The World Is Mine For The Taking-Chapter 1166 - 178 - The Bandit Ambush (2)

We all turned toward Miss Shredica at the same time, almost like it was instinctive. She was staring straight at us, her gaze heavy and sharp, like we’d just crossed some invisible line we weren’t supposed to even know existed. It wasn’t loud or dramatic, but it carried weight. The kind that made your spine stiffen without you realizing it.

Thinking back on it now, I can admit it—maybe it was only natural for her to look at us like that.

After all, from her perspective, we probably looked like a bunch of kids who had let something ugly crawl out of us.

"It’s none of your business, isn’t it?" Amakawa-kun snapped, his voice dripping with irritation. He looked at her the same way someone would look at a person who had just stepped in front of the screen right before the best part of a movie. "Don’t you think it’d be better if you just got out of our heroes’ way? And don’t even try to do something stupid like coming after us. You should go back to where you belong."

The words came out sharp and careless, like he didn’t even consider the possibility that they might come back to bite him.

Miss Shredica’s eyes narrowed. "It’s you again," she said coolly. "You’ve been causing trouble nonstop lately. What, are you planning to make even more trouble than necessary?" She sighed, rubbing her temple slightly. "My head is already aching from having to babysit all of you. Why can’t you behave the way you’re supposed to?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

There was frustration in her voice, raw and unfiltered. She didn’t sound angry in the explosive sense—she sounded tired. Deeply, painfully tired. Like someone who had been holding everything together with sheer willpower and was starting to feel it slip.

I didn’t really know what her job entailed in full detail, but I knew she’d been staying up late almost every night. Reading documents, reports, things I didn’t recognize or understand. Whatever it was, it had to be important—important enough to steal sleep from someone like her.

"You’re really pissing me off," Amakawa-kun said, his glare hardening. There was no humor in his eyes now, no teasing edge. Just naked hostility, like she was an enemy that had existed in his head for a long time.

"I think you’ve already made that obvious," Miss Shredica replied, unimpressed. "You haven’t exactly been shy about it. And I heard what you said earlier." Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Don’t you think your idea of wooing a woman is completely skewed? It’s honestly unpleasant how you believe any woman would fall into your lap just because you’ve gained power."

Amakawa-kun let out a short laugh, more scoff than humor. "Well, isn’t that how it works? When you have power, it’s only natural that you stand at the top of the world. That’s how it’s supposed to be, right?" He shrugged slightly. "When men have power, the only thing they can do is use it. And since I have it, I’ll use it however the fuck I want. That’s the nature of men. That’s the only natural thing to do."

The air felt heavier after that. Like something rotten had been exposed and no one knew how to cover it up again.

"I see..." Miss Shredica said quietly. There was no anger in her tone now. Just distance. "Then how about you try your luck with me?"

"Huh?"

The confusion on his face was almost comical, if the situation hadn’t been so tense.

"You heard me," she said, her voice steady, almost deliberately provocative. "If you manage to defeat me, I’ll let you do me. You can do whatever you want, enjoy it however you please. Though I doubt you’d even manage to get me off."

For a split second, the world seemed to freeze.

Then Amakawa-kun burst out laughing. "Ha! If that’s the deal, I guess I’ll accept." His grin was ugly, full of confidence that hadn’t been earned. "I’ve been pretty pissed about not getting to fuck any juicy pussy lately. No maid around for me to fuck, so it’s nice of you to offer yourself."

He turned his head slightly, eyes flicking toward me. "I was honestly thinking about fucking Hasegawa-sensei too, but since you stepped up, I don’t have to anymore. Be grateful, sensei. Looks like you won’t get eaten by us today."

The way he looked at me made my skin crawl. Like he was imagining things I didn’t want to exist. A shiver ran through my body before I could stop it. I didn’t even know what I was feeling anymore—fear, disgust, disbelief. Probably all of it mixed together.

It was unbearable.

And the worst part was that this feeling came from someone I knew. Someone I used to recognize. I didn’t know what to believe in anymore.

"M-Miss Shredica..." Kashiwagi-kun spoke up hesitantly.

He looked genuinely worried, his eyes fixed on her back. Out of all of us, he seemed like the only one who hadn’t completely lost himself yet. He had tasted temptation, sure, but he hadn’t drowned in it.

Miss Shredica didn’t look back at him. Not even for a second. Her entire focus was locked onto Amakawa-kun, unshaken.

"Come," she said. "Don’t hold back."

That was all it took.

Amakawa-kun’s smirk widened, stretching across his face like a crack in glass. He unsheathed his sword, the metal singing softly as it left the scabbard.

"I’ll make you regret this and fuck you while that scowl is still on your face!"

He lunged forward in an instant.

The speed was unreal. One moment he was standing there, the next he was a blur tearing through the space between them. Just from that single movement, it was obvious how much stronger he’d become. His body moved like it belonged to someone else entirely—someone dangerous.

For a brief, terrifying moment, I really thought he was going to win.

There was no hesitation in him. No doubt. Just pure, ruthless intent. We’d been told over and over that our power was something even magic knights couldn’t compare to.

I had seen Miss Shredica show her strength during training before, but never like this. Never against someone who was clearly trying to kill—or worse.

I wondered, just for a second, if she could really stop him.

That doubt didn’t even have time to settle.

Miss Shredica didn’t move.

She didn’t step back. She didn’t raise her hand.

And Amakawa-kun was suddenly on the ground.

"Huh?"

The sound came out of him dumb and confused. Like his brain hadn’t caught up to his body yet. He blinked, staring up at the sky, clearly struggling to understand why things weren’t the way they were supposed to be.

Then realization hit.

I followed his gaze downward.

Where his foot should have been... there was nothing. Just a bleeding stump, blood spilling onto the ground in a sickening rush.

His feet—no, one of them—had been left behind. Still standing there. Still planted exactly where he’d been before he even moved.