Chapter 37

EP.37 The Stench of Decay (2)

A tranquil afternoon in Aphria.

The sudden change happened in an instant.

One explosion, one blast.

From that signal, Aphria was overrun by monsters. Or, perhaps the expression "overrun" might be incorrect.

Monsters emerged from all over Aphria. From the ground, the ceiling, the windows of the corridors, and the outer walls of buildings, monsters poured out as if vomited.

Their numbers were not small.

The quantity was more alarming than the quality.

It would be convenient to think that this was the result of a failed experiment. However, the knights stationed in Aphria's dormitory had a gut feeling.

-This is terrorism.

At first glance, the monsters seemed to lack intelligence, but there was a certain pattern to their actions. This meant that they were being raised and controlled by someone.

-There is someone controlling the monsters.

Monsters, which are drawn to miasma, follow the mana. The one controlling the monsters is a mana user. However, there should be no mana user here.

The knights had a good reason to think so.

Aphria is an academy located within the capital.

It means that it is protected by the barrier surrounding the capital.

And, an ordinary mana user cannot penetrate the barrier. Even if they manage to break through, their bodies would undergo mutations, making it impossible to maintain a human form.

Therefore, it is not a mana user.

Then, there is only one possibility left.

-A traitor has appeared.

A traitor, a human who has sold their soul to the demons.

They are special. They possess miasma, but their essence is human. This means they are free from the barrier cast over the capital.

"There is a traitor within Aphria."

The princess's bodyguard.

Havel, the highest-ranking knight here, spoke.

"If they can cause this level of chaos, they must be a magician with at least the skill of a professor. The demon they have contracted must also be of considerable level."

He quickly drew a conclusion.

"Therefore, it will be difficult to identify them immediately. That is a matter for later. What we need to do first is protect the students, and... ."

Havel's face was stiff as he spoke the last sentence, aware of its weight.

"Protect the Fourth Princess, Ayla."

The knights moved.

As they always do, for the noble.

2.

"......"

Ayla stared blankly at the scene before her.

Monsters were wandering around the dormitory.

Monsters were pouring out from somewhere. Walls were collapsing. This situation was not unfamiliar to Ayla.

‘I’ve experienced this before.’

It was before she awakened as the Child of the Star.

There was a terrorist attack targeting her just before her awakening.

A figure who had reached the rank of a grand magician.

Gellic, the royal representative magician.

He became a traitor and carried out a royal family terrorist attack.

Ayla vividly remembered the incident that had turned the capital upside down.

-Come this way, Princess.

The traitor, Gellic, scattered the monsters and chased after her. Ayla ran away. Logically, the young and weak Ayla could not have escaped from Gellic.

Still, Ayla ran away.

-Protect her with your life!

The reason she could escape from Gellic was not due to her talent or her strength.

-Princess, run!

-We will handle this place. Go.

Many knights protected her.

-Go quickly.

-This is our duty.

The knights, who had sworn loyalty to the royal family, willingly sacrificed their lives to protect Ayla.

That day, many knights died.

Ayla ran, leaving the fallen knights behind.

‘She kept running.’

She ran, believing that someone would help her.

The place she arrived at, thinking back now, was quite unexpected.

‘The royal library.’

She doesn't know why she ran there.

Since it was before she awakened as the Child of the Star, she can't use the convenient excuse of intuition.

Coincidence.

At the end of that coincidence.

-Princess?

"Princess?"

A magician was there.

Blink.

Ayla blinked once. She shook off the memories swirling in her mind and looked at the present.

"Are you alright?"

-Are you alright?

Despite trying to shake it off, the memories strangely overlapped.

Ayla looked at the woman standing in front of her with a dazed gaze.

Ashen hair.

Blue eyes.

A person with features that overlapped with the magician in her memory.

Her blue eyes were directed at Ayla.

"Princess."

She asked.

"The announcement just went out. Did you hear it?"

Ayla, who had just regained her composure, replied.

"…No, I'm sorry. I didn't hear it."

"The knights are looking for you. I was thinking of taking you there right away. Is that alright?"

Ayla slowly nodded.

"Yes, thank you."

"Please wait a moment. We need to clear the way a bit."

"Okay?"

"We can't just pass through there."

She pointed to the corridor.

Monsters were swarming in the corridor. Although they didn't immediately attack, there was no guarantee they wouldn't attack if she got closer.

"We need to clear them first."

Saying this, she relaxed her shoulders.

She rotated her wrist.

Click.

Then, she took a step forward. Her gait was the same as when she entered the classroom.

Neither fast nor slow.

A moderate pace and a moderate stride.

The difference in her gait became apparent when she was within three steps of the monsters.

Boom.

Suddenly, her steps became heavy.

Enhance-Strength.

The spell flashed.

Crack!

Cracks appeared on the corridor floor. Kicking off the ground, she charged at the monsters. Her ashen hair fluttered.

Haste.

The spell flashed for a moment.

She swung her arm. Her short, swift swing grabbed the monster's head and crushed it.

Thud.