The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 249 Survival Competition (5)

Hohenheim. Who is he?

Whether is magic, where he doesn’t lag behind the Genius’ of Morg Clan, or whether it’s alchemy, where his research doesn’t fall short compared to empire’s greatest alchemist.

The heir of Aureolus Family.

He completed all the prestigious courses that the Mage Tower takes pride in with outstanding grades.

Now a third-year student council president on the verge of early graduation, he has a secure life ahead, with plans for postgraduate studies immediately after graduation and eventual appointment as a professor at the Mage Tower.

Moreover, rumors are circulating that this outstanding elite prodigy is destined to become the Tower Lord of the Mage Tower.

…The unstoppable prodigy, burdened with such expectations, began to emit sounds of misery and agony, so pitiful and desperate that even he couldn’t bear to listen.

Poooorrr…

He didn’t speak the words out loud.

Soon, following the chilling sounds of agony that could induce cold sweats with just a listen, screams also rang out.

Phishy-slick! Psss… Pffft!

Once again, the sound didn’t come from his mouth.

“Cough, cough!?”

Hohenheim began to stagger, clutching his stomach.

His entire body twisted. Like a shrimp thrown onto a hot salt plate, his body started to contort.

Damp and chilly sensations; his entire body was already damp with sweat.

The internal organs in his abdomen were tossing and turning uncontrollably, to the point where magic couldn’t control them.

“I-is it poison?”

Hohenheim turned his head with an expression of disbelief.

Red stew was flowing from the coconut shell lying on the ground.

“I-I’ve definitely checked the ingredients inside. There was nothing that could be poisonous. Why?”

In an instant, something brushed through his mind.

“Could it be a combination!?”

The genius’s brain quickly grasped the situation.

It occasionally happens.

Things that are harmless to the human body when consumed separately can turn deadly when mixed.

For example, honey and black tea, eel and peach, beer and peanuts, crab and persimmon, spinach and tofu, carrot and cucumber, cheese and beans, seaweed and salt, and so on; there exist combinations of foods that, when eaten together, have negative effects (usually inducing bowel movements).

Hohenheim meticulously examined the ingredients in the red stew.

They were generally ordinary, but there were also suspicious ingredients.

Soon, Hohenheim identified two extremely questionable ingredients.

“Chakachaka catfish, a carnivorous fish that inhabits the red and black mountains, and the bark of the Sabic tree… Is that it?”

When each is kept separate, there is no particular issue, but when the two are combined, it induces intense abdominal pain.

“Wh-who knew about this combination method? Which bastard…?”

Hohenheim, glancing around with bloodshot eyes, suddenly catches sight of someone’s face.

“Huh?”

Beyond the thicket, there was a guy making a stupid expression.

Just a first-year newbie from another school, not worth paying much attention to, but Hohenheim’s genius memory recognized him.

Granola de Reviadon.

Talented in his own way, but still a brat who roams around causing trouble due to his youth.

Splash!

Hohenheim was convinced that Granola was the one who played a prank on him with the stew.

If not him, who else would concoct such a deadly stew.

Meanwhile, Granola looked bewildered.

‘Why, why are you glaring at me as if you want to kill me? What did I do…’

At that moment.

Tap

A hand touched Granola’s shoulder.

It was Vikir.

“Congratulations, team leader. Thanks to your poison, you’ve caught the Mage Tower’s Student council President.”

“Huh, me? My poison?”

“Yeah. It’s your virtue and your poison.”

Granola could only stare in bewilderment.

Behind him, Hohenheim’s gaze became even more ferocious.

… Anyway.

Thud!

In the end, Hohenheim collapsed to the ground, clutching his stomach in a bizarre position.

Squelch – Splat

Vomiting and diarrhea. Violent cries pouring from his mouth.

“…”

Hohenheim, face buried in the ground, trembling.

…10 …9 …8 …7 …6 …5 …4 …3 …2

His HP was gradually decreasing towards 0.

And in front of him, Bakilaga stood with a puzzled expression.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“…”

“Okay. I got it.”

Bakilaga hesitated for a moment, raising his hand, then carefully moved it again.

Thud

Bakilaga gently touched Hohenheim’s shoulder as he lay there.

Very cautious, as if handling something delicate.

Despite Bakilaga’s caring gesture, Hohenheim’s HP dropped to 1.

“S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to… sorry…”

“…”

“…Okay. I understand.”

Bakilaga quickly withdrew his hand from Hohenheim’s shoulder, and at the same time, a tear fell from his eyes.

As longtime frenemies, Bakilaga understood Hohenheim’s feelings. Well, any human would understand and empathize.

Everyone must have experienced pooping in their pants at least once in their childhood.

“…”

Scratching his head, Bakilaga turned away and soon disappeared behind the bushes.

Unaware that the last duel of their school days, with the long-standing rival, would end so anticlimactically, his departing figure looked quite awkward and lonely.

…And then.

Rustle!

Someone immediately pushed through the bushes and revealed themselves in front of Hohenheim.

“You, you!”

Hohenheim’s eyes lit up.

Vikir, with an expressionless face, gazed down at the fallen Hohenheim in silence.

Hohenheim soon let out a hollow laughter, draining the strength from his eyes.

What’s there to fear when he’s already shown himself in such a pathetic state?

“Yeah. In the end, an unknown first year from Colosseo caught me.”

“…”

“You filthy rat, you. So, when in your miserable life will you have the opportunity to confront a genius like me? Take it, please. My throat! Break this Hohenheim with your most confident weapon and special move!”

Even in his final moments, he maintained his proud dignity. And he accepted death with an arrogant posture.

“Sword? Axe? Bow? Any weapon is fine. However, my body may break, but my pride and spirit will never break.”

HP 1.

With only 1 HP remaining.

Hohenheim stared at Vikir with a determined gaze.

…But.

Vikir didn’t draw any weapon.

Just empty-handed. That’s all.

“?”

Hohenheim’s brow furrowed slightly.

The instinct of a genius, that sharp sense, warned as if something terrifying was aimed at him.

But looking around, there was no sign of a sword, spear, arrow, or magic.

‘What on earth is this? This unprecedented unease…’

Cold sweat gushed out, dampening the area below his waist. His eyes were spinning round and round.

For the first time in his life, Hohenheim was experiencing a faint sense of anxiety and fear simultaneously.

And all of this was due to an unknown freshman from another school right in front of him!

“…”

Finally, a small change occurred on Vikir’s expressionless face.

His lips twitched…

And in that moment.

More chilling and sharp than anything in this world, a dagger mercilessly stabbed Hohenheim’s heart.

“You little shit.”

Violence.

It was beyond verbal violence; it was fact-based violence.

Hohenheim’s pride, heart, and soul, unbreakable by any weapon like a sword, axe, spear, bow, or magic, were chipped away with a tik sound.

…0

Due to extreme stress and anger, Hohenheim’s Hp fell to 0.

And that was the end.

* * *

The final moments of Hohenheim, the Mage Tower’s student council president.

It sent shockwaves through everyone participating in the survival competition in the Red and Black Mountains.

Dolores, looking at Vikir, who had just killed Hohenheim, had a blank expression on her face.

“Uh… Vikir.”

“Yes.”

“Is the spicy catfish stew I just ate the same as what Hohenheim ate?”

“Yes.”

Upon Vikir’s confirmation, Dolores felt a cold sweat soaking her spine.

“…W-wait, Will I die the same way as him?”

“Yes.”

Vikir nodded again.

Competitors. Even if they’re from the same school, they eventually become enemies competing for rankings.

Innocent Dolores’ face turned pale.

But the reason she screamed was not because she feared being eliminated from the competition or felt betrayed by her junior.

It was the most embarrassing send off…

“No, it can’t be! It’s impossible! Please! Please, not like this!”

She had already caused Vikir a similar kind of trouble before (Peed on him).

‘I’d rather end my own life!’

Dolores covered her back with one hand and retreated with the other, swaying backward.

Vikir chuckled…

He decided to clarify briefly.

Pulling a few dried mushrooms from his pocket, Vikir spoke.

“If you chew these and eat them together, they can neutralize the poison created by mixing the flesh of the spicy catfish and the bark of the Sabic tree.”

“…!”

Remembering the moment when Vikir threw a few mushrooms into her stew dish just before handing it to her, Dolores gasped.

“T-then what you said just now?”

“It was a joke.”

“…”

Given that Dolores’ HP had dropped by about 10% as a result of what had just occurred, it was possible to gauge the extent of her mental damage.