CHAPTER 397: EPILOGUE 4 (1/2)

The Kingdom of Tarnia, the Western Human Realm.

Demon Hunter Branch Division, Azure City.

Nicole knocked and pushed open the door to Aques Lumen’s office. Even when faced with a powerful figure like Aques Lumen, this teenager’s face remained cold and expressionless. In truth, had it not been for that staff at the reception desk informing her right when she returned from her mission that Aques Lumen was looking for her, she would have already gone off to take on another mission.

“Teacher.”

“Mhm. The mission proceeded smoothly?” The man gave his favourite disciple a warm smile then eyed her up and down. Seeing that she was unharmed and immaculate, he nodded his head. “You’ve been completing your missions rather fast recently, how about a break every once in a while?”

“There’s no need.” She coldly spat out those words.

“Sigh. You’re too uptight.” Aques Lumen sighed before continuing, “Normal Demon Hunters require a month to complete each mission, but you’ve at least completed three already… I’m afraid you will collapse…”

“Teacher.” She suddenly interrupted him, body just about ready to turn around and leave. “If there’s nothing else you wish to talk about, I’ll be off.”

“Weren’t you very sure that your younger brother was consumed by a Devil?”

“…”

The information she gained from Chaik Village had nearly caused a mental collapse. The only way she could deal with that shock was to push herself to the point of mental abuse in order to cope. Whenever she had free time, she would be haunted by that same unending nightmare. Mo Ke’s cries for help would resound thunderously in her eyes as he was chewed to pieces by a Devil. Then, he was gone… and she was helpless to stop that. At that point, she would wake up in tears.

Being the caring sister that she was, her first thought was that his departure was caused by her negligence.

From the very beginning, Nicole and Roscar knew that Mo Ke was a child who was mature for his age. He knew more than he should have for a child, and the look he gave her was never one of a sibling’s. Had it not been for me… was what she always told herself as she wept. But there were no ifs in this world. Mo Ke wasn’t coming back -he had been eaten by a Devil. Even more egregious was that the Devil who ate him actually thought of himself as her younger brother… unforgivable!

Aques Lumen’s words made her whip her head around, eyes sharp as daggers as she stared at her teacher. Her rosy red lips were slightly ajar, but she chose not to say a word in the end.

“Sigh…”

All that was sustaining her now was her need for vengeance. Yet such hatred only made a person’s heart narrower. The more hate she had, the more painful it got, and the more lost as well. Once one fell into the endless void that was vengeance, there was no one coming out of that self-imposed imprisonment.

“Honestly, I still have my doubts. Your younger brother… in other words, that Devil you met at your home… might just be your…”

“Teacher!” Nicole interrupted the man once more. Her crystal-like eyes shone with a barely disguised anger that seemed directed at this handsome young man. “Devils all deserve to die!”

“…” Aques Lumen immediately grimaced to himself. “Alright then, that’s enough therapy for now. However, I do in fact have an important matter for you. This time, I hope you won’t interrupt me.”

“Understood.”

Having interrupted her teacher twice now, even she felt she was being a little rude to her teacher, thus that request went smoothly.

“The situation is like this: I need you to bring a newcomer…”

“I refuse…”

“…” Aques Lumen’s handsome face almost fell apart at that point. “I know you’re really busy, but we already agreed just now, you will let me finish.”

“…please continue, teacher.”

“Ahem.” Aques Lumen cleared his throat before continuing, albeit a little more exasperated than before. “Her talent with Fighter’s Aura is top-rate, and she’s even a few years younger than her classmates. But in terms of other matters, she’s just a hot mess… Even if her prowess are formidable for her age, I don’t feel secure letting her out. That’s why I hope you will help out with this matter.”

“I…” Nicole nearly said to just let such an unreliable student fail, but before she could even finish, she was immediately interrupted.

“This is an order! It would be a shame to not let her graduate, and even if you wanted to reject this mission, you should at least see her first.”

“The outcome will still be the same.” She coldly replied.