I Became a Murderer in the Academy. Chapter 96

A familiar ceiling, and a familiar sight.

After a long sleep, I sat up with my clothes disheveled.

As I expected, it was that mory again.

A year and a few months ago, I learned that I couldn't kill myself through conventional ans.

Theoretically, it wasn't impossible, but a failed attempt would only unleash another disaster.

Afraid of that outco, I stopped trying to end my life after that day. It was sothing beyond my power.

I ate humans at least once a week. I knew all too well what would happen if I didn’t, the pain that would gnaw at my bones.

Since the incident, the back alleys had been quiet. Rumors of a monster kept people away, and the alley had essentially beco my private residence.

The Empire tried to rebuild the ruined alley a few tis, but I devoured everyone they sent. After that, they stopped coming.

"...Ah."

This is why I hate mories of the past.

Since falling into this world, I’d had no good mories; every mory was a nightmare.

Of course, even now, it’s still a nightmare.

"...."

I wasn’t sure how far Ariel would grow.

Whether I would die in the end, or he would, only ti would tell.

It’s been two days since the incident ended.

Classes were canceled, and with everyone busy rebuilding, Iria decided to visit Ariel at the infirmary.

There wasn’t any particular reason, just sothing to do since I had nothing else.

Entering the familiar hospital room, I saw Ariel and Sera lying side by side.

Strange. Aren’t n and won supposed to have separate rooms?

I heard the won's ward was full, so they put Sera here since she seed close to Ariel.

"Oh, Iria!"

As I walked in, Sera waved at .

After two days, Sera looked...

"Wait, you can’t get up yet, Miss! You’re not supposed to move!"

"Let go! Look, Iria is here—ow!"

"...."

She still didn’t seem quite normal.

She tried to get up, aggravating her injuries and letting out a gasp. Her delicate voice, unintentionally suggestive, echoed in the room where they shared a space.

Ariel, who had been relatively quiet, sighed as if he was used to Sera's antics.

Again, I had to watch Sera wrestle with the nurse.

At least she was calr than usual today. Normally, she’d have tried to leave on the first day, but her injuries were severe enough that even her tenacity couldn’t help her.

Which made sense.

It was a miracle she was even alive.

"Are you here for a visit?"

I nodded at Sera’s question.

These two had been the most injured in the academy attack. People said they were the heroes of the event.

They had fought when even the professors had stepped back.

Those who saw Ariel cut down the giant monster were left speechless. People wouldn’t stop praising him for finally unleashing his true power as a hero.

Ariel had already surpassed the level of the academy professors. In terms of pure strength, he might even rival the Empire's generals.

He had an influence surpassing even the generals, particularly against monsters and demons. He was already standing at the pinnacle.

‘No wonder he’s the protagonist.’

What was scarier was that he still had infinite potential for growth.

The bloodline of the Demon King’s slayer was indeed terrifying. Many talented individuals had died in past wars, but the new generation was beginning to bloom.

Though Ariel's accomplishnts overshadowed others, he wasn’t the only one who had transcended his limits.

"Iria! Co here for a second. I can’t move, so you’ll have to co to ."

I walked over to Sera.

I had seen Sera fight the giant monster. Surviving that level of miasma wasn’t sothing anyone could do just by manipulating flas.

And she’d done it twice.

In terms of pure talent, Sera might be the best of us all.

As Ariel grew, Sera blossod into her own terrifying strength.

"Did you call for ?"

I looked at her, curious as to why she’d called over.

"No, no, co a little closer."

"...."

Sera smiled and gestured for to approach.

Feeling a bit uneasy, I stepped forward.

Suddenly, Sera pulled into a hug. Her ample chest pressed against , and I felt montarily suffocated.

"Gah!"

"Gotcha!"

She playfully ruffled my hair, a little rougher than necessary.

For a mont, I thought about pulling away with force, but I restrained myself since she was a patient.

Instead, I asked her, "Why are you doing this?"

"I don’t know, it just feels like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you. Your hair is so fluffy, Iria. You’d be perfect to cuddle up to for a nap..."

"...."

"Ahh!"

It wasn’t until I jabbed a finger into her wound that she finally released .

I took a breath of relief.

Then I asked, "It hasn’t really been that long, has it?"

After all, we’d been together on the day of the incident. We may have gone in different directions, but it hadn’t been more than two days.

"It just feels that way. It’s so boring in the hospital. Ti seems to pass so slowly. And Ariel is so dull, he’s no fun. He’s getting discharged today, too! Leaving behind here—isn’t that so an?"

"There are a lot of injured people, so they’re short on hospital beds. If he’s better, he needs to make room for others."

Ariel, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. It was a reasonable explanation, but Sera’s face contorted with a playful pout.

"I could get discharged too..."

"Stay and heal this ti. You almost died."

"Ugh...."

Unable to argue with Ariel's blunt statent, Sera fell silent, sulking.

Lying on the bed, her injuries were severe. Even for her, full recovery would take so ti.

It was a harsh punishnt for soone as active as she was. This was the price she paid for pushing herself in the Demon Seed hunt.

"Iria, could you at least stay with ? If I’m left alone here, I might die of loneliness."

"No."

"You’re as cold as Ariel."

"Deal with it."

"...."

After a curt reply, I turned my attention to Ariel.

Unlike the critically injured Sera, Ariel, who had only minor wounds, was actively controlling the power of the stars flowing within him.

Even if he’d sustained significant injuries, he would’ve healed with star power.

Having broken through his limits in the fight against the giant monster, he was still adjusting to his newfound strength.

He had stepped into the realm of the superhuman. Everything must have felt unfamiliar; his senses were far sharper than before.

Ariel stood up and called for the nurse to formally process his discharge.

Afterward, he turned to .

"Iria."

"Yes?"

"Mind taking a walk?"

He looked like he had sothing on his mind.

I was intrigued by what he might say. He was the only person whose thoughts I couldn’t read. Besides, he was the protagonist of this world.

The more I knew about him, the better.

"Yes."

I nodded and followed him out.

Leaving Sera behind felt a bit pitiful, but she’d manage. The air outside the hospital was fresh.

It wasn’t the first ti Ariel and I had been alone. We’d sparred together with wooden swords on the hill behind the academy.

But this felt different. His deanor had changed.

He was sharper, carrying a heavier presence. He had reached a level that I could recognize as strong. If we fought now, I might even lose an arm.

And he seed more relaxed than before. He wasn’t swinging his sword just to get stronger as quickly as possible.

I followed him as he walked, his black hair flowing with his movents.

We left the hospital and strolled down a forested path. But Ariel remained silent, never once opening his mouth to speak.

I kept following, wondering how far we’d go before he said anything.

Who knows.

We walked until the surrounding scenery transford into a dense forest. We had reached the hill behind the academy where we’d once sparred.

"Iria."

As if we’d reached his desired destination, Ariel called my na. I didn’t reply verbally but nodded in acknowledgnt.

His blue eyes, calm and composed, turned to . Then, he spoke.

"Are you hiding sothing from us?"

"...?"

In the silence of the forest, I paused.

I hesitated to answer, not understanding his question, and he didn’t imdiately elaborate.

Ariel found a spot to sit and slowly continued.

"Sorry if the question ca out of nowhere. You may not know, but I recently awakened the power of the stars. My senses feel sharper than usual."

"...."

"I don’t know for sure, but I feel like you’re extrely strong. Maybe even stronger than I am. I’m not certain, but there’s one thing I can say with confidence."

Ariel paused briefly, as if carefully considering whether to voice his thoughts.

Of course, I was anxious to hear him out. Unlike other humans, I couldn’t read Ariel's mories. Unless he spoke, I had no way of knowing what he was thinking.

After a mont, he spoke.

"The stars are wary of you."

It was a statent heavy with aning.

I couldn’t read his mind, but I could guess from his expression.

Ariel was wary of .