Chapter 108: Graduation Ceremony (4)

Chapter 108: Graduation
Ceremony (4)

Gelsia
followed Balkan with nervous steps.

Balkan
was deliberately heading off the beaten path, which meant he knew he
was being followed.

“So,
you’re the informant.”

“⋯!”

As
if on cue, he saw right through her as soon as she appeared.

‘I
see.’

Balkan
had already realized that the outlaws were going to attack.

Not
only that, but that he was communicating with them.

There
was no point in hiding it any longer.

Unlike
their encounter in the auditorium a few hours earlier, Gelsia had
been forthright about the incident.

The
situation she was in, what she had done, and the information that
outlaws were now inside the Academy.

As
she spoke, she often tried to analyze his reactions through his
facial expressions, but was unsuccessful as his face was hidden by
his helmet.

Eventually,
her gaze fell on his eyes.

When
she met those cold pupils, she instinctively shrank back.

“Why
are you telling me all this?”

“⋯No
matter what the situation
is, if the outlaws commit a crime, I will also become an accomplice.
All the efforts made at the Academy should not go down the drain.
Also⋯”

Once
she started confessing, she couldn’t stop talking.

The
anxiety of a ruined life, the guilt of sacrificing her fellow
assistant, Reichem, to the outlaws, was overwhelming.

When
she finally got it all out, she felt an unexplainable sense of
relief.

Balkan,
on the other hand, frowned as he looked at TA Gelsia, who continued
her confession with a pleased expression.

‘So
it was for your own good in the end.’

She
did what she did because she was blackmailed, but looking back, she
feels scared.

She’s
worried that being honest with the professor will destroy her career
so she asks Balkan to step in and help her.

That
was Gelsia’s motivation for confessing.

‘It’s
a shame that her parents are in this mess, but honestly, it’s none of
my business.’

He
put aside the distractions and focused on one truth.

What
mattered was what he’d been told.

The
appearance, demeanor, and power of the ten members of Clan Blues,
including their leader, Vesta.

“In
the end, you don’t know that much, do you?”

“⋯Yes.
They must have used disguise artifacts with illusion magic to change
their appearance, since all ten
of them are wanted outlaws.”

Gelsia
didn’t know about the clan members’ use of disguise artifacts.

There
was no way to catch them by appearance but I had an idea.

“You
don’t even know the names of the outlaws?”

“I
don’t know all of them, but I know a few, including Vesta.”

If
I knew their names, I could run them against the status window.

This
is apparently a perk that only I have in this world.

“Their
purpose is most likely to kidnap students. Vesta seems to want human
resources more than money, and she told me to have a carriage and a
large oak barrel waiting for them to return around midnight⋯so
given the timing, they’ll do it at the dinner party. They’re probably
already infiltrating the ballroom by now.”

I
got some more information so I synthesized the information from
Gelsia’s confession.

First.
The size and names of the Blues Clan members who infiltrated the
Academy.

Second.
The purpose of their attack, and the time they had to leave the
Academy once they had accomplished their goal.

‘Not
a bad harvest.’

Up
until now, I’ve only had vague information that the outlaws might be
attacking, but now my speculation has turned into fact.

And
now I have even more details.

“Are
you okay with that?”

“⋯⋯”

I
glanced at Gelsia, who had been manipulated by Vesta into doing all
this, but she still looked defeated.

“The
outlaws haven’t come forward yet. There’s plenty of opportunity
to turn back.”

‘But
I’ll end up in jail anyway.’

Gelsia
cannot escape punishment for helping the outlaws, even if it was not
of her own volition. but she can cleanse her tainted conscience.

“A
chance to turn back⋯”

Gelsia’s
eyes light up for a moment as I offer her hope that she can redeem
herself.

I
watched her for a moment as she muttered quietly, and when her lips
closed, I offered a suggestion.

“⋯You
mean, you want
me to do that?”

“Yes.
If you want to prove that you really didn’t mean it, you should take
that risk.”

“⋯⋯”

Vesta
must think she has Gelsia’s leash tight, but now she’s blurting out
information in front of me.

‘I
need insurance in case things don’t go well.’

This
situation can be used to my advantage.

***

“So,
you said you smuggled the Blues Clan into the oak barrels that held
the wine?”

“Ah,
yes.”

“A
person’s scent can’t be changed with a disguise artifact?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly,
I had an idea.

“Miao!”

As
I thought about Shuding, a cat with a proud and elegant face popped
out from my shadow.

It
was the familiar left by Idelbert, Shuding.

This
feline form could enter and exit the shadows at whim.

“What,
what⋯
in the shadows⋯”

A
dumbfounded Gelsia glared at Shuding, but Shuding paid no attention
and rubbed her face against my helmet.

Ever
since Idelbert left Shuding in my care and went to the Labyrinth, I
took her out often, fed her, trained her, played with her, and she
quickly bonded with me.

She
even understands me now.

“Shuding,
do you know what green apple scent smells like?”

The
scent of the wine is like a green apple and after hiding in the oak
barrels that held it for days, the scent must have permeated their
bodies.

“Meow-”

Smart
Shuding nodded quickly.

“If
there’s anyone around here who has a strong green apple scent, and
who has a bit of a rough or cheap vibe, can you come to me and let me
know?”

“Miao-”

Shuding
immediately nodded, though the order was probably too complicated and
difficult for a mere cat.

“Right,
right. Good job. Let’s go!”

“Meow?!!”

When
she was praised and spanked on the buttocks, Shuding was startled and
her tail stood up and her body flinched.

“Myaooooong⋯”

Exhaling
a sticky breath, Shuding began to stagger around the academy grounds,
climbing the buildings with a shuffling gait.

It
was now less than two hours until the dinner party started.

I
finished talking to Assistant Gelsia and headed to the ballroom.

The
ballroom was a stunning building, even for my not-so-aesthetic eyes.

As
I walked through the wide open doors, I was greeted by colorful
chandeliers and long tables piled high with food.

“Haha.
Mr. Jayden. Long time no see. How’s business?”

“Well,
my son was recommended as a vassal of the Copson family.”

“Oh,
look who it is, Professor Mankostil!”

It
was still before opening time, and there were men in suits and women
in dresses, each with a glass of champagne in their hand, chatting
away.

There
were a few professors among them.

‘They’re
all old.’

I
apologize for being so direct, but there was no hiding the truth.

Most
of the people here are mothers or fathers of children.

They’re
at the age when wrinkles start to appear on their skin but it wasn’t
just old people.

“Do
you feel sorry for me?”

“Aaaargh!
Failed! Virgin confirmed!!…But I guess that’s to be expected
since they’re my parents?”

“Crazy
bitch⋯
how could she do that in a place like this⋯”

“For
her graduation project, she developed a virgin identification magic
that can even see how many times she’s mated. That’s going to sell
like hotcakes.”

Graduates
who had just shed their student t-shirts were milling around in their
own attire.

I
glanced around.

Diana
and Ellie hadn’t arrived yet.

“Heh!
Look who it is, I haven’t seen you in a while.”

I
turned at the sound of a voice beside me and saw an elderly woman
with wrinkles on her face looking up at me.

“Professor
Mankostil? Long time no see.”

Professor
Mankostil, the same face from my last escort assignment, smirked at
me.

“How
long has it been since I’ve seen you, and you’re stronger than ever?”

“Haha.
You flatter me.”

“I’m
not. You must be quite entertaining to watch, eh, if only you had
more magic.”

Professor
Mankostil left it at that and laughed hysterically.

I
laughed, too, sweating profusely.

If
I had a talent for magic, I would have been Gelsia or Reichem No. 2.

I
was terrified to think of the possibilities of my future as a
graduate student.

“That
offer still stands.”

Professor
Mankostil brought up the offer she had made the last time they parted
ways.

-If
you want to learn magic professionally, you can always come to me.

I
had reserved that offer at the time.

I’m
interested in magic, but it’s too inefficient to delve into the
subject in earnest now.

I’d
rather find a mage I can trust.

“Haha⋯
I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to think about it a bit more.”

“Good.
The door to learning is always open, and you’re still young enough
that you should learn more while you can.”

I
chatted with Professor Mankostil for a moment and looked around.

“⋯What’s
with that guy?
Professor Mankostil with that kind smile⋯”

“If
the professor is evaluating him like that, then I guess his skills
are pretty good?”

“That
helmet? No way. Is that the carriage I saw at the front gate?”

So
many different reactions, so many different eyes.

“Professor.
Excuse me.”

“Okay.
Okay. Got it.”

As
if reading my mood, Professor Mankostil tapped the floor with her
cane.

A
shallow wave of magic enveloped me and Professor Mankostil.

“Hut!
Where’s the Professor?”

“I
don’t know, did she disappear? Did she disappear with the man?”

The
group around the professor scattered in panic.

“Silence
and invisibility spells. No one can hear us, no one can see us. Oh,
and don’t move. It’s a simple spell, and if you move, it will break.
So, what do you have to say?”

As
expected of a professor, she was quick to recognize.

‘It
seems like she has a connection with Diana, and she is someone who
entered the 8th floor of the labyrinth alone for the students, so she
is trustworthy.’

I
quickly explained the situation.

The
outlaws had infiltrated the academy and were trying to kidnap
students.

“Hmmm.
We’ll have to stop them from leaving, then. We’ll have to rally the
scattered teaching assistants and guards.”

As
soon as Professor Mankostil heard me, she suggested the next move.

“⋯You
believe me?”

“What’s
not to believe? You risked your life protecting my students from a
mutated minotaur, and I don’t think you’d deliberately lie to me.”

My
head snapped up as if I’ve been hit with a punch to the gut.

“Even
if you did lie to me, it wouldn’t matter much, because you’d have
been incapable of lying for the rest of your life.”

Professor
Mankostil smiled, her forehead full of wrinkles, and a chill ran down
my spine.

“That’s
not going to happen.”

“So,
what do you want me to do, and from the way you’ve been talking, I’m
guessing you have something in mind?”

“We
must stop the banquet immediately and use the disguise artifact to
weed out the outlaws who have infiltrated the banquet hall before
they kidnap the students and leave.”

At
my words, Professor Mankostil frowned.

“I’m
afraid that’s not possible. It’s beyond my jurisdiction, and even if
I could talk to the Dean, she’d refuse, the old woman’s so stuck up
she can’t be guided. She’s not about to show the Academy’s weaknesses
in front of the Second Princess.”

I
questioned Professor Mangosteel’s words for a moment.

“You
mean the 2nd Princess?”

“Yes.
The 2nd Princess is attending the dinner party tonight. The Dean is
hell-bent on making the party perfect at all costs, so she won’t even
mention stopping the banquet.”

In
short, she wants the event to go off without too much fuss and
without offending anyone in high places.

“⋯That
won’t work, will it?”

“Yes.
To prevent kidnapping, there will inevitably be a disturbance. But we
can keep the noise down. Do you have any means of filtering out the
outlaws?”

“Not
all ten, but I can weed out about seven of them.”

“That’s
good enough for me. Do you think you could help me with that?”

“Sure.”

I
didn’t want any harm to come to the students or Ellie, and most of
all.

‘This
is my chance.’

This
was my chance to make the professor and the Academy owe me big debt,
which would help me immensely in the future.

I
had gotten myself into a lot of trouble, but the prospect of a reward
was invigorating.

Professor
Mankostil’s wand gathered energy.

As
the magic from the staff touched my body, a huge and strange flow of
magic enveloped my body.

“Hmm.
It’s been a while since I’ve used magic, so it’s a bit too much⋯”

“What
is this?”

“It’s
the magic I just used. It’s a silence and invisibility spell, but I
put a little too much energy into it, so it should last for at least
two months.”

What,
crazy?

“You’re
telling me I’m going to be invisible for two months?!”

“No,
no. You can remove it at any time at your will. Well, consider it a
temporary blessing.”

I
hope that Professor Mangosteel’s words are right.

“Ugh…!
What, what’s going on all of a sudden?!”

The
graduating student who was walking around the room stumbled back in
surprise at my sudden appearance and wine spilled all over her dress.

Upon
closer inspection, I saw that it was the punk graduate who had been
gossiping about Ellie and my feelings of guilt immediately
disappeared.

I
stared down at the asshole for a moment before turning away.

“What,
what was that? I swear, there was a person just now⋯?”

“Keep
your eyes open. You know where you are. Always be on your guard.”

“No,
Mom. There really was!”

“Stupid!!!”

Sure
enough, there was a person right in front of her, and then he was
gone, leaving only the victim dumbfounded.

“⋯That’s
a lot of magic.”

“With
a little more effort, you can now move a few steps in a transparent
state. However, be careful, because if you make any sudden movements,
the effect will be released immediately. Those with excellent senses
may notice.”

For
all of its drawbacks, it was a great spell and now I had the blessing
of stealth for two months.

‘You
really made a mistake when using such sophisticated magic?’

It
couldn’t be.

My
opponent was not a mere academy student, and a professor-level mage
would make such a mistake.

This
was a reward of sorts, a handout from Professor Mankostil herself.

“Now
we can be quiet about this. I will certainly repay you for your help
with the Academy. I’ll do what I can to make sure the saboteurs don’t
get away with it.”

“If
the outlaws do withdraw, they’ll be riding in Assistant Gelsia’s
carriage.”

“⋯She’s
a good girl, how could she do this?”

Professor
Mankostil seemed to realize that my short comment had revealed that
Gelsia had been an informant.

I
leaned down, leaving Professor Mankostil smiling bitterly.

“Miao-”

I
hadn’t even removed my invisibility before Shuding was crying at my
feet.

“Did
you find the target?”

“Miao!”

“Good.”

As
I patted its round black fur-covered buttocks, the black cat’s tail
wagged uncontrollably.

Obviously,
my first impression was of an aggressive, edgy animal, but here she
was, a pure pet.

I
followed Shuding, who was walking in front of me with excitement, to
an eerie balcony on the fourth floor of the ballroom.

“Uu…”

“Ugh.
This guy is so drunk, he can’t even speak properly. He’s a fresh
graduate.”

“He’s
just asking to be fucked. Bitch. Fuck.”

Two
women in suits were harassing a drunken, half-masked male graduate
who could barely control himself.

Up
to this point, the scene was familiar enough to be seen on the
street.

It’s
an aristocratic area, but aristocrats are no different, and what they
do when they’re drunk and horny is similar.

No,
maybe they had harder and more eccentric tastes than everyone else
because they were noble but the women before you were not of high
standing.

Rather,
the very bottom of the Labyrinth City.

“Hah.
I want to have my way with him right now, but I have to put up with
this.”

“Just
a little longer. When this is all over, I’ll have enough money to hug
these bastards until I’m sick of them. Isn’t that what sister said?”

“Yeah.
I have to endure it. But Sister is really bold. Even if she needs a
slave who can handle magic, how can she raid the academy?”

“I
don’t know exactly, but it’s not like she’s dealing with a slave
trade⋯no,
I mean, it’s not a normal organization. There must be a reason.”

It
was a line that made me cringe.

[Kepson
Zillier LV.25]

[◆Curse
of the 4112th Puppet]

[Valterri
LV.27]

[◆Curse
of the 3812th Puppet]

Their
names matched the ones assistant Gelsia told me, along with the
bizarre curse that seems to be a given.

I’ve
cross-checked with the status window, so it’s a sure thing that those
two are outlaws from Clan Blues.

I
cast the invisibility spell and placed my hands on the skulls of two
women who hadn’t even noticed my presence when I walked right up to
them.

I
grabbed one by the hair with my left hand and the other with my
right.

“⋯whoa?”

“What,
like someone’s stroking my head-”

-Bam!

There
was a crunching sound as the two women’s skulls slammed together.

“Grrrr-”

Both
of them were foaming at the mouth. They weren’t dead, but they would
probably retire for the night.

Covering
the man’s drunken, passed-out eyes, I pinned the two outlaws down and
muttered.

“This
is the taste of assassination.”

Eight
prey left.