F-Rank Soul Eater-Chapter 34: Hunt A Spy

Chapter 34: Hunt A Spy
All eyes stared at the figure that just walked into the room.
It was Instructor Ivory.
She looked as incredible as when Soren first saw her—beautiful in a way that felt carved and deliberate. Sunlight slid across her flawless skin, turning her blond hair into a halo that framed her like some divine statue descended to earth. Her uniform was immaculate. Perfect. Not even a loose thread out of place.
"Instructor Ivory." Pencil muttered, his eyes moving from her to the sorry state of Instructor Marcus on the ground.
However, instead of a yell, panic, or punishment, she smiled. That disarming smile that came from her eyes and bloomed from her entire being.
"You children have done wonderfully," she said. Her voice was soft and melodic. "Capturing an Eldritch all on your own... I’m impressed. Now come, give me the box. Let’s head back to—"
"—No," Soren cut her off dismissively.
"What?" Pencil snapped his head to him. "Soren, but the instructor is here. It’s ended. You just have to hand over the Eldritch, and we will all be done."
"Yes," Ivory echoed gently, "all you have to do is hand over the box to—"
Soren suddenly swung his Soul-steel dagger down.
—
SLUSH
. Right into the box.
That halted Ivory in her steps. "Cadet Soren, what are you doing?" Her smile had an unnatural twitch at the edge.
One that Soren caught. But he was not the only one.
Polystar and Vass saw it too.
There was a brief silence in the room; the leaves of the trees swayed a bit as if wind blew.
But it did not. The tension in the room was just that strong, faint soul energy in the air.
"Forgive me, Instructor Ivory, I’m a bit low on trusting instructors—not after one just vomited an Eldritch." Soren’s voice was low but audible and decisive enough for all to hear.
"There is no problem with that. But you can trust me. Just listen to what your friend said and give it to me."
Soren suddenly stood up, lifting the box. He stretched it, as if to offer it.
But the moment Ivory reached for it, he pulled back. "Yeah... I forgot to ask something important. Instructor, how did you know there was an Eldritch in this suitcase?"
Ivory chuckled lightly, like she had predicted the question.She lifted a finger and pointed to the ceiling.
"The entire train has cameras; I watched as you captured it."
Soren’s frown became dangerous. "You must not know me. Because if you did, you would have known that I grew up in a mechanic’s workshop." Soren dug a hand in his pocket, bringing out a string of wires with a camera attached to them.
"That’s a terrible lie, Instructor."
By now, all the others had understood, taking their various stances.
Ivory’s smile finally cracked.
Then she laughed—soft giggles that blossomed into full, spine-twisting hysterics.
Her back bent wrong as she laughed, neck tilting too far, joints popping slightly.
Soren’s steps shifted a bit, his weight taking the stance for battle.
"Not bad. Not bad at all. For an F-rank trash, you are really a clever boy. To think that you will come up with such a detailed trap just to ruin my master’s plans."
Master’s? —
A shudder ran down Soren’s spine—there’s
another one?
"Tell me," she purred, placing a finger on her chin, "just out of curiosity...apart from the obvious lie just now, what gave me away?"
What gave you away!? Where should I even start?
Soren had ’todays’ equivalent to years. He was not always the brightest in the room, but with how long he had repeated the day, if he did not figure out this much, then he’d be an idiot.
It all started with the Soulbound knights leaving the train during the stop.
Obviously, there was some kind of emergency. Soren reckoned that it was something similar to what happened in his town.
Which, of course, he can now confidently say that it was a distraction from the real goal, which was to kill all the cadets before they got to the Imperial Soulforge Academy for their training.
Soren had taken days to count the Soulbound knights again and again to be sure. Even the other instructors left the train for the emergency.
As far as he knew, all Soulbound knights had left—except two people: Instructors Ivory and Marcus.
Marcus was practically their homeroom teacher. It was understandable that he did not leave, as someone had to watch after the cadets, but was Ivory staying behind really necessary?
Even if she was, then it was not possible that Marcus would be infected with a parasite and she would not.
This was most especially true, the reason being that Soren had seen Marcus enter the instructor’s lounge earlier with a sound mind.
Meaning that whatever took over his mind and body came from that place.
But there was more.
Soren had done his research about Eldritchs and discovered that this particular kind needed a certain range for effective control.
Therefore, whoever was controlling it must be close, as they see and feel through the parasite.
Seeing Ivory, the one person that never showed up throughout all his loops, he knew it had to be her.
Of course, Soren did not share his findings.
"You just confirmed it." He muttered coldly.
She nodded. "Of course, I just did." Her smile suddenly disappeared. "So how about I make you all a deal? Hand over the Eldritch, and I will let you walk away—alive."
Her eyes moved to the briefcase.
However, Soren took several steps back, "And if I refuse?"
Polystar and Vass stepped up, flanking him. Each one looked ready to battle.
Vass’s soul energy even activated.
"Really, boys?" Ivory looked at them like she was looking at fools. "I am a soul mecha pilot." She tapped the badge on her chest: angel wings crossing over head to shake each other
"The minimum requirement to be an instructor is to have achieved the third Form. The requirement to be a Soul Mecha pilot is the Sixth Form. Do you really think I am an opponent you want to mess with?"
She took a step forward.
—
boom
A blast of blue Soul energy exploded from her being.
It was thick, choking, and nearly tangible enough to grab.
She is C–rank.
But such pressure Soren had never felt before. It was like he had suddenly been thrown a boulder the weight of ten houses.
Soren and his party’s bodies had been strengthened by their Shades, and yet, they still felt like they would be crushed under all that weight.
"Soren," Pencil cried out, "just... just give it to her. She has promised to let us go." He fell to his knees, sweat running down his forehead, soaking his clothes.
Soren gave Pencil a menacing side look. There were a lot of words to say, but right now, all he felt was gross disgust for his friend’s cowardice.
Even Bloodshine thought the same.
At such a time, Soren spoke up., "There is no doubt you are stronger, but you are forgetting two important things. Firstly, I can tell you are wounded, and secondly, Talent’s favorite is on our side."
—Vass screamed explosively, pure white light burst from him, forming flames...
The train shook.