Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: As Usual
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For me, the story began in the auditorium, the stage for the play.
"You really want me to wear this?"
Arni Duratan held out a golden wig she'd borrowed from Professor Bertio.
She looked uneasy about it too, but she showed no signs of backing down.
'No time for this.'
Sen was combing through every inch of the academy, and I'd been searching right up until a moment ago.
That's when I'd run into Arni Duratan and gotten dragged here.
"Fine, but just once. I'm busy today."
"Got it. Thanks."
It was annoying and a hassle, but since it was just one scene and wouldn't even take five minutes, I decided to go along with it.
Better than her clinging to me and making it drag on.
While Arni closed her eyes to get into character, I slipped on the golden wig.
Word was it came from a pro theater troupe—not just plopped on top, but secured with buttons.
'Whoa, neat.'
I shook my head every which way, but it stayed firmly in place. Makes sense for dynamic fight scenes in a play.
"Let's do it."
Arni was ready; she dropped to her knees, and I laid my head in her lap.
"I've lost everything."
"I am still here."
"What I desired most came to me only at the very end."
"Foolish man."
It wrapped up quicker than expected, but I rose slowly, giving Arni a strange look.
"Not much different."
"......"
"You're the one who said disguising me like Ares might bring out the emotion."
But it wasn't any different?
Maybe because I'm not really Ares?
Personally, it felt even more awkward than before—and from her reaction, I wasn't alone.
Arni nodded weakly, looking more shocked than I was.
'Tch.'
I had no idea why she was trying so hard, but I couldn't help any more than this.
I grabbed my sword from against the wall and started to remove the wig.
Kyaaaah!
Magical beast! A magical beast!
Run!
The screams from outside startled me; I left Arni behind and bolted out.
The festive academy had turned into a bug party in an instant.
They weren't attacking people, but they were devouring the food stalls—and the stalls themselves.
'What the hell.'
Just a moment of looking away, and this?
I knew exactly where to go.
The opposite direction from the fleeing crowds. The stenchier it got, the more it filled my lungs.
Like standing in a pile of garbage.
"D-Daniel?"
I blew past Ares without a glance and spotted it at the edge of my vision: a bipedal magical beast that looked almost human, and a girl collapsed before it.
'Hmm?'
A subtle, wide, thin-spreading mana tickled my nose. The unique mana reflecting the Black Forest witches' desire to survive.
"Have you given up at last? Faithless witch who sold your soul for life, filthy whore. Even the bugs won't touch your corpse."
'Ah, got it.'
One line, and I understood the situation.
Adriana must be from the Black Forest witches, caught up in fate again, strangling herself.
'These guys never change.'
Even when I lived in the forest, they clung to me babbling about fate.
I drew my sword mid-leap toward the king of bugs. It recoiled from the first strike, glaring at me.
'Tougher than I thought.'
The ancient beasts were all outliers, so I'd braced for Abiel too.
What I fear are the ones blasting random magic.
Physical fighters like Abiel? Much easier for me.
A quick glance at Adriana behind it—she flinched and covered herself.
"D-Don't look! Don't look at ugly, filthy me!"
I gave her flailing-for-survival self a few honest words, then turned back.
Abiel, who'd been glaring, finally spoke.
"Boy, I need only take the witch's life. That filthy one broke the taboo."
"Taboos vanish eventually anyway. Why not let it slide?"
"What?"
"Nothing, just later stuff."
Regardless, Adriana tried forbidden magic now, so per the pact with ancient beasts, Abiel came as executioner.
The academy was chaos, but no deaths. Just kill Adriana, literally.
'Can't back off, though.'
If Adriana's a Black Forest witch, I have piles of questions. Tons to gain.
Not just logic—personally, no way I'd retreat.
Seeing her desperate struggle reminded me of my final moments, surrounded by beasts, swinging till the end.
I failed.
"You'll survive."
I gripped my sword and took stance. Abiel sneered mockingly and charged.
My blade met its fist.
"......!"
"Impressive, for sure."
Its punch lived up to claiming a spot among ancient beasts on physical prowess alone—heavy.
But Abiel was more shocked; it yanked back, checking its left hand with a chill sensation.
"Just now......"
"Bug senses? Sharp."
Not just any bug.
A little longer, and I'd have severed that left hand. Pity.
Abiel stared in shock.
"Who are you?"
"Name? Daniel McClane."
"Really human? How'd you match my speed......"
Its words drew an involuntary laugh. I'd lost count of how many ancient beasts said that.
"Sherpa. Forest guide, simply put."
Same question, same answer always.
Yeah, just a sherpa.
Fighting to survive in the Demon Realm Forest, until I entered your food chain at the top.
"You know about us."
"Plenty."
"......?"
"In other timelines, about half of you died by my hand."
"......What?"
I lunged at the flustered Abiel, swinging. Bugs swarmed to block, but my blade pierced their wall into its shoulder.
"Gah!"
"Back then, I was injured, aging—tough."
Now? Pristine 18-year-old.
Not slacking on training either.
Forced into my prime.
Abiel retreated under my barrage, eyes darting for escape—gaps inevitable.
Kwachak.
"Gaaaah!"
Abiel clutched its pierced right eye, writhing.
I yanked the sword free; crimson-black blood poured.
Bugs charged to protect their king, but one swing sent them flying in sword-wind.
"I'll let you go. Leave."
"Urk!"
Killing Abiel here? Pointless. Might make bugs rampage, worse damage.
Implant trauma in the forest later—easy cleanup.
But Abiel was stubborn, buggy resilience.
"Treating me like a bug......"
You are one.
"Kill me and break the pact? Witches'll swarm you. Quit now."
Simple reason it couldn't kill others: breaking pact meant Black Forest witches would kill it.
But it chuckled hollowly.
"You act like you know everything."
"......?"
What? Abiel gathered bugs, laughing creepily.
Scraping wings and legs everywhere—like every Elgrid bug converging.
The bug cloud blotting the sky grew, diving at me.
"Blame the 'Earliest Apocalypse'—killing one human won't break the pact."
"......What?"
"Means I'm killing you."
I shook my head at its cackling.
"No, 'Earliest Apocalypse'?"
"Don't know that much?"
Abiel howled laughter, but after a pause, I replied coldly.
"You mean Rin? The girl with long black hair."
Abiel froze mid-laugh.
Face screaming how do you know? I glared icily.
"You know something."
"......!"
I unleashed killing intent involuntarily, stepping forward—Abiel stepped back.
My mind raced: capture for info? Tough.
'As long as Abiel lives, bugs keep coming.'
Takes time either way—might draw real heavy-hitters.
'No choice. No retreat, so kill Abiel here. Get info from Adriana or head to Demon Realm Forest myself.'
If Abiel knows, other ancients or witches might too.
Shocking my past ties knew Rin's secret, but they hid so much—I never pried.
Like I never guessed Rin would end humanity.
They never guessed my link to her.
Table that; I went for Abiel's neck—but it flattened and crawled away bug-style.
"I won't forgive the one who shamed me thus!"
"Bugs crawl. What's the issue?"
Chase? No, the swarm pouring from the sky first.
'Weak to swarm tactics.'
Low mana means sword limits vs. that horde.
Right then—massive storm from the sky.
It sucked in bugs, shredding them to raining corpses.
Familiar spell.
Weaker scale and skill than I remembered, but definitely familiar.
"If I block the bugs, can you kill that beast?"
Soft voice, firm resolve.
Forest scent teasing my nose.
Scattering golden hair, clear blue eyes.
"......"
The elf stood beside me, sword and staff in hand.
Brain hammered blank, but my mouth answered on reflex.
"As usual."
The haughty elf never listened when I told clients to stay put—we synced up often.
I take the main beast; she clears the rest.
Yeah, just like always.