Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Resistance
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"No, I can't do that, Professor."
A clear refusal.
It was a shocking declaration that she would continue killing others for my sake from now on, but upon hearing the answer, my mind settled calmly.
"I won't say it's for you, Professor."
Each word from Aria, who clenched her fists tightly, carried conviction, but it seemed like it needed more contemplation whether that conviction was right.
But one thing was certain.
Right or wrong, it was twisted.
"It's for me. I can only survive if you stay alive, Professor."
"......"
"It'll hurt and be tough if you hate me for it, Professor. But I'll make you stronger than anyone else so you won't die."
These were sincere words dripping from Aria, who had already witnessed my death once.
"I'm sorry for being like this. I'm sorry for looking so ugly to you."
Aria brushed past me, opened the door, and left. In the brief silence, I quietly gazed at Duatain lying on the floor.
[Are you okay?]
The Black Necromancer asked cautiously.
"It's nothing."
I called a maid to have Duatain stored in the warehouse, then sat in the chair.
Her faint scent lingered, as if Aria had been sitting there until I entered.
The more it did, the deeper my concerns about her grew.
* * *
"Urgh."
Three days ago, Pindenai crossed the North Wedden Mountains and entered the Clock Republic, but instead of nostalgia upon returning after so long, she only felt disgust.
Was it because she had been in the Griffin Kingdom?
The air was overall murky, and the buildings were all dull gray, giving a hazy urban landscape even without rain.
Being in the north like Northwedden, there was a slight chill even in summer.
But it felt different from Northwedden's cold.
That place was inherently frigid, so it was unavoidable.
Here, it simply lacked any warmth, replaced entirely by chill.
"Ha, what a fucking shithole."
Pindenai shook her head, straightened the collar of her brown coat to cover her face.
Was it because she had grown accustomed to maid outfits?
Her old clothes felt strangely awkward, oddly bringing a faint smile to her lips.
Fortunately, the meeting place with the Resistance leaders wasn't far, so she arrived in just three days.
There had been checkpoints along the way that could have made time tight, but she made it on schedule and could likely return the same.
'I wonder what it's about.'
The Scrap Merchants' leader, Doberman.
Many Resistance groups had worked with him, and numerous revolutionary forces had branched off from the Scrap Merchants.
Exceptional martial prowess, cool judgment, and dazzling leadership.
Not a few believed that if revolutionary flames blazed across the Clock Republic and eventually consumed it whole, Doberman would be the spark.
Pindenai wove through the gaunt, lifeless people—always the same—and entered the city's alleyways.
At the alley's end, a man stood before a door. He glanced at Pindenai, shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets, and spoke.
"Berry."
"Shut up. If you called me, don't ask for passwords—just let the guest in."
Pindenai fired double curses at the squad member asking for the passphrase and strode forward. He shrugged, recognizing the infamous revolutionary woman, and stepped aside with a look of disbelief.
"There is no passphrase anyway."
Just probing first, huh. Typical Doberman, Pindenai thought as she entered the door.
Inside, stale smoke hung thickly. Anyone from Griffin would wrinkle their nose in disgust, but it was an everyday sight in the Clock Republic.
At least with the warm stove on, the oil smell thawed her stiffened body alongside the smoke.
Through the haze, the interior looked like a typical bar.
Revolutionaries from various places sat at different tables, swigging booze or puffing tobacco.
They seemed to be escorts for their respective Resistance leaders.
Seeing them reminded Pindenai of the Scrap Merchants members she had left behind. She had done so to avoid worry, but now she missed them.
Gazes fixed on Pindenai. Those who knew her averted their eyes cautiously; the ignorant gaped in awe at her beauty.
Ignoring the idiots, she pressed forward. A burly bartender raised a hand, pointing to one spot.
It was a room marked "Private."
Clunk.
Without hesitation, Pindenai turned the knob and entered. The tobacco smoke was thicker here, stinging her nose unpleasantly after so long.
Through the smoke, a round table and Resistance leaders seated tightly around it came into view.
Some faces she knew, some she didn't, but Pindenai spotted an empty seat and took it.
"Wow, Pindenai, long time no see?"
A bob-haired woman, Lexi, grinned and acted friendly—the only other woman here besides Pindenai.
Pindenai immediately flipped her off.
"Don't act familiar."
"Bitch."
The woman crossed her arms, grumbling in annoyance, but didn't hurl insults back.
They all shared the goal of freedom, but their methods and reasons differed.
The Resistance weren't on good terms. With varying beliefs, motives, and approaches, they often failed to understand each other.
Pindenai always viewed it cynically: fighting for the same freedom, yet so many reasons to clash.
The one who could somewhat unite these Resistances was the Scrap Merchants' leader, Doberman.
Long face, short-cropped hair, a long scar splitting his eye.
He could pass for a soldier at a glance. Doberman addressed Pindenai, the last to arrive.
"Thanks for coming."
A heavy baritone.
His voice echoed like from a cave.
"No point in us gathering like this. Get to the point."
"Y-yeah. We don't know when Extermination Squad members might show."
At the other leaders' immediate interjections, Doberman paused as if holding back, then spoke.
"That was the plan."
It seemed like acquiescence, but a warning not to interrupt further. The two shut up instantly.
'Idiots.'
If you can't fight, don't bark. Every minute here was risky—wasting time for what?
"You all know Extermination Squad pressure has eased lately."
Everyone nodded slightly. Only Pindenai, who had been in Griffin Kingdom, was out of the loop.
'Those lunatics?'
The fanatics who called Resistances pests and bugs, veins bulging as they hunted them—now stopping?
This wasn't safety; it was foreboding greater danger ahead.
Doberman seemed to think the same.
"This isn't normal. It means they're preparing something massive enough to ignore us briefly."
The faces of fools who had relaxed darkened sharply.
Those types don't last long.
Fighting for freedom in the Clock Republic wasn't a matter of enthusiasm alone.
"Be cautious. Don't act rashly. And it might be good to share info among ourselves for a while."
Some scowled, but most welcomed it as if they'd waited.
Whatever came, cooperation was needed to endure the harsh trials ahead, even if temporary.
"What if one of us rats out the rest?"
Here, Pindenai propped her leg on the table. Annoyed by her attitude, some bristled ready to lunge; others snapped.
"Leg down."
"What the hell?"
"Pindenai, cut it out."
Hearing all their bitching, Pindenai scratched her ear, sighed deeply.
Then glared with blood-red eyes full of stinging hostility.
"If you're gonna yap, at least draw a sword, you fucking bastards."
One man finally reacted to Pindenai's demand not to irritate her.
The large, rotund man beside her drew his waist sword and swung at the base of her chair.
But already before that.
A pale hand had grabbed his collar, and Pindenai yanked him toward her, smashing a fist into his face.
Crack!
A satisfying break, nose exploding in blood, teeth flying.
He foamed at the mouth and passed out. Pindenai dusted her hands and crossed her arms again.
"So. That's why you called us today? To huddle up against the coming cold snap?"
"...Pindenai."
"Bullshit, seriously. New faces here—how can I trust them? In my eyes, Extermination Squad'll sniff us out in five minutes."
"Only trustworthy people were called."
Bang!
Pindenai's heel smashed the table. She shot up, glaring at Doberman with fierce blood-red eyes.
"I don't trust you? You, Doberman, handling things this sloppily?"
"Pindenai. You were in Griffin Kingdom, so you wouldn't know, but..."
"Bullshit. The Republic change that much in a few months? I've rolled here since I was three. I can spot trash instantly."
Pindenai drew a short staff from her bosom; it clicked into an axe form.
As she armed herself, the other leaders tensed, hands on weapons.
Seeing it, Pindenai smirked.
"Yeah, get scared like that. Idiots—grip your weapons if you wanna live."
Her beast-like keen sense of smell had always been sharp.
"Extermination Squad's here."
Boom!
Sudden explosive ambush from outside. They reacted swiftly.
Extermination Squad knew this place. Everyone ducked amid the blast, glaring at Doberman.
He shook his head in disbelief.
"Prepare for battle."
Even in the rising dust, Doberman stayed calm, prioritizing response over blame.
But the wolf's blood-red eyes pierced the smoke, gleaming.
"Ah."
A chilling voice echoed through the chaos.
As if by magic, her whisper reached their ears softly.
"You sold us out?"
Pindenai whirled toward the other female leader, Lexi.
Bang!
Lexi desperately blocked with her wrist; her sleeve tore, revealing steel armor.
The kind that stopped bullets and blades.
Extermination Squad gear.
"You even took their clothes?"
Incredulous, Pindenai booted Lexi's chest. Pushed back, Lexi flashed a seductive sneer.
"How'd you know? I thought I had trust among us."
"Saw you flinch at the explosion."
Growling in irritation, Pindenai scooped a rolling cigarette from the floor amid the blast and lit it.
Watching, Lexi shrugged, drawing a dagger and pistol.
"I'll give you time to light up. I still like you, after all."
"Huh?"
Pindenai flipped her off in disbelief.
"Fuck off, I'm quitting smoking."
"Huh?"
"Republic tobacco stinks."
With that, Pindenai raised her axe and charged at Lexi.