Chapter 155: Drug Incident at the Academy (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 155: Drug Incident at the Academy (10)
The cadets, and even the external personnel, gasped in awe at the sight of the collapsed building, but Chairperson Leilan did not let down her guard.
If possible, she had intended to completely crush the enemy with the first blow so the cadets wouldn’t have to see a corpse. However, she could feel something solid beneath the rubble—something that couldn’t be broken by this level of pressure.
“Ah, that was quite harsh. What would you have done if I were holding hostages?”
With a mocking voice, the entity blew away the debris and slowly ascended into the air.
The demonic energy radiating from it made her ears tingle, but this much was manageable.
In her life so far, she had encountered demons three times, excluding this one, and the difference in their power had been vast each time.
Among them, there was one instance where she had felt an absolute sense of defeat, a certainty that she could never win. Judging by the total volume of energy she felt now, however, the demon before her was nowhere near that level.
If it was an enemy she could reasonably oppose, there was no reason to hesitate.
Yet, as if the demon didn’t care how she might react, it maintained a playful attitude.
“I really shouldn’t be the one saying this, but you’re a monster. To be at this level while hiding your true form… But what should we do? I have no intention of fighting you directly.”
Leilan reacted instinctively to the mention of her “true form.”
How much did it know? No, how did it know?
“Is that so? If you have no intention of fighting, that suits me just fine. I’ll simply beat you one-sidedly and dispose of you.”
“No, no, that won’t do. I have to finish the preparations for my great master, you see~?”
“Fine. You can finish them after you’ve fallen back into Hell.”
In an instant, blades of wind manifested and flew forth to shred the demon.
Invisible blades.
Since wind has no shape or color, the blades created by compressing it were nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.
The demon used its widely spread demonic energy to perceive the incoming blades and nimbly dodged them, but this was a blatant blunder.
At first, it was easy to misunderstand because the attacks seemed to come from the front, but her attacks had no specific starting point to begin with.
Anywhere the atmosphere existed was within her range; the demon was in the palm of her hand, and there was no escape.
The demon panicked as a cluster of blades suddenly materialized around it.
The only ways to escape her ability to manipulate atmospheric flow were to offset it with even greater power or to flee to a space where no atmosphere existed. For the demon, neither was currently possible.
Ultimately, it tried to block the attack by forcibly condensing its demonic energy, but failed. Immediately after, one of the demon’s arms was severed by a blade of wind.
Seeing this, the Chairperson felt a surge of certainty.
At this rate, she could win.
“…That hurts. Even if I look like this, I invested a lot of power to climb up here. If I get too damaged, I won’t even break even.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you vanish so completely you won’t have to worry about your investment.”
“How bloodthirsty. Eternal rest… It’s truly terrifying when said by someone who actually has the power to do it. Well then, shall I stop being stingy and bring out the card I’ve prepared?”
She didn’t even bother listening.
With that thought, she used her Talent to manifest a single arrow.
The Arrow of the Storm. It was her signature technique, a single shot created by compressing the surrounding atmosphere to its limit—a move that had once claimed the life of an S-rank villain.
The arrow, forged from high-density wind, began to spin violently, emitting a brilliant blue light.
The moment she aimed the arrow to pierce her target…
The demon gave a sickening smirk, and something leaped out from the building’s ruins to block its path.
A human face was surfacing on the head of a black, viscous monster.
The Chairperson was cold-blooded.
Even though she realized it was something that had once been a cadet, she intended to shoot through it.
It was merely a puppet without consciousness.
They were those who had chosen to abandon their humanity of their own volition.
If she worried about them and something happened to the others participating in the subjugation, “disaster” would be an understatement.
“Chair… person…”
However, no matter how stoic she was, she couldn’t help but be startled when the thing spoke.
Especially since she possessed the ability to see through falsehoods and uncover the truth; she knew a deception wouldn’t work on her.
She was shocked by the fact that a will still remained within the boy who had become a puppet.
Her reason screamed that she must fire, but the hesitation that had taken root would not easily vanish.
“Are you still going to shoot, even though he might still be savable?”
The moment the demon mocked her, she finally forced the trajectory of the arrow to shift.
It wasn’t that she intended to fall for the demon’s trick.
She made the choice because she was confident that even if the trajectory was altered, she could still pierce the demon as long as there was only one shield.
Even if it was a cadet who had become a puppet, if they could be captured alive, it was right to do so.
She just had to pierce the bastard who had grown complacent behind a single shield.
“Ah, of course. It’s not just one person.”
“Save… me…”
“I didn’t think… it would end like this…”
“Help… us…”
But ultimately, she hesitated once more at the carnage that followed.
It was horrific. Just how many were there?
“Aren’t they all pathetic and adorable? Slothful souls who had all their possibilities snatched away by something so trivial.”
The Chairperson unconsciously clenched her fist tight.
How dare he… in front of whom, and with what mouth, did he dare spew such filth?
“Now then, except for the few who will serve as my shields… everyone else, please fight.”
“Save… meeeee…!”
The monsters rushed forward, screaming for salvation.
Seeing the monsters wearing the faces of their peers, most of the cadets were frozen, unable to move.
Those who began the fight were mostly external personnel or the faculty. Among the cadets, the only ones who moved were…
“Yu-na, please…!”
“Got it…!”
…those who were already nearing completion.
Lilac charged forward, bolstered by buffs and the light of the Holy Sword.
The light of the Holy Sword, which purifies evil and forbids the wicked, spread in all directions, burning the monsters’ skin and making them shriek.
“…No.”
However, it was Lilac whose expression crumpled.
What he had attempted just now was not an attack, but purification—the power of healing.
Yet, instead of being healed, those who had half-turned into monsters only seemed to be in more pain. The meaning was simple.
It was too late.
It wouldn’t be difficult to eliminate the enemies with the Holy Sword, but to purify them and return them to their original state… the demonic energy had already eroded their souls too deeply.
He could kill them easily, but saving them was difficult.
If he could compress high-density power like he did when he saved So-hyun, there might be a chance, but there were too many of them, and there was no one to buy him enough time.
Lilac agonized for a brief moment, then opened his eyes with resolve.
If the best was impossible, then he would take the next best option.
He knew well by now that he couldn’t save anyone by just acting like a child.
It was a lesson learned only after nearly losing his friend several times; he couldn’t afford to hesitate now.
There was no doubt in the sword he was about to swing.
* * *
“…Ga-eul, is that actually good?”
After debating whether the golden rule for Tonkatsu was Kimchi Fried Rice or Omurice, we eventually reached the conclusion to order both and try them. Having witnessed the truth that both were delicious, we finished our meal with full stomachs.
For the record, I tend to dislike spicy food, so if I had to choose, I’m on Team Omurice.
I intended to head back after that, but Ga-eul was dead set on telling the others if I left, so I spent more time with her—going to a coin karaoke room and stopping by a PC bang for a bit.
Finally, we were having dessert while taking a walk. Ga-eul took a delicious bite out of a mass of cream that she claimed was a waffle.
…How can she fit a glob of cream like that after eating Tonkatsu?
“Hehe. The others must be working hard. I don’t know if it’s okay for me to be this happy alone.”
“…You’re just saying it openly now, aren’t you?”
“Everyone knows anyway, so what’s the point of acting? Honestly, I feel a bit guilty because I’m the only one who’s weak and can’t help. That’s why you have to work harder to keep me tied down.”
“Oh, for someone who feels guilty, you seem to be fulfilling all your selfish desires?”
“If we’re going to hang out, it’s better to enjoy it. Honestly, I just hate that the others are suffering; I don’t even know if those people deserve sympathy. I was briefly tempted too, but I lost interest as soon as I realized it was a dangerous drug. They took it because they wanted to, and they even made contracts with demons, so what of it?”
“Well, that’s true. Some were probably desperate, while others just wanted to get strong the easy way.”
“I don’t know. I heard those guys from the delinquent circle used to bully people anyway. And since they’re targeting you, I’d rather they just disappeared for good.”
“Oh? To hear Kim Ga-eul say she hates people who bully others… that’s quite controversial, isn’t it?”
“Ah, ah! Seriously! I only did that once! For a little bit! I said I’d beg until you forgave me if you told me to, didn’t I!?”
“Yeah, don’t need it. I’m going to tease you every time the cooldown is up~”
“…I hate you.”
“Really?”
“…No, I don’t.”
Man, what am I going to do with our Ga-eul? She’s so cute.
“Anyway, we can’t keep doing this until the incident is over. Let me go now, Ga-eul. You have to go to the dormitory.”
“Hmm, I guess so.”
She looked worried that I’d run straight to the scene the moment she let go, but actually, it’s already too late, Ga-eul.
“Ah, I told you I’m definitely not going. We can even do a video call until I fall asleep.”
“…Oh, that’s good. Shall we?”
…She actually likes that? I just said it.
“Anyway, I really have no intention of going, so don’t worry…”
Wait.
Just as I was trying to convince Ga-eul, a girl entered my field of vision.
I wondered if I was seeing things because of the distance, but in my experience, there was only one person who stuck to that cartoonish “Ojou-sama” hairstyle—the so-called drill hair. I wasn’t likely to be mistaken.
“…What is she doing there?”
Aisha. She looked to be in a quite dangerous state, clutching her chest as if in pain and enduring something.
“Hey, doesn’t that look dangerous?”
“Changing the subject again… Huh? You’re right.”
As we got closer, it became certain. The way she looked, as if enduring severe pain, was not normal by any means.
“Heh, heh. Not a chance. Not yet. I can’t give in before I see that old man’s face twist in agony. Let’s endure a bit more. No, actually, should I just go for it? I don’t care who the man is…”
…Wow, what is she saying? I was going to help because she looked hurt, but hearing her words makes me want to get lost.
At that moment, unluckily, my eyes met Aisha’s as she lifted her head.
“Aha, what a perfect timing. You had feelings for me, didn’t you?”
…Ah, damn it. I should have just gone on my way. Why did I have to be nosy?
“I’m in a real hurry right now, and I don’t think I can hold back. Even you will do. Please, just…”
Her body trembled.
Uh, this is dangerous. Since this body is a clone, my perception was a bit slow, but the demonic energy blooming inside her was trying to completely consume her.
It was impressive that she was even holding out this much.
“I need to be more thoroughly broken for my revenge to be complete. It would be a bit unfair to have such a clean body.”
She probably didn’t even know what she was saying.
Her eyes, which had begun to turn purple, stared at me.
“So please, help me.”
— I have to stop it.
Ah, hell. Why is her expression so similar to back then?
She was a woman I had used like a tool, but never really knew well.
Just a woman with bad habits with men, a foul personality, and an annoying attitude.
And she was also the woman who had risked death to try and stop my broken self.
…Since there’s a bit of a grudging attachment to ignore her like this, if you’re that desperate, I suppose I should help you at least once.
“…Whatever.”
“…Haha, if you don’t plan on helping, please move. I’m really in a hurry.”
“Yeah, I get it. Just stay still.”
I took off the glove on my right hand. The revealed pattern was a copy and had lost some of its status because it was on a clone, but it was still more than enough to suppress the demonic energy of a girl who hadn’t fully fallen yet.
The demonic energy she had been desperately suppressing hid deeper inside her, as if it were terrified.
…By the way, she really did well to endure. It wouldn’t have been easy to resist, considering a demon had forcibly tried to corrupt her even at the cost of sacrificing part of its own power.
As I twisted the contract to create a gap, her complexion rapidly brightened.
“Huh? Huh? Wait? Why? This shouldn’t be happening? Just a moment ago…?”
She looked at me as if she had seen a ghost, but I just shrugged.
“What are you? How did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Don’t play dumb…! Did you help me?”
“Ah, I don’t know. Maybe my hand has healing powers. If you’re better, then you’re better.”
…Ah, I saved her for now, but she’s still a bit much. Seriously, giving her every benefit of the doubt, I can overlook her being a bully, but being a druggie is crossing the line.
“Ga-eul, let’s go.”
“Uh, yeah? Okay!”
“Ah, wait! Please wait!”
Nope, not waiting. Anyway, the demon you contracted with will be dead soon, and that’ll be the end of it.
Then we’re even, with no debts between us, right?
* * *
Lilac had truly intended to swing his sword with all his might.
He would have done so, if not for the man who suddenly appeared amidst the swirling storm, walking down slowly from the sky as if stepping on invisible stairs.
“…You!”
A jet-black tuxedo contrasted with a pure white ghost mask.
An attitude that somehow seemed to look down upon the world.
There was no way he could forget. He was the villain who had handed them a crushing sense of defeat that day, the benefactor who had saved his friend, and at the same time, the strange man who had tried to test them using that friend.
The man looked around the area with his characteristic haughty attitude and spoke.
[Unsightly.]
A cold voice.
[I do not like this.]
An arrogant posture.
[Therefore, I shall impose sanctions.]
The brilliant darkness blooming from his hand covered the area, devouring all light.
It was the arrival of a true darkness that made mere demons look insignificant.