After a brief discussion while feeding Evandel, we left the dorm and arrived at room 303, where Kim Suho told Hajin about.
There was already quite a crew gathered here – Shin Jonghak, Yoo Yeonha, Kim Horak, and Yi Yeonghan. A lot of potential as Lancer would say.
They didn't say anything when they saw us, so Hajin opened his mouth first.
"Why did you call us?"
An innocent question was enough to make Shin Jonghak frown. Thankfully, Kim Suho explained before Shin Jonghak expressed his dissatisfaction.
"I haven't told you why we're meeting yet."
"So, what is it?"
Kim Suho stood up at his question.
"Hajin, Shiki, you've heard about cadets going missing, right?"
"...Yeah." Hajin said.
I nodded in silence.
"It's about that. Cube entrusted us to investigate the cause. Of course, they're going to do their own investigation, but since the culprit is likely a student, they think it'll be easier for students to investigate."
"I see. If so, having Shiki is a great asset. He's strong, no doubt...
...But why me?"
"You have good eyes. I heard you can see over a thousand miles away."
"Well, yeah... I do have good eyes."
Hajin feigned a smile and sat down on a nearby chair. As a result, Kim Suho naturally came to sit at the table's head.
Kim Suho looked into his eyes and asked.
"Will you help us?"
"I don't know if I can, but..."
At that moment, Hajin didn't want to give up on potential SP.
"Thanks."
Kim Suho smiled happily. He then cleared his throat and brought up yesterday's incident.
"First, I don't think the Djinn who attacked Nayun is the culprit of this incident. But..."
Shin Jonghak interrupted him.
"Nayun?"
He was picking at the fact that he didn't address Chae Nayun with her last name.
"...But I think there is a high chance that Chae Nayun is the real culprit's next target. Djinns follow their contracted devil's orders, so if Sven's contracted devil ordered him to attack Chae Nayun, it makes sense that another Djinn would go after her."
It was a good theory, but likely incorrect. Both of them have a demonic scent, but Jayden also has divinity. Asmodeus is a demon god only in name, so having divinity is not possible.
"So I'm wondering, can you think of anyone suspicious? Someone you know who has recently been acting strangely..."
Before the real investigation began, Kim Suho asked for everyone's opinions. But no one stepped forward, and Yoo Yeonha was staring at Hajin fixedly. Soon, Shin Jonghak and Kim Horak also turned their gaze towards him.
He knew who the culprit was. But he can't reveal it without proof.
Hajin could only speak out about his suspicion. Something is better than nothing.
"Yeah, I have someone in mind."
Five pairs of eyes became focused on him.
"Who?"
Kim Suho asked.
Hajin slowly opened my mouth and spoke the real culprit's name.
"Yun Hyun."
...Immediately, a deep silence descended in the room.
No one seemed to react to his comment.
"Pft."
Soon, Yoo Yeonha's mocking laughter broke the silence, and Kim Suho gently rebutted.
"That person has an alibi. We already looked into him because he was close to the first victim."
"But what if the victim went to Yun Hyun on her own?"
"A mental magic that could lure a cadet? Yeah, that makes sense."
Shin Jonghak rebutted sarcastically. The contempt and disdain he had in his eyes were as if he was staring at an insect.
"If it's mental magic, yeah. But..."
"Screw the useless talk."
Shin Jonghak cut Hajin off before I could finish my sentence. He then kicked an empty chair, which rolled towards his leg.
"As for me..."
At that moment, Yoo Yeonha made a dangerous smile. She slowly raised her hand and pointed at Hajin.
"I'm more suspicious of you."
"...What?"
My head went blank. Because it was so sudden, I was lost for words and froze.
"Yoo Yeonha, that's not right either. Hajin also has an alibi."
Kim Suho quickly refuted the idea, but Yoo Yeonha easily rebutted him.
"His alibi is a record of him using the Portal. If he is a Djinn, tampering with something like that should be easy. Compared to senior Yun Hyun who was with others, that person is much more..."
"Why don't we beat him up first?"
Kim Horak hastily got up. With the way he cracked his knuckles and displayed his muscles, he practically looked like a miniature ogre.
"I'm sure he'll sing or transform if he's beaten. Hey, get up."
Yoo Yeonha and Kim Horak. Shin Jonghak and Yi Yeonghan.
Everyone other than Kim Suho looked at Hajin with suspicious eyes.
"Jonghak, I can break an arm or two, right?"
The ogre asked for Shin Jonghak's consent. Before Shin Jonghak could give his answer, I jumped out of my chair.
"Yeah come at me, you fat son of a bitch. I'll drill a hole in your head."
"...What did you say? Look at this crazy motherfucker."
"Retard, you think that can make me flinch?"
Kim Horak positioned himself to charge forward. Hajin also lowered his centre of mass. Things were about to get messy.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!!"
I spoke out for the first time. My mana pressure crashed down on the room. Everyone froze in shock.
"Was I called here to watch a bunch of kids squabble? You too, Hajin."
Hajin snapped back to reality, looking at the chilling flash in his teacher's eyes
Though he shouted grandly, knowing he could at least win against Kim Horak, Shiki was a different beast.
Even Suho... No, even this whole group of people can barely take him on.
'Don't get angry. If you get angry, it's your loss.'
After telling himself that, Hajin took in a deep breath and pointed at Yoo Yeonha.
"You, if you're doubtful, ask Chae Nayun."
"...What does Nayun have to do with this?"
Hajin was talking to Yoo Yeonha, but it was Shin Jonghak who reacted sensitively.
"When she was attacked by a Djinn, I was there too. We killed him together. She didn't tell you yet?"
"..."
Hajin said so as he glared at Yoo Yeonha. She received my gaze in a perfectly calm manner without a single word.
"Anyways, I made myself clear. The culprit is that piece of shit Yun Hyun."
After leaving those words to Yoo Yeonha, the 'final victim', Hajin turned around.
"!!!"
Hajin's circuits picked up on a mana source charging at him. By instinct, he pulled out his handgun and pointed it in that direction. He pulled the trigger but...
*Click*
I intervened first. Standing next to my idiotic student, I grabbed the gun's barrel and pushed it back, ejecting the bullet.
I held down the gun, using it as a leaning point and shoved my foot into the incoming Kim Horak.
*Crackkk*
Met by a tremendous force, Kim Horak was knocked down on his side.
The charge was too quick yet yielded an unexpected result, as everyone watched in awe.
"As expected, he stopped that."
Shin Jonghak commented.
"You... son of a bitch."
Kim Horak held on his side and tried to stand up. For someone who attacked first, he sure was angry.
"Stand down, I won't be so merciful next time."
But Kim Suho stopped me. Instead of words, power rose up from his sword and separated me from Kim Horak.
"If you're that suspicious, just ask Nayun! Yoo Yeonha!"
He shouted at Yoo Yeonha. Kim Suho's furious look even made the proud Yoo Yeonha shrink.
"...Wait one minute."
*Tsk*
Yoo Yeonha clicked her tongue and turned on her smartwatch.
Yoo Yeonha called Chae Nayun and asked if what Kim Hajin said was true. Chae Nayun carefully explained what had happened the day before, and it was exactly as Kim Hajin had said. In fact, Chae Nayun went so far as to make a definitive claim.
"There's no way Kim Hajin is a Djinn", she said.
The meeting was disbanded afterwards. Kim Hajin stomped out of the room, while Kim Suho and Yi Yeonghan chased after him.
I, on the other hand, was on my way to Lancer. Keeping a woman waiting is ungentlemanly, but keeping Scáthach waiting is courting death.
Once the short yet fierce disturbance had passed by, room 303 became silent. The three remaining people didn't speak. In the midst of the silence, Yoo Yeonha saw Kim Horak massaging his right shoulder.
"...Does it hurt?"
"N-No, I'm fine."
"That was your Gift, right?"
Many cadets already knew about Kim Horak's Gift. That was how straightforward it was.
A simple and brute Gift that instantly amplified his body's explosive and destructive power. This easy-to-understand Gift was one of the strongest Gifts for martial arts.
But Shiki had stopped it easily. His move wasn't flashy: a simple sidekick. Yet it was fast and efficient to a scary point. He had also disarmed Kim Hajin before that, showing expertise in combat.
"..."
Kim Horak dodged Yoo Yeonha's gaze. He wasn't feeling sorry about wrongfully accusing Kim Hajin. He was only embarrassed that his attack had been so easily thwarted.
"Ehew."
Yoo Yeonha sighed and glanced at Shin Jonghak. For a while, he was only staring at his smartwatch. Was he messaging Chae Nayun? That's what Yoo Yeonha worried about.
"Jonghak, what are you up to?"
Yoo Yeonha approached him with an affectionate smile. Shin Jonghak answered without bothering to give Yoo Yeonha a glance.
"I'm looking to see if there's more of an item I bought."
"Item?"
"Yeah, I bought something."
"What did you buy~?"
Yoo Yeonha pulled on Shin Jonghak's arm and acted cute in her own way.
"You don't need to know."
But Shin Jonghak pushed her away. Yoo Yeonha's face froze at his cold action.
"...Tsk. If we're done, I'm leaving."
"Kim Horak, aren't you coming?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
Kim Horak, who was peeking at Yoo Yeonha's face, followed Shin Jonghak like a puppy.
'Shin Jonghak you bastard, just which part of Chae Nayun is better than me? Ehew. But what can I do, I just have to try harder.'
When Yoo Yeonha was about to chase after Shin Jonghak, her smartwatch vibrated.
It was a message from Yun Hyun.
—There's going to be a preparatory exam next Monday. You're coming, right?
Club activities stopped during exam periods, but the academics club offered peer tutoring during this time.
Yoo Yeonha started typing, but she suddenly remembered what Kim Hajin said. That the culprit of this incident was Yun Hyun...
"Stupid."
Yoo Yeonha dismissed the idea once again and sent her reply.
.
.
.
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9 P.m. Gwandondo province.
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In the night market, I was visiting the local stalls with Lancer. Her being here didn't cause a scene as people would think that she was either a Hero or a Hunter.
Surprisingly, Lancer was pretty easy to talk to, given that you ignore all her cold insults about the people here. We had a good time, trying local foods, shopping for clothes for her, etc...
We then went back to Cube as Lancer returned to her spiritual form and followed me behind. The portal's attendance didn't make a ruckus as I doubt she could see anyone but me.
.
.
.
"So this is where you currently stay."
"Temporarily."
"You live like this, Master?"
"Like I said, temporarily. I'll buy some furniture after my new room is assigned."
We headed straight to my dorm as it was late. Hardly anyone would stay outside now. Lancer could see the cadets tomorrow as it will be Saturday.
"First of all, I should get you a fake ID and a smartwatch. You wouldn't want to stick with me all the time, would you?"
"That's considerate of you. I'm fine with going wherever you want but this is also a good choice."
"That's settled, then, we'll handle this tomorrow."
"Understood."
"Good, now let's rest. Goodnight, Lancer."
"Goodnight, Master."
Sweet sweet dream.
.
.
.
.
"Exams are next week, starting with the written exams. The combat exams will be on the following week. But remember what I've always said, written exams are just as important as combat exams."
Today was Monday. The professor purposely spoke in a grave tone. Just like he said, the midterm exams would begin in just a week.
Of course, I had nothing to worry about in written exams, but the problem was with combat exams.
It wasn't that I couldn't win, but the real problem was keeping an eye on Lancer while I fought. There will be guests watching the exam, mostly civilians.
But among the guests, there are recruiters and high-ranking Heroes. Who knows if she just bumped into someone strong and tried to duel them to death.
I wasn't afraid of Lancer losing; that is nearly impossible. I was afraid of Scáthach creating a big enough mess that her fake ID would be exposed. It would cause a lot of minor inconveniences for us.
– 'Lancer, can you hear me?'
–'Yes, master. What do you need from me?'
– 'I was hoping you could help me with something next week.'
– 'What is it?'
– 'I'll tell you at my dorm. It's better if we talk about this face-to-face.'
– 'I understand.'
– 'Also, How's Evandel? Is she fed?'
– 'Yes, I just fed her a while ago. A doting father I see.'
– 'Please, don't tease me, Lancer.'
Yes, I admit I am a doting father. Maybe because I have never raised a child before that caused me to be like this. It was a strange feeling holding her in my hand. A new life, depending on me to grow.
And for how Lancer knew of Evandel...
It was inevitable. Lancer found out about her right when we got home. To her words, she felt a living soul on the table, where I left the seed.
She asked when I left the dorm. Busted, I could only tell Lancer about her. Now, she has become her caretaker while I go to class.
'I should head back to my dorm.'
.
.
.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back, Master. How was your day?"
"It was fine, nothing much happened. Is she well?"
"See for yourself."
Looking behind Lancer, I saw a seed lying on a small makeshift bed using medical cotton and a plastic bottle.
No scratch, no dust. The little seed was in pristine condition.
"Hello, little one. Did you miss me?"
The seed trembled in response to my words.
"I see. Thank you for taking care of her, Lancer."
"It's nothing to mention, but I'll take your appreciation.
Now master, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Oh, that. Well, it was like this..."
.
.
.
"So, you want me to lay low for the next week?"
"Yes, it would help me a lot if you do so."
"I understand. I'll do it, on one condition."
"What is it? If it's in my capability then I'll make it happen."
"I'll tell you after we're done with this."
"Can I ask why?"
"Yes. Cause if I tell you now, you may not agree."
"I see... Fine, I won't ask any further. Just stay out of public for the time. I'll see what I can do about the condition."
"Then we have a deal. I'll be waiting in the meantime."
I wonder what she will ask of me. I hope it won't be anything extreme. Considering her personality, it wouldn't be strange if she orders me to do something outrageous. But that is for future me to deal with. Just need to focus on what's on my plate first.
*Ring ring ring*
'???. Someone calling me? Who is it?'
I looked at my smartwatch and saw Hajin's icon on the screen.
Hajin: "Teacher, Yoo Yeonha's in trouble, please."
'Yoo Yeonha? Then it must be Jayden's doing.'
Shiki: "Give me your location, I'm coming. Do what you can in the meantime."
Hajin: "I'll send it to you right away."
*Ding* looking at the coordinate Hajin had sent me, I turned to Scáthach.
"Lancer, I'm heading out."
"This late? Did something happen?"
"A small incident. Stay on stand by, I'll call you if something goes wrong."
"Got it. Go now, best not to be late."
"Yeah, I'll see you later Lancer. Take care of Evandel for me."
"You don't have to tell me that. She will be safe with me. Be careful, Master."
"Yeah..."
I quickly took off, didn't even bother to lock the door. With Scáthach holding the fort, any intruder had better pray she gives them a quick death.
.
.
.
Approaching the said received location, I saw a figure standing on a tree branch. He was holding a sniper rifle aimed toward the cube building.
'That must be Hajin. I'll go to him first. He knows what's happening.'
Using Reinforcement, I leapt to where he was.
Statled, the figure turned his head to me. He sighed after knowing who it was.
"Teacher, you're here."
"Yeah, so what's the situation?"
"After I sent you the message, I managed to find his location and sniped him. Fortunately, Yoo Yeonha wasn't harmed."
"I see."
"However... Something strange happened."
"What is it?"
"You should see for yourself, teach.
Third floor, second room from the left."
Hajin then handed me his sniper, I took the scope to my eye and looked at where he said.
"That's Yoo Yeonha. She seems ok, no injury, no mana berserk. Nothing off to...
Wait... Is that Yun Hyuk?"
"Yes."
"Why isn't he dissolved by now?"
"That's what I'm asking, too. At first, I thought he was faking it. But after a few rounds, he didn't make any movement.
Is it something like last week?"
"It could be the case. More likely though, his body is being used as a medium."
"Medium?"
"Yeah, I don't know what his body is being used for, but it's certainly not good for us.
I'll go check out what it is. Keep the area secure."
"Got it. Watch out for anything, teach."
"I know..."
I channelled my circuits focusing on the room. A scented candle was swallowed by the Displacement spell, switching me with its place.
"I'm here. Let's see what you are"
Moving closer to Yun Hyuk's body, I checked for deformation and mana residue. But before I can investigate further...
*Splash*
His body burst into black liquid, spewing toward me.
I raised a barrier and blocked the incoming liquid. However, the liquid circled around the barrier and started to cover me from the bottom.
"What?" I was surprised by the oddity of the substance. I felt my legs disconnected from my torso. Panic settled in.
My body acted first, blasting the doors with ether and throwing Yoo Yeonha out with the hand not covered in black liquid.
Soon, I was swallowed whole.
.
.
.
Everything happened too fast. It was merely seconds after Shiki threw Yoo Yeonha out that he disappeared along with the black substance. The liquid was soon gone without any trace. Shiki was taken by a black liquid to who know where.
When Suho and the other arrived, all they saw was the clubroom's door has been destroyed, with Yoo Yeonha lying unconcious outside.
Hajin on the other hand, was not around. To his teacher's order, he roamed around the campus trying to dish out any anomalies that might occur. If Hajin had stayed, he would had tried to save Shiki in any way possible.
The only one knew something was off was Scáthach. The godslayer felt her connection with her Master was distorted. She sensed his vital was okay, but his shared location was gone. She could't be able to reach Shiki in any way.
————————————
????,?????
————————————
Silent, empty, dark
If one were to describe where Shiki was then, those would be the words.
'Where am I? I don't recognise this place.'
Struggling to move, my body felt slow. Like weights had enveloped me whole and held me down.
'It's hard to breathe, am I underwater?'
A voice resonated in my head, stopping all my thinking for a second.
"Welcome, strange one. I have been trying to get you here."
The voice came out of nowhere. Along with it, a person also appeared. From her, I felt a large amount of pressure, both demonic and divine.
If one could describe the pressure exuding from the woman. It would be cold and warm at the same time.
A young adult around my height (185cm) with white hair and green eyes. Her smile was seductive and alluring making me shiver to the bones. Her stunning figure didn't make it any better for me.
She donned a black flimsy nightgown paired with two golden snakes hung under the collar, revealing red markings on her abdomen.
Long beast legs, black horn, grey wings and spine-like tail. These inhuman features defined an Underworld creature.
In the record of The Root, there is one description fitting what was in my sight.
"Lilith." I called out her name.
"Oh? You know me? That makes it easier for me then.
Now, may I ask who you are?"
"Shiki."
"Shiki... Shiki... I'll remember it.
So Shiki, what did you try to do with my child?"
"Child? Yun Hyuk?"
"Yes, him. He was my child of contract. So I must ask, what did you try to do to his body?"
"It doesn't concern you, does it?"
"He signed the contract, he became my child. Of course, it concerns me.
Never mind, I'll find out after we're through."
"We? What do you mean by 'we'?"
"Well, I'm gonna make you one of us."
"You meant to turn me into a Djinn?"
"No silly. Your soul is too powerful for me to do so. I have been watching you, you know."
"Huh? How long have you been doing that?"
"A week or two."
"That long? Also, what would I become if not a Djinn?"
"Idiot. Like I said, one of us."
"Wait... You meant to make me a devil?"
"Correct, by influencing your soul, I can modify your vessel into a devil.
You realise this yourself, right? That your vessel is still not strong enough to use your power at full force.
What if you can't protect your friends and family? What if you lose your freedom? Won't you regret it?"
'She was right. My current self can't use True Magic at will. I have to either take some time or overload my circuits to use the full power of a single True Magic.
Taking her offer may not be a bad decision.'
"So what do you say, Shiki? Wanna become a devil with me?"
'However.'
"I refuse."
"What?" Liltih exclaimed.
"I said I refuse."
"Why? What part of it was wrong?"
"No... You were right about that. I am still weak. Against being like you and the other gods and devils, this body doesn't stand a chance. I may not be able to save my friends and family with my current self.
But, I don't intend to let it be that way forever."
"Then why don't you agree? You don't make any sense right now."
"Because if I choose this path, I may be able to protect them now. But what of the future?
You are bound by the contract of Gaia. If I become a devil, then by default I have to purge the human as well. Then one day, I will have to face the one I once sheltered.
I can't afford to be the reason for their grief or their demise. That is not the good ending I wanted to see."
"Tch..."
Lilith was furious. She didn't know I was aware of the contract. True, if I didn't know any better, I would have become a devil by now.
"Then so be it. You will not leave this place. Not by yourself."
"..."
'She is right once again. Staying here has worn my body down to an extent. The bind, the pressure has kept me from exerting my full strength. I won't be able to escape by myself. By myself that is'
"You know, Lilith. Under all that anger you showed, you still love Humanity. Throughout your legend, you have slaughtered countless infants yet you remembered them all.
You may see it as a duty, but do you know what I see?
I see a mother wailing over what she had to do.
I couldn't help you now, but I hope there can be a future for you and your children."
"You..." Lilith couldn't say anything else.
Whenever it's true or false. Shiki spoke with sincerity, something Lilith hadn't heard of for an eternity.
"I'm sorry, Lilith, but I can't stay here any longer.
By my command spell, COME TO ME, LANCER."
A command seal glowed brightly before fading away. A surge of wind blew in the silent depths bubbling the area.
Scáthach has arrived.
"Master, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Lancer. Focus on our situation."
Scáthach looked around to see the blackened desolation.
"Casualty distortion?" She gasped.
"Yes, that's why I need your help. Also, I'm in a bit of a bind right now."
"I see. What do you need me to do?"
"Use your Noble Phantasm. Destroy this place."
"I understand. Then I have to kick it. But if I do so, my Noble Phantasm will lose its reversal effect."
"Not with The Fifth. I don't have the strength or mana to reverse this whole place. But enchanting you spear is possible."
"Got it. But won't she try to stop us?"
Scáthach pointed to Lilith. For a while, Lilith hasn't said anything. Her eyes just gazed intensely at me.
"She won't be an issue. She is just a projection. The body medium was used to pull me into this place. It's useless now, she would have done something otherwise.
"That's good then."
With my enchantment, Scathach leapt into the air, leaving me alone with Lilith.
"I guess this is goodbye." I said to the projection.
"It seems so."
"We'll meet again if fate allows us."
"Even now, you are still trying to humour me. Fine, I shall watch over your journey. You'd better keep your word."
"I'll try."
From above, Scáthach went into action.
"This spear is an embodiment of who I am. And I am the epitome of the spear.
Gáe Bolg Alternative!!"
She kicked the spear down toward the ground. Gáe Bolg Alternative splits itself into many, with each containing its casualty reversal effect.
*Crack* *crack* *crack* *crack* *crack*
Countless spears were embedded in the ground, overwriting the law that Lilith had put on this place. Space collapsed, and everything came back to reality.
Tired physically and mentally, I issued one last command.
"Lancer, could you bring me back, please. I'm gonna crash right now."
I closed my eyes, let my body fall to the ground. Everything went black.
"Leave it to me. Good night, Master."
Sleep, good old sleep.
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