Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Fallen Angel
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Following behind Sylvia, I stepped through the iron gate into a vast space that greeted me.
It was like an enormous warehouse. I stared blankly at the scene unfolding beneath my feet.
Cages divided into sections scattered throughout the massive area.
In a way, it resembled the layout of some kind of exhibition hall. And then...
Krrr...
Kieeeek!
Zoo-like cries echoed from the cages placed around the space.
Each cage held pure white animals of various kinds—lions, eagles, and the like.
Every one of them had bloodshot red eyes, gnashing their teeth against the iron bars or clawing at them furiously.
Kwaduduk...
Clang, clang...
"This place..."
As I asked in a trembling voice while taking in the sight, Sylvia answered calmly.
"This is the subterranean prison, Level 1 of the Demon King's Castle. It's where we keep the rejects from the Heavenly Realm. Low-grade divine beasts and holy beasts are imprisoned here. They stand in direct opposition to our demonic beasts. We conduct various experiments on Heavenly Realm rejects using these."
"..."
Animal experiments. Seeing the beasts trapped and howling didn't sit well with me.
'But it's not that strange.'
This was the Demon Realm, the devils' stronghold, and at its heart, the Demon King's Castle.
It was no paradise or dreamlike fantasy world. Maybe this was just par for the course.
Besides, humans ran all sorts of experiments on other humans. Feeling pity for mere animals seemed oddly sentimental.
With that thought, I pointed at the cages holding the divine beasts and asked.
"Those... we're not training with them here, right?"
What could I possibly do in a place full of these monsters? I hoped not.
Thankfully, Sylvia nodded and led me to the next level.
"Of course not. Our destination is Level 2. Shall we go?"
Clang...
The floor beneath Sylvia and me vibrated, then dropped like an elevator.
Shwoong...
The scenery before my eyes vanished, and in an instant, we descended to the lower level.
We arrived at the subterranean prison, Level 2.
Unlike Level 1, it was eerily quiet. No signs of life, no sounds at all.
I gazed at the dim corridor stretching ahead. Iron-barred cells lined the long central hallway.
It reminded me of the breeding pens from that cyberpunk world I'd seen before.
"Follow me."
"..."
I silently trailed behind Sylvia.
As I walked, curiosity got the better of me, and I peeked inside the bars.
Something crouched in the shadows, its form faintly visible.
A figure huddled with its entire body wrapped in pristine white wings.
Though I'd never seen one before, I knew instantly—it was an angel.
'An angel... amazing.'
Captivated by the novel sight, I stared into the cell. As I tried to get a closer look at the angel inside...
Whoosh!
The crouched figure suddenly sprang up and lunged at me. At the same time, sharp feathers shot toward me.
Swaeek!
"!"
The angel had charged, flapping its wings to launch the feathers at me.
The feathers pierced straight through the gaps in the bars, hurtling right at me.
My eyes caught every moment perfectly, but my stiffened body froze, unable to react.
'F-Frozen...'
I could only watch the feathers closing in like slow motion.
Just as I sensed death and shrank back...
Chaejaeng!
A barrier of magic flared up in front of me, blocking every single feather.
Turning around, I saw Sylvia with her hand extended toward me.
Magic from her hand had stopped the attack cold. Protecting me, Sylvia glared at the cell and intoned coldly.
"...You lowly thing, daring to attack who right now."
Swaeek!
In an instant, Sylvia's tail elongated like a whip and struck the angel inside.
Snap!
"Kyaaak!"
A ripping impact echoed, and the angel that attacked me screamed as it collapsed to the floor.
Sylvia then dragged it by the tail gripped around its throat right up to the bars.
"Kkeuuk."
As the angel was pulled to the bars, the corridor's torchlight revealed her clearly.
Disheveled golden hair, sapphire eyes gleaming like jewels. Even under ragged clothes, her sculpted figure and radiant wings were evident.
Though filthy and bloodied from captivity, the angel was truly beautiful.
Throat constricted by Sylvia's tail, the angel glared wide-eyed and shouted.
"Kkuu... You wicked demon bitch. Just kill me!"
"Whether you die is not for me to decide. But I can certainly teach you manners."
Kkuuk!
Sylvia looked down at the angel with icy eyes, tightening her tail's grip on its throat.
"Kkuuuk!"
The angel thrashed wildly, clawing at the tail around her neck. I watched for a moment, then stopped Sylvia.
"P-Please stop... Sylvia."
"..."
As I tugged lightly at her skirt, Sylvia glanced at me, then loosened the tail's hold.
Whip!
"Kheuuk... Haah... Haah..."
Released, the angel beyond the bars gasped raggedly and sprawled on the floor.
After freeing the angel, Sylvia turned to me.
"You're too soft. Showing mercy to someone who just tried to kill you."
"...Well, still."
I hung my head. I didn't even know why I'd done it. But I couldn't just watch her writhe in pain.
Sylvia stroked my head and nodded.
"Very well. Perfect timing, actually. We'll use this specimen for your training session after next."
"Huh?"
Instead of answering, Sylvia tilted her head at my confusion and led me onward.
"Follow me. Today's lesson is with a different angel."
*
Clueless, I kept following Sylvia down the cell-lined corridor.
No more attacks like before, but prickling gazes seemed to bore from the shadows within.
After walking quite a ways, we reached a spot separated from the other cells.
"Here we are."
Click.
Opening the door revealed a cozy space, nothing like the barred cages before.
A bed, desk, chairs, wardrobe, even an attached bathroom— it could pass for any room in the Demon King's Castle.
'No one's... here?'
No reaction upon entering made me think it empty, but then rough breathing came from somewhere.
Hoo-uk. Hoo-uk.
'What's that breathing?'
Turning toward the sound brought an unexpected sight.
An angel handstanding on one finger, upside down.
Hoo-uk. Hoo-uk.
Black wings, healthy bronze skin—she sweated profusely, doing push-ups in handstand position. Naked!
Her well-developed back and arm muscles flexed clearly with each up-and-down motion.
'...Wh-what the hell.'
An unbelievable scene, even seeing it. An angel naked-handstanding in the Demon King's underground prison? I questioned if it was real.
"Haat!"
As cognitive dissonance left me stunned, the black-winged angel fluidly ended her handstand and faced us.
With her snow-white ponytail, she wiped cheek sweat with a towel around her neck and waved at Sylvia.
"Hey, Sylvia! Long time no see."
Her waving made her ample breasts jiggle; I averted my eyes discreetly.
"Yes. Almost a year, I believe."
"Come by more often. I'm bored to death. But damn, you've gotten prettier. Finally learned what love is?"
"..."
Sylvia blushed and looked away slightly; the muscular big sis grinned.
"Nailed it. But from that reaction, still a virgin, huh? You reek of it."
"...Enough of that."
As Sylvia's gaze hardened coldly, the muscular big sis chuckled it off.
"Alright, alright. Who's the kid next to you? Don't tell me..."
She eyed me beside Sylvia with sparkling interest; Sylvia nodded.
"Yes, exactly as you're thinking. We'll be counting on your guidance starting today."
"Whoa, this little one's the Archangel superweapon?"
"Not yet, but the potential is there."
The muscular big sis strode toward me naked as is, inspecting me up close.
Caught off guard, I hid behind Sylvia.
The muscular big sis smirked at me.
"Heh. Shy guy. Cute."
I avoided her beastly gaze and clung to Sylvia, asking.
"S-Sylvia... who is she?"
To my question, Sylvia looked at the muscular big sis and replied.
"This one is Azazel, formerly a Third-Order Angel from the Heavenly Realm's Valkyrie combat legion. Now a fallen angel aligned with our Demon Realm. She'll be your instructor starting today."