Chapter 185

The annex, where the Schwarzfeltz headmaster had invited me for dinner, was located in a secluded spot, quite a distance from the main academy buildings.

A well-maintained garden first caught my eye.

It was a space with a completely different feel from the other bleak buildings.

As expected, whether in reality or in games, those in high positions seem to know how to secure a nice place for themselves to relax.

“Halt.”

Two men with stern faces, who appeared to be guards, stopped me at the entrance.

Just by looking at their posture and demeanor, I could tell they weren’t ordinary in skill.

“I’ve been invited by the headmaster.”

I said calmly.

“Your status and name?”

“Max Celtrine, 3rd year at the Lepheria Academy.”

“I see. Please let us check your student ID.”

I presented my student ID.

Only then did the guards step aside, clearing the path.

“Confirmed. Have a good time.”

“Sure. You too.”

Finally stepping into the garden,

A pleasant floral scent tickled my nose.

As I walked, I thought,

‘Is it normal to be so stiff after inviting someone?’

I understood it given his position, but it felt excessive, as if the academy was some dangerous place.

It was obvious that I was just a student in uniform, unarmed and bare-handed.

‘Well, it could be something, or it could be nothing.’

I decided to keep that slightly concerning point in mind and headed inside.

A maid in a maid uniform greeted me with a polite bow.

“Welcome. Please come in.”

“Ah, yes. I’m Max Celt…”

“Yes, Mr. Max Celtrine. Please follow me.”

She’s quite quick on the uptake.

Thinking that, I followed the maid.

Entering the annex, the maid went straight to the third floor.

It seemed the headmaster was there.

Knock, knock.

The maid knocked on the door at the very end of the third floor hallway.

“Headmaster, the guest you invited has arrived.”

“Oh, yes. Let him in.”

“Please enter.”

The maid opened the door.

I gave a slight nod of thanks and went inside.

It was a spacious room for one person.

A middle-aged man, who had been sitting in a chair, stood up and greeted me with a smile.

“Haha, welcome, Max Celtrine. I’m Ricardio Mason, the headmaster here.”

“I’ve heard much about your esteemed reputation, Headmaster Ricardio.”

“I’m not that famous, but you’re flattering me from the first meeting. I was very impressed by your performance.”

“Thank you.”

We shook hands.

“Well then, let’s sit over there.”

Headmaster Ricardio led me to the table in the center of the room.

It was the perfect size for two people to dine.

Headmaster Ricardio and I sat facing each other.

I glanced around the room.

‘It wouldn’t be visible from outside.’

There was a window facing the garden, but it was located away from the table.

Moreover, this annex itself was located in a secluded place, away from other buildings.

If someone were to plan something, it wouldn’t be noticeable from outside.

Of course, the guards and maids would be obstacles.

I kept that fact in mind and focused my attention on Headmaster Ricardio.

“To be honest, I’m surprised by this unexpected hospitality.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I was instrumental in defeating the academy you lead.”

“Hahaha, there are times to win and times to lose. Why dwell on victory or defeat? And there are things you can only learn from defeat. Those lessons will be good fertilizer for our students’ growth. In that sense, I’m actually grateful to you.”

Headmaster Ricardio answered with a laugh.

His expression seemed genuine, not just polite words.

Just by looking at him, he seemed like a good person.

‘Ricardio Mason.’

I had looked into him before coming here.

It was only natural, considering it was a time to be cautious.

At least, there was nothing particularly suspicious about his background or reputation.

As the second son of a noble family, he couldn’t inherit the family, so he chose the military.

Starting as a low-ranking officer, he worked in the field for a long time, steadily getting promoted, and about three years ago, he was assigned to the Schwarzfeltz Knight Academy.

Since he wasn’t a parachute appointment but a military veteran, there weren’t any particular complaints from those around him, and his reputation wasn’t bad.

He was considered to be running the academy smoothly.

‘He doesn’t seem like someone to be wary of, at least on the surface.’

I thought.

But of course, I didn’t let my guard down.

It’s not uncommon in this world to be betrayed by someone you thought, “Could it really be this person?”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

I responded politely.

Knock, knock.

Just then, there was another knock.

“Headmaster, may we bring in the food?”

“Ah, of course. Come in.”

And so, the dinner banquet with Headmaster Ricardio began.

* * *

The food was delicious.

It was a world of difference from the terrible food in the dining hall that reminded me of the military.

They could make it this good if they put their mind to it.

‘As expected, the soldiers do the dirty work, and only the high-ranking people get to eat delicious food, even in games.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

And once again, I thought I was lucky it was Lepheria, not Schwarzfeltz.

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

“Yes, it suits my taste very well. My mouth is being treated.”

“Haha, it seems the best student is also good with words.”

Headmaster Ricardio laughed.

No matter how I looked at him, he didn’t seem suspicious at all.

While I was thinking that,

Headmaster Ricardio changed the subject.

“The Celtrine family is a prestigious family in the Empire, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Yes, a count family of the Empire. Not a particularly grand family, but…”

“I see. But how…”

“Yes?”

“Do you know that man’s swordsmanship?”

“What do you mean…?”

I was a bit flustered by the unexpected question.

The swordsmanship Headmaster Ricardio was referring to must be Old man Baker’s.

He couldn’t have seen any other swordsmanship.

That means Headmaster Ricardio knows Old man Baker’s true identity.

This was the first time I’d met someone who knew Old man Baker’s true identity.

Then, could he be related to the kingdom…?

“A vengeful ghost of a fallen nation. A Master slayer. Killstein.”

Headmaster Ricardio spoke with a cold expression, unlike before.

But even that change in attitude couldn’t register, as I was overwhelmed by the shocking content of his words.

A vengeful ghost of a fallen nation?

A Master slayer?

Those were chilling words that didn’t match the current Old man Baker at all.

Above all…

He, who had such regret for not reaching the Master level, was a Master slayer?

A Master slayer.

Someone who killed a Master.

Then, could that swordsmanship be…

…created to kill a Master?

A chill ran down my spine.

“Wait a minute, Headmaster. What you just said…”

Just as I was about to ask the question surging within me,

Bang!

The door suddenly burst open.

Guards rushed in.

“What’s going on?”

Headmaster Ricardio frowned.

“We-We have an urgent report!”

“What?”

Headmaster Ricardio’s expression hardened.

“Speak at once.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

One of the guards hurriedly approached Headmaster Ricardio.

And whispered an urgent report.

My expression also turned serious.

What on earth happened?

While I was thinking that…

Thud!

“Ugh?!”

Headmaster Ricardio’s eyes widened in disbelief.

A dagger was deeply embedded in his chest.

…A dagger held by the guard’s hand.

This is crazy!

Reflexively, I ran towards the open door as soon as I saw it.

But.

Thump!

Another guard had already closed the door, blocking me.

“Hold it right there.”

The guard’s aura changed.

It was an intense aura, incomparable to when I had encountered him at the main gate.

Clang.

The guard immediately drew his longsword.

I, on the other hand, was empty-handed.

I took a few steps back.

Thud!

The sound of a person collapsing.

My gaze returned.

Headmaster Ricardio lay dead.

Kicking the corpse aside, the other guard drew his saber.

(TLN: ngl i didnt see that coming i feel bad for the dude)

“Tsk, tsk, what an unlucky fellow.”

The saber guard clicked his tongue.

He must have been referring to Headmaster Ricardio, who had been caught in the crossfire and lost his life.

I said with a dry voice,

“Do you think this is a situation that can be salvaged?”

“Of course it can’t be salvaged. But…”

The saber guard continued with a sneer.

“We can just finish things cleanly and disappear, right? Don’t you think so? Hahaha!”

“Did Red Rain send you?”

The guards flinched slightly at my words.

But they soon regained their composure.

“What good will that information do you? You’re going to die here anyway.”

The longsword guard took a step closer.

“If you come any closer, I’ll…”

“What will you do with the heart? You don’t even have a weapon.”

It seemed they had planned to carry out this scheme here for that very reason.

“The location of the heart is…”

“It must be here. That’s your lifeline.”

The longsword guard closed the distance even further.

The saber guard also moved.

“So, who ordered you?”

I asked calmly, even though my back was against the wall.

“Stop trying to buy time.”

“I don’t think it was your boss, the Heavenly Lord. Was it Number 2?”

I didn’t miss the slight change in their expressions when I mentioned Number 2.

That bastard Armin.

I’ll definitely kill him later, that disrespectful junior.

“This bastard, something’s…”

The saber guard’s expression turned serious.

“Tch, let’s just kill him quickly!”

The longsword guard kicked off the ground and moved.

A white light flashed, sword energy.

As expected, these guys were thoroughly hiding their strength.

But.

I smiled.

Because I had a trump card hidden, in preparation for this kind of situation.

“This bastard, why is he smiling… What?!”

The longsword guard, who was charging at me with sword energy, suddenly shot upwards.

At an incredible speed.

Crash!

“Gwaaaah!”

The longsword guard went straight through the ceiling and disappeared outside.

“Wh-What?!”

The saber guard froze in surprise.

Someone appeared in front of him.

“I can’t forgive anyone who tries to harm my precious student.”

Red eyes glowed.

The saber guard groaned, his face ashen.

“K-Karen Mayfield…”

‘Crimson-Eyed Seeker’ Karen Mayfield.

A genius mage, considered the best even among the Mayfields, one of the Ten Mage Families.

She, our instructor, was standing in front of me.

Although she was a bit shorter than me, her back felt incredibly reliable.

It was so reassuring.

It always feels new and good to be protected by a strong woman.

Hiresia, Regina, and now Professor Karen, this is the third time.

This is the importance of connections (with women).

“Ugh, how did you…?”

The saber guard’s face contorted.

“Naturally, because my precious student asked me to. What other reason could there be?”

Professor Karen approached.

The saber guard instinctively stepped back.

But he soon realized that being close to a mage might be an opportunity, and he charged at her.

“D-Do you think I’m a fool?”

It was a very close distance.

With the saber guard’s skill, it was a distance where he could easily kill someone in an instant.

Naturally, it was a position a mage shouldn’t be in.

He must have been aiming for that, betting everything on a single blow.

But.

“Uwaaaah?!”

The saber guard’s sword stopped just short of Professor Karen, pressed downwards.

Along with his body.

Increased gravity.

While the longsword guard had been flung into the sky by reverse gravity, this time, she had increased the pressure of the original gravity tremendously.

It was gravity magic, which only high-class mages could cast.

“Ugggh!”

His body was crushed miserably.

Bloodshot eyes burst, and tears of blood flowed out.

His body, barely holding on, seemed about to crumble under the pressure.

“Did you think I was letting my guard down? Do you think a professor would be careless in front of a student?”

That’s a cool attitude, Professor.

I applauded inwardly.

“Then shall we hear what you have to say?”

Professor Karen leaned towards the crushed saber guard.