Chapter 98: Sepia Rivayden 8
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: Sepia Rivayden 8
Sepia used her spirit power to cool her burning face before walking over to Loki.
Loki was occupied, busy binding the unconscious Darun with thin threads.
She had so much she wanted to say, so much she needed to say, but for now, she asked the question that gnawed at her the most.
"How on earth do you get so strong, so quickly?"
The students of the Special Class had realized their own shortcomings after fighting Professor Elicia upon entering the Academy. Since then, they had all grown rapidly by correcting those flaws.
Sepia, too, had grown at a pace that made her feel lucky to have even made it into the Special Class.
But even among the elite students of the Special Class, there was one who grew at an abnormal, almost impossible rate: Loki.
Even Professor Elicia had expressed amazement at Loki’s speed of progression.
"……Eh?"
Loki let out a blank, dumbfounded sound, as if he hadn't expected that question at all.
"Hmm. In your opinion, Sepia, why do you think I get strong so fast?"
When Loki countered with a question instead of answering, Sepia gave it serious thought.
There were many ways to gain power.
Elixirs, magic tools, artifacts.
But if someone was growing that quickly and consistently, the answer seemed obvious.
"……Talent and effort?"
Sepia hesitated, her voice lacking confidence. Even as the words left her mouth, she wondered, Is that really it?
But it was the only thing that made sense.
"................"
Loki stood perfectly still for five seconds, as if frozen in place. Then—
"Hahahahahaha!"
He burst into a roar of laughter, slapping his thigh.
It wasn't the mocking sneer or the hollow chuckle he’d used when dealing with Darun’s subordinates; it was genuine, heartfelt laughter.
"Ahahaha! Hahaha!"
He was clutching his stomach now. From Sepia’s perspective—having pondered the question quite seriously—his reaction was incredibly obnoxious.
"You’re the one who asked! Stop laughing!" Sepia shouted, her face flushing with irritation.
But Loki couldn't stop.
"Pfft! Talent and effort! It was just so unexpected! I can't stop laughing. Whew!"
"You jerk. I was being serious."
"Ahaha, sorry. I just never imagined I’d hear those words from you, Sepia."
"Shut up! So, am I right or not? Stop laughing and just answer!"
"My talent is pathetic compared to yours. If your talent is a 700, mine is barely a 100."
"Liar," Sepia huffed, clearly sulking.
Loki was telling the absolute truth without a hint of a lie, but Sepia was convinced he was joking. How could someone with no talent grow that fast? No matter how she looked at it, he had to be lying.
"It’s not a lie; it’s the truth. The reason I can get strong this fast isn't talent—it's because I have a special method."
Loki toyed with the mask he was wearing.
While elixirs certainly played a large role in his rapid growth, the biggest factor was this mask.
The Clown’s Mask.
To put it simply, it was a broken item that allowed the wearer to enjoy a permanent 'multiplied experience points' event all by themselves.
The Mythic Grade Pocket Dimension, which could enhance other items, magic tools, and even elixirs, was something other kingdoms would kill for. But the Clown’s Mask was on a different level entirely.
If word of this mask got out, it could potentially start a war.
Talent is something decided at birth. This was the only item that could bridge that gap. If a genius could accomplish in six months what a normal person takes a year to do, this mask allowed a normal person to do it in six months as well.
However, the mask showed its true value when used by a genius rather than a dullard. With this mask, a genius could grow at an abnormal speed, surpassing everyone else.
Furthermore, unlike elixirs, its power never faded no matter how much it was used. If its abilities were ever revealed, everyone would surely try to get their hands on it.
That’s why I swore I’d never tell anyone.
But resolutions were made to be broken, and today was that day. Besides, Sepia wasn't the type to go around spreading rumors.
"I’ll tell you a secret of mine that I haven't told anyone else. Just for you, Sepia."
And honestly, his heart was racing. Even when he used it, he grew this fast. If Sepia used it, how much faster would she grow?
"A secret you haven't told anyone else..." Sepia muttered. "Just for me?"
She spoke up cautiously. "Is it... your face?"
"In this situation, wouldn't the 'normal' secret be the method of how I get strong?"
"..............."
Sepia lowered her head, her face turning crimson with embarrassment.
"Besides, there’s already someone I’ve shown my face to."
He showed his face to Johanna almost every day. Even this morning, he had taken off his mask at the training ground and rested his head on Johanna’s lap.
"................."
Even though he was wearing a mask, Sepia could sense by intuition that Loki was thinking of someone. And she felt like she knew exactly who it was.
"Is the person you already showed your face to... Lady Freya?"
"Oh! How did you know? Are you two close?"
"No! Not at all! Just hurry up and tell me the method for getting strong."
Loki noticed that Sepia was angry for some reason and pointed a finger at their surroundings.
"There are too many people around right now, so it’s hard to talk. I’ll tell you in a bit."
Hearing Loki’s words, Sepia looked around. She hadn't noticed while talking to him, but many students were staring and whispering.
"Pushover."
"Yes, Sepia."
"That secret you said you’d tell me... Does Lady Freya know about it too?"
She didn't even know why she was asking. It wasn't a question suited for the current situation. But she couldn't help herself.
"No, even Lady Johanna doesn't know. I had no intention of telling anyone in the first place, but I’m telling you, Sepia."
"Hmm. I see."
Just as the corners of Sepia’s mouth were beginning to curl up involuntarily—
"Untie this right now!"
Darun, who had been unconscious, woke up and started screaming. The smile on Sepia’s face vanished instantly.
"I can hear you perfectly fine even if you don't shout like that," Loki said, covering his ears with both hands. Anyone could see he was mocking Darun.
"Are you not afraid of the Rivayden family?!"
"Not particularly."
Pat.
"Because our Sepia decided she’s going to protect me."
Loki spoke naturally as he placed a hand on Sepia’s head.
".....When did I ever say that?" Sepia muttered in a small voice, though she didn't brush Loki’s hand away.
"Eh? Then you’re not going to protect me? Are you really going to abandon me like this, Sepia?"
"It’s not that, but........."
"Heh heh! So that’s how it is."
Darun’s laughter reached Sepia’s ears.
"I wondered why you were going so far for that bitch, but you two are in that kind of relationship?"
Still bound by the threads, Darun gave Loki a greasy smirk.
"Hey, Clown. You know that bitch was the only survivor from where she used to live, right? Keke!"
".................."
"Don't you think it’s strange? Everyone else living there died, but she survived all alone. How do you think she managed that?"
Sepia knew exactly what Darun was going to say. Harassment using the tragedy that had occurred in her village.
"It’s obvious she spread her legs for the attackers!"
She had heard it often from Darun before coming to the Academy. She thought she had grown used to it.
And yet. Even so. For some reason, her chest felt tight. Her hands began to tremble.
Why? Ah......
She realized the reason when she looked at Loki beside her. She had heard that kind of talk from Darun many times, but never in front of someone else. Especially not in front of someone she liked.
"How else would she have survived if she didn't spread her legs? Her, a spiritist? Keke! Don't you think 'whore' suits her better than 'spiritist'?"
More than the anger at him using the village tragedy like that... the shame of being humiliated in front of Loki hit her harder. At the very least, she didn't want to hear such bullshit in front of him.
Normally, she would have spat out an insult, but for some reason, she couldn't find her voice. It felt as if getting worked up would be like admitting his words were true.
She knew Loki wouldn't believe those words. She knew it in her head, but......... she couldn't open her mouth.
As she stood there, helpless—
"Are you done talking shit?"
A low voice, devoid of any emotion, rang out. If the voice hadn't come from exactly where Loki was standing, she wouldn't have believed it came from him.
Goosebumps erupted all over Darun’s body. However, unwilling to admit he was intimidated, Darun spoke up, trying his best to act unbothered.
"T-trying to sound tough with that voice... Guh!!"
Loki kicked the bound Darun square in the face.
"From now on, all you have to do is listen."
He spoke again in that same low voice. Suddenly, fog began to rise from beneath Loki’s feet. Sepia realized this was the same fog that had appeared at the end of Loki’s duel with Rophri.
"I’m going to tell you exactly what I’m going to do to you."
Loki spoke as he ground his heel into the head of Darun, who was hacking and spitting up blood.
"I’m going to beat the absolute shit out of you."
Darun realized why he’d gotten goosebumps earlier. Killing intent. A killing intent so thick he’d never felt anything like it in his life. His body began to shake uncontrollably.
"I’ll beat you even if you beg for your life. If you pass out, I’ll wake you up and beat you again. If you try to kill yourself, I’ll heal you somehow just so I can keep beating you."
Because of the viscous killing intent leaking out with every word, Darun even forgot to breathe as he trembled. He truly believed he might die here.
The growing fog completely swallowed Loki, Sepia, and Darun. Now, no one on the outside could see what was happening within.
Then, Loki leaned down and whispered into the ear of the shivering Darun, making sure Sepia couldn't hear.
"And finally, I’m going to show you a nightmare."
He didn't intend to use the same nightmare on this guy that he’d used on Mordor. This guy couldn't become a vegetable just yet. He needed to feel the sensation of having everything stripped away and falling into ruin while fully conscious.
"I’ll give you a little preview of the nightmare you’re about to experience."
This bastard had crossed a line that should never be crossed. So, it was fine for Loki to cross a line too.
"In a little while, you’re going to be raped by countless men."