Chapter 067: The Bully Trio of the Capital City
“There’s no way a card called [Pain Spreading] could exist; it would require legendary time-based materials to even be possible.”
Dekan shrugged helplessly, explaining.
“Even if I could get the materials, I wouldn’t have the skill to craft it.”
“I didn’t even focus on attacking with pain. I didn’t bring the Cursed Doll this time.”
“Flata was foolish enough to activate his pain suppression, so he couldn’t judge whether I was truly hurting him.”
At Dekan’s explanation, many people sighed with relief.
They gradually understood some of the inconsistencies.
Even if Dekan’s card-making skills were high, producing two epic cards of the same tier in a week was still exaggerated.
Moreover, the effect of [Pain Spreading] was so terrifying it could easily be deemed a legendary card.
However, the completely broken Flata didn’t realize Dekan was using a bluff card.
Flata was still trembling in fear in the Shadow World and being publicly humiliated by all viewers.
Judging by his demeanor, it seemed he would never dare come out.
At least not until midnight.
But venturing out at midnight was even more frightening.
Even hiding for two or three days in the Phantom Canyon wouldn’t be safe.
What if Dekan was some sort of timing expert?
Flata finally cried out in despair.
Chloix watched Flata’s appearance on the screen, uncertain of what to say.
Ch: “So, even if Flata were to come out, he actually wouldn’t sustain any injuries?”
De: “That’s right. I already told him I wouldn’t hurt him. He assumed bad intent on his part, and there was nothing I could do about that.”
The cat slightly twitched its mouth.
“…Kan, just be reasonable, alright meow.”
De: “I’ve been reasonable, alright. If another villain came along, Flata might have a few less parts!”
The cat: “…”
Co: “Food!”
Ch & De: “Alright.”
The cat: “???”
The cat: “What are you talking about meow?”
Ch: “We’re planning to stroll around the Capital City and have dinner together in the evening.”
The cat: “I want to come meow!”
De: “Cornelia is treating us, so you should thank her properly. Let her at least touch you.”
The cat: “I suddenly remembered I have something to do in the afternoon meow…”
Before it could run, Dekan had already grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and picked it up.
“Come on, come on, why so formal?”
“Meow meow meow!!!”
Thus began the Beautiful Soul Squad’s second team-building activity.
Their first celebration, after returning from the Demon Academy, only included Dekan and Cornelia, and it wasn’t nearly as lively as the one in the cooking classroom at the Demon Academy.
This time, it was different.
Both humans and non-humans were present in greater numbers.
In the end, the Teacher Cat finally relented, allowing Cornelia to embrace it while it was immobilized.
Even Cornelia, who usually has a blank expression, revealed a smile that came from the heart.
Meanwhile, in the Phantom Arena.
Flata dared not come out until nightfall.
It was only after the technicians from the Alchemy Institute held an emergency meeting and activated the administrator’s permissions that Flata was forcibly teleported out.
The moment Flata appeared, he screamed in terror, clutching his head.
However, the expected excruciating pain that would kill him never came.
Trembling, he asked: “W, why am I not harmed?”
Alchemy Institute teacher: “… You’ve been tricked by Dekan. That [Pain Spreading] card was fake.”
Flata fell silent for a long time.
He wept and laughed hysterically.
Then, overwhelmed with anger, he fainted.
…
A week later.
The streets of the Capital City, midnight.
The moonlight was obscured by passing clouds from time to time, making the shadows beneath the streetlights seem especially dark and black.
There were hardly any pedestrians left on the streets by now.
Flata wandered aimlessly, completely disoriented.
The man, who was usually meticulous about his appearance, now carelessly draped his coat over himself, letting the collar wrinkle crookedly.
He appeared drunken, with his head slumped, and his hair in disarray.
Flata had skipped class for an entire week.
He no longer wanted to return to school, nor did he see any meaning in continuing his studies.
He had become a joke.
“Humm~”
At that moment, a ghostly figure appeared beside him, exuding a silver bell-like laughter near his ear.
“Do you want to crush Dekan underfoot?”
The woman’s voice carried a mesmerizing power, easily luring one into succumbing to it, like opium.
Her words caused Flata’s body to abruptly freeze.
Raising his dull gaze, he looked at the woman, not replying.
“Surely you understand the fact that normal methods can never work against him.”
“But we can give you the power to rival him.”
“Only darkness can counter darkness.”
The woman hovered around Flata once like a shadow and casually slipped a card into his chest pocket.
Then, placing both hands on his shoulders, she leaned close to his ear and whispered:
“Flata, if you come to your senses, you can always come find us.”
Her figure, accompanied by an elusive cackle, dissolved into the air like scattered black fog, disappearing from the street.
Only Flata stood motionlessly.
…
When the woman reappeared, it was already in the alley on the other side of the street.
“An excellent pawn. With him, we can begin to methodically dismantle Dekan.”
As she whispered, she shed her shadow-wrapped disguise.
She transformed into a young woman in a linen dress, gentle and approachable.
This was her true self, her hidden normalcy within the Capital City.
There was no way one would associate her with a powerful cultist.
“Dekan, your fate is tied to our grasp…”
Her lips curled into a pleased smile.
As she prepared to leave the alley, returning home, she suddenly sensed an unusual sound cutting through the air.
“Thud!”
Before her mind could process the abnormality, a powerful strike from unknown origins knocked her unconscious.
Crows flew up in alarm, their cries echoing as the sky grew darker.
In the alleyway, black fog began to spread, resembling the gateway to hell.
A red-haired girl leapt down from above, picking up the mace she had thrown earlier.
She then placed a sackcloth bag over the woman’s head and tightly bound it around her neck with rope.
Pulling her feet, she dragged the unconscious woman deeper into the alley.
“Humm.”
Dekan stood high atop a building’s edge, overlooking the scene below, shaking his head mockingly.
The moonlight illuminated behind him perfectly, only his pupils revealed in sharp clarity.
Beside him, Chloix also dispelled the disguise magic, revealing himself along with the Ruined Bard.
“I suspected someone with ill intentions would come to take advantage of a brokenhearted youth; guess now I’ve caught one.”
Dekan concluded with a smirk.
