177. Apostle of Gluttony
177. Apostle of Gluttony
A wide clearing. No—the professors surrounding the clearing that had been forest just moments ago swallowed hard.
"...Is it truly acceptable to leave this be?"
"F... first of all, since the accident we feared did not occur, leaving it be is the correct course in princi... ple."
Leaving it be is correct?
Ridiculous.
It isn't that leaving it be is correct.
It's that they have no choice but to leave it be.
To be honest, those three rampaging over there.
No, two. Eliarnes and Eurasia. It was because they had instinctively realized that subduing those two without any problems was impossible.
Were they even opponents that could be subdued in the first place?
This area had been forest. A forest thick with vegetation. A forest densely packed with wildflowers and trees. But that did not last long.
The blonde girl. The instant Eurasia's Sword Energy swept through the forest, the forest became a clearing. If it had been only that, the professors would have had no reason to be alarmed.
Eurasia's Sword Energy had precisely cut down only the trees and wildflowers, avoiding the fifty-eight students.
Had the students been gathered in one place? No. They were scattered here and there, hiding behind trees, lying flat among the wildflowers.
But Eurasia's Sword Energy did not so much as graze a single hair on those students, cleanly cutting down only what she intended.
Was her sword exceptional, then? A famed blade capable of cutting all things in the world? No. She had merely swung a crude club that looked like it had been picked up from who knows where.
She had even precisely calculated the direction the trees would fall so that the felled trees would not land on the students.
The Eurasia known to the academy is Tier 5. But judging by her actual skill alone, if one were to say she was Tier 6—no, at the threshold of Tier 7—most people would believe it without doubt.
And Eliarnes.
Her movements were so intense that none of the professors present could replicate them.
They could not grasp her exact Realm. She hid it that well, and her movements were that unorthodox.
She dodges with minimal movement and subdues with minimal force.
Her subduing is also perfect. Precise fractures.
If done carelessly, it could leave lasting damage, but Eliarnes seemed to have calculated even that, breaking bones in a way that would heal cleanly later.
Where to strike to cause more pain, where to strike to break more easily, how to inflict greater suffering on a human being—Eliarnes moved as if she knew all of it better than anyone.
She didn't even hesitate to inflict violence. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying it...
No matter that they were the same gender, smashing a girl's nose, shattering her cheekbone, and kicking her in the lower abdomen... is that not a bit much?
The same goes for the boys.
She mercilessly kicks them in the groin, then makes a face as if she's the one in more pain...
"They are... students who give one much to think about... I never imagined they would be at that level."
"Haha... Indeed. I never imagined that two students who had never once distinguished themselves in practical combat lectures would be like this."
Eurasia and Eliarnes.
The two girls had never distinguished themselves in the academy's combat-related lectures.
Recently, Eliarnes had been conducting private lectures with Leona alone. Because of that, even the academy's professors had not grasped her skill.
Eurasia. She had never once taken a combat-related lecture seriously.
The only time Eurasia got serious was during her after-school sparring sessions with Eliarnes.
She had never put her full effort into an ordinary lecture.
Not only was there no need, but it was Eurasia's consideration, not wanting to crush the spirits of the other students.
But the professors did not know that reason.
After all, Eurasia's real training took place in a private training hall with no one around.
That was why the eight professors present could not help but be astonished.
And each of them reached their own conclusion in their heads.
Subduing them was naturally impossible.
Then what about victory in a life-or-death struggle?
If those students had opened their Upper Dantian.
...They could not be certain.
"Hah..."
The bitter sighs escaping the professors' lips.
And the sound of a clap! rang out at the same moment.
"Now, now, professors?"
A black sleeveless top and black shorts.
Black hair and red eyes.
Adelia Baros drew the professors' attention.
"Hmm... what should we call this situation? Should we call it the Eliarnes Subjugation? Hehe. Anyway, the current situation is more or less settled, so shouldn't you leave the rest to me and return to your posts? The movements of Signia Group C have already exceeded the academy's expectations as well. I hear they've encountered a captain-class Monster over there right now?"
Signia Group C.
The group that includes Stella Verheigen, disciple of the Flame Emperor.
Her group is moving at overwhelming speed, as if intent on rooting out every Monster in the mountains.
The points her group has collected total 1,700 points.
Stella earned through hunting Monsters alone what Eliarnes earned by plundering students.
As if that weren't enough, they encountered a captain-class Monster on only the third day. It may be a final exam where results matter, but with grades and skill like that, Stella's level needs to be observed closely.
Because within it, a glimpse of the magic passed down by the Flame Emperor might be visible. That was why the professors nodded without complaint and left.
And so, left alone after the professors dispersed, Adelia laughed quietly.
Over the past three days, it was Adelia who had driven Monsters toward Stella. It was also Adelia who had led her to encounter a captain-class Monster on the outskirts of the forest.
But in that process, she had been unable to pay attention to Eliarnes's group. That was why she was late.
If she were any later than this, it would be troublesome.
"I did my best to fulfill my duty as a professor, but I'm both worried and curious about what Eliarnes will think of me..."
Black feathers scattered. The black feathers embroidering the empty air seeped into space itself, stimulating the 'Barrier' spread across these mountains.
"Still, I hope she at least knows that I worked hard to protect Eurasia."
*****
"These little shits really did hide their points and come."
The points obtained were 580 points, 10 points per person.
To finish the exam, we were short by 170 points.
Tch. Clicking my tongue, I hopped over the students sprawled on the ground and approached Silina.
"You got the gist, right?"
"I understood that they didn't just attack because they dislike you."
I handed a piece of paper to Silina, who wore a complicated expression in many ways.
"What's this?"
"The names of the kids who've attacked so far."
I handed it over without a word, but Silina seemed to have grasped my intent exactly.
"...You weren't writing these down to torment them more?"
"What the hell do you take me for?"
"A thug. Trash. A fox. A baby gorilla. A lecher."
"...What is this crazy bitch saying?"
Honestly, thug and trash... fine.
I can accept those to some degree.
But fox, baby gorilla, lecher... what kind of bullshit is that?
And lecher? Across both my Past Life and this life, I'm a clean virgin who has absolutely no business hearing that.
"Good heavens. That's the first time in my life I've been called a crazy bitch."
"It's the first time I've heard that too."
"Then let's call it even."
Silina, who had let out a small laugh, took the note I handed her.
"So, what do you want me to do?"
"Handle it as you see fit. I'll cover the costs. And once summer break starts soon, let's move in earnest from then."
"You don't have to cover the costs. And what do you mean by move?"
"I go to the Holy Kingdom, and 'you' go to the Beruna Region and move according to plan."
"Aha..."
The preparations for the plan Silina had mentioned before were long finished.
I go to the Holy Kingdom and extract Silina's person who has infiltrated the Cartel, as she said.
Silina—no, Silina's doll—enters the iron mine in the Beruna Region and is attacked by a collateral-line escort knight.
My plan has a high chance of failure.
Silina agreed with that, and Fabiana accepted it as unavoidable.
On the other hand, Silina's plan cannot fail.
Because the knight who will attack Silina is a person Fabiana personally planted.
Not only that, but Fabiana has many informants planted in the collateral line of the Beruna Region.
If the Empire's Second Princess is attacked by a collateral-line escort inside an iron mine where there are no watching eyes and only collateral-line people, and she somehow escapes and makes it known—
All hell will break loose.
And didn't Silina nearly die in the Labyrinth not long ago? So the imperial family will go after the collateral line with fire in their eyes.
And in preparation for that, even at this very moment, Silina's merchant guild and numerous other merchant guilds are pulling out of the iron mining industry in the Beruna Region.
The outflow of funds in that process was manipulated very naturally, and even if the collateral line collapses, the business itself has been set up to be maintained so that the people depending on the Beruna iron mines don't starve to death.
Naturally, measures have also been completed so that no damage comes to the Eustetia direct line.
The people Fabiana planted left behind writings in the collateral-line mansion expressing resentment toward the direct line and resentment toward the Empire, and all the testimony has been coordinated as well.
Preparations for other variables have also been thoroughly completed.
From the start, the possibility that the testimony of people who originally worked for the collateral line might differ is not a problem.
The collateral line's servants were already involved in the collateral line's pathetic rebellion plot.
So the cleanest solution was to kill them all.
The knights and the servants alike.
The collateral line, which tried to drag things into a war of public opinion to bring down the direct line, will be shattered by public opinion.
Even if, by some one-in-a-million chance, Silina's plan fails.
It doesn't matter much.
I'm not thinking about it in case it jinxes things, but I'm certain that what collapses in the end is the collateral line.
And that time is not far off.
"I hope it goes well..."
Silina wore a wistful expression, which was rare for her.
Whether she did or not, I flipped over the sprawled students in case any with points left were buried underneath.
"My lady!"
"Good work."
"The points being low is... a shame."
Eurasia approached with a beaming smile, but her smile drooped.
"170 points... should we go look for other students now?"
Just as I was about to answer, "Should we?"—
[Ronan.]
I heard Sparkle's subdued voice.
"...Ha."
Goosebumps rose all over my body.
Nausea surged from within, and my Mana churned.
My breathing felt stifled. The cold of midwinter swept over me.
A revulsion like insects crawling beneath my skin rose up. I felt an irritation like fingernails scraping the inside of my skull.
A smell—an unfamiliar smell. But a smell I had smelled in my Past Life brushed the tip of my nose.
The stench of blood. The stench of rot. The smell of torn flesh. The smell of entrails scattered on the ground. The smell of pooled blood.
The smell of death.
And the smell of Nuclexirol.
Instinct sounded the alarm. Intuition warned me.
The Barrier spread across Anketin. The amplification of dormant Demonic Energy. Nuclexirol. Demonic Energy that hasn't disappeared in 400 years.
The puzzle pieces in my head fit together. But it wasn't natural. It was off in a revolting way.
Adelia Baros.
What about the danger to Eurasia?
"My lady?"
Eurasia's cheerful voice snapped me back to my senses.
The situation had already unfolded. The reason didn't matter.
I immediately manipulated my bracelet. Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Right after, Eurasia's and Silina's bracelets rang.
Far away, Pina, who had both arms raised, tilted her head. Gailan, who had come out of the cave, approached this way.
"Eurasia."
"Huh? My lady, didn't you say you were short on points? I have 500 points now?"
Light burst from the bracelets of the four people excluding me.
At that instant, I took out the paper connected to the Flame Emperor from my chest.
"Huh? My lady's bracelet is... why is it quiet—"
"If you return to the assembly point and Stella isn't there, tear this white paper."
"...My lady?"
"And bring priests of Tier 6 or higher, and bring all the holy water you can. Gather Wizards related to Barrier Magic, and summon only Martial Artists of Tier 6 or higher with extensive battlefield experience."
The wind—the smell of death—blew in.
"Ah, uh... wh-what is this...?"
Eurasia's face went pale. Clack, clack—her jaw trembled. Her legs buckled and she staggered. Silina had fainted. Pina, who had been approaching, and Gailan also lost consciousness.
The unconscious students foamed blood at the mouth and went into convulsions.
Around us, the professors? The professors who had been gathered just moments ago had all vanished.
As expected, it's unnatural.
Grinding my teeth, I rummaged through my subspace pouch.
I took out a Eustetia Knight Order sword and placed it in Eurasia's arms.
"Wh-why this..."
"If something goes wrong at the assembly point, you have to protect the kids. Got it?"
"M-my lady...?"
The instant Eurasia opened her lips, her bracelet flashed.
"Oh, and gather some points for me at the assembly point. If I fail the final, I get held back, you know?"
I smiled softly as I stroked Eurasia's head.
"I'm counting on you, Eurasia."
"Ah—"
Eurasia reached out her hand. At the same time.
Whoosh—!
Eurasia, Pina, Gailan, Silina.
Intense light burst from each of their bracelets, and all four vanished from the spot.
And once again, the wind blew.
It was an alien wind. The wind was bound to space. Sound, oxygen, Mana—all trapped in space.
Stella? She's not here.
"That's a relief. Heh..."
I exhaled deeply. I spat out a molar that had broken from clenching my teeth too hard. I shook out my hand, where my nails had dug in and blood was trickling.
[...Ronan.]
"What are you doing? Why haven't you gone back yet?"
I gently stroked the head of Sparkle, who was trembling in my chest.
"You can get out, can't you? Hurry and go to Pina and look after the kids."
[Wh-what about... what about you?]
"What about me, my ass."
I smiled bitterly and turned my back.
I could see children foaming blood at the mouth, dying. Below the ridge, a black fog rolled in. Within it, I could see children's bodies bursting, melting, twisting, rotting.
Brutally torn arms and legs roll across the ground. Entrails soak the grassland, and the training uniforms of children who couldn't even leave behind corpses hang from tree branches.
I raised my gaze to the sky.
The night sky was dark, and the pale moonlight was faint.
When I narrowed my eyes and looked closely, I could see a faintly colored veil just below the sky. It had rows of teeth, a tongue, and a maw attached to it.
They moved in unison, chewing on something and smacking their lips.
Movements as if trying to devour space itself.
The veil wrapped around the sky in a circle evoked the maw of a colossal creature.
"I have to protect the little brats within my sight."
[I'll... try to buy as much time as I can. In the meantime, Ronan, if you bring Leona and the Flame Emperor...]
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm killing that thing."
[...B-but... that thing is...]
Chuckling, I moved my feet.
"Of course it's not the Main Body. A clone? A split body? No way. That piece of trash is too pathetic to even be called something split off from the Main Body."
Something that couldn't even become the dregs of Gulaka.
"A fucking thing incompletely formed by devouring the Demonic Energy left as dregs."
I rewrapped the bandages on my hand.
Crack—pop—Aura coiled around my tightly clenched fist. Mana surged through my fully opened Acupoints. Mana originating from my Lower Dantian passed through my Middle Dantian and reached my Upper Dantian.
My vision, my senses, my thoughts, my intuition expanded.
I could see what I couldn't see before. I could feel what I couldn't feel before. One second stretched out endlessly.
"Four hundred years ago, I'm the one who killed that bastard."
What I had harbored 400 years ago.
Experience, memory, rage, killing intent surged up.
"And you think I can't beat its dregs?"
[Ah, uh... but still, right now...]
"See you later."
It's harsh, but there's no choice.
I burst my Aura and sent Sparkle back to the spirit realm.
At the same time.
Woo woo woo woo—!
Suffocating Demonic Energy blanketed the world. My vision warped. Auditory hallucinations stabbed at my eardrums. Screams erupted from the maw hanging in the sky.
The wails of women, men, children, the elderly, the dead took form.
Sticky liquid, blood, flesh, entrails, Demonic Energy, all manner of negative things gathered together and opened its eyes.
A round head like a whale's, a colossal maw, countless teeth attached to it, and a long, dangling tongue.
An appearance as if despair had been sculpted into form.
And at its center, I see a familiar face.
The girl who had entrusted her burden to me.
The girl who had been smoking Nuclexirol.
A girl whose name I don't even know.
That girl's belly skin split open. The split belly skin became lips. Her entrails became teeth, and the flowing blood became a tongue, chewing and swallowing the corpses of the children fallen on the ground.
A squelching sound, a horrifying sound echoed through the mountains. And then.
"El...lia, r... ne... su... ru... n,a... "
A despairing plea reached my ears.
"Ha..."
I should have at least asked her name.
"This is why I hate Demons."
I smiled bitterly and moved my feet.
"Ah, uh... hic... h, ugh...grrrrrr, grr,hic, ru,runrunrunrunrunrunrunrun,runEliarnesrun, please, dan, ger.senrEliarun, Elugh.Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak—!"
The Apostle of Gluttony had awakened.