Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Training with Azazel and Kalli
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Azazel's strange behavior continued.
He displayed natural behaviors that would make anyone think he was human, and he was unusually gentle with the few humans who showed interest in him.
So I had to act.
“Azazel.”
“What?”
He turned his head, replying nonchalantly. I casually glanced around.
A world swarming with humans. The sight was as uncomfortable as it was displeasing. Though the agitation that once threatened to consume me had long since vanished, I still wanted to confirm it with my own eyes.
“I’d like to go somewhere less crowded for a moment.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
I stated my piece and started walking.
I passed through the dense crowds, heading toward a secluded alley in a corner of the city, a place where the light grew dimmer and dimmer.
*Click.*
Aware of the sound of Azazel’s shoes following behind me, I walked on. The light gradually faded until we were in a dark alley, heading for a place where those who dwell in the shadows might linger…
How long did we walk?
My senses began to pick up on a few humans radiating a gloomy aura.
*Thud.*
I stopped in my tracks and slowly turned around.
“Is this where you wanted to bring me?”
“Yes. This is it.”
Azazel asked casually, showing no sign of agitation. While I expected as much, I still felt the need to see for myself.
‘Because I’m in a foul mood right now.’
Without this, the strange emotion stirring in my heart didn't seem like it would subside.
The contradiction of Azazel, who despised humans more than anyone yet acted more human than any other.
That contradiction kept unsettling my mind. And slowly, the humans began to reveal themselves.
“Well, well… what brings such pretty faces to a place like this?”
“And the lady’s got a great… figure.”
Compared to the humans I’d seen in the light, their clothes were shabby, and I could feel the faint, disgusting stench unique to humans mixed with demonic energy.
“Sekhmet. What do you want from me?”
Seeing Azazel ask so calmly, I felt no need to give a specific answer.
"I just wanted you to show me your true self."
I uttered the ambiguous words to both the five men blocking the alley and to Azazel, then slowly stepped aside.
*Thud.*
I leaned against a nearby wall, watching Azazel and the men as if I were a mere bystander.
There were no other human eyes here. These were humans whose deaths would garner no attention whatsoever. Soon, I would see the sight I desired.
“Whoa… this guy looks pretty scared.”
“Nah, that’s not it. This fella’s got ‘special tastes.’ You know, like how some nobles have peculiar kinks.”
I lightly suppressed the rising killing intent I felt as I watched the men approach with their vulgar attitudes. What I wanted to see wasn’t the death of some insignificant humans.
It was Azazel’s ‘attitude’ toward them.
“Yeah. Since this guy set the stage for us, we should enjoy it properly.”
“Look at the woman, not a single change in her expression. Heh heh heh… they came here all prepared, didn’t they?”
“Heh heh… let’s blow off some steam for the first time in a while.”
I kept my eyes on Azazel, even as I watched the humans spout their nonsense.
“...This seems unnecessary.”
Perhaps he had finally understood the meaning of my actions. He furrowed his brow slightly, but I paid it no mind.
As I watched Azazel being slowly surrounded by the men, I wanted to wash away the disgust nesting in my heart.
I wanted to see Azazel’s true nature, which I hadn’t seen for days—a nature closer to that of an apostle.
“Well then, time to dig in~”
“Hey, asshole! Wait your turn, you son of a…”
In the next instant, it was all over for the men who had tried to lay a hand on Azazel.
There was no sound, not even a manifestation of power.
*Shimmer—!*
The space where Azazel stood warped with a refraction of light, and the men froze.
“Uh…?”
“What… is this?”
Their final death throes echoed emptily through the alley for a brief moment.
*Thud, thud!*
The chunks of flesh, severed from their lower bodies, splattered across the already filthy ground, making it even fouler. Even as fountains of blood erupted from the lower halves still standing on the ground, I calmly blocked the spray with my energy and stared at the motionless Azazel.
Now, his face was completely devoid of its human-like expression.
Seeing that look, the face of an apostle, I was finally satisfied.
“……”
The crimson glow in his eyes seemed to signify his true nature.
*Swish.*
His gaze turned to me, and a genuine smile escaped my lips.
“There’s no grand reason. I just felt like I needed to see that side of you.”
“You couldn’t believe I was acting like a human?”
“Of course not. I was just in a foul mood. I felt like the only way to get rid of it was to see you kill humans with your own hands.”
For the past few days, Azazel had consistently shown a ‘human-like’ side. Watching it continuously, I found that today, I just couldn’t stomach the revulsion any longer.
The nausea kept rising from within, so I just wanted to see the side of him that was closer to an apostle.
“Is that so? Then fine. But if I have to keep putting on this pathetic show… it’s going to get very tedious for me.”
“I won’t ask for a few days, so don’t worry.”
I spoke calmly and flicked my fingers.
*Snap!*
The energy that spread out instantly consumed the space.
My inner world influenced the area within a certain radius, engulfing it in crimson flames. The flames of hellfire that slowly rose began to burn the very space itself, but only for a moment, incinerating only the human flesh and blood.
*Fwoosh—.*
I watched the white ashes scatter on a light breeze and gave a quiet nod.
“Let’s go.”
Even if these dregs of society wouldn’t be missed by most, I had no intention of leaving even the smallest trace or opening.
“Sekhmet, next time, I’ll have a request of my own. Just so you know.”
“Fine, do what you want.”
I accepted nonchalantly, a small spark of curiosity igniting within me.
‘Why does Azazel hate humans so much?’
Not all apostles burned with hatred for humanity. Some, despite being apostles, chose to live within their domains.
I glanced sideways at him, but my curiosity quickly faded.
Seeing him once again putting on his human-like facade… I had no desire to get any closer than necessary.
‘As soon as I kill the key humans, I’m going back.’
***
There are times when your heart gets the better of you.
When the excitement refuses to die down, and your body follows your heart’s frantic pace, you tend to do things you normally wouldn’t.
…That was Cheon-seong right now.
*Click.*
As he entered Kalli’s private training room, Cheon-seong felt as if his body was filled with an inescapable heat.
“……”
Even as I focused on my lectures all day, my body remained feverish.
I was keenly aware of what it felt like to have a fire in my veins.
‘It’s hard to hold back.’
The desire to complete the skill that was 98% finished was one thing, but it was coupled with a strange need for acknowledgment—a desire to show Kalli how much stronger I’d become after reaching Spearmanship Level 5.
So, as soon as my classes were over, I had asked Kalli directly.
I asked if she could spend a little more time with me today. She had been surprised but readily agreed, which was why we were here now.
*Thud.*
Kalli placed her teaching materials on a nearby surface and turned to me with a faint smile.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. You seem to be in a real hurry today. Are you that happy about reaching Trait Level 5?”
“Honestly… I’m really excited. I want to show you my strength, Instructor Kalli… and I’m just eager to complete my unfinished skill.”
I answered with complete honesty, a small laugh escaping me.
As I picked up a spear from the rack in the training room, my heart was already swelling with anticipation.
“I see… alright. But don’t be in such a rush. I’ll get ready right now.”
“Thank you so much, Instructor.”
My heart fluttered even more as I watched Kalli take out Ellimiang’s Consideration from a nearby cabinet.
‘How far will my spear reach against Kalli?’
I knew I was still woefully inadequate compared to her. Even so, I wanted to properly unleash my power.
I was certain that even if I went all out and gave it everything I had, Kalli would handle it with ease.
*Click.*
Kalli approached me to put on the earrings for me, as she always did. I held my breath and allowed her to come close.
*Click.*
I expected her to pull away after the familiar sound, but…
“……”
Strangely, after fastening one earring, Kalli just stared at me intently.
*Click.*
As I met her gaze, she attached the other earring but still didn’t move away.
Just as I was finding it a bit odd, she spoke.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I heard you met Esia yesterday?”
Her words were… incredibly strange.
“…Yes. Instructor Esia and I had dinner together at the cadet cafeteria.”
As I calmly confirmed it, Kalli’s eyes narrowed slightly.
It was an expression that seemed to say she was displeased, but it lasted only a moment.
Shaking her head, Kalli slowly pulled away.
*Click.*
Her behavior just seemed a bit off to me.
‘Is that something to be upset about?’
I thought Esia had said she and Kalli were very close.
“It’s just… I was feeling a bit off. Cadet Han Cheon-seong, did Esia get too close or ask you any strange questions?”
“No. I just thought she was a good instructor. Is something wrong?”
"No. It's nothing like that."
Despite my words, Kalli, still frowning, clearly looked upset.
Even thinking back on Esia, she had been very open, but it wasn't unpleasant or anything of the sort.
If anything, I was grateful for her kindness, as she was a bright and rather beautiful instructor who had approached me.
“You thought Esia was a good instructor…”
"Instructor Kalli. Did I say something wrong?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just… I was worried Esia might have done something to you.”
Kalli, shaking her head awkwardly, was clearly displeased.
At least, that’s how it seemed to me.
‘Are she and Instructor Esia not actually close?’
That thought naturally crossed my mind. Maybe Instructor Esia and Instructor Kalli didn’t get along…
Kalli put some distance between us and prepared to spar, so I gathered my thoughts as well.
‘The full power of Level 5 Spearmanship is…’
As I was naturally thinking about how to begin the exchange, Kalli suddenly lowered her sword.
"Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Before we begin… can I ask you just one thing?"
"Ask me anything. If I can answer, I will."
I replied lightheartedly.
"What exactly… does 'having a kind heart' mean?"
"That's…"
I started to answer blankly, but I had to pause.
'Does 'having a kind heart' have some other meaning I don't know about?'