Chapter 148: I Have Loyalty Too (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 148: I Have Loyalty Too (1)
I stared blankly at the text that floated before my eyes.
〈Power of the Underworld King〉
A new special ability obtained by using the Immortal Magic Stone as a material. To put it simply, it allowed me to resurrect the enemies I had cut down—in other words, the 'dead.'
"Wow."
An exclamation of awe escaped my lips. I finally understood why players always grumbled and went on and on about special abilities.
"At this rate, it's not just worth the price of a mid-sized car; it'd be a steal even if I burned through the cost of several houses."
Although there were a few conditions and restrictions, it was undoubtedly a monstrous ability. Still, I felt a bit uneasy.
Resurrecting and commanding an opponent I had killed myself... To use an analogy, it was like resurrecting a sliced-up fish with a sashimi knife.
...Am I a necromancer now?
Setting aside this ambiguous feeling, it was fantastic news for a short-burst sprinter like me. In individual combat, the [Blessing of the Sword God] was peerless.
But it showed weaknesses in one-versus-many battles. I had to decide the outcome in a fleeting moment of just one minute. Ultimately, it was a race against time.
If the enemy decided to drag things out and overwhelm me with sheer numbers, the tide of battle could turn in an instant.
It was the same back in the Undead Dungeon. Even though the swarming horde consisted of only D-rank undead, carving a path to Draugr had been incredibly tricky.
And even that was only possible because I had Abel and Shail watching my back. On my own, I would have never reached Draugr's face.
Even on the night we purged the villains, it would have been difficult without support from Nox or Al'tair.
Therefore, if someone could support me, it would allow for much more flexible combat—even if that "someone" was a corpse I had personally slain.
It was the perfect ability for the dungeons I had to clear in the future. From high-tier dungeons onward, B-rank magical beasts would pop up like common mobs.
If I had a thrall, there was a high probability I could reduce the waste of my [Blessing of Painlessness]. Even if the thrall was a cold corpse, beggars couldn't be choosers.
"I wish I had a chance to test this special ability before heading into a dungeon."
I was just incredibly grateful to old man Wieland for drawing out this special ability. I'd have to slip him a fat envelope later.
"A thrall, huh..."
As I tilted the blade back and forth under the moonlight, the word 'thrall' suddenly brought a certain face to mind.
Choi Seol-ah, what is she up to these days?
It had already been a few days since the new semester started. I had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her in the morning. Even during that brief encounter, Choi Seol-ah seemed to be actively avoiding me.
...Well, it's not like she's plotting something, is she?
She was just impossible to trust. A former villain, with that sly, selfish attitude of hers, clinging so desperately to life.
Choi Seol-ah was the type to throw loyalty to the dogs and only look out for her own skin. Her following me around like a little squirrel was probably for the same reason.
"Since Choi Seol-ah is an instructor... if she lends a hand, the election might go a bit smoother."
I sheathed my sashimi knife and opened a drawer. Tucked away among my daily necessities was a sinisterly glittering earring.
The perfect tool to tightly bind the unpredictable Choi Seol-ah. It was the Mark of the Thrall.
As long as this was in my hands, the probability of Choi Seol-ah betraying me was close to zero. However, there were still elements of uncertainty.
While most of the villains inside the Academy were dead, external enemies still remained.
Who knew? Maybe she would try to latch onto them. Or perhaps she was searching for a way to escape the noose of this earring.
"I should take this opportunity to check in on her."
I immediately pulled out my phone and tapped the screen.
Tap, tap.
[Me: What are you up to?]
[Choi Seol-ah: (......)]
[Me: I have something to talk to you about in private. Let's meet up tomorrow if you have time.]
[Choi Seol-ah: (......)]
My forehead flushed red with irritation. But I quickly suppressed the rising anger.
Right, it was late at night. It was perfectly normal not to reply immediately. Besides, it would be a bit weird if she replied instantly anyway. It wasn't like we were dating.
And so, about twenty minutes later.
Ping~
[Choi Seol-ah: (Photo)]
A photo of a blood-drenched Choi Seol-ah arrived.
* * *
A secluded, pitch-black location on the outskirts.
With Choi Seol-ah bound in iron chains at the center, over twenty villains surrounded her. Two burly men guarded the entrance.
Step, step.
A man clad in a black coat walked toward the center. Soon, his footsteps came to a halt right in front of Choi Seol-ah's knees.
Her neck limp and devoid of strength, Choi Seol-ah could only see the tips of the man's shoes. Blood dripped steadily from her lips, splattering onto the toes of his shoes.
"Hey, Choi Seol-ah."
"..."
A gloomy voice sent a chill down her spine. When she didn't answer, the man let out a heavy sigh.
"Even if you're a double-crossing idiot, did you really think you'd get away with betraying us? What, did you think we couldn't drag you out just because you were inside the Academy?"
Thud!
The toe of his shoe, stained with her own blood, dug deep into Choi Seol-ah's stomach.
"Cough!"
Choi Seol-ah groaned loudly. It was a simple kick, but it felt as if her insides were being twisted apart. She coughed up a clump of blood, her internal organs likely damaged.
"Oh, look at you. Stop exaggerating, you're ruining a villain's pride. Lift your head. Even if Lady Agor has passed away, you still have some magic power left, don't you? Hurry up and heal."
A gloved hand slapped Choi Seol-ah's swollen cheeks. He then grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back.
"..."
"Tsk. Did she bite her tongue? Is that why she can't speak?"
The man twisted his head back. He barked sharply at a subordinate who was tapping away on a laptop.
"Any word from the bastard we sent the photo to just now? The saved name was... '★My Lord★'? I don't care who the hell he is, find him. If he doesn't reply, trace the signal and drag him here."
"We're tracking it now! But since this is a terminal exclusive to Joaquin Academy instructors, breaking through the security is proving to be a real pain. It would be easier if the other side contacted us first."
The man clicked his tongue and muttered.
"If you can't break it, you'll be buried right alongside this bitch. Bring that bastard here, no matter what."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Pant, pant.
Choi Seol-ah's breathing was ragged. Her lips were split, making it impossible to speak, and her right eye was swollen shut with a dark bruise. The scent of death lingered at the tip of her nose.
"Breathe, come on. Choi Seol-ah, a traitor like you can't die so easily. It leaves a bad aftertaste."
Through her distorted vision, the man's coldly sneering face came into focus. His grotesquely emaciated appearance exuded a chilling aura.
For the past few days, she had suddenly been bombarded with cryptic text messages. Choi Seol-ah had simply blocked them, assuming they were spam, voice phishing, or insurance advertisements. Still, a strange sense of foreboding had prompted her to keep a low profile. Because of that, when she made eye contact with her Lord today, she had committed the rudeness of only offering a brief nod.
Damn it.
But only after being kidnapped this evening did she realize the true meaning of those messages. They were a death notice sent by an organization.
The Villain Syndicate. An alliance that managed to organize villains who were little more than beasts. They had sent their hitman squad, Vendetta, to execute her for her betrayal.
She had been careless. It wasn't entirely unexpected, but perhaps she had grown too comfortable in the warmth of Joaquin Academy. Choi Seol-ah had temporarily forgotten that she was once a villain. Before she knew it, she had begun to perceive herself solely as Instructor Kim.
...Shit.
Vendetta never let traitors go. They tracked them down like hounds and tore them apart like fighting dogs. They didn't stop at merely killing their prey. They toyed with their targets relentlessly before executing them, savoring every scream and struggle.
They were the worst of the worst, even among villains. Strength aside, Vendetta was a gathering of psychopaths specialized in murder and torture.
Especially this guy, the leader of Vendetta. As a villain, he had no real name, but his skull-like face and notorious reputation earned him the name 'Reaper.'
This guy was a henchman of the 2nd Corps Commander, just like Damian, that bastard who cosplayed as a professor. However, his cruelty was on an entirely different level. Compared to Reaper, the Professor was a decent human being.
"...Useless bitch."
Reaper swept his hair back, emphasizing his sunken eye sockets and sharp skull. He called out to Choi Seol-ah once more.
"Choi Seol-ah."
"..."
"Or should I call you Instructor Kim, since we're at Joaquin Academy? It would be so much better if you just confessed nicely. Every single villain who infiltrated the Academy besides you is dead. All you have to do is tell me what happened."
Choi Seol-ah asked back through her split, bruised lips.
"Iff I tell youu... will you let me livee? (If I tell you, will you let me live?)"
At her words, the shadows beneath Reaper's brow deepened. A brief silence ensued.
Immediately after, Reaper covered his forehead and let out a mocking laugh.
"Puhaha! Look at her looking out for her own skin even now. You're a complete idiot, aren't you? Hey, you're dying here. No matter what. But if you spill everything about what happened and why you betrayed us, I'll show some leniency. I'll cut off your limbs before I kill you."
"...Ah."
When Reaper let go of her hair, Choi Seol-ah's head slumped forward. With her head bowed low, her shoulders began to tremble.
Until just a moment ago, she thought this hair-raising sensation was because of Reaper. But it wasn't. This raw, primal feeling was...
Choi Seol-ah's bruised lips twitched. Looking down at her, the corners of Reaper's mouth curled upward.
Well, look at that. She's broken. And here I thought I'd get to have some fun for the first time in a while.
It was at that exact moment.
Slash!
A single sound of tearing flesh echoed from the entrance.
Thud, thud.
The sound of heavy lumps hitting the ground came in pairs.
Twenty pairs of eyes turned toward the entrance as if on cue. Right on time, two headless bodies collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.
Rustle.
The sound of falling leaves. There was no presence felt from beyond the entrance. To be more precise, their senses refused to register anything.
"...Boss! I've successfully tracked the signal! But there's something strange. The signal is located within 20 meters of this area—"
The villain who had been diligently tapping away on his laptop turned his head a beat too late. A flash of sword light pierced through the darkness, gouging into flesh.
Squelch!
What is this sound, Boss?
The laptop villain tried to speak, but no sound came out. His throat felt stinging and numb, as if he had caught a severe cold.
He lowered his gaze slightly. A long stick was lodged right under his chin. It was a hilt bearing a 30% discount sticker and the Daixo logo.
?
His eyes widened like saucers as he realized what was happening. The laptop villain's pupils rolled wildly in all directions before his eyes rolled back.
"..."
"..."
In an instant, three life signs vanished. Two had lost their heads, and one had collapsed with a knife driven through his throat.
"Puhahahahahahahahaha!"
Choi Seol-ah burst into hysterical laughter. Sensing something was deeply wrong, Reaper grabbed her by the collar and hoisted her up.
Bound in chains, Choi Seol-ah was lifted a few inches off the ground. Reaper shook her violently. Her long legs dangled helplessly in the air.
"You fucking bitch, you're laughing? You piece of shit! What is this?! Choi Seol-ah, did you pull this shit?!"
Her magenta bangs veiled her eyes like a curtain. A thin, wicked smile stretched wide across her face.
"Doo youu knoww? (Do you know?)"
Choi Seol-ah opened her mouth, thick blood bridging her upper and lower teeth. She was smiling brightly.
In contrast, the members of Vendetta reflexively ripped off their gloves and prepared to cast their spells.
The hitmen, who had only ever inflicted terror, were suddenly gripped by fear.
"Everyone, hold your positions until we identify the enemy!"
"Shit! What the fuck is going on all of a sudden?!"
They were trembling slightly. Unconsciously, they huddled together, backing up against one another. Even villains devoid of humanity were of one mind when faced with the instinct for survival.
Step, step.
Footsteps approached. Soon, the intruder's figure was revealed.
"S-Sashimi Sword Saint?"
A boy with pitch-black hair and dark eyes stepped into view. It was a scene that looked as if darkness itself was giving birth to darkness.
"...Hehehe."
Through her bangs, a gleam flashed in Choi Seol-ah's eyes. The confident, sharp gaze from her days as a villain returned to the corners of her eyes.
Suppressing her ragged breath, she barely managed to move her swollen lips.
"Y'all are fffucked."