Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: 25. Wilderness Festival
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“What are you lot doing swarming in here in the middle of the night? Out for a stroll?”
His tone was nonchalant, but the sarcasm laced within it...
The man at the front furrowed his brow.
He knew of the guy's notoriety well enough, but he hadn't expected him to be this fearless.
Did he really think he could take on an unknown shadowy figure all by himself?
No, not five of them.
“...”
He glanced back over his shoulder.
There had definitely been ten when they passed through the dormitory's main gate, but by the time they reached the third floor, half were gone.
And now, there was only one suspicious bastard left.
As if he'd known they were coming.
The only one waiting smack in the middle of the hallway at this hour.
“...Was this your doing?”
The leader growled low, pointing his sword tip at him.
“Me? What'd I do?”
Evan tilted his head, playing dumb as if he had no clue what he was talking about.
But that brazen act only grated on his nerves more.
“The ones who vanished. I'm asking if it was you.”
“Oh, that? Who knows.”
He stayed utterly calm even as the leader's killing intent surged right up to his throat.
That sight made the leader's eyes twitch.
He had no idea what trick he'd pulled, but the circumstances pointed squarely at him.
“Probably just got lost. Or chickened out and ran.”
“What kind of bullshit...!”
Even if they were worthless scum, this was an order.
The command from their master, Lucian von Hellent, was absolute.
Lost? Ran away? Impossible.
They knew the price of failure all too well, etched into their bones.
“You're all talk. So, what's the deal with sneaking around like this?”
“...”
It was a perfectly reasonable question, but they clamped their mouths shut.
They had no obligation to answer him.
But to Evan, that silence was as good as confirmation.
“Figured you wouldn't talk. Wasn't expecting you to anyway.”
He hadn't really hoped for a straight answer in the first place.
Evan waved his hand dismissively, like it was a hassle, and took a step forward.
“You're here for Iris, right?”
“...!”
They'd never imagined the target's name would come out of his mouth.
That one unexpected line halted their movements in unison.
Sword tips wavered, and their panicked eyes darted to each other.
You're telegraphing it way too much. Not even amateurs...
...Well, they were amateurs, so what could you do.
Just street thugs you'd see during events, at best.
“...No idea what you're talking about.”
The leader quickly schooled his expression and forced out calm words.
But he couldn't hide the faint tremble at the end.
“Come on, you know exactly what I mean.”
Evan smirked, reading their fluster, and took another step closer.
“Out of everyone in our class, who hasn't even been here long...”
“...The only one who's pissed off enough people to bring a whole mob like this is one girl.”
Aside from me.
His confident voice drove the nail home into their silence.
“Iris Riel. Right?”
“...”
No answer came. They stuck to silence, refusing to confirm or deny.
But that reaction alone convinced Evan.
Their behavior, the whole situation—it said everything.
“Guess I nailed it.”
Evan nodded to himself, murmuring softly.
“...”
Judging further talk pointless, they exchanged glances and nods.
Two beside him split left and right, encircling Evan.
They blocked his retreat and assumed attack positions in an instant—pretty slick for amateurs.
Evan just watched them with a mocking gaze.
Then he slowly raised one hand and extended three fingers.
“Three.”
“...?”
They froze at the sudden signal, tensing up.
Calling for backup? Starting a spell chant?
All sorts of guesses flashed through their minds as Evan spoke.
“I'll let exactly three through. Gotta let the event play out, after all.”
His fingers slowly pointed at the three dazed underlings.
“You, you, and you—pass.”
“...What?”
“Oh, and you too.”
His finger finally stopped at the leader.
“You stay. You look like you know the most.”
“...!”
Directly singled out, the leader let out a low groan.
A chill ran down his spine at that pointing finger.
Too intense to dismiss as bluff; those eyes burned too fiercely.
...Dangerous, as expected.
Instinctual alarms blared in his head.
Run now—the thought surged up, but he shook it off.
Take out Iris Riel.
Lucian's command echoed in his ears like a brand.
It shackled his ankles, stopping any flight.
His master tolerated no failure.
Especially not after gathering nearly ten men just to deal with one girl.
Backing off now? The consequences would be horrific—he wasn't that stupid.
“Zeke. We should just run...”
“Huh?”
Then, a burly guy behind whispered in a terrified voice.
Crushed by the unfolding mess from the start, he'd lost all will to fight.
“Zeke, is it?”
Evan grinned.
“...You idiot! Why'd you say my name?!”
Zeke ground his teeth and yelled at his comrade.
This already chaotic mess got worse thanks to that blabbermouth.
At this point, he wondered if it was deliberate sabotage.
“N-No, that's not...”
“Relax. Why yell at your own guy? I'd have found out anyway.”
Evan waved it off casually, even calming him.
“So, Zeke. What do you think of my offer? You'll come quietly, right?”
Zeke bit his lip hard at the serene words.
Offer? What a joke.
This was a threat, plain and simple.
Let three go, keep the rest?
Might as well say hand over your heads.
“Go screw yourself.”
Zeke gripped his sword tighter, snarling.
“Shame. Could've ended peacefully.”
As if on cue, Evan's eyes turned icy.
Flash!
In an instant, his body vanished like a mirage.
“...!”
Zeke's eyes bulged.
Gone? Where?
“Over here.”
A whisper from behind.
Zeke whipped around in shock, but too late.
Thud.
“Guhk!”
Evan's fist slammed into the gut of the guy next to Zeke.
The hulking man floated into the air without a scream.
Crash!
He smashed into the wall and foamed at the mouth, out cold.
“One down.”
Evan dusted his hands leisurely.
“One more to go?”
The remaining four were frozen, barely processing the seconds-long blitz.
Even if he was in S-Class, he was just a freshman.
They hadn't made S-Class like Evan, but they had a year's academy experience.
They'd thought they had the edge.
But this...
Speed too fast to track.
Power to drop a comrade in one hit.
No way this was first-year level.
...He's really a freshman?
“You're last.”
With Evan's cold verdict, his form blurred again.
“...Ngh!”
Zeke swung instinctively.
Terror-fueled, it was sloppy hacking unworthy of swordsmanship.
But survival instinct lent it sharp speed, slicing the air.
Whoosh!
The blade cut toward Evan— but no impact.
And nothing where he'd stood.
“Slow enough to make me sigh.”
A mocking voice brushed Zeke's ear.
A chill touched his nape.
Damn it...!
As Zeke twisted desperately, Evan's hand chopped his neck.
Thud.
Not even full force—just a casual chop.
“Urk...!”
Zeke's vision swam, legs buckling.
Not enough to knock out, but plenty to throw off balance.
Evan seized the gap, grabbing Zeke's collar and slamming him into the wall.
Bam!
“Khek!”
As Zeke groaned and lifted his head from the back-impact...
Those emotionless eyes stared down impassively.
“Told you it'd end like this.”
Voice calm, but the chill within froze Zeke's heart.
“You monster...!”
“Hear that a lot. Thanks, I guess.”
Zeke spat blood-mixed saliva, thrashing to escape the grip—but no give.
Evan tightened, lifting Zeke's feet off the ground.
“...Just kill me!”
No escape? Resignation crept into his eyes.
Reporting failure to Lucian? Better to end here.
“Kill you? Why would I?”
Evan looked puzzled.
“Never planned to kill you.”
“...What?”
“Said I'd let three go. No plans to kill any of you.”
Muttering about when the academy turned into a kill-or-be-killed zone...
He jerked his chin at the three dazed ones.
“Those guys. Send 'em to Iris's room. The event—or mission—needs completing, right?”
“...What the hell?”
Zeke blinked in confusion.
The guy who'd attacked to kill now wanted the mission done?
“Deaf? Let 'em through. I'm passing you.”
Evan waved like no more questions.
“But on one condition.”
“...Condition?”
“You stay. Got questions for you.”
“...Trying to pry info out of me?”
Zeke scoffed.
“Forget it. I won't talk.”
“That's your opinion. I got ways.”
He clenched and unclenched his fist threateningly, knuckles cracking.
Zeke's brow twitched at the sound.
“Decide quick. Before I change my mind.”
Zeke bit his lip, torn.
If true, the mission could succeed—at least partially.
Tougher with fewer men, but better than nothing.
If the rest pulled it off...
Lord Lucian might cut some slack.
Zeke sighed shortly and nodded.
“Fine. Your way.”
He signaled the dazed comrades.
“Go. Complete the mission.”
“...For real?”
“Wanna give up? Go, you idiots!”
At Zeke's shout, the three snapped to and bolted toward Iris's room, scrambling comically without looking back.
...That should do it.
Evan smirked at their retreating backs.
Those scrubs couldn't touch a hair on Iris anyway.
Now, just Evan, Zeke, and the one KO'd lackey left in the hall.
As Evan turned slowly to Zeke...
That smile on his lips looked like the Grim Reaper's to Zeke.
“...Happy now?”
Zeke forced a twisted grin.
“Happy? Nah. You and me? We're just getting started.”