novelraw Chapter 95 : Chapter 95
Chapter 95 : Chapter 95
Chapter 95. Evan Has Returned (1)
The death of Evan Lafard.
No one witnessed it with their own eyes, but no one doubted he was dead.
The entire Underworld had vanished, and he had been gone without a trace for over three years.
“Evan, is it really you?”
But now, I, Evan, stood alive and well, accompanied by Gaiard Lecan, the Red Count.
Stronger than ever.
“Why are you defending a vampire?”
“It’s a long story. To clear up any misunderstanding, Gaiard is not our enemy. So lower your guard.”
“Not an enemy? I don’t understand.”
Nell was confused.
I had essentially skipped time, reappearing in this world out of nowhere.
The history with Gaiard was omitted, leaving only the result.
“I’ll explain gradually. But first, what’s going on here? Why is the Academy like this, and what happened to everyone?”
I, too, was bewildered by the drastically changed Academy.
Nell, with a somber expression, said to me, “Like you, I have much to say. But first, let’s find shelter with a roof. The kids are exhausted.”
“Then let’s go to the dormitory. It looks relatively intact.”
“Alright.”
Nell entered the dormitory with the cadets.
Seeing his fallen comrades, he teared up.
The cadets, huddled behind, were the same.
Just weeks ago, they shared this space, breathing together. Now, they were cold corpses.
“We need to catch our breath and tend to the bodies. We can’t leave them like this.”
“Understood. I’ll help.”
We gathered the bodies of those who fought to protect the Academy until the end.
Taking a moment in the relatively intact dormitory, once called the “pigsty,” I explained what had happened to me in the heavy atmosphere.
“…And that’s how I returned.”
“Unbelievable. Truly astonishing. Beyond imagination.”
If anyone but I had told this story, they’d likely be deemed insane.
My journey was something no one in this world could easily believe.
Fortunately, Nell had seen me cross dimensions and now saw me return stronger, so he could believe my words.
“I’m just glad you’re back safe. Jack will be thrilled to know you’re alive. The other cadets too.”
At Nell’s words, I immediately asked about Jack’s fate.
“Jack! Where’s Jack?”
“It’s hard to say if it’s fortunate or not, but Jack went to the mainland with the Dean. To protect the capital.”
“What? Jack alone?”
“No. All the cadets in the Executor program went with the Dean. Remarkable kids.”
“I see.”
In the chaos of war, knowing Jack was alive let me breathe a sigh of relief.
But Nell’s next words cut that relief short.
“But we don’t know if the cadets who left with the Dean are alive. And the remaining cadets who didn’t leave…”
“Come to think of it, where are the other cadets? From what you said, it seems only the Executor program cadets went.”
I recalled that while searching the Academy, I hadn’t seen the bodies of other cadets.
Also, Nell had only a small group with him.
Feeling something off, I expressed my confusion, and Nell lowered his head.
“They were taken…”
“What? By who?”
Shocked, I asked, and Gaiard, who had been leaning against the wall, listening quietly, answered in a low voice.
“Who else? The Kandahr bastards.”
Nell nodded silently.
“Taken by the Kandahr Tribe? Why?”
“I don’t know. They’re known for not taking prisoners…”
I looked at Gaiard, who had experience with the Kandahr.
He seemed to share the same question.
“Did their habits change while I was asleep?”
While Nell and Gaiard searched for answers, I suddenly thought of a grim possibility.
“What if… they plan to use them as tools of war?”
Nell’s face stiffened, and Gaiard frowned, asking, “What do you mean?”
Having fought many wars and faced various enemies, I knew some who used any means necessary.
War’s goal was victory, and some chose the most brutal methods, forsaking human decency.
The possibility I now considered was one such vile tactic.
“They plan to use the prisoners as shields to break through the front lines.”
“What! Such a heinous act?”
Nell stood in shock.
In contrast, Gaiard, arms crossed, muttered with interest, “That’s a good idea.”
Their contrasting reactions reflected the tactic’s cruelty, but it was more effective than any strategy.
“Most of those they took are children from once-prominent, now-fallen families. Even aside from that, if underage kids are pushed to the frontline as shields, who could shoot arrows at them?”
“Such a thing…”
Nell, stunned, couldn’t continue.
But I added an even grimmer possibility.
“There’s an even crueler method. They could execute prisoners one by one in front of the defenders as an example. It breaks morale with fear and provokes the enraged to recklessly charge out of the gates.”
The reason I was so certain was simple.
I had been a victim of this tactic.
Long ago, the desert kingdom in the south defiled captive Empire citizens in front of soldiers.
This horrific strategy provoked both fear and rage, causing my loyal troops to rush out against my orders.
“If I were the enemy, I’d consider this method.”
As I spoke with a resolute expression, Nell clutched his head in disbelief.
“We have to stop this before it happens…”
But he seemed to resent his powerlessness, unable to do anything here.
With a mix of anger and helplessness, he muttered weakly, “What can we do…”
“Do? We save them.”
My voice, in contrast, was unwavering.
“But even getting to the mainland is unsafe. They might still be around. Or lingering at the harbor.”
“Sitting still changes nothing.”
With that, I stood abruptly.
“I’ll go alone if I have to.”
“Evan, no! It’s too dangerous.”
Nell grabbed my arm urgently.
But that couldn’t break my resolve.
“Dangerous? It’s fine. I’ve just come back from worse.”
Nell looked at me silently.
He had meant to hold me back, but I stood as if there had been no resistance at all.
When did he become so dependable? More than me!
But Nell still wanted to stop me.
He couldn’t bear to see more sacrifices.
“Evan, I understand your heart, but…”
At that moment, a noise came from outside the dormitory.
“Damn! They’re still here. Persistent bastards!”
Nell quickly hid the cadets in a safe spot, gripped his sword, and went outside.
Peering through the door crack, he saw, as expected, ten Kandahr warriors entering the Academy.
“Did you really see them come here?”
“Yes. The Chief was right. Idiots.”
“Hahaha! Come out! Running’s useless!”
Each warrior was massive, exuding an intimidating aura.
Facing them, Nell, weighed down by exhaustion, closed his eyes tightly.
He hadn’t rested properly for days, but he gripped his sword firmly.
“Evan, protect the kids in my stead—”
But before Nell could finish, I quietly grabbed the door and slowly opened it.
Creak.
Stepping out, I revealed myself to them.
“Evan!”
Nell called out in alarm, but before he could act, I was already in the enemies’ sight.
“Oh? There you are.”
“Heh, you look young. A cadet, huh? Too bad. We’ve already got enough prisoners. You’ll just have to die.”
The Kandahr warriors drew their weapons, radiating killing intent.
But I, unfazed by their threats, slowly clenched my fists, loosening my body.
“So, where are those kids?”
“Curious about that in this situation?”
One warrior replied mockingly.
“Fine, I’ll be kind and tell you. They’re already on ships heading to the mainland.”
“Really?”
“Don’t feel too wronged. They’re all doomed to die anyway.”
As expected, the Kandahr planned to use the cadets not just as hostages but as tools for war.
“Is that so…”
As I muttered lowly, one warrior approached me slowly.
But I moved half a beat faster.
Nell, following behind, shouted urgently, “Evan! Be careful! Their strength is beyond imagination!”
As if to prove it, the warrior swung an axe with devastating force.
A massive arc sliced through the air, but I didn’t even think of drawing my sword.
“Die!”
As the axe’s blade neared my shoulder, I kicked the ground hard, darting forward.
Thud!
Narrowly dodging the attack and slipping past his side, my arm shot out like lightning.
My fingers found their mark precisely, piercing deep into the warrior’s eyes.
“Argh!!!”
I didn’t hesitate for a moment.
My arm wrapped tightly around the warrior’s neck, and with a single twist, I applied force.
Crack!
With a gruesome sound, the warrior’s body went limp.
I lightly shook the blood from my hands and steadied my breath.
Nell, watching, was speechless.
That easily…?
The fierce and brutal Kandahr warrior fell so helplessly before me.
“Orlon! You bastard!”
“I’ll kill you!”
The remaining warriors charged in a rage.
Nell moved to help me without hesitation.
But at that moment, Gaiard grabbed Nell’s arm.
“Just watch. He’s not the type to lose to those.”
“So I should just stand by?”
“Yes. To cool that guy’s burning rage, you need to let him have at least those.”
Nell couldn’t fully understand Gaiard’s words.
But soon, seeing me charge barehanded at the enemies, he instinctively realized.
I was intent on destroying the enemy with my own hands.
Not using a weapon wasn’t about skill but a deliberate choice born of firm resolve.
This was no longer a simple fight.
It was closer to a brutal hunt.
“Graaah!!!”
The warriors’ screams erupted one after another.
One’s face caved in, another’s joints twisted, their body broken.
But not one could lay a finger on me.
“To take down those barbarians so easily…”
“No matter how strong the Kandahr are, they can’t train beyond their muscles. And Evan’s thoroughly exploiting that.”
Gaiard spoke as if fighting the Kandahr was simple.
But it was far from easy.
Seeing through an opponent’s weakness meant risking exposing your own.
It was a fight impossible without meticulous calculation and cold resolve.
“Evan… has become this strong?”
“Then I’ll block the entrance. Looks like those barbarians are getting scared.”
As Gaiard blocked the entrance, I had already killed eight warriors.
The last remaining warrior looked at me as if facing a beast.
Soon, overcome with fear, he turned to flee.
“You’ll pay! I’ll bring my comrades!”
I could’ve chased him but didn’t.
Someone was already blocking his path.
“Gaiard, don’t overdo it.”
Seeing Gaiard at the entrance, the warrior swung his axe in a frenzy.
“Get out of the way!”
But at that moment, Gaiard’s hand shot out like lightning.
Gripping the massive axe blade tightly, blood dripped from his palm, but he didn’t budge.
“Even if I’m not what I used to be…”
“Urgh…”
The pained groan came from the warrior.
He poured all his strength into his bulging muscles, but he couldn’t move an inch.
Instead, the axe blade slowly turned toward the warrior.
He gritted his teeth to resist, but it was futile.
Slowly, but inescapably, the sharp blade began to cut into his body.
“Graaah!!!”
With a wretched scream, the warrior met a gruesome end.
Gaiard silently wiped the blood from his face and muttered lowly, “Can’t even handle one like this.”
Watching our overwhelming display, Nell couldn’t close his mouth.
And I said to him, “It’s already spilled water. If they don’t come back, they’ll surely send a follow-up force…”
Finally gripping my sword, Venus, tightly, I said, “We need to strike first.”
The prelude to a counterattack had begun.