Sword, Magic and Academic Society-Chapter 294Vol. 1 - - The Case of Saintess’s Disappearance (7)

*Tap-Tap*

Footstep echoed, announcing the descent of someone into the nauseating dungeon.

A sharp creak of the door opening followed, and a—reminscent of a fox—narrow-eyed man, the leader of Rose Familia, Red, showed himself.

Though, as of now, not much of the Rose Familia had left. Their awe and authority had taken considerable hit after getting into dealing with Mad Hound, and Crane-Dragon Union pulling strings from behind. And with their secret patron pulling their funding away, they're left for the road in literal sense.

The present Red had not even a trace of his former self, his cheeks sunken and eyes wearing a deranged outlook. He was reaping what he saw by his wanton act in the underworld, entering the knight's list to be captured at sight, now leading a fugitive life.

"Kukuku. ...I don't get it. It doesn't make sense. I didn't expect a filthy brat out of an orphan would work out..."

"Hihihi, I told you. You just don't know how the girls in love act."

Tomora appeared from behind Red, letting out a creepy giggle with a smug gesture.

He wasn't any different from Red, his bulging eyes darted wildly, his head jerking back and forth as if warding off invisible threats. He was clearly no longer in a sound state of mind.

"......Free us now. You can still save your lives."

Jeu calmly asserted, still restrained by both hands inside the dungeon cell. The two glanced at each other and burst out in laughter.

"Kuhaha. You're truly a princess of that family to speak of such words in that condition. But I caution you to watch your words. The smuggler above is already shouting “I will pay 50 rea, just let me ride on that blonde girl's body."

"Hahaha! I heard that guy barely bathes once a month. If he gets the chance...! Oh man, he was also so persistent."

Jeu offered only a smile.

"50 rea? You sure have picked one cheap smuggler. Well, you own the place, but....I do wonder if your client would allow you to do it."

Startled, Red and Tomora's laughter momentarily came to halt.

"......You think we're acting on someone's order?"

Jeu continued, calmly observing their reactions.

“Oh? So it's not a client? Then I presume a collaborator of some sort? Regardless, the «Choker of Virtue» is a forbidden artifact to use, let alone possession. It’s not something people who can’t even hire decent smugglers could ever obtain on their own. …You borrowed it, didn’t you? From your ‘collaborator.’ Used as long as you were useful, only to be discarded in the end, never realizing it.”

Tomora, taking Jeu’s obvious provocation at face value, plastered on a transparently gentle smile and reached for the iron-barred door of the cell.

“You—”

"Be careful. I am sure

“Oh, It’s fine. If I get any injury, or I try to escape, it could fringes on «Oath». Maybe, you are better off locking the door from outside just to be assured."

She briefly recalled the oath she had sworn—that she would cooperate fully and do everything in her power to reach the destination without being discovered by anyone.

After confirming that Red had locked the door from outside, Tomora gently brushed Jeu’s cheek with his palm.

“Hyah-hyah… it’s like silk. Truly the star prodigy to be placed in Class A in that academy, you’re a sharp young lady. You seemed to have already grasped most of the picture. And indeed, the gist isn't far from your conjecture, your chastity must be ensured until marriage ceremony. But would you know, there's more than just the virtue of having fun in the world of adults. eh?"

As Tomora murmured those words thickly into her ear, Jeu let out another soft laugh.

“Oh? That does sound delightful. Maybe I should learn that way of fun, and later describe how wonderful your company was during the journey to that jealousy driven pig."

Tomora’s hand froze mid-motion.

"With how sensitive to scandal that nation is, it would surely crash my worth if it ever comes out. Surely, then that pig wouldn't try something as ridiculous as silencing you on the spot, since only a dead man can't tell tales..."

Tomora slowly backed away from Jeu, raising both hands.

“Hyah-hyah… You're truuuly good at getting on nerves, just like that boy. ...And the eyes... that looks like we're some trash!"

With that, Tomora’s bloodshot eyes flew wide open, and he lashed out, kicking Rina, who had been cowering at the edge of the cell, with all his strength.

Rina screamed. Blood sprayed across the floor.

“Stop it!”

Jeu cried out, but Tomora didn’t stop.

“You too! And him too! One day, I’ll smash you both to pieces like this! Don’t you dare look down on me! Don’t you dare!”

With her bound right hand, Jeu forcibly tore Tomora away from Rina and sent him tumbling backward.

She quickly administered first aid to Rina, then seized the Tomora, as he got back on his feet, by the neck and slammed him back against the iron bars in a chokehold.

The metal shrieked under the strain.

“…I will warn you one last time. Lay a hand on that child again, and I will not forgive it.”

Seeing her expression—her face, her voice, saturated with raw anger—Tomora’s mood seemed to flip entirely. He broke into a delighted grin.

“…Hyah-hyah. Anger... only brought more of your beauty out. But don’t you understand yet, do you? You're not the one to call the shots here—"

“…I will break the oath.”

Jeu stared straight into Tomora’s eyes and spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.

“Huh?”

Tomora's mind failed to process what he just heard, and asked back. Jeu made her words clear this time.

“If you lay a hand on that child again, I will break the oath and take my own life.”

“…Do you even understand what you’re saying?”

“…It seems you're completely in blind to the history of «Choker of Virtue». This has granted me with a blessing—the right to death."

"You, for whom the whole world can jump on each other's throat for you, will do that for a filthy orphan? You should've thought of a better bluff."

Jeu released her grip on Tomora’s neck.

"Would you like to witness it, then?"

Her voice was eerily mechanical as she stared down at Tomora—the latter coughing violently having finally released—with a dreary gaze.

Tomora faltered for a moment, fear flickering across his face, but just as his rage began to flare again, Red stepped in.

“That’s enough. Our target is the Mad Dog, remember? To dispose of him for good, we need to deliver that girl safely to the location and secure his cooperation. This isn’t the time to be playing games with her.”

Even after being stopped by Red, Tomora continued to glare up at Jeu for a while. Finally, he stood, scowling, and spat a parting shot as he exited the cell.

“…Hmph. Enjoy your bravado while you can, little girl. Once you arrive there, that so-called ‘right to die’ will be stripped from you too. What awaits you then will be a living hell, so miserable you’ll wish for death.”

Jeu only let out a soft laugh while stroking Rina's head. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

“…It appears you truly are blind to know with whom you've picked a fight with. You, and that deranged pig, must be praising your genius for thinking of that scripted exit for me, right? But the reality is... I don't even feel pity, just how comical this entire situation is."

Tomora’s steps halted abruptly.

"She's trying to rile you up. Don’t rise to it, Tomora.”

“…I know. But let me tell you one thing, little girl. Every person has a weakness. Even the Mad Dog. We know him well. We’ll exploit it, trap him, and crush him. And when his torn-apart corpse is thrown at your feet—”

With a creak, the door opened. Red stepped out first, Tomora following behind.

“…I’m really looking forward to seeing the look on your face then. Hyah. Hyah-hah-hah-hah!”

Leaving those words behind, the two of them ascended the stairs, their footsteps echoing as they disappeared.