“……”
I clicked my tongue and raised my gaze.
Since I still don’t know how he managed to deceive my senses, it’s best not to make eye contact.
A head of hair that looked like it was made from ashes after a fire came into view.
It was completely different from the dry, brittle state of someone who had sweat and then dried up.
Looking at the appearance that made me doubt if this was even human, I squinted my eyes. Lux tugged at my collar from the side.
“Isn’t that part-time Professor? The one who taught us basic alchemy?”
If I recall correctly, back when we were in Minerva, he was definitely posing as a middle-aged man…
Yet Lux somehow figured out his true identity.
Must be due to her heightened sensitivity to mana.
“Yeah. Not anymore though.”
“How…? Didn’t he say he returned to his hometown…?”
Ah, now that you mention it, wasn’t that the cover story we used to avoid confusing the students?
I was at a loss for words on how to explain this properly.
“He was infiltrating Minerva all along. That’s why security was tightened after the part-timer left.”
There was no need for elaborate explanations.
Our brilliant student was sharp enough to deduce the whole truth from just fragments of information. I simply nodded nonchalantly.
“Right. Sorry for not telling you the truth earlier.”
“It’s fine. It must have been a decision made for the students’ sake. The part-time professor was quite popular…”
Lux murmured softly with a bitter tone.
Though she tried to hide it, she seemed pretty shocked.
While I don’t know what kind of school life that guy had, judging from Lux’s reaction, he must have been an excellent teacher…
“What are you muttering about~? It’s hurtful to keep excluding me.”
The part-timer, who had been observing our conversation, feigned a sorrowful expression.
Of course, it was all an act.
“Shut up. What did you do to the coach?”
“Oh~ Well, I gave him some gold coins and he happily went off somewhere else? By now…”
“He’s probably in hell.”
There was no point in listening further.
As his words trailed off, the part-timer stretched his lips into a long grin.
Though his outward appearance was certainly beautiful… it sent shivers down my spine. His smile reminded me of a child looking at fascinating insects.
“My my~ You understand me perfectly. Truly, ‘Singularity’ is different. How disappointing…”
The guy muttered to himself with a regretful expression.
Whatever nonsense he’s spouting, it’s probably nothing good.
Glaring at his detestable face, I subtly adjusted my stance.
“Something seems… off.”
Lux furrowed her brows.
I couldn’t afford to overlook her words.
In certain aspects, Lux’s perception surpasses even mine.
“What about?”
“Faint… I’m not sure if I should call it presence, but the mana feels blurry. Like…”
“An illusion body?”
“Yes.”
To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure.
There’s no way this guy could have the demon energy required to create such a decoy body.
However, when it comes to matters of mana, Lux is definitely more skilled than me.
I trusted my disciple’s judgment.
“What brings you to reveal yourself? You ran away so messily before.”
“At that time, there was nothing I could do~ I wasn’t prepared to face the Master yet~”
“So now you’re ready… Let’s confirm that, shall we?”
I swiftly slammed my fist into my palm.
[Divine Power: Forced Harmonization]
Chaotic Pillar of Primordial Energy
The overwhelming aura born from the harmony of mana and ki descended upon the part-timer’s head.
Ku-gu-gung!
The dark pillar crashed down, causing the ground to tremble with a deafening roar.
As I carefully observed the cloud of dust, a handful of blood mixed with demon energy coalesced once more into human form.
After returning to his original appearance, the part-timer shrugged nonchalantly.
“You’re too harsh~ Calm down. I have no intention of fighting you.”
Judging by his smiling face, he didn’t seem to have taken any damage at all.
Is this guy some kind of vampire?
“Do you care about how hard that coach worked to live? You don’t even know him!”
“Hmm~ Frankly, I don’t really care. But if you insist… I apologize. I’ll place a flower on his grave later.”
This guy isn’t even an actor, yet he can switch between smiles and apologetic expressions so casually…
I reaffirmed once again that this being has no interest in anything other than itself – a pure embodiment of evil.
He probably views everything in this world as mere insects.
“Even if we fight, it won’t bother me at all~ But having a short conversation shouldn’t be a problem, right~?”
“How can we trust you?”
“Hmm~ Isn’t this enough?”
As he tilted his head, tentacles made of sticky demon energy sprouted from his shadow.
“…!”
Summoning Opheucus into its spear form, I maintained my guard.
Saaak~
The tentacles severed his arms.
Suddenly self-harming… What is he thinking?
My vigilance intensified even further.
Lux was also quietly gathering her mana.
“This should be sufficient demonstration of my sincerity, right~ Are you still uneasy?”
Though he must know about our caution, the part-timer asked calmly.
Holding my spear steady, I spoke cautiously.
“…What do you want to say?”
“Even after going this far, you’re still pointing weapons at me~ It makes me so sad…”
“Don’t spout nonsense. You’re just a decoy trying to save face. You lack even basic decency.”
Well, expecting too much from a non-human creature would be a mistake.
At my words, the part-timer widened his eyes dramatically.
He looks like an aspiring actor practicing surprised expressions, making me feel even worse.
His deliberately clumsy acting is grating when he’s clearly capable of perfect performances.
“After putting in so much effort this time~ Even going as far as reversing my ‘shell’… How did you figure it out?”
The part-timer’s gaze shifted toward Lux as he tilted his head.
With a sly smile, he said:
“Ah~ Did this distinguished person notice? My apologies for the late introduction. Greetings, brilliant star of the Empire.”
Watching him perform the royal courtesy, Lux responded calmly:
“I don’t want greetings from a heretic. Disappear from this spot immediately.”
“Oh my~ How heartbreaking…”
After making a sad face and shedding a single tear, the part-timer instantly resumed his cheerful expression.
“But if I leave now, you’ll end up regretting it~”
The way he changes expressions in comma units is no longer human, but rather something grotesque.
Though I never considered him human to begin with.
Observing silently, I wiped my expression clean and spoke:
“Regret… Is talking to you now less regrettable than whatever you’re planning?”
“That depends on your judgment, doesn’t it~?”
“…”
I fell into thought.
What exactly does he want to say by going to such lengths?
Is it a trap? If so, what kind of trap?
A curse that activates upon hearing?
Or perhaps a delaying tactic?
Unless…
“…Speak quickly and then disappear.”
After careful consideration, I decided on “listen first.”
It wasn’t a lazy choice.
Because I have this little partner here.
-Uh-ung?
That’s right, Opheucus.
Now able to express question marks through vibrations, I fully trust this companion who has helped me so much in our short partnership.
Partner, I believe in you!
-Ung!
“Hmm~ Well, since my body is starting to fall apart anyway, let’s stop dragging things out?”
Does he recognize Opheucus’ true nature?
The part-timer studied Opheucus carefully before speaking with a pleasant smile:
“The east is not a place you should go.”
“The east…?”
Could he mean the Eastern Union Conference?
As if reading my thoughts, the guy nodded vigorously.
“Yes~ That place is practically already occupied~”
“By whom?”
“Are you expecting me to work for free?”
Primordial Qi Art
Dark streams of ki began to rise.
In response to my display of power, the part-timer raised both hands in surrender, regenerated without my noticing.
“Wow, you’re like highwaymen~ Fine, it’s regrettable on my side anyway.”
Whispering hidden secrets, he covered his lips with his fingers.
“One of the kingdoms in the Eastern Union is currently under the domain of ‘Lust’.”
That phrasing implies there’s a High Priest involved.
I’ll judge the truthfulness later. As the part-timer began to melt away, I charged forward.
“Why are you giving us this information?”
“Hmm~ That’s a secret~”
“Then get lost.”
Sky Piercing Pillar
The spear (Opheucus) infused with dark ki pierced straight through his heart.
It was a scene reminiscent of déjà vu, but unlike last time, the part-timer simply smiled faintly.
“You need to become stronger than this. Otherwise, you won’t be able to stop us~”
Speaking calmly, the guy melted away into a clump of mana.
“…Disgusting.”
Staring at the defiled land emitting ominous smoke tainted by mana, I gathered my ki.
I couldn’t allow this filth to remain where Lux’s precious person rests eternally.
Digging deep enough to bury my ankles, I erased all traces of the mana.
Returning to Lux, I slowly spoke:
“Shall we go back?”
“…Yes.”
Lux gave a bright smile as if nothing happened.
