NOVEL NEXT Chapter 113
The path leading out of the underground sewer was horrifically uncomfortable, chaotic, and disorienting.
Muyeong might not care, but from Stella’s perspective, it was justifiable.
Just moments ago, the interior of the labyrinth had been filled with countless people that Muyeong had fiercely protected.
As the maze vanished and the people awoke from their trance, they remained oblivious to the circumstances and didn’t even understand why they were there.
Naturally, immense confusion ensued.
Crying, shouting, screaming, and fainting again.
In that situation, Muyeong said nothing at all.
Thus, only Stella, who was aware of the current situation and had heard from Muyeong about the identities of those people, could reassure them and lead them outside.
Fortunately, Stella was able to conceal her face.
Unlike Eliaernes, the cloak of recognition-inhibiting she wore before coming to the labyrinth was intact.
With that, Stella hurriedly led over a hundred people through the underground sewer.
Though Muyeong helped somewhat, it wasn’t a significant aid.
However, she couldn’t show how hard it was.
She heard Muyeong had fought to protect those people for over 40 hours.
Eliaernes had fought against an 8th Circle Mage to protect Stella and Pina.
Pina had almost become a sacrificial offering to a life-threatening ritual. She wasn’t even supposed to be here to begin with.
Stella.
While helping Eliaernes navigate through the labyrinth, she was suddenly kidnapped and heard the shocking news.
Of course, mentally she was overwhelmed, but she hadn’t achieved anything in breaking the labyrinth.
It felt like she alone was unscathed.
Thinking that way made Stella feel a mix of emotions—she wanted to cry, worry, and weave those troubled feelings into diligently completing her sole given task.
She managed to escape the underground sewer, which should take about 15 minutes, in 50 minutes, and handed the victims over to Muyeong’s group.
Muyeong stared at Stella for quite some time, then quietly vanished.
Left alone waiting for Eliaernes, Stella collapsed in her spot.
Her mind was a mess. Her heart was heavy, and she felt like tears could burst forth any moment.
Hundreds of people, being targeted by the Dark Mage who wanted to kill Eliaernes and Pina.
She heard that her mother was alive.
During that exchange, she learned that she was an existence created for Akasha.
Of course, there was no way of knowing if that statement was true or false.
Even so, it wasn’t so easy to dismiss it as a mere lie and forget about it.
Her mother, who disappeared after being chased by the Eustetia Knight Order and Marquis Behrhaigen.
Her whereabouts.
The Dark Mage who eerily resembled her mother.
Akasha.
A created being.
The reason she must have been a Behrhaigen.
The Hero, Eustetia, without the blood of Arisa.
Eustetia’s side branch seemed to know about that.
The smell of blood, the scent mingled with stronger sweat.
The pounding heart, the voice, the cherry blossom-colored hair and eyes.
The small, delicate form. The hot body temperature.
Eliaernes.
She wanted to see her.
The moment that thought crossed her mind.
In a chaotic moment where she couldn’t even understand why such thoughts came to her.
“Why are you sitting there like a beggar?”
A sharp voice pierced through.
“Did you wet yourself again?”
“I… Ah, no… I didn’t… Haaaagh!”
The tears she had been holding back burst forth.
*
After the illusion left by Arisa ended, I sat blankly for quite a while.
Then I began to gather everything from the grave.
The cherry blossoms and my gravestone too.
It was definitely an expensive pouch, as it slid right in when I gently put it into the head of the gravestone.
After that, I demolished the dungeon where my grave sat. Did Arisa already know I would do so? The cave had pillars that were half-destroyed already.
Pillars bearing Arisa’s fist marks.
I knocked down only one. Just that one made the cave start to collapse. And even the huge rock door blocking our path vanished without a trace.
Seeing the cave collapsing, Pina fainted again.
I thought about leaving Pina behind while she was unconscious but ended up taking her with me as I emerged from the underground sewer.
I don’t know how much time had passed.
When I entered the labyrinth, it was sunset, but when I came out, the sky was bright.
A noisy and lively street of the system. Judging by the number of people walking around, it looked like midday.
Had less than a day passed?
I thought so, as Stella, Pina, and I walked side by side toward the Academy.
The way back was very comfortable.
Thanks to the perceptive Muyeong who left a recognition-inhibiting hood for me and Pina.
In the process, I heard from Stella about the people who had been in the labyrinth.
A mix of races gathered from all over the country.
They didn’t even know why they were there, and a week’s worth of memories had vanished completely before their kidnapping.
I didn’t know how they were gathered here in such numbers, but that wasn’t something I needed to worry about. Muyeong would handle it.
Then, Stella discovered Pina’s secret.
The ability to communicate with and control spirits.
Upon learning that, Stella’s eyes sparkled as she busily bombarded Pina with questions about everything.
After a while, they hugged each other, relieved to have returned alive, and bawled.
After a while.
“…Wh-what do we do now?”
“Eek…”
When we reached the front of the Academy, we couldn’t proceed any further.
Getting out was easy—just running away—but entering had no escape route, and that was the problem.
“E-Eliaernes. That… blood path? Can’t we just stab it again like before?”
“Earlier, you were all over the place saying not to do that, and now you want to do it again?”
“Eek… Th-that’s not it! I just… umm… it’s not like that… uh, what do we do?”
“Hmm…”
The entrance was still open.
In this state, taking down the ten guards guarding the main gate should be a piece of cake.
But doing something like that without being noticed was impossible.
So, while pondering how to proceed.
“I think it seems like you need my help?”
A voice filled with mirth came from behind the bushes where we were hiding.
“Eek! Eek! Eek…!”
“Gah…”
Pina fainted, and Stella stopped breathing.
I glanced towards the woman approaching with a sound of clacking shoes that seemed unnecessarily loud.
“Shall I help you?”
Adelia Baros.
“…Since when have you been watching us?”
“Since you guys came out of the underground sewer and went to eat chicken skewers. I love those skewers too. The savory sauce is delightful! And the chicken doesn’t have any off-flavors.”
“They are indeed delicious.”
“Ha ha ha. Next time, let’s go eat together.”
“Are you treating us?”
Adelia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Oops…? You’re not saying no? Are you really going with me?”
“If you treat, I might go once.”
“Aha! Now you sound like you’re being generous.”
“I am being generous.”
“Hey, hey…! Are you crazy?! What kind of language is that to the homeroom professor?!”
Stella pulled my clothes in horror at my response.
“Alright. Helping you guys seems like a splendid reward. I’ve always dreamed of snacking with my students at least once. Can I expect that?”
On the other hand, Adelia seemed pleased and nodded enthusiastically.
Her manner implied that she had picked up on my intent.
“Yes. But I will eat something more expensive than chicken skewers. At a very fancy restaurant.”
“Of course. Even if I look like this, I have more than enough money, you know? I can even build a Magic Tower!”
Adelia, chuckling, moved on with a genuinely happy demeanor.
“Well then, shall we go? Ah, but before that.”
Suddenly, she waved her hand, and dark mana flowed out to envelop our bodies.
“Right now, you guys look all scruffy like abandoned puppies, so I’m going to hide you with my magic for a moment. There’s no bad intention, so don’t worry.”
“Uh… uhm… thank you.”
“Eek…”
“Well then. Let’s go!”
With a clap of her hands, Adelia stepped forward.
Stella and Pina followed behind her, trailing along.
As they walked, Stella quietly asked me,
“…Do you think she knows where we’ve been?”
“Probably.”
“And what we did there…?”
“It seems so.”
“Gah… How did she know? Then what should we… ummm, what do we do?”
“I’ll handle it, so you don’t have to worry.”
Stella pursed her lips.
“…Is there nothing I can do to help?”
Her eyes brimmed with concern.
It was quite cringe-worthy and… uncomfortable…
What was up with her?
“Forget it, don’t go peeing yourself, idiot.”
“…Y-you… You really!! Even when I’m worried about you!! Ahhh! I hate this! I really hate you! You’re so annoying! Don’t talk to me!”
“What are you saying? You’re the one who started talking.”
“Ahhhhhh!”
*
Thanks to Adelia’s help, we were able to return to the Academy without any issues.
During that time, Adelia didn’t ask anything or do anything.
Simply put, she dropped us off inside the Academy and left to do her own business.
However, for just a moment, she had looked at me differently, but that gaze didn’t linger long.
She probably noticed the change in my condition due to the opening of the door.
If she were to ask, I hadn’t thought about how to explain it.
There was no time to spare. I had reached my limit.
I couldn’t maintain the pretense of being fine, calm, and unchanged anymore.
As soon as I got to my room, I pulled out various supplies from the bag I had prepared beforehand.
Soundproof scrolls, a gag, herbs, potions, a wide cloth, soft towels, cleaning supplies, and deodorants.
I awkwardly carried everything into the bathroom, stripped off all my clothes, filled the tub with water, and dumped various herbs and potions into it.
Then, I laid the wide cloth on the floor, sat on it, and wrapped my entire body with the soft towel.
“Damn… How long has it been?”
After several quivering breaths, I took one last potion and placed the gag in my mouth.
Tearing the soundproof scroll, my fingers returned to normal. I felt for the Blood Path.
An open door.
If I close this… the recoil will start.
“Ugh… huff…”
I’m quite good at enduring pain.
I’m so accustomed to it that I can continue fighting even if my limbs twist in agony.
But this recoil…
Even for someone like me, it’s horrendous enough to make tears flow. It’s a blessing if only tears come out… blood will spout from every hole and pore of my body.
After that, I have no idea what happens to me. I’ve never seen it.
I just know that my body gets utterly crushed.
And then, after the pain ends, Luna would usually finish it for me. But without Luna, I will have to throw myself into that tub.
“Hah…”
Samaela. That damned b*tch.
When I see her next time, I will definitely rip her limbs apart and kill her.
Just as I chewed the gag and closed the door to the Blood Path, clack— the door opened.
“What are you doing, leaving the door unlocked? Eliaernes! I came to find your device! Cancel this reservation message… Wh-what is all this?!”
Stella walked in.
She glanced around and her gaze met mine in the bathroom.
“Huh? What’s with that in your mouth? What’s with that tub? What the heck are you doing?”
How did that silly fool get in here?
Did I forget to lock the door? Was it open?
Why now of all times?
There was no time to resolve those questions. I didn’t even have the chance to tell her to leave.
The recoil was beginning.