Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: 044. Ambush - (Complete)
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"What the hell..."
Guild Master Flint of Twilight yanked his arm free. Chunks of flesh had been torn from his forearm in the shape of teeth. Excruciating pain coursed through it, almost too much to bear.
Paralysis poison had spread through him, so where the hell had that strength come from?
No, that wasn't the point.
The important thing was...
"That damn bitch took the elixir..."
That priceless elixir had just slid down her throat.
A woman who should have been dead any second had gone out shitting on them to the end.
"Kill her. Now."
Flint's face twisted in rage as he gave the order. Just as the assassin raised his axe high and brought it down like a guillotine...
—Clang!
A metallic clash rang out.
Sophia had already steadied herself and raised her sword to block the axe.
The paralysis poison should have spread through her whole body by now. How was she swinging a sword like nothing happened? Doubting his own eyes, Flint glanced at the elixir vial on the ground.
"...No way. Did it actually have an antidote effect...?"
The thought triggered alarms in his head.
This is dangerous.
He'd pulled two assassins to chase down the fleeing cadets. That left only him and the one-armed assassin here. And those two weren't enough to take down that rabid dog.
Slice.
"Aaaagh! My arm! My aaaarm!"
The axe-wielding assassin's arm was cleanly severed. Black energy began roiling from Sophia's sword.
"...Fuck."
Flint backpedaled. He was a skilled swordsman himself. But drawing his blade to face her now... her aura was off the charts. The killing intent made every hair on his body stand on end.
Stab! The sword plunged into the assassin's heart, and Sophia's sharp jade-green eyes turned to Flint.
"...I'm not letting you get away."
The words slipped from Sophia's lips on an exhale.
"This was a gift from my master. And you... wasted it on something pointless."
"...M-Master?"
What the hell kind of nonsense was that?
Flint retreated while searching for an escape route.
There was only one option. Flee to the dungeon's deepest chamber. There'd be a high-grade magic beast there, no doubt.
Somehow escape, survive, then vanish like a rat.
Decision made, Flint turned and bolted.
He squeezed through the dungeon's narrow passages toward the core. A magic nucleus floated in the air. That was the dungeon's heart.
"Perfect..."
Flint planned to shove the nucleus at Sophia and run.
The moment he reached for it...
Stab.
A blade burst from his shoulder blade, skewering both the nucleus and his body at once.
Flint turned, vomiting blood. Sophia stood there, expressionless.
"H-How...?"
She'd chased him that fast?
No one in his guild could match his speed.
Not to mention navigating this labyrinthine dungeon.
"Your smell."
Sophia tapped her nose.
"You reek."
"Fuck, what kind of bullshit...?"
Slice.
Before he could finish, Sophia's sword cleaved through his throat.
That was his last memory.
*
Meanwhile, at the dungeon entrance, Swordsmanship Instructor Chiron of the Knight Faculty was growing seriously suspicious.
"Hey, how long has it been since Group 4 went in?"
"...It's been an hour, sir."
"Hm..."
Group 4, led by Sophia, had entered the dungeon an hour ago.
This dungeon had already been fully mapped. Clearing the magic nucleus in the depths should take thirty minutes tops. With top cadet Sophia's talent, maybe half that.
So why no word yet?
"Any rescue signals on the comms?"
"...No, sir. Nothing."
"Tricky."
If there'd been a signal, he'd have acted. Chiron decided to trust his gut.
"Grab your sword. We're going in."
"Sir? But the rules prohibit faculty intervention during training."
"I've got a bad feeling. And knight's instincts like this are always spot on."
Chiron grimaced like he'd bitten a bug and drew his sword, heading inside.
Sure enough, blood scent hit him right away.
The assistants he'd posted were collapsed, poisoned. This dungeon had no poison traps—he'd confirmed that. Someone else had interfered.
"Who the hell...?"
The mystery solved itself soon enough.
Masked men lay bleeding out. And Group 4 cadets came sprinting up in blind panic.
"S-Save us! Attackers showed up out of nowhere...!"
Chiron heard the full story and glared.
"Attackers?"
No sign of that beforehand.
But it wasn't impossible. The dungeon wasn't fully explored. There could be another entrance.
Chiron scowled. To pull this off in a dungeon crawling with Erebos personnel?
"Report to the liaison outside. Code red."
"Yes, sir!"
He ordered the assistant, then charged deeper sword in hand.
The cadets said the attackers targeted Sophia Aquilova.
And Chiron's bad feeling was right on the money.
Just... not in the way he'd thought.
—Thud, thud.
"Sophia... Aquilova?"
Chiron narrowed his eyes.
Sophia emerged from the dark passage, dragging a man's corpse by one arm.
Spotting Chiron, she flung the body aside.
"...What."
The man's throat was half severed.
Chiron knew the face.
"Flint Blackwood..."
"You know him?"
"Old classmate."
Heard he'd gone mercenary after Erebos. Didn't know he'd stoop to this filth.
Chiron sighed, suspicion lingering.
Flint was no cadet-level foe. A genius who could've reached Sword Expert.
And here he was, a cold corpse in Sophia's grip.
"Sophia Aquilova... Did you take out these assassins?"
"Not alone."
"Not alone?"
"I killed them, but without my master's help, I wouldn't have won."
Sophia answered flatly. Chiron was inwardly rattled. Her tone was too calm for someone who'd slain multiple people.
He asked carefully.
"You... okay, Aquilova?"
"Not my blood. I'm fine."
Sophia was covered head to toe in gore, exhaustion etched on her face. She clutched the dungeon's magic nucleus—a hazard-grade one that could corrupt her any second. Yet she stood unharmed.
Looking closer, her Ink Sword seemed to neutralize its energy.
Before Chiron could ask, Sophia spoke.
"Can I go back to the academy? Dungeon's cleared."
"...Well, there'll be questioning about the incident..."
"Tired. Ask the others."
"...R-Right. I'll arrange transport."
Chiron had no choice but to let her go.
Holding her here might spark something worse.
"...Hoo."
After Sophia left, Chiron sighed.
How to report to the dean? How many pages of reprimand?
Those worries faded.
A single academy cadet had repelled trained assassins.
The absurdity inspired real awe.
Her master's doing...?
Sophia's level far surpassed any cadet.
Even Chiron, who'd chalked it up to Aquilova secrets, had to reconsider.
This "master" was deeply involved in her growth.
Chiron exited the dungeon and summoned an assistant.
"Investigate Aquilova's movements thoroughly. Find this 'master' she mentions."
"...That important?"
"Beyond important."
Chiron nodded gravely.
Someone who could control that monster at will.
"My guess? At least a Sword Master."
Maybe more.
*
News of the incident during the dungeon expedition spread fast to Erebos Royal Academy.
Faculty bustling today was all because of it.
For reference, I'd spent the morning in a daze, like someone whacked my head with a hammer.
Couldn't focus on work, naturally.
"...An incident? During the dungeon expedition?"
Dungeon expedition training.
In the original story, just a spec-up event for Sophia, glossed over.
But the rumors were vicious.
Assassins. Attackers. Horrid words flying among faculty.
"No way..."
Someone ambushed Sophia?
Makes sense. Outside academy protection, perfect spot and time. Plus, unlike the original, Sophia had enemies.
My heart sank.
If something happened to her...
The sole insurance against Act 3's catastrophe. All my investment in Sophia wasted if she got hurt...
...Can't let that happen.
Her safety came first.
Wanted to check, but a lowly priest like me had no way.
Ask Elise? She was busy with cathedral festival prep before break. Another major Act 3 event—no meddling.
So I paced the chapel, imagining worst cases.
—Thud, thud—creak.
Familiar footsteps. Chapel door opening.
I whipped around, beaming.
Sophia stood at the entrance, smiling brightly.
"Master."
"Miss Sophia..."
She wore a flowy dress instead of uniform, fresh soap scent wafting off her.
I scanned her head to toe. No injuries. Thank God.
"I heard about it. The ambush..."
As I started asking for details...
Squish.
Sophia approached and wrapped her arms around me.
Height difference meant her face buried in my chest.
Softness pressed against my stomach, making me instinctively pull back, but...
Squeeze.
Her strength wouldn't allow it. Hands locked behind my waist now.
"...S-Sophia?"
What intense skinship out of nowhere?
Flustered, I asked, but she nuzzled deeper into my chest.
Then a deep inhale.
Is she... smelling me?
Like a puppy. After sniffing a while, she looked up, resting her chin on my solar plexus.
"...All thanks to you, Master."
"What're you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Without you, I... wouldn't have survived. You're my lifesaver."
"..."
She skipped details, so I had to guess.
Nothing came to mind.
What the heck?
I'd done zilch for her. Yet Sophia rubbed her face against me, eyes brimming with emotion like she might cry.
Every move screamed lapdog.
Whatever. She saw me as her savior. No need to correct it. I forced a calm smile and stroked her messy hair.
"...Shall we go inside first?"
"Something more important."
Sophia puffed up proudly, cheeks flushing. She murmured low.
"The trip..."
"...Ah."
Right. That.
Promised to grant her wish after the expedition. She picked traveling together. Made sense—break started soon, nowhere to go.
"Yes. Where to?"
"Somewhere with the sea. I've never seen it."
"Hmm..."
Thinking about it, same for me.
Stuck inland since possessing this world.
Summer beach trip? Not bad. Money tight? Beg Priest Lowen, earn it.
"Sounds good. Let's go. When?"
"I..."
Sophia beamed, about to continue.
—Chirp.
A white dove outside the chapel window trilled softly, golden eyes glaring.