episode_0016

“Are you the rumored freshman, Phantom?”

“….”

White hair of Baek Eunbal.

Cold, crystal blue eyes.

Charlotte, the top student of the first year and heir to the swordsmanship clan, Claret, was looking at Rudy with her arms crossed.

What could have brought her to seek him out?

Rudy was confused.

‘…Was the heroine really so impulsive?’

Angry because of the rumors.

Did she come to settle the score with him?

Just as he was starting to think that, Charlotte spoke as if sensing his worries.

“She asked if you were Phantom.”

“…Yes.”

“Do you happen to know what rumors are spreading about you at the academy?”

“…?”

Confirming Rudy’s puzzled expression behind the mask, Charlotte spoke again.

“They say you easily defeat me, and spread rumors like that.”

“What?”

“Is the rumor true?”

“….”

Rudy was dumbfounded.

‘No, what kind of nonsense is this?’

He had expected some rumors about himself in relation to Charlotte, the top student of the first year.

But spreading rumors that he easily defeats Charlotte and boasting about it?

It was so ridiculous that he couldn’t help but laugh.

How exaggerated and distorted must the rumors about her have been.

“It’s embarrassing. I have never said such things.”

“Can you be sure?”

“Yes. I don’t even know who you are.”

“…Is that so.”

The sharp atmosphere softened.

It seemed like she was about to draw her sword at any moment, but her aura was quite strong.

Soon, her interest seemed to wane.

Turning around and walking away, Charlotte looked like a lone wolf.

Seeing her, Rudy thought.

Rumors spread by someone’s exaggeration, someone’s embellishment.

Charlotte, who always ranks high among the first-year students at the academy.

It was understandable that there would be many who envied her.

‘But.’

Rudy called out to Charlotte, who was walking away.

“Excuse me.”

“…?”

“Are you just going to leave like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“After emitting such a terrifying aura unjustly, how can you leave without even an apology?”

“….”

Rudy’s statement was valid.

Anyone would feel uncomfortable receiving the aura she had just emitted for no reason.

An aura that could convey intimidation.

The privilege of a 2-star inspector.

If you were a 1-star, you wouldn’t feel it, but as a 3-star, Rudy clearly felt the aura.

Moreover, Charlotte was one of the heroines who had been involved in the downfall of his family.

The current situation made him even more uncomfortable.

…Charlotte’s eyes widened in surprise.

That was also natural.

So far, the students who had seen him had avoided him.

They didn’t dare to confront his powerlessness.

But it was unimaginable that a student like Phantom would come to her and complain.

And even feel her aura?

That was impossible unless he was a 2-star like her.

“Could you say that again? Why emit your aura and leave without an apology-”

“I-I’m sorry….”

“Yes. I hope you’ll be more careful in the future.”

“…Can I go now?”

“Please do.”

In an unexpected situation, Charlotte scratched the back of her head and left.

*

Huff, huff-

Phew….

Rudy’s breathing echoed in the morning exercise field.

He was doing push-ups, soaking in the morning sunlight.

“As expected, morning strength training is the best.”

He may not be participating in the mock battle, but Rudy needed to train even harder.

The time for the villainous Eclipse Sect to make a move was approaching.

They had been quiet for a long time, but you never knew when they would strike in this world.

Preparation was crucial.

“Huff-!”

He took off his shirt.

Seeing the man in the mask moving up and down, revealing his muscles.

The students passed by, staring in wonder.

“Was there a guy like that at the academy?”

“Idiot! That’s the guy from the rumors! The disciple of the Grand Master!”

“Ah, muscles are tempting. Should I go talk to him?”

“Kid, do you think a guy like that would play with you?”

Of course, there were also those who looked at Rudy with disdain.

Soon, Rudy finished the routine he had in mind.

It was time to go wash up.

“Um, excuse me…!”

Someone approached Rudy.

When Rudy turned around in confusion, he saw a familiar figure.

Blonde short hair, deep double eyelids, and blue eyes.

With a small, feminine face that could easily be mistaken for a girl.

It was Prince Yulian.

“Phantom… or should I say?”

“Nice to see you here. It’s been a while.”

“……”

Yulian’s gaze fell on Rudy’s abs.

‘Why is he shirtless…? But more importantly, his body is amazing…’

As Yulian blushed and hesitated, Rudy spoke.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, no…! I just wanted to thank you for the other day!”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. I heard from Rose. Prince Yulian is more dedicated to the country than anyone else. It’s an honor for me to help such a person.”

“Haha, I’m not doing anything that great. What have you been up to here, Phantom?”

“I was just doing some morning training.”

“Training…? Oh, are you participating in the mock battle as well?”

“No. It seems that freshmen are not allowed to participate.”

“Oh…”

The awkward silence between them ensued.

As Rudy wiped the sweat with a towel he brought, he awkwardly said, “I was going to the facility bath from now on, would you like to join me for a bath?”

“A bath…?!”

“……?”

“It’s okay! I-”

That’s when it happened.

Just as Yulian was stumbling over his words in embarrassment.

-Flutter!

A stitch that flew hastily from the sky caught their attention.

“Stitch…?”

“You seem busy, so I’ll take my leave.”

Grabbing Stitch quickly, Yulian’s expression turned sour as he read the contents.

As Rudy was about to leave, he stopped abruptly at Yulian’s muttering.

“Are those Moon Cultists again…!”

“……!”

Turning back, Rudy approached Yulian again and asked, “Can I hear more about it?”

“Phantom is Rose’s disciple and can neutralize their power, so it’s okay.”

Yulian said with a determined expression.

“It seems that Moon Cultists disguised as students have infiltrated the academy.”

“……!”

“According to the analysis of the Grand Alliance, their goal is to eliminate potential talents.”

“They must be taking advantage of the confusion during the mock battle.”

“Yes. With all the students gathered for the mock battle, it’s easy for them to hide.”

Gritting his teeth, Rudy realized he hadn’t fully developed the heroines yet.

Having just entered the academy, the heroines were in a very vulnerable state.

“Do you have any suspects among the students?”

“They seem to have disguised themselves as students from the Magic Department. I heard that the Moon Cultists use a strange disguise technique. A while ago, when the magic students went out for field practice, they killed a student who briefly left the ranks and disguised themselves as him.”

“If we investigate the body, we can find out who-”

Shaking his head, Yulian interrupted.

“The body was burned so black that it’s unrecognizable. At the moment, there’s no way to know… I’m sorry for my incompetence.”

“No, it’s not your fault, Prince Yulian.”

…Those despicable bastards.

Unable to break through the ironclad security of the academy, are you infiltrating disguised as a student?

Now that the academy’s inner workings have been exposed to them.

It was a tense situation where no one knew when the bomb would explode.

After quickly finishing his thoughts, Rudy spoke.

“Please continue to act as the Second Prince. I will act accordingly.”

“Yes, I will strengthen the security and inform the academy and students of the intruder. I will also pray for your safety, Phantom.”

That day, Rudy.

After finishing his conversation with the Second Prince Yuriel, he monitored the movements of the heroines.

The next day was the mock battle.

He didn’t know if the Moon Sect members who were lurking near the heroines, who were called promising heroines, would appear the night before.

First, the magician Zion Frezia.

“Hmm….”

“…….”

He was sleeping soundly in a mansion with a dome-shaped barrier.

It was the mansion next to the one where Rudy had moved due to his complaints.

“As long as there is a barrier, it’s not dangerous. Since he’s sleeping, he probably won’t come out of the barrier.”

Second, Princess Enes of the Elven Forest in Elundir.

Based on the information he heard through Yuriel.

She lived in a camphor tree mansion built within the academy’s natural landscape facility, an artificial forest.

“…….”

“…….”

She was meditating next to a tree.

“Enes is a magician. If I get too close, she might detect my magic power.”

The natural landscape facility was also a facility built for the elves, so if a non-elf intruded, the alarm would sound.

As long as he didn’t come out, it was fine.

“Next is….”

The heroine Aria, who was destined to become a saint, was holed up in the cathedral and not coming out.

Finally, Rudy found Charlotte.

-Whoosh!

-Swish! Boom! Whoosh!

“…Phew.”

“…….”

In the empty night, Charlotte was swinging her sword alone in the training ground.

She was in her most vulnerable state.

The training ground was outside.

Except for the barrier at the entrance of the academy, no alarm would be triggered.

“I wish she would stop training and go home….”

As he was hiding next to a tree watching Charlotte, it happened.

-Shing!

-Thud!

“-Ouch!”

“Who’s there!”

Sensing a presence, Charlotte immediately threw a dagger towards Rudy.

Having heard the news of an intruder in the academy around lunchtime today, her bold action was all she could do.

As Charlotte started to run towards Rudy, he quickly moved out of the way.

“…Are you on edge?”

Confused when she found nothing at the location where the dagger landed, Charlotte.

As she went to retrieve the dagger and turn back, she noticed something on the ground.

“Hmm? …What’s this?”

Charlotte frowned as she found a torn necklace lying on the ground.