Ch.50Elysion (6)

Niobe felt reassured by L13’s firm command.

It hadn’t even been a year since she graduated from the Blasphemia training center. Though she’d shed some of her rookie status, making field decisions in such a large-scale operation still felt burdensome.

In this situation, a reliable superior had appeared.

Whether it was the fight with Branch Director Nardanit or instantly taking down the crazed Elysion guard just now, the Secret Inspector’s skills were truly worthy of their reputation.

‘If I stay by this person’s side, even if the mission fails… at least I won’t die!’

With her burden lifted, Niobe’s mind became peaceful.

Ortes felt serious pressure from Niobe’s bright, sparkling gaze directed at him.

‘What should I do.’

He had just beaten up an apocalyptic cultist causing trouble on the road to Mouseion’s admissions office, and then Niobe had suddenly appeared.

‘Considering the surveillance cameras spread throughout Elysion… No, wait. Argyrion and the Ten Towers are constantly fighting over broadcast lines. Half of Elysion’s electronic facilities must be malfunctioning.’

The easiest way for the Ten Towers to track down Argyrion agents who had infiltrated the city would be through CCTV footage.

Elysion was one of the cities with the densest surveillance networks in this world.

Even if they had used alternative routes instead of the main gate to infiltrate, once they set foot in Elysion, traces would inevitably be left on video. Since Argyrion’s core personnel were former Blasphemia agents, the Ten Towers would have all their personal information, including appearances.

It wouldn’t be difficult to find leads by using spirit intelligence to search through footage.

If Argyrion had any sense, they would have made minimal preparations to interfere with the Ten Towers’ tracking.

And those preparations would likely involve hackers striking the ether space. It was certain they had brought hackers along, given that they had already hijacked broadcast lines to issue terrorist statements.

‘If my reasoning is correct, no footage is currently being recorded on Elysion’s surveillance network.’

Ortes carefully considered how to handle the Blasphemia rookie agent whom he had unintentionally encountered twice now.

***

I weigh the risks and returns of how to deal with this kid who thinks I’m an ally.

‘Elimination must be removed from the options,’

The risk is too great.

The city’s surveillance cameras might not be functioning properly.

But when Ten Towers agents deploy for group operations, they typically wear life signal detectors. If any agent’s life signal disappears, it means there’s a dangerous presence at that location.

The place where a life signal is cut off immediately becomes a point for additional troop deployment.

‘I might be able to get away without such a detector by using the excuse that I’m a Secret Inspector who can’t reveal my position, but there’s no other way to neutralize the detector Niobe is carrying.’

It’s not just about the detector. There might be potential witnesses in unseen blind spots.

No matter how unremarkable my face might be, if someone sees me killing a person in broad daylight, they’ll somehow remember my description and report it. It’s best to avoid actions that would attract the Ten Towers’ attention.

‘…That would be ideal, but of course I run into this kid who was present when I impersonated a Secret Inspector.’

This mess happened because that apocalyptic cultist was occupying the area in front of the Mouseion admissions office. If the street had been empty, I could have quietly gone in and retrieved Kine by now.

I consider another approach.

‘Use her?’

There’s no sign of wariness toward me. This means Niobe still believes my identity as a Secret Inspector.

‘If I play this right, I might be able to take Kine out without arousing suspicion from others inside the admissions office.’

“Um.”

Just as I was contemplating what to tell Niobe, she spoke first.

“Should I… use formal speech? Since you’re my senior?”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. Just speak comfortably. It’s better for me to be known as a bumbling agent who got lost and came back, rather than going around announcing I’m a Secret Inspector or something. That would complicate things.”

It really would complicate things.

If other Blasphemia agents besides you show up, the situation would become unmanageably tangled.

***

Inside the Mouseion admissions office, about thirteen or fourteen children were gathered under the admissions officer.

‘No support from professors…’

The Mouseion main building and the entrance exam hall were located separately. This design was intended to prevent the entrance exams from disturbing the education of Mouseion students.

But now, that design meant there was insufficient personnel to protect the students. Communications indicated that the main building had been fortified, making it difficult even for professors to leave.

‘Can I and the admission applicants survive this terrorist attack?’

The admissions officer shook off the increasingly ominous thoughts. Soon, the Ten Towers would contain the situation.

Knock. Knock.

At that moment, a knocking sound came from the barricaded door. Tension ran through the admissions officer’s entire body.

The admissions officer looked around. Children trembling with anxiety were visible.

Though not a combat mage, driven by a sense of duty to protect the students, he gripped his staff and stepped forward.

“Is anyone there?”

A strangely cool voice. His grip on the staff tightened further.

“Oh come on. I told you not to do it like that!”

Just then, a girl’s voice that eased the tension was heard.

“We’re the Ten Towers Emergency Relief Team. I’ll give you the password, so please tell me the turtle.”

“Ah. Turtle, it’s turtle!”

“Resurrection. Please open the door!”

The admissions officer breathed a sigh of relief. They were saved.

***

As soon as I entered the Mouseion admissions office, I looked for Kine. I could see Kine’s expression, unable to grasp exactly what was happening as I entered with an introduction as part of the Ten Towers Emergency Relief Team.

Niobe had told me that Emergency Relief Team was the cover identity for Blasphemia agents currently deployed in Elysion. It wasn’t entirely a lie, as there were actual orders to provide relief if possible.

It would be difficult to explain everything to Kine, who was looking at me with confused eyes, like “Haha, my friend here is a Blasphemia agent, and I just went along with the atmosphere.”

I should keep it brief. Detailed explanations can wait until we return to Etna City. I send a short message through the communicator built into my gauntlet.

‘This is just a temporary identity. We’ll escape soon, so be careful not to act suspiciously.’

“Astrape──!!”

From behind me, I heard a somehow familiar voice calling an uncomfortably familiar name. I hurriedly turned around.

The one running toward us was my old friend Lampades.

‘Wait. Astrape?’

Could it be that Astrape? I thought she hadn’t been captured by Torres Magtower, so I hadn’t been concerned!

I spot golden hair in a corner near Kine. A name and appearance I thought I’d never hear again. Undoubtedly, it was the lightning mage who would become the protagonist’s companion in the future.

‘Where the hell did Lampades meet Astrape?’

At least she wasn’t sold as a slave in Etna City, which was somewhat fortunate. The protagonist wouldn’t have reason to mention Etna City’s slave traders and bring the Demon Lord’s wrath down on Etna City.

***

Lampades, who had rushed to the Mouseion admissions office through the overflow of silver and several crazed mages, felt relieved. The road in front of the admissions office showed unusually intense traces of fire, but the building itself seemed intact.

However, that relief vanished the moment he entered the building calling out for Astrape.

That man standing there with his back turned.

A back view all too familiar to Lampades, yet one he wished he didn’t recognize.

At the end of that gaze was Astrape.

The man turned around. Strangely gleaming narrow eyes and a smile that didn’t disappear even in this situation.

No. Perhaps the smile remained precisely because of this situation. Everything might be going according to that man’s plan.

Ortes was there.

“Well, it’s good to see you, Lampades. I’m glad you came.”

“Why are you here…!”

“I came because I was worried about our scholarship student. Isn’t your reason similar?”

Lampades didn’t bother to ask why he had been looking at Astrape rather than his supposed scholarship student.

Ortes must have recognized Astrape’s overflowing talent. The other transfer applicants, while clearly gifted, couldn’t match Astrape.

In such a dire situation, how favorable a position it was to be the adult who had saved them!

‘If I hadn’t come…!’

Astrape and the children might have been completely deceived by this man. In fact, even now, since he hadn’t exposed Ortes’s true nature, the good impression given to the children probably remained intact.

‘I can’t immediately guess what you intended to do with these children. But I won’t let you have your way…!’

“Ortes. Let’s protect these children together. We’ve established a defensive formation at the Magtower judging hall, so we should move there.”

Hearing those words, Ortes gestured to someone. It was a girl with a somewhat naive impression, still seeming like a novice mage.

Ortes whispered a few words to her.

“…Yes! Everyone, may I have your attention please! I am from the Ten Towers Emergency Relief Team. From now on, we will move to a safe location under the guidance of Magtower Master Lampades!”

Is he even using such an innocent-looking mage as his pawn…?!

Lampades was silently appalled.

***

Phew. That’s a relief.

As expected, that friend has a sense of responsibility. He’s an exemplary adult trying to protect the children even in this dangerous situation.

I’ve also briefly explained to Niobe that he’s ‘a mage who has a personal connection with the original owner of this face,’ so there shouldn’t be any problems.

Now I just need to wait until the Ten Towers contain the chaos, and then we can escape from Elysion!