A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1646 - 1098: The Young Girl’s Worries

Chapter 1646: Chapter 1098: The Young Girl’s Worries

The death of the Demons was silent, almost unnoticed by anyone. This was intentional on Duanmu Huai’s part. Although he could have directly thrown a thermite bomb, considering the close relationship between the Demons and Demons, Azmodan might discover something, so he chose to exert a little more effort himself—it wasn’t too hard after all, since with Duanmu Huai’s current abilities, opening the Fearful Aura wide was enough to envelop a country as large as France.

This means that theoretically, Duanmu Huai could achieve the rare feat of capturing Paris before France surrenders.

After eliminating the Demons, Duanmu Huai casually set the mountain ablaze, watching the fierce flames spread along the trees on the mountain, he nodded satisfied and then turned and left.

What he left behind was a city of death filled with flames and bodies.

Meanwhile, the students who returned to the Royal City weren’t idle either. After receiving Duanmu Huai’s letter from Huang’zen Kumiko, Mary announced that the Tribunal would temporarily enter a state of lockdown. She requested everyone to be ready for battle at all times, which surprised the students somewhat, and some curiously asked Mary about what Duanmu Huai had said, but she just shook her head and remained silent.

However, no matter what, what needs to be done still needs to be done.

But even so, it doesn’t prevent everyone from discussing it.

"It’s been several days since we returned from the Bastion Fortress, why hasn’t the teacher come back?"

Sitting at the table, while having dinner, Huang’zen Kumiko looked out at the night sky and spoke.

"Yeah, I’m really a bit worried with the teacher not around..."

Kousaka Reina nodded as well.

"Even Teacher Haruna and the others were called back, something big must be happening."

"Could it be that they’ve found a way back?"

Upon hearing this, Naruse Mio, who was lying on the side, immediately raised her head, her eyes shining.

"Doesn’t seem likely. If it were true, the teacher would just tell us, wouldn’t she?"

"Maybe she’s afraid we’ll be too excited?"

"Doesn’t seem like it, given how Classmate Mary is acting."

Huang’zen Kumiko recalled Mary’s helpless expression after reading the letter and shook her head.

"And besides, Classmate Mary asked us to be ready for battle at all times, didn’t she? If it were about going back, we wouldn’t need to be so tense, right?"

"That’s true..."

Saying this, Kousaka Reina lowered her head, looking at her hands.

"Reina? What’s wrong?"

"No, I just feel... we are still students yet we’ve gotten used to fighting..."

Mumbling, Kousaka Reina’s expression was quite complex, and hearing this, Huang’zen Kumiko didn’t say much either, just scratched her face with a bitter smile.

Actually, there was one thing Huang’zen Kumiko hadn’t told her friend, which was that during the previous fortress defense battle, she finally killed someone.

The process was actually very simple. At that time, Huang’zen Kumiko was rushing to support elsewhere, and as she ran around the corner of the corridor, a Demon Soldier suddenly rushed towards her with a direct attack. At that moment, Huang’zen Kumiko reflexively swung her sword, and by the time she came back to her senses, the opponent’s head was already chopped off.

And Huang’zen Kumiko didn’t even stop, urgently rushing forward—after all, the opposite side was under attack by the Demon Army, and if she didn’t make it in time, something would happen!

After everything settled down, Huang’zen Kumiko recalled, but her feelings were very complicated. It wasn’t about killing feeling complicated, on the contrary, Huang’zen Kumiko found that she seemed to have no resistance or sense of guilt towards this kind of thing. Previously, she always thought killing was a very serious matter, but perhaps killing too many Demons and Demons at the Bastine Fortress numbed her.

She still felt sorrow for the death of soldiers on her side, but she had no hesitation in killing, which made Huang’zen Kumiko feel complicated.

She now somewhat understood what Mary meant by ’I didn’t think of anything at that time.’ Huang’zen Kumiko was the same, unlike in comics or novels where one would prepare a lot of psychological persuasion before the sword and spear. At that moment, seeing the opponent holding a sword and attacking her, her instinct was to chop off their head directly.

As for whether she could kill, would kill, or should kill, such thoughts were completely abandoned at that time.

Kousaka Reina was a Barrier Master, mainly defensive, so she wouldn’t attack, but Huang’zen Kumiko, as a Hero, had to fight on the front line...

"What’s wrong, Kumiko?"

"No, nothing."

Hearing her friend’s inquiry, Huang’zen Kumiko shook her head, then quickly finished her dinner and stood up with her plate.

"Then I’ll go out for a walk."

Saying this, Huang’zen Kumiko turned and left.

After tidying up the dishes, she went to the end of the first floor of the church, where Mary’s room was. Looking at the closed door before her, Huang’zen Kumiko took a deep breath, then reached out to knock on the door.

Soon, Mary’s ever-consistent voice came from inside.

"Please come in."

"Sorry for disturbing you."

As she spoke, Huang’zen Kumiko pushed open the door and walked into Mary’s room.

Mary’s room felt very rustic. It wasn’t particularly luxurious, but it had a very stable and elegant aura. She was currently sitting at the desk, drinking tea while writing something. Upon seeing Huang’zen Kumiko enter, Mary gave her a slight smile and closed the notebook in her hand.

"Classmate Huang’zen, is there something you need from me?"

"It’s actually a bit embarrassing to say..."

At Mary’s indication, Huang’zen Kumiko sat across from her, speaking a bit awkwardly.

"I’m actually a bit troubled; back when I was at the fortress..."

Huang’zen Kumiko seldom sought others for advice, but with Mary, she felt more relaxed. Mary quietly listened to Huang’zen Kumiko’s troubles while pouring tea for her.

"So, Classmate Huang’zen feels uneasy not because she killed someone, but because she feels uneasy about having no feelings after killing someone, right?"

"Yes... Generally speaking, it shouldn’t be like this. I’ve seen in those TV shows and novels that people have nightmares after killing others. They recall the situation again and again, growing increasingly haggard, losing appetite, and carrying a strong sense of guilt... To be honest, I was mentally prepared for this, but in the end..."

Nothing’s happened, I eat well, sleep excellently.

This makes Huang’zen Kumiko doubt if she’s still human.

"Everyone thinks differently. What books describe is just what most people consider common sense—of course, we can’t be sure about the truth."

"Is that so?"

"That’s right, just as Classmate Huang’zen mentioned murderers lamenting their guilt... It’s only because it satisfies the public’s view. If it were a murderer who revels in killing and excitedly talks about the victim’s final moments, the TV stations wouldn’t track and report it, nor be allowed to broadcast the story."

"It seems that’s the case..."

"I’m not Classmate Huang’zen, so I can’t say I completely understand her thoughts, but I can be sure that Classmate Huang’zen is a very strong person."

"Really? I thought I was the cold and unfeeling type..."

"Not at all. Classmate Huang’zen mentioned feeling sad when seeing soldiers die in the fortress, right? If someone were truly cold and unfeeling, they wouldn’t care about anyone’s death. Feeling sad for a companion’s death is normal, while the enemy’s death may not evoke feelings, and that’s not strange either."

"I see..."

Hearing Mary’s response, Huang’zen Kumiko felt much more calm while holding the warm tea.

"And I think you don’t need to worry, Classmate Huang’zen. Whatever happens, Mr. Duanmu will definitely help you."

"Yes, I know. The teacher is very reliable."

Huang’zen Kumiko nodded. Despite Duanmu Huai’s fierce appearance, the feeling he brings of "no matter what happens, he will handle it" is what allows her to sit here peacefully, drinking tea with Mary. Knowing that whatever happens, the teacher will solve it for them.

Just like before, even though surrounded by so many Demons, the teacher resolved it in no time... Recalling the scene, Huang’zen Kumiko became somewhat lost in thought.

"Classmate Huang’zen?"

"Eh? Ah..."

Mary’s voice brought Huang’zen Kumiko back to her senses. She hurriedly set down her teacup and stood up.

"Thank you, sorry for the disturbance."

"You’re welcome."

After saying this, Huang’zen Kumiko turned and left Mary’s room, closing her door and leaning against it, letting out a long sigh.

Ah... Recalling the teacher’s descent from the skies makes my heart race.

It’s likely not due to excitement or fear. Rather, it feels like the teacher was truly captivating at that moment. Although he seemed like a demon, Huang’zen Kumiko wasn’t afraid at all then. Instead, she felt as if the teacher was like Prince Charming rescuing a princess—even though he wasn’t handsome, nor riding a white horse, more like the dark knight villain from a fairy tale.

Could it be...

"No no no no no."

Thinking of this, Huang’zen Kumiko’s face turned red as she hurriedly shook her head.

I’m not like Reina, that’s impossible.

Pushing the bizarre thought from her mind, Huang’zen Kumiko turned and walked toward the other side of the hallway.