Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Possession (3)
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When someone witnesses something too shocking, it's not uncommon for their reaction to come a beat late.
...The Hero's appearance changing horrifically wasn't a gradual, moment-by-moment shift—it was explosive, happening in an instant.
“⋯⋯!”
Mana erupted from her entire body.
Even though it was the Mental World, the abilities one could wield here were undoubtedly close approximations of what they could unleash in the real Material Realm.
Even Carlyle, who had been through all sorts of trials and tribulations, couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh every time he saw mana on this level begin pulsing around them.
The ability known as Omnipotence—a title that wasn't undeserved in the slightest—filled the space blanketed in black. The mana was packed so densely that it almost looked like colorless heat haze rising in their vision.
Ah, right. This person was a monster on this level.
Lately, he'd only been around baby Gray, but feeling that mana on his skin again—the same mana that had taken down multiple Archdemons single-handedly—brought back old memories vividly.
“⋯⋯Get off—!”
In that sense.
It was clear there was no battle intent whatsoever in the way she charged at 'something' taking Vespa's form.
If Carlyle recalled correctly, if she had tried to pulverize them with the mana he remembered, it honestly wouldn't have been strange if she'd torn them apart in a single blow.
No matter how suspicious her behavior was in front of Vespa herself, the form it had taken was Vespa's. For Gray, who felt a pang of conscience toward her, resorting to force would feel off.
But.
Even so.
...The scene that followed was undeniably bizarre.
“⋯⋯?”
The black Vespa, cloaked in Gray's mana, blurred like heat haze across her entire body as she retreated backward.
...Without a single scratch.
Something.
Something was off.
“⋯⋯Not an ordinary one, are you. What are you?”
Gray narrowed her eyes, glaring at it.
Even if it was the Mental World, even if she wasn't serious.
The fact that it had shrugged off Gray's mana without so much as a nick implied this existence had a foot in a realm that could be called 'transcendent'.
In truth, Gray's demeanor as she faced it had grown far more serious than before.
Then.
The pitch-black Vespa quietly opened her mouth.
Her voice was like static pouring from a broken radio, thick with noise.
What to call it.
[You.]
...As if something that 'shouldn't exist' here was speaking.
[Because of you, everyone died.]
And the words spilling out.
If it were truly Vespa, it was clear she would never say them.
Gray's face froze.
“What are you talking about?”
Her voice trembled slightly.
And.
Facing the visibly shaken Gray, it gave a faint smile.
The expression was a smile, but beneath it.
...Lay bottomless malice.
The kind that sent chills just looking at it.
[You had the power to save everyone, but saved no one.]
The Hero's fingertips trembled faintly.
Of all things.
Of all faces, it was Vespa's saying this.
The one person who had always been on her side her whole life.
[You killed Panhima's little brother.]
“⋯⋯I.”
[You destroyed Drexler's hometown.]
Toward her, 'it' in Vespa's form.
Still with that smiling face.
Drove in its fangs.
Words dripping with venom burrowed into Gray's ears.
[Carlyle suffered because of you.]
“⋯⋯.”
Her face paling blue, Gray staggered back.
...It was alien.
The person who hadn't shown a flicker of emotion even before an Archdemon.
Overwhelmed by mere words—weightless sounds—and retreating.
[Because of you—]
“I don't know who you are.”
So.
Before it could continue, Carlyle's low voice cut in.
“But please don't drag my name into this.”
[⋯⋯.]
It slowly turned its head to look at Carlyle.
“I've heard you help Vespa out normally. I heard you wanted to see me.”
Politely, with a faint smile, he continued.
But his eyes weren't smiling at all.
“So if you have complaints or business, tell me. I'll handle it.”
[⋯⋯.]
Leaving Gray frozen in place.
It quietly gazed at Carlyle.
[⋯⋯You.]
[Why do you always only look at that person?]
“⋯⋯.”
This time, Carlyle said nothing, just stared back.
Something.
—Something.
The color of emotion contained within was so dark it made even him pause.
Built up over a long time.
A very long time, piled and piled.
...Something triggered not by Gray, but by Carlyle himself.
[I, even I—]
The thing in Vespa's form started to say something, then clamped its mouth shut.
That gesture only deepened Carlyle's confusion.
Until now, it had only done things Vespa never would.
But the demeanor it showed now was unmistakably her.
This atmosphere, this gesture.
...Even crushing her own emotions like this, all of it.
“⋯⋯.”
What the hell.
What was its true nature.
As Carlyle stood speechless, staring.
[–⋯⋯.]
It started to speak, then closed its mouth.
As if in resignation, certain that nothing would change no matter what it said.
Then, as it quietly closed its eyes.
The black backdrop surrounding them began to recede.
The Mental World dissolving, the prelude to returning to the real world.
“⋯⋯.”
He hadn't learned why it had called him, or what it was.
But that gaze it fixed on Carlyle.
Somehow.
...Felt like sad eyes.
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With the sharp pull of consciousness returning, Carlyle flopped straight onto the floor.
His legs hadn't given out or anything. Entering the Mental World briefly wasn't that taxing to begin with.
...He'd ended up sprawled because Vespa had suddenly lunged at him like a madwoman.
“⋯⋯?”
Carlyle looked up at her quietly.
Not the Vespa from the Mental World just now, but the real one from the Material Realm. The sensations from her body confirmed it.
But.
Her condition was off.
...Her eyes were completely unfocused. Like she wasn't in her right mind.
And the strength pinning him down now was anything but normal.
‘⋯⋯What?’
...He couldn't break free.
It was like his limbs were caught in an industrial vise—he couldn't budge an inch.
Vespa, pressing down on him with unfocused eyes, began exhaling ragged breaths.
What to call it.
Like a beast with prey right in front of it.
...Clearly not in a state where reason would work.
“Wha, wh-what?! Why, why are they mixing?!”
And from nearby came a spine-chilling line.
From Letty, who had been operating the magitech device from afar.
“—Letty, what the hell is this?!”
“Wait, just wait a sec! There's something a little different inside that guy right now⋯⋯ No, more than that, uh, how to put it! Right! It's possessed!”
“What does that even mean?!”
“That young lady's going to act on something else's consciousness besides her own!”
Before he could even process what that meant.
“Mine.”
“⋯⋯Vespa?”
Vespa, her pupils dilated and unfocused, whispered it hot into Carlyle's ear.
“Not anyone else's. Mine.”
Something.
...Something chilling drummed against his eardrums.
“Won't give you to anyone.”
And then.
“⋯⋯?!”
As Carlyle struggled to escape somehow.
Vespa's lips descended onto his.
He heard the Holy Sword gasp deeply.
“⋯⋯.”
Soft.
Moist.
And faintly floral-scented.
Even if it was light, a mere brushing.
...Not on the cheek like in the Mental World, but a direct hit on the lips.
Carlyle stared blankly at Vespa's face.
“⋯⋯.”
Just like that, for a long time.
Vespa kept her lips on Carlyle's.
...Only after quite a while did focus slowly return to her eyes.
“⋯⋯.”
She blinked slowly.
Then.
She jolted in shock and shot upright.
“⋯⋯Ugh.”
Carlyle tilted his head quizzically.
“⋯⋯Ugh?”
“Uuuuugh—!”
“⋯⋯.”
Letting out intense, unintelligible sounds, Vespa stomped her feet, tears welling in her eyes.
“Why, why did I, th-that, no, sor, sorry, Car, uh, sorry—!”
“⋯⋯Vespa, calm down first.”
...He needed to calm her down first.
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Carlyle in front of her was flustered, trying to soothe her as she made a scene.
...More than enough to make Vespa feel a twinge of guilt deep inside.
‘⋯⋯Ugh.’
Vespa rubbed her lips.
Honestly. From the middle on.
Her mind had cleared a bit early.
From the moment her lips met Carlyle's.
She was fully aware.
...But she'd snapped to.
With Carlyle right there, lips locked.
She hadn't stopped.
“⋯⋯.”
He hadn't noticed.
Right?
“Vespa?”
“Ah, n-no, it's nothing—!”
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