Amethyst eyes resembling the depths of what was beyond the human reach, and swaying ethereal dark strands as serene as the silent night.
I was faced with a figure whose attire was culturally familiar yet irresistibly alluring. Seeing it with my own eyes, I roughly had a guess of where I was at this moment.
'A kimono… I remember Maya had a genuine interest in the Eastern Culture… because she's originally from the east before the Magic Tower of Infinitum adopted her.'
Based on the original story, the author of the Hero's Apocalypse was inspired by the real-life cultures on Earth and utilized them in modeling this fantastical world.
That being said, even though the real-life countries such as China, Japan, Korea, or anywhere in the Eastern World weren't in this realm, their cultures remained nonetheless.
"Are we in the underworld?" I mumbled as I moved to take a seat on wherever I cozily rested these past few days.
However, before I managed to do so, something swift pushed my body down. It was heavy yet tender.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
I was momentarily flustered, seeing her foot pressing me down on my abdomen, that it didn't occur to me that the gaping hole in that area was now completely healed, miraculously so.
"Do you think you can just move and do whatever you want after lying on that bed for a week?" Maya spoke.
I didn't know why, but I felt subtle emotions in her voice.
"The Hero Academy was a mess, and I was almost caught for intercepting the interference magic set to trap you in. Don't you know how much I worked so that you could escape? Yet, the moment you woke up, you're just going to move here and there as if nothing happened?!"
It was at that moment I saw Maya biting her lip, clenching her fist, and because of her foot making contact with my skin, I sensed her body slightly trembling.
"…"
Looking at her deep amethyst eyes, I let out a deep breath.
I didn't know the true nature of the relationship the original Lugh had with this significant character, but I slowly opened my mouth to address what she was currently feeling… or to say what she wanted to hear.
"I'm sorry… and you did well. Are you okay?"
I didn't know if it was enough, but she fell silent for some time.
Letting out a sigh, Maya then-
"Keuk! Cough, cough!"
…landed a kick on my abdomen before turning around. If she was serious with that kick, I'd be dead already.
"Tsk. Come out. Let's eat and look around."
After collecting my thoughts, I slowly followed behind.
In my mind, scenarios of the story were playing.
Lugh of Eshu's uselessness in the story until he was removed.
Maya Hel Infinitum's superficial and dismissible interactions with him within the Hero Academy.
The aftermath of my demise thereon.
I was trying to put a nonexistent puzzle at the back of my head as the scenery transformed after exiting the room I was in.
From quiet to lively. From alone to crowded.
"Oh, Maya! Your friend already woke up? Well, who do we have here?"
Maya let out a smile, seeing a woman in her late twenties, who was wearing something exposing her smooth, seemingly flawless skin.
She seemed familiar…
I scanned the figure who was sitting in lotus position on her puny throne.
There was an intricate snake tattoo on one of her thighs, and another one on her waist that is presumably coiling around her back; it's an aesthetic that my eyes couldn't help but admire.
'I should have guessed; it's the Lotus Serpent Guildmaster.'
Guilds existed in this world; they're independent superpowers outside the grasp of their respective nations' governments. At least that's their stand at this point in time, since other guilds were formed on behalf of the Central Government.
The reason for their existence was simple—business and keeping each other in check, which was something that could not be done alone by the Holy Church, as well as other churches, and other institutions under the rule of the emperor, kings, and queens.
The Holy Empire, the Magic Tower of Infinitum of the Eastern Nations, the Scorching Middle World, and other countries throughout the continent, though each one possessed a proper ruler, were utilizing guilds in the shadows to do what could not be done without getting the criticism of the public eye.
"Thank you for accommodating him this past week. He's a bit stubborn, but he's as gentle as a lamb when asleep." Maya's way of talking somewhat surprised me.
It was too formal and genuine for someone with a bitch personality.
"Fufu. It's nothing worth mentioning compared to what you've done for us."
Hearing this woman's words, I remember a certain line in the original story.
[In the past, the magical genius of the Hero Academy, Maya Hel Infinitum, helped the Lotus Serpent Guild to clean up the hostiles, which resulted in long-lasting peace in the Red Light District of the Underworld… until it happened.]
[All Maya wanted was everlasting peace for the worthy. Yet the stars refused to shine on them.]
"So, what's your next move? Back to your studies? With the power you have, I can't believe you're even studying at this point." The woman, as well as Maya, chuckled.
"We're going back to the academy. I'm certain that some news reached this other side of the continent since it was a mess, but I believe it's resolved now."
I didn't know if there was something wrong with my ears as I subconsciously scratched one of them. What did she just say?
"Hey…" Tapping her shoulder, Maya glanced behind.
Looking me in the eye, she tilted her head as if there was nothing wrong with what she had just said.
'Shit. Don't tell me…?!' I cursed, sensing something ominous.
"What do you mean we're going back? I mean, you sure will, but what about me?"
It was at that moment that my body refused to move. Shouldn't I have said that?
Her right eye gradually changed its color, turning into azure.
The tension was palpable. Knowing the survival of Lugh, the story was already meant to be distorted.
"…Did you perhaps hit your head or something? Or should I kill you for you to remember?"
Because of my sudden circumstances, waking up in Lugh's dorm room, the attempted sexual assault of the Imperial Princess, my first encounter with Maya… I only realized it just now…
Both of her eyes were originally amethyst-colored, and when one of them turned into bluish, it meant that she had activated or was ready to activate her talent, which caused her to be temporarily heterochromic.
'But my first encounter with her…'
< I already handled the Imperial bitch. So you should return to the academy. I told you… You owe me. If you go back to your word, I'll pulverize you. What do you say, huh? >
Her cold voice echoed in my head.
Fuck this shit.
I didn't know what she meant by 'handled', but returning to the academy with a case of attempted sexual assault against a member of the Royal Family… that's basically socially suicide!
On a positive note, logically speaking, she would not tell me to return to the academy just to die… After her efforts and arrogance to let me escape, she would not resort to such petty tricks just to humiliate me.
"My bad… I guess I'm still disoriented with what happened."
So I said… but should I trust her?
No, I didn't have a choice.
Fucking original Lugh. What's your true relationship with this bitch?!
"Well, that settles it then. Uh, Ma'am, let us eat before taking a tour around the district first. It seems this friend of mine needs to sightsee some women to get back to his senses."
"Hahaha! I see. You do you. If you need anything, just tell me. I'll provide it as long as it's within my ability."
After that, Maya bowed gently; I instinctively did the same.
*
The weekends already flew by, and Maya and I utilized the massive portal device used in the underworld to travel between countries.
Standing in front of a massive gate with the Hero Academy's emblem resembling a sword overlapping the sun, I took a deep breath of nervousness.
'Why am I even here?'
"Let's go. Let's see the Imperial bitch."
It was early in the morning, and the official classes would start an hour away, so most students were still in their own dreams, quietly asleep.
'I could not escape her even if I wanted to… there's a way, yes, but it would be a waste of privileges I acquired.'
But if it came down to it, then I wouldn't hesitate to run again.
Arriving in front of the Imperial Princess' luxurious dorm room, Maya knocked thrice.
Knock, knock!
'Is the princess even awake?'
Just as I thought of such a question, I heard gentle approaching footsteps behind the door.
With a clicking sound, the door opened. Through its gap, the gaze of the Imperial Princess bore witness to our presence, causing her golden eyes to widen.
I thought she would suddenly shut the door in our faces.
And to my surprise, she opened the door and-
'Huh? What the-?'
...bowed in front of me.
"Uh-uh, I-I apologize for what I did last time...!"