.｡.:✧ Chapter 34 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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For Sen, the fierce and strict competition within the Chokugen Faction was not particularly challenging.

She showcased overwhelming talent, not just among peers of her age, but also compared to seniors who were 5 or 6 years older than her.

Assassination, sparring, intelligence gathering, stealth, etc.

In all essential areas for the Chokugen Faction, Sen was unparalleled, recognized as a talent who would lead the next generation within the faction.

Her presence at the academy was also proof of the Chokugen Faction’s leader’s intention to properly nurture her.

‘The leader.’

In the Chokugen Faction, there were occasions for one-on-one battles with the leader. Surviving for one minute meant passing; failure to do so resulted in disappearance.

And now, Sen was feeling a similar, endlessly daunting emotion as she had during her sparring with the leader.

“Kuh!”

Unable to overcome the momentum of Daniel’s attack, Sen kept being pushed back.

‘I can’t win. I have to target the sword.’

Fortunately, his sword was in such poor condition that it was shaking after just a few swings.

So, she deliberately aimed to break the sword, and the effect appeared quicker than expected.

Each of Daniel’s blows was so heavy that the sword couldn’t withstand and eventually broke.

‘Now.’

As Sen saw the broken sword flying through the air, she lunged forward with her dagger, but…

Thud.

Suddenly, her vision blurred, and she felt the cold rooftop floor against her cheek.

The intense impact on her temple, making her feel seasick.

“Sigh, you were so jumpy, it was dizzying. Now you’ve finally calmed down.”

Even though the sword broke, he had struck her with the handle.

“So, are you planning to tell me what you learned from Demalico?”

“……”

Knowing Sen’s ultimate fate, I was aware that no matter what kind of torture she underwent, she wouldn’t speak.

So, what I needed to do was not simply torture or extract information, but to negotiate.

What I had done was just to bring Sen to the negotiating table.

‘It was a bit harsh, though.’

Realizing her defeat, Sen kept her mouth shut. I sat down in front of her and asked.

“Curious how I knew you were from the Chokugen Faction?”

“……!”

She bit the bait, turning her head sharply to glare at me. I smiled but didn’t open my mouth.

“I also seem to know something about the organization you’re chasing.”

This was purely a hunch.

If the Chokugen Faction and the Tudogs were at odds, it was highly likely that the organization Sen was personally pursuing was the Tudogs.

Moreover, as far as I knew, the only ingredient for producing such intense tobacco that could wreak havoc on Demalico was found outside the Demon Forest.

So, I speculated that the thugs making the tobacco must be connected to the Tudogs, who were associated with the Demon Forest.

“What I want is just one thing. The information you got from Demalico. Where those thugs are.”

After all, even if I learned about the Chokugen Faction, it wouldn’t be of much use to me.

“I won’t tell anyone you’re from the Chokugen Faction. I’ll treat you as usual. How about it? This deal is more beneficial for you.”

After a moment of contemplation, Sen slowly opened her mouth.

“What’s your reason for searching for this thug organization?”

“I’m a bit interested in the tobacco they’re making.”

Honestly, ever since returning to being 18 years old, it had been one astonishing event after another.

‘Why are there so many incidents in this damn academy.’

An unknown organization called ‘Tudogs’ has appeared, and there’s a student who smokes so much that his skin is decaying. What’s more intriguing is that all of this is somehow related to the Demon Forest, which certainly piqued my interest. Ordinarily, I would have been crazily training at the edge of the Demon Forest to forget the trauma of being expelled. The fact that someone before me was extracting materials from the Demon Forest was genuinely fascinating to me. Moreover, I was curious about how the Tudogs utilized the powers of the demonic beasts in the forest.

“What will you do once you find out?”

“Well, I’m curious about many things. After finding out some details, I’ll hand it over to the guards. What else?

There’s no need for me to deal with those thugs. That’s now the guards’ jurisdiction.”

Sen gave me a strange look as she slowly stood up, seemingly steadying her head.

“Fine, I’ll tell you. The location of those thugs and what Demalico told me about the cigarettes.”

In reality, Demalico was just a customer, so he didn’t have much information about the product. However, it was known to be cheap and highly addictive, causing excessive fatigue and grotesque physical changes if used over a long period.

Satisfied with pinpointing their location, I smiled contentedly, and then Sen asked me,

“How did you know I was part of the Chokugen Faction?”

“Your hair is white, and your name is foreign. That’s typical of the kids in the Chokugen Faction.”

“…So how did you find out?”

“I don’t know?”

A deep annoyance flooded Sen’s usually expressionless face, devoid of emotions. I smiled proudly, feeling like I had turned a doll into a human.

“I said I’d tell you how I knew, didn’t I?”

“You…”

She clenched the dagger in her hand, looking like she wanted to argue but knew there was nothing she could do about it.

“What do you mean you know about the organization we’re chasing?”

“The Tudogs, right? Hare, who caused a commotion last time, was from them. He even came to me at night, trying to scout me.”
[T/N: my brain broke :X this whole last part was fuckin hard to translate lol]

Sen looked at me with surprised eyes, trying to discern the truth of my words. But I had nothing to hide.

It’s better to spill things like this, as it might help me use Sen to my advantage later.

“Is that all? Then I’m leaving.”

“What are you, exactly?”

This time, her question wasn’t about the deal but pure curiosity. She seemed almost human, a stark change from the assassin-like doll she was moments ago.

“Uhm.”

I wasn’t sure if she was genuinely interested in me, but I scratched the back of my head.

“Just a normal person?”

It wasn’t a lie, after all.

***

“So you came with me?”

Hayun frowned with a strange expression, seemingly uncomfortable, and I hesitated before confirming.

After school.

Hayun and I were strolling through the streets. The purpose was to check things out quickly rather than wasting time. Going alone seemed less effective than bringing someone along. Originally, I wanted to bring May, but she refused.

She had the excuse of nursing Demalico in the hospital, who couldn’t speak or move, but it seemed Sen’s words had shocked her greatly. She wouldn’t even look at me and ran away as if fleeing.

‘She’ll have to overcome it herself.’

She knew she couldn’t seek mercy from me at that time, given that she had tried everything to get me expelled back then.

As a second choice, I brought Hayun, but she seemed upset after hearing I initially planned to go with someone else.

“Well, anyway, we’ll be done soon. You don’t have to do anything. Once we confirm, we just need to call the guards.”

“I don’t want to, I’ll fight too.”

Hayun responded while holding the sword at her waist.

Upon a brief explanation that there were thugs selling cigarettes with severe side effects, she, burning with a sense of justice, came prepared with her sword.

I too had brought the sword my sister had given me as a gift when I entered the academy.

“Have you been happier these days?”

I asked tentatively, and Hayun, wondering if it was noticeable, gave a slight smile in response.

“Actually, I’ve been disowned by my family.”

“……”

I was quite surprised inside, but my expression remained calm as I looked at her.

“I confessed to Ares and got rejected. After I told them I wouldn’t be controlled by my uncle anymore, the next day, I was disowned and cut off financially.”

“What about the academy?”

“I can attend until the end of this year, so I’m thinking of aiming for a scholarship.”

“……”

“The dean said that as long as I prove my abilities, it would be fine.”

“Really?”

I thought Hayun’s family would cut her off immediately due to their dislike for me, but it turns out that her family and the Leiros family, already having a strained relationship, left her as a sort of ‘deal with it’ gesture.

I remember the dean declaring this with a wicked smile.

People don’t change easily, I thought.

“How about we grab dinner at the tavern we went to last time after this?”

“Sounds good, there was something I wanted to try there.”

Changing the subject, Hayun nodded in agreement.

“I want to join too.”

Then a girl’s voice came from behind.

Hayun and I turned around in surprise to see Rin, smiling at us.

“Where are you going? On a date?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Right, it’s not.”

Hayun looked at me with a slightly awkward eye due to Rin’s gaze, which seemed to carry a strange atmosphere.

It was a kind of kindness that also somehow pierced the heart.

I thought about asking how she knew to come, but Rin’s smile made me feel like I shouldn’t ask, so I naturally included her in our group.

“We’re going to fight some thugs, it might be dangerous.”

“Thugs?”

“……It should be fine.”

Hayun worriedly told Rin, but I knew Rin was capable enough to protect herself, so I let it pass.

If necessary, I could protect her.

Then Rin whispered to me in a voice so soft that Hayun couldn’t hear.

“Didn’t I tell you? I feel dislike, anger, and not-so-nice thoughts.”

She was smiling, but her voice sent chills down my spine.

Glancing at Hayun with a smile and a pinch to my side, she asked quietly.

“Or is she the one?”

I wasn’t sure what would happen if I agreed, so I quickly shook my head.

“Right……”

Rin, seemingly genuinely disappointed, slowly backed away.

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