Chapter 125
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Volume 3 + Chapter 125: Despondency
The situation had escalated beyond Xia Yi’s control.
By all appearances, this impostor was determined to fight her to the bitter end.
She had already risked exposure by preparing to summon her holy sword.
But just then—
A long-haired woman stepped effortlessly between Xia Yi and the Sword Saint.
Despite the perilous circumstances, not a trace of panic showed on her face.
“Good evening, Xia Yi~” she greeted casually, as if nothing were amiss.
“Huh?”
Xia Yi froze.
“Doctor?”
This was indeed Dr. Claire from Rhine Alchemy Association’s Life Alchemy Research Division—the very doctor Xia Yi knew.
Her jet-black hair cascaded down her back as she stood there in a white lab coat, a lollipop dangling from her lips.
She seemed utterly oblivious to the danger, as if she’d just happened upon this scene during an evening stroll.
“Mmm~ Just taking a nighttime walk when I stumbled upon something interesting. How lucky~” The doctor smiled at Xia Yi. “Want a lollipop?”
Meanwhile, the Sword Saint continued his advance, his murderous aura clashing violently with the doctor’s nonchalance.
The stark contrast between them existing simultaneously in Xia Yi’s field of vision was almost surreal.
“Doctor, behind you—” Xia Yi warned urgently. “You’ll die!”
The Sword Saint had reached the doctor’s back.
“Relax~ It’s nothing serious.”
The doctor slipped a hand into her lab coat and produced several test tubes between her fingers.
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed them backward.
“GRAAAH!”
The Sword Saint swung his arm, shattering the airborne tubes mid-flight. The potions splashed across his armor, seeping through its cracks.
What seemed like a careless throw had actually been precisely calculated.
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One.”
“Stop.”
As the doctor’s countdown concluded, the Sword Saint actually froze in place.
“Regain your senses, Wright?” She glanced at the armored figure behind her.
“…Why are you here?” The Sword Saint’s voice had regained its composure.
Xia Yi noticed with astonishment—through the gaps in the broken armor—that the dragon scales were gradually receding.
His Draconification was being suppressed?
But the doctor paid the Sword Saint no further mind, cheerfully approaching Xia Yi instead.
Clearly, this mad armored brute couldn’t compare to a sweet, soft loli in her heart.
“Xia Yi, pick one~”
The doctor produced several lollipops, smiling as she asked:
“Which flavor suits your taste? Peach? Pineapple? Or perhaps the strawberry milk from last time?”
“Uh…”
Xia Yi blinked in bewilderment.
Hey hey, isn’t this totally the wrong time for candy choices?!
That guy over there looks ready to tear you apart!
“Oh? Want me to choose for you? Fine then~ Strawberry milk it is! It suits your adorable image perfectly!”
The doctor enthusiastically unwrapped the lollipop.
“Here comes the strawberry milk candy~!”
Before Xia Yi could react, she found something sweet being stuffed into her mouth.
A lollipop.
“…Claire!”
The Sword Saint seemed barely able to restrain himself.
“Tch, so noisy. Do you really enjoy interrupting my reunion with Xia Yi this much?”
The doctor sighed.
“Do you know how much I suffered in that prison cell you threw me into? Convincing them to let me see you took so much effort—so many written apologies swearing I wouldn’t cause trouble…”
The Sword Saint surveyed their surroundings.
Not just the doctor—other Rhine Alchemy personnel had arrived, clearly assigned to monitor her movements.
She must have compromised during her imprisonment.
“Did you come to stop me?” the Sword Saint asked.
“I came to correct your misunderstanding about the potion,” the doctor said. “Fine, I’ll confess! That potion was my own creation—I just wanted to mess with you. Never thought you’d lose your composure so spectacularly.”
“You?”
“Yes, me. Did you seriously think that little angel Xia Yi had anything to do with it?”
The doctor gestured dramatically toward Xia Yi.
“Look at her! Completely harmless! A loli barely over 150cm brewing such an advanced potion? Please~”
Xia Yi felt inexplicably attacked.
“You expect me to believe you?” The Sword Saint’s voice darkened. “Every word from your mouth is a lie.”
“And you’re the pinnacle of honesty? Humanity’s great hero?”
The doctor’s barbed words struck true, dealing critical damage.
She stepped closer to the Sword Saint, lowering her voice.
“The potion you want is ready for use now—you just experienced its effects firsthand. Xia Yi truly has no connection to it—she was just bait. Harm her, and no one gets the formula. Understood?”
“……”
The Sword Saint fell silent, his helmet’s gaze icy as it shifted between the doctor and Xia Yi.
After assessing the situation, he finally spoke.
“Truth or lies matter not. Provide that potion, and we’re done.”
“Glad we understand each other,” the doctor said.
Xia Yi watched their whispered exchange with growing confusion.
What method had this doctor used to calm the frenzied impostor and reverse his draconic traits?
Could that potion actually be—
“What’s happening? What’s happening? WHAT’S HAPPENING?!”
Another group arrived at the scene.
Xia Yi squinted—it was Laurel Institute’s faculty, led by none other than… Biden?
Biden was blasting away the blockade of swordsmen with magic, forcefully breaching their defenses.
“To act so brazenly on Laurel Institute’s turf, even assaulting our teachers and students! Not even the Human Sword Saint can walk away from this unscathed!!”
Biden marched indignantly toward the Sword Saint and doctor, righteous fury radiating from every pore.
“Students and faculty of Laurel Institute, fear not! With Biden here— Eh? Teacher Hill?!”
Spotting Hill, Biden frowned. His expression grew even more complicated when he noticed Xia Yi.
“Y-you… Why is it always you?!”
“Good evening, Teacher Biden,” Xia Yi waved.
Biden’s cheek twitched as if he’d swallowed a fly, his blood pressure visibly spiking.
But with everyone watching, he had no choice but to confront the Sword Saint.
“Sword Saint! You owe Laurel Institute an explanation for this!!”
“Looks like you’re not walking away so easily~” The doctor smirked.
Ultimately, the Sword Saint could find no justification and was forced to accompany Biden for negotiations with Laurel Institute’s higher-ups.
With that, the incident reached its conclusion.
Xia Yi approached Hill. “Are you okay, Hil— Teacher!”
She suddenly realized—in her panic earlier, she’d forgotten to use honorifics.
Hopefully no one noticed?
Given the emergency, who would pay attention to such details?
“…I’m fine now,” Hill replied.
Xia Yi finally relaxed.
Oh right!
Fear! I need to act scared!
“Wuwu… Teacher Hill, I-I was so scared… Thank goodness Teacher Biden came, or things would’ve been terrible…” Xia Yi fake-sobbed, trembling dramatically.
Meanwhile, Lia stood alone to the side, watching Xia Yi and Hill’s interaction with despondent eyes.
