Chapter 176 – Pertinax Auction House (5)

A cold gust swept through the auction house, as if all the previous tension had been a lie. All because of the appearance of a single girl: Chloe.

I stared at her.

Her eyes, already naturally red, were even more bloodshot. Around the iris, broken capillaries formed an alarming web.

Is it even possible for a human being to have eyes like that? That light in her gaze, charged with bloodlust, fully justified the term “yandere.”

‘What happened to the promise of giving me 30 minutes alone, dear Patriarch…?’

I silently reproached Altair. I glanced down.

I knew it… In her right hand, she tightly gripped a Japanese katana.

The blade, once white as snow, was now completely stained red, drenched in blood. She didn’t look friendly, despite the time we hadn’t seen each other.

In her left hand, she carried a cloth-wrapped package. A thick liquid dripped from the bottom of the cloth.

Viscous drops fell to the floor with a dull sound. The contents… probably the head of some villain she had just severed.

At this point, saying Chloe intimidates me is absurd. No matter how much she’d grown explosively in combat, she couldn’t compare to me.

It’s unpleasant, but it’s the truth. Even so, when Chloe goes into that “mode,” my body tenses up reflexively. Maybe it’s a type of PTSD. Our first meeting was… quite shocking.

‘Shit.’

As if frozen time resumed, Chloe began to walk with firm steps.

At that moment, Horn also noticed something strange. She turned her head. Alternating her gaze between Chloe and me, she tilted her head adorably.

“Why does that human look so weird?”

―…….

Am I the only one sensing danger?

I don’t blame Horn, but at least she should have a minimum sense of caution. Seems I’m the only one reacting to that murderous stare.

Same thing happened with Ryozo before. Am I too sensitive, or are they too numb…?

I was about to respond, but seeing her innocent face, I let it go. In any case, I needed to talk to her later.

‘You’ve returned.’ That phrase Horn said must have some meaning. First, I had to deal with the current situation. Then I’d look into it.

I placed my hands on my knees and stood up. Chloe didn’t seem willing to talk, but I had just obtained the [Blessing of Communication].

If so, I should use it. Use it to pierce through that selective deafness caused by bloodlust. If it didn’t work, I’d have to respond with force.

I took a deep breath and activated the [Blessing of Communication]. Whatever happened, I had to try first.

―Chloe.

“…….”

I called her name. She didn’t stop.

―Seems like there’s been a misunderstanding.

“…….”

Her steps quickened. Katana in her right hand, bloody bundle in her left. That combination triggered all my mental alarms.

The blessing had no effect. Which meant she completely rejected communication. She didn’t want to hear or say a single word.

Tap-tap-tap.

Chloe leapt with incredible force. She could’ve touched the ceiling with that jump. Propelling herself off it, her body flew.

It was the perfect image of “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” I groaned low.

‘This got out of hand.’

At this point, a clash was inevitable. I’d have to respond, even if excessively. Just as my hand reached for my pocket…

Shlaaaack!

From the side, another presence lunged at Chloe. It was Knox. He appeared like a flash and, without hesitation, drew his crimson sword.

Chloe noticed too. Her katana clashed head-on with Kox’s blade.

Clang!

The swords clashed mid-air in the auction hall. The wielders of those blades… were siblings.

Knox bit his lower lip hard.

‘Had a bad feeling about this.’

While guarding another area, Chloe had snuck into the auction. The reason: she thought the man with the crow mask was Kang Geom-Ma.

Knox already knew. But he had kept it secret.

Because he knew better than anyone what happened when his sister saw Kang Geom-Ma.

Also, since she hadn’t been able to return to the academy, Chloe was more restless than ever. That’s why Knox hid it.

However, Chloe detected it by scent. She’d been sniffing around, and eventually…

She wasn’t even a dog, yet she had the talent to identify people by scent. Even as her brother, her abilities gave him chills.

Knox looked at her again. Chloe’s eyes were vacant, like a hollow shell.

At this point, calming her gently was impossible. During the break, Chloe had ramped up her practical training. Her potential and experience had fused, reborn as a terrifying assassin.

In this state, unless he fought seriously, he’d be the one on the ground.

Knox slashed his two crimson swords again without hesitation. Chloe also struck at that instant.

Swish!

The blades crossed, slicing the air. But they didn’t fully clash: both used [Blessing of the Crow] for a feint attack.

However, their intentions were not the same. Knox used it to dodge a direct blow.
Chloe, on the other hand, used it to hide her real blade.

Chloe clicked her tongue. Then crouched and spun on her axis. Using the momentum, she lunged with her katana.

A flurry of attacks erupted relentlessly.

Clang!

Knox crossed his two swords in an X to block. Or rather, to withstand the blow. Still, his hands went numb. Each impact carried immense pressure.

Even if she’d lost control, that intensity was clearly deadly.

While Knox tried to recover, Chloe was already launching the next strike. Her spins reduced her visibility, and if you blinked, the blade was already coming from behind.

It was a relentless offense loaded with killing intent.

Knox opened his eyes wide. He stopped thinking and focused on moving.

The siblings’ swords clashed non-stop.

In the dark hall, their movements felt like cut frames from a movie.

Sparks flickered in the air like car taillights. Sometimes, silver lines dashed across the floor like lightning.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The blades were instruments weaving a symphony.

In that opera-theater-like stage, the siblings danced a sword duet.

There was no blood yet, but it was as brutal as any bloodbath.

If they kept going, neither of them would walk away unharmed.

And the longer the fight dragged on, the more disadvantaged Knox became.

It was obvious. Chloe, out of control, wanted to completely eliminate her opponent.

While Knox… only wanted to restrain her. That imbalance made the difference.

‘I have to step in.’

I left Horn behind and reached for the handle of my blade.

But just then—

“Stop!”

A shout echoed through the hall. At last, the blades stopped just in front of both necks.

A bead of sweat fell from Knox’s chin onto Chloe’s blade. That drop washed away part of the blood staining her katana.

It would take some time to ease the tension built up. Finally, the siblings lowered their swords.

“Haah… haah…”

Knox panted with his hands on his knees. He wiped his chin with the back of his hand. Sweat dripped from him.

He stood up shakily and looked up. Slowly, Chloe’s eyes regained focus.

‘…Seems like she’s back.’

Finally relieved, Knox looked back. Altair and the Auditore members had entered the room.

Altair scanned the hall and let out a long sigh. He put a hand to his face and shook his head.

“When it finally seemed like you’d calmed down, it’s the same again. When will you stop making your grandfather suffer, Chloe?”

Chloe’s unfocused eyes blinked. Then, like a puppet with cut strings, she collapsed.

Knox caught her in his arms and looked at her.

She had used all her strength, which is why she collapsed now.

Hopefully, she couldn’t move a finger for a few days. At least that way, Knox thought, they could rest.

The situation finally calmed down.

Altair gave me a somewhat awkward smile and spoke.

“I never imagined she’d sneak in right at this moment. She must’ve caused you a very unpleasant scene.”

I shook my head.

“It wasn’t that bad. Knox deserves more praise. He showed up just in time and contained the situation. If I had intervened, things might have gotten even messier.”

“My Lord!”

Choi Seol-ah came running. As always, she had vanished at the moment of danger… and reappeared with a worried look.

I narrowed my eyes. She shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. Clearly, she felt guilty.

‘Although honestly, I doubt her presence would’ve changed anything.’

And in my current state, I didn’t even have the energy to scold. Every time Chloe goes into yandere mode, I feel like she drains the life out of me.

I turned my gaze to Horn. She was still sitting on the floor, completely stunned.

Just like before, she had that expression of total bewilderment.

It made continuing the conversation difficult.

And yet, I didn’t want to part ways with Horn like this.

After all, I still needed clues about the fourth fragment.

If I just let her go like that, everything would get more complicated.

Should I “adopt” her like someone who’s chosen a stray cat?

Curiously, the dormitory rules didn’t forbid cohabiting with someone.

Surely the developers of Miracle Blessing M didn’t think that far ahead.

Of course, if you ignored her pointy ears, Horn just looked like an ordinary teenage girl.

And despite her tattered clothes, she was cute.

I shook my head.

‘No, that wouldn’t work.’

If I lived with a girl like that, what kind of image would I give?

Rumors at the academy would start in no time. Just imagining it made me dizzy.

…But before thinking about that.

“Mr. Altair, what do you plan to do with this dragon child?”

At my question, Altair stroked his beard thoughtfully. Then replied after a brief pause.

“To be honest… that issue is giving me a headache. Normally, we’d return her to the demon territory, but considering she ended up in a subasta… if the demons find out, they’ll cause a scandal. They could use it as an excuse.”

He spoke in a troubled tone. And he was right.

If the demons used this as a pretext, things would get messy.

In the worst-case scenario, they might use it as justification for an invasion.

Especially since they had already lost two Corps Commanders.

They were surely regrouping their forces.

Humans auctioning off a demon? That would be like throwing gasoline on a fire.

“Then how about this? What if we ask the academy director for permission to take care of the dragon there? We could pretend she’s a student. Her appearance is nearly human. Plus, after talking to her, I can assure you she poses no threat.”

At my suggestion, Altair raised an eyebrow.

“You said you talked to her?”

“Yes. I gained a blessing that lets me communicate with her. The idea is for the academy to protect her in secret.”

Altair, who had been silently listening, slowly nodded.

“Hmm. Looking at it, that sounds quite reasonable. No, I’d say it’s the best option. Joaquin Academy is extraterritorial. And with all the recent events, its security is now impenetrable. There’s just one detail.”

He looked at Horn as he continued:

“She’ll need a tutor or guardian. Without that, convincing the director will be hard.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.”

“…Huh?”

Without saying a word, I turned my gaze toward Choi Seol-ah.

As soon as our eyes met, her face was filled with pure terror.

***

Not long after Kang Geom-Ma and I finished talking, Altair received a call. The number was from Switzerland.

“Yes, Master of the Sword. The situation is practically resolved.”

[You must have worked hard. This long journey that began with Cladi is finally over.]

“Haha, no hard work at all. It was pure coincidence… right at the subasta…”

Altair detailed everything that had happened. On the other end, the Master of the Sword listened in surprise.

[…I didn’t imagine something like that would’ve happened. And what was Kang Geom-Ma doing in that place?]

“I didn’t ask. But thanks to him being there, everything was resolved smoothly. That’s enough, don’t you think?”

[Well, you’re right. Still, I’ll go ask him in person soon.]

“In person? Don’t tell me…”

One could almost picture Altair watching the Master’s lips curve into a smile.

[That’s right. The succession of the Seven Stars is nearly ready, so I must return to the academy too. The ceremony will take place exactly one month from now at Joaquin Academy.]