Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Extermination Squad -5
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The mages and Defense Bureau agents dispatched to the mansion where the Third Prince had been confined discovered a scene littered with traces of fierce combat, but no one was left behind.
The succubus collaborator who had helped the Third Prince escape appeared to have been captured and dragged off by the black mage forces, and they assessed a high likelihood that she had met a tragic end.
In his rage, the Third Prince fully cooperated with the pursuit of the Succubus Queen. He spilled everything he knew and willingly submitted to a physical examination.
After a thorough analysis by the consultant on illusion magic, codenamed "Mad Sorcerer", the Defense Bureau obtained crucial information.
"There's a massive gate linked to the 'Nest' in the Elmeister Territory in the western Empire."
"Wasn't the entrance to the 'Nest' in the Third Prince's head?"
"It is. But the data transmission speed and capacity are limited... In other words, it's a narrow entrance. Big enough for one succubus to come and go once a week."
There was no need to infiltrate the Academy with hordes of succubi, so keeping that narrow gateway open was sufficient. The limited bandwidth made attacks sluggish but defense advantageous.
It was the succubi's safety measure, ensuring minimal loss even if the Third Prince was captured. Normally, no information could have been extracted from such a narrow passage.
But the Mad Sorcerer had outmaneuvered them by using the data volume of a single succubus to pinpoint the massive gate's location.
"A massive gate... Why build it? Do you know, Senior?"
"Dream demons are unique lifeforms that traverse between physical form and information. But the conversion isn't a simple snap. You've heard of Pingbalrez, but it takes time... and they're vulnerable during the process."
"I asked you about it, Senior."
"It's like yanking out a USB while transferring files—errors galore," the Mad Sorcerer had quipped with some incomprehensible analogy.
That's why the succubi living in the information-based otherworld 'Nest' needed a well-crafted passage to safely emerge into reality.
And they'd need it to bring physical objects from reality into the 'Nest' as well.
"Sending a human soul through that narrow passage would take all day. The dream demons would have to scatter, extract life force or whatever, and haul it to the 'Nest'. So they need an entrance for that."
"Either way, it's a critical facility."
"Just collapsing it would deal massive damage. Like sealing a beehive entrance—they'd spend ages just carving a way out from inside."
Based on this intel, Second Prince Irid deployed the Defense Bureau's armed unit, the Extermination Squad, to Elmeister Territory. Their objective: shut down the massive gate.
In conjunction, Yuri Lanster—a field agent with distinguished service in the Great Succubus War and exceptional charm resistance—was reassigned to the Extermination Squad.
The 'Nest Entrance Shutdown Operation' commenced.
Yuna and I had gathered at the Academy's south gate to see Pingbalrez off. Yuna was sucking on a lollipop she'd bought from a nearby vendor, her face gloomy despite the sugar rush.
My expression probably mirrored hers perfectly—like rain clouds hanging over my face.
The weather was dreary too.
This was different from when the two of them left to back up Roderus. Pingbalrez's deployment this time had no set return date...
Pingbalrez had flatly refused our offer to come along, leaving both Yuna and me a bit hurt. Wouldn't it be great if we went together?
It was just the 'Nest Entrance Shutdown Operation', so no plans to clash with the Succubus Queen. Unless it was truly dire, asking for help now felt awkward.
She gave plenty of reasons for refusing, but I doubted that was her real motive. In my view... she just didn't want us to see it. Something like that.
See what, exactly?
Who knew. What were we to each other, anyway? We knew each other's measurements, scents—more about one another than not...
Click-clack. Click-clack.
The sound of heels echoed. I turned toward it, a light joke on the tip of my tongue.
"......"
Pitch-black uniform.
Pingbalrez... no, Yuri Lanster... wore a plain, unadorned jet-black uniform. The inner shirt, the gloves—all black.
Not the skin-tight suit that hugged her curves. This uniform was loose for unhindered movement, rugged rather than refined.
Her expression... different from her usual blank one. Those serene yellow eyes held the quiet gaze of a wolf looking down at a wounded deer.
My tongue felt glued down.
I hadn't imagined the uniform suiting her this well. In that moment, she seemed capable of effortlessly ripping out lives in a gruesome routine. The air reeked of blood.
She spoke lightly. But her tone was edged.
"Have you been waiting?"
"Ah, y-yeah... We have! Come to see you off... H-hey, say something quick...!"
Yuna flailed, smacking my thigh. She seemed thrown by this unfamiliar Yuri Lanster too.
I unleashed my killer joke.
"Suits you well, Pingbalrez. Is this the 'lone wolf' mode?"
"I'll gladly accept the compliment."
"......"
I'd teased her, expecting a retort or a cool brush-off. Something like, "And what about you, the illusory lady?"
But Yuri Lanster didn't play along.
Hic! Yuna started hiccuping, spooked by the chill vibe. I wanted to join her if I could.
Yuri Lanster nailed it shut.
"Well then, I'm off."
"...Yeah, okay."
Her words cut like a severance. I abandoned the urge to cling—Don't go, Pingbalrez, or One last meal together wouldn't hurt.
I had mountains of things to say to hold her back, and she probably knew it. That's why she cut it short.
Yuri Lanster walked past us. Yuna and I could only stare blankly at her retreating back.
But then.
V for victory.
Without turning, departing Yuri Lanster flashed a peace sign and gave a light wave. Only then did our tension ease, shoulders slumping.
We bid farewell to her cheekily fleeing figure, having scared us half to death.
"...Come back soon, Pingbalrez. We'll be waiting."
"Y-yeah! If you don't, I might come find you...!!"
Swish. Pingbalrez's ponytail swayed.
Her flickering pink hair, like candlelight, grew distant and vanished.
I chased the long-gone afterimage from my retinas before heading back to the lab with Yuna, hearts feeling hollow. Should've hidden that damn black uniform, I muttered inwardly.
Plip. Plop.
"Ah, it's raining."
"...Damn. Of all days."
A droplet hit my nose bridge. I looked up, half-wondering if I'd cried—thankfully, it was rain. Dark clouds rolled in from the west.
Heaven, you crying in my stead?
If so, tell you I don't need to cry. It's not that sad. Anyone would think we'd parted forever. Right? She'll come back.
Yeah, think positive. Like in The Little Prince—waiting will fill my life with thrilling anticipation. Reunion joy squared.
So this loneliness? It's happiness in disguise. That's what I'd tell myself.
There are two kinds of people who steel themselves for death.
Those bearing a mission heavier than death itself, or those whose lives weigh less than death. Rare are the courageous souls who value life deeply yet stake it anyway—so mostly the latter.
And the Extermination Squad gathered only the latter: those whose lives felt utterly worthless.
They'd lost everything. No hope of happiness ahead. Might as well use this life for revenge, crushing the throats of those who stole their reasons to live.
That's why they could risk it all. Charge into the jaws of death without hesitation.
Die today, tomorrow—who cared. In this den of twisted souls, they shared a sticky bond. A sense of belonging.
A camaraderie among the wretched.
Thus... the one who fled the Extermination Squad only to crawl back now...
The one who'd savored life's pleasures, now claiming "I had scars too" to rejoin... was hated. Unfit as a comrade. So thought the boy.
He vented loudly to his fellows.
"Deserting the Squad means abandoning resolve to die! Coming back now—what kind of nonsense is that?!"
"Hey, kid. Warning... no, advice: don't mess with Pink-Hair Lanster."
The one-eyed elder of the Squad muttered while staring into the campfire. But the sage old man's words, born of memory, fell on the frenzied boy's deaf ears.
"I get she wrecked shop back then. Fine! I know she has to join this op! But she could've tagged along as a regular agent without rejoining the Squad! Why take back a coward who fled for her life...!"
The boy believed she sullied the Squad's name.
This was a gathering of those resolved to die. Rumors said she'd chased the same woman around shamelessly as a field agent.
With that mindset, back in the Squad?
No way. Absolutely not. Someone clutching life's joys couldn't steal the Squad's pride—his sole boast.
Jealousy boiled within. Cloaked as honor. The boy sprang up, confronting her.
She—Yuri Lanster—sat on a stump, head bowed.
The air around her felt thick, sticky. Goosebumps rose unbidden. His body sensed the threat: Don't. Leave the hive alone.
But youthful impulsiveness overrode instinct. He stood before her, unleashing pent-up rage.
"...Get out of the Extermination Squad!"
"......"
Ask why? He'd list her sins. Scold her to stay gone like the coward she was.
But silently, wordlessly, she rose.
"G-get... out!! You don't qualify—you, who fled to life! No place for someone who's savored happiness! The Squad isn't...!!"
Right? Isn't it?
He scanned for agreement. Newer recruits nodded, sharing his fury.
But veterans, those who remembered Yuri Lanster... their eyes held pity. They gazed at the boy like a pitiable fool.
Why.
He learned soon enough—bodily.
Grip.
"...Guh?!"
Throat seized in an instant. Body hoisted. Iron grip tightened by his own weight. Breath crushed, gasping.
Crushing with brute force? He knew. Knew she'd reached transcendence. But this wasn't about strength. He wouldn't submit...!
The boy glared defiantly at Yuri Lanster. Mistake.
Crack!
Flash in his skull like a grenade. Fist. Felt like a siege hammer. Cheek tore, teeth shattered and spilled.
Won't yield to violence.
Thud! Crack!
Fists rained. Slammed to the ground. Boots followed. Blood sprayed, bones snapped. He tried resisting. Swung his dagger to kill. Futile.
Technique, power—outclassed.
Pulped. He was literal mush. Yet fists didn't stop. Methodically, rhythmically. Mechanical violence.
In agony, he thought: Why... not stop. I'll die. I'll die...?
Through swollen-shut eyes, he peered at the violence's source. Yellow glint in the dark. Emotionless eyes, reeking of death, floated.
Then he understood.
The Extermination Squad wasn't about throwing away life.
Because they threw it away—they could do anything. That was key.
To Yuri Lanster, the boy was interference. His outbursts could shake her standing in the Squad, lowering op success. So eliminate fully.
No hesitation in beating him to death.
Spying succubus? What could that lewd, dull body do? Just honed taijutsu? Worthless...
She'd silenced such talk with fists before. No mercy.
Even absent from the Squad...
With Analyst C's aid to desert, handling odd jobs, bantering, mingling with mages—all those moments, the seared hatred lingered.
Re-adapting was swift. Just drag it out.
"M-mer... mercy... mercy..."
Only at his feeble plea did the fists halt.
He got it. The pause wasn't mercy sparing his life... but calculation: more meat shields the better.
Yuri Lanster wiped bloodied fists on his uniform and ordered.
"Seris."
"Yes, Senior!"
"Clean it up."
"Roger! Haul to medical. If he's useless, leave him."
Seris grinned near-ecstatically, tidying the gore. She returned. Her idolized senior finally back in the Squad.
Laughter spread among the Squad members encircling the scene. Welcoming smiles for their returned comrade, brimming with joy.
Unchanged. Undiminished.
The Squad's mad dog had returned.