Chapter 759: Master... Something is wrong: Part-3

Aether was taken aback after hearing everything. He knew this reality had shifted a few things, but this...?

/Are you saying... not a single one of them has consciousness?/ Aether asked, his brows furrowing deeply.

He had encountered at least a few people who, despite turning into monsters, had managed to retain their consciousness and rational thinking. He had seen it with his own eyes. But now...

/I don’t know... they all look the same to me,/ Liora responded with a shrug.

She leaned on the railing, gazing at the creatures below. They did nothing but growl and snarl like mindless beasts, not a single word spoken among them.

There was no sign of reasoning, no hint of intelligence—only the raw, primal hunger of monsters. If that was all they were, then there was no question about what needed to be done.

Aether’s frown deepened. He had no hesitation when it came to eliminating true monsters. That wasn’t the issue.

The real problem was the possibility that among them were those who had retained their humanity, those who could still think, still feel. How could he justify burning them along with the rest?

He wasn’t that heartless.

/Wait there. I will be com—/ He was about to move when—

/Aether./

Maelona’s voice cut him.

/Hmm...?/

/They are monsters,/ she stated.

/Maelona, I believe at least a few of them—/

/Aether./

/.../ He stopped.

/It’s not about what you believe./ She exhaled, her voice low but sharp. /This is spreading like a plague. What do you think will happen if one of these so-called "conscious" monsters bites another person? Do you think they’ll just stop at that?/

Aether’s fists clenched at her words.... He knew where she was going with this.

/We can separate them for the time being—/

/And then what? Hope that we figured it out in time?

Hope that none of them turn fully?

Hope that none of them escape? Aether,/ her voice softened, but it carried the weight of truth,

/I know you don’t want to hurt the innocent. I know it goes against every part of you to condemn someone who might still have a shred of humanity left. But these aren’t normal people anymore.

Rational or not, the moment they bite someone, even a single graze from their bodies touches another… we lose everything. It won’t just be a few dozen infected—it’ll be a catastrophe we can’t control. No cure, no reversal. If you hesitate now... it might be too late later./

Silence fell between them.

Aether stared at the ceiling.... blankly!

Could he really do it?

Could he give the order to burn them all?

After a long pause, he inhaled deeply, then exhaled just as slowly.

/Burn them all,/ he commanded, his voice low yet resolute.

Maelona weakly smiled, sensing the burden that now rested on his shoulders. /It’s fine, Aether... I will bear th—/

/Maelona,/ he cut her off, his voice softer this time, but no less firm. /I know exactly what I’m doing.... And I know what I need to face—my actions, my consequences. I will bear them. You simply gave me your honest thoughts. I’m not blaming you for that, okay?/ He offered her a faint smile.

Maelona nodded before shifting to Liora and her daughter, who both gave silent nods in understanding. Without another word, they turned to cast the spell.

Maelona took one last glance at the creatures before stepping out of the chamber.

...

.....

"ARRRRHHHHHH----"

Thud!

The screams echoed long after the flames had devoured their victims.

Liora and Aria emerged from the chamber, the scent of burned flesh still thick in the air. Their faces were unreadable...

Since they were in a single room, it went easy otherwise it would be a horror to finish them all.

"Let’s come back tomorrow to check if anything’s left," Aria said, her tone firm, her expression unshaken.

Liora nodded, wiping her forehead. "Yeah. I’ll assign soldiers to guard this place overnight. Just in case."

As they stepped further outside, their eyes fell upon Maelona. She stood near the Ebon Stone, her gaze fixed on the blackened ashes, unmoving.

Aria’s expression shifted to worry. "Mom?" she whispered before stepping closer. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Maelona in a warm embrace. "Are you alright?"

Maelona blinked as if waking from a trance, then forced a smile. "I’m fine..."

Aria pulled back slightly, pouting. "Really? You seem like you’re thinking too much again."

Maelona chuckled softly, shaking her head as she remembered what happened.....

Before they had even reached the chamber—before they had found all those monsters—something had attacked her.

A Monster Elf.

It had been hiding behind the Ebon Stone, waiting, watching. If not for Aria’s quick reflexes, striking it down with a well-placed arrow before it could lunge—Maelona knew that right now, she wouldn’t be standing here.

She would’ve been among the ones burned!

"This must’ve been one of the creatures that escaped earlier," Liora muttered, staring at the ashes. Her eyes darkened slightly. ’Maybe I should reinforce the door,’ she thought, brows furrowing. Without another word, she turned and walked toward a nearby stack of wooden trunks—one of the makeshift walls of the village. Grunting slightly, she dragged one of the heavier trunks over, placing it firmly against the chamber’s entrance.

If, by some miracle, something had survived inside... it wouldn’t be coming out.

"Always cautious," Aria murmured, watching her.

Liora shrugged, "Better safe than sorry. These aren’t just some random monsters. One bite—" She exhaled sharply. "—and it’s over for all of us."

Aria nodded before turning to look at the old man, who was clutching his torn, bloodied hand, his face twisted in pain and fear. His breath was ragged, his body trembling as he struggled to process everything that had happened. "What should we do with him?" she asked coldly, her voice carrying no hint of mercy.

"Hmm..." Liora’s gaze remained unreadable, her eyes scanning him like a predator sizing up its prey. "He will pay for his tribe’s sins."

"H-Huh?" The old man’s eyes widened in shock, his voice cracking with panic. "W-What did I do—? I didn’t—"

"Tsk, didn’t you try to overthrow our rule?" Aria sneered.

The old man gulped, his throat tightening, his body tensing under her gaze.

"Your greed is what led to this destruction," Aria spat, her voice laced with fury and disgust. "Because of your foolishness, your entire tribe is gone. You lost everything, you pathetic bastard!" Without warning, she kicked him, making him stumble back onto the cold, blood-stained ground with a pained groan.

"Calm down," Maelona interjected, her voice firm and unwavering. "We will discuss this in court—before the elders. They will decide his fate. It is not our place to act on impulse."

With that, they finally turned to leave the wrecked village. Liora grabbed the old man roughly by the collar, dragging him forward with little care for his discomfort, while Aria followed closely behind, her eyes still glaring at him as if she were holding herself back from kicking him again.

Maelona, walking a few steps behind them, suddenly flinched. A sharp, unexpected twitch pulled at her lips, and for a brief moment, her expression contorted with pain.

Slowly, she reached up, rubbing her neck and shoulder, her fingers pressing against the sore spot. A strange discomfort spread through her skin, sending a slight shiver down her spine. As she did, she hesitated—then, with careful fingers, she pulled her clothing aside slightly, revealing a faint but unmistakable mark beneath.

A bite mark.

Before Aria could fully react and strike the monster earlier, it had already bitten her.

Maelona gulped, her heart pounding as she felt an odd, itching sensation creeping along her skin, spreading from the wound. Her breathing quickened for a moment before she forced herself to steady it.

"MOM?!"

Aria’s sharp voice jolted Maelona back to reality. Instantly, she yanked her clothing back into place, took a deep breath, and forced herself to keep walking as if nothing had happened.

.....

...

Meanwhile, at the Academy—

Principal Isadora strode briskly down the long corridor, her sharp heels clicking against the polished stone floor as she moved with determination... The entire academy was buzzing with excitement, the air filled with endless chatter. Everywhere she passed, students spoke in awe about Victor, their voices filled with admiration and respect.

"Did you hear? Victor saved the entire Empire!"

"He’s incredible! I still can’t believe how powerful he is!"

Dora smirked as she overheard the endless praises. She crossed her arms, her grin growing wider with satisfaction. Of course, it was only natural. He was, after all, her disciple. What else would they expect? She practically radiated pride, as if she herself were basking in the glory of their words. However—

"Kyaa! I love him so much! Maybe I could seduce him~"

"Come on, girl. Have you even seen your face? Seduce him? Keep dreaming!"

"Hahaha! You never know! A strong man like him might have a weakness for women. He might be easier to seduce than you think!"

"Hmm... You do have a point. I should give it a try!"

"Me too!"

"Me too!!"

...

.....

The excited voices of the girls echoed through the hallway, growing louder as more joined in.

Dora’s eye twitched visibly.

Weakness?

That bastard had been seducing women left and right—strong women at that! These damn fools had no idea what they were talking about. If they thought they stood even the slightest chance, they were out of their minds.

She grinned knowingly, shaking her head. She had witnessed firsthand just how hard that man had worked to win her over.

"Tsk, I hate that man," she muttered under her breath, her teeth clenching—yet, despite her words, her lips still curled into a smirk.

Suddenly—

"Principal?"

Dora turned, her expression shifting slightly as Alaric approached her.

"Hmm?" She frowned slightly at his sudden arrival, wondering what he wanted.

Alaric, wearing an innocent expression, asked casually, "How’s Aqualina’s re-exam going?"

"..... Pardon?"

Dora blinked, momentarily caught off guard, her expression shifting into something between confusion and exasperation.