Naturally, the after-school classes were postponed. With the dormitory curfew moved up, the time spent in Schlaphe Hall increased. And now, I was just staring at a black cat gnawing on a fish in my room.
Rip!
Maybe it’s because I’ve been feeding it every day without fail. The cat, indifferent to my gaze, continued to comfortably eat the fish.
Donatan watched with a pleased expression.
– It doesn’t run away anymore.
“Soon, we’ll be able to pet it.”
– Hmm, it’s surprising. I didn’t think you liked cats.
I smiled at Donatan’s words.
“Yeah, I actually like cats.”
– What are you plotting now?“Plotting? What do you mean?”
The cat vanished into thin air, leaving only the fish bones behind.
Fsssh—
With nothing else to pass the time, I took out the rules mirror.
[The hot water in the showers will not be available for the time being. If you see steam, leave immediately.]
Today, while others nearly froze to death in the showers, only the magic department students secretly used warm water. Indeed, nothing enhances the quality of life like magic.
[Today’s knock is always three times. If it’s not three times, no matter how familiar the voice, do not open the door.]
“Hmm.”
Re-reading the content I had already seen was getting boring. Bored, I left the room. The hallway was completely silent as if everyone had disappeared… Most people were probably in the first-floor lobby.
Before entering Schlaphe Hall, Athera had frightened everyone with stories of seeing something terrifying.
-I saw it! It was different from what I saw before. Its eyes glowed red.
As more and more students added their own sightings, the scared ones ended up clustering together.
“If you keep your mind healthy, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Turning around the stair corner and descending, I saw the first-floor lobby crowded with people. They were sitting huddled together, and at that moment, a mischievous guy was pointing at the air, trying to scare them.
“It’s here! A wraith!”
The girls screamed, and even Limberton joined in.
“Haha, gotcha!”
“You bastard!”
“Can’t you see there’s a time and place for jokes?”
The guy grinned mischievously and was kicked by the surrounding people. As the guy writhed on the floor, someone dragged a chair over and sat down.
“Well, since there’s nothing to do, how about we tell some interesting stories? I’ll start.”
Feeling lonely holed up in my room, I decided to pass the time here. As I approached the group, the guy on the floor pointed at me and pulled the same prank again.
“A wraith! It’s a wraith!”
How dare this guy try to prank me. I was about to hit him when everyone’s eyes focused on me. They gaped like goldfish, looking as if they had seen something unbelievable.
“What? Did you all plan this together?”
“Be-behind you…”
When I turned at Limberton’s words, there was nothing to see. Ah, so this is the kind of joke they play on newcomers. I started to sit down on the floor.
“Ah!”
“Hey, don’t come closer!”
“This is getting boring; can you stop?”
Just then, something brushed my cheek—a feelingless touch. It was just something I noticed with the corner of my eye.
“Hmm?”
Looking up at the ceiling, I met the gaze of two blood-red eyes. A woman in a white dress, old-fashioned and elegant, with pale skin, was looking down at me.
“….”
I was a bit surprised, but not scared. After all, I had ‘1-second invincibility’ and, more importantly, a healthy mind.
To me, people are scarier than ghosts.
“Limberton, should I introduce you to a girl?”
“How can you joke at a time like this?”
“Ah, she’s gone. I guess she didn’t like you.”
As the wraith vanished, people crowded around Limberton.
“We might be safe around this guy.”
“Yeah, even ghosts seem to have good taste.”
Limberton trembled, looking displeased.
“…Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
Anyway, with nothing else to read and bored out of my mind, I hoped this would end soon. Should I give the professors a clue about where the missing students are hiding?
-No, I shouldn’t mess with the scenario. They’ll find them eventually.
***
The wooden floorboards of the walkway stretched out. In the center was a long staircase leading up to the citadel, flanked by statues of the founder Merlin and large monuments. Under a professor’s supervision, Luon and another donation-admitted student were enjoying the fresh air.
“You look tired, professor.”
“…Don’t talk to me, Luon.”
Only one professor, who was supposed to supervise two students, was with them. This was due to the increased personnel allocated to find the missing students. As they walked, Luon spotted a man in the distance walking towards them with his hands in his pockets.
Noticing Luon’s signal, his companion stopped and drew the professor’s attention.
“Is that the rumored wraith?”
“What?”
As the professor looked seriously, Luon discreetly exchanged a note with the man walking past him.
“Oh, my mistake. It was just a piece of cloth.”
“Hmph, enough with the jokes, Felcion.”
“You’re too harsh. What if it had been real?”
While the professor glared at Felcion, Luon quickly scanned the note’s contents.
[The item you requested is placed by the window. I regret to inform you that the other item has not been found yet.]
Luon crumpled the note and discreetly discarded it in the snow. After finishing his outdoor activity, he returned to his room. The shelf was full of pigeon-shaped stone statues, and a chisel and hammer lay on the desk.
He passed by them and approached the barred window.
Tonight, the professors were too preoccupied with searching for the missing students to notice the item hanging on the bars.
Luon brought the cloth-wrapped item inside and unwrapped it. Inside was a dark steel piece about the size of a candle, a bluish-green mana stone, and a pouch of white powder.
‘The color of the steel and mana stone is about right. Let’s test the powder.’
Luon took out a pocket watch and dipped his finger in the powder.
“Ah.”
Ten seconds had passed, but to Luon, it felt like only a second.
[Thought-paralyzing powder]
A powder that temporarily disrupts cognitive processes. Its fine particles can even penetrate the skin.
“Hmm, there’s too much of it. I need to reduce the amount.”
Luon adjusted the powder to be almost invisible. Though the effect would be lessened by using only a quarter of the amount, it would suffice.
Just then, the professor announced lights out.
“After this time, no one is allowed to go out. Sleep well.”
Luon watched the professor’s back as he walked down the hallway. The only way out was through the stairs at the end of the corridor, blocked by iron bars.
‘The bars on the window and those on the stairs are both unbreakable by force.’
This prison was enforced by high-level magic. The only way to unlock it was with the professor’s key.
As the professor inserted the key to lock the door, Luon closely observed its shape. Having seen it many times, he memorized every notch and the shape of the mana stone at the end of the key.
Luon returned to his room, picked up the chisel, and channeled his aura. He carved the steel piece into the shape of the key, recalling its details. After engraving the mana stone to match, the fake key was almost indistinguishable from the real one, only the color slightly different.
Lastly, he engraved a crack into the bluish-green mana stone at the end of the key.
Crack.
“Hmm.”
If he swapped the professor’s key with this fake one, the professor wouldn’t notice and would discard it, thinking it was broken.
Since it was likely that Arkandrick carried a spare, obtaining the real key would greatly expand his range of movement.
Swish—
Luon approached the bars and sprinkled the powdered drug onto the handle. He stayed awake until morning.
When the professor approached with a weary expression, he spoke.
“What are you doing here, Luon Al Barna?”
“I wanted to get some fresh air as soon as possible.”
Smiling gently, the professor looked at him strangely before taking out the key. As the professor habitually touched the handle, Luon swiftly snatched the key with one hand while dropping the fake one.
When the professor came to his senses, the fake key had fallen to the floor, drawing his attention.
Ping!
“Hmm?”
The professor picked up the fake key and blinked.
“Ah, the mana stone broke. Wait here. I’ll get a new key.”
Thus, Luon gained his freedom.
Even if it was just for a late-night venture, it was enough time.
***
The next evening, the dormitory buzzed with heated gossip.
“She was found in Adele Hall.”
“A first-year dormitory, they said?”
The missing third-year girl from Schlaphe Hall had been found there.
Apparently, a student residing there was subdued by the missing girl who had invaded, and she was caught by the professors.
I sensed something had gone wrong at that moment. Limberton approached me with a worried expression.
“Did you hear? The injured person is Leana.”
“Yeah, I heard…”
This wasn’t in the original scenario. There was no sudden appearance of the missing person, nor an invasion of Leana’s room.
-This is clearly an anomaly.
But the shocking news didn’t end there. Leana, who was supposed to be recovering, went missing.
She shouldn’t have been brainwashed, so why?
There was no time to ponder the cause. The more important thing was what would happen next.
【Fela of Loss】
A lingering thought that enhances the host’s physical abilities to their utmost limits. Even an average student’s end-specs would fall short against the experienced professors’ concerted efforts.
But it’s a different story if the host is a playable character.
Although Leana is a swordswoman, Fela’s magical knowledge wouldn’t enhance her technical skills.
Yet, Leana’s high potential means she could become a top-tier swordswoman if she grows. Her physical abilities surpass Arkandrick’s, and ordinary professors would struggle against her.
– Ordinary professors, that is.
“Hah…”
The thought of someone unpleasant crossed my mind, making me sigh.
Rockefeller. I left Schlaphe Hall to find him.
**
The professors had gathered in front of the citadel.
Unlike the previous day, when they were relatively relaxed, their expressions were now filled with urgency, sweating profusely. They looked ready for battle, with swords and staffs in hand.
I observed from afar, listening in on Rockefeller’s instructions as he coordinated the situation.
“A second-year from Burger Hall and a first-year from Adele Hall have returned voluntarily. I’ll address your incompetence later. The target seems to be the Forbidden Library. I don’t know why the wraith is targeting it, but you all know what will happen if an intruder steps in there.”
Speaking in a calm voice, he looked at the professors disdainfully.
“Ah, and please, make sure not to disturb the headmaster’s sleep. Capture them quietly.”
As Rockefeller waved them off, the professors quickly dispersed. He had no intention of getting involved directly. If all the professors died in the initial encounter, future storylines would be disrupted.
“A rat breaking curfew, I see.”
He scowled as I revealed myself. I remained unfazed and asked, as usual.
“Professor, are you not going to intervene?”
“Me? Restrain some students? You should be more concerned about your punishment, Hersel Ben Tenest.”
“You can punish me later. Shouldn’t you help the professors first?”
He smirked, raising his staff.
“Haha, sounds like you want me to deal with you right now.”
I didn’t expect him to agree easily. I might have to manipulate him with the information I knew, just like with Deloger.
But unexpectedly, there was no need. A voice came from his cross bag.
– Professor Rockefeller, we were ambushed on our way to capture the students.
The word ‘ambush’ made Rockefeller’s face contort with surprise.
“An intruder? How many?”
– No… it was Leana Rel Derevian, a first-year knight from Adele Hall, alone!!
Rockefeller growled in frustration, glaring at me with icy eyes.
But I didn’t care. My objective was achieved. The rest was his problem.
“Well, I’ll return to the dormitory as a good student. Good luck, professor.”
I quickly turned to leave for my safety. But a hand gripped my shoulder.
“You’re coming with me, Hersel Ben Tenest.”
“…What?”
“You’re coming.”
“Why?”
He stared at me for a long moment before muttering something peculiar.
“…You’re better than those incompetent fools.”
Pretending not to hear, I tried to walk away. But his telekinesis lifted me, dragging me to the battlefield I wanted to avoid.
Damn bastard. I had hoped he would call Arkandrick after getting beaten by Leana…
**
Meanwhile, Luon was stealthily following the two individuals, who were undoubtedly the ones who had returned from being missing.
‘The girl is a second-year knight from Burger Hall, and the boy is a first-year mage from Adele Hall.’
Where were they heading? According to the information from Fela in the special hall, her lingering thoughts were obsessed with the Forbidden Library.
When asked what was there or their purpose, she always lied, so I couldn’t find out.
‘The Forbidden Library… There were rumors about it.’
They had entered the citadel. Following them to the basement, the boy drew symbols with his hand and placed them on a brick wall. The bricks, which couldn’t be considered a door, started to sink inward.
Rumble.
The bricks revealed a descending staircase. Luon waited until the footsteps faded before following discreetly.
A new hallway appeared as he carefully descended. As he rounded a corner, a woman suddenly got close, sniffing the air.
“That faint magical energy… Another Fela?”
Though he was discovered, it didn’t matter. Since the lingering thoughts were originally one, they would be on the same side.
Luon smiled, thinking optimistically.
“Yes, a friend I recently made.”
But the woman drew a longsword from her waist, berating her other self.
“You released a useless one.”
With a belligerent attitude, Luon spread out the paper he held. The powder scattered.
Luon blew into her face.
“Hoo.”
Swish!
In an instant, he snatched her sword and pointed it at her neck.
“That’s something I should be saying, don’t you think?”
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