Chapter 117 Circtory System (19)


    In a corner of the Southern outskirts of Sodderton, adjacent to the Circtory System, a safety barrier had been established.


    Within the barrier, hastily erected tents huddled together, forming a makeshift vige.


    Students from Eternia who had failed to enter the Circtory System were killing time there; more than half of them had been members of looting parties.


    They faced little inconvenience in daily life, with pre-arranged supplies and the spoils of their piging.


    In fact, they enjoyed luxuries unbing of their situation.


    But not a single one of them could truly relish their circumstances.


    Most of those within the safety barrier were students who had ranked in the upper-middle during the entrance examsprospects once dubbed the hopefuls but now finding themselves without any achievements, even past the halfway mark of the practical training.


    Ample resources and an efficient team structure had bolstered their confidence in securing a top rank, believing themselves superior in every aspectpared to other groups.


    Yet the Circtory System yed their ambitions like a fiddle, eventually rejecting and expelling them.


    Theyre pathetic.


    I wish theyd all fail.


    Most of their days were spent nkly staring towards the Circtory System.


    asionally, they saw the ntaras transporting students on the brink of death back into the safety barrier.


    Someone pointed with a finger and eximed,


    Here theye, here theye.


    Neers!


    A group of ntaras returned to the safety barrier.


    All eyes turned toward them, finding sce in weing fellow dropoutstheir sole source of amusement.


    Contrary to expectations, the ntaras had brought back only onea girl with lemon-hued hair, Elias, and no one else.


    Ah, its just her.


    Its about time for some of them to show up.


    Who was she grouped with?


    I dont know.


    Although the specifics of her group were yet unknown, the chances were high that other members would soon follow, considering one had already dropped out.


    They hade to realize that entrance exam results did not guarantee performance in the field, and they were secretly awaiting the fall of the top performers.


    When Elias was ced upon the grass, those who recognized her approached to check her condition.


    She was in a state of panic.


    Huh-huh its terrifying so terrifying.


    While her reaction mirrored the overwhelming emotionsmon among those ejected from the safety barrier, there was a subtle difference in nuance.


    Tormented by spirits, experiencing illusions or auditory hallucinations, or suddenly feeling a draining of strengththemon denominator for those who had entered the Circtory System was fear.


    Many were scared, but none had shown a terror quite like Elias, who was now weeping uncontrobly.


    Girls gathered around her, offering warm tea and nkets and givingfort in front of a reassuring campfire. After a while, Elias regained someposure and began to recount what happened.


    The devil the devil has awakened. Were all going to die We need to get out of the Circtory System immediately


    There was a dismissive attitude among those who thought she was simply stirring up unnecessary fear, but as they listened to the rest of the story, they epted the gravity of the situation.


    It wasnt an exaggeration.


    We tried using all the Blue Spirit Grass we brought from Rigved, but nothing worked. So we decided to collect it directly from the Circtory System Uh huh, an herb that blooms from the bodies of the dead So we searched the western region of the Circtory System for animal carcasses.


    In their search within the Circtory System, Elias group stumbled upon unidentified obelisks.


    There were six wooden obelisks, and two of them were already destroyed. They resembled tombstones We thought they were animal graves. Since two were already damaged, we figured others hade before us to take something So like we were bewitched, we destroyed one of them and dug underneath. I still dont know why. It felt like something was controlling us.


    Elias covered her face with her hands, unable to continue speaking. Her hands were stained with dirt, and the nails were bloody, as if she had frantically been wing at the earth.


    After a long pause, she resumed her story.


    And then something awakened.


    When they broke one of the obelisks, the remaining three started to corrode as if in a domino effect. An iprehensible entity broke its seal and assailed the group.


    I cant remember much after that Magic didnt work and neither did sword skills. We kept running, and it continued to pursue us. Then then as everyones in danger, Victor Victor acted as a decoy on his own and split from us.


    Elias had copsed from exhaustion while fleeing alone and, luckily, was discovered by the ntaras, but she did not know what happened to the rest of her group.


    Victor? That Victor was in your group?


    The fact that they were defenseless even with Victorwho was ranked among the top fivebat studentsshocked everyone.


    Soon, murmurs spread among those who had heard Elias tale.


    Isnt that the Familiar?


    Honestly, its hard to believe.


    No wonder, the professors suddenly rushed off somewhere urgently.


    Is that why they told us not to leave the barrier?


    Thats where Sion went, to the Circtory Systems west.


    And someone asked Elias,


    Who else was in your group?


    Elias responded with a trembling voice,


    Victor and and Matthiasias and


    She took a deep breath before finally saying thest name,


    Li Lilith.


    Hearing that name, several male students turned pale. Unbeknownst to the others, they had harbored feelings for her.


    ***


    It seems theyre spirits of the forest.


    As I stepped back, those strange forest spirits reappeared around Luna.


    She seemed not to dislike them either, smiling gently as she held and caressed them.


    Back when I lived in the orphanage, little kids would often flock to the beautiful nuns, clinging and making demands in a childlike mannersomehow, Lunas situation reminded me of that.


    Noticing my gaze was perhaps a little embarrassing for her, she subtly asked,


    Should I ask these guys where the domain of the Familiar is?


    Thats a good idea.


    Luna addressed the spirits in an unknowablenguage.


    The spirits suddenly started hopping about, seemingly trying tomunicate something.


    The spirit says the Familiar is currently in a weakened state. Apparently, these periodse once every few years.


    If it cant be helped then, we should start moving again.


    As she made to get up, the spirits clung to her en masse, seemingly pleading for her not to leave.


    With a look of perplexity, Luna sat back down and continued her conversation.


    Yes dangerous? Something dark is capturing spirits and its dangerous to go further.


    The word dangerous immediately put me on edge.


    Can you figure out what it is in more detail?


    Luna shook her head.


    They dont know either.


    The notion of something preying on spirits was troublesome, especially as I had never heard of such a creature inhabiting the Soderton Circtory System.


    Does it also prey on people?


    After asking the spirits, Lunas expression hardened momentarily, then she nodded at me.


    It doesnt discriminate against humans either.


    Trishas image shed through my mind.


    Cecils group didnt have anyone proficient inbat; would they be alright?


    I wondered if this was how a brother felt when leaving a sister behind in a distantnd. Usually, it wasnt a big deal, but the moment danger loomed, my worries would gravitate towards Trisha.


    Tell them if its a giant lizard, we can deal with it. Of course, thats if they guide us to the center of the Circtory System.


    As Luna tranted my words to the forest spirits, her expression gradually grew more serious.


    Its an entity that is alien to the lifeforms of the Circtory System, she tranted.


    A sense of foreboding crept over me.


    Can you find out where these things came from?


    Luna nodded.


    The spirits will show us the way. They just cautioned against going too deep.


    I took out Cecils dedicated Stitch. Jotting down the information we had just learned, I sent it off.


    Whatever it was, better I deal with it before it causes trouble for Trisha.


    Lets go.


    ***


    Matthiasias and Lilith concealed their battered bodies within a cave.


    Liliths face was wrapped in her hands, and she was despondent.


    Victor Victors gone


    She had witnessed with her own eyes how Victor, who had stopped to protect the group, was attacked by the dark shadows.


    Matthiasias looked on at Lilith and said,


    Hell be okay. Hes a strong guy


    She responded in a tearful voice tinged with contempt.


    I told him not to do it.


    Lilith was the only one who had insisted they should not touch the obelisks.


    However, the rest of the group, as if possessed, dug the ground mindlessly.


    I still dont understand why I did it. Something something was calling. It must have been the Blue Spirit Grass we got from Rigved that possessed us.


    Only Lilith, who had not ingested the herb, had kept her sanity. Something had surely manipted their minds, making it difficult to me anyone.


    She buried her face in her knees and sobbed.


    Matthiasias moved to embrace her, attempting to offerfort.


    That was when Lilith, sensing his intention, pushed him away.


    Donte any closer.


    Frustrated by the rejection, Matthiasias temporarily clenched his teeth.


    Cant I even offer some constion?


    His outburst came despite the danger they were init was the possibility of imminent death that made him reckless and furious.


    We might be dead before the professors find us anyway, and youre still being so sensitive about everything? Huh?


    Lilith eyed Matthiasias with eyes red with anger.


    I wont die. And after this exercise, whatever was between us is over for good.


    Matthiasiass neck veins bulged with frustration.


    Dont act like that. Are you going to ignore all the effort Ive put in and just end things unterally?


    You promised. That after thisst team-up, you wont approach me anymore, she sniffed.


    Matthiasias had persistently tried to get on the team with Lilith but was resolutely rejected. Eventually, he had demandedpensation for the gifts and favors he had provided over time and, under the condition that they settle things and cease contact after this, lured Lilith to join him.


    You agreed to it because you liked the sound of bringing Victor on board. Didnt you? Did you expect me to get jealous if that masked weirdo said something?


    You brought him on your own. I never asked for it.


    Ah, damn it all!


    Matthiasias shouted, pacing around the cave for a while. After a moment, he closed his eyes tight, then reopened them, calming his agitation.


    Ha, Im sorry. I lost my temper for a bit. We should be pulling together now. If we ovee this ordeal together maybe our rtionship can get better, I believe.


    Only then did Lilith realize shed been deceived. Matthiasias had never intended to cut ties.


    I dont want that at all.


    Matthiasias rested his hand on her shoulder.


    Ignoring her rejection, he continued to speak his piece.


    Ill protect you