NOVEL NEXT Chapter 41
“Defeated several monsters of level two. Signs of survivors found.”
The blue-haired knight contacted her opponent through the mana network.
– “No signs this way. Continue advancing.”
“I understand.”
Wiping the blood sticking to her sword, she approached deeper into the dungeon.
“…The Knights’ work is no joke.”
She exhaled a weary breath.
She was a fifth-year student of Polaris.
In the capacity of an ‘apprentice knight,’ she was temporarily active in this knight order.
The mission given this time was to rescue an adventurer who had gone missing in the dungeon.
The dungeon itself was filled with level two monsters, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Finding signs of survivors is tough.”
Days had already passed since the adventurer went missing, and the traces of survival had significantly worn away.
Despite utilizing everything learned in lectures and apprentice knight classes to the utmost.
“Where are you…!”
Still, there was no sign of the survivor.
On the third day of investigation, it was now more prudent to aim for recovering a body rather than considering the possibility of survival.
“However… it’s strange.”
According to the information received, the adventurer who entered this dungeon was quite a veteran.
A gold-ranked adventurer who had maintained his status at the guild for quite some time—how could he go missing in such a place?
“Something doesn’t add up.”
There was a scratchy feeling in her throat.
However, her mission assigned to her was to rescue the survivor.
Sizzling!
“I will continue advancing.”
Contacting other members searching the dungeon, she kept pushing forward.
Then, amidst that.
“Eh?”
Something caught her eye.
Crouched behind a large rock, there was someone trembling.
With professional equipment and weapons hanging all over their body.
Above all, a golden emblem fastened at their waist.
“Survivor confirmed! Survivor confirmed!”
– Send location information. Report the survivor’s condition.
“Presumed alive. No visible wounds.”
After quickly sending the message.
She approached the adventurer cautiously.
“Are you by any chance Rekki?”
“U… uu… w-who…?”
“I’m from the Guardian Knights.”
“Knight… order?”
The adventurer, called Rekki, continued hesitantly, still curled up.
‘He’s alive.’
She spoke as gently as possible while putting her sword away.
Dungeon refugees tend to be on high alert due to stress from various monsters, reacting sensitively to even the slightest movements or tones.
“It’s okay now. I’ve come to rescue you.”
“Uuu… save… me….”
“Take my hand. We’ll get out soon….”
“N-no! Don’t… come!!”
It was then.
The body that had been curled up suddenly straightened.
“Runrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrun.”
The hideous face was revealed.
“…Huh?”
It was something that could not be considered human.
Where eyes and a mouth should be, several red tentacles were protruding, and thick, ugly tendons resembling tree branches bulged all over its body.
“What the…?”
“Ah… Aah! R-run…!”
Rekki clutched his head with his hands.
He looked like he was barely suppressing a violent impulse.
“Hungryhungryhungryhungry….”
A clear liquid, indistinguishable from drool, dripped from the tentacles.
Lost in the surreal spectacle,
Crackle!
Messages poured in simultaneously from multiple locations.
– Unknown grotesque creature discovered!
– Encountered a horde of goblins sprouting tentacles! Requesting combat support!
– Witnessed the transformation scene of a monster! It’s an abnormal phenomenon!
– Immediately stop all operations and evacuate!
Something unimaginable was sprouting from the world outside.
*
“Hm….”
In the [Center] student council room.
A blonde woman scrutinized the report with sharp eyes.
“Ha… astonishing. Is this really true?”
The collective mutation phenomenon of monsters.
Pernia muttered several noteworthy points.
“Red tentacles sprouting from the body… losing reason, instinct running rampant… a mere level two goblin is exhibiting power near that of a level four monster….”
And, above all.
[Deceased] Rekki Rot.
“Human erosion cases have also been discovered.”
The report compiled by the fifth-year apprentice knight was truly intriguing.
Of course, this couldn’t irresponsibly leak to the outside.
“Reading authority level one.”
Wheeeek-!
She placed the report and related photos into an envelope and sealed it with a black stamp.
This stamp is a magical tool inscribed with sealing magic.
Particularly, the black stamp engraves a sealing magic that can’t be touched by anyone with a rank lower than first class.
In Polaris, only two people have first-class authority.
The student council president and the principal.
Since the principal was away, the only one who could access this material in this place was Pernia herself.
“So….”
Having safely sealed the report, she squinted her eyes and spoke.
“Is this the ‘destruction’ you mentioned?”
“……”
Someone comfortably seated on the sofa opposite Pernia.
A figure whose face was covered by cloth, their gender indeterminate.
“That is merely a warning. Princess.”
A androgynous voice dominated the space.
“The breath of giants becomes a storm for microorganisms.”
He declared solemnly.
“The chaos about to begin lies outside the shackles.”
“That sounds a bit disturbing. It feels like I’m bound somewhere.”
“Everything that exists must be trapped by something. Even we, when viewed from a macroscopic perspective, are merely dust trapped on a palm.”
“It feels alien coming from beings like you.”
Pernia smiled slightly, her expression wary.
“There’s no need for such mistrust, Princess. We are entities with aligned interests. Would you not prefer this arrangement over some feeble trust?”
“…That’s true.”
“Good.”
He stood up.
After all, he had barely come to give a warning about the Distortion.
“We will make you Empress. Then you will provide us with the corpse of Princess Angela.”
“…….”
“That is all it takes.”
For the sustenance of the world.
To prevent ‘their’ ugly hands from soiling this dimension.
The Apostles move once more.
The Second Apostle of Revelation.
Nero.
“The execution date is soon.”
“I know.”
“I will trust you.”
As Nero finished his words, pitch-black wings spread behind him like crows.
And in an instant, his figure vanished.
Like the shadow of night retreating before dawn, a silence settled as if no one had ever been there from the very beginning.
“…Hah.”
Only then could she relax.
Pernia pressed her forehead with her hand.
The appearance of the ‘Distorted Ones’ she had just seen in the pictures kept flashing in front of her eyes.
“Ugh….”
Beyond being grotesque, the very essence of life felt revulsion at that sight.
A feeling of having seen something that should not exist.
Even the one with immense courage, Pernia could not calm her insides.
‘…Still.’
This clarified everything.
“The heavens… recognize me as Empress!”
The world, fate, even the gods themselves.
It led her to becoming the Empress.
Now, all that remained was to kill Angela in the upcoming ‘Festival’ and assign the real power of the throne to herself.
‘Victory.’
From the start, it was a match that was never going to be fair.
A girl born with a curse on her dantian and she, who was perfect in every way.
Anyone capable of normal judgment would conclude that she was fit to be Empress.
Except for one person.
“Ran Black…!”
That damned man.
How dare he support Angela in front of her.
‘As expected, men are like that.’
Unable to find their footing, they repeatedly make foolish judgments based on emotion.
Feeling even pity for Angela, who had such a fool beside her.
However.
GRAAAAH!
The memory of being so outright ignored did not easily fade.
Rather, like a flame meeting oil, it only grew fiercer with time.
Clenching her fist tightly, she spat out.
“If you like her that much… make sure to stick with her till the end.”
Even if that meant death.
*
“You seem quite busy these days.”
I suddenly asked while munching on my meal.
“Y-yes?!”
“Lately, as soon as classes end, you either head straight back to the dormitory or lock yourself in the private training room exclusive to the royal class.”
Angela gulped down her salad and smiled brightly.
“It’s nothing much. Since I’m now a student of Polaris, I need to train hard. Besides, I want to become someone who can protect you.”
“Still, don’t push yourself too hard. If it’s uncomfortable, please feel free to ask anytime.”
“…Ugh!”
She reddened and rushed to speak.
“Th-then I’ll head to the training room now!”
Watching her dash away, I tilted my head.
“…Was she always this diligent?”
In the original story, due to her inferior constitution and hopeless swordsmanship talent, no effort ever yielded results.
‘But well.’
Training won’t hurt at all.
Even just gaining muscle would help increase the amount of energy her body could handle.
“Shall I head out too?”
As I was about to stand up after quickly finishing my meal.
“Hello~!”
A familiar beautiful woman sat directly across from me.
“Professor Karen, is it?”
“Yup yup, that’s right!”
“…Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Ahhhhh! Wait, just a moment!”
As I tried to subtly slip away, she grabbed my leg.
“Please just listen to me for a minute… okay?”
“…….”
“Ten minutes! Oh, no, five minutes? Even three minutes will do!”
“…….”
“Sniff… can’t I?!”
Hmm.
Is it finally complete?
“If that’s the case…”
“Yay! Thank you!”
At my one remark, Karen bounced with joy.
‘Hehe.’
I desperately bit my lip to hold back a smile.