Chapter 201: Chapter 201 Talks.
Soma sharpened his senses to scan his surroundings and noticed no other people beside them here. He closed his eyes while exhaling the turmoil in his heart, making him regain some of his clarity. He felt bad at first for using it without Xiao Lian's consent.
With the changing spear in his hand and how bloodied it is, he decides to store it in his relics, which makes the other people in the scene raise their eyebrows.
"Before that, Senior Lucy, can you take a look at the girl whose body was smeared with blood there, please?".
"Oh?!".
Lucy, who suddenly got called, twitched her body as she shifted her gaze toward the place Soma had pointed at and saw Xiao Lian holding Hina with blood painted their body. Her face turned white ashen as she hurriedly approached the two.
"Are you alright? Let me see her and you too".
Soma began to turn his gaze to Serafina, who unknowingly showed a rare expression by biting her lips and clenched fists, trying to say something to him, but her tongue got held back by unknown force, making her muted in place.
Teacher Lee, who still keeps his stern gaze on him, sighs as he gradually catches the event unfolding in this place. The wounded student and a demon woman who wore the academy uniform explain why Soma did that action earlier.
However, what made Teacher Lee stunned in silence was the resolve and the mentality of Soma, who can handle killing a person, was something to be praised about but also a bit worrying because of his still young age.
Teacher Lee couldn't even imagine what kind of life Soma had to endure for him to have that kind of mental strength. "This is not the place to be sentimental. Also, I must not pry into the students' past like some busybody. That's not my style. What I need to know is the event that happened here".
"So, Soma, care to explain?".
Soma, who had no other choice in his hand, nodded his head and opened his mouth.
"Before that, can we just move from this place first? This is not a proper place to talk anyway"
"Hmm, okay, you got the point. All of you follow me except you two. Go to the medical room and treat Akabane Hina's wound, then about the demon?".
Teacher Lee looked at Soma's eyes, who shrugged his shoulders helplessly. He took one of his storage rings that had been emptied, for the item had already been stored inside the relics. The demon Body gradually disappeared one at a time as it entered the storage ring in Soma's hands while he approached the thorn limbs and body before he tossed it to Teacher Lee.
"Thanks for your understanding, Soma. Everyone, Let's go!".
Soma nodded his head as he approached Xiao Lian's side. He saw Lucy in her dumbfounded state, looking at every inch of Hina's body, inspecting her wound, but nothing to be found. She also does the same toward Xiao Lian, making her face stiffened for a stranger touching her body.
"Xiao Lian, thanks for the help. How was her condition?".
"Mm, she is safe, but she lost too much blood, so she needs resting. That is what the yellow girl told me".
"Um, My name is Lucy, by the way. Forget about that".
"Mm?!".
"What's the matter, senior?".
Xiao Lian's body twitches as she hears Lucy's raised tone, and Soma turns his gaze simultaneously toward Lucy, who seems curious about Hina's condition.
"What happened to her? You said to me to check on her, but there was no wound and nothing that threatened her life. Well, seeing the trace of her uniform and skin, I assumed that she was critically injured a moment ago, but now the wound has vanished. What in the world did you do?".
Soma raised his hands to block the incoming barrage from Lucy, who was so passionate about helping people. Her usual appearance was elegant beauty that attracted every male heart string to worship her as a goddess that came from the heavens. Still, the current Lucy was genuine, and she enthusiastically talked about the treatment of the person in care. She is a helping maniac.
"Enough, Lucy! Soma is troubled by your passion for helping".
"But, Sera. I want to know what potion he used? And if the potion he had was something that amazing, he could used it to save other people in need".
"I am sorry to disappoint you, senior, but that was personal information".
"But, with that, you could save many lives. Do you not care about those that need to be safe?".
"None at all".
"What?!".
"...".
Lucy and Serafina's eyes bloated in shock as they had never seen a boy who, without hesitation, rejected an offer that could help many people out there in need. Serafina, on the other hand, could slightly understand Soma's mindset as she also did not think too deeply about the world's affairs or other strangers. She already had her own purpose and didn't have time to think about it.
However, that doesn't apply to Lucy, whose kindness knows no bounds, and when someone refuses her offer to save many, she can't take silence about it.
"You!".
"That's enough. We should go from this place. The sun is already set".
Teacher Lee appeared to stop Lucy's fury when she could only bite her lips and saw Soma with a gaze full of disdain and anger. Lucy turned her body and walked away from the place alone before being accompanied by Leon, who followed her from behind while occasionally glancing at Soma's place.
"Hurry up, you three!".
Teacher Lee, who already walked ahead following the two students in front, turned his back and urged the other three to leave the place. Soma kneels before Xiao Lian before taking Hina into his arms, carrying her in a princess carry. He positioned her cheek to rest on his left chest while keeping her body steady to give her comfort in her sleep.
Xiao Lian and Serafina, who saw Soma begin to take his first walk, followed from his sides. Xiao Lian saw Soma's profile from the side as she recalled the earlier event.
"What's the matter, Xiao Lian?".
"Mmmm, nothing".
"?? Okay".
Soma raised his brows and chuckled, seeing Xiao Lian's silly nature, who seemed unperturbed by the situation. Instead, she felt pleased for some reason. Then, from his side, Soma felt a piercing gaze that hurt his cheek, making him uncomfortable. He sighs before opening his mouth.
"Miss Lawrence?".
"...".
"...Sera?".
With a slight pause, that happened. Serafina extended her right hand and traced Soma's cheek with her delicate fingers, giving him a comfortable tickle.
"Are you okay?".
"About what?".
"Your power?".
"Oh, I'm okay. I can slightly adapt to it than last time. This is rare for you to worry about me, ouch!".
Soma felt a pang of pain that assaulted his cheek, for Serafina used her nails to pinch his cheek.
"What do you mean by that?".
"Ouch, Am' sohri~".
Serafina sighs and releases her finger from Soma's cheeks, leaving two red marks from her claws. Seeing soma like that, she couldn't help but curve her thin lips and gaze in front.
"What kind of woman do you think I am? I'm genuinely worried about you, you know? …Because there is something about you…".
"Hm, What is it?".
Soma closed his distance, trying to catch Serafina's mumbles about something, but to no avail, for Serafina only to show her captivating smile to distract the conversation.
With the relief sighs that escaped everyone's lips as they emerged from the darkened place. The outside world beyond the canopy had already changed its owner. The sky had already closed by the curtain of night with a single light that looked upon them.
***
Soma and the other sat on a coy three-seater sofa that circled the rectangle dark brown wooden table with five cups of dark tea, still letting out steam, accompanying them in their comfort.
The interior of the place was warm and messy because there were a lot of documents scattered across the desk office in the innermost part of the room, where teacher Lee did his assignment.
On the right side of the room, there are shelves filled with many books and a grimoire or some books that are related to academic and dungeon purposes. On the opposite wall, it was decorated with glass shelves that contained many trophies, awards from the students, and also himself he got from his Academic expedition.
Soma, along with Serafina and Xiao Lian, who sat on each side of him, nestled closer as if trying to seek warmth from Soma, which restricted his freedom. Opposite him, there is Teacher Lee, and from his right side, there is Leon, who fidgeting seems out of place.
As for Lucy, she still harbors some annoyance toward Soma, so she needs some time to cool off her head by watching Hina in the nurse's room.
"Then, Soma. Can you please tell me what happened?".
"You can't expect something from my story that came out late into the place. Instead, Leon, can you please tell the teacher about the event that happened?".
"Eh? Um, …Okay".
"Thanks, Leon. Considering it as a punishment".
"?!".
Leon, with three pairs of eyes, gathered on him, making his face stiffen as he gulped his saliva to moisten his parched throat. Gradually, Leon starts to tell the people inside what had happened, starting from his love for Mary, then finds out that she is a demon that infiltrated the academy to abduct him.
"I see, so Mary is…".
"Yes, Teacher. ?! I forgot that there is another victim that is still left in that place".
"Is there someone in that place we miss?".
"Yes, teacher, he is a senior student with…".
"Leave it, Leon. This is also become a good lesson for him".
"But, Soma".
"Besides, let's talk about the demon who infiltrated the academy".
From this moment forward, the school became aware of the danger of the infiltration inside the academy, which made them take action to tighten the academy's perimeters and Ark to prevent the same thing from happening again in the academy and city. With this event finished, the many demons who infiltrated the academy and Ark would begin to move and retreat for a while.
The Story didn't show Soma how many demons there are, but suddenly, many students were gone from their dormitory because of the incident with Mary.
"And Soma, what did you kill the demon? Why didn't you just catch her and ask for information that will benefit us in the future?"
"That's impossible! Demons always keep their mouths shut and are always ready to inflict harm upon themselves if their lives or the information they hold will be leaked to the enemy. They will kill themselves with a self-inflicting curse".
"...I see. What makes you so sure?".
Soma took the cup with steaming black tea in hand before placing it on his lips and taking a sip. Soma feels the robust, slightly astringent flavor spread across his palate. The taste is deep and complex, with a satisfying bitterness balanced by a natural sweetness. As the liquid travels down his throat, it leaves a lingering warmth that soothes his heart and moistens his throat.
"...Well, let's say that. I have some grudge against them".