Byulya Toon Soqum Marlat. A woman with a name, height, and appearance similar to Hongfeng’s. But everything else about her was alien. Hongfeng, despite her exotic air, was a woman of character, possessing the dignity and kindness befitting a Kizen professor. This woman, however, seemed more beast than human.
And she was...
’The new Venomology professor!’
The replacement of the Hemomancy professor had been abrupt, but the arrival of a new Venomology professor was expected. Still, entrusting the position to someone like her felt like an incredibly unconventional appointment.
"Since we’re on the topic, I’ve got a proposal!"
She thrust her head forward, her tongue flicking out. The saliva pooling on it wasn’t clear but a pale, grassy green. As it dripped onto the table, the wood sizzled and melted.
"Special Admission Number One! You’re gonna be my direct disciple!"
"...Pardon?"
A dozen questions flooded Simon’s mind. What was this sudden development?
"May I ask why?"
"Why? Who needs a reason!" she cackled, spreading her arms wide. "If I’m going to Kizen, I’ve gotta be the best! I’m gonna climb so high that little Hongfeng won’t even be able to look up at me! And you’re my first step!"
She jabbed a finger at him.
"You, Number One! And I’m taking Number Two and Number Three, too! They’re strong, right? The best professor’s gotta have the best students, don’t you think?"
’She wants to make Serne and the other student major in Venomology?’ He had no idea what she was thinking, but he knew his answer. Simon bowed his head.
"If that is your only reason, then I must refuse."
"Whaaaat?"
Enraged, she swung her legs up and slammed them onto the table with a deafening ’bang!’
Undaunted, Simon continued calmly, "Professor, I don’t know what kind of person you are, I’ve never taken your class, and I don’t know what I could possibly learn from you. If I am simply to be a tool for your ambition, then that is not reason enough for me to accept."
He had phrased it as politely as he could. He hoped she would understand...
"Then we fight! Right here, right now! I win, you’re my disciple!"
’She didn’t understand at all.’
"Y-You can’t be serious."
"Fine. I won’t use one arm."
"...I refuse."
"Both arms and my legs, then."
"This isn’t about the difficulty. I have no intention of dueling you."
It was said that logic could never defeat pure irrationality. He had never dealt with anyone like her before and felt a bit dazed. But there were more important matters at hand. Breaking free from her chaotic energy, Simon pressed on.
"Professor, there’s something I need to ask you."
He took the newspaper article from his pocket and unfolded it.
"This man in the paper... you know him, don’t you?"
"Yup. Killed him myself."
The reply was so blunt that Simon was momentarily speechless. Byulya just cackled and popped the cork on a new bottle.
"What, you little brat? Think you’re some Kizen big shot here to interrogate me? Ah, I guess you could. I’m not officially a Kizen professor yet. I get my authority tomorrow."
It was the same situation as Walter. But that wasn’t what was important.
"Just today, my friends—Kizen students—were kidnapped." Simon lowered the newspaper, his expression hardening. "I haven’t confirmed their motive, but I believe these people are the prime suspects, and I’m tracking them."
"Them? That’s the Hupa tribe."
’The Hupa tribe?’ Simon quickly committed the new information to memory.
"Who are the Hupa? And what is your relationship with them?"
"A little tribe from the plains I used to butt heads with. We fought a lot back then," she said with a grin. "Those bastards want my head."
"Ah..."
"Same thing happened here in the city. They came at me with knives, radiating killing intent, so I just paid them back in kind."
A sudden, chilling thought crossed Simon’s mind.
"Professor, do you know where the Hupa tribe is now?"
"Couldn’t care less! And those bastards don’t know where I am, either—"
At the sudden sound of wings, they both looked up. Through the gaping hole in the roof, a flock of birds flew low, indiscriminately scattering flyers from their feet. Several fluttered down into the tavern. Simon snatched one out of the air.
His eyes glinted with fury. The photograph, taken with a magic camera, showed Meirin tied to a chair, her eyes and mouth bound. Dick was visible behind her.
"What’s this?" Byulya grumbled, picking one up. "‘Kizen students held captive. Byulya Toon Soqum Marlat is to renounce her position as a Kizen professor and return to Lion Rock on the plains alone by tomorrow night. Otherwise, their lives are forfeit?’ ’Pfft!’" Byulya burst out laughing. "These bastards are playing dirty, huh?"
Simon’s expression was grim. They had kidnapped Meirin and Dick just to lure out Byulya? How deep could a grudge run to make them resort to such an extreme?
"So they want to play, do they?" she muttered, trudging over to a chair and crossing her legs.
Her eyes flashed with a dangerous light.
[Find them.]
Instantly, the rats and insects hidden throughout the tavern scattered in all directions, while the crows on the roof took to the sky as one.
’The power to command animals.’
It was the ability of a Druid, a power thought to have vanished from the world. Hongfeng had demonstrated a similar ability with her hippos in class. For now, he had no choice but to trust Byulya’s senses.
"Professor," Simon began, "what kind of grudge do you have with the Hupa tribe that my friends, who have nothing to do with this, have been dragged into it?"
"What, you blaming me?"
"No. I’m just curious."
She grabbed another bottle of liquor.
"Well, you see..."
Wichasha, chief of the Hupa tribe, untied the blindfold from Meirin’s eyes. As the cloth fell away, her blue eyes, blazing with humiliation and fury, met his.
"I apologize for having to take such a photograph."
"So," she said, her voice tight with barely suppressed rage, "your plan is to use our lives as bait to lure out this professor-to-be, Byulya?"
"That is correct."
Byulya was a nomad who roamed the world, while Wichasha and the Hupa had hunted her for years, seeking bloody vengeance. Then, the unthinkable happened: Kizen had contacted Byulya, offering her the post of Venomology professor. The position was one of supreme authority within the Dark Alliance, placing her beyond anyone’s reach. The moment she set foot on Roc Island, their quest for revenge would become an impossible dream.
"Worse, her retaliation would begin," Wichasha said, grinding his teeth. "A Kizen professor can command necromancers from headquarters itself. If she dispatched even a few, the ecosystem of the plains would collapse, and our tribe would be annihilated. Our very survival is at stake." "So you’re going to stop her, drag her out, and kill her?" Meirin laughed, a venomous sound.
"That’s ridiculous. If you’re so terrified of someone you have a grudge against gaining power, then your whole tribe should just go grovel at her feet and beg for forgiveness. Give up on your revenge."
"...We cannot give up on revenge. And kneeling before her is even more unthinkable."
"Hey, but," Dick interjected from his seat, having finally regained his senses. "Why are you guys so obsessed with revenge? What kind of history do you have with this Byulya person, anyway?"
Wichasha’s expression hardened. One of his men gestured for him to stay silent, but the chief shook his head and spoke.
"On the plains, our Hupa tribe and Byulya’s Marlat tribe were enemies. Our nomadic territories overlapped, leading to many conflicts. The deaths of warriors in battle are unavoidable. But!" His eyes turned bloodshot. "Byulya broke the taboo!"
"How?"
"She did not only kill our warriors. She entered our village and massacred the women and children."
"...Ah."
Dick was at a loss for words, but Meirin’s anger only intensified. "Then settle your own damn scores! Why are you dragging us into this? We have nothing to do with it!"
"For that, I am truly sorry."
Meirin, who had been shrieking, suddenly fell silent. She seemed to be thinking, and when she spoke again, her voice was ice-cold.
"Mister. Answer me directly."
"I will."
"What is your plan if Byulya ignores your demands and goes to Roc Island to become a Kizen professor?"
Byulya didn’t even know their faces. She wasn’t a professor yet. There was a very real chance she would simply abandon them to their fate. But Wichasha shook his head in denial.
"That is unlikely. Byulya’s pride is immense. She will be furious that we dared to challenge her and will rise to the bait..."
"I’m asking what you will do ’if’ she doesn’t," Meirin pressed.
When Wichasha remained silent, she drove the point home.
"This grudge runs deep, doesn’t it? Are you just going to shrug your shoulders and return to the plains? You can’t honestly say you would, can you?"
After a tense pause, he finally spoke.
"If that were to happen... I believe our response would have to change."
Wichasha answered evasively before turning and walking away. His demeanor confirmed Meirin’s suspicions. These people could not be trusted. She should have known that the moment they resorted to kidnapping.
’I have to get out of here on my own.’
Behind her, however, Dick was already joking and laughing with the other Hupa tribesmen. ’Must be nice to be so carefree,’ she thought bitterly, ’not even knowing what fate awaits you.’
Furious, Meirin leaned her chair forward slightly, then slammed it backward, smacking the back of Dick’s head.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"Just because!"
’Get a grip!’ Her frustration threatened to boil over, but she couldn’t let them see it. For now, she had to play along, pretend to be obedient, and search for a way out.
And above all else...
’Simon will find us. I know he will.’
The Hupa tribe’s greatest mistake wasn’t failing to capture Simon and Kamibarez; it was capturing her and Dick. Simon was out there, searching for them. She had absolute faith that he would find them, no matter what.
Her bound hands twitched. The moment to strike back would come. She had to be ready.
She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling. Being captured like this was giving her a strange sense of déjà vu.
’...He probably can’t come, can he?’
Pion. The absolute powerhouse who had fought the Saintess one-on-one. He always appeared when she was in danger. His identity was a mystery, but Meirin was certain he was connected to Kizen. With skills enough to fight a Saintess, he couldn’t be a student. A TA, perhaps? A professor? Or an agent from the Inspection Department?
’He won’t really come,’ she told herself, ’but a little fantasy can’t hurt.’
She pictured him now—the tyrant who had saved her in Deathland, cruelly stomping on that lecherous old man. She felt she would pay any price to see him again. She allowed herself a moment to imagine Pion appearing, defeating these filthy kidnappers, and coming to her rescue.
’But why...’
She bit her lip.
Why was it Simon’s face that kept coming to mind first?

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