Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Research Wing 13
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“It was a funny joke, Ruan Bednicker. If the situation weren’t what it is, I might’ve even laughed. You’d do well to cultivate some tact before skill.”
Batter seemed to dismiss my words as a joke.
I hadn’t said it to pick a fight anyway, so I just nodded.
That said, there were still things that needed saying.
“Please allow Brother Hector to withdraw.”
“That discussion is over. There’s no time to find a safe spot.”
“Then you’re just going to leave the cadets here? In the middle of this dangerous enemy territory?”
“Not at all. There’s the building we just escaped from. We took out most of the dolls inside, so it’s far safer than anywhere else. I plan to escort them there.”
“…….”
So he wasn’t planning to abandon them entirely.
Considering the circumstances, it was a reasonably sound judgment.
In that case…
Hector might’ve been pushing too hard out of emotion. Setting aside Batter’s snide remarks, anyway.
‘Hate that smug bastard.’
Some people make you want to punch them even when they’re right. By my standards, Batter was one of them.
“What if there’s an even safer place?”
“What do you mean?”
I explained about the outpost where I’d secured safety with the dean via grand magic.
“…….”
By the time I finished, Batter’s expression had shifted slightly.
In a crisis like this, the emergence of a truly secure location carried major weight.
“Pushing the pursuit in our current state seems reckless in every way. Let’s regroup at the dean’s location first.”
“No.”
But Batter shook his head.
“Even without clashing directly with the princess, we need to keep tracking her. At minimum, we have to know where she’s holed up.”
“What about the cadets?”
“I’ll change the plan. A small elite team continues tracking the princess, while the rest protect and escort the cadets to the dean’s building. And I’ll select the pursuit team myself.”
Batter said.
“Me, Hector, and Marco. The three of us will scout the situation. Ruan Bednicker, you’ll take charge of the cadets.”
Damn, this guy was impossible to reason with.
I replied in a curt tone.
“I’ll join instead of Brother Hector.”
“You?”
“…….”
Batter stared at me blankly.
His emotionless blue eyes reminded me of Seren for a moment.
Seeing that, you realize family’s family, no matter how different they look.
Would anyone else looking at me and Hector get the same vibe?
Lost in pointless thoughts, Hector cut in.
“Let’s do that, Sir Batter. Ruan is far stronger than I am.”
The moment Hector backed me up, Batter’s subordinates murmured faintly.
Hector was infamous for his pride, so his words came as something of a surprise.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth, Captain.”
And then an unexpected figure chimed in to support Hector.
‘That guy…’
Wondering who it was, I spotted a vaguely familiar face.
Marco.
The man who’d been posing as a tavern owner under Glenn’s orders, whose special forces affiliation we’d uncovered after a brief skirmish.
“Captain, I vouch for Ruan Bednicker’s skills. He’s no mere cadet. We’d actually gain strength without Hector Bednicker.”
“…Hmm.”
Was he the special forces’ strategist?
Batter’s expression softened a bit. A far cry from his reaction to my words or Hector’s.
“…Fine. We’ll do it that way.”
“Brother, I’ll come too.”
Seren cut in with a flat tone. As Batter’s brow furrowed and he opened his mouth, she pressed on quickly.
“You know about my blessing. The moon’s full tonight, even if it’s blood-red. My condition’s way better than usual.”
Batter hesitated, then let out a long sigh.
“…Fine. That makes four of us total—.”
“M-Me too…!”
Glenn, who’d been hanging back, shot his hand up.
“I’ll come along too, Sir Batter!”
Sharp ears.
We’d been keeping our voices low enough not to reach the prince and cadets, but still.
Batter’s face hardened more than ever.
“…Your Highness, I’m afraid I must decline.”
“We’re pursuing Lady Perist, right?”
“…….”
“I can help. The imperial bloodline can sense each other. If tracking’s the goal, you’ll need me.”
I chimed in casually.
“Let him come. He won’t be dead weight.”
In my opinion, Glenn might even be stronger than Marco.
His ranking in the Tower of Attendance suggested as much, and he was hiding plenty besides.
‘Plus, imperial blood means innate anti-demon aptitude.’
Even without a blessing, he’d hold up better than most blessed against evil spirits.
Batter shot me a glare.
“It’s my call, Ruan Bednicker. Don’t cross the line.”
“Just some advice. Could be seen as counsel.”
“Same difference. And you’re awfully curt. The Bednickers must’ve given you top-notch etiquette training.”
“Ha-ha.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
Batter glared lightly, but I just shrugged.
“…….”
Seren stared at me in disbelief, like she’d never seen anyone talk to her brother that way.
“Sigh…”
Batter sighed again in the end.
“Very well. But Your Highness, you follow my orders at all times.”
“Of course.”
He must’ve decided the benefits of the prince’s company outweighed the risks.
A fortunate outcome for me.
How to put it.
I just had a feeling I wanted Glenn in my sights.
“…….”
Did Glenn sense it too?
I felt his gaze studying me subtly.
* * *
After giving Hector and the cadets directions back, we resumed the pursuit right away.
Quite the motley crew we made.
Batter Goodspring took point, with Marco following.
I and Seren guarded the rear, the prince sandwiched between us.
Obvious at a glance: a formation to protect Glenn.
That was probably part of why Batter allowed the prince along. Safer to keep him close.
‘Must be frustrating.’
The dean’s spot was way safer.
I grumbled inwardly, but that was just Batter’s nature.
The type who wouldn’t believe it without seeing it himself. Honestly, I was similar, so I couldn’t complain too much.
Anyway…
Outside the buildings was literal hellscape, so we moved on high alert, but for some reason…
“…This is odd.”
“Yes. Too quiet.”
Batter muttered, and Marco agreed.
He was right.
An hour since splitting from the group, and not a single demon encounter.
Even inside a relatively safe building, we’d have run into stuffed dolls two or three times by now.
‘Something’s off.’
Then I sensed a doll watching us from a distance.
Seemed I was the only one who noticed.
I tensed up, preparing for imminent combat, but…
[…….]
The doll didn’t move. It just watched with empty eyes.
“T-This way, I think.”
Whenever we lost the princess’s trail or Batter’s memory faltered, Glenn would guide us.
As I watched his back quietly, Seren spoke.
“What’s up?”
“…You said before that one of them—the princess or the prince—was suspicious.”
Mindful of past experience, I whispered low enough that Glenn wouldn’t hear.
Low enough even close-range Seren had to strain.
“Yeah.”
“Her being the ringleader’s clear now. But even accounting for that, something still bugs me, so I’m rethinking it.”
“How?”
I lowered my voice further.
“What if they’re both cultists?”
“…….”
Seren froze for a second.
“Might be overthinking. Just means consider everything.”
“…No. You’re right. I overlooked that. I’ll keep it in mind.”
We nodded and wrapped up as Batter halted.
In front of a certain building.
“…….”
Easily the most dilapidated structure we’d seen.
Calling it a ruin wouldn’t be off, its eerie vibe amplified by the back world’s blood-red lighting.
Yet it was smaller than the others.
More like a real-world building in size?
‘That’s what makes it creepier…’
As I thought that, Batter spoke.
“Last confirmed sighting: the princess entered this building. Your Highness?”
Glenn eyed the structure.
“I sense presence continuing inside, but that’s it. We’ll have to go in.”
Meanwhile, I stared at the building, recalled our position, and mapped it onto the altered back world terrain.
Answer came quick.
“…Research Wing 13?”
All eyes turned to me.
“What’s that mean?” Batter asked.
“There’s an academy ghost story. Research wings go up to 12, but at certain times, a nonexistent 13th appears…”
I counted the distant research buildings one by one.
“Location matches. This must be it.”
“…….”
Mood sank a bit.
Did I say something unnecessary?
As I wondered, Batter said,
“Let’s head in.”
The moment he, at point, opened the door.
“Gaaaaah—!”
A grand scream rang out as a black shape lunged at us.
Batter drew instantly, but I cut in.
“Wait!”
I shoved past him and caught the flying figure.
“Guh.”
What the hell was so heavy?
Felt like catching a flying boulder. Any less physical training, and I’d have been launched.
A rare blue head snapped up, spotting me.
“B-Blond Bednicker?”
Mir Giant.
He’d been dragged here too?
But he looked rough.
Disheveled hair, ragged breathing like he was fleeing, eyes spinning wildly.
“Calm down. What happened?”
“T-This place is weird! We gotta run now!”
“What’re you talking about?”
“There’s a monster inside…!”
At the same time, footsteps echoed from afar, and a group emerged.
Evan, Charis,シャル, Pam, Zeroth, even Karon—our cadet crew.
“Get out now!”
Karon, at front, yelled as we crossed the threshold.
Anyone else, maybe, but Karon shouting?
Top-notch situational judgment among cadets. I bolted back out without hesitation.
“Sir Batter! It’s dangerous!”
Batter had still been peering in, but Marco’s shout pulled his gaze away.
Thud…! Thud…! Thud…!
Heavy footsteps resounded from within.
Something mountain-sized stomped down the hall.
Clad head to toe in corridor darkness like robes, its form was indistinct.
Just knew it was thick and elongated.
As Karl exited last, he slammed the door shut.
But outside wasn’t safe either.
Raaaaagh—!
Dozens—maybe more—dolls burst into view from our rear.
“W-What? That many?”
“Weren’t there any a minute ago…”
In the cadets’ confusion, I eyed Glenn.
“So many…”
Pale face—acting or not?
In the ambiguity, Batter addressed me.
“Ruan Bednicker, guide us to the building you mentioned.”
I drew my yin-yang blades and nodded.
“Follow me.”