“Emergency treatment has been completed. Some memories tainted with malice have also been deleted, but the toxins accumulated in the body have not been healed.”

‘Toxins?’

“She continuously consumed a poisonous herb that temporarily increases physique and strength. When toxins penetrate muscles and joints, there’s a side effect of limbs becoming stiff. It’s an herb that can’t be obtained in the Empire.”

‘Did she take the poisonous herb to create a body similar to Matian’s? If someone steadily supplied something that can’t be obtained within the Empire…’

Was it because of the content of the prophecy? Unexpectedly, Chad’s face came to mind first.

No, it’s not unexpected.

Come to think of it, he was as knowledgeable about rare herbs and elixirs as an alchemist, and he had many suspicious secrets.

‘But if we consider the relationships here, that dwarf is more likely.’

Professor Todly, who often skipped lectures under the excuse of overseas business trips.

Now he was focusing on completing the black magic circle, sweating profusely.

Perhaps because it was so noisy inside, he seemed unaware of the commotion that had occurred here.

‘What kind of magic is the professor trying to use now?’

“It’s black magic that distorts the properties of matter. According to the great Bisby’s prediction, it seems he will turn the flames of smelting into ice to destroy or transport them.”

‘Then what should we do?’

Rukna glanced towards the engine room entrance.

Matian and the dwarf air force seemed too busy dealing with the spider monsters that kept hatching from eggs to help here.

“I’ve finally completed it. Where are you, Randall!”

At that moment, Professor Todly, who had completed the magic circle, called for Randall.

“What are you doing not coming quickly? Didn’t I tell you that if you offer your body as a sacrifice, you can become a greater human than Matian Wiegratz?”

Randall! Professor Todly looked around the engine room.

Rukna held her breath and hid behind a vertically standing metal pipe.

“Did this stupid sacrifice touch the tarantula’s eggs?”

What a dim-witted bunch! Professor Todly shook the spider web in front of him while criticizing humans.

“I endured that insignificant military academy professor life for this day, only to ruin things at such an important moment!”

Though he was a half-blood mixed with human blood, he despised humans even more than pure-blooded dwarves.

Soon, the giant spider monster tamed by the professor crawled out from the ceiling.

It was the Queen Tarantula, a monster that devours anything.

‘How disgusting! Where was such a huge spider hiding?’

The body of the spider monster laying eggs in the corner was as large as an ordinary carriage, and its hairy legs were longer than Rukna’s height.

“Go and catch that pathetic human sacrifice.”

As soon as the professor gave the order, the Queen Tarantula started moving towards Rukna.

More precisely, towards the fallen Randall.

Tadadadadak. The sound of hairy legs stepping on spider webs grew closer and closer.

“I’m erasing your presence, master. Hold your breath from now on. 52 seconds remaining.”

‘How can you suddenly tell me to hold my breath! Can’t you just erase it like before?’

“The Queen Tarantula’s senses are too sharp for that level of concealment. 51 seconds remaining.”

’51 seconds is too long.’

“I see. Then feel free to breathe as much as you want now, master. You won’t be able to breathe in 50 seconds anyway.”

‘What do you mean?’

“If you’re bitten by that giant tarantula, your body will be paralyzed and you won’t be able to breathe. 47 seconds remaining.”

‘…*gulp*’

Rukna, who had wished to breathe comfortably for the rest of her life, swallowed her complaints and tried her best to hold her breath.

The sound of eight legs stepping on spider webs was heard close by.

Tak. It stopped right above her head.

Rukna rolled only her eyeballs to look up. Her eyes met directly with eight red eyes.

“…!”

She almost exhaled in surprise.

The Queen Tarantula lowered its head and flashed its pincer-like teeth towards Rukna.

If bitten by that, her neck would be severed in an instant.

“23 seconds remaining.”

Her heartbeat intensified and her whole body trembled. Her jaw quivered, causing her breath to keep trying to escape.

‘No. I must endure.’

“16 seconds remaining.”

The red, cloudy eyes stared fixedly at Rukna.

The widely opened teeth came close to Rukna’s nose. Sticky saliva dripped down, wetting her shoes.

“11 seconds remaining.”

‘I feel like I’m going to die. What should I do.’

Just as tears were about to form.

The monster, tilting its head as if something was strange, suddenly turned its body and approached Randall.

“8 seconds remaining.”

Her mind went completely blank.

The fortunate thing was that 8 seconds were enough for the Queen Tarantula to wrap Randall tightly in spider silk, turn him into a cocoon, hold it in its mouth, and move towards Professor Todly.

“0 seconds remaining. Mission complete…”

Huh, huff huff. Huuh, huff, huff.

“…d. Your breathing is too rough, master.”

‘Huff huff, did they hear my breathing?’

“Not that, but it’s unpleasant for me to hear.”

‘You say such things in this situation? This blade keeps saying worse things as time goes on!’

Just…! Rukna made a gesture of splitting the club-shaped holy sword she was holding in half.

At that moment, Professor Todly’s scream was heard.

“Damn it! Why is this happening?”

The black magic deployed by the professor required one whole sacrifice. But the sacrificial ritual did not proceed properly.

It only absorbed a tiny bit of Randall’s soul and then disappeared without absorbing any more.

“Why has Randall’s soul become clean again? How much effort did I put into corrupting this damn human!”

Professor Todly shook Randall’s fallen body.

“Hey, Randall! What’s going on here! Where’s your hatred for Matian? Where’s the resentment from being ignored!”

Looking down at the unresponsive Randall, the professor tore at his hair.

Now there was only one way left.

He might not be able to do anything about the eternal flame, but if he could crash the airship, and if the lives on this airship became sacrifices in fear, the black magic might work.

“Yes, kuk kuk. Good. Let’s kill them all.”

Todly thought this was perfect timing, as he had already been resentful of those who went on about pure blood and whatnot.

“I’m the one who’s superior and smarter than the elders. It’s me, you stupid dwarves!”

Professor Todly’s eyes flashed as he violently shook the spider webs with both hands.

Understanding the professor’s intention through those vibrations, the Queen Tarantula began to tear off the metal pipes connected to the smelting flame.

Chik! Hot steam burst out from the punctured metal pipes.

The Queen Tarantula’s mouth and legs melted, but the monster didn’t stop.

Soon, one of the four engines stopped working, and the airship began to tilt to one side.

Aaargh! Screams were heard from outside the engine room.

The pilot seemed to regain balance as the airship barely maintained equilibrium, but the altitude was slowly decreasing.

‘At this rate, the airship might crash!’

Rukna immediately ran towards Professor Todly. The professor’s eyes widened in surprise at Rukna’s sudden appearance.

“What are you? I thought Matian Wiegratz would be the only one to interfere with me.”

Todly was displeased that the notorious last-place student in the school was blocking his path.

“Why is someone like you here?”

Then Todly recalled how the Sacred Studies professor had praised Rukna at the last faculty meeting.

“Could it be that you purified Randall?”

Come to think of it, it was this Rukna Golden who easily purified the sacred studies exam monsters he had tampered with.

She even tamed the strongest one, the griffin, and appeared before his eyes as if to show off.

But no matter what, how dare you interfere with my plans when you’re just an insignificant human? The professor trembled with anger.

“How could you… Oh, it was thanks to that light-emitting club. That, could it be a holy sword?”

As expected of a professor. He recognized the holy sword at once just by sensing its energy.

“Damn it, Randall clearly said there was no holy sword in your room! He checked twice!”

Rukna was now certain that Professor Todly was the person behind ordering Randall to search her room.

She had secretly suspected Chad as the mastermind, but this was unexpected.

“How did you draw that? A worthless human like you! Something even Wiegratz, a descendant of heroes, couldn’t do!”

“I wonder about that too. I’m curious as well.”

High Bisby, why did you choose me among so many people? Rukna glanced at the holy sword.

“It’s all God’s mercy.”

“It’s all God’s mercy, he says.”

Rukna recited the sword’s answer verbatim.

“God’s mercy? Haha! The Black Sage trapped in the devil’s egg is the true mercy bestowed by God and the will of the world!”

Professor Todly’s unfocused eyes suddenly gleamed dangerously.

“Then I’ll become the leader of the dwarves. I’ll tame all those who looked down on me as a half-blood and use them like dogs!”

Professor Todly shook the spider webs violently.

Then the baby spiders that had been constantly rushing outside the engine room returned and began to damage the metal pipes connecting the holy flame stand and the engines.

“Rukna!”

She heard Matian calling for her as he entered the engine room.

“It’s your turn now, master.”

With a brief greeting, the holy sword that had become a club disappeared like dust from Rukna’s hand.