Chapter 70

Morning of the Next Day.

Delia woke up to the sound of heavy rain hammering against her ears.

“Ugh…”

A low groan slipped through her lips as she squirmed in her sleep, grumbling like a child.

But the relentless rain made it impossible for her to fall back asleep.

Ugh, I want to sleep more.

Delia scrunched her brows, but her mind was already half-awake. At this point, it was better to just get up than to try and sleep again.

So she blinked her eyes first.

This way, her blurry vision would gradually clear up.

After a moment, an unfamiliar ceiling reflected in her hazy gaze—looked like the inside of a cave.

Why am I in a place like this…?

Was her mind still fuzzy?

Suddenly, a loud sound echoed from outside.

Boom! Whoosh!

Thunder and the pouring rain.

At that moment, like a light bulb turning on, lost memories came rushing back.

Ah, right.

She had entered the forest for the hunting exam.

And afterward, she had fallen asleep while chatting with Ulan after returning to the base.

Huh? So, where is Ulan?

Was he awake? Or still sleeping?

With a sudden flash of curiosity, her small head turned gently to look around the cave.

And at that moment…

“Finally awake, are we?”

A familiar voice came from behind her.

It was Ulan’s voice.

Delia immediately felt a wave of relief and turned around, but that relief quickly turned into bewilderment.

“…Huh?”

The reason was simple.

His face was way too close for comfort.

So close that she could reach out and touch him.

No, it was even closer than that.

If she leaned in just a little more, she could feel his breath.

What? Why is it so close?

Just as that question swirled in her mind, Delia’s eyes went wide.

“…?!”

That was when she realized.

The situation she was in.

“Wh-What the…?”

Her voice faltered in panic.

And rightfully so. Delia was snuggled up against Ulan, and had been since she opened her eyes.

Immediately realizing this, she jumped back in shock.

“W-Why am I here…?”

As she stammered her way through panic…

The crimson eyes in front of her shifted.

His gaze steady, calm like a still lake.

Ulan, with no sign of emotional disturbance, merely pointed to the wall across from them.

“You rolled over from there.”

“Rolled?”

What does that even mean?

Delia looked at the wall he was pointing to.

And then, a memory surged up suddenly, from when she had woken up a few times throughout the night.

Right. The ground was too uncomfortable…

Now it all clicked.

She had fallen asleep against that wall at first.

But Delia hadn’t been able to adjust to the rocky floor and had tossed and turned a bit too vigorously.

But to roll over this far…?

As she pondered that, Ulan asked casually…

“Were you really that tired?”

Well, she was, of course.

She hadn’t slept well the night before, thinking she would spend 72 hours with Ulan before the exam.

Then why was he asking her that all of a sudden?

“You snored like a bear.”

“…”

“I thought the cave was going to collapse.”

Heat surged to her face instantly.

Delia stammered in protest.

“I-I don’t snore that bad!”

“No, you really did.”

“You’re exaggerating…”

“I swear on the name of a warrior.”

Wait, he’s swearing about it?

Delia tightly closed her mouth.

If he was saying all that, chances were she had really snored loudly. With a pouty face, she mumbled…

“…I usually don’t do that.”

But she had to admit, it was Ulan’s fault.

It was because she had been thinking about him all night that she couldn’t sleep.

However, just as she was pouting, Delia looked at Ulan with concern.

“But, are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“You probably didn’t get any sleep because of me.”

“Oh, that? I’m fine.”

Ulan waved his hand dismissively.

“Sure, it was a bit loud, but it wasn’t like I couldn’t sleep. And…”

“And?”

Delia tilted her head curiously.

Ulan smirked and said…

“Your pajamas were comfy, so I slept well.”

“…”

What he just said meant that he had held her while sleeping.

Realizing this, she squeaked out an embarrassed sound.

“Ugh.”

Covering her ears with both hands, she tried to hide her bright red face. Yet her flushed cheeks were impossible to conceal.

So, she spun around abruptly.

In a hurry, she shifted the topic.

“I-I need to make breakfast! I’ll get ready!”

“Do you need my help?”

“…No, just stay over there.”

She thought to herself, Don’t look this way at all.

She prepared the meal while hoping he wouldn’t catch a glimpse of her red face.

Honestly, there wasn’t much to prepare.

Breakfast consisted only of some wooden fruits she had picked the day before. But it was far too little for Ulan.

“If you need more, you can have some of mine.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Sure. I don’t usually eat breakfast anyway.”

“Then, I’ll gratefully accept.”

Ulan didn’t push back.

While he devoured the fruits as if they were nothing, Delia collected some rainwater in a pot.

As the water boiled over the fire she quickly lit, she pulled out a small bag from her backpack.

“What’s that?”

“Tea leaves.”

After giving a simple explanation, she took out a few dry yellow leaves.

Bubbling!

Once the water began to boil, she promptly tossed the tea leaves into the pot. Then she poured the brewed tea into a disposable cup she had set aside.

It was a golden color as clear as Delia’s eyes.

The steam wafted up with a refreshing scent that tickled her nose. It was a familiar fragrance, one she had often smelled in her previous life.

“This is tea brewed from Blond leaves, isn’t it?”

“Looks like you know your stuff.”

Delia beamed with a smile.

As he said, it was indeed tea made from dried Blond leaves.

Renowned for its refreshing scent, the tea was popular among the Rangers of Arpen before they began their daily duties.

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

“I’ll enjoy it.”

Ulan took the cup.

With a sip of the steaming tea, a refreshing sensation washed over him, as though he had just eaten mint.

His previously parched mouth felt revitalized.

As a bonus, his mind felt clearer.

I didn’t think I could have this again.

Lost in the nostalgic memories of his past life, Ulan sipped the tea leisurely. Delia did the same. Just as they finished their tea, the rain intensified outside.

It poured down harder than ever, as if the heavens themselves had opened up.

Watching the torrential downpour, Delia mumbled suddenly.

“Looks like it really did turn out the way he predicted.”

It was obvious who she was referring to.

Only one person had predicted it would rain in the Northern Forest during exam week.

“…Who the hell is he?”

Delia narrowed her eyes.

Noah hadn’t just predicted the weather.

She had also predicted the changes in this exam’s privileges and that five members of the Special Operations Division would be on guard duty.

Of course, I’ve heard that high-ranking Sorcerers can foresee the future, but…

There was no way anyone could see the future in such detail.

So, Delia questioned Ulan, hoping he might know more since they were from the same tribe. But Ulan was just as clueless.

“Honestly, I’m not sure either.”

“Huh? You don’t know, either?”

“Like I said before, I only got to know Noah when we left the prairie. But I do know a bit about her foresight.”

As they traveled from the prairie to this place, Ulan had already witnessed Noah’s prophetic abilities multiple times. He recounted every single anecdote in detail.

He also revealed that Noah’s predictions had never once missed the mark.

With an accuracy rate of one hundred percent.

Delia frowned, questioning whether such a thing was even possible.

But she couldn’t dismiss it outright.

Noah had already proven her foresight. A bit later, her expression grew slightly somber.

“Then, that means it’s true.”

“True, about what?”

“…Abyss Worshippers.”

Just the other night, Noah had said…

After the hunting exam began, on the second day.

So tonight, a group of Abyss Worshippers would pass through the forest. And they intended to abduct students for reasons unknown.

As that thought settled in her mind, Delia’s face turned rigid.

Abyss Worshippers are dangerous.

Though she had never seen one in person.

Just from the records and documents, it was clear they were perilous beings.

They were all top-tier Mages or Sorcerers, each wielding “forbidden magic.”

Forbidden magic refers to spells that are strictly prohibited to both use and learn.

The effects on the surroundings when using those spells are horrifying, but the fundamental reason lies in the materials and catalysts required for casting.

…The necessary materials are humans.

To be precise, types of magic using human blood, body parts, or even lives as ingredients.

In other words, forbidden magic means magic that uses humans as materials. Just the thought of it made her stomach turn.

Delia bit her lips.

Then she turned to Ulan and asked,

“What are we going to do?”

“We’ll stop them.”

His answer was resolute and unwavering.

That made sense. While Delia had never seen an Abyss Worshipper before, Ulan had faced them repeatedly in his past life to the point of being sick of them.

They are traitors who worship the Abyss.

People who betrayed humanity and sided with the Abyss. If they gained the power of the Abyss to become Apostles, dealing with them would become a far more complicated matter.

So…

Once they gain the Abyss’s blessing.

They had to be dealt with while they were still mere worshippers. They needed to cut down their numbers before the Gate of the Abyss opened.

After his eyes flashed fiercely, Ulan recalled Noah’s prediction.

The anticipated appearance time is Late Night.

She said she didn’t know the exact time.

There were six worshippers in total, each splitting up into groups of three to act separately.

They intended to use forbidden magic to turn the Northern Forest itself into a maze and then abduct students—this had been the entirety of what Noah had seen in her vision.

And one more thing.

Just yesterday afternoon, when they had met Noah in the Dining Hall by coincidence, she had said this exclusively to Ulan…

「Please protect Delia, Ulan.」

Her words implied that perhaps the Abyss Worshippers had their sights set on Delia.

And naturally, Ulan was determined to protect her.

Delia was a precious colleague and a vital Mage for their future confrontation with the Abyss.

Then, suddenly…

“Do you have a specific plan?”

Delia asked suddenly, her expression showing signs of worry.

Ulan nodded as he spoke.

“For now, we can’t pinpoint their location, so we’ll just roam the forest and eliminate them as soon as we find them.”

Delia’s ears perked at the word “eliminate.”

Her golden eyes trembled lightly, and Ulan suddenly realized something.

Ah, that’s right. It isn’t time yet, is it?

Once, he had a conversation with his past life companions about this very topic.

『When was your first kill?』

That discussion cropped up to comfort a Bard who was struggling with their first experience of taking a life.

Ulan’s first kill was at the age of fourteen.

It was during a battle to defend his tribe from an opposing tribe’s ambush. Yet, he felt no guilt—it was merely the result of his will to survive.

And the earliest among them…

A sniper of the Hero party, Sven Isaac.

He committed his first murder at the age of nine, and the latest was that Bard mentioned earlier.

Next in line was Delia.

She had bloodied her hands for the first time just before the Gate of the Abyss opened.

In other words, the panic Delia was showing now was her instinctual aversion to killing and fear.

She was fidgeting nervously, biting her nails while tightly clutching the talisman Noah had given her, her face betraying her worries.

“Don’t worry.”

A large hand hovered over her head.

After gently tousling her silvery hair, Ulan continued with a serious expression.

“I’ll be the one to get blood on my hands.”

It was his duty as the vanguard.

Meanwhile, Delia’s eyes went wide.

She felt as though he had read her mind, and inexplicably, the unease that had gnawed at her heart washed away.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Delia soon returned to her usual self.

The twitching of her ears and the trembling of her gaze returned to normal, reassured by Ulan’s words.

As her anxiety began to diminish…

“The rain has let up.”

The torrential downpour had finally thinned out.

It seemed it would cease completely soon. Delia shook herself off and stood up.

“Now, let’s move?”

“Yeah.”

Ulan nodded as he grabbed the axe he had set aside.

“Let the hunting begin.”

For monsters, and Abyss Worshippers alike.

Ulan’s eyes gleamed fiercely.

Later…

As the rain slowly began to die down, the Special Operations Division agent, “Ramil Birman,” finally resumed his patrol of the outer perimeter.

Ramil was a mid-ranking Mage.

His specialty was Wind Elemental Magic.

Thus, he swiftly searched the forest for potential dangers at incredible speeds.

“Man, what a frustrating day…”

The weather felt like that of a tropical rainforest.

As the rain finally stopped, the humidity became uncomfortably high. He couldn’t help but curse under his breath. Just then,

Whoooosh!

A gust of wind blew.

Ulan’s magic, being a High-ranking Mage and the leader of this squad, poured through.

—The patrol to the east is complete.

—The same for the north.

Voices from his colleagues followed.

Then Walter turned to Ramil.

—Ramil, how about you?

“Aye, I’m about done here too.”

Technically, he had just begun his patrol, but knowing they wouldn’t find anything, Ramil played it cool.

After the report wrapped up, Walter asked again.

—How’s Delia Arpen doing?

—Kamila’s keeping an eye on her.

Delia Arpen.

Ramil frowned at her name.

She was the reason the Special Operations Division was assigned to guard duty in the first place.

Specifically, at the instruction of Principal Diplyn. He had ordered them to observe and protect Delia Arpen.

“The Principal is seriously overprotective.”

The forest was adjacent to the Academy.

Moreover, only monsters of level two or lower resided there.

What kind of accident could arise there that warranted five special operatives?

Besides, she was someone blessed by mana.

In terms of magical prowess, she was an unprecedented force, exceeding that of a High-ranking Mage.

As he grumbled this way,

—Alright. Then in thirty minutes, at eight o’clock, everyone should gather at the temporary base. I’ll rearrange the sentry and shift schedule.

—Got it, Kamila.

—Understood, Yuvan.

The summoning command was given.

Ramil acknowledged it, then halted in place. Once he confirmed Walter’s magic was lifted, he muttered with a sulky face.

“If I keep looking, it’ll probably be the same.”

Time to head back.

What could possibly go wrong?

With that too relaxed thought, just as he was about to turn his body… His shoulder suddenly jerked, trembling.

…The scent of blood.

Not from a monster but from a human.

He stiffened his face and scanned the surroundings for the source of the smell. Suddenly, he spotted something unusual from a distance.

That’s…

A blurry silhouette.

As he looked closer, it appeared to be a person wrapped in ashes-gray robes. Squinting, Ramil moved silently, trying to avoid detection.

Or so he intended to.

But at that moment…

“Fresh ingredients have come right to my feet.”

A grotesque voice echoed from above.

Slicing metal against a plate.

The repulsive voice made Ramil freeze as five shadows began to surround him.

When did they close in…!

As Ramil’s face hardened, the figure he’d first caught sight of in the ash-gray robe was now right in front of him.

He couldn’t help wide-eyed as the figure lifted his hood.

“…!?”

The man’s appearance was terrifying.

His skin was deathly white, devoid of color, and his sparse teeth were caked with rotting flesh.

Furthermore, where eyes should’ve been, hollow pits stared back at him—most shockingly, the man’s necklace hung with human eyeballs.

As Ramil finished his detailed observation, he immediately recognized the identity of his opponent.

“…Abyss Worshipper!”

A madman who had given up on being human.

All Abyss Worshippers shared a common feature of having grotesque and terrifying appearances, just like the man before him.

Feeling goosebumps crawl all over him, Ramil hastily stepped back.

There’s no winning this!

He was outmatched in both strength and numbers.

He had to retreat and join his comrades. With that conclusion, he activated Acceleration Magic to escape.

But nothing happened.

His magic felt heavy as a stone, refusing to move, and the spell wouldn’t even finish casting. Ramil, showing his panic clearly, shouted.

“Wh-Why isn’t the magic activating?!”

“You mean it’s not working?”

At that moment, the worshipper leaned in closer.

He shook the eyeballs hanging from his necklace, grinning.

“That’s because you made eye contact with my eyes.”

He wasn’t sure of the specifics, but it seemed the eyeballs were the cause of the magical interference. As Ramil’s face turned increasingly pale, suddenly the Abyss Worshipper grabbed his face.

Crack! Crun-ch!

With brutal strength.

As a scream tried to escape him, the whispering of the Worshipper rang in his ears.

“You have pretty eyes too. So blue and shiny, like the sea. I really like it.”

“W-wait! You can’t—”

“I’ll take them with me.”

Ending that mockery with a cruel declaration, he yanked out Ramil’s eyes.

Both of them.

“Aah! Noooooo!”

The agony of having his eyes torn out alive.

Ramil couldn’t help but scream.

And that cry served as a signal.

As other worshippers moved in closer.

With knives sharp as ever.

“Then his fingers are mine.”

“I’ll cut off his tongue!”

“Leave the heart. I’m a bit hungry.”

After those chilling remarks, Ramil was soon torn apart.

His screams of agony morphed into the final death throes, and ultimately Ramil breathed his last.

As his body was shredded…

One of the worshippers, having initially plucked out Ramil’s eyes, held up the severed head.

Then, he shoved his bony fingers into the brain and finally opened his previously clenched jaws.

“Looks like there are children in the forest.”

He read Ramil’s memories. Meanwhile, the other worshippers showed keen interest in that remark.

“Children? How old do they look?”

“Five years old would be great. Good for material, and also good to offer to the Abyss.”

“No, they don’t look that young. They seem to be students from the Academy.”

“Academy? Are you talking about Arsen?”

“Ugh, let’s ignore that. I really hate getting caught up in troublesome matters.”

Arsen Academy.

The worshippers shook their heads at that name.

It made sense. Being students of Arsen meant half of them were nobility’s children. Anyone who touched them would only end up in hot water.

But the one reading memories had a different thought.

“No, we’re catching them.”

“…What?”

“We have to catch them, no matter what.”

His voice carried a powerful force.

The worshippers responded with laughter. As if they had stumbled upon a morsel of gold in an unexpected place.

“The Abyss has been seeking the offering.”

“What do you mean?”

“Does that mean…?”

“Yes.”

The corners of his mouth twisted into a wide grin.

“She’s one favored by mana.”

“…!?”

As soon as that answer arrived, their gazes turned sharply.

No longer were there indifferent reactions; instead, strong feelings of greed and obsession glinted in their eyes.

“If we can offer her, it’ll be quite a contribution. We might receive blessings far sooner than expected.”

Finally, when they finished reading all of Ramil’s memories, the voices of the worshippers poured out.

“Let’s go! We move, now!”

“Great. Then it’s worth the risk.”

“In light of this, we should catch other students too.”

“It’d be best if there were no witnesses.”

With that unanimous decision, a new objective emerged.

“Alright, let’s start the hunt.”

The worshipper tossed Ramil’s head aside.

The severed head tumbled, emitting dark smoke before it melted away and disappeared.

With that, the Abyss Worshippers vanished completely.

Once again, the forest returned to its stillness. As if no one had ever been there in the first place.

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