Chapter 96: Final Exams (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 96: Final Exams (6)
Boom!
The sound of tearing air pierced her ears. Her ears rang violently.
"Ugh..."
Saki barely managed to open her eyes.
Blood dripping from her torn forehead dyed her retinas red. Her field of vision was narrow and crimson. She tried to wipe the blood away, but her arms refused to listen.
Ryozo tried to slowly push herself up.
But a short groan leaked from between her lips. The sheer, scorching pain that flared through her entire body forced her to lie back down. If her throat hadn't been so tight, a scream would have burst out instead of a groan.
What happened? What is going on?
Sudden trauma can cause memory loss in humans. Saki shifted her goal from recovering her body to waking up her mind.
Using her innate intuition, she focused all her nerves on piecing together her lost memories. But the more she tried to think, the more her eyes and brain stung. Her breathing was shallow and ragged.
She knew instinctively.
She didn't have much time left.
She retraced her memories one by one, reflecting on the situation within her fading consciousness.
Saki cast her eyes slightly downward. A shortsword with a wavy blade was lodged deep in her shattered collarbone.
The moment she saw it, the hazy outlines of her memory instantly solidified.
Just then, another sonic boom struck her eardrums. Saki shifted her gaze toward the source of the sound.
...Leon?
Leon was resisting, drenched in blood. He gritted his teeth so hard they threatened to shatter as he forced his posture upright.
The air trembled every time Leon threw a punch. Although he had yet to fully control his Miracle Blessing, its destructive power was formidable. However, his desperate attacks were blocked by a barrier of magic power.
Saki widened her field of vision while keeping her eyes on the fierce battle.
The scars carved everywhere, the dented walls, and the ruined floor gave a faint hint of the fierce struggle that had taken place. It was clear he had fought with everything he had.
His opponent was a villain in perfect condition, whereas Leon didn't even have an armament.
Naturally, the outcome was disastrous.
"Aaaaaaaaargh!"
"Fufu, so even a Hero Candidate is just a human in the end, huh, Leon? This is so disappointing... I wonder if you're even worthy of being Lord Permush's vessel. And above all... Lord Agor died at the hands of a guy like this? Is that bastard Professor lying to us? What do you think, Paul?"
Elio asked the male instructor, Paul, as she tore at the flesh of Leon's side. Paul narrowed his squinted eyes, observing Leon before replying.
"Hmm. Still, he has withstood your attacks for over twenty minutes in this place, which closely mimics the ecosystem of the Demon Realm. And that's without even having his armament. While there are doubts regarding Lord Agor's death... it is highly likely she had poor compatibility with her host due to a rushed possession. Besides, they say the Sword Emperor was also at the scene back then, so the Professor's words might not be entirely false."
"Maybe my expectations were too high. Still, seeing how well he's holding up barehanded, he's not completely useless. Haah... If Lord Permush can just possess this guy and adapt well, everything will go smoothly."
"Our new lord will surely be satisfied."
"I hope so. After our original master, Lord Agor, passed away, he was the one who took us in when we had nowhere to go and even made a contract with us. Thanks to him, we—"
Sensing something, Elio cut herself off and swept her gaze across the surroundings. Eventually, her eyes landed on Saki.
"Oh, what's this? You're awake?"
An ominous ring-shaped pattern appeared in Elio's eyes. Feeling the bizarrely glittering glare, Saki felt a chill run down her spine.
"..."
"Paul, I'm going to go have a quick chat with Saki. Keep a close eye on Leon so he doesn't die."
"Yes, ma'am."
As if delighted by something, Elio approached with light, airy steps. With every step she took, the stench of death grew thicker. A desolate shiver sliced through Saki's entire body.
Is this how I die?
Until recently, Saki's life had held little joy or excitement. The repetition of a tedious daily routine and a bleak family environment had only piled layers of emptiness inside her.
Humans die eventually.
Heroes at the front lines die even sooner.
Saki Ryozo's quiet enrollment in Joaquin Academy had not been out of devotion to humanity, but rather to find a worthy excuse to die.
But the current Saki no longer wanted to die. Because a precious person had appeared, giving her a reason to linger and cherish life.
Reaching her feet, Elio stared down at Saki before squatting. She tilted her head and spoke.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Elio's tone and eyes were profoundly dry. She tapped the pommel of the hilt embedded in Saki's collarbone with her fingernail. The agonizing pain made Saki's lips part reflexively.
"Kh..."
"Wow, but you're amazing. Activating your Blessing at that exact moment to slow down the spread of the poison. And even waking up so soon. Though, since you're going to die anyway, is that good luck or bad luck? Well, whatever the case, I'll admit you're impressive."
"..."
"I even put on an act just to trick you. It was totally award-winning, wasn't it?"
Elio giggled, making light of the situation. Saki bit her lower lip hard and squeezed out her voice.
"...Why... are you doing this..."
"Puhahaha!"
When Saki asked with a grimace, Elio suddenly burst into wild laughter.
Her sinister, ominous laughter echoed through the tower. In the next instant, all expression vanished from Elio's face, and a cold chill settled in her pupils.
"I thought you were somewhat smart, but I guess you're still just a kid. Seriously, kids these days only grow stubborn fast, but their thinking is as cliché as ever."
Elio leaned in close and whispered in Saki's ear.
"...You're completely insane," Saki growled fiercely.
Elio rested her chin on one hand over her knee, while using her other hand to slowly press down on the hilt.
"How about now? Does it hurt a lot?"
Saki let out a silent, agonizing scream. She couldn't even open her eyes properly due to the surging spasms. Elio observed her reaction with dry eyes and spoke in a low voice.
"I might look like a crazy bitch to you, but I was just born different. Oh, and the reason I stabbed you is simple. Saki, I was disappointed in you. You didn't know me, but I've known you for a long time. Until recently, I even thought you and I were of the same kind."
"..."
"You probably didn't notice, but I've been watching you for a long time because I felt that uniquely listless look in your eyes was similar to mine. Though, I almost got caught a few times along the way~. That guy you hang out with... what was his name, Kang Geomma? He has incredibly sharp eyes."
Blood dripped steadily down the hilt.
"Anyway, since you also seemed skeptical of humanity like me, I was thinking of introducing you to Lord Permush. Our lord deeply treasures friends who lack emotions like you. But what do you know? Suddenly, you offered me your back, telling me to piggyback on you. That's when I decided. Ah, she's just a mere human in the end, too."
Elio shrugged. Then, she stood up from her squatted position and stretched thoroughly.
"Since I've chatted with you this much, your journey to the afterlife won't be too lonely, right? Well, see ya~."
Elio spun around and casually waved her hand. Watching her retreating back, the color drained from Saki's face, and the vitality faded from her eyes.
I want to live.
In her desperate, urgent heart, she prayed without realizing it.
She had finally found joy in living, and there was someone she wanted to achieve things with.
Please.
Even though she knew there was no God.
Anyone, please.
If anyone is listening.
Help me.
She prayed that this voice would somehow reach someone.
Pitter-patter!
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed. Saki barely managed to lift her increasingly heavy head. At the same time, her eyebrows trembled. Was this a revolving lantern of memories right before death?
What entered her vision was the very person she had yearned for so desperately. A black-haired boy with scattered strands of gray. He was panting heavily, staring at her.
A warm stream of tears flowed down her cheeks. Saki forced her blurry focus to sharpen and moved her lips.
"...Geom... ma."
A pitch-black darkness began to envelop her vision. Even so, Saki squeezed her vocal cords.
"...Save... me."
Kang Geomma nodded. Only then did Saki surrender her consciousness to the rush of relief.
* * *
"Geomma-nim! Wait for me!"
Chasing after Kang Geomma, who had suddenly sprinted up the stairs in a single breath, Choi Seol-ah stepped onto the fifth floor of the tower.
Panting heavily, she tried to catch her breath first. Having relied only on convenient magic all this time, she had thrown physical training to the dogs, so her stamina was in a terrible state. Her vision was blurry, and her throat burned.
"Oh? Is that you, Seol-ah?"
A familiar voice pierced her ears. A sweet yet ominous tone. Before she could even catch her breath, Choi Seol-ah raised her head. With a dazed face, she muttered the name in short breaths.
"...Lady... Elio?"
Elio Pine. Since she was also a villain, it wasn't her real name. However, because she always introduced herself by that name, she was commonly referred to as Elio.
She was a woman who ranked as a grand senior among the villains serving the Corps Commanders. Not only was she highly experienced, but her talent in wielding fire-attribute magic was second to none. After her master died, her whereabouts had been unknown, but who would have thought she had disguised herself as a cadet?
The male instructor beside her was also a familiar face. Was his name Paul? A man who exuded the gloomy, damp aura typical of squinty-eyed characters. He, too, was one of Agor's thralls.
Why are those two together?
In this unexpected situation, Choi Seol-ah felt absurdity rather than welcome. In contrast, Elio clapped her hands loudly, welcoming Choi Seol-ah.
"Oh my, oh my! What a pleasant surprise to see you in a place like this, sweetie! How have you been?"
"...Ah, yes, well."
Choi Seol-ah nodded half-heartedly. They hadn't been close villains to begin with, and she had no desire to get closer. Quickly gathering her thoughts, Choi Seol-ah scanned the surroundings.
Leon was tossed on the ground like a discarded toy, and further away, the breathing of a light-blue-haired female cadet was fading.
But wait. That female cadet... isn't she in the same club as Geomma-nim and quite close to him...? She swallowed hard and shifted her gaze.
"!"
Where her eyes landed, Kang Geomma stood with his back turned.
An expressionless aura, infinitely close to colorless. Seeing him like that, goosebumps erupted all over Choi Seol-ah's body.
They say anger that surpasses its limit is cold.
That was exactly Kang Geomma's state right now.
Now, as always, Choi Seol-ah wanted to live.
As the saying goes, even rolling in a field of dog dung is better than the afterlife. She was someone who had many things she wanted to eat and many things she wanted to do.
Because she was so obsessed with living, she could feel it. An indescribable pressure weighing down on her shoulders, a thick stench of death.
At least in Choi Seol-ah's eyes, it was emanating from Kang Geomma, taking on a physical form.
Just then, Elio's voice drifted from ahead.
"Ah, Seol-ah! Why don't you make a contract with Lord Permush too while you're at it? A sly girl like you always needs a new master, right? I'll put in a good word for you with Lord Permush!"
"..."
Choi Seol-ah flinched back and remained silent.
Look who's talking about being sly, you bitch. You contracted with another Corps Commander the moment Agor died as if you'd been waiting for it.
Elio tilted her head with a puzzled look. Then, she casually shifted her gaze toward Kang Geomma and spoke in a friendly tone.
"That black-haired friend in front of you. Was it the Sashimi Sword Saint? The genius cadet who defeated the Iron Leg. He's really something. But what are you going to do? Even if it's you, can you really handle three villains in an environment like this? Especially when you don't even have an armament. Look, even this Leon guy, who's called a Hero Candidate, has been turned into a complete rag."
Elio chuckled, gesturing toward Leon with her eyes. A crooked smile also hung on the lips of the male instructor beside her.
"..."
Amidst the sneers and mockery, Kang Geomma silently reached his hand backward. Standing behind him, Choi Seol-ah flinched.
"Uh, huh?"
Choi Seol-ah looked back and forth between his palm and the back of his head. And she immediately realized what that gesture meant.
Choi Seol-ah swallowed hard as her mind raced. It felt as if her brain were spinning like a top.
In that brief split second, she eliminated and weighed countless possibilities. Which side should she align herself with here?
Judging by the odds, betraying Kang Geomma right here and joining the other side would give her an overwhelmingly higher chance of survival.
Furthermore, wasn't Kang Geomma the boy who had been treating her like a dog? If she wanted revenge, now would be the perfect opportunity.
But what was this chilling sensation, this feeling creeping up from the tips of her toes? The atmosphere grew increasingly violent, eventually beginning to surge backward.
Choi Seol-ah slowly closed and opened her eyes. It was the moment determination was etched into her pupils. She thrust her hand into her subspace pocket and rummaged around.
Clink—
The sleek ring of drawn steel echoed from the subspace pocket. In Choi Seol-ah's hands were two drawn sashimi knives.
Choi Seol-ah knelt and bowed her waist. Bowing her head, she held the sashimi knives high.
"Geomma-nim..."
The villain Choi Seol-ah petitioned, presenting the blades.
"...I shall serve you as my new master."
"..."
No words came in response.
—Instead.
Grip.
Kang Geomma tightly grasped the sashimi knives.