Chapter 29
"Lately, you know. Life has become too abundant. I wonder if this is how rich people feel. Hmm. Right. Like medieval nobility? From now on, call me Seonghoon the 25th."
"That's just your age, isn't it? Shouldn't it be Seonghoon the 1st or 2nd in that case? But I agree about the comfort. From the position of someone receiving the benefits, it's very comfortable?"
"That's called being a parasite. If you didn't know, now you do."
"What? What are you saying? Have you ever seen such a pretty and talented parasite? I'm not a parasite, I'm an angel."
Ugh. I made a strange expression while sticking out my tongue. Raphael hit my side while laughing, but it surprisingly hurt.
"Do people usually say such things in front of the source of their comfort?"
"They don't. Those people are the strange ones. Don't worry about it. Just think of them as people who are a bit mentally off. That's where the saying 'it's easier if you give up' comes from."
I walked while glaring at Sophia who was saying "Oh~ wisdom of life~". Currently, we're in training.
Although Justitia only conducts basic routine training daily, about twice a week they hold special training like this.
Today's training is similar to dungeon clearing as a team, a terrorist elimination operation, but.
I have Maid No. 1 and Maid No. 2.
Wow. I never thought having one more maid would be this comfortable. In training that requires basic 4-person teams, I don't need to find another person anymore? When we enter training, the maids handle everything.
This is being the school caste's apex predator.
Or so I'd say, but Maid No. 2 is doing everything.
Quite some time has passed since training started, but I haven't even had a chance to step up. Sophia alone takes the lead, blowing away all approaching opponents and guiding the way.
It can't get any more comfortable than this.
"No. 1. You should at least try to keep up with No. 2 halfway."
"What? It's awkward to say this, but I'm your senior? I'm the senior maid?"
"There's no such thing in this industry. The person who does the job well is the best."
She pouts while making sounds like "What?", but I ignore her and move forward. I signal the two following behind to stop and advance alone.
It's the gesture of a lieutenant going to check ahead.
"Oh? You came? The two?"
"I told them to wait. How is it? They don't come much these days?"
"Hmm. None today. Guess they learned after getting killed every time they came."
I've discovered a few things recently.
One is about the vampires. Throughout the work, I never described vampires appearing inside Justitia.
Turns out it was thanks to Sophia killing them whenever they came. We were attacked before because it was caught on radar before Sophia arrived.
In other words, we had disgustingly bad luck.
Well, now that I'm a master, I receive reports about vampire attacks, and I was surprised by their number.
Second is that this one does her job disgustingly well.
She accomplishes whatever task she's given. When I collapse after training, she brings water on her own, brings snacks when I'm hungry, and when asked to take notes, she summarizes them in an easy-to-understand way.
At this point, you know. No. 1's reason for existence disappears. The fact that I haven't asked Ishia to do anything lately is all because of this one.
"Why are you staring? Do you need something?"
"No."
Sophia tilts her head while saying "Really?" I was about to call the two behind to quickly finish training.
There seemed to be no danger ahead, and I was done with Sophia.
But before I could turn around, a terrorist jumped out from behind Sophia. Though it's just a hologram, Justitia's holograms can be hit.
"Hey! Dod—"
Before my words could finish, before Sophia could sense the presence and turn around.
The terrorist disappeared, enveloped in a pillar of darkness. Without even letting out a death cry, turning into particles of mana.
When I turn around to see the cause, she's standing with crossed arms and a sneer.
"How about that? Now you know I'm the perfect senior, right?"
Seems she has some strange pride too.
***
"Sophia, was it? You're really strong. I'm Yang Minji, want to shake hands? Let's be friends! I'm from the next class. In your class, there's this guy named Kim Taehyun—"
"Yeah. Let's be friends. I'm Sophia. Sophia Blandid."
A scene of them greeting each other with bright smiles. Could say it's heartwarming, but. My expression is crumpled.
"Fix your expression. You're already a monkfish among pretty people, but if you do that you'll look like an anglerfish."
"Being called an anglerfish is actually a compliment."
The reason is simple.
"Why is she here? Ishia. You're close with her, right? Go tell her to go back to her class."
"What? Me? Not really. Not really close... Yang Minji is just pretending to be close on her own."
"Huh? That's not true!! We're childhood friends!! Ishia, we've known each other since we were 3, you can't be like this. I'm sad. Look, tears are falling."
"We don't call someone we briefly met at age 3 childhood friends."
"Huh? Dad told me to get close to you, so let's go with the childhood friends concept!"
"You just admitted it's a concept yourself? My father told me not to associate with guilds."
"Aww~ Ishia~"
I grabbed my throbbing head watching this conversation. This one probably came saying something like 'It's an inspection~'. Even if I tell Shin Kiha.
—Oh? That kid? Isn't it nice? Coming to support a friend from another class!
He'd probably say something like that. There's no answer. I really wish she'd just leave.
I really don't want to get involved with this one. I had to save her once because there was no choice, but I really wish she wouldn't catch my eye.
The incidents that happen around this one are all huge in scale. Not like Ishia's level of associations squabbling among themselves.
The roots are connected to humanity. Because of the ability she has, she constantly clashes with forces that want it.
I don't want to get involved in those incidents, so I really wish she'd leave. While glaring with such wishes.
Our eyes met. Pink petal-like eyes. Then she grins.
"I need a space magician, you see~"
As she spoke with rising tone and walked this way, I hurriedly turned around. And—
"Ishia! Sophia! Hold that one!! I'm leaving!!"
"Okay."
"What? What?!"
"Huh? Wait? What's wrong? Where are you going? Huh? Why are you grabbing me?!"
The 36th strategy is running away. Training's over anyway, so let's escape.
Raphael followed saying she'd come too~
***
"Why did you run away earlier?"
"Felt awkward."
"Seonghoon is uncomfortable being in the same space as women. It's the power of being a forever single bachelor. He can't maintain eye contact for more than 3 seconds, and he stumbles over his words just talking to women."
"That's not true. No. Not anymore."
"So you were like that in the past.."
I hit the damn blonde's head for saying unnecessary things, and walk slowly on the way home. Of course she pounced at me, but while holding her back with one hand, I asked the silver-haired one walking beside us.
"But why are you following? The girls' dormitory isn't this way."
"Hm? Well. Isn't it a maid's duty to escort you home?"
"That's why I'm asking why you're starting that from today."
"Just thought of it suddenly. More importantly, why is Raphael following?"
Ah. My eyes met with Raphael's. How should I explain this. This is why I said not to follow. But since she seems serious about the maid position, it's awkward for me who told her to do it to say anything.
"We have somewhere to go together. Just follow until halfway. It'll be hard going back if you come too far."
Sophia nodded. If she finds out I share a room with Raphael, who knows what would happen. This is what I'm most afraid of.
"You get your own room and move out soon."
"I want to, but..."
Raphael and I glared at each other, with Sophia snickering beside us on our way home. Though there were many other students around making noise.
This sound was clearly heard. No. It couldn't help but be heard.
KYAAAAAAAAAAAAH─!!!!!!!!!!!
An ear-piercing scream, a death cry let out when feeling life threatened.
A moment of silence fell over the path home, and Sophia looked at me before running toward the source of the scream. I also ran after her in confusion.
"It's not vampires. Can't be. Didn't feel them."
The only vampires a True Ancestor can't sense are other True Ancestors. But there's no way they would come at this point.
Then is there only one thing left? Let's go toward where the sound came from, hoping my guess is right.
Someone has collapsed. Students who reacted similarly to us all run over and surround the area in a ring formation.
—Someone. Someone call someone!!
—Call teachers first then an ambulance!!
—Don't get close. Stay calm and don't take pictures.
Hearing such voices, I looked at the collapsed person.
They seem unconscious and there are no wounds. It's not vampires' doing. No traces of blood drinking.
To know more clearly, I took out my smartphone from my pocket and turned on the camera.
Click─
Along with the cheerful sound, the scene was captured in the photo. Then the screen changes on its own.
-------------
Name: Lee Yumi
Gender: Female
Status: Absence of soul.
Note: State where soul has been sucked out. Though the body is normal, the soul that is the subject of the flesh has disappeared, becoming a vegetative state. Until the soul returns, the body is just dead.
-------------
"As expected."
"What's wrong? Do you know something?"
"It's a ghost."
This is the ghost incident. An episode in the early parts where a ghost attracted by a strong soul comes to the academy and causes trouble.
It's not a big incident. Just an incident for early foreshadowing.
Ghosts respond to powerful souls. An foreshadowing incident of the type "We thought it responded to Kim Taehyun but it was actually someone else."
It's not even a powerful monster.
Since it's the world's largest academy, there's already a ghost-repelling magic circle spread out, according to the setting, so it's a weak ghost that can't even respond to that magic circle.
There's no need to intervene. Since it's just a passing incident, we can ignore it.
It doesn't have much impact on growth either.
Sorry for the collapsed person, but soon Kim Taehyun will resolve the incident and the soul will return to its place.
"Why, why are you walking so fast! I finally found you through all these people!!"
"Let's go back. This isn't something we need to get involved in."
"I just got here?!"
"Good work! Raphael! Want some snacks?"
"That would be nice!"
Such a simple-minded one. I left the scene with Sophia, who looked somewhat uneasy. Others will handle the aftermath. The commotion will end soon too.
"It's okay since it's not vampires."
"Mmm. That's not it."
Let's go back and rest for now.
***
A certain plot of land in Justitia. A forest that might as well be abandoned among the vast artificial island's grounds.
The moon brightly illuminates that forest. Something wearing a black robe mutters while receiving the descending moonlight on its body.
Something snow-white visible through the robe. A skeletal body, an invisible face.
The black robe flutters. The robe moves as if dancing with the wind.
In one hand, something screaming.
In the other hand, holding a giant scythe.
"Repentaaance."
It dances under the moonlight.
Using souls' screams as drinking snacks, using the descending moonlight as wine cups, enjoying a solitary banquet.
"Repentaaaaaaance"
It just keeps dancing. Until morning breaks. Until it finds prey.
The banquet doesn't stop.