episode_0169

In a dormitory where the lights were out.

Within the cool, circulating space, only faint light shimmered.

Faint conversations echoed through the soft shadows.

A boy sat before a desk.

“……”

His blue hair shimmered in the dawn, his eyes transparently hollow.

His uniquely sharp aura resembled someone.

The boy was Ruthka Benity.

The eldest son of the House of Duke Benity, and the twin younger brother of the villainess.

He was receiving a call amidst the gloomy atmosphere.

-Yes, Ruthka.

A voice originating from the crystal ball.

Beyond the bluish screen, only a dark shadow flickered.

The boy lowered his head as if in response to the call.

“Uncle-nim.”

-Is your academy life going smoothly?

“Of course.”

-How is your sister? She hasn’t been in touch much lately.

“She is also doing well.”

The conversation flowed normally.

As if simply exchanging greetings, the voice from beyond the crystal ball was benevolent.

But perhaps the other side found it difficult to endure such a discrepancy.

Ruthka abruptly interrupted his Uncle-nim.

And then he questioned.

“Uncle-nim.”

-Hmm?

“The academy attack, was it ultimately the family’s doing?”

-You’re quite direct.

“How could you…! Four faculty members died!”

-I’m a bit flustered. You helped plan the infiltration route yourself.

“If I had known it would culminate in terrorism, I wouldn’t have cooperated! How dare you commit such an act…!”

-Ruthka.

“……”

A cold, piercing echo.

The previously mild atmosphere turned to ice.

Frost covered the transparent crystal ball.

It was a tension that felt like it could cut him any moment.

“……I apologize.”

Ruthka, who had been raising his voice, ultimately froze in place.

The flickering flame died down as if it had never been there.

The boy bit his lip tightly.

-You know I dislike disrespectful individuals, don’t you?

“For a moment… my reason seemed to falter.”

-Be careful.

“I will keep that in mind.”

His fists clenched tightly.

Conversely, the only attitude allowed to him was submissive obedience.

Ruthka swallowed his surging anger and apologized.

His always erect head bowed.

-I sometimes wonder if you’re mistaken.

Perhaps to make the boy realize his place, the shadow beyond the crystal ball spoke.

-This Uncle-nim is bestowing enough mercy upon you both.

-After all, aren’t I letting you both live?

Ruthka’s breath hitched.

A cryptic threat that would never be uttered in a normal uncle-nephew relationship.

Every word in the sentence seemed to crush the blue-haired boy.

-Of course… you must fulfill your purpose.

-If you do not follow the family’s will, then I will have no choice but to cut you off with my own hands.

-To avoid such a misfortune, effort is required from both sides.

-I trust you understand this Uncle-nim’s words.

The boy could not answer.

He merely gritted his teeth, hiding his fury.

-You must think of your sister.

-At the very least, if you wish for her to be safe, it would be best to remain loyal to the family.

-Wasn’t that the contract you agreed to when you followed this Uncle-nim from the start?

A weakness held by his Uncle-nim.

Ruthka, his spirit broken again, remained silent.

Perhaps the opaque shadow was pleased with the boy’s response.

-I suppose you’ve understood by now.

“I will keep that in mind from now on.”

-Then, let us conclude this admonition here… and speak of your next mission.

“……Next mission, you say?”

Ruthka unconsciously furrowed his brow.

The ‘mission’ uttered by the person in front of him.

Specifically, it was about running various errands to achieve his own goals.

Last time, he was ordered to investigate the security arrangements of the academy district.

That information, after all, was misused in the attack.

‘Damn it.’

However, the boy had no choice but to obey.

He was, after all, forcibly held by a leash.

Yet, as he quietly listened, an unexpected name soon reached his ears.

Ruthka reacted calmly, without a trace of panic.

-Juda Snakers.

“Do you mean the top student?”

-Yes… Whether it was the Four-Headed Dragon incident last time, or the gravedigger incident this time, he was always at the center of the resolved events. Furthermore, I hear his talent is exceptional, enough to overwhelm even the professors.

“He certainly can be classified as a risk factor.”

-He’s suspicious in many ways.

“Are you planning to dispose of him?”

-More precisely, capture him alive. The demon worshippers requested it.

“Demon worshippers… you mean the cultists.”

The black magic organization, Baob.

The boy recalled the organization’s name and completed the thought.

While hiding the disgust simmering within him.

-They say he would make excellent research material.

“It seems they intend to modify him into a chimera.”

-Perhaps they might create a catastrophe even mightier than the Four-Headed Dragon.

“But… kidnapping a student won’t be easy. As there was an attempted attack just a week ago, the faculty’s vigilance is at an all-time high. I worry that we might be exposed in reverse…”

-That’s why I’m asking you.

A sinister laugh was heard.

In the pupils reflected beyond the crystal ball, only greed shimmered.

His Uncle-nim smacked his lips as he ordered Ruthka.

To flounder in the mud once more.

-You bring him.

“……That’s impossible.”

-Or shall I pass it on to Emilia?

“Juda Snakers is a core strength of the faculty. It’s almost impossible for me to face him alone.”

-Of course, I’m not entrusting everything to you. Your role is simply to deliver the ‘item’.

“The item…?”

-Open the package.

A box that had arrived with the crystal ball.

Ruthka, though suspicious, carefully tore open the packaging.

Then, an unexpected item was revealed.

“……A necklace.”

It was a necklace with a reddish glow.

At its center was a hexagonal gem, tinged with blood.

It was an accessory that gave off an unsettling impression.

Perhaps it was a wizard’s intuition.

-This is an item provided in cooperation with the business side.

“I feel a very ominous energy from it.”

-An artifact that suppresses the wearer’s mana… more precisely, it should be called a restraint.

“So my mission is to make him wear this necklace.”

-Yes… Once he wears the restraint and you lure him to the agreed location, the family’s mages will intervene.

His Uncle-nim relayed the plan.

He added details about the necklace’s suppression power and its excellent camouflage.

It was originally a restraint used to shackle archmages.

The business side, which had been managing it for collection, had apparently gone to great lengths to provide it this time.

No matter how capable Juda Snakers was, it seemed there was no escape this time.

Ruthka chewed on his complex feelings.

-I hear your sister is quite close with the target?

“……That’s right.”

-Then approach will be easy.

The man beyond the crystal ball smiled heinously.

He whispered in a coaxing tone.

-Once this task is complete… I will grant you freedom.

-And release the oath placed on your hearts.

-Though you will be cast out of the family, I will not take your lives, at least.

-In short, you will be free.

A treacherous echo.

Ruthka knew as well.

That it was nothing but shallow deception, a clearly false mockery.

However, even so, the boy could not give an answer other than affirmation.

To protect the only family he had.

‘Sister.’

He picked up the necklace instead of answering.

It was an expression of his intent to carry out the task.

The communication ended shortly after.

The crystal ball’s screen also dimmed, following suit.

-Choose wisely.

-Because you can never escape from me.

Beyond the fading light, the image of a demon remained until the very end.

***

It had been a week since the academy lockdown order was issued.

The atmosphere at the academy was restless.

When information about the previous attack was disclosed, many students expressed concerns about their safety.

Moreover, four faculty members had died in the line of duty… the situation had grown too large to cover up any longer.

Ultimately, the academy had no choice but to hold funerals and disclose their causes of death.

The cultists’ presence was enough to provoke the Empire’s old wounds.

-The Great Empire shall never yield.

-However, as valuable talents are in danger, the Imperial Family and the blue bloods shall not stand idly by.

-O countless lights, gather for the sake of the future stars.

The Emperor conveyed his will solemnly.

Upon receiving this news, the Imperial Family and the nobles promptly dispatched reinforcements.

Private armies from dozens of families gathered in an academy the size of a small city.

Among them were the Imperial Knights, along with troops from several prestigious families.

Perhaps thanks to this… the academy’s defenses were at an all-time high.

To the point where it felt excessive.

‘I understand, though.’

The Empire could not abandon the academy.

If the academy were to retreat, it would mean the cultists’ wishes truly came true.

They sought to dismantle the symbol of hope that had been established after the Great War.

This was why Gallimard could not easily retreat.

It would be seen as acknowledging the influence of the black mages in the world.

‘They didn’t just come up with a strong countermeasure for nothing.’

They had to protect the symbol somehow.

Perhaps it was thanks to the troops uniting for a single goal.

To put it awkwardly, the interior of the academy became excessively safe.

‘Of course.’

It wasn’t the same as before.

An indefinite suspension of classes was decided at the academy, and students were confined to their dormitories.

As the danger was still present, it was impossible to proceed with studies.

Because of this, some children returned to their family homes.

Perhaps for this reason, the academy was more unsettled than usual.

Especially the academy district, which had become noticeably desolate.

“Hmm.”

Everyone must be refraining from going out.

No matter how much safety was secured, young students would still be scared.

Well… training them to have such courage is the role of the academy, I suppose.

But given the current times, it was simply unfortunate.

“The weather is bright, though.”

The spring breeze brushed against my cheek.

I casually hummed a tune and scanned my surroundings.

This park, normally filled with people, was especially deserted since the lockdown order.

I sat on a bench with the nearly empty scenery behind me.

“……So, there must be a reason you called me all the way out here, right?”

My gaze turned to the opposite side.

A boy also perched on a bench.

We were in the middle of a secret conversation.

“Young Master Benity.”

“……”

His characteristic blue eyes were fixed on me.

I deliberately began, testing him.

Ruthka, who had been silent all along, soon asked a question.

The boy’s voice was unusually shaky.

“Juda Snakers.”

His eyes sunk deep.

The boy seemed to be lost in thought.

“What do you… think of my sister?”

The returned question was quite unexpected.