Chapter 123

Sector 4 of Ground Zero.

Inside the Seed of Calamity, where all sorts of anomalies converged, an ominous energy hung in the air. On one side, devout believers were stacking stone towers in the vacant lot next to the church; on the other, black storm clouds were gathering.

Velada, having finished choir practice, told the children who were trying to run outside to stay indoors.

“Children, do not leave the chapel today.”

“Big sister, is this woman trying to pull something again?”

“Hey now, there ain’t no better day for a haul than a day like this. You tellin’ us to close shop today? You plannin’ on goin’ against the organization’s decision all by yourself?”

“Now is not the time for things like train robberies.”

The children, brandishing their metal skewers, hesitated and stepped back when she didn’t indulge their mischief as she usually did. Yeon-parang, the leader of the orphans, cautiously observed Velada’s expression. She was scratching near her temple, her eyes fixed on the cracks blooming in the black sky.

“It is dangerous. Go inside.”

“Yes, sister.”

Being quick-witted, he hurried the children into the chapel. Once they were clear, Velada sought out Flauros in the backyard.

The Archduke of Flames was sitting cross-legged in front of a barrier covered by a blue cloth. Whether she was tempering her inner energy or not, intense crimson flames flickered every time the wind brushed past her hair. As Velada approached, Flauros opened her eyes. She appeared to have recovered significantly from the damage she sustained in Daegu.

“Are you going?”

“I must, must I not? It was decided by the Council.”

“Hmph. Scurrying about to clean up after those who play number games with heads… being an Archduke is truly a hollow existence.”

Her tone was thorny. Flauros was acting sharp because if she left Ground Zero—a place even the Management Bureau had abandoned—there would be no one left to protect the children. She herself was a fallen monster who had lost her strength, and there were no combatants within the Cult of the Void.

Nevertheless, Flauros gathered her strength and tied back her waterfall of hair.

“Does being so revered bring you that much joy?”

“I do not move for the sake of being revered.”

“Then why? Are you going to drag Patel into your motives again? Because he told you to? Is an Archduke a being that lives like such a puppet?”

“You truly know nothing.”

In an instant, dozens of black spots appeared on Flauros’s arms. Velada instinctively flinched at the sudden glimpse of the predator’s nature. Watching her, Flauros lightly shook the flames from her arms and spoke with a smile.

“An Archduke is not one who reigns.”

“What?”

“It is one who knows the weight of what they stand upon.”

Rank 64.

The Master of the Demon Realm and the Archduke of Flames, the Leopard of Blazing Fire, explained why she followed the Council’s decision.

“Fragile things that wish to be supported, yet crumble easily if too much pressure is applied.”

“…”

“To rise higher specifically to point out the path they must walk—that is the duty of an Archduke.”

Black lightning struck from a sunless sky. Dozens of Magic Towers erected across Seoul shrieked their warnings, announcing the emergence of an Archduke. It wasn’t a warning for Flauros’s manifestation.

It was something far stronger.

“That burden has not been placed upon you yet. You were given a chance once, but your very birth prevented it.”

“Are you insulting me for being born a monster?”

“I am telling you to reflect.”

Just before leaving to attack the Magic Towers alongside the nightmare demons appearing in the sky, Flauros spoke to the arm-crossing Velada.

“For the time when a chance is given once more—if you indeed have a reason to climb toward those stars.”

Silence pervaded the classroom.

Tentacles sat atop the students’ desks. Seeing how wonderfully they had grown compared to when the seedlings were first distributed, a sense of pride swelled in my chest; the fruits of education were clear. However, the expressions of the students clad in their multi-colored robes were darker than ever. Sensing their masters’ foul moods, the tentacles remained silent, skipping their usual screeches.

In an atmosphere quieter than usual, I stepped up to the podium.

“The promised month hasn’t quite passed yet, but due to an unprecedented demon invasion occurring worldwide, this summer session will end here.”

“…”

“This will be the last time I receive your reports and lab journals. You have all worked hard.”

No applause followed. It was the same in other classrooms. The other professors had returned to their respective posts to defend the tower. I was the only one conducting a final lecture.

“Originally, on the day we parted, we were supposed to enjoy a barbecue party with the fully grown tentacles.”

“…!”

At those words, Albireo looked aghast. Several other students flinched in agitation.

“But as I just explained, we are ending early this year due to unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, it has become difficult to perfectly complete the curriculum for the ‘Tentacle to be Eaten in 30 Days’.”

“Phew.”

“However! We must still reach the halfway goal! Since today is the final lesson, I will explain the practical application.”

“Practical application?”

The students tilted their heads, confused. Some rummaged through the bottom of their bags for the syllabus I had handed out during orientation, searching for the “midterm goal” I had mentioned.

Seeing them so hesitant, I felt a swell of pride. It seemed they had truly bonded with their tentacles.

“It’s a battle royale where everyone fights using the tentacles they’ve raised. Have you forgotten already?”

Originally, I had planned to drop the students on an island near the Sea of Decay and conduct a grueling survival test until only one remained. Everyone would be an enemy. The only ones they could trust would be themselves and their soul-partners—the tentacles. I had envisioned a touching narrative: taking shifts for night watch, battling using tentacle abilities, and even shedding tears of sorrow while biting into the flesh of their own tentacles when food ran out.

I had even spoken to Seo Chae-rin to secure a boat, but unfortunately, that will have to wait for next year’s lecture.

“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. Instead, I’ll give you a similar assignment.”

“An assignment?”

“Yes. You’re all headed back to your hometowns now, right? And the demons will surely attack there as well.”

I placed the large flowerpot containing Mala-nim on the podium.

『FEAR NOT!』

As Mala-nim reared up and shouted, the other tentacles in the classroom erupted in a chorus of “Kieeeek!” Receiving their enthusiastic cheers, I gave the students their final homework: use the tentacles they had raised to fight the demons and protect their loved ones.

“This is the final gift I can give you.”

“Professor…!”

“Tentacles are dangerous monsters. I originally intended to eat them all once the ecology class was over, but since you’ve all grown fond of them, I suppose I have no choice. Please raise them with care.”

This time, thunderous applause erupted from the students. The sound was enough to make the entire classroom vibrate. Having successfully completed my last lecture, I prepared to leave the research lab I’d grown attached to.

Just then, a student approached me.

“Professor! Professor Hayan!”

“Oh, Albireo! Have you heard from your sister?”

“Yes! I heard she was rescued from the demons and has safely returned to Professor Esma’s lab. According to Senior Researcher Lee Sohyun, she won’t be coming home for about fifteen years.”

Fifteen years. Cars will probably be flying by then.

I patted the head of Albireo, who had no idea that Theresia had chosen the path of an eternal graduate student in his stead.

“That is wonderful news. Did you have something else to say to me?”

“Actually… the tentacle I raised is a bit strange.”

“Strange?”

As I recalled, the seedling Albireo received on the first day was a perfectly ordinary, run-of-the-mill tentacle. Since I didn’t have enough special seeds to go around, I couldn’t give every student a unique one.

He couldn’t levitate like the student with the Invisibility Tentacle, nor could he make handmade figurines using a Carapace Tentacle. Was he dissatisfied that no special traits had appeared despite his utmost care?

However, contrary to my concerns, he was a student who truly loved his tentacle. That was why he had noticed it—the fact that his tentacle was odd.

“At first, I thought it was a normal one like you described, Professor. But lately, something has felt… off.”

“Off in what way?”

“Its appetite is far too large for its size, and it’s a bit of a picky eater… Of course, there are individual differences, but how should I put it…? It doesn’t seem normal. It feels like it has an ego.”

“Oh, Albireo. Ordinary tentacles don’t possess that level of intelligence.”

He probably felt that way because he had grown so close to it. But Albireo shook his head at my guess.

“It’s true! A few days ago, I witnessed something incredible.”

“What was it?”

“I happened to wake up in the middle of the night and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. And someone was already there.”

A beautiful woman, looking as if she had descended from the heavens. She was taking tea and cookies out of the cupboard and setting them on the table, as if enjoying a tea time.

Albireo had lost consciousness the moment their eyes met, but he remembered that night vividly.

“Didn’t you say it had a human form?”

“No, she was definitely the tentacle I was raising. I’m certain of it. It’s hard to explain, but…”

“Hmm, would you mind showing it to me?”

“Just a moment.”

Albireo fumbled around and pulled out the flowerpot he had brought. On the surface, it looked like a perfectly ordinary tentacle.

“Kiek~ Kiyaak~”

“…”

The only thing unusual was that its voice was somewhat… elegant? And around its neck—if you could call it a neck—was a very familiar handkerchief I had seen somewhere before.

After examining the creature for a moment, I asked Albireo:

“Come to think of it, Albireo, where did you say your hometown was?”

“Geneva, Professor.”

“The city that is essentially the last remaining heart of Europe.”

“That’s right. Especially since the Alps have long been occupied by monsters…”

So, after disappearing from my sleeve, she hadn’t been in the Necropolis or even the ports near Busan. I never imagined she was planning such a cute escape.

“There’s nothing wrong with this tentacle. Go on and raise it well.”

“Ah, yes. I understand, Professor.”

If Digestion went to Europe, she would likely wipe out the entire monster population there. I granted her a brief moment of freedom and stepped out of the Magic Tower.