In The Academy As Sukuna

Ch 42 - Her Deal with the Devil

"In the act of saving others, we sometimes find the path to saving ourselves."

(POV: Ryomen Sukuna)

The moon was high in the sky, casting a comforting white glow on the environment, as the sky was completely clear.

The city's noise was nothing but a distant sound as I had strolled quite far this night.

My footsteps on the gravel occasionally broke the peaceful silence of the night.

However, my thoughts were in turmoil.

Do I belong here?

I asked myself this question everyday. This question had been gnawing on me ever since the first day I arrived.

The thrill of battle, the rush of power, it was all hollow, as if something within me went unfulfilled.

I felt no sense of purpose, no connection to this world, even though I knew I couldn't live without some of the people here.

I sighed, stopping and looking at the sky.

The moon seemed beautiful, there were fewer craters on it than I was used to, but most of my last life, I did not have the fortune to gaze upon it so peacefully, so I can't complain.

I sighed again, lost in my thoughts.

As I was just standing there, a faint sound reached my ears, an unclear sob.

My senses sharpened. I didn't want to be disturbed today, but it seemed as if something pulled me towards a certain place.

My legs moved on their own, walking at a fast pace, going through alleyways.

As I walked farther away from the main roads, the environment got darker, the moonlight the only thing illuminating the surroundings.

I reached an old building, which looked like a school.

The sobs got louder. I looked around, but saw nothing. I scanned around for mana, and I found a new signature.

And it was...

I looked up, my eyes widening as I saw a silhouette falling towards me.

It was a little girl, tears dripping down her face as she slowly fell down, her eyes tightly shut, as if not wanting to look at anything anymore.

My body seemed to move on its own as I jumped into the air, reinforcing myself with cursed energy.

A part of me wanted to stop, to go away and act as if nothing had happened, but another part of me...it propelled me forward.

As I flew in the air, time seemed to slow down, my heart was beating hard in my chest as I saw her slowly getting closer.

I extended my hands, on which she landed. She was light...almost too light.

I pulled her closer to my body as we landed gently on the ground.

The world seemed to be frozen as I looked at her limp body. My heartbeat fastened as the thought of her dying passed through my mind.

I checked her breathing and pulse, and it seemed normal enough.

I felt the faint beating of her heart and the slow rise and fall of her chest when she breathed.

I sighed in relief. She had just passed out from emotional shock.

Tear marks still stained her face as I looked at her, my eyes glinting with a rare sympathy.