“Shana too…”
“Mhm.”
Ophelia’s voice sounded at her side, carrying a trace of exhaustion.
“Our squad was attacked before we reached the shelter as well. They also used bloodworm teleportation, and they used the ones from Shana’s body…”
She paused, then added,
“Luckily, we were close to the shelter at the time. Professor Maureen noticed it in time, and together we killed the enemies who teleported in. But Shana’s condition… hasn’t improved.”
Camilla hurried to Shana’s bedside.
The red-haired girl was deathly pale, brows tightly furrowed. On the left side, just below her collarbone, there was a small, inconspicuous wound; the skin around it was tinged with an abnormal purplish-blue.
The Blood Wolf was curled up at Shana’s side, anxiously licking the girl’s fingers. When Camilla approached, it first stood up warily, then obediently sat down again, bowing its head, as if begging her to save its master.
Camilla reached out to gently touch the edge of the wound, using her spiritual power to probe.
Hmm, this is worse than the wounded from Tom’s squad.
“Can she be healed?”
Lyudmila’s voice came from the side. The usually cold-faced, purple-haired girl now revealed rare anxiety in her eyes.
Although “her Demon-Breaking Eye” only worked on demons, she still blamed herself deeply for not noticing the parasite inside Shana.
Salina still wore her usual aloof expression. Standing aside, she was inspecting her Battle Axe in silence, only watching Camilla’s actions out of the corner of her eye.
“It can be treated, but it has to be dealt with immediately.”
Camilla lifted Shana’s clothing at the wound and slowly poured in an entire bottle of potion. The moment the medicine touched her skin, Shana’s body jerked violently, letting out a stifled cry of pain.
“Hold her down.”
Lillian and Emma immediately stepped forward to help restrain Shana.
The potion began to take effect; from deep within the wound came a faint squirming sound—the eggs and nest tissue of the parasite dying off and detaching. Dark red, filthy blood mixed with debris oozed from the wound, releasing an awful stench.
Without pausing, Camilla took out a bottle of emerald green antidote and carefully fed it to Shana.
Shana was drenched in sweat, lying weakly on the bed, but her breathing had steadied, and color was returning to her face.
“Thank you…”
She spoke with a feeble voice.
Unlike the brown-haired side character who was still unconscious, Shana’s vitality was much stronger; even while parasitized, she remained conscious.
“Rest well.”
Camilla waved her hand and sat down to the side. Lillian promptly handed her a bottle of mana restoration potion.
“Thanks for your hard work.”
“Mhm.”
Camilla took small sips of the potion, her gaze sweeping across the shelter.
Ophelia was discussing something with Professor Maureen. Camilla held Rimuru in her arms and quietly pricked up her ears.
They stood near the entrance of the shelter, their voices lowered, but with Camilla’s hearing, she could just barely make it out.
“…So far, eight squads have been confirmed missing. Of those, the last signal for three of their tracking beacons disappeared not far from here.”
Professor Maureen unfolded a simple map, pointing at it.
“According to the academy’s Emergency Plan, we should hold our ground in the shelter and wait for reinforcements, but…”
“But those missing students may not last that long.”
Ophelia took over, her ice-blue eyes fixed on the map.
“If they suffered similar attacks, every minute we wait increases their danger.”
“Exactly.”
Professor Maureen sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples.
“The situation at the academy isn’t looking good. The headmaster is absent, and the other professors likely won’t be able to spare anyone to help us any time soon.”
She paused and looked at Ophelia.
“I know your strength. You’re not much weaker than me. But outside is too dangerous right now—the Dark Beasts army came prepared this time. Who knows what trump cards they’re hiding?”
“Which is exactly why we can’t just sit and wait for death.”
Ophelia’s tone was calm and resolute, her right hand tightly clutching the necklace at her throat.
“I can lead an elite squad out to search and rescue. We don’t have to wipe out the enemy—just find the missing students and bring them back to the shelter.”
“But if you run into a powerful enemy…”
“I’ll make sure everyone gets back safely.”
The two fell into a brief silence.
Camilla absentmindedly kneaded Rimuru’s squishy body. The blue slime made a contented “puchi” sound, sending the thought, [Master… don’t worry…]
But she couldn’t calm down.
Tactically, Ophelia’s proposal was correct; rather than wait endlessly for support that might never come, it was better to actively search for the missing.
But the unease in Camilla’s heart only grew stronger.
In the game, the Dark Beasts army infiltrated the academy—they stayed hidden until the Dark Chimera was unsealed, only exposing themselves when they summoned the Beast Tide.
But now?
They’re openly attacking the academy gates, deploying ninth-tier summoned beasts, and sending large numbers of elites into the Test Area through bloodworm teleportation…
This isn’t infiltration anymore. This is an all-out assault.
Why?
The Dark Chimera is certainly valuable, able to endlessly produce lower-tier monsters. But is it really worth the Dark Beasts army risking everything for?
Camilla’s fingers unconsciously tightened, squishing Rimuru, who let out a distressed “puchi.”
She quickly let go and gently stroked Rimuru to apologize, but the commotion still caught someone’s attention.
“Heard everything, did you?”
Ophelia appeared behind Camilla with a blank expression, startling her into an instinctive elbow strike.
“Heard everything, did you?”
Effortlessly blocking Camilla’s attack, Ophelia took the chance to pin her to the ground, their faces so close they could feel each other’s breath.
“Haha, I-I didn’t hear anything…”
Camilla awkwardly turned her face away as she spoke.
“…”
Ophelia let go without a word, brushed off the dust, and pulled Camilla up.
“I’m planning to lead an elite squad to pick up the students nearby. During this time, Professor Maureen will guard the shelter.”
Will you join me?
Camilla couldn’t help but roll her eyes, imagining what Ophelia would say next.
But unexpectedly…
“I want you to stay here.”
“Huh?”
Camilla was momentarily stunned by Ophelia’s words. She pointed to herself, as if to say, “You’re not taking me this time?”
“It’s very dangerous outside right now. If possible, I’d like to borrow your teammates, and have you quietly hide in the shelter until the chaos ends.”
Ophelia’s thoughts were simple.
She had gone to great lengths—at the cost of a chance to make her own choice—to get Camilla into this academy, wanting her little sister to learn new things and train to become strong enough to protect herself, so that she wouldn’t be helpless if Ophelia wasn’t around.
But if training Camilla meant letting her take dangerous risks, that would defeat the whole purpose. Ophelia couldn’t allow her sister to run around in such perilous times.
“Big sis…”
Camilla felt a little touched, but just as she was about to say more, a thunderous explosion rang out outside the shelter.
A second blast followed, then a third.
The ground shook violently, dust raining down from overhead.
“What’s going on?!”
All the students jumped up, staring fearfully at the entrance.
Professor Maureen’s expression changed drastically as she rushed to the door and peered through a crack outside.
“It’s coming from the direction of the Seal area!”
She spun around abruptly, her voice trembling.
“The Seal on the Dark Chimera… has been disturbed!”