Chapter 51
Anubis and I were wandering through a deserted alleyway.
“Are we going the right way?”
In response to my question, Anubis sniffed the air and replied, “The smell is definitely coming from this direction.”
“This isn’t an area where a child should be wandering…”
The narrow alley, sandwiched between buildings, was barely wide enough for a single person to pass through.
“I also smell blood; this feels ominous.”
Being a beastkin, Anubis had a keen sense of smell that surely proved to be helpful in tracking.
“Let’s hurry! Something might have happened to that child!”
“Understood.”
Just then, a loud crash echoed from across the street.
BANG!
“What was that?”
“I remember this scent.”
As we hurried through the alley and looked across, a woman with blue hair was poised over a man, pointing a sword at him.
“There’s nowhere left to run. Spill your location.”
“T-this monster…!”
“Teacher?”
Upon hearing that, Amelia, our homeroom teacher, spotted us and looked surprised.
“You two? What are you doing here?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask…”
Why was a teacher from the academy in such a sinister alleyway?
Regardless of my thoughts, Anubis approached her eagerly, greeting her with cheer.
“Oh! It’s so nice to see you, Teacher!”
—
After explaining the situation, she seemed to grasp something.
“So, a little girl has gone missing…”
“Do you suspect anything?”
“Probably, that child has likely been kidnapped.”
“Kidnapped?”
“Yeah. Are you aware that there have been a series of incidents lately where young children have gone missing in Melian?”
“I know.”
What came next was a surprising piece of information from her.
“The Empire’s security forces suspect that these incidents are related to Akandis.”
“Akandis…?”
Isn’t that the name of the organization that kidnapped me before? The one created by my master’s former disciple, and… the one that harmed Nova…
“So what do those guys have to do with the kidnapping?”
Despite the weight of my question, Amelia’s expression remained unchanged.
“The timing of the kidnappings matches with their appearance, and one of their executives seems to be capable of executing such deeds.”
Speaking of executives, I recalled something from the material my master had given me.
“Her name is Isabel, the crazy pedophile.”
“Pedophile?!”
At that, Anubis asked, his face filled with unease.
“What did she do to the children?”
“Simply put, she kidnaps little girls to play with them until they die.”
I’ve heard that there are plenty of lunatics out there, but they are an astonishingly trashy bunch.
“This isn’t the time for this! We have to save Amy!”
“Right. I’ve managed to catch one of their minions, so I’m going to make him spill the location.”
As I turned to look at the man sprawled on the ground, he suddenly wore a horrified expression as he struggled to escape.
“Where do you think you’re running off to?”
“Gah!”
As Amelia stepped on his head, I could hear a sickening crunch, as his skull was pushed in.
“Quick! Spill Isabel’s location!”
To which he grinned maliciously and replied, “Do you think I’d talk? That would mean betraying her. I won’t spill it even if it kills me.”
“You little…!”
Then, without warning, Anubis slammed his fist down next to the man’s face with a tremendous crash.
The ground sank as his fist penetrated deep.
“Please! Just tell me! If you don’t, next time it’ll be your head!”
He was sweating profusely when he cried out.
“W-who would be threatened by a guy asking like that!”
“Just tell me where she is!”
“Anubis, wait a moment.”
I moved in front of Anubis.
“What are you doing?”
I knelt beside him and grabbed his finger.
“What are you doing… AAAAAAH!!”
“From now on, I’ll be breaking your fingers until you spill it.”
“Y-you won’t get anything out of me like this!! AAAAAAAAH!”
“No unnecessary comments! I’ll still snap them.”
CRACK, CRACK!
The sound of bones breaking filled the air with his screams.
No matter what he mumbled, I forcefully bent his fingers back without hesitation.
Eventually, all ten of his fingers were bruised and bent at unnatural angles.
“Hmm… you’re holding up better than expected.”
“Ugh… This won’t change anything…”
What in the world is making this guy so fiercely loyal to their organization? Did they all take some kind of drug or something?
“Whatever.”
Heal.
As I placed my hand on his mangled hand, it glowed green, and his hand miraculously healed.
“Uh…? Wha…?”
“Shall we start from the top again?”
“Ugh! AAAAAAH!!”
Time was of the essence, so this time, I decided to snap three fingers at once.
“I-I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!”
“That… that’s an unimaginable method of torture…”
“Stella… this is scary…”
After forcing him to reveal the location, we swiftly jumped across the rooftops of the buildings.
Then I suddenly thought to ask her, “By the way, how do you know so much about that organization, Teacher?”
It’s not the kind of information a mere academy staff should have. Isn’t she supposed to be teaching students instead of engaging in this?
She replied with an awkward smile, “I was originally a captain in the Empire’s special forces.”
“Captain? As in one of the Empire’s elite fighters?”
I’d heard she was among the top ten contenders, but she was such an amazing person, and she was our homeroom teacher?
“Well, more importantly, Stella, don’t you remember?”
“Huh?”
“We met three years ago on the battlefield, during the war against the beastkin when you were dispatched from the Magic Tower.”
Ah… was that when…?
Anubis nodded, adding, “I remember too. We faced each other in battle.”
“Yeah, you’ve gotten even stronger since then! Welcome to our class!”
Hmm… was that really the case? My memory isn’t the best.
“I’m glad to see you again, Stella.”
“Yes…”
Then the teacher smiled and said, “Hmm… you’ve certainly changed a lot since back then!”
“Huh? Me?”
“The last time I saw you, you seemed like an emotionless machine.”
At this, Anubis chimed in, “That’s right! Stella back then was genuinely terrifying.”
“…”
To be honest, I don’t remember that time at all. Even now, I simply pursued strength without any thought.
I didn’t think deeply about the process; it felt like simply repeating what I’d done before.
Similar things have happened to me dozens or hundreds of times in my past lives. Remembering each detail would just give me a headache.
“I was honestly worried about you, but now that I see you, I can rest easy!”
“Is that so?”
With that, the teacher gave me a mischievous grin and asked, “Is it because of that child?”
“That child…?”
“Your husband, Nova.”
“W-what are you talking about?!”
Why does everyone know about my relationship with Nova?
We are just childhood friends!
“H-husband…?”
“Oh! Stella, you’re married? Congratulations!”
“Keep it down, will you!”
My face was burning red, and it was hard to hide my embarrassment.
Seeing my flustered face, the teacher muttered something quietly.
“Hmmm… I could probably get her to come around quickly with just a few words…”
“What do you mean ‘come around’? I’m not that easy!”
“Then do you dislike him?”
“Not exactly…”
If I were to say whether I like or dislike him… it’s not that I dislike him.
Of course! As a friend! Even if the heavens split, I wouldn’t date a guy!
No matter what I said, the teacher gave me a thumbs up.
“Don’t worry! I won’t impose restrictions on you two dating in class!”
“That’s not what this is about!”
Her insistence on entangling us together reminded me of that Erica girl…
It’s so annoying.
“Well, speaking of which, I’m sorry about last time.”
Her expression suddenly turned serious.
“Last time… ah.”
“I’m sorry as your teacher for not being able to protect you. If you hadn’t acted, there would’ve been many casualties in Class A.
I sincerely thank you and apologize again.”
“…Teacher.”
She’s quite the responsible person, after all. I felt like I could trust her a little.
“Well, it couldn’t be helped, right?
A masked demon would be tough even for those in the top ranks to face. So thank you for protecting me and Nova, Teacher.”
Upon hearing my words, the teacher stared at me for a moment before suddenly hugging me tightly.
“You… you’re so cute!”
“W-wait! Don’t!”
“How can you say something so lovely! I heard from Erica that you are a bit prickly!
You’re so nice, can I touch your face a bit?”
They’re getting a bit too much.
“I said no!”
