Chapter 220
Chapter 220
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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The cave was large enough for three or four people to enter.
It was noon now, the brightest time of day, yet the cave's interior was pitch black. That meant the cave was quite deep.
"According to the hunters active around here, it's a cave that's been around for a long time. Is this your first time hearing about it, Professor?"
"...I rarely leave the academy. I'm not too familiar with the mountains near the city."
Floyd looked around the cave entrance, searching for any traces.
I was a bit tense but trusted Yuria. If it was her, she would have erased all traces thoroughly.
"There are traces of beasts and monsters. They're pretty old."
What Floyd had found was slightly dug-up earth and some animal fur.
"You can spot things like that?"
"I learned it during my knight days. One of a knight's duties is periodically subjugating monsters. Did the hunters know what was in this cave?"
"Just like you said, Professor, it was a lair for beasts and monsters. But the occupant changed every time."
"The traces are quite old. What monsters are in these mountains?"
"I heard goblins."
I pulled a prepared lamp from the backpack on my back.
"They say the cave is pretty deep."
"Did the devil's trace really point here? I don't see any signs of a devil."
"It's not physical traces—it's a deduction based on rumors circulating in the city that a devil is here. We need to find evidence now."
I lit the lamp and prepared to enter. Floyd placed her hand on her sword hilt, her face tense.
"You don't need to be so tense, Professor. The odds of a devil actually being here are less than 10%. The hunters and herbalists around these mountains say they've never seen anything like a devil."
The seven goblins that lived in the cave had been dealt with a few days ago. The cave was empty now.
"If it's really uncomfortable, wait here. I'll go in and check."
"No, I can't do that. I'm the professor, and you're the student. If something happens, I'll protect you."
It was the expected response. I smiled and thanked her.
"I'm really reassured having you with me, Professor."
I entered the cave with Floyd.
Once we were a certain distance inside, the temperature dropped sharply.
"It's cold. Is the cave normally like this?"
"This chill is abnormal. Could a devil really have stayed in this cave...?"
In reality, it was magic tools hidden in the cave walls—refrigeration devices used like in a freezer, planted in spots throughout.
'You have to set the atmosphere right from the start.'
I stumbled slightly and bumped into Floyd's shoulder. My left hand brushed her buttock.
"What happened?!"
"I stepped on a protruding rock. Sorry."
"Even with the lantern, it's so dark—be more careful."
"Yes."
There was no reaction to me touching her butt. Floyd had grown accustomed to physical contact with me.
'Thanks to the Lucky Pervert Charm's effect, when we're alone, something lewd happens with high probability, so she's gotten used to it.'
Her thick leather pants helped too. If it had been thin fabric, there might have been some reaction.
"...!"
Floyd suddenly stopped. She drew her sword from her waist.
"Professor?"
"...Something's there."
"Huh? I don't see anything."
"My eye caught something moving."
It was probably a shadow controlled by Yuria's magic.
"A devil...?"
"I don't know. Too early to be sure. It could be my mistake."
"...We can find out by checking."
We reached the end of the cave. The thick stench of blood made Floyd tense up naturally.
I shone the lamp around and gaped. Five burly men's corpses were scattered everywhere. And on the walls, magic circles drawn in blood—unknown ones.
"No way..."
I pretended to be shocked. Floyd was scanning the surroundings instead of looking at me, so I could act freely.
"Those corpses... bandits. Civilians don't carry that kind of gear. Eugene, do you know what those magic circles are?"
"I'm no mage, so I don't know details, but... magic circles made with human blood are evil! Even if not a devil, at least a dark mage was here!"
"Either way, something was going on here. There's a hole by that wall."
"That hole seems to lead downward."
It was a hole too small to walk through standing—you'd have to crawl.
"Eugene!"
Floyd called my name sharply.
Black masses writhed around us. Over ten of them surrounded us. Four were clustered at the exit.
Monsters created by Yuria's shadow magic.
I switched the lantern to my left hand and drew my sword with my right.
"Do you know what these are?"
"N-no idea."
"We'll break through with force."
Floyd swung her aura-infused sword at the nearest shadow. The shadow monster collapsed like spilled liquid and vanished.
"Not as tough as they look. Better to take them all out here."
Floyd moved freely, slicing through the shadows.
I faced one too. But my sword didn't cut it. No resistance at all.
"Get back!"
I dodged aside. Floyd's blade cleaved the shadow vertically.
"My attacks didn't work."
"Only one difference between your sword and mine."
"Aura...?"
"These things are especially weak to aura. Let's head back to the academy. We need to report this to the dean."
"Professor! Something at the exit!"
I urgently called Floyd. At the exit stood a pitch-black human silhouette from head to toe, curved sickles in both hands.
It was Yuria, her form concealed by shadows.
"A devil...?"
With such an alien appearance—and me constantly mentioning devils—it was natural for Floyd to assume it was one.
Blue aura flared on Floyd's sword. But Yuria moved first, her sickle aiming for Floyd's neck. Floyd recoiled in shock at the speed.
Yuria targeted me next. I blocked with my sword, but the low sweep grazed my shoulder. Just a graze, but the prepped blood pouch burst, splattering blood everywhere.
"Aaaargh!"
I screamed and collapsed. The dropped lantern shattered, plunging the cave into darkness. Only Floyd's faint blue aura glowed.
"Eugene!"
Floyd rushed toward me, calling my name.
Yuria moved silently.
"Ngh...!"
Two sickles left shallow cuts on Floyd's body. Deliberately not deep. Our goal wasn't her death.
Black shadows writhed from the floor, surging up to engulf Floyd. She couldn't dodge.
The shadows gradually covered her body.
Yuria stood still, watching Floyd.
"Mocking me...?!"
Floyd gritted her teeth and hurled her sword at Yuria. It pierced her body—or seemed to. Just an illusion. Yuria wouldn't fall to that.
As Yuria staggered, Floyd grabbed me and tried fleeing the cave.
Thwack!
Yuria's kicked heel struck Floyd's nape, knocking her out cold.
I, who had been peeking through slitted eyes, opened them fully.
"Good work, Yuria."
The shadows cloaking Yuria melted into the ground, revealing her true form. She stood unflustered, holding Floyd's sword in one hand.
"No trouble."
"Let's proceed with the next plan."
"Yes, Master. If anything goes wrong, call me. I'll be on standby."
"It's fine. Just fasting for two days—what's the big deal."
I grinned and eyed the hole in the wall. Planning to descend with a rope.
"First, let's strip her clothes off."
???
"...Ugh. Ngh."
Confirming Floyd's single right eye fluttering open, I urgently called her name.
"Professor Floyd! Professor!"
"...Eugene? We're still alive?"
She propped up her upper body from the floor. Then gasped. We were both completely naked, without a stitch on.
"W-what is this?!"
Floyd hurriedly covered her vital spots with both hands. But her hands were too small to fully conceal.
Her ample breasts had her pink nipples hidden, but the fullness couldn't be completely covered.
Her thick brown pubic hair peeked from beside her palm. She clamped her firm thighs together.
"Professor, calm down. When I woke up, we were both naked."
"...Where are we?"
Floyd looked around.
It was an empty space, walled on all sides.
"There's a hole in the ceiling. We must have come through there."
Floyd's gaze went up. A blood-drawn magic circle on the ceiling emitted soft light, illuminating the space. A hole beside it.
"What kind of magic circle is that?"
"No idea. Since it healed our wounds, maybe the devil wants to experiment on us..."
"...You were cut by the devil."
"Yes. When I woke, the wound was healed."
"My eyepatch is gone too... I showed you something ugly."
A beast-claw-like scar marred her left eye.
"No, it's not ugly at all. Were you attacked by a beast?"
"...A werewolf. Price of carelessness... no, excuse. I was just weak and lost my left eye."
Floyd's gaze stayed on the ceiling. She hadn't looked at me since. Simple reason: I was naked.
"The devil that healed us..."
"Maybe it's experimenting on us through that ceiling circle?"
"Or perhaps it wants us to starve to death slowly."
"Devils are evil, so that's plausible."
"......"
"......"
Silence fell, creating an awkward atmosphere. Because we were naked. I pretended to look away while admiring her body.
Small scars dotted her skin—barely noticeable unless up close. To me, her scars felt somewhat fresh.
Firm physique. She clearly trained daily for set hours.
"Climbing the wall to the ceiling seems impossible. Too high, and the devil smoothed the upper walls—no handholds."
"Can't you use your aura, Professor?"
"Regrettably, I can only emit aura through a sword."
The walls were smooth, ceiling over 15 meters high. Even for Floyd, impossible without gear.
"...Unless someone comes, no escape."
"I didn't tell anyone. No class tomorrow, so... maybe the day after, students and professors notice my absence and search."
"I have a maid. If I don't return to the dorm by evening, she'll look. Not sure if she'll find this place."
"Plenty of possibility. We just wait with hope."
Floyd carefully stood, went to a corner, and leaned against the wall sitting. I sat leaning against the wall a bit away.
We sat silently. Floyd deep in serious thought, me stealing glances at her body.
'Covering her breasts and pussy with her hands makes it even sexier.'
I suppressed the urge to ravage Floyd right then. She was superior in skill; if I wanted, I'd have done it earlier with Yuria's help.
I repeatedly tapped the wall with my fist: tap-tap-tap. This seemingly pointless action was a signal.
'Cameras and bugs hidden in the walls everywhere. Yuria's watching from outside.'
A few minutes after the signal, the temperature began to drop.