Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: How Dare You (4)
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“But where are we going?”
Anne asked Sophia, who was walking ahead without a word.
But Sophia just smiled, giving no clear answer.
“We’re almost there.”
With that, she turned the left corner, revealing a massive silver door.
In the center of the door was a large, round handle shaped like a vault lock.
Sophia gripped the handle and pressed her thumb to the fingerprint scanner beside it. A beep sounded, followed by a loud hiss of escaping air.
She turned the handle clockwise, and with a click of releasing latches, the door swung open.
Struggling to pull open the door—too heavy for one person—white vapor billowed out along with frigid air.
Anne and Finn flinched at the sudden chill.
“Whew—really heavy.”
Sophia panted as if she’d just finished an intense workout.
She turned back and beckoned the two children.
“Come on in.”
Finn and Anne exchanged glances.
Something felt off.
Sophia had greeted them kindly at first.
But at some point, she’d stopped talking, and even with just her back turned, her aura had changed.
“What are you waiting for? Come on.”
As the two hesitated, Sophia beckoned again.
They glanced at each other once more and approached her.
It was probably just a feeling.
They’d known Teacher Sophia for more than a day or two. They knew she was kind and bright.
Finn and Anne cautiously stepped inside.
The room had an overall blue hue, and the long, straight lights stretching along the ceiling ends felt eerie.
Sophia was already far ahead.
“L-Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
Swallowing dryly, the two followed behind her.
Another massive door appeared, and Sophia opened it the same way, revealing a wide circular space.
Refrigerators lined the walls, filled with various potions.
Anne looked around and asked Sophia.
“W-Where is this place?”
“A good place.”
She called it a good place out of nowhere, but Anne wasn’t naive enough to just nod along.
“It’s scary here. Teacher, are we really having class here?”
“P-Potion class, right?”
Finn raised his voice, unnerved by the atmosphere, but his tension cracked it, making him sound even more frightened.
Sophia gave no reply.
She circled the space with her hands behind her back, examining the potions in the refrigerators.
“It’s been about three years now. Since we started developing these potions.”
“……Teacher?”
“What’s wrong, Teacher?”
The children called out in trembling voices, but Sophia continued without responding.
“It started for a really simple reason. I just wanted those without talent not to be pushed aside by those with it. Why should talent dictate who succeeds and who fails? Sure, the world isn’t equal—it’s nature’s way. But why do the talented trample the untalented?”
Sophia’s face was no longer the one they knew.
Her ever-smiling eyes no longer smiled.
Her lips, once wide in grins, were now firmly shut.
The changed aura they’d sensed earlier wasn’t imagination.
The woman standing before them wasn’t the kind, capable Sophia they knew.
“Because it’s fun. Tormenting those inferior to you.”
Sophia paused by a freezer, gazing at the drugs as she spoke.
“Funny, right? Who do they think they are? It’s infuriating. No talent is bad enough, but then contempt, disdain, persecution on top. Too weak to get revenge, resentment just builds up. The innocent weak only suffer losses. I hated that.”
Sophia turned to face the two children.
“So I thought: give the talentless a chance too. Yes, grant them talent artificially. So the talented can’t utter a word. That’s when this research began. Now many are involved. Early days were tough with no results, but not anymore. We get plenty of funding, and results are coming. Not perfect yet, but soon.”
She pointed at the two children.
“That’s why I need your help. You two are perfect for the situation I described—more than anyone.”
As she said, Anne and Finn hadn’t been treated well since entering the magic world.
Anne was still okay thanks to her sharp mind and young age, but Finn wasn’t.
“Finn.”
“……”
Even as Sophia called him, Finn kept his head down, unable to respond.
Eight years old. Six years ago, he’d entered Phoenix Academy. Everything was fine at first. A two-year age gap wasn’t much, and everyone got along.
But as years passed, Finn’s situation worsened.
The peak was the year he turned thirteen.
-That bald-headed bastard.
-Why doesn’t he drop out?
-Don’t even look at that retard. You’ll catch stupid.
-Tsk tsk. He’s the only one in our class who didn’t advance to intermediate.
-Exactly—anyone who didn’t advance dropped out. They had some shame. He doesn’t.
-Kekeke.
-Kuhuhu.
Normal students advanced to intermediate after three years in elementary.
Those taking longer were deemed lacking, and homeroom teachers recommended dropout.
Continuing was a waste of time; better to attend a general academy.
Possible only because it was a magic academy.
Most of Finn’s classmates were in intermediate, some talented ones in advanced.
As the mocking kids said, dropping out would’ve been right for his future.
‘But…… I don’t want to give up.’
Fourteen this year.
Too old for elementary.
Finn’s clenched fist trembled.
Sophia saw it and smiled as usual.
“Finn. I believed you’d understand me more than anyone.”
“……”
“And Apophis will be the perfect helper to realize your dream.”
“Apophis?!”
Anne jumped at the mention of ‘Apophis’.
“You mean all that research you talked about…… is Apophis?”
“What do you think all this stuff here is?”
“No way……!”
“Yes. Apophis, developed diligently for three years. From early models to the latest—all here. Have you tried it, Anne?”
“……You know Apophis is a dangerous drug.”
Anne eyed Sophia warily, slowly backing away.
Sophia shook her head, still smiling warmly.
“Not dangerous at all.”
“Liar. I could tell from Finn.”
Finn remained silent, head down.
“Apophis X isn’t just a nutrient boosting focus and mana breathing.”
“Then what is it?”
“A horrific poison that forcibly amplifies the human mana core to absorb massive mana.”
“Amplifying the mana core to absorb massive mana…… why is that horrific poison?”
“Magic is equivalent exchange.”
At ‘equivalent exchange,’ Sophia smiled as if impressed.
“As expected, Anne, our smart one. Right. Not just magic—except what gods do, everything in the world is equivalent exchange. As you say, Apophis amplifies the mana core but burdens the body dangerously.”
“Y-You distribute something like that…… to students!”
“But what if we eliminate that risk?”
Anne couldn’t continue.
Eliminate the risk?
Then Apophis would be a perfect potion amplifying the mana core unconditionally.
That’s why it was impossible.
Nothing comes without cost.
Yes, except gods, nothing like that exists……
“No way……”
Anne stared at Sophia in disbelief, and she smiled knowingly.
“Our clever Anne got it right away.”
“……Which church?”
“You don’t need to know. Just help shatter this unfair reality.”
“What does that mean?”
“You lack only magic talent. Apophis can fill that. You’re young, so you haven’t felt it fully, but without it, you’ll suffer like Finn did.”
Finn’s shoulders twitched.
Sophia approached and gently hugged him.
“Our poor Finn. It’s okay. Teacher will take care of you from now on.”
Finn’s face was hidden, but his shoulders heaved like he was crying.
Anne couldn’t accept this situation.
No more talking. They had to escape.
‘But…… how?’
The firmly shut door.
Even Sophia struggled to open it.
How could a ten-year-old girl like Anne do it?
As Anne panicked openly, Sophia soothed Finn and approached her slowly.
“It’s okay, Anne. You’ll feel repulsed now, but once you try it, you’ll see a new world.”
“D-Don’t come closer. Stay back!!”
“No need to fear.”
Sophia reached for Anne’s slender wrist.
That moment.
“Let’s stop this.”
“……You!”
Kennyak had appeared, grabbing Sophia’s wrist.
Sophia’s face twisted demonically.
Anne gaped at Kennyak’s sudden entrance.
“K-Kennyak Teacher?”
“You’re safe now.”
Kennyak gave an awkward smile. Meant to reassure, but he rarely smiled, so it looked creepy.
He turned to Sophia.
“No more sins, okay?”
“Don’t call me ‘us’!!”
Ice crystals formed on Sophia’s hand.
They grew, enveloping her arm in massive ice spikes.
The area whitened.
The deadly cold spike lunged to split Kennyak’s head.
“You can’t handle me.”
A magic circle appeared in the air, and Sophia’s ice spike vanished like a lie.
“W-What did you do?!”
“I’ve analyzed your spell structures. Dismantling them is easy.”
“Ugh…… You think you’ll get away with this?”
“If we escape here, yes.”
“If you can escape.”
A chilling sensation crawled up Kennyak’s neck.
He widened his eyes and teleported.
Crash!
Poorly set coordinates sent him tumbling across the floor.
He rubbed his neck. Warm liquid coated his palm—bright red blood.
“Quick reflexes.”
Ishtar laughed.
Finn, who’d shrunk at the commotion, looked up and met Ishtar’s eyes.
“Oh—old-eyed kid!”
“W-Why are you here……?”
Just yesterday, Ishtar had treated him as Trinity’s manager.
Why was he here, holding a straight sword stained with blood?
As Finn stared fearfully, Ishtar chuckled casually, shaking off the blade.
“Don’t freak out~ You’re on our side, kid. Right?”
Ishtar’s eyes curved like crescent moons.
His visible red pupils exuded indescribable intimidation.
Finn couldn’t even reply, falling on his butt.
Sophia glanced at him and said.
“You arrived right on time.”
“This is my job, isn’t it?”
Lick—
Ishtar licked the blood from his blade with a serpentine tongue.
Sophia grimaced and turned away.
“Don’t kill—capture alive. We’ll take him to the Doctor. Punishment for betrayal can wait.”
“Tough mission.”
Ignoring Ishtar, Sophia approached Anne, smiling warmly and offering her hand.
“Shall we talk somewhere else?”
Anne stared at Sophia’s hand.
Grabbing it might lead to horror. Refusing might mean death here.
The brown-skinned man approached Kennyak Teacher, who drew his staff to confront him.
Could anyone survive this?
Anne didn’t understand how it came to this, but she steeled herself.
Because……
“No.”
“……What?”
“Because I’m Master Jamie’s disciple! So……”
“So what.”
Sophia’s smile vanished, her voice icy.
The chilling tone choked Anne’s words, but she stood firm.
“I won’t submit to villains like you.”
“You need a good scolding first.”
Sophia raised her hand to slap Anne’s cheek.
Anne squeezed her eyes shut.
“No need to close your eyes.”
The familiar voice came right after.
“Gah—!!”
Sophia’s strangled scream.
Anne slowly opened her eyes.
First, Sophia clutching her stomach in agony.
Then—
Flutter—
The robe billowed.
As it settled, emerald hair swayed slightly.
Sword in right hand, elegant staff in left.
Jamie turned to Anne.
“Watch closely. See how amazing your master is.”
His grinning smile finally let Anne smile too.
“Yes!”
With Anne’s spirited reply.
“Time for your punishment.”
Space began to tremble.