Chapter 95

Chapter 95

“This... this is the power of a single cadet? You really expect me to believe this?”

A rooftop at the edge of Academy District 1.

A girl with blue hair and eyes that shine like two jewels is sweating profusely.

Marin, the marksman of Nox and a member of Lunatic. Her current expression is one of shock.

“Leader Luna herself told me how fast my arrows were, and yet...... you dodge them at that distance?”

That wasn’t all. Nox waited until the very last second.

Until the very last second, when his arrow was actually about to hit him in the back of the head... and then he quickly turned his head and miraculously dodged it.

‘Is that possible with human reflexes?’

Of course, Luna is one of the three swordsmen, and she has the ability to dodge her arrows.

But for a cadet to be able to do so is another matter entirely.

There are those who are recognized by the world and those who are still unknown.

The gap between the two is enormous.

“Rookie... I think I’ve got a ridiculous one as my junior.......”

Later, when she had a chance, she would ask Luna a little more about him. In her opinion, he deserved to have his own mark on the entire continent.

Being a person with a nickname on the continent is literally the same thing as being a tycoon.

To have so many talents crushed, to be crushed.

She’d seen so many others like her, cowering in glass coffins, disappear, and while she’d never been one to jump to conclusions, she couldn’t help herself now.

Nox is a genius.

Like none other.......

Maybe even beyond Luna, beyond his father, Theo von Reinhafer. A talent of epic proportions.

Only then did a thought cross Marin’s mind.

‘No wonder he never showed his true talent on the surface, and why he hid his identity under the stigma of being a cripple.’

Marin let her imagination run wild.

It’s possible that Nox von Reinhafer realized that his overwhelming talent would later cause problems for others.

So, to protect himself, and perhaps to protect those close to him, he disguised his true identity and played the madman.

‘Maybe that’s why he’s been hanging around the maid so much... Finally, it all makes sense.’

“No wonder. He was so damn handsome... ... .”

Of course, it was an unrelated and pure appreciation of his face, but there was no one to point it out.

Marin finally made up her mind.

She and Nox would grow Lunatic together, him and herself.

And to create a continent where all of Lunatic could laugh together.

He had to do it for Jay.

“In order to do that.......”

Esteban von Arkheim. “The Foolish Emperor” had to be brought down.

Of course, I would have to kill his daughter, Penelope, in the process.

* * *

A night of slaughter.

This is what the continent calls the mass slaughter of the demon Paimon that took place on a single full moon.

It lasted for several days and is said to have caused countless casualties.

A catastrophe whose notoriety lingered for some time after Paimon was sealed away, forcing many to live in a time of war.

It was called a tragedy because it was a trauma for some and a vengeful hatred for others.

There were also two great peop;e who survived the tragedy.

One had lost her childhood mentor; the other had lost her family and friends. They stood there, fangs retracted, having just pointed at each other.

After Paimon is defeated, they contemplate the emptiness.

Luna and Noah.

The two met each other’s eyes for a moment.

Then their gazes turn to Nox, who has fallen unconscious.

A giant mountain, a monster that should have been before him. The Demon Paimon had already been completely annihilated, leaving not even a single spirit stone behind.

The night of the full moon. Luna suddenly opened her mouth.

“So that’s why you let Paimon awaken, Noah, since ....... To destroy the Spirit Stone, right?”

Noah didn’t answer, but Luna nodded immediately.

An unspoken sign of understanding, she continued.

“Come to think of it, it’s always been strange. ‘Night of the Slaughter’....... Why you, the one who suffered the most in that hell, would be willing to watch a demon awaken, if it wasn’t just simple revenge.”

“What... I was vengeful, yes. It’s a shame my powers didn’t reach that far, that’s all. Kid.”

“I understand. But...... next time, I hope you’ll at least explain.”

“Hehe, I’d be glad to.”

Suddenly, Noah’s body begins to revert to that of a child.

Her clothes fall loose. Her neatly pressed shirt grows larger, then magically shrinks back to its original size.

“Noah von Trinity. You’ll need to regain as much of your strength as you can when we next meet. You know that a stronger enemy is coming, and.......”

Demons aren’t the only enemies.

A reasonable thought.

‘Dean Noah is dangerous. No matter how desperate the situation, the fact that she was able to use her powers to persuade you... this is it. You’re in a position where you can’t help but see it, even if you try not to.......’

I hope Luna can give me a good slap on the wrist and tell me I’m not on her side. Things can’t go wrong here, can they?

I’ve only been a student of Eldain’s for a few months, and I’ve managed to kill an Archduke. I didn’t do it alone, but that doesn’t make what I did any less important.

I hope Noah’s people will at least take a look at me, since I’ve fought hard enough to deserve it. If I live, I’ll be able to make things right, won’t I?

‘......This is the first time I’ve ever felt scared to wake up.’

Actually, as of a few minutes ago, my mind was clear and I felt pretty good.

I don’t know how much time passed. I only know that Luna and Noah took turns healing me and that this was not the right time to wake up.

There was one more reason besides the ones I described above.

It was.......

“Nox can’t really be dead...? He’s been unconscious for three days now...... This is a big deal, I need to call my dad right now and get him some elixirs!”

A thin voice sobbed.

“Now, wait a minute, Talia, Nox-nim is not that weak. He will surely wake up, but for now, you should watch him.......”

A genius maid reads my mind.

“I knew it was coming. Why did you run out of there like a boon moth?”

“Don’t say that, I’m sure you had something in mind.”

Two of the most popular guys in the game, and more.......

I’ve got a bunch of annoying people in my hospital room.

If I wake up here, I’m going to get screwed.......

There’s a whole bunch of nagging questions waiting for me, starting with the baptism of fire. I was just thanking Zitri very sincerely for not tickling my feet right now.

He knows I’m a foot tickler.

I’m wondering if she knows I’m awake because she’s giving me a little stare.

I’ll have to be more careful........

‘As buttery as possible. Ha. ......When are these assholes leaving anyway?’

Listening to their conversation earlier, they didn’t even seem to realize I’d defeated a Paimon.

It’s not surprising.

No one would ever think that a student could do something like that.

That’s a good thing. I’d be in danger of getting myself into trouble by spreading rumors.

Even if I didn’t, the First Prince’s supporters are pressuring me relentlessly.

If more enemies come after me here, even Penelope, Luna, and Noah may not be able to shield me.

Maybe they’re not allies after all.

I have to be careful.......

Anyway.

I decided to sleep for a while longer. After all, it’s been a long hard day, hasn’t it?

No one would blame me for getting a little rest. It wasn’t long before I heard regular breathing.

Soon I realize it’s my own breathing.

How long has it been since I’ve been like this?

I think for a moment, but then I’m cut off.

No, it’s because... I’ve fallen asleep.

* * *

.......

.......

Time has passed.

I can’t tell, but it must have been at least three hours. Now, judging by the lack of sound around me, they must be gone.

I cautiously lifted my eyelids.

And.

“You’re up, aren’t you?”

Holy shit!

...If it weren’t for my talent as an actor, I’d probably blurt out something like this.

A girl’s face suddenly appeared in my field of vision.

Auburn, neatly coiffed hair in soft waves.

My crisis sensors kick in.

Did I mention over the mountain?

“......Eleanor, what’s going on, this late at night? Don’t you have any manners?”

It was dark by the window, so I took the initiative and opened my mouth to speak, to shoo her away, but I was quickly stopped. She reached up to the corner of my mouth and pressed her body against mine.

Then she brings her lips to my ear.

“Let me ask you something.”

And then, my heart sinks.

The words she spoke, the words I couldn’t help but hear.

“The man I saw in the labyrinth, Sean... what is your relationship to him?”