Chapter 179: The Devil's Seed (2)

[What? The 4th-years are dying?]

[That's right.]

Luis's whisper continued.

[But, from what I've found out, this is the second time. On the 11th. So, last week, a squad from the Northern Knights was annihilated by some sort of attack, and the method of killing is identical to that time.]

I was so shocked I couldn't close my mouth.

Luis's report was as follows.

For the 4th-years who couldn't graduate early, all their classes are replaced with off-campus activities.

And that's where the incident occurred.

Just because they couldn't graduate early didn't mean they were falling behind.

In the first place, early graduation was the domain of geniuses, with maybe one per class.

The rest were still renowned talents, and they were a rather important strategic resource for the Empire.

‘A 4th-year at the Academy is more skilled than those who have graduated from a knight school and are serving as apprentice knights.’

Much like doing an internship in the modern world, they too belong to various knight orders or military units to learn practical skills.

Generally, during this period, many build their reputation and increase their own value.

Yeah, well.

It's not like cases of dying from such greed are completely unheard of.

They happen from time to time.

Those who don't know their place and cross an irreversible river in their attempt to gain fame.

But they are few.

This is because their area of activity is mostly concentrated within the country.

The tasks handled within the country are all just dealing with villains or magical beasts.

Compared to the border with the Naimus Empire, where battles break out almost daily and the north, which is teeming with magical beasts, it's practically a paradise.

In fact, the cases where casualties occur are when they volunteer for the Western Knights on the border out of excessive ambition and meet a mishap.

‘But for incidents to happen consecutively, within the country...’

[Does the Academy know about this?]

[The information was obtained at dawn yesterday. They'll probably find out sometime today.]

I frowned.

I definitely remembered seeing a similar incident in the main story.

‘But that event happens much later...’

Then, a deep sigh escaped me, huu.

‘How foolish.’

To think I'm still having such pathetic thoughts when the main story has been a jumbled mess for who knows how long.

An event that was supposed to happen in the future could happen tomorrow, no.

It could happen right now, today.

To confirm, I asked for their names.

The victims' names were Falcon, Windia, and Verlin.

...It was certain.

This was a prelude to the 'Nightmare' event.

The decisive battle with the demon, Lilith, had been brought forward.

[And Master. A request related to this has come in. Mr. Parnaci introduced it, and the client's identity is a reporter from the Royal Dream...]

With the contract with the cult broken and the revenue from the Lunatic insufficient to cover the guild's reconstruction funds, the new source of funding we found was Mr. Parnaci.

He used his past experience running an intelligence post and the connections he'd built up to mediate with reliable clients.

[A reporter?]

[Yes. It hasn't been made public yet, but it seems that murders with this same method are occurring all over the empire. It's thanks to this that we were able to get the news earlier than other places.]

He was right.

What happened to the 4th-years and the Northern Knights was just the tip of the iceberg.

It would soon be known, but Lilith was moving around the north, carrying out such indiscriminate human hunts.

[So what's the request?]

[A photo of the culprit. The base pay is 300 gold. They say they'll add more depending on the photo's composition and clarity.]

[...What?]

I was startled.

At the content of the request.

And at the insane payment.

I crunch the numbers in my head.

300 gold is 150 million.

Receiving 150 million for a single request was a scale I hadn't seen even when carrying out requests for the cult.

But, considering the gravity of the matter, it was sufficient.

The reporter who commissioned the request.

No. The reporter is merely a messenger sent by the company, so the executives at the Royal Dream above him must be feeling it too.

The great impact this serial murder case will bring to the empire.

Even just one photo, if it's a photo that captures the face of the villain who caused the mystery serial murders, 300 gold is actually cheap.

‘And honestly, it's too dangerous. The risk is high.’

There's a reason why there hasn't been a single witness so far.

Because the opponent is a demon.

As someone who knows the identity of that serial killer, it was true that I was hesitant.

[Please accept it.]

But Luis seemed to have a different idea.

[Huh?]

[It's not like we're dealing with the villain, it's just one photo, isn't it?]

[Uh... That's true. It is, but.]

The opponent is a demon.

You're pushing me into hell right now, Luis.

But Luis, who didn't know this, continued to persuade me.

[No matter how many requests Mr. Parnaci brings us, we honestly don't know when another big one like this will come along. Also, it would be good to use this opportunity to make a good impression on the Royal Dream and build some kind of relationship.]

Every word was so right that I couldn't think of a rebuttal.

Yeah, he's right.

For the reconstruction of Shadow, this request was a good opportunity.

Not even something to hesitate about.

So I nodded my head.

[Alright. Accept it.]

***

After parting with Luis, my daily routine began as usual.

But the quiet atmosphere of the Academy was starting to simmer with something.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Did you guys hear? Falcon-sunbae from the 887th class! They said he passed away the day before yesterday!"

A pebble thrown by someone into a calm lake creates huge ripples.

The cadets who had been concentrating on their individual training at the training hall all wore the same surprised expression.

"Whaaaat!?"

"They said Windia-sunbae and Verlin-sunbae passed away too."

"Is that for real?"

"You, you didn't mishear, did you?"

"I heard it too!"

Falcon, Windia, and Verlin of the 887th class.

This trio had a considerable reputation at the Academy.

It was inevitable, as Falcon and Windia were the heads of the Martial Arts and Psychology Departments, respectively, and Verlin was the second in the Martial Arts Department.

They were also famous as the Three Musketeers since they were always together.

"Ah! I saw the professors flocking to the main building this morning, I wonder if that's why?"

"That's it! That must be it!"

They would be shocked to death if they knew the Northern Knights were also hit before this.

In fact, in terms of shock alone, that's more shocking.

The Northern Knights are the most outstanding combat group among the Five Great Knight Orders, second only to the Western Knights.

The Central Knights' high reputation was due to the special nature of protecting the empire's capital; in terms of skill alone, they were after the West and North.

‘Hmm.’

I sat on a bench and casually observed the atmosphere.

She was still nowhere to be seen.

"Senior."

It was then.

Yuria, who had been struggling with an engineering puppet, came over to my side and spoke to me.

Her sweat-drenched hair glittered as it caught the sunlight.

"Ah, are you all done?"

"No."

"Then?"

"I just stopped and came over. The atmosphere doesn't really feel like one for training..."

"Ah. Well, that's true."

I smiled bitterly.

"By the way, Yuria. Where did Rachel go?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No."

Yuria nodded and then asked.

"But why do you ask about Rachel?"

"I feel like I haven't seen her for about 3 days."

"Really? It's been a while since I've seen her too."

"Do you know since when you haven't seen her?"

"I think it's been about that long for me too. 3 days."

Disappeared since 3 days ago.

That's enough time to start trouble.

‘So it ends up like this after all.’

Perhaps my expression looked bad, as Yuria asked with concern.

"Senior. Are you okay?"

"Ah, yeah. I'm fine, it's just that they were people I knew, so my heart feels heavy. Should we call it a day?"

"...Ah."

Yuria seemed unable to hide her disappointment, but she reluctantly nodded.

After parting with her, I immediately returned to the dormitory.

Right after, I sit at my desk and take out a notebook.

Alright, let's organize this step by step.

Even if the timeline of the main story is mixed up, the detailed content probably hasn't changed much.

Within 'Heroes of Frey', there are various events that make up the main story, but among them, this 'Nightmare' is a major event.

The scale is one thing, but it's particularly significant in that it's the first appearance of a being called a demon.

An encounter with a demon.

They are higher life forms on a different dimension from humans and demigod-like beings with power equal to calamity-grade magical beasts.

Considering the devastating damage the Great Demon Angmar inflicted on the continent and humanity in the distant past, one can get a rough idea of the extent of these demons' power.

And one of them, Lilith of Seduction, was the boss of the 'Nightmare' event.

Originally, Lilith existed in the form of a seed inside Rachel's body.

I knew that from the beginning and was, of course, aware of the danger inherent in her.

The reason I had left her alone despite that was... purely out of my own greed.

From my position of having to revive Shadow and keep the cult in check, her utility value was quite attractive.

‘I infiltrated the cult to kill Bishop Lutus.’

As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

To her, the Beltus Cult was a clear enemy, and in exchange for killing Bishop Lutus, she promised me information that belonged to the special grade.

Of course, I haven't obtained that information yet.

Because I haven't been formally commissioned by her.

‘And I didn't have the time for it.’

But even without that, just being able to operate freely within the cult without arousing suspicion meant she could be of great help to me, and she actually did provide direct help.

‘She saved my life. And she played her part perfectly as a double agent.’

But thinking about it now, I think I was too engrossed in that convenience.

To think I was unaware that a disaster was right around the corner.

‘What should I do?’

I ask,

but the answer is already set.

It's a foregone conclusion that Rachel has been consumed by Lilith and... well.

‘I have to exterminate her.’

As long as one is born with the seed of a demon, its blooming can be delayed, but if it has already bloomed, there's no way back from that point.

When the demon dies, the owner of the original body dies with it.

It would be a lie to say it's not uncomfortable.

The event was designed with that in mind in the first place.

The friends who had grown fond of Rachel while solving various incidents together.

But when the demon's seed blooms and she is swallowed by Lilith, Ivan and his friends have no choice but to exterminate her, holding back tears.

A shitty tragedy.

An ill-fated character designed to be sacrificed for the game's bleak atmosphere.

In the game, because it was a game, it was just whatever.

No emotion. I'd just think the creator's taste is peculiar and laugh it off without a second thought.

But now that it has become reality, and I have shared many experiences with her, it's different.

'Damn it.'

I'm not a psychopath, there's no way I'd be comfortable with killing Rachel.

I find myself pondering and searching more for a way to save her that even I, a seasoned player, didn't know about.

‘Huu. Yes. Let's first see it with my own eyes.’

For the sake of the Royal Dream's request, I had to see her in person at least once anyway.

When that time comes, wouldn't things become clearer, one way or another?

Demons feed on fear, dread, and infamy.

So until she invades the Academy, she will continue her human hunts to build up her strength and adapt to her new body.

According to the story, the next target after the Academy trio is the former deputy commander of the Magic Corps.

She raids the home of the man who has retired and is living a peaceful life with his family, annihilating the entire family, including the deputy commander.

That time is tomorrow, at dawn.

Today, too, Rachel was nowhere to be seen in the Academy, so I was certain that the event would unfold at that time without fail.

Time was tight.

To meet her, I left the Academy early.