Chapter 220 (2) - The Narrow-Eyed Villain of the Demon Academy

Was someone watching us?

The more I thought about it, the stranger this place seemed.

‘I need to find out more about this place.

It seemed similar to the Place of Solitude, but without any concrete information, it was giving me a headache.’

Even Rem didn’t seem to know much.

The only one who might know was…

My gaze swept over Fron.

“...You lowly monkey.”

“No, that’s not what I was looking at.”

Fron, noticing my gaze, quickly covered himself with her arms.

I was dumbfounded.

How could she even think that?

As if I would feel anything like that towards someone as young as Fron.

I tried to explain myself, but Fron simply turned her head away with a look of disdain and shouted to the other children.

“Haha! Did you see that? We have obtained a ‘secret weapon’!”

“Ooh!”

The children cheered excitedly at the childish phrase “secret weapon,” especially the boys.

Wait, what secret weapon?

Confused, I tilted my head.

“Behold, the assassin! he is the secret weapon itself! With him, we will be victorious in the war…!”

Ah, she was talking about me.

But why am I a secret weapon?

I had no recollection of ever agreeing to such a thing.

I must have had a bewildered expression on my face, but Fron continued speaking without a care.

“Although we have fallen on hard times, we will ultimately prevail!”

“Wow!”

The children clapped enthusiastically, moved by Fron’s speech.

I was baffled.

Well, I would help Fron if I could.

After all, the reason I wanted to see this part of her past was to help her.

But calling a living, breathing person a “secret weapon” was just absurd.

Then again, from the children’s perspective, the martial arts I displayed must have been amazing.

Come to think of it…

‘This is more peaceful than I expected.’

The Place of Solitude depicted in martial arts novels was far more horrific than this.

So why was this place so peaceful?

It must be difficult for the children, deprived of sunlight and adequate food, but their situation seemed better than I had imagined.

Could I really uncover the reason behind Fron’s changed personality and her yearning for death in this place?

Well, only time would tell.

And how much time had passed?

I would come to retract my earlier thought about this place being peaceful.

This place was hell itself.

***

Quite a bit of time had passed since I began living with the children within these walls.

Nothing particularly eventful occurred.

Just like the first time, a basket would fall from the sky, and the children from the other side would come looking for us.

Fron would hand them a few loaves of bread and send them on their way.

However, the number of loaves the children from the other side received gradually decreased.

‘The amount of food in the basket is dwindling.’

Even the children on our side weren’t eating much, barely half a loaf each.

Some of them were starting to resent Fron’s actions.

They questioned why she would give away our food when we barely had enough for ourselves.

Fron would try to appease them, reasoning with them patiently.

‘As expected, Fron is too kind.’

If it were me, I might have considered hoarding all the food for myself.

The chances of these children being helpful to me were slim, and I would have been preoccupied with my own survival.

Even in such difficult circumstances, Fron worked tirelessly to minimize conflict.

She led the children, sharing her own dwindling rations with them, even if it meant going hungry herself.

I couldn’t help but admire Fron.

‘She possesses the qualities of a true leader.’

I could never act like Fron.

No, I wouldn’t even try.

It simply wasn’t in my nature.

But even so, I had no intention of criticizing Fron’s actions.

Ultimately, it was her decision, and I believed she was making the right choices.

For now, at least.

Rustle—

Late one night.

I rose from my spot.

‘...This hard floor is taking some getting used to.’

My whole body ached.

Snore—

But the children slept soundly without a single complaint.

They had adapted to this environment.

These young, innocent children.

For some reason, my heart ached at the sight of them.

I let out a sigh and began to walk.

Thud! I accidentally stepped on Rem’s foot.

“Ow.”

“...Ah, I apologize.”

“It’s okay, but where are you going?”

Rem rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked up at me.

“I can’t sleep, so I thought I’d go for a walk.”

“A walk?”

“Yeah, just to stretch my legs.”

“I’ll come with you. You woke me up, Adel.”

“Sure.”

I nodded and started walking with Rem.

Then, we came across another child.

That was…

“Fron?”

Rem tilted her head, confused to see Fron crying softly to herself.



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