Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 335: [Who killed Mary?] [3] [Lumi]

"H-Himmel."

"Yeah?"

I turned my head slightly at the sound of Zenith’s voice, her unease clear in the way she spoke.

"Are you really going to do it?" she asked, eyes pleading for me to say no.

I sighed, rubbing my face. "I don’t want to spend any more time here."

"My head is killing me."

Zenith quickly stepped in front of me.

I kept walking, and she moved backward, still facing me.

"Then why don’t you take a break—"

"That’s the plan," I cut her off with a small smile.

"I can rest early if I kill everyone."

She groaned, nearly tripping over herself as she moved aside.

"Help me, Epione," Zenith grumbled as she turned to look at her side.

I glanced at Epione as well.

She smiled awkwardly, shifting under our gazes. "What should I do?"

’.....Sing for me.’

I thought to myself, rubbing my temple.

I still didn’t understand how, but her voice always calmed me.

Made me feel… alive.

But I couldn’t ask.

Not now.

She was already suspicious of me—I didn’t need to make it worse.

Better to just end the exam quickly so I could listen to a recording later.

"Himmel—"

"I’m fine," I muttered, meeting Zenith’s gaze.

I didn’t understand her.

’Why was she acting like this?’

Had she always cared this much?

"…Zenith?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell me more about Lumi," I said, glancing at her. "And what we saw in the garden."

She blinked, processing my request. "Oh, let me think."

The dim lighting around us shifted—

A deep, eerie red.

The signature glow of the Crimson Group.

"Ah! Right!" Zenith clapped her hands together.

"Lady Lumi was really close to dragons—she could even control hundreds of them."

I raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Her Goddess Mafdet bloodline." Zenith’s gaze flicked to me.

"She was from one of the forgotten gods. Some say because of her, Lady Lumi was even born a demigod."

I nodded gently.

Forgotten gods?

I’d heard of them before.

But where?

[<Gods who left before Lumina was complete.>]

…What?

[<Just know that many gods fled during the Great Calamity when Lumina was being built. They were later banished to a place—>]

The Dead Lands of Kandam.

[<…..>]

Deep in thought, I kept walking, scanning the area.

The hallway was larger than most rooms, offering plenty of space.

Zenith and Epione followed closely behind me.

Three students approached from the opposite end.

One Asura.

Two High Humans.

"Huh? What are you guys doing here?"

The Asura leader, a tall guy with dark hair, spoke first.

His gaze flickered to Zenith. "Zenith?"

They weren’t expecting a fight.

One held a spear lazily at his side.

Another had a sword, its tip dragging against the ground.

The Asura gripped an axe.

’The man who strikes first usually strikes last.’

So, raising my hand, I turned towards the High Human.

I lifted my hand.

A circle formed—

And—

BOOM!

Flames erupted, launching toward the High Human.

"ARGHHH!!"

His screams tore through the hall as fire swallowed his head, his sword clattering to the ground.

He clawed desperately at his face, but the flames spread, licking up his arms.

A teleportation circle flickered beneath him.

Eliminated.

I lunged forward.

The spear-wielder staggered back, eyes wide.

I grabbed the shaft of his weapon with one hand—

And slammed my forehead into his nose.

The sickening crunch of bone echoed.

He reeled back, blood dripping from his chin.

I yanked him forward—

Swung my right arm in a brutal arc—

My fist crushed into his ribs.

He gasped, collapsing to the ground.

A portal swallowed him.

The axe whistled through the air above my head.

I swiftly dodged it, turning to look at the Asura boy.

"W-why are you doing this!?" he yelled, spinning his weapon defensively.

I dashed toward him—

But—

An arrow hummed past my face from somewhere behind the Asura.

I looked past him as more students started gathering.

Four to be precise.

I sighed.

With no time to waste—

I rushed towards the Asura boy again.

Mana does not have much effect on Asuras.

They are born with skin that has high resistance against mana.

So.

I clenched my fist.

Ruah surged, shaping around my hand like a blade.

The Asura swung his axe—desperate, wild arc.

I ducked.

Let it slice through empty air.

Then—

My Ruah-coated fist slashed upward.

The blade cut through his forearm.

A clean sever.

Blood splattered the floor.

"ARGHH!!!"

He crumpled, screaming, clutching the stump where his hand used to be.

His axe hit the ground—

And a portal swallowed him whole.

I let out a slow breath, turning—

The four newcomers froze under my gaze.

I took a step forward.

"Come on," I murmured. "If you don’t attack, you’ll die."

The girl with a bow trembled, nocking an arrow.

A boy raised a shimmering shield.

The other two—twin daggers and a spiked chain—spread out.

Long-range could be annoying—

I lunged at the archer first.

She loosed an arrow.

I twisted my body, narrowly dodging.

The shield-bearer stepped in, slamming his barrier down.

I vaulted over it.

Kicked off the wall—

And landed behind him.

My Ruah blade plunged into his back.

He gasped.

A portal swallowed him.

No time to pause—

A chain lashed at my legs.

I jumped—

But it coiled around my ankle.

The chain-wielder yanked hard.

I let the momentum pull me forward.

He smirked—

Until my fist crushed his throat.

He collapsed, choking.

A portal whisked him away.

The dagger user circled me.

Another arrow whistled toward me.

I tilted my body, letting it sail past.

The dagger-wielder charged.

I dropped low—

Swept his legs out from under him.

He crashed to the floor, gasping.

CRACK.

My elbow drove into his ribs.

His body went limp.

Silence.

The hallway reeked of burnt hair and blood.

Zenith stared at me, hand clasped over her mouth.

Epione—

More footsteps echoed down the hallway.

I cracked my neck and readied myself once more.

Five figures rushed toward me—

Bigger than most of the students.

An Asura with spiked gauntlets led them, his gaze burning with fury.

Beside him strode a boy, and behind them, three girls with swords hanging at their waists.

"W-What is happening here!?" the Asura demanded, his glare drilling into me. "What did you do to our team—"

I lunged forward, aiming to catch him off guard.

But before I could reach him, a fireball hurtled toward me, forcing me to stop.

I sidestepped instinctively.

The fireball exploded against the wall, sending shards of stone raining down.

I glanced back to check on Zenith.

’She’s safe.’

"Die, you pest!" the Asura roared, charging at me with his spiked gauntlet raised.

I ducked beneath his swing and stepped in.

His gauntlet cratered the floor, cracks spidering out from the impact.

My Ruah blade sliced across his chest, cutting deep.

He bellowed in pain, but I silenced him with a kick that sent him sprawling.

A swordswoman took advantage of the opening, thrusting her blade toward my back.

I pivoted just in time.

Her sword aimed for my lower chest—I tilted slightly, catching her wrist.

Then—

Snap.

Her scream choked off as my fist slammed into her throat, sending her crumpling to the floor.

Another spellcaster was already moving, two glowing circles forming in front of his hands.

He glared at me, then shouted, "Inferno!"

The air crackled with energy.

A fire tornado materialized, raging and growing, seeking to consume me whole.

I exhaled.

Then—

"Disturb."

A pulse of static energy surged from my body.

The inferno vanished.

A second swordswoman rushed in, blade arcing toward me.

I caught her blade barehanded.

Her eyes widened in horror.

I headbutted her, then ripped the sword from her grasp and drove it into her stomach.

A portal glowed beneath her, swallowing her as she disappeared from the battlefield.

The mage wasn’t done yet—

A ring of fire erupted around me, its searing heat licking at my skin.

I sighed. "Disturb."

The flames vanished instantly.

His hands glowed as he frantically tried to form another circle.

"Disturb."

The spell shattered before it could even take shape.

Too slow.

My Ruah blade pierced his palm.

He didn’t even have time to scream before my fist shattered his nose, sending him into the portal.

The last swordswoman stumbled backward, terror flickering in her eyes.

"M-Monster!" she shrieked.

She turned to run.

I grabbed a fallen sword and hurled it.

It struck between her shoulders.

She was eliminated.

Just like that.

Silence.

I sighed and turned around.

’Looks like the archer ran away…’

Zenith groaned under her breath, clutching her stomach.

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Epione stared at my Ruah blade, still dripping with blood.

"Himmel…" Zenith whispered.

I wiped the blood from my cheek. "I’m listening."

She opened her mouth as if to speak, then hesitated.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

But no words came out.

I sighed and turned away.

"Follow me."

They obeyed without a word as I moved deeper into the building.

Stretching my body, I wandered aimlessly.

Even as we walked, we encountered no students.

Either they were avoiding me, or they had already fallen.

Either way, nothing stood in our path.

"Do you even know where we’re going?" Epione finally asked.

I glanced back at her. "Nope. Just roaming."

"Really?" Suspicion laced her voice. "Then why does it seem like you have a destination in mind?"

I chuckled. "You’re overthinking."

My words died in my throat as my steps came to a halt.

Before me stood a massive door—old wood adorned with intricate carvings.

A wave of nostalgia crashed over me, swift and overwhelming.

I reached for the doorknob and twisted it open.

My heart clenched as I stepped inside.

The room was simple, yet… beautiful.

Golden patterns adorned the wooden floor.

A wooden desk stood against the far wall, its surface buried beneath neatly stacked books and a single, half-melted candle.

The bed, dressed in pale sheets, remained untouched.

Everything was just as I remembered.

Wait.

Why do I remember this place?

I swallowed hard.

"Himmel, are you alright?" Zenith’s concerned voice pulled me from my daze.

I exhaled, nodding. "I’m fine."

Ignoring the gnawing sense of familiarity, I moved toward the desk.

A single piece of paper lay on the surface.

I picked it up—and froze.

"Speak my name with the star that never dies with you,

And see how I’ll come back for you from the dead.

Every answer lies in sound—

A name forgotten, forever bound."

I let out a slow breath. "Can you both leave me alone?"

Zenith and Epione exchanged glances.

"Why—?"

"Please?" I cut Epione off.

She studied me for a moment before nodding. "Come back to the base soon."

Zenith lingered a little longer, then turned and followed Epione out.

I sighed and sat on the bed.

"Tweet!"

A small bird suddenly pecked my head.

I looked up to see Epione’s phoenix perched above me.

I ignored it, turning my gaze back to the riddle.

She will come back, huh…?

And what’s the star that never dies?

I sighed deeply.

The bird continued pecking at me until it finally got tired and nestled into my hair, dozing off.

Time passed, but I just sat there, staring at the words.

Smiling faintly, I whispered, "Are you here, Lumi?"

I waited for an answer.

But.

Nothing.

Ah.

What am I doing—?

"You called, Qais?"

My heart jolted.

That voice.

Lumi’s voice.