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A heavy van came to a stop at the entrance of the pier.

"You arrived sooner than I expected."

As soon as Seti finished speaking, the van\'s door opened. And contrary to its size, only one person stepped out of the van.

Dung Beetle gathered his mana to his eyes to observe the person who had gotten out, and he frowned immediately.

...What is this?

The person who got out of the van was a man in a neat suit. The problem was that his head was a bit... bizarre.

Pig\'s head?

Instead of an ordinary human face, there was a pig\'s head that one might usually see on a ritual table¹ on his shoulders.

And seeing that there was no gap between his head and neck, it wasn’t a pig mask or some type of disguise.

He had either hollowed out a real pig\'s head and was wearing it... or that was his real head.

Either way, it was equally grotesque.

The pig-headed figure sniffed the air for a moment before walking towards Seti and Dung Beetle.

Seeing that, Dung Beetle gestured with his chin and shot Seti a questioning look as if to ask, ‘What the hell is that?’

Seti simply shrugged and answered.

"He\'s a shepherd as well as a shepherd dog sent by the government to chase after me. He looks a bit strange, doesn’t he?"

"…Is he a Beastfolk?"

"Would there be a Beastfolk outside Africa or the conservation zones? He\'s just a... modified human."

"…Human?"

Judging by his appearance, it would have been more believable if she told him that the man was a monster from beyond the dimensional portal.

However, Dung Beetle swallowed his words. On second thought, it wasn\'t particularly strange.

After all, wasn\'t the government being discussed here also the one that built a corpse storage facility to trade with necromancers? Adding one more monster didn\'t make much difference.

"…So, is that pig-headed figure the one you wanted to show me? Is he the reason you hate the government?"

"He’s one of the many reasons. I’ll show you the real reason soon. Hmm… But before that, you should hide for a bit…"

"Now? Where can I hide here…"

Before Dung Beetle could finish speaking, Seti dragged a bent iron plate from the ground and approached him.

Dung Beetle said nothing until she covered him with the iron plate.

"Hmm, this should be sufficient."

"…Is this what you call hiding?"

"Yes, you look exactly like a corpse crushed under an iron plate."

"…"

"Stay here and rest for a while."

Dung Beetle didn\'t refuse Seti’s suggestion. After all, the reason he had started this pointless question game was to buy time to recover.

With their conversation brought to a pause, Dung Beetle focused on the sensation in his legs.

Pain slowly rose from his toes and knees, signaling that his broken bones and nerves were starting to find their place.

By the time his body had somewhat recovered, the pig-headed figure\'s footsteps had reached right in front of him.

Stopping one step away from him, the pig-headed began scanning the surroundings quietly.

The filthy ground, the remnants of an explosion, the corpse of the Titan... and finally, Hong Seti leaning against a War Hammer.

After a brief silence, the pig-headed figure finally spoke to Seti.

"Cadet, you have engaged in combat without permission. This is against regulations."

The pig-headed figure looked more ordinary than expected. However, Dung Beetle frowned the moment he heard the man’s voice. It was because he sensed mana in the voice.

Although he was not well-versed in magic to explain it precisely... the mana mingling with the man’s voice felt similar to a Necromancer\'s curse.

In other words, it felt repulsive.

“You also used the Thunder Hammer without authorization. Cadet, you have broken two rules. Are these rules a joke to you?”

“...”

“Explain what exactly happened here.”

“I refuse.”

“...What did you say?”

“I said I refuse.”

“Regulation 15. A cadet cannot refuse a shepherd\'s request. Regulations exist to be followed, Cadet.”

Listening to their strange exchange, Dung Beetle pondered over what kind of conversation was taking place.

Shepherd, regulations, cadet.

It was a string of words that made no sense to him, but he was sure of one thing.

For some reason… Seti had resolved to show him this scene.

And if that wasn\'t the case, there was no other explanation for the deep emotion blazing in her blue eyes.

“Answer me, Cadet.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Regulation 29 states that disobedience of orders is considered as a deviation. Regulation 3 states that a cadet\'s deviation is subject to disciplinary action.”

“I don’t care. Go ahead and try.”

“You got some nerve, Cadet. Are you not afraid of the ban?”

As soon as the word ‘ban’ was mentioned, the mana in the man\'s voice began to move.

“This is your final warning. Explain the situation.”

Mana began to align as a spell was woven.

There was neither any sign nor sound, but Dung Beetle instinctively realized that the pig-headed figure was now \'loading\' with some sort of magic.

He tensed up, ready to throw a grenade if necessary.

But before he could take action, Seti reacted faster, gesturing behind her back.

- Watch me.

What am I supposed to watch?

Thought Dung Beetle as he relaxed his grip on the grenade.

“Cadet, what is your answer?”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“I will not tolerate any further deviation. One more refusal and you will be punished according to the regulations.”

“I refuse, so go ahead, punish me.”

As if he had been waiting for it, the moment Seti uttered her brief reply, the pig-headed figure raised his hand.

“Cadet\'s deviation has been confirmed. I will proceed with disciplinary action.”

Snap.

As the pig-headed figure snapped his fingers lightly, the spell that had been loaded activated.

Contrary to Dung Beetle\'s fears, it wasn\'t an impressive spell. It was just a spell… to press a switch for ‘something’.

However, Seti\'s reaction to whatever that ‘something’ being pressed was not simple.

“...!”

She immediately fell to her knees and began to tremble. Soon, tears streamed from her tightly shut eyes.

It may have looked like she was simply enduring something, but Dung Beetle, who could sense the mana of others, realized what was happening inside her body.

...It\'s wrenching her body.

Her mana was flowing backwards through her blood vessels. And the mana surrounding her muscles was stabbing into them instead, pressing against her vocal cords and lungs, even stifling her screams.

Each movement of mana carried finely tuned malice.

It was a technique designed solely to inflict pain… allowing neither death nor unconsciousness.

And it wasn’t possible to defend against it or resist it because the mana attacking her body was her own.

Dung Beetle silently watched her writhing in pain.

A part of him suggested fleeing immediately, but curiosity held him back.

Why was this girl showing him this?

Why did she ask about his lineage and whether he hated the government?

And most importantly... why did she help him kill the Necromancer?

There was no connection between them.

They just had a brief fight during which he had one-sidedly stolen some of her martial arts techniques a few days ago and then agreed to trade a unicorn horn for mutual benefit. That was all.

To be blunt, their relationship was only slightly better than that of a street vendor and a customer.

While such questions spiraled endlessly in his mind, Seti’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“This should… make it clear that… I’m not on good terms… with the government, right…?!!!”

Upon hearing that, the pig-headed figure tilted his head, as if confused by her words, before launching another spell.

Watching her scream silently, Dung Beetle sighed softly.

To unravel his questions, he had no choice but to continue this game of questions.

He quickly made his decision, but his actions were even quicker. He pushed the metal plate Seti used to cover him aside and stood up.

He could feel his broken bones realigning and torn muscles healing. His condition wasn’t optimal, but he was far from the worst.

“…A zombie?”

Seeing Dung Beetle stand up all of a sudden, the pig-headed figure tilted his head. Well, given his torn clothes and bloodied appearance, that was an understandable assumption.

But no zombie would throw a grenade randomly.

“You crazy—”

The moment the pig-headed figure swore upon seeing the incoming grenade, it exploded.

BOOM!!

Following the explosion, Dung Beetle sprang off the ground.

He closed the distance instantly, using the momentum to kick the pig-headed figure\'s neck.

Although it was a near-perfect surprise attack, Dung Beetle briefly clicked his tongue when he felt no impact from his toes.

As he distanced himself to gauge the situation, he saw a blue shield around the pig-headed figure\'s neck.

“Flying Kick technique? Is that the Flying Kick technique…?!”

The pig-headed figure trembled as if he were mistaken by his footwork.

“How dare… a cadet attacks a shepherd!!”

The figure glared at Dung Beetle with furious eyes as he began to prepare the same spell he had used on Seti.

Not bothering to correct the pig-headed figure’s misunderstanding, Dung Beetle instead deepened the man’s misunderstanding by moving as if he were trying to dodge his magic.

“Y-You... filthy traitor! Do you know how much blood and sweat of our people is tied to that Flying Kick Technique?! Do you have even a shred of PATRIOTISM?!!!”

“…A Pig Head talking about patriotism? Huh! George Orwell² would definitely be shocked.”

“SHUT UP!!”

Filled with rage and the certainty of victory, the pig-headed figure charged at Dung Beetle.

And as soon as the repulsive mana completed the spell, the pig-headed figure immediately snapped its fingers without hesitation.

Snap.

The spell, fired at an unavoidable speed, hit Dung Beetle.

However, the spell had no effect on him.

Let alone being a cadet; he was just a civilian who didn’t even know what that was supposed to be.

“What? How… Keh!”

As the pig-headed figure watched in bewilderment, Dung Beetle’s foot struck down him.

Although a shield activated belatedly, the force of the downward strike had long exceeded the shield\'s limit.

Crack Crack!

The shield shattered, and the gathered mana dispersed. Unable to withstand the impact of the direct hit, the pig-headed figure was torn apart.

As the pig\'s flesh and cartilage bone split, it revealed a face hidden inside.

“Kuhh, uahh.”

Dried skin like a mummy and talismans instead of eyeballs in the eye sockets.

The man\'s face revealed amidst the pig\'s blood and flesh was just as grotesque as the pig\'s head itself.

“Ugh… my… head, my head…”

Dung Beetle squinted as he examined the man’s mana.

“Is he an undead?”

Although he wasn\'t as powerful as the Titan created by the Necromancer, Dung Beetle could feel the twisted mana from him, which felt distinctly different from that of an ordinary zombie.

“He may look like that, but he’s still a living person. It’s a modified human created by pouring Necromancer’s curses into them. They’re quite valuable to the government.”

Once she could no longer feel the pain, Seti finally spoke up. Turning around, Dung Beetle could see her using the War Hammer for support to help her stand.

“This guy?”

“Even if he doesn’t know how to use mana, he can still cast magic using a medium. Though, it only works for basic magic and a few curses.”

Dung Beetle briefly glanced at the modified human, then reached out and grabbed the man by his neck.

Although the man showed signs of struggle, once Dung Beetle exerted a bit more force, his breath was cut off with a snap.

“Ah…”

Seti looked at the corpse and Dung Beetle alternately with a slightly surprised expression.

“Did you think that I wouldn’t kill him?”

“No, it’s not that… I just thought that you’d ask a few more questions before killing him.”

Following that conversation, an awkward silence filled the space. Seti took a moment to catch her breath, while Dung Beetle organized the questions swirling in his mind.

After a while, Seti spoke first.

“…Shall we continue the question game? It’s your turn to answer, Dung Beetle-ssi.”

Why did you kill the government agents?

Dung Beetle recalled the last question she had asked and replied calmly.

“The government killed my colleagues.”

“…”

“They sold the lives of my colleagues for petty cash and intended to sell their corpses to the Necromancer.”

Dung Beetle paused briefly before adding.

“I plan to kill all those responsible. That’s why I threw grenades at the government agents and broke the modified human’s neck just now. Does that answer your question?”

“…Yes, honestly, that’s more than I expected.”

“Then it’s my turn.”

Dung Beetle pondered while fiddling with his last grenade.

What should he ask? Numerous questions came to mind.

What is that Flying Kick technique about? Why are you stalking me, and what is your relationship with the government?

What was your motive for showing me that scene, and why did you help me kill the Necromancer?

…Why, why, why?

Countless questions vanished beneath the surface of thought, unable to be put into words.

However, one question that stood out among them escaped his lips.

“Seti.”

Dung Beetle asked calmly.

“What do you want from /genesisforsaken