Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Bad Bastard
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“Ancient demon beast?”
Sen gave me a puzzled look as she repeated my words.
It was a natural reaction, since even the Extermination Squad wouldn’t have much intel on the deeper parts of the Demon Realm Forest.
That didn’t mean I could spill all the details, though.
It was a kind of world secret.
Something massive that mustn’t be revealed.
“Yeah, something like that. Point is, the academy’s in a really dangerous spot right now.”
That bug from earlier was probably one of the ancient demon beast’s underlings. It had that inscription I knew all too well.
Of course, there were some odd bits.
‘If it’s bug-handling, is it Abbiel?’
Abbiel, king of the bugs.
He commanded swarms of insects without using magic himself, relying instead on the sheer numbers of his minions and his freakish physical prowess.
But that didn’t make him a pushover. Among ancient demon beasts who wielded all sorts of high-level magic, he’d carved out his place purely through raw bodily might.
‘Abbiel was already dead in my past life, though.’
His bugs were so numerous they popped up all over the forest, but I’d heard Abbiel himself had croaked before I even ventured deep inside.
‘Is he still alive at this point?’
I’d gotten the info from a demon beast I was kinda tight with, but he wasn’t one for gossiping about others, so the details were fuzzy.
From what my old pal had said, Abbiel was the kind of monster who proved bugs could be apocalyptic all on their own.
‘It’s murky.’
I’d never faced Abbiel head-on, had no clue why he’d show up here, or who was even summoning him.
Zero idea.
‘Either way, his minions showing up so brazenly spells trouble.’
I once read that if a single bug shows up in your house, hundreds more are already nesting there.
Abbiel’s crew was probably worse, not better.
“What the hell are you even thinking about all by yourself?”
“Ah.”
I’d gotten so lost in thought I’d forgotten Sen was there.
She’d hopped onto my bed at some point and was staring right at me. Figured it was a good opportunity anyway, so I flashed a small smile.
“Got a job for you.”
Time to cash in on that Extermination Squad connection.
“What?”
“Seems like someone’s summoning a seriously dangerous demon beast straight to the academy. Call up your higher-ups and have them nab the guy.”
It’d cost a fortune, but we had our dean.
If I didn’t stop this, the academy was toast anyway. She’d cough up the cash, even if she had to borrow it.
Sen’s face darkened, and she shook her head.
“Haven’t been able to reach the Extermination Squad lately.”
“What?”
What the hell was that about?
Suddenly, like we were in some counseling session, Sen started unloading everything.
“Contact with them cut off right after Zabalancho. And get this—they took the Zabalancho assassination and intel jobs but hid that he was a pirate lord’s exec from me.”
I’d never seen her like this.
Sen’s eyes trembled like a kid who’d lost her parents, shaking with fear and uncertainty.
‘The Extermination Squad’s totally screwed her over.’
She probably suspected betrayal, but couldn’t let go. They were her whole world.
Still, it was weird.
From what I knew, she’d stick with them into the future—right up until my blade ended her.
I pretended to mull it over, then reassured her.
“Maybe they’re just tied up right now. Like, fighting a bullmastiff or something.”
“Then why hide Zabalancho’s intel from me?”
“......Probably testing you.”
“Testing?”
“Figure if he’s your target, dig up the dirt yourself.”
I was just spouting nonsense, but Sen seemed to buy it, nodding faintly.
“I see.”
“So, no contact with the Squad right now, got it?”
This was getting complicated.
But Sen shook her head and hopped off the bed.
“I’ll take it.”
“Huh?”
“I’m Extermination Squad too. I’ll handle the job.”
“You sure you can?”
Honestly, I’d take help from a three-legged cat right now, so no reason to turn her down.
But whoever this summoner was, they were bad news—powerful enough to call an ancient demon beast. Sen could get hurt.
“It’s fine. Starting tomorrow morning, I’ll move out. Anyone acting weird, out of routine, or scheming something— I’ll check them all out.”
Her sullen face lit up a bit now that she had a mission. Felt like I’d given her purpose.
“Alright, thanks. I owe you.”
With the job accepted, Sen strode out my window with determined steps and headed back to her room.
Festival day two.
Having handed the job to Sen, I was currently in the middle of a dramatic collapse.
Head resting right on Arni Duratan’s lap, no less.
“I’ve lost everything.”
I croaked it out in my dying-man voice, and Arni gently took my hand.
“You still have me.”
Our eyes met.
I quirked the corner of my mouth ever so slightly and slowly closed my eyes.
“The one thing I desired most... has come to me only at the very end.”
With my eyes shut, I couldn’t see what Arni was doing, but it felt like she was stroking my hair softly.
“You fool.”
Her voice cracked with emotion, and we held the pose for a moment before Professor Vertio’s wry tone cut in.
“Not quite. Still lacking. Your emotions aren’t fully locked in.”
“I see.”
Arni deflated.
Professor Vertio kept up the advice.
“Got anyone you like? Or liked? Try picturing them—it’ll come easier.”
“......Understood.”
“Think of Ares.”
I whispered it low so Vertio wouldn’t hear. Arni glanced at me, then slumped further with a meek “Got it.”
The girl who was always so confident— what was up with her? Anyway, practice dragged on, but she didn’t improve much.
Finally, the short session wrapped.
As I stretched, someone tapped my back.
“There you are.”
“......”
I thought a goblin had snuck up on me.
May stood there, arms crossed, glaring daggers and huffing through her nose.
“I said we’re going on a date! Where the hell have you been wandering off to?”
“No, I got roped into helping Arni with her lines.”
No clue why I was explaining myself, but skipping it felt like asking for trouble.
Seemed she bought that it wasn’t dodging her but play practice, so her anger eased a tad as she hooked her arm through mine.
“Come on already. I planned the whole thing for us.”
She grinned as she said it, but my aching heart made me carefully unhook her arm.
“Why? Fine. It was supposed to be the whole festival, but I’ll wrap it in one day. Just make it count.”
I’d planned to hold off till after the fest—keep the good vibes going—but May needed to hear it now.
No point stringing her along.
“May, like I said before, I have someone I like.”
“......”
“I don’t want to give you false hope by leading you on.”
Firm rejection.
But anything less would just hurt her more in the end.
“I’m grateful for your feelings—truly. You’re precious to me, so I don’t want you getting hurt worse.”
Even if it soured things between us or turned it purely transactional, this felt right.
May replied flatly.
“I told you last time. I know.”
“Right, so this kind of thing...”
“You know what?”
May fished out a candy, fumbling to unwrap it—uncharacteristically clumsy.
“First time feeling like this. Can’t hold back ’cause I like someone so damn much. Thought it was Ares before, but what I feel for you? Totally different.”
She finally got the wrapper off but just stared at the candy as she kept talking.
“Sorry, but I can’t worry about your feelings right now. Mine are overwhelming enough.”
“But...”
I tried to speak, but May popped the candy into my mouth, twirling the stick to shut me up.
“What, uncomfortable? Pisses you off having some girl you don’t like clinging? Tough. I’ve always been selfish.”
“......”
“Anyway, let’s go. I’m hungry.”
She linked arms again and dragged me along. I shut my mouth and trudged after her.
It wasn’t agreement.
Just...
I’d caught the tiny teardrops in her eyes—pretending to be nonchalant—glinting in the sunlight.
All strength drained from me. Couldn’t say a word as I followed.
“Bad bastard.”
Her whisper was so soft, even right beside me, it barely registered—but it stung like hell.