Chapter 177: Chapter 177 - Crisis
Kurt watched this familiar spectacle unfold, completely speechless.
Slowly, he turned head to look at the Dorm Mother behind the counter, expecting her to call for order. Instead, the sweet elderly woman was just beaming with a deeply pleased expression as she rested her chin on her hand.
"Oh, it is so wonderful to see the children so lively and energetic before the tournament."
Then, the sea of dramatic students parted as three distinct individuals marched forward to block his path. They stood in a rigid, unmoving line, looking like the ultimate tier of academic outcasts.
The one on the left was chubby, wearing a uniform that looked a size too small
The one on the right was incredibly lanky, resembling a wooden pole.
And the leader in the middle wore a pair of massive, thick square glasses that magnified his eyes to a comical degree. He pushed said glasses up the bridge of his nose, reflecting a glint of self-righteous fury off the lenses.
"Hold it right there, scallywag! We are the official executive leaders of the Emelie Fan Club, and we demand to know the exact nature of your relationship with her! By what right do you simply barge in here and–"
Whoosh–BAM! BONK! DOINK!
Without warning, they all flew in the air and landed on top of another in a pile of bodies on the lobby couch.
Emelie casually walked past them as she stepped down the final flight of stairs and stood at Kurt’s side.
"It’s none of your business, guys. Come on, Kurt. Let’s go."
"Yeeaah... Right behind you."
"... She took out our last line of defense! The three nerds are down!!"
"... NOOO!! She’s leaving with him!!!"
"... I never even got the chance to confess to her *sob*."
....
As they walked down the stone path leading away from the dormitory hill, Kurt glanced sideways at Emelie with a thoroughly amused smirk playing on his lips.
"Well, well, Lady Emalie~ This is the second time something like this has happened, no?"
"Eurgh. I wish they’d all just stop. It’s stupidly exhausting."
Kurt’s smirk softened, turning into a more curious, observant expression as he watched her side profile.
"Since we’re on this topic, I must ask... You always distance yourself from everyone and build these massive walls. Why is that?"
"Because it’s just easier that way." she murmured softly. "For me. And for them."
"You mean it’s because of your past? Because you’re afraid of letting people get close, only to watch them disappear? Afraid they’ll all forget while you alone remember?"
Emelie stopped for a split second as her shoulders tensed beneath her oversized hoodie. She didn’t say anything, but her silence was louder than any words of admission could be.
For someone who had lived through centuries, watching generations wither away while she remained unchanged was a unique type of torture to say the least.
Seeing her slump into herself, Kurt raised hand and gave her a firm, reassuring light tap on her upper back – just enough to snap her out of her thoughts.
"You don’t have to worry about that crap anymore," he flashed her a grin of confidence.
"Since I’m here now, we’re in this together. And let me tell you, whatever comes our way, we’re sure as hell going to make it past the ten-year deadline. So stop overthinking and go ahead and live your youthful campus life."
Stunned, Emelie could only blink at his unyielding optimism.
She stared at his grin for a few seconds before smiling and shaking her head. "You’re such an idiot, Kurt. But... Thank you. Though there is still one major problem with that advice."
"Oh yeah? What’s that?"
Suddenly, the reality of her true nature hit Kurt’s brain like a runaway freight train.
"Wait... don’t tell me. Is it because you’re actually a nearly thousand-year-old granny who can’t relate to a bunch of hormonal teenagers–"
THWACK!
Emelie’s fist connected squarely with Kurt’s upper arm. Her face was flushed with a mixture of amusement and irritation.
"You really don’t need to be so blunt about it, you dick! And I am NOT a granny!"
Kurt let out a lively laugh, rubbing his arm, while Emelie couldn’t help but smile at the playful banter.
As they reached the end of the dormitory path and got a full view of the city below, Kurt looked out toward a specific district.
"So, we’re heading to the prefect station first, right? To check up on the investigation?"
"Yes," Emelie nodded.
Kurt glanced up at the sky and noticed the dark rain clouds rapidly encroaching upon the city, blocking out the last remnants of the afternoon sun.
"You know," he muttered thoughtfully while rubbing his chin.
"Thinking back on that whole mess in the swamp... maybe that kid Austin will actually know something useful about the missing gem. Since he was apparently acting as a spy for that cultist and all that."
The moment the name "Austin" left his lips, Emelie stopped dead in her tracks.
It was so sudden that Kurt took two more strides forward before realising he was walking alone. He paused and turned around with a confused expression.
"Emy? What’s wrong?"
The sight that greeted him caused his breath to catch. Her face was a ghostly shade of pale white, and large beads of sweat were breaking out across her forehead and temple. Her green eyes were wide, completely dilated with primitive terror as she stared blankly at him.
"... Hey, Emy. Seriously, what’s wrong?"
"Wh-What... what did you just say?"
"Huh? I said maybe this kid called Austin knows something about the missing gem since he was–"
Before he could finish the sentence, Emelie lunged forward. Her hands shot out of her hoodie pockets and grabbed Kurt’s forearms with a desperate grip.
"How do you know that name?!" she demanded.
Stopping herself from losing control, she let out a forced, and nervous laugh that sounded completely hysterical.
"Haha... no. No, wait. That’s ridiculous. It... it has to be a different Austin. There are thousands of people named Austin in the kingdoms! It’s a completely common name! Kurt... it’s a different one, right?! Tell me it’s a different one!"
Kurt stared down at her as he felt the genuine panic radiating off her skin. "Emy, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re completely losing it right now. You’re not making any sense."
"Describe him! Please, just describe him to me!"
"Uh... okay. Messy brown hair. Dark brown eyes. He’s about your height, maybe a little taller. I remember Izumi-san saying he has a ’colourful personality’. And honestly, from what I gathered, she’s kind of right."
With every single descriptive detail that left his mouth, Emelie’s face grew visibly more horrified.
"Oh, and there was one more thing," Kurt added, trying to remember the report. "He’s apparently involved with some sort of succubus named Gracie–"
"WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY ANYTHING?!" she snapped, wildly shaking his arms back and forth.
"Say anything about what?"
"ABOUT AUSTIN!!"
"Austin?! What is there to even say?!" Kurt shot back, thoroughly confused by her escalation.
"The kid didn’t exactly play a big role in the grand scheme of things! No offense to him, but even without him acting as a ’spy’ in the cult, I’m pretty sure Izumi-san would’ve handled that cultist somehow!"
"It doesn’t matter what Ayako would have done to some stupid cultist! This is... this is Austin! You don’t understand, Kurt! He knows things many wouldn’t! And he’s always up to something devious! If he was there... "
"Emy, seriously, look at me. The only suspicious thing about the kid is that he might be tied to a succubus called Gracie. That’s it."
"Gracie? Ga..ry? No.. Oh no.."
’Gary? Why does that sound–’
Thud!
Emelie collapsed directly onto her knees on the hard road.
She clutched her head with both hands and began to rock back and forth. "No... no, no, no. This can’t be happening. This cannot be happening.."
Kurt’s heart thumped hard with worry. He’d seen her episodes of vulnerability, but this was without a doubt the worst mental breakdown he’d ever seen.
"Emelie," he kneeled in front of her. "Is there something about this Austin that I should know? Who the hell is he?"
However, she kept rocking back and forth, twisting her fingers into her silver hair as she muttered to herself in a disjointed panic.
"The gem... the Saintess’ gem is gone... and Austin was right there... in the swamp... with Gary... They’re not supposed to be their.. The entire kingdom... no, the world..."
Suddenly, her head snapped up. "KURT!"
"Yeah? I’m right here."
"There is absolutely no time to waste!" she yelled as a green aura took over her body. "We are going to the prefect station right now!"
"Okay, fine, but you still haven’t told me why the hell you’re freaking out so bad."
"I’ll tell you at the station! Once we have confirmed the exact status and location of that missing gem!"
She then floated in the sky and extended both hands toward Kurt, who felt his body instantly lift off the ground.
Before he could brace himself, Emelie launched herself into the sky, tearing through the air at a breakneck, terrifying speed, dragging him right alongside her.
Seeing the terror on her face, Kurt couldn’t help but feel a deep knot of worry tighten in his own stomach. Whoever this Austin was... he was clearly a harbinger of ruin.
