Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: 25-Year Concentrated Pure Solo
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"Lately, you know, life has gotten way too cushy. Is this what it feels like to be one of the elite? Yeah. Like a medieval noble. From now on, call me Seong-hoon the 25th."
"That's just your age, Seong-hoon. Shouldn't it be Seong-hoon I or II in that case? But yeah, I get the comfy part. Speaking as someone living off the scraps, it's super convenient."
"That's called being a parasite. If you didn't know, learn it now."
"Huh? What are you talking about? Have you ever seen a parasite this pretty and talented? It's not a parasite—it's an angel."
Ugh. I stuck my tongue out and made a weird face. Raphael laughed and poked my side—surprisingly painful.
"You don't usually say stuff like that in front of the reasons you're comfy, do you?"
"No, you don't. Those people are the weird ones. Don't mind them. Just think of them as a bit off in the head, and it's easier. That's where 'let go and chill' comes from."
Ooh, words of wisdom from the school of hard knocks. I shot Sophia a glare as we walked. Right now, we were in the middle of training.
Justitia sticks to basic routine drills every day, but twice a week, they run special sessions like this.
Today's was a terrorist sweep op, basically like clearing a dungeon as a team.
But for me, I've got Maid No. 1 and Maid No. 2.
Man, I never imagined adding one more maid would make things this easy. No more hunting for a fourth teammate in these mandatory four-man squads? And once we're in, the maids handle everything.
This is what it means to be at the top of the school caste food chain.
Not that I'm complaining—Maid No. 2's doing all the work.
The training's been going on a while, and I haven't even gotten a turn. Sophia's charging ahead solo, blasting every incoming enemy and leading the way.
Comfy is one thing, but this is next-level.
"No. 1. Try to keep up with No. 2 at least halfway."
"Huh? Hate to say it, but I'm the senior here? The senior maid?"
"Doesn't exist in this line of work. The one who gets shit done is the boss."
Really? She pouted, but I ignored her and pushed forward. I signaled the two behind me to hold and went ahead alone.
Up ahead, Second Lieutenant Jace was looking my way, ready for me.
"Oh? You're here? Where's the others?"
"Told 'em to wait. How's it going? They haven't been showing up much lately, right?"
"Yeah. None today. Guess they learned after I killed 'em every time they did."
I've picked up a few facts lately.
First, about the vampires. Throughout the whole story, I never described vampires appearing inside Justitia.
Turns out, it was because Sophia hunted them down every time one showed. The one that attacked us? We got pinged on radar before she arrived.
Translation: we got ridiculously unlucky.
Now that I'm a master myself, I get reports on vampire raids too—and the numbers surprised me.
Second, this girl's damn good at her job.
She nails every task. After training, if I'm wiped, she brings water without asking. Hungry? Snack's there. Tell her to take notes, and she summarizes it neat and clear.
At this rate, No. 1's reason for being is fading. Haven't asked Isia to do jack lately, all thanks to her.
"Why're you staring like that? Need something?"
"Nah."
Really? Sophia tilted her head. I was about to call the others to wrap this up quick—no threats ahead, business with her done.
But before I turned, a terrorist popped out behind Sophia. Fake hologram, sure, but Justitia's holos can take hits.
"Hey! Dodge—"
Before I finished, before Sophia even sensed it and turned.
The terrorist got swallowed by a pillar of darkness and vanished. No death cry—just dissolved into mana particles.
I turned to see her smirking, arms crossed.
"See? Now you know I'm the perfect senior maid, right?"
She's got some weird pride about it.
"Sophia, right? You're seriously strong. I'm Yang Min-ji. Wanna shake on it? Let's be friends! I'm from the class next door. You know Kim Tae-hyun in your class, and—"
"Sure, let's be friends. Sophia. Sophia Blandid."
They beamed at each other, shaking hands. Heartwarming scene. Or it would be, if my face wasn't twisted.
"Don't scowl. You're already the ugly squid wedged between pretty girls—do that, and you're a monkfish."
"Monkfish is me upgrading you."
Reason? Simple.
"Why's she here? Isia, you're friends. Tell her to go back to her class."
"Me? Nah, we're not that close... She's just acting buddy-buddy on her own."
"Huh? No way!! We're childhood friends!! Isia, we've known each other since we were three! This is bad. I'm sad. Look, tears are rolling."
"You don't call a one-time meet at three 'childhood friends.'"
"Huh? Dad said to get close to you, so let's go with the childhood friends concept!"
"You just said 'concept' yourself, right? My dad told me not to deal with guilds at all."
"Eeeh~ Isia~"
I clutched my pounding head watching this back-and-forth. She probably came with some 'inspection' excuse. Telling Shin-gi would be pointless.
—Huh? That girl? She's cool! Cheering on a friend from another class!
Obvious response. No winning that. I just wished she'd leave.
I really don't want to get tangled with her. I saved her once out of necessity—now I just want her out of sight.
Everything around her is massive drama. Not like the association beef with Isia.
Her roots tie straight to humanity. Because of her powers, she's constantly clashing with factions that want them.
I don't want in on that mess, so please just go. I glared with that wish baked in.
Our eyes met. Pink petal irises. Then she grinned.
"Space mage. I need one~"
She started toward me, opener ready. I spun around fast. And—
"Isia! Sophia! Grab her!! I'm out!!"
"Okay."
"Huh? Huh?!"
"Wait? What's going on? Where? Hey! Why grab me?!"
36th strat: beat feet. Training's over—time to bail.
Raphael tagged along with a "Mind if I join~?"
"Why'd you bolt back there?"
"Creepy."
"Seong-hoon gets awkward around girls in the same space. Power of the concentrated pure solo. Can't hold eye contact over three seconds. Stutters just talking to one."
"Not true. Or... not anymore."
"So it was true before..."
I smacked the damn blonde's useless yap and strolled home slow. She lunged predictably, but the silver-hair blocked one-handed and kept pace. I asked her.
"Why're you following? Girls' dorms aren't this way."
"Duh. Escort to home is maid duty, right?"
"So why start today?"
"Just hit me. But why's Raphael tagging?"
Oh. Raphael and I locked eyes. How to explain this? Exactly why I said don't follow. But she's serious about the maid gig, and I greenlit it—kinda awkward to complain.
"Got somewhere to be with her. Just to the midpoint. Too far, and it's a hike back."
Sophia nodded. If they found out we share a room... who knows. That's my biggest fear.
"You. Get your own room ASAP and move out."
"Working on it."
Raphael and I glared; Sophia snickered beside us on the walk home. Other students around, murmuring.
But this cut clear. No way it wouldn't.
Kyaaaaaaaah—!!!!!!!!!!!
Ear-shattering scream, the death-cry kind.
Silence blanketed the path. Sophia glanced at me, then bolted toward it. I panicked and followed.
"Not vampires. Can't be. Didn't sense any."
True ancestors can't miss vampires unless it's another true ancestor. But they wouldn't be here now.
So, one option left. Praying I was right, we reached the source.
Someone down. Students like us swarmed, forming a ring.
—Someone! Call help!!
—Teachers first, then ambulance!!
—Don't get close. Stay calm, no pics.
I eyed the fallen person amid the shouts.
Out cold, no wounds. Not vampire work—no bite marks.
To confirm, I pulled my smartphone, fired up the camera.
Click—
"Knew it."
"What? Figure something out?"
"Wraith attack."
This was the wraith incident. Early-game episode where a wraith drawn to strong souls causes chaos at the academy.
Not a big deal. Just foreshadowing.
Wraiths react to powerful souls. Thought it was Kim Tae-hyun, but nah, someone else. That kinda setup.
Not even a strong monster.
Setting's that the world's top academy has anti-wraith barriers up, and this one's too weak to trip 'em.
No need to meddle. Side event—ignore it.
No big growth impact.
Sucks for the vic, but Kim Tae-hyun wraps it soon, soul returns.
"Why so quick?! Took forever to push through the crowd!!"
"Let's head back. Not our problem."
"I just got here?!"
"Good work! Raphael! Want a snack?"
"Hell yeah!"
So single-celled. I dragged the iffy-looking Sophia away. Others'd clean up. Commotion over quick.
"No vamps, so it's fine."
"Mm. Not that."
Time to head home and rest.
A corner of Justitia. Vast artificial island's plot basically abandoned—deep woods.
Moon bathes it bright. Moonlight pours down on the black-robed figure muttering.
White peeks through robe. Gaunt frame, faceless.
Robe flutters. Dances on the wind.
One hand clutches a screaming something.
The other grips a massive scythe.
"Thousand... souls..."
Dances under moonlight.
Soul screams as bar snacks, moonlight as cup—solo feast.
"Thousaaand... sooouls..."
It just dances. Till dawn. Till prey appears.
The feast never stops.