Chapter 41
“Multiple second-floor-class monsters eliminated. Traces of survivors found.”
The blue-haired knight contacted her counterpart through the magic communication network.
-No traces found here. Keep advancing.
“Understood.”
Receiving the response, she wiped the bloodstains clinging to her sword and proceeded deeper into the dungeon.
“…Being part of the Knight Order isn’t easy.”
She let out a long sigh.
She was a fifth-year student at Polaris.
Currently, she was working temporarily with the Knight Order as a ‘Trainee Knight.’
The mission she received this time was to rescue an adventurer who went missing in the dungeon.
The dungeon itself wasn’t particularly difficult, being filled with monsters between first-floor and second-floor class.
‘Finding traces of survivors is the hard part.’
It had already been several days since the disappearance, and most of the traces of survival had worn away.
Even though she tried to make use of what she had learned from her classes and the Knight Order’s apprentice training to the fullest.
“Where are you…?!”
She still couldn’t find any sign of the survivor.
By the third day of the investigation.
Now, it was more realistic to consider retrieving the body rather than hoping for survival.
‘But… Something feels off.’
According to the information provided, the adventurer who entered this dungeon was quite a veteran.
A skilled individual who had maintained a gold rank for a long time in the Adventurer’s Guild, going missing in a place like this.
“Something doesn’t add up.”
A rough sensation scraped down her throat.
But her mission was solely to rescue the survivor.
Bzzt!
“I will continue advancing.”
As she communicated with the other members searching the dungeon, she continued forward.
Then, suddenly.
“Huh?”
Something caught her eye.
Behind a large boulder, someone was curled up, trembling.
With specialized equipment and weapons hanging from their body.
And most notably, a golden emblem affixed to their waist.
“Survivor identified! Survivor identified!”
-Transmit location information. Report the status of the survivor.
“Presumed alive. No visible external injuries.”
After sending the urgent message.
She carefully approached the adventurer.
“Are you perhaps Mr. Reckie?”
“Uh… Uh… Who…?”
“We’re from the Guardian Knights.”
“Knights…?”
The adventurer, identified as Reckie, continued to speak haltingly while remaining curled up.
‘He’s alive.’
She sheathed her sword and spoke as gently as she could.
Dungeon refugees often had frail nerves due to the stress from various monsters, reacting sensitively to even minor gestures or words.
“You’re safe now. We’ve come to rescue you.”
“Ugh… Save… me….”
“Please take my hand. We’ll be out soon….”
“No… Don’t! Stay… away!!”
It happened then.
The body that had been curled up suddenly stretched out.
“Run away run away run away run away run away run away run away run away run away run away run away run away.”
What was revealed was a grotesque face.
“…Huh?”
It couldn’t be called human.
Where eyes and mouth should be, red tendrils were protruding in multiple clusters, and his entire body was marred with thick, hideous, vein-like growths.
“What the…?”
“Ah… Aah…! Run… awaay!”
Reckie clutched his head with his hands.
He seemed to be suppressing a powerful impulse with great difficulty.
“Hungry hungry hungry hungry….”
A transparent fluid, whether it was saliva or something else, dripped down the tendrils.
As she remained mesmerized by the surreal sight.
Bzzt!
Multiple communications came in simultaneously.
-Unidentified creature detected!
-Encountered a group of goblins with protruding tendrils! Requesting combat support!
-Witnessed a monster’s mutation! It’s an anomaly!
-Cease all operations and evacuate immediately!
Something beyond imagination.
Was emerging into the world.
***
“Hmm…”
Inside the [Centre] Student Council Room.
A blonde woman with sharp eyes reviewed the report.
“Heh… Astonishing. So this is true?”
A collective mutation phenomenon among monsters.
Fernia murmured as she absorbed some of the more impressive details.
“Red tendrils growing from the body… Losing rationality and being overtaken by instincts… Even a mere second-floor-class goblin exhibited power close to that of a fourth-floor-class monster….”
And, above all.
[Deceased] Reckie Lot.
“A case of human corruption has also been discovered.”
The report written by the fifth-year trainee knight was genuinely intriguing.
Of course, this must not be leaked outside recklessly.
“Access level: Grade 1.”
Screech-!
She sealed the report and the related photographs inside an envelope, branding it with a black seal.
This seal was a magical artifact with sealing magic engraved upon it.
A black seal, in particular, was imprinted with a sealing magic that could only be accessed by individuals with a Grade 1 or higher clearance.
Within Polaris, only two people held Grade 1 clearance.
The Student Council President and the Principal.
With the Principal currently absent, Fernia was the only one who could access this data here.
“So then….”
After securely sealing the report, she narrowed her eyes and spoke.
“Is this what you meant by the ‘omens of destruction’?”
“……”
Someone sat comfortably on the sofa opposite Fernia.
A being with their face covered in cloth, making their gender indiscernible.
“That is merely a warning. Princess.”
A neutral voice filled the space.
“The breath of a giant becomes a storm to the microbes.”
He solemnly declared.
“The chaos that is about to begin is beyond any bounds.”
“That statement is a bit bothersome. It makes it sound like I’m bound to something.”
“All things in existence are confined to something. Even we, when viewed from a grand perspective, are nothing more than specks trapped within the palm.”
“It’s strange hearing that from you all.”
Fernia offered a slightly wary smile.
“There’s no need for such distrust, Princess. We are beings with aligned interests. Isn’t that more preferable than hollow trust?”
“…That’s true.”
“Good.”
He rose from his seat.
After all, he had only come today to offer advice about the distortion.
“We will make you Emperor. And you will provide us with the body of Princess Angela.”
“……”
“That’s the agreement.”
For the continuation of the world.
To prevent ‘their’ vile hands from further contaminating this dimension.
The Apostles began to move again.
The Second Apostle of the Apocalypse.
Nero.
“The date of execution is soon.”
“I am aware.”
“I will trust you.”
With those words, black wings, like those of a crow, unfurled behind Nero.
And in an instant, he disappeared.
His presence vanished as if it had never been there, like the night’s shadow retreating before the dawn’s light.
“…Haa.”
Only then could she release her tension.
Fernia placed a hand on her forehead.
The images of the ‘Distorted Beings’ she had seen in the photos earlier kept flashing in her mind.
“Urgh….”
It was beyond just looking grotesque; it was a feeling of revulsion at their very existence as living beings.
As if she had seen something that should never have existed.
Even Fernia, who possessed extraordinary courage, found it difficult to calm herself.
‘…Still.’
One thing became certain.
“Heaven… has acknowledged me as Emperor!”
The world, fate, and even the heavens themselves.
Were guiding her to the throne.
Now, all that remained was to kill Angela in the upcoming ‘festival’ and cement her grip on the imperial power.
‘Victory is mine.’
It had been an unwinnable match from the beginning.
A girl cursed with a flawed danjun from birth, and herself, who was perfect in every way.
Anyone with a sound mind would recognize that she was the one fit to be Emperor.
With just one exception.
“Lan Black…!”
That wretched man.
The fool who dared support Angela in her presence.
‘Indeed, men are of such calibre.’
Unable to find their footing, constantly making foolish decisions based on emotions.
She almost felt pity for Angela, having such a person by her side.
But.
Crack!
The memory of being blatantly disregarded at that time.
Refused to fade away easily.
Instead, it only burned more fiercely with each passing day, like flames meeting oil.
She clenched her fist tightly and spat out her words as if chewing them.
“If you like that woman so much… then stay with her until the end.”
Even if that end is death.
***
“You seem quite busy these days.”
I asked suddenly while eating my meal.
“Huh, huh?!”
“Lately, you head straight back to the dormitory or lock yourself in the Royal Class exclusive training room right after classes.”
Angela swallowed her salad with a bashful smile.
“It’s nothing special. I’m just a student of Polaris now, so I have to train hard. Besides, I want to become someone who can protect you.”
“Still, don’t push yourself too hard. If it becomes uncomfortable because of your Qi, feel free to ask for help anytime.”
“…Ugh!”
Her face flushed red, and she quickly blurted out.
“Th-then, I’ll be off to the training room!”
I tilted my head slightly as I watched her hurriedly retreating figure.
“…Was she always this diligent?”
In the original story, her innate constitution of upper danjun and her dismal swordsmanship talent meant that no matter how much she tried, she could hardly make any progress.
‘Well, still.’
There’s no harm in training.
Even if she only builds muscle, it increases the amount of ki her body can withstand.
“I should get going too.”
Just as I was about to finish my meal and stand up.
“Hello~!”
A familiar-looking beauty sat down directly in front of me.
“Professor Karen.”
“Yes, yes, that’s me.”
“…Then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Ahhh! Wait, wait!”
Just as I tried to slip away, she grabbed onto my leg.
“Please, just hear me out… okay?”
“……”
“Ten minutes! No, five minutes? Even three minutes would be fine!”
“……”
“Sniff… Won’t you hear me out…?”
Hmm.
Is it complete now?
“For that long….”
“Wow! Thank you!”
Karen jumped for joy at my one word.
‘Heh.’
I barely suppressed the smile that was trying to curl up at the corners of my mouth.
—
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