Chapter 74: Apology accepted
High above the chaos, Gea watched from the shadows of a shattered observatory, her body trembling, her pink hair matted with dark ichor. Her crimson eyes, once so full of mocking amusent, now burned with fury and disbelief.
Her claws dug into the cracked stone railing as she stared down at the grand hall below. Heroes sward around Ernando’s fallen form, dics working frantically to stabilize him. The barrier she had so carefully constructed was gone. The monsters she had summoned were dissolving into nothing.
And at the center of it all, that C-rank hero and his Magical Girls stood victorious.
"Damn it," Gea hissed under her breath, her voice ragged. "The plan... failed. I never expected a re C-rank to have such an impact on the battle."
She pressed a hand against her side, feeling the ragged wound where Sarah’s Apocalypse had struck, where the spatial distortion from Andrey’s disruptor still tore at her insides. Her regeneration was sluggish, her dark mana reserves dangerously low. She was vulnerable.
"However, I have information about their strength," she whispered to herself, a bitter smile curling her lips. "It’s not a total loss."
Below, Association personnel were already spreading out, searching the periter, checking the upper levels. It wouldn’t be long before they found her.
"I need to retreat," she murmured, turning away from the railing. "Before they discover m—"
A blade pierced her abdon from behind.
"GAAHH—!"
Dark blood sprayed from her lips, splattering against the stone railing. Gea’s crimson eyes went wide with shock and pain. She looked down at the gleaming sword tip protruding from her stomach, then twisted her head to see her attacker.
Simmon Flanks stood behind her, his twin swords drawn, one already buried in her body. His white hair was disheveled, his black glasses cracked, but his expression was calm, almost bored.
"How... how did you—" Gea choked, blood dripping from her chin.
Simmon pushed his glasses up his nose with his free hand. "Easy. I can see your mana. Even hiding in the shadows, you stand out like a bonfire to my eyes."
He twisted the blade.
Gea scread, her claws scraping uselessly at the stone. Dark energy flickered around her, but she was too weakened to mount a proper defense.
"Bastard..." she spat.
Simmon’s smile was thin, cold. "Oh, don’t die just yet. I deliberately missed your vital organs. You’re going to cooperate and answer so questions. Information, you see. I want it."
Gea’s breath ca in ragged gasps. Her mind raced. ’If this continues, I’ll be captured. I can’t let that happen.’
Simmon’s grip tightened on his sword. "Now, then. Let’s start with who sent you. And what exactly you were trying to accomplish—"
But before he could finish, Gea’s body began to swell.
Her skin bulged, dark energy erupting from her pores in violent spasms. Simmon’s eyes widened. He yanked his blade free and leaped backward, putting distance between them.
Gea clutched her chest, feeling the foreign energy spreading through her veins.
"What—what’s happening to ?!" Gea shrieked, clutching her chest. Her horns elongated, then cracked. Her tail thrashed wildly, spasming out of control. "No—this isn’t—I didn’t—"
Her voice cut off.
She exploded.
Dark blood and fragnted flesh sprayed across the observatory walls, coating the broken glass and cracked stone. The shockwave rattled the remaining windows, but Simmon had already retreated behind a pillar, shielding his face with his arms.
When the spray settled, nothing remained of Gea but a black stain and scattered ichor.
Simmon lowered his arms, his expression grim. He walked to the edge of the ss, nudging a piece of torn fabric with the tip of his boot.
"Tch. Erasing the evidence, are you? How cowardly." He sheathed his swords, his jaw tight.
Below, the Association personnel continued their work, unaware of the silent confrontation that had just taken place above their heads.
Simmon turned away from the stain, his white hair catching the faint breeze through the shattered observatory walls. He glanced down at the grand hall one last ti, his eyes finding Andrey’s small group amid the chaos.
"So much for answers," he murmured. "But at least I know one thing now. The enemy is afraid. And fear makes people sloppy."
He walked toward the stairwell, his footsteps echoing in the empty observatory.
Behind him, the black stain on the wall slowly faded, as if it had never been there at all.
anwhile....
Andrey sat on a makeshift bench near the edge of the grand hall, a white blanket draped over his shoulders. A dic had just finished bandaging his arm and was already rushing to the next wounded hero. Sarah, Lisa, and Sein were nearby, all in various states of exhaustion, their formal clothes now torn and stained.
Sarah stretched her arms above her head, wincing at the ache in her shoulders. "Hahh... I want a hot shower. And sleep. For about three days."
Lisa nodded weakly, her twintails completely undone now, her lavender dress smudged with soot. " too... I think I could sleep standing up."
Sein said nothing. She simply leaned against a broken pillar, her eyes closed, her breathing slow and steady.
A familiar voice broke through their weary silence. "Hey. You all doing okay?"
They looked up. Hope approached, her silver gown now replaced by a clean Association-issued tracksuit. Her golden hair had been roughly tied back, and fresh bandages peeked out from the collar of her jacket. Despite her obvious fatigue, she managed a small, warm smile.
Sarah waved lazily. "We’re alive. That’s sothing."
Lisa perked up slightly. "Hope! You’re up and walking. That’s a relief."
Hope’s smile widened. "Delphine patched
up. She’s amazing, even when she’s running on fus." She glanced at Andrey, who had been quiet throughout the exchange. "How are you holding up, Andrey?"
Andrey adjusted his glasses. "I’m fine. Minor injuries. Nothing serious."
Hope nodded, but her expression grew more serious. She looked around, then lowered her voice. "Can I ask you sothing? It’s been bothering ."
Andrey t her gaze. "Go ahead."
"That demon. The pink-haired woman who took you. Why were you her target?" Hope’s blue eyes searched his face. "It doesn’t make sense unless there’s a reason. Can you tell ?"
Andrey was silent for a mont. Then he spoke, his voice calm and even. "She was after revenge. I killed soone close to her in a gate a few days ago. A demon. I didn’t know they were connected at the ti, but apparently, they were... lovers."
Sein opened her eyes and added flatly, "It’s true. I was there. Andrey killed him. The pink one showed up later, furious and grieving. She wanted payback."
Hope’s expression flickered with surprise, then understanding. "So that’s why... I see." She looked down at her hands, then back at Andrey. "But there’s more, isn’t there? Manipulating Ernando, setting up this entire event, almost sacrificing all these heroes... it wasn’t just about revenge. There’s a larger plan."
Andrey nodded. "That’s what I’m trying to understand. What was their real objective? What were they trying to accomplish with the ritual?"
Hope shook her head slowly. "I wish I could tell you. Ernando is still unconscious, and the healers say it will be a while before he wakes up. Even then, the ntal manipulation might have left lasting damage. We’ve never seen an S-rank hero compromised like this before. And that woman... the one who was always at his side, his assistant..." She paused, her jaw tightening. "She was a demon in disguise the whole ti. Living among us, infiltrating the highest levels of the guild. It makes you wonder how many more are out there."
Lisa’s face paled. "That’s... terrifying."
Hope reached out and gently squeezed Lisa’s shoulder. "It is. But we know now. And we’ll be more careful." She turned back to Andrey. "The casualties... there were so deaths. But thanks to Delphine, and thanks to you and Lisa helping with mana transfers, many were saved who otherwise wouldn’t have been. You should be proud."
Andrey said nothing, but his eyes softened slightly.
Hope straightened, wincing as her side protested. "I should go. The Association wants a full debrief, and I need to rest before that." She smiled at all of them. "Thank you. And please, get so rest yourselves."
She turned to leave.
Andrey called after her. "Hope."
She paused, looking back.
Andrey t her eyes, his expression earnest. "I’m sorry. For the way I’ve been acting lately."
Hope’s eyes widened slightly. Then her tired face broke into a genuine smile, warm, relieved, and a little emotional. Despite the exhaustion lining her features, she looked almost... happy.
"Apology accepted," she said softly. "Now rest. We’ll talk more when everyone’s healed."
She walked away, her footsteps steady despite her injuries.
Sarah watched her go, then elbowed Andrey lightly. "See? That wasn’t so hard."
Andrey adjusted his glasses. "Shut up."
Sein snorted. "Finally grew a backbone, Glasses."
Lisa giggled, the sound light and sweet despite the chaos around them.
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