Chapter 28 : Magic Tower City (5)

The moonlight illuminated the dust of the training hall.

Water from the ice pack had seeped onto the floor.

Serena’s breathing grew weaker and weaker.

Limp limbs, bruised cheeks, and a few broken ribs.

In that state, even moving would be difficult.

I looked down at the writhing Serena and organized my thoughts.

There was only one way to handle her twisted intent to kill.

“Then why not make killing me your goal?”

Serena’s eyes trembled.

Her blood-covered face shone pale under the moonlight.

“…What?”

“There’s no fun in killing just anyone. What you truly want is the greatest prey.”

“But…”

Serena looked down at her broken limbs.

“With these skills, I can’t beat you, teacher.”

She let out a bloodstained laugh.

“Isn’t that what makes it better?”

I took one step closer.

Expectancy and doubt crossed Serena’s face.

“What you really want isn’t just to kill anyone. You’ve been looking for the perfect prey. That’s why you chose me.”

Serena’s lips trembled.

I must have been right.

“Thugs must have been boring. So were the students. That’s not what you’re after. You were searching for true art, weren’t you? The thrill of challenging me, the exhilaration of that process…”

Serena’s eyes grew wider.

Something bloomed amidst her madness.

I stared straight at her.

The moonlight illuminated her pale face.

“Let’s stop wearing masks now. You’re a born killer. Yes, admit it. But how about focusing that intent in one direction?”

Serena’s smile grew clearer.

The madness remained, but a new light sparkled within it.

“You’ll challenge the greatest prey. A hunt that lasts a lifetime. One that can’t be achieved easily, one that requires risking your life. Isn’t that the very aesthetic you’ve been searching for?”

“Ah…”

A soft gasp escaped Serena’s lips.

Her eyes sparkled with ecstasy.

“That’s… an interesting proposal.”

She mumbled as if she’d discovered a new world.

“Hunting you… as a lifelong goal…”

Serena’s gaze changed.

No longer vague madness, but a sharp, focused glint.

“But there’s one condition.”

I continued.

“Don’t touch anyone else. I’m possessive. I must be your only prey.”

Serena staggered as she lifted her upper body.

Dragging her broken limbs, she barely stood upright, a pitiful sight.

Only her choice remained now: to accept this lifelong hunt or end it here.

“An unreachable height… a goal to pursue forever…”

A smile spread across her lips.

This time, it wasn’t madness but true joy.

Murderous intent radiated from her.

But this time, it was different.

It wasn’t vague malice but sharp intent aimed at a single target.

Cold rationality returned to her.

Her gaze deepened as if calculating something.

“Every night, I’ll imagine killing you. How to do it most beautifully. Plan each detail, practice endlessly… Ah, my heart is already racing.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what you’ve been searching for.”

A chilling yet sincere smile.

For the first time, it was Serena’s true face without a mask.

“Then let’s make a promise.”

“Alright. If I have you… I won’t need anything else. From now on, I’ll focus only on you. For my entire life, just one target.”

“For now, you… are my only prey.”

For the first time, she made a heartfelt promise.

Even if it was the vow of a murderer, it was sincere.

“Wait for me—or rather, prepare yourself. I will claim your life one day.”

She whispered as she struggled to walk.

“Until then… don’t you dare die at someone else’s hands. You’re mine.”

Her lips curled beautifully under the moonlight.

Our strange contract was sealed.

‘Is this okay…?’

A sigh escaped me.

I’d created another troublesome situation, but this was the best option.

I couldn’t eliminate her madness, but I could focus it.

And if I became the target…

At least innocent casualties could be prevented.

“Now, first, we need to get you treated.”

I checked Serena’s broken arm.

“Train hard from now on.”

“Yes! I’ve never felt excitement like this before. You really are… special, teacher.”

She licked her lips, her eyes shining like a predator who had found its prey.

“I’m so happy. Thank you, teacher, for giving me a lifelong goal to pursue…”

Who knew this was the way to calm a killer?

Of all people, I had to end up with a student with such a hobby.

But what can I do?

What’s started must be seen through to the end.

Dew still clung to the morning training hall.

The cool air of dawn had yet to fade.

It was time for our special training to begin.

“Teacher, I’ll be in your care today as well.”

Serena stood perfectly composed.

Her uniform’s ribbon was flawlessly tied, and her neat ponytail swayed in the morning breeze.

She looked no different from usual.

But when she raised her head, her eyes had changed.

The model student’s mask was gone.

“Today, I will definitely kill you, teacher.”

A bright, white smile accompanied her morning greeting.

On any other day, such words would have been chilling.

But now, they were oddly reassuring.

“Alright, what murder plan have you prepared today?”

At my words, Serena’s eyes sparkled.

“Whoo…”

She raised her wooden sword and took a deep breath.

Her stance transformed perfectly.

“I stayed up all night studying. The most beautiful angle to pierce your heart…”

The sword sliced through the air.

With the sharp sound of wind, her feet moved.

“Oh, your stance has improved a lot.”

“Of course. You’re all I think about, teacher.”

Her polite bow carried murderous intent.

Strangely, it suited her.

“How’s yesterday’s injury?”

“Completely healed.”

Serena twirled her arm.

Yesterday’s fracture was gone as if it had never been there.

“You can use healing magic too?”

“Yes, I don’t have to limit myself to swordsmanship anymore. I’ll use anything if it means defeating you.”

Her eyes glinted with murderous intent.

Normally, it would have been terrifying, but now, it felt reassuring.

“What method should I try today?”

Serena swung her sword.

A perfect angle, a lethal trajectory.

Her stance changed.

The composed facade was gone, leaving only pure killing intent.

The blade sliced the air, sharper than yesterday.

Her swordsmanship was now infused with unmistakable intent to kill.

There was no need for her to wear a mask in front of me anymore.

Had that elevated her mental state?

Serena’s body was surrounded by magic.

It felt like the legacy of the Alterion family flowed through her veins.

“You’ve improved. You combined acceleration magic with your swordsmanship?”

She flicked her sword with her fingers.

Serena’s body swayed.

“Your control over magic is still incomplete. If you put too much magic into your swordsmanship…”

Before I could finish my sentence, Serena’s second attack followed.

This time, a strike imbued with the essence of ice.

“Well, it’s not bad.”

The consecutive strikes continued.

Magic and swordsmanship formed a perfect harmony, aiming for my life.

I twisted my body lightly to dodge the attack.

Serena’s blade brushed through the air.

“But it’s still not enough.”

I tapped her with the wooden sword.

Shoulder, waist, knee. Vital points that could have been fatal.

“Ugh…”

“Now I feel like I’ve finally found a proper disciple.”

“You’re too kind. I’m still far from it. I’ll continue… practicing while imagining killing you, teacher.”

Serena smiled.

It was the same polite smile as usual, but the meaning behind it was completely different.

“Every day, every moment feels new. My sword, my magic, all for you…”

There was malice in every one of her movements.

A smile that mixed malice and pleasure, but strangely, it looked pure.

What lay within was artistry beyond madness.

“I think I’ve finally found my true self.”

At that moment, the training hall door opened.

When other students entered, Serena’s expression changed in an instant.

“Senior, you’re working hard again today!”

“Serena-senpai is different, I tell you.”

“You and teacher seem to get along so well.”

In their eyes, it was a peaceful scene of a diligent student training in swordsmanship with their teacher.

Serena greeted the students with a bright smile.

As if the madness from yesterday had never been there.

“Yes, the teacher is specially teaching me.”

The malice hidden beneath the mask flickered coldly.

“Wow, I’m jealous!”

“I wish I could learn swordsmanship from teacher too…”

The students’ envious gazes poured in.

They didn’t know. Their class president, the model student they so admired, was actually a monster.

“Sorry, I’m busy right now…”

Serena politely declined.

She wore her usual kind smile.

But her fingertips were trembling slightly.

It seemed she was struggling to resist the other prey.

“Shall we continue?”

Once the students left, Serena’s expression changed again.

The madness flared up as if the mask had been removed.

“Pathetic fools.”

A cold whisper leaked out.

“You don’t even matter anymore. Because I have the teacher.”

Her sword moved more sharply.

A strike imbued with malice sliced through the air.

“Good, keep going like that.”

I nodded.

A peaceful morning training.

But the truth we both knew.

This was not just practice, it was the hunting practice of a killer.

‘Is this okay…?’

Serena’s sword brushed against my neck.

“Alright, let’s stop here for today.”

I lightly grabbed her wrist to subdue her.

“Ha… it’s not easy, is it?”

Serena sighed.

But her eyes shone more clearly.

The gaze of a hunter chasing an unattainable goal.

‘Geez, this girl…’

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Strangely, it felt more natural than usual.

No more lies, no more masks, just a pure confrontation.

A face-to-face meeting between prey and hunter, without any disguise.

Another day began like this.