Chapter 112
Chapter 112
Episode 112
EP27 - Star Gazing Mountain Redevelopment (2)
Guardian Force Black Ops Rehm was tense.
“What shall we do…? I’m sorry, but I can’t…”
Rebecca was saying softly. With a face that looked like she was strangling someone.
“I’m sorry…. I don’t have the emotional capacity…”
-
Princess! Please, just once, help us…!
“…….”
The caller's request was as follows.
To announce that the #1 ranking in the 「Dungeon of Escalating Competition↑」 was the achievement of Dante's Assassination Squad, they wanted Rebecca to step forward personally.
However, would Princess Rebecca do such a thing?
She was the one who suggested doing it anonymously?
“I’m sorry…”
And so, the Princess intended to refuse politely.
But the department professor was persistent.
-
Princess!! This is an opportunity! If it’s truly Professor Dante Hiakapo’s Assassination Squad, aren’t they overwhelmingly superior to students from other countries!? We are gathering data on our end, so if the Princess could just stir things up a bit, we could certainly make it an achievement of the Hiaka Kingdom…!
The words continued to pour out.
They didn't know if it was actually Dante's Assassination Squad's achievement. Professor Dante had requested it through Wilhelm, the Head Student (the curly-haired one who accompanied the Assassination Daily). Wilhelm had kept his mouth shut about it.
The department, unaware of such facts, was urging the Princess towards bankruptcy.
“Princess…”
Rehm carefully appealed for permission to speak on the call, but Rebecca ignored him.
However, she briefly moved the receiver away from her ear.
With trembling hands, she took out a cigarette case and opened it.
It was empty.
-
As the Princess knows…
“I’m not doing it.”
-
…What!?
Rehm inwardly panicked.
Rebecca also seemed to realize her mistake.
“…Yes. Ah, I’m sorry. How many times have I told you…? Please understand my position that I cannot do it…”
-
Ah, yes! But this is the first time I’ve called…!
“I’m sorry, then…”
After hanging up, she roughly put down the 「receiver」.
Bang!
Rehm urgently ran to his room to find spare cigarettes.
Left alone, Rebecca sighed.
“Haa……”
This was the fifth time. A call from the department. Her mask, which she always wore firmly in front of others, was on the verge of cracking from irritation.
“Stigmata Dungeon, Stigmata Dungeon, Stigmata Dungeon……”
She was so tired of it that she was starting to feel disgusted.
What if she hadn't suggested anonymity…?
At a time when Gray's photos were already frequently appearing on the web.
By now, Dante's Assassination Squad would have started gaining worldwide fame.
The Empire would have expedited the academic exchange agreement to snatch them away.
After that, Hiaka would gradually be eroded by the Empire's capital and become a vassal state.
And she would have lost the souls she painstakingly collected through a losing gamble in 「Gambling of Fortune and Misfortune □」.
“……I’d rather kill myself.”
Her heart pounded wildly. Even if she lost 100 million Hica. Even if she abdicated her title as Princess. She must not lose the collected souls. That was the only card Rebecca could freely wield on her own.
To obtain souls, she went to mass every dawn. She squeezed her feet into ridiculously high heels. She recited prayers she had no interest in. It was sickening to pretend to be a noble girl. She had been doing that damnable act for years.
It was just before what she had collected would be lost.
“How did it come to this…?”
A mournful murmur escaped her lips.
“Surely, there was no problem…”
Her plan upon entering the Academy was not this.
She intended to take talented children. Raise them well. Diligently collect souls. Go to the Empire. Assassinate the Emperor. And then, unfold countless dreams.
But now, she felt anxious every day about her entire fortune disappearing.
Where exactly did the problem start? What went wrong? Because of whom?
‘There is none.’
No matter how much she thought about it, there was no cause.
How did the Hidden Dragon Society get the chance to challenge the Imperial Stigmata Dungeon?
It was because the Empire was showing favor to Hiaka after the Assassination Daily became a hit.
What was the reason for the Assassination Daily's filming schedule being set?
It was due to the department's decision to open up.
Why did the department discuss opening up?
It was due to the betrayal of the neutral professors.
Why did the neutral professors betray?
It wasn't the fault of any single person.
In other words, this entire situation was something beyond human control from its very beginning.
Her hand, clutching the empty cigarette case, tightened.
Crush.
Nothing was going Rebecca's way.
If there was any silver lining in the midst of the world collapsing, it was that there was one lifeline.
‘……Professor Dante.’
But this lifeline was also problematic.
He simply wouldn't listen.
Professor Dante was too free-spirited. He absolutely refused to move according to her will. Even though he was the only one who could overturn everything in this situation.
He seemed to be on the verge of giving in, like he was on her side, but not quite. That drove Rebecca mad.
What should she do?
How on earth could she put a leash on that professor?
If only she could have him completely, she wouldn't have to worry about this…
“Princess.”
Just then, Lord Rehm returned to the room and handed her the cigarette case.
-
Ring ring!
At the same time, the phone rang.
She thought this was the sixth time. And half of Rebecca's guess was correct.
-
…In relation to this, we intend to escalate the situation. Please accompany the Hidden Dragon Society.
“……”
Rebecca suppressed the harsh words rising in her throat and asked softly.
“…May I ask one thing?”
-
Yes, Princess.
“…Whose orders are these?”
-
They are orders from the Golden Wheel Palace.
It was the royal family.
The royal family, aware of the Hidden Dragon Society's greatness, also wanted to get in on this situation.
“……”
Rebecca’s jaw tightened. There were emotions in the world that could only be expressed with vulgar and crude words. Rebecca was slowly realizing she was screwed.
“……I will consider it.”
After hanging up, she hastily stood up.
“Lord Rehm. Have the car ready.”
“Ah, yes. But Lord Cheongru is about to arrive…”
“Will I die if I don’t have a single guard? Go and get the car ready.”
“Understood. Who are you going to see?”
“Father.”
‘Yes? Ah, yes…’ Rehm was puzzled, as she was going to see the King without even an appointment.
Nevertheless, if the Princess said to go, he would go. The two headed out together.
At the same time,
The old Guardian Knight, Cheongru, saw her outside the window and made a phone call somewhere.
“Yes. They are moving. I will share the location.”
After hanging up, the old knight Cheongru,
watched the car drive away and clicked his tongue.
“…A worm-like woman.”
“Huff, huff…”
“Kuhaha…. W-water…”
The children who were running collapsed, gasping for breath. It was Dante's Assassination Squad.
We are currently training.
We train like this every day now.
“Ugh, ugh… cough…!”
“Hey! Huff huff… D-don’t throw up, Kendrake, you bastard…! Huff huff… If you throw up…! Huff huff… I’ll again…!”
“…Kya-ha-ha! Huff. Fucking, huff, funny…”
Gray and Balmung, as well as the strong Kendrake and Elise, were panting as if they were dying, their heads buried in the ground. This was because heavier 「Restraint Devices」 were attached to the strong children during training.
“The records are improving little by little. You’re all doing well.”
Originally, we had two more hours of training left.
But my plan changed with a suddenly appearing status window.
“That’s all for today’s training.”
“…Professor, huff, where are you going…?”
As I packed my things, Gray asked.
“There’s somewhere I need to go nearby. Everyone, go in and rest well.”
Everyone found the training grueling, but they seemed reluctant to rest.
They felt more at ease training.
Because the next mission would begin soon.
But there was something more important now.
⋮
< ⧉ Global [Erosion] is progressing.
< Progress : 1 / 3 >
⋮
Demons are not mere monsters.
They are incredibly diligent bastards. Monsters who spend all day plotting to kill humans.
As 「Erosion」 begins and the [Progress] increases, corresponding demon strategies accompany it.
Based on my prior knowledge, they were planning indiscriminate terror attacks on the Academy dormitories.
It was currently winter break. With the department opened, many students and professors had left the 0 Zone to return home. The remaining children were those who had nowhere to return to, like our kids. The demons were targeting them.
I had to do what an assassin could do.
I washed up, shaved, and dried my hair.
I looked in the mirror. It was me. I had just accepted it when others said I was handsome, but after washing up, I thought I looked quite handsome.
After blow-drying, I neatly slicked my hair back with pomade. It’s good to be handsome. To look good in any hairstyle.
Wearing my pressed uniform and shoes, I was ready. These were the preparations for this assassination.
Ding!
On the way to the banquet hall, I got into the elevator.
As the doors were about to close, a hand slipped in.
“Hey. Let’s ride together.”
“Why are you in such a hurry? You saw us coming.”
Two men followed me in. Looking at their name tags, both were 'Minions'.
The traitors of humanity who received the ultimate suicide pact in exchange for a contract with demons.
“Yawn, I’m tired. Where are you going, bro?”
A Minion asked me.
“The banquet hall.”
“The banquet hall? No wonder you looked so dapper.”
“Why are you going to the banquet hall? To pick up girls? Hahaha!”
“Hahaha! Lucky you. The place is supposed to be good today!”
At this moment, I was behind the two, and they were facing the door in front of me.
However, I had a premonition. Both of them seemed to be looking at me, their eyes darting as if trying to bore into my soul.
“Not for women.”
“Then who are you here to see?”
“You guys.”
Tick.
I shot one of them in the head with a pre-prepared pistol. 'Y-you bastard!!' By the time the other drew his sword, the muzzle was already at his forehead. The sound of the silencer was crisp. The two bodies collapsed, and blood began to spread on the floor. Disliking that, I had to move to a corner.
Ding!
Fortunately, the doors opened before my shoes got wet. As I stepped out, I heard faint music. Walking down the corridor, I killed a few more people. All of them were 'Minions'. Today, the banquet hall in Zone 3 was a party for external guests only, but it wasn't really like that.
“Hey. Who are you?”
“Unauthorized personnel are not permitted.”
Two guards blocked my way. I hoped they might be human, but thankfully, they were Minions. Tick, tick. The two hulks collapsed, and I opened the door to the banquet hall.
In the dim light, no one was dancing. There was no champagne. There wasn't even a musician; the music flowed from a crystal ball. However, siege weapons were lined up on the floor. Like anti-tank rockets.
I thought they would at least pretend it was a banquet hall. If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered dressing up. ‘Hey! Who are you!’ Someone shouted then. Looking at the scattered weapons, they said.
“……You guys were planning to shoot this at the student dormitories.”
A man in a military uniform shouted.
“What are you talking about, you son of a bitch! Did your master send you? State your identity and purpose!”
I decided to tell them.
First, my identity.
“Senior Professor, Assassination Department, Dante Hiakapo.”
Purpose.
“Protection of students.”
After that, I destroyed the area with the 「Colossus Soldier's Sword○」 and killed all the Minions. I didn't let a single one escape.
Around that time, a Hornless Demon emerged from the far side of the banquet hall. It was similar to Toxin, whom I had killed before.
The combat was one-sided.
Now I could handle 「Illusion Magic」 and 「Martial Arts」 to some extent. And I wielded a [National Treasure]. The demon was no match for me.
Kuaaang ―
The demon desperately tried to escape through the window but was smashed against the wall by an invisible hand, turning into a bloody mess.
“…Will you spare me?”
This Hornless Demon asked calmly.
I didn't answer.
Tick.
Demons must be killed.
┃ Duty Achieved : [Student Protection]
┃ Reward : Star Fragment × 5
< Star Fragments Owned : 221 (▲5) >
The location was by a lake. Ran hid among the trees.
“……”
She imagined she felt the same way as the perverted woodcutter who spied on a fairy bathing.
Of course, she wasn't a woodcutter, and the one over there wasn't a fairy. Instead of fairy clothes, she was wearing something like a ghillie suit.
However, as she splashed water on her face, her hood slipped back, revealing two round horns, like those of a lamb, within her sky-blue hair.
Two horns, no less.
‘What is that?’
‘It’s a demon.’
And it was a 'Two-Horned Demon'.
Demons are classified by the number of horns: Hornless, One-Horned, Two-Horned, and Three-Horned Demons. A Three-Horned Demon is a Demon King.
In other words, 'that' was the demon one rank below the Demon King. A boss monster that should not exist in the world at this point.
Just as the power difference between a Hornless and a One-Horned Demon is immense, the difference between a One-Horned and a Two-Horned Demon is also enormous.
However, since the Demon King is a somewhat conceptual existence, 'that' could be considered the strongest enemy existing in the material world.
‘Hmm. So, is this a scene of a monster capable of annihilating an entire nation, splashing water on its face?’
Ran recalled something she had said once.
-
…Something that absolutely had to die within the world's order is being forcibly kept alive within it.
It was certain that 'that' was the subject, but was it because it had two horns? Or because it was a monster that shouldn't appear at this point? However, she could only read the Systematicity⧉ announcements, lacking the ability to interpret them.
── ⧉ ──
Announcement 1: It has been confirmed that something that absolutely had to die within the world's order is being forcibly kept alive within the Error Space.
Announcement 2: Dungeon event points within the Error Space are intersecting… (Checking) >
── ⧉ ──
Even Announcement 2 was still unfinished.
‘…Professor would know.’
For some reason, Professor Dante seemed to know a lot about this world.
Ran decided to return and report.
To the Professor.
However, she forgot on the way down.
⋮
“What happened today?”
Dante asked, wiping his hands in soapy water several times.
Ran, deep in thought, replied.
“Nothing much.”
“I see. We’ll go together tomorrow.”
“Why are we going together?”
“Princess Rebecca intends to expedite the Star Gazing Mountain redevelopment. I plan to go ahead and check it out.”
“The Witch of the Graveyard?”
“That’s right.”
After that, Dante continued to wash his hands meticulously. For a long time.