Chapter 33
Chapter 33
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Future Her
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The moment I assessed the room's condition, I charged straight ahead, but Sen leaped upward, grabbed the light fixture, and hung upside down from the ceiling.
"I don't know what's going on. But this guy's sort of important to me, you see."
"Don't butt in recklessly."
An atmosphere completely opposite her usual playful, smiling demeanor. She glared at me with a voice and gaze as cold as a honed blade.
This is the Extermination Squad.
It wasn't the kind of killing intent a mere eighteen-year-old could emit.
"Ugh."
The prickling killing intent stabbing at my skin made May behind me grimace and glare at Sen, but she ignored May entirely.
"Come down first. I rushed in thinking you might kill Demalico. No intention of hurting you."
"..."
Sen stared piercingly into my eyes, as if reading my sincerity, then sighed and descended.
"You're not that surprised."
"I've always felt your usual act was a bit contrived."
Even someone as sensitive as Eve had noticed it slightly.
This excuse seemed enough; Sen's eyebrow twitched faintly. She appeared bothered that it had shown, even a little.
"So, care to explain the situation?"
Demalico nodded vacantly, nearly out of his mind. With that, flakes of his skin crumbled to the floor.
Sen pondered briefly, then sighed—things had come to this anyway—and spoke.
"I have business with the thugs selling the cigarettes this guy's been buying."
"That's it?"
"What more do you want?"
She thought she was hiding it, but knowing she was Extermination Squad, I could tell she wasn't moving alone.
'The Extermination Squad has business.'
I wondered if it was a separate commission, but no.
If commissioned, they wouldn't use Sen—an apprentice undercover at the academy—but the real operatives.
'In the end, the Extermination Squad's personal matters are involved.'
That thought killed any desire to meddle, but May behind me suddenly erupted.
"We just stopped you from nearly killing Demalico. Should I report this and get you expelled? Spill it straight."
Seeing her friend's state apparently infuriated her, but sorry—she was in the wrong.
"What do you want me to do?"
"What?"
"Do you know how this guy got dirt on the Dean?"
Sen suddenly jabbed her chin toward me.
"He tried recording the Dean's room, but her security was tight. Risky to act rashly, so he used you."
May stared at me in confusion, but Sen didn't stop.
"Yeah, he used you. The Dean lets her guard down around her cousin, so he stuck recording paper on you. In short."
Sen pointed sharply at May.
"You handed him the leashes for both yourself and the Dean."
"...Me?"
"Stupid girl. And now you're chasing his tail happily? Satisfied just feeding school delinquents, huh?"
Sen's expression changed for the first time.
A sneer laced with contempt.
"I can see your caliber, May Flob."
"You bitch!"
May finally snapped, lunging with a punch, but Sen deflected lightly, tripped her, and she fell awkwardly.
Sen raised her foot to kick, but I pressed it down gently with mine.
"Enough."
"Then you should've shut her up from the start. You let it slide thinking she deserved to know."
"..."
"You know you're pathetic, Daniel?"
Sen flashed the same sneer at me she'd given May.
"I know you have power, but you're hiding it for some reason. Why? Petty satisfaction from that?"
"..."
"Look at Ares and Rin. Transferred to third year, yet their skills drew everyone's eyes; they became central. You? You have that power—why hide?"
Sen continued flatly.
"You don't care. Saved Tana and Eve, allied May and the Dean, freed Hayun from her family. But you don't really care about them."
"..."
"You're a hypocrite, Daniel McKlein."
"..."
"Want to play savior, mimic Ares, but your character doesn't hold up—what to do?"
Sen eyed me with thicker sneer. Seemed finished, so I slowly spoke.
"Interesting opinion."
I nodded. Agreed with some, but no rage to charge.
"I see you're provoking to derail from unwanted topics. But I don't want your take on me. What'd Demalico tell you?"
Her sardonic sneer vanished, face turning blank.
I knew she'd provoked May and spoken harshly to shift the subject.
Because that's one of their tactics.
I stared straight at tight-lipped Sen.
"Why? Didn't they teach you what to do when seen through?"
Now I sneered back.
"Extermination Squad?"
Thud!
Sen charged in an instant.
Reverse-gripped dagger, launching her body at me—I nearly toppled but hit the wall.
Prepared, I seized her dagger wrist; she strained so fiercely it trembled.
"How did you know?"
Genuine emotion crossed Sen's face for the first time.
Blazing fury.
Hot killing intent poured from her endlessly cold eyes toward me.
"Who knows. Ask the all-knowing Extermination Squad."
I snorted provocatively; Sen retreated, then slipped out the open window.
"She ran?"
May asked blankly, still dazed; I grabbed Demalico's room sword and replied.
"Not yet."
Simultaneously, Sen flew back in through the window.
Daggers in both hands, charging; I swung my sword, but my hand numbed.
"You die. Not just you—May and Demalico today too. Because of you."
Rope around Sen's waist—she'd tied it to the rooftop when jumping out, swinging back.
She attacked from the air via rope, but I coped well, so she swung out again.
Thinks she can't win close-up, planning endless ambushes.
"I won't miss."
I followed out the window, stepped the sill, climbed up.
Third floor here.
Spotted her rope on fifth-floor roof, leaped, landed.
Sen followed to guard the rope.
May's gang smoked on the roof—fled to dorms after my academy roof warning.
"W-what?"
"Daniel McKlein? How'd you climb up?"
"With Sen?"
I scowled at the startled punks and yelled.
"Told you you'd be done if caught smoking. Later!"
Using their diverted gaze, Sen charged.
Sensing trouble, May's gang bolted without looking back.
"Jumped that distance in one go?"
Sen seemed surprised but pressed attack.
Swiftly stabbing vitals; dagger poison? Academy, so probably not.
Clang!
Sword swing pushed Sen back; I reset stance.
Demalico's sword wobbled, near breaking—poor maintenance.
"Beat me with that?"
Untying waist rope, same prior sneer.
Not genuine—tool to provoke foes here.
But win?
Sorry, victory certain.
Not arrogance, overconfidence, or disdain for Sen.
Confidence from past.
Don't recall exactly when.
Foraging Demon Realm Forest routinely, met girl my age.
Obvious noble; knew neither name, title, nor how she entered.
Took in her—torn clothes, tears, blood, wandering forest.
To bored me, just like adopting a stray cat.
Week together, grew close-ish.
But nameless girl died.
Off briefly for nearby herbs, became cold corpse from pursuing Extermination Squad dagger.
I tore them apart.
Oldish memory—initially unsure, but Sen's style convinced me.
'I already killed Sen.'
Not pale skin now, but white-haired woman: hideous scar forehead to chin, left-eye burn.
Silent, but dying smile to me—unfading.
Future Sen.
Gripping sword, certain.
"You need ten more years."
Current Sen can't beat me.