The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 82

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 82

“No, encountering you was purely coincidental. I originally came here searching for a different horn. But when I stumbled upon what appeared to be a formidable Demon Race, I thought—what incredible luck!—and decided to attack. However….”
“So we were just unlucky. But what horn are you talking about?”
Talamans glanced around before baring his yellowed teeth in a silent laugh. He lowered his voice as though divulging a clandestine secret.
“The horn of Huaderica.”
“…What?”
Leoryna squinted one eye, and Talamans chuckled.
“I came to claim one of the horns of Kaladniel Sigelo Huaderica, the butcher of the 108 Clans, which is said to remain in this castle.”
“Wait—Khalid’s horn is here?”
“Khalid? Do you know him?”
“We’re acquainted. But are you certain Khalid’s horn is actually here?”
“There’s plenty of rumor, but I don’t know the truth myself. Still, if there’s even a chance I could obtain Caladniel’s horn, nothing could be more enticing.”
“Enough of that. Second question: are you commanding Demon Beasts? How have you survived in this land?”
“One of the previous owners of this horn was a Demon Beast. That’s why the Demon Beasts follow me.”
“The more I hear, the more nauseated I become. How did you even conceive of grafting a Demon Beast’s horn onto yourself? Did you kill Hiracos?”
“Yes. By killing Hiracos and consuming his heart, the Demon Beast horn grows stronger….”
“…Stop. I feel like I’m going to be sick.”
Leoryna had to suppress the urge to retch. In stark contrast, Talamans spoke in a voice devoid of tension.
“But I was always planning to come here anyway, so it doesn’t concern me. You, however, chose your teleportation destination poorly.”
“Why?”
“Though I can command Demon Beasts, that ability is limited to intermediate-tier creatures and below. And Huaderica Castle is a region beyond my control.”
“Because it’s Renokter’s domain?”
“You understand. The Demon Beasts that follow Renokter are beyond my command. Renokter’s power far exceeds that of the Demon Beast horn I possess.”
“By that logic, you could die too. What were you thinking coming all the way here?”
“What does that matter when the horn awaits?”
“I’ve never seen such a madman. Still, if you can’t employ your schemes, there’s nowhere better for us.”
“That composure won’t last much longer.”
Talamans issued his warning, but Leoryna found Talamans rampaging far more troublesome than Renokter.
If he summoned Demon Beasts in legion-scale numbers, we’d be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Better to eliminate Renokter alone instead.
Leoryna resolved to wait for reinforcements. She had no idea what dangers lurked ahead of her.

* * *

Pongko raced after Khalid’s scent like a madman. Evading the Demon Beasts at his speed was child’s play.
After running for some distance, I spotted Khalid wandering about, glancing nervously at his surroundings.
“Khalid! Khalid!”
Khalid’s eyes widened as he turned to look at Pongko.
“You came alone? Where are the others? Leoryna?”
“Th-this is terrible, Khalid! Leoryna…! Leoryna!”
Before Pongko could say more than a few words, Khalid’s blood ran cold.
“What happened?!”
Pongko informed Khalid of the Demon Beast attack. Then, with Khalid’s complexion darkening, he carefully revealed Leoryna’s whereabouts.
“And the place where Leoryna is….”
“Where?”
“Huaderica Castle!”
At Pongko’s words, Khalid’s heart sank.
“Why there of all places?!”
Khalid clicked his tongue and withdrew two small beetle-shaped automata from his robes, sending them flying. One was bound for Philiamone’s group, and the other for Zigzagel.
“I’ve sent word to that Philiamone to stay put—Zigzagel will come to rescue them. If you hide in a suitable location, you’ll be saved soon enough.”
Khalid produced a spatial transfer magical artifact from his robes. After setting the coordinates and hurling it to the ground, a spatial gate opened. Beyond it lay the moat before the gates of Huaderica Castle.
“I’ll bring Leoryna back. Go on ahead and wait at Base Camp.”
“I want to go too! I’m Leoryna’s Familiar.”
Khalid hesitated for a moment, but then nodded.
And so the two of them headed toward Huaderica Castle.

* * *

Leoryna was methodically scattering threads throughout the Confinement Room.
“Krraaagh!”
Blood sprayed as the flesh of the Demon Beasts caught in the threads tore apart.
Leoryna spat out the blood that had splattered into her mouth, then unleashed an offensive spell at the next Demon Beast. Even as she gasped for breath, she couldn’t afford to stop moving.
“That’s why you should just release me, you know? Hehehehe.”
Talamans, whose personality had shifted into something decidedly strange, watched her battle the Demon Beasts with apparent amusement, chuckling wickedly.
After disposing of the visible Demon Beasts, Leoryna kicked Talamans—still bound tightly with threads from the Confinement Room—into the Castle interior. Remaining in the Castle Courtyard had proven dangerous; the Demon Beasts had caught her scent and begun converging. It was a necessary choice.
Leoryna had no desire to encounter Renokter, but if danger lurked equally inside or outside, she reasoned that indoors would better allow her Confinement Room to demonstrate its true potential. So she chose to enter the Castle.
‘And there’s something I want to investigate personally.’
Khalid’s past, his secrets… Huaderica Castle would surely retain traces from 124 years ago.
Leoryna passed through the Entrance Hall she’d seen in Khalid’s Dream and walked along the Corridor.
“Hmm, it’s cleaner than I expected.”
In Khalid’s Dream, the wallpaper had been completely drenched in crimson blood, its original color indiscernible. But in reality, it was surprisingly pristine. No corpses littered the Corridor.
“Kehehehe, should I tell you a good story?”
Talamans spoke in a hoarse voice, cackling, but Leoryna simply scratched her ear.
“Quiet.”
“That bastard Caladniel, you see.”
At the mention of Khalid’s name, Leoryna showed slight interest in what he was saying.
“That bastard was truly heartless.”
Leoryna furrowed her brow and tilted her head.
“Why? Because he killed Nifra?”
“Killed, yes…”
Talamans cackled again.
“If Caladniel killed her, then he did. If he’d given her his horn, Nifra wouldn’t have had to die without one!”
“You mean she should have had a horn transplanted like you?”
“Exactly! I was also born with only one horn. That’s why I stole and transplanted horns from other members of the Demon Race. So couldn’t Nifra have done the same by transplanting someone else’s horn?”
“I see.”
Leoryna’s response was more subdued than Talamans expected. She didn’t want to show excessive interest and be manipulated by his intentions.
Yet in truth, while maintaining an outward composure, she was listening intently to every word.
‘Now that I think about it, that’s true. If someone from the Demon Race—not necessarily Khalid—had given Nifra a horn, wouldn’t she have been able to live without difficulty? It’s hard to dismiss as mere nonsense with Talamans here… But if such a thing were possible, why didn’t they transplant a horn earlier…?’
Something felt off to Leoryna, but Talamans continued his chatter without pause.
“That bastard Caladniel was vicious too. Not giving up his own horn and killing his own sister! The reason Nifra was killed must have been because she coveted someone else’s horn among the Demon Race.”
What Leoryna had seen in Khalid’s Dream was the sight of Khalid being pierced by Nifra’s blade.
What had Khalid said then? The atmosphere had suggested he was trying to console Nifra.
‘Then what was that situation?’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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