
Professor Elicia remained silent. Was she angry because he asked something so obvious? In this situation, pivoting to a joke was the best move.
“I’m sure Miss Sepia will be exhausted from catching the Necromancer. And me? My heart is full of wounds because I was so scared fighting those skeletons.”
“You don’t look scared at all...”
“I may look healthy, kind, cool, handsome, and strong, but you have no idea how fragile my heart truly is!”
Hearing Loki’s nonsense, Elicia let out a long, weary sigh. Uh oh. Was she actually reaching her limit?
“Haaa....... Fine. Rest easy tomorrow.”
“Yahoo!”
Contrary to his outward celebration, Loki was internally bewildered. Wait, she agreed more easily than I thought? Knowing Professor Elicia’s strict personality, he had expected a flat-out refusal or a punch to the head. He had just thrown the request out there, and it actually worked.
Of course, bewilderment was one thing, but he was genuinely happy.
‘Good luck, you Special Class punks. This big brother is just going to train with Johanna in the morning and then go straight back to his room to sleep.’
It was only after he finally arrived at the dormitory and collapsed onto his bed that the realization hit him.
Tomorrow was the weekend. There was no Academy to begin with.