Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The Graduation Ceremony (6)
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Around the time Balkan finished his conversation with Professor Mangkostil.
With Diana's assistance, Ellie—now changed into her dress and her hair perfectly styled—boarded a carriage bound for the banquet hall.
"Hehe."
"...What's so funny?"
Ellie tilted her head at Diana, who was gazing at her from across the carriage with a faint smile.
"Oh, nothing. It's just... I never imagined we'd be riding together like this, not even a little while ago."
"...Ah..."
A few months earlier.
Before that fateful encounter with Balkan, an invisible wall had stood between Ellie and Diana.
They rarely spent time together, keeping a wide physical distance, which made any real communication impossible.
No, that was just an excuse.
Even if they'd been side by side, conversation wouldn't have flowed between them.
The rift stemmed from Diana's shortcomings as a mother and Ellie's teenage shortcomings colliding in the worst way.
But someone had stepped in to bridge those gaps between mother and daughter.
Balkan.
He'd created opportunities for them to talk and given them the courage to push forward and try.
Without him, the carriage ride right now would have been filled with nothing but awkward silence—no smiles at all.
"Just enjoy yourself tonight, purely and simply."
"...Okay."
Ellie wasn't sure if she could truly savor a social event like this without reservations, but she nodded with a smile anyway.
"Oh my! Ellie?! You look absolutely stunning tonight! Moments like this really show your elven blood—"
"They say clothes make the woman, but Arachne silk? Goodness, even I can't get my hands on that easily. To wear something so luxurious—"
The moment she stepped into the banquet hall, people recognized Ellie. Mostly teaching assistants and professors.
And their eyes quickly shifted to the woman beside her.
The assistants gave slightly puzzled looks, but the professors immediately clocked who Diana was.
Her appearance and aura had changed, but anyone of professorial caliber could instinctively sense the power beneath it.
"N-No way. Is that Diana Ordia?"
"Y-Your... figure has... changed quite a bit. Haha..."
"Good heavens. I'm Arpo, a labyrinth ecologist! Ellie's academic talent is nothing short of genius—"
"M-More importantly, we've been researching the strange omens in the labyrinth lately. Perhaps Lady Ordia could share your insights—"
They swarmed Diana like starved piranhas spotting prey.
Ellie was shoved aside amid the sudden flood of attention.
They ignored Ellie standing right next to her, eyes locked solely on Diana.
"Ellie, go on ahead and have some fun...!"
Diana waved her off as she got swept up in the wave of questions. Ellie gave a wry smile and nodded.
Her face smiled, but a bitter resentment bubbled up inside.
It was jealousy and inferiority complex by name.
These toxic emotions had relentlessly gnawed at Ellie's heart throughout her academy days.
"...But now... it's okay."
Still, things were different now.
–You got this, Ellie!!! You can do it!!!
That booming voice from the auditorium still echoed in her mind, refusing to fade.
Right after hearing it... honestly, even thinking back now made her want to die of embarrassment.
But his shout had pierced not just her ears but deep into her heart, undeniably changing her.
Come to think of it, he'd always been like that.
He'd recognized her as a mage in her own right, and this time, he'd given her that human encouragement: you can do it.
Was it thanks to him?
"Hoo."
Ellie let out a sigh, emptying the bubbling negativity from her heart.
Her vision cleared instantly.
She took a glass of wine from a passing server and moistened her red lips as she scanned the banquet hall.
To resolve these feelings, she'd have to meet him.
The man who'd firmly planted himself in her heart before she knew it.
"Y'know, Ellie’s a half-elf, right? Wonder if there's an elf dude under that helmet."
"Dunno about that far..."
"But those muscles... No elf body could pull that off, right?"
"Yeah... Honestly, just looking at him made my womb throb..."
Very few knew Ellie was adopted.
Ellie hurried past the group spouting wild speculation, searching for Balkan.
Hearing their talk about her womb throbbing at the sight of him only quickened her steps.
"...Uncle. Where is he?"
But even with her perked elven ears scanning every corner of the hall, Balkan was nowhere to be seen.
Dejected, Ellie headed to the balcony to soothe her mind.
"Hoo..."
Each sip of wine eased her throat and brought a hazy buzz.
She hated to admit it, but Ellie was weak to alcohol.
Staring blankly at the night sky as it blackened the world, wine in hand, calmed her heart.
That's when it happened.
"Sis. Something's off. I haven't seen any clan members in the banquet hall since earlier."
Unfamiliar footsteps approached, accompanied by an ominous voice that didn't belong on the balcony.
"What're you talking about?"
"Just what I said. We had at least one per floor in the hall... Right now, excluding us, there's no one."
"They caught on to the plan?"
"Looks like intel leaked somewhere. Gelsia's got her parents in our grip, so not her. Probably one of the grunts got sloppy, someone snuck in and snitched. If this keeps up..."
"Son of a bitch!"
Thud!
"Eek!"
Ellie flinched at the violent wall slam and curled up, holding her breath.
The buzz vanished in an instant.
"......"
"......"
The voices from the adjacent balcony fell silent abruptly.
Only heavy quiet lingered—until.
Clack.
Footsteps echoed.
Ellie's sensitive elven ears picked it up clearly.
Steps brimming with malice.
A nameless anxiety gripped her. Head bowed, she instinctively began gathering mana in her palm.
But there wasn't enough time.
Clack.
Her gaze on the floor caught black dress shoes.
"Looks like we had a little rat hiding."
She tried to unleash her half-formed spell anyway.
Whumm–
But it scattered upon touching the pitch-black [orb] drawn by the woman in the suit.
Ellie couldn't believe her eyes. What was that thing?
It felt just like the bizarre magic resistance she'd sensed facing a darkness-shrouded mutant minotaur in the labyrinth.
Impossible to pierce without extreme focus.
"What the— Ngh...!"
Ellie was immediately grabbed by the throat and hoisted up.
"Koff, kehk..."
Ellie, who'd poured all her effort into studies over strength, couldn't even resist.
That grip tightened, and her consciousness began to fade.
"Red hair... red eyes... elf ears... No way, the top student, Ellie Ordia?"
Flanking the suited Vesta were two more women.
Dray and Karino—Blaz clan executives, the latter an orc-kin with the moniker "Iron Chain."
"S-Sis. You okay with this? That's an Ordia. One wrong move and..."
"Kekeke! As expected of you, Sis! Capturing an Ordia daughter? Unreal!"
Vesta pondered amid Dray and Karino's clashing reactions.
Over the past few years, she'd traded with them... the Demon Worshippers, delivering over a hundred slaves.
Missing the slave delivery deadline meant breaching contract—and total annihilation.
If I nail this tribute, the deal with the Demon Worshippers ends. Then this [orb] is fully mine.
This [orb] was the prize after immense risk and hardship.
It let her wield traces of 'demonic qi.'
Crossing the academy meant all her built status would crumble, but she didn't care.
If I secure this orb completely, I can soar higher, more brilliantly than before.
Ditching labyrinth city life, heading to Eden on the 15th floor—new beginnings amid every sort of human flotsam—with a few executives wasn't a bad choice.
Vesta's gaze turned to Ellie.
Offer her up, and not only do I fulfill the tribute—I might score an extra orb. One far more precious than this borrowed one!
Even hundreds of regular slaves, or academy students, wouldn't match Ellie's single value.
The risk was huge, but the reward huger.
To climb high, you needed a gambler's spirit.
No reason not to.
"Don't resist. Unless you want it to hurt."
Crunch!
Vesta grinned wickedly, squeezing harder.
"Ghk! Koff!"
Tears streamed from Ellie's eyes, smearing her pretty makeup.
She'd never had her throat crushed like this. The pain was excruciating, her body going limp.
Her consciousness blurred.
Each time she came to, her view had shifted.
Sometimes high in the sky, sometimes on the street—now atop a carriage.
"Ughh—"
She couldn't speak properly. Ropes bound her tight at some point.
Facing mortal danger for the first time, Ellie felt terror but forced her mind and body to calm.
She tried gathering mana discreetly, but Dray—stuck right beside her—kept breaking her focus.
"Stay still, bitch!"
Slap!
A stinging pain whipped her head aside.
Her final struggle failed.
Ellie stared blankly at the dark sky from the open-topped cargo hold.
A dream?
Just moments ago, she'd been wrapped in happiness—now plunged into hell.
The dress her adoptive mother bought for tonight was filthy with dirt and dust. Makeup and hair a total mess.
But this wasn't the end. Just the beginning.
...Worst nightmare.
If only it were a dream.
A horrible one from dozing off drunk on wine, safe in a soft bed.
"Gelsia! What's the holdup?! Move out already!"
"N-Not yet! Th-There's a serious issue with the carriage!"
"You fucking bitch! It's fine as hell—what defect?!"
"J-Just a bit more time..."
"No time to dawdle! They'll notice and chase us! We gotta bolt now! Don't wanna see your daddy ever again?"
"...You shit! There's limits to holding parents over me! Fire b— Gahk!"
Thwack! Pow!
Rough arguing and punches from the curtained driver's seat beyond the cargo hold snapped her back to reality.
Rumble–
After the brief commotion, the carriage lurched into slow motion.
"Don't look so pathetic. I've seen tons of slaves—first they look dead inside, but after a few years, they all adapt."
Dray stomped Ellie's stomach with her heel, grinning like a low-rent teacher giving a sleazy lesson.
Those words brought tears surging to Ellie's eyes.
Her future reduced to slave life?
No way she'd accept that. She had to fight.
Inflate all her mana, resist with everything—but...
For some reason, the tears wouldn't stop.
Faces of people she yearned for flickered in her mind.
Her real parents, lost during a labyrinth expedition.
Her adoptive mother, who'd cared for her like blood despite their teenage fights.
And.
The one who'd recognized her as a true mage.
Who'd said she was needed, urged her to be brave...
"Uncle Balkan..."
"Lady Dray—!"
A desperate voice called from behind the carriage.
Someone was sprinting after the rolling cart.
"That voice... Valteri?! Weren't you caught?!"
"No! I spotted Ellie Ordia getting kidnapped by chance! Ran full speed to catch up."
"Hah. Fuckin' relief. Better with one more fighter, just in case. But what's with the mask?"
Dray welcomed the familiar-faced woman called Valteri aboard.
They clearly knew each other from way back.
As Valteri grabbed Dray's outstretched hand and climbed up, the faint hope in Ellie's eyes withered.
More people. Escape odds plummeting.
In her despair, Ellie blankly stared at this Valteri.
"But when I helped haul you up earlier, your arms... what happened? Always this buff? The height maybe? You weigh a ton too. Tch. Can't tell with that disguise artifact."
"Haha. That so?"
"Yeah. Anyway, report to Sis first... Hold up."
Dray paused mid-breath, eyeing the axe at Valteri's waist.
"Where'd you get that axe? You never carried weapons like that."
"Oh, this?"
Valteri gripped the handle naturally and drew it slowly.
Stepping forward smoothly with the carriage's sway.
Like demonstrating swordsmanship, the axe swung sharply.
Incredibly fluid motion.
Slice–
Dray's head tumbled.
"Grabbed an axe from the garden just in case. Perfect for trash like you, no?"
"Uh...?"
Ellie let out a dumb groan, staring blankly at the surreal scene unfolding before her.
A person's head had fallen.
In this unreal kidnapping, an even more unreal event froze her thoughts.
Her eyes naturally turned to the perpetrator.
He approached her casually and severed her bonds with the axe blade.
"......"
Ellie was too stunned to speak.
Seeing her tear-smeared makeup mixed with bewilderment, he gave a wry smile and unpinned the brooch from his chest.
His female form dissipated like mist, revealing the massive, muscled body Ellie thought of every night.
A unfamiliar lower face emerged beneath the mask.
She'd always pictured scars and a bearded jaw from calling him "Uncle" daily.
It was neater, unfamiliar... but instantly recognizable.
"Came to save you, Ellie."
That familiar voice burrowed straight into her heart.