Chapter 56: Nightmare 9
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 56: Nightmare 9
I stared down at Mordor, who lay dead with a hole through his head.
I slid the dagger I’d used to end his life back into my Pocket Dimension.
".................."
Shring.
Then, I drew my sword.
Whoosh.
I swung it at Mordor’s lifeless corpse.
Slash.
I swung again.
Slash.
And again.
Whoosh.
I swung.
I swung.
I kept swinging.
With every stroke of the blade, more wounds opened up on Mordor’s already dead body. The sound of steel rending flesh and whistling through the air echoed through the silent laboratory.
Slash.
Soon, Mordor was hacked to pieces, mangled beyond recognition.
"Haah... haah..."
I was out of breath from the sheer, frantic exertion.
I knew.
I knew that what I was doing right now was utterly meaningless.
Doing this wouldn't bring the children back to life.
Doing this wouldn't make Mordor feel any more pain.
"........................"
An inexplicable emotion dominated my mind.
It was my own feeling, yet I couldn't put a name to it.
My chest felt tight. Suffocatingly so.
It wasn't the emptiness one might feel after finally killing Mordor.
My revenge wasn't over yet.
I had made a promise while holding those dead children in my arms.
I would kill every last necromancer.
It wasn't the joy of having killed Mordor, either.
I had lost far too much to feel anything like joy.
Just then, a thought flashed through my mind.
‘If only I had been stronger back then... would the outcome have been different?’
Only then did I realize what this emotion was.
Regret.
I was drowning in it.
I regretted every single thing I had done in the past.
The way I had acted toward the children.
The things I had said to them.
I should have spoken more kindly. I should have given them better food.
"Haah..."
I took a deep breath to steady myself. Mordor was dead, but there was still work to be done.
Whoosh.
I set Mordor’s remains ablaze.
Among necromancers, there were those who could manipulate the corpses of their own kind. I stood there, watching in silence until every trace of Mordor’s body had turned to ash.
"Now then, shall we go look after our little lady?"
I walked over to the corner of the lab and picked up the unconscious girl.
Fortunately, it seemed I had arrived before Mordor could do anything to her; I couldn't see any visible injuries.
The girl’s eyelids flickered.
"Mister... Clown...?"
"Hmm, calling me 'Mister' even at a time like this is a bit hurtful. You can sleep a little longer."
I wasn't wearing my mask, but the child recognized me anyway.
"Mister, I had a bad dream. Mommy... she gave me to some strange people..."
I covered the girl’s eyes with my hand and spoke softly.
"It was just a nightmare. One that doesn't exist."
I said it, but I knew that once she fully woke up, she would realize it wasn't a dream, but a cruel reality.
"I see... Oppa, thank you for saving me."
With those words, the girl drifted back to sleep.
"Haha, no, thank you for staying safe."
I whispered the words once I was sure she was under.
I hoisted the sleeping child onto my back.
If I left her alone, she would either end up in an orphanage or be sent back to that woman.
Neither seemed like a good option to me.
First of all, I intended to deal with this child’s biological mother myself.
And as for the orphanage... perhaps because of my own bitter memories, I didn't like the idea.
"Well, I’ve already thought of a way."
I planned to take this child to the Academy.
Normally, bringing outsiders into the Academy was strictly forbidden.
"But the story changes if she’s a servant."
Since the Academy operated on a principle of equality, nobles were technically not allowed to bring their own personal servants.
However, there was a phrase that defined the Academy even more than equality: Meritocracy.
Those with exceptional talent or skill were permitted to bring one servant with them, provided they received permission from the Academy.
An Academy servant usually handled the chores assigned by their master.
I intended to take her as a servant, but I had no intention of actually making her work.
I just wanted to keep her by my side, feed her good food, and let her play.
Later on, even if she decided to leave my side, having experience working at the Academy would be a great help to her future.
Above all, no one would dare bully an Academy servant.
If someone was strong enough to bring a servant, the other students wouldn't dare lay a finger on their staff.
"But is it possible to bring a child as a servant?"
The rules didn't specifically mention an age limit for servants.
"If it doesn't seem like it'll work, I'll just ask Senior Joden."
He was the Student Council President; he’d figure something out.
If Joden failed, I was even prepared to ask the Emperor.
"I should ask for her name first thing when she wakes up."
.
.
.
.
Johanna waited for Loki outside the door.
‘It’s already been an hour.’
During that hour, she had agonized hundreds of times.
Should she go in? Should she keep waiting?
From behind the door, the screams of an unknown person had echoed continuously.
If she had heard Loki’s scream, she would have charged in instantly.
Creeeeak.
The door opened very slowly.
‘What if it’s not Loki?’
The brief moment the door took to open felt like an eternity to Johanna.
"Huh?"
The mask she was holding in her hand was suddenly snatched toward the door.
"Yoink."
A hand appeared and caught the mask.
"Phew..."
Only after seeing him did Johanna let out a sigh of relief. Loki emerged through the open door, the child on his back and his mask firmly back in place.
"Senior, were you waiting here the whole time? I can't believe you stayed in such a filthy place. Let’s get out of here right now!"
His title for her, his tone, and his voice were exactly the same as the usual Loki.
"I’ve successfully rescued the child! Fortunately, she doesn't seem to have any injuries, but I’m planning to take her to the Temple just in case."
But perhaps because she had glimpsed a different side of him, his current appearance felt like a mask in itself.
"Senior?"
Without a word, she hugged him.
"Senior, this is a bit sudden. I mean, I’m not complaining, but..."
She stroked his hair.
"Senior? My heart is beating so fast right now I think it might explode??"
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
She even stood on her tiptoes to keep stroking his head.
"Huh? Oh! The kid is fine. She’s just sleeping, probably because she was a bit shocked."
Loki’s white hair shifted back and forth under Johanna’s pale hand.
"Not the child. You, Loki."
"I’m not hurt at all. Since you’re worrying about me, Senior, even if I were in pain, I think I’d feel better instantly."
"Are you okay?"
Loki didn't understand what was happening.
She was suddenly hugging him, stroking his hair, and asking if he was okay.
But he could tell that Johanna was genuinely worried about him.
He should say he was fine.
That way, she wouldn't worry.
".................."
But the words wouldn't come out.
"It’s okay."
This time, "It’s okay" wasn't a question.
It was a word of comfort.
He thought he had already poured out all his emotions...
Loki leaned his head against Johanna’s shoulder.
"Senior... the aftermath is going to be a pain, so let’s worry about that later. Could you come somewhere with me right now?"
"Yes."
"Haha, you can't just say yes immediately like that. You don't even know where I’m asking you to go."
Loki’s voice was trembling, as if he were on the verge of tears.
"It’s okay. I’ll go anywhere with you."
"It’s a bit far, so we might have to skip all our morning classes."
"It’s okay."
Johanna continued to stroke Loki’s hair as he leaned on her shoulder.
The more she stroked, the deeper Loki buried his face.
"Senior, can I stay like this just a little longer?"
"Yes, you can stay as long as you want."
"Haha, that’s... that’s really nice."
"................"
For the second time since coming to this world, Loki cried.
The first time was when he wept while holding the dead children.
The second time was while leaning on Johanna’s shoulder.
Johanna never stopped stroking his hair.
.
.
.
Johanna followed Loki on a long carriage ride.
The child had been left at the Temple.
"This place is...?"
"A graveyard."
Where Loki had brought her, there were two graves.
The strange thing was that there were no names written on them.
"Can I ask whose graves these are?"
"They’re my younger brother and sister’s graves," Loki answered without hesitation.
Loki walked toward the graves.
As he walked, he took off his mask.
"Is this the first time I’m showing you my face? It’s been too long since I last came, hasn't it? A lot has happened."
Loki spoke while touching the tombstones.
"It took a little while, but I got revenge."
He placed the dagger and the bracelet on top of the graves.
"I’m finally giving you your presents. It’s a little—no, a lot—late, but I hope you’ll be happy to receive them."
There was no one to answer him.
Loki stood there for a long time, staring silently at the graves.
Johanna watched him from a short distance away.
"Senior, thank you for coming all this way with me," Loki said, turning around.
Because he had taken off his mask, Johanna could see his face clearly.
"......................"
Johanna didn't say a single word and kept her head bowed all the way back to the Academy.
.
.
.
"Johanna!"
Johanna’s friend, Jenna, ran over as soon as she spotted her.
"........................"
Johanna must have heard her, but she didn't respond.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was? It’s already lunchtime; why are you just getting back now?"
Jenna reached Johanna, placed a hand on her shoulder, and spoke in a voice mixed with worry and reproach.
"..............."
But for some reason, Johanna remained silent.
"Johanna!"
When Jenna called her name loudly, Johanna finally seemed to hear, flinching as she raised her head.
"Are you sick?" Jenna asked, looking at Johanna’s face.
Johanna’s face was incredibly flushed, and her eyes were hazy and unfocused, as if she were intoxicated.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, in Loki’s dormitory.
"Aaaaaaaagh!"
Loki was kicking his blankets, replaying the embarrassing things he had said to Johanna today in his head.