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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Their Recent Activities (2)
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"I'm genuinely curious about something."
Mort asked, glaring at Sloth.
"How long do you plan to wear that decrepit old mask? Haven't you gotten tired of it yet?"
"Tired of it, you say…? Well, I don't particularly think so."
"You, the Sin of Sloth, enjoying that form for ten years—it's truly laughable. Even a passing Celestial would find it amusing."
"P-Pfft! Yes. It is truly amusing. For me, the Sin of Sloth, not only to consume Evil, who was more diligent than anyone, but to live as the diligent Evil for over ten years. As you said, it's truly something even a Celestial would laugh at."
*Tap, tap.*
Sloth brushed dust off Mort's shoulder as he continued.
"Aren't you curious? How I came to take an interest in this old man, and why I eventually consumed him and have tried to understand him ever since?"
"Not particularly."
"Then I'll just speak to myself, so listen or don't, as you please. For some reason, I feel like I just *have* to today."
"…"
"As for how I came to know this old man…"
Sloth rambled on about the old man, Evil, for a long time.
He laughed, then he cried.
He rejoiced, then he grieved.
How long did he ramble like that?
"H-Heh, heh…"
Mort, who had been half-listening, finally burst out laughing.
He had expected some grand, elaborate reason, but Sloth's motive for consuming Evil was incredibly simple.
"Truly, truly insane!"
Mort exclaimed in admiration.
Just because he coveted a family name,
just because he thought attaching the surname 'Spirit' after it would be satisfying,
that was why he took an interest in a nation's regent. Mort couldn't help but feel pure admiration for this madman.
"So. Do you intend to continue living as that old man from now on?"
Mort asked, scoffing at Sloth.
"No."
Sloth replied with a smile.
"Actually, I found a more interesting subject a while ago."
"Impressive. To pique the interest of a lazy wretch like you, whoever it is must be truly remarkable."
"Yes. You are truly remarkable."
"What…?"
"You piqued my interest, didn't you? Well, to be precise, it's both you and the one who was the master of your body."
*Thud.*
The sound of something falling to the floor.
Mort's head naturally dropped.
"What… are you thinking?"
Mort asked in a subdued voice, realizing that what was rolling on the floor was Evil's head.
"This time, I think I'll try living as a hero."
The faceless body smiled without a face, and moved its hand.
"Because I feel like I have to."
The black-haired man smiled contentedly, savoring his new body.
****
The man, who had stood rooted to the spot for a long time, stroked the old man's severed head rolling on the floor and muttered.
"I wondered why I suddenly felt such an impulse…"
The man smiled contentedly as he gazed at his own reflection in the old man's dead eyes.
"It was because of the contract we made a very long time ago!"
The man, who had unintentionally recovered many things, chuckled and rose to his feet.
"Now then, shall we go?"
With a satisfied expression, the man began to walk.
His first destination was the ancient temple where the Sin of Wrath had vanished a short while ago.
"Next… yes. I should go to that nostalgic island."
The man intended to recover even more in the future.
****
The very end of spring, with the first hints of summer visible.
The weather in Adenia was bright and clear, and
"Ugh… Ugh…"
"P-Please stop…!"
"Ugh, save me."
The voices of the first-year cadets, each holding a rock the size of their own body with both hands, were clear and strong, and
"Cadet Rose. Your arm is shaking. Deduction."
Professor Daphne of Aden Academy's smile was brighter than ever.
"Why? Why on earth…?!"
"Why, you ask? Because your hand shook, so it's a deduction."
"B-But other kids shook too! Some of them even dropped their rocks…!"
Rose pointed to a few students sprawled out next to her, her eyes shaking as if an earthquake had hit.
In fact, there was no need to point. Because among all these cadets, not a single one was holding their rock with both hands without shaking.
"What can I do? In my eyes, I can only see *you*, who is clearly destined to become a pillar of this nation."
"U-Ugh…!"
"Oh-ho, you're shaking again. So, another deduction."
"Aaagh…!"
Rose gritted her teeth and, with a resentful expression, hoisted the rock up again. Daphne, watching her with satisfaction, once again etched Rose's name into the notepad she held.
This time, it wasn't her hands, but her large chest that shook, so naturally, it was an even greater deduction.
"Sage, you get a deduction too."
"Huh?"
"You shook a lot too."
"Yes…"
"Your answer sounds emotionless. So, another deduction."
Daphne, seeing something of Sage's shake as much as Rose's, bowed her head for a moment, then let out a deep sigh and quietly muttered.
"Why are kids these days developing so well?"
"Daphne-nim. Isn't this a bit… no, quite excessive?"
At that moment, the bone staff tied to Daphne's back spoke to her.
"Those young friends haven't even reached adulthood yet. But this level of training intensity…? At this rate, even the Dragonblood Knights, those tough bastards, would all submit their resignations to you, Daphne-nim, starting with 'You old maid, you bitch, live long and prosper,' and run away."
"Mallick, surely you're not… siding with Rose because she's your student? Instead of me? Haa… I'm suddenly feeling upset. Should I scatter your bone dust into the sea?"
"Ah… no, not at all! Come to think of it, this level was child's play compared to our time…! Ugh, what weaklings. What's the world coming to… Tsk!"
The bone staff… no, Mallick, made a clicking sound with his tongue, then shivered and recoiled in disgust.
And then he regretted it. The day, a few days ago, when he was deceived by Daphne's bright smile.
-"Mallick, should I polymorph you? I imagine staying inside all the time must be stifling. Wouldn't it be better to go out and see how kids these days are living?"
-"R-Really?!"
As a skeleton, Mallick's range of movement was naturally limited, so he couldn't help but respond with delight.
If he were in human form instead of a skeleton, he could enjoy the vitality of youth and live a second life! That's what he had thought!
But.
What came back to Mallick was only the whoosh of flames, and a sudden intense heat in his body.
-"Daphne-nim…?"
-"Wait a moment."
Daphne kneaded Mallick, who had been burned to bone dust.
-"There. Pretty, isn't it…!"
-"Y-You b-bitch…!"
Mallick, who had suddenly become a 'bone staff,' had to start an unintended second life, howling.
"Hmph…"
Mallick, recalling his sad past, quietly wept, feeling the flow of tears that weren't actually flowing.
He was truly weeping quietly.
*Crack!*
"Ow!"
Mallick, whose skull (the very top of the staff) was struck by a stinging palm, irritably turned his head.
"How dare a mere bonehead like you upset Professor Daphne's mood!"
Mallick looked at the girl who had struck his skull and let out a great lament.
"Hmph…!"
Neat, light golden hair,
black horn-rimmed glasses that didn't suit her delicate face at all,
and a baggy cadet uniform that concealed her body's curves.
The girl, who looked as if she had completely given up on prettiness, handed Daphne her favorite lemon tea, obsequiously rubbing her hands together.
'The world is truly ending…!'
Watching that scene, Mallick felt as if he understood why. Why decent people would fall and fall again, trying to destroy this world.
"Cadet Daisy, today's lemon tea seems to have a better aroma than usual."
"That's a relief…! Actually, these lemons are a special product that only grows in the Linia region. I went to a bit of trouble for you, Professor…!"
"Daisy, you understand modesty and are even commendable, so how could I not favor you? Another bonus point today."
"I-It's an honor…!"
Daphne smiled brightly and stroked Daisy's head, and Daisy scampered around, feigning joy.
On the surface, it was a scene of unparalleled beauty.
But beneath it, a fierce battle of wits was unfolding.
'Yes. Kneel. Hide your prettiness and grovel obsequiously. This is the level I expect from you and me.'
This was Daphne's inner thought.
'You old cat, you have no idea. What kind of conversation Lord Camel had with my father to get me…! So enjoy it while you can. Because in the end, it will be *me* who enjoys a passionate time with Lord Camel…!'
This was Daisy's inner thought.
'Those bitchy women.'
The bone staff… no, Mallick's inner thought.
****
Consciousness returns.
"H-Hmph, hmph…"
Lily's sorrowful sobbing reached my ears.
*Tremble.*
I feel a delicate hand, tightly gripping mine, trembling uncontrollably.
'How long was I unconscious for…?'
My heart began to soften at Lily's emotions, which were conveyed much more intensely than before.
So I tried to get up.
Yet, despite clearly having received treatment from Lily, my entire body felt as heavy as a mountain, and searing pain, as if I were tearing apart, coursed through me, preventing me from moving.
'I really feel like I'm going to die…'
No wonder Lily was worried enough to cry.
'Perhaps it's for the best…'
If I thought positively, it was. No matter how gravely Lily misunderstood me, she wouldn't be harsh towards me, not after I'd been so severely injured fighting a Sin.
With that thought, I slowly opened my eyes.
What I saw was a bedside table, and on it, a mace…
"…"
I closed my eyes again.
Because I had a feeling that if I got up without thinking and opened my mouth without thinking, for some reason, I might truly die.