Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: 25. Wasteland Festival
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"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
In the forest path, silent except for Hye-ra's sobbing cries.
His words sliced through the quiet like a dissonant chord.
It wasn't a loud voice, but the sharp edge in it made her shoulders twitch involuntarily.
"...Huh?"
That familiar yet somehow subdued voice.
She wondered for a moment if she'd misheard.
Because there shouldn't be anyone else here besides them.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have dragged this commoner girl to such a remote spot.
Her face twisted in a mix of irritation and bewilderment as it slowly turned toward the source of the voice.
There, someone was approaching closer into view.
"...You."
Her eyes, filled with contempt and annoyance, flickered with sudden dismay.
Hands shoved in his pockets, leaning casually as he looked down at her with that gaze.
His arrogant stance somehow mirrored her own, stirring an odd unease.
"Young Master Evan...?"
"I asked what you're doing."
His tone was calm, devoid of emotion.
But the chill beneath it wrapped around Rosalyn's heart like a vise.
Crunch.
"..."
It wasn't intentional.
She hadn't even noticed herself doing it—pure instinct.
She stepped back from Evan without thinking and drew in a sharp breath.
"Wh-what does it matter to you, Young Master? This is just a personal matter between her and me..."
Biting her lip hard, she forced a nonchalant air to hide her fear, lifting her chin defiantly.
She raised her voice even bolder, like prey desperately bluffing before a predator.
"A personal matter?"
Evan snorted shortly, as if he'd heard something utterly ridiculous.
Humiliation burned across Rosalyn's face.
"...Even if you are from House Dreadnote, you can't interfere in this."
"Why not?"
His cold laugh, accompanied by a scoff, evoked flames of ice.
Rosalyn pointed at Hye-ra with the haughty chin tilt unique to nobles, feigning composure.
"She's a commoner. She was rude to a noble like me, so I can punish her accordingly."
"Punish her."
Evan rolled the word around in his mouth, chewing it thoughtfully.
His expression was like someone tasting foul food.
"You get it, right? So mind your own business and be on your way..."
Relief washed through her inwardly, as if to say see?
She jabbed a finger at him mid-sentence.
"Sure. You're right. It's one of a noble's privileges, after all."
Thud.
Toward her, whose pupils wavered.
His footsteps rumbled like thunder in her ears.
Before her words could finish, he stepped even closer.
"You can punish a commoner for rudeness. But..."
He paused, then locked eyes with her coldly.
"What happens when a lower noble is rude to a higher one?"
"...What? What are you...?"
Rosalyn's eyes shook.
She couldn't comprehend what this man was saying.
"Don't know? I'll tell you."
Evan nodded toward Hye-ra, trembling on the ground.
"This girl's my guest right now."
...Huh?
A crack formed on her face, disbelief etched clear.
What nonsense was this? That dimwit clinging to Evan Dreadnote...?
"...I have no idea what you mean."
"Simple. She's one of mine. You touched my people."
"And even if she's a commoner, for a viscount's daughter like you to lay hands on my guest?"
As his voice grew heavier, a bead of cold sweat trickled down Rosalyn's face.
How had things spiraled like this? She couldn't fathom it.
Just punishing one insolent commoner girl.
Why had that damned Evan Dreadnote gotten involved?
And since when had this wench latched onto him?
"I'll take this as an insult to me and House Dreadnote, right?"
Th-that...!
Her face paled at his words.
This was bad. Very bad.
That filthy bastard...!
House Dreadnote guarded the kingdom's borders—a prestigious house.
Viscount Belluga couldn't even compare.
Even if Evan was disgraced, his bloodline was undeniable.
Once he'd openly claimed her as his, Rosalyn had no grounds to touch her.
"Kgh..."
Grind.
She knew she should back off.
Her mind screamed it.
But she couldn't accept it.
She wouldn't.
This man before her had only entered S-Class using his family's influence.
Nothing more.
That's what she'd convinced herself.
"If you get it, then scram. And don't touch her again."
Glancing sidelong at her clenched fists, white-knuckled.
Evan smirked and approached Hye-ra, still dazed on the ground.
He knelt on one knee and extended a hand to her trembling form.
"You okay?"
"Hic... E-Evan...!"
Tears streaming, she looked up at me, grasping my hand with shaky fingers and struggling to her feet.
Even through her blurred vision, sans glasses, relief shone toward me.
It must've been terrifying.
In the original story, until Iris intervened.
Hye-ra had endured Rosalyn's torment relentlessly.
This much meddling should be fine.
"No need to be scared anymore. You're safe."
Watching this, Rosalyn's face twisted in humiliation.
She had to hold back.
No matter how furious, she knew she shouldn't say it.
But her shredded pride wouldn't allow it.
"Hah! Pathetic sight. Protecting a commoner wench—shows your true colors, after all."
Unable to restrain herself, venom spilled out like a burst dam—all the thoughts she'd kept inside.
"Rumors were true; you're low-class. House Dreadnote must be so ashamed of you..."
"Hye-ra."
"Hic... Y-yes?"
"Go on ahead. I need a word with Miss Rosalyn."
"B-but..."
"Now."
At my firm tone, she glanced tearfully between Evan and Rosalyn, then nodded faintly and limped away into the forest.
I watched her retreating figure briefly before turning slowly.
Rosalyn was still fuming, nostrils flaring.
But when her gaze met Evan's eyes.
A flicker of something ominous seemed to stir—an illusion, perhaps.
Only then did she realize she'd lost her reason.
"Wh-what? What conversation? I have nothing to say—move!"
Regaining her wits belatedly, she snapped sharply and tried to push past him.
But he sidestepped lightly, blocking her path.
"I said move!"
"I never liked you much in The Glory either, but..."
Staring into her anxious eyes.
Evan, lips sealed tight until now, murmured softly.
"...You're not even a heroine, so who cares."
"Wh-what?"
Rosalyn's voice trembled.
She must've thought he was spouting nonsense.
Heroine? Incomprehensible words.
But what chilled her to the bone was that gaze.
"Y-you... What the...?"
Toward the terrified girl, Evan slowly reached out.
His motion looked anything but harmless.
She reflexively tried to back away.
But her feet felt rooted to the ground.
"Wh-what is this...?"
An unnaturally swelling shadow coiled around her ankle like a noose, creeping upward.
"W-wait! St-stay back... Kyaaak!"
Shhh!
The moment Evan's hand touched her face.
The ominous black mist asserted its presence, slithering over her body like a serpent.
+ +
In an empty room.
After showering, I sat on the bed's edge, staring indifferently at the black orb in my palm.
Swirling with dull gray inside the orb, a tiny figure was trapped.
[Kyaaak! Stop... please stop!]
The scream erupting from the orb tore at my ears.
Of course, only I could hear it.
Her wails were so desperate they raised goosebumps on anyone listening.
Amid pain like invisible blades slicing limbs and burning pokers searing flesh.
Rosalyn screamed until her throat gave out.
"Don't be dramatic."
My words to her echoed in the room before fading.
[S-spare me...! I was wrong... I-I won't! Never again! Please... Kyaaak!]
In an eternal hell of endless repetition.
Her arms and legs severed hundreds of times, regrown in horrific torture.
Her once-beautiful face contorted in agony.
Her prized golden hair disheveled, clothes in tatters.
No trace of the haughty noble lady.
Crawling, shedding bloody tears, reaching vainly into the void, begging.
I just watched impassively.
No Rosalyn remained there.
Only a pathetic beast thrashing for survival.
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Fear'.]
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Despair'.]
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Regret'.]
[Authority experience increases.]
[Authority experience increases.]
[...]
Notifications surged endlessly.
I savored the growing power pulsing through me.
Negative emotions, quiet since arriving at the academy.
Feeding on her screams and terror during the torment, my Authority flourished.
I'd known emotions could be harvested this way.
Vague imagination before.
Grateful she volunteered as a test subject.
[Aaaah! It... hurts! It hurts so much... please spare me! I'll do anything... please!]
"Think it over."
Hummm.
A satisfied smile as I absorbed the black orb into my body.
I said that, but no intention to keep her forever.
This method couldn't last long.
Constant damage to her soul.
Soon she'd shatter, become a vegetable.
No more emotions to harvest. Useless.
So, hold her a few days, release at the right time.
Her body, sans soul, was an issue, but.
"Stashed in the dorm for now."
Prolonged absence might raise suspicions.
A few days of "illness, resting in room" would cover it.
No big issue short-term.
If suspected, I could puppet her briefly.
"Hope that bastard plays along."
I fiddled with the manacle on my wrist, bitter smile.
Cold metal against skin recalled the professor's office.
Clap clap clap!
Research room scarred by mana bullets.
Amid thick dust, admiring applause echoed.
His assault ended; first, secure his position.
Worried he might flee, but overconfident, he stood smug.
"..."
Before my brain registered spotting him, body moved.
Kicked through scattered papers, charged the professor.
"Gonna keep going?"
Professor Aria sneered, raising a hand.
As if he'd anticipated it.
"Certainly. Closing on a mage in tight quarters works. Except against a prepared one like me."
Crackle!
Lightning bolts webbed from walls around him.
Currents to burn flesh and numb nerves surged at me.
But I had no thought to stop.
I see it.
Even lightning paths crystal clear.
No gaps in the electric net.
Slipped through the slivers, dove into his guard.
"What...!"
Startled professor recoiled, casting defense.
Too bad—my target wasn't his neck.
"Haha... pity you can't catch me."
"Nah. Got you already."
To him, lips curled smugly.
I showed what I gripped.
"That’s...?"
His eyes fixed on my hand.
The crystal orb he'd used to contact allies.
Realization hit.
"Wait—!"
Too late, face ashen as he yelled.
I crushed it effortlessly.
[Aria! What's the situa...tio...n...]
Grotesque voice from the orb scattered into air.
"Just us now?"
I dusted orb shards from my hand leisurely.
Savored his face twisting in real time.
"No interrupters. Let's talk for real."