Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Graduation Ceremony
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"Big Sis. Are you really, really going through with this?"
The leader of the Blaz clan, Vesta, shot a glare at the anxious underling who spoke up.
Including herself, ten people had infiltrated the noble district through the 'Rat Hole'.
Three clan executives and six elite fighters stood behind Vesta.
So that's why, you idiots. You couldn't even manage one lousy slave properly and caused all this mess?
Her mouth itched to spew curses, but Vesta endured with superhuman patience.
This wasn't the time to demoralize them.
Instead, she needed to plant grand ambitions and illusions to steel their resolve.
"The plan is flawless. One academy student is worth dozens of regular slaves. Kidnap just ten, and you'll instantly earn a reputation as outlaws who made fools of the academy—plus a mountain of gold."
It was a half-baked scheme. Attacking the academy in the first place was sheer madness.
But these self-serving outlaws, blinded by greed and used to treating lives as cheap, hung on her every word like they were enchanted.
Vesta avoided any negative talk—like the academy hunting them down after the kidnappings or the risk of clashing with professors if things went south.
She fed them only sweet lies, inflating their dreams.
"Damn straight, Big Sis! I knew I could count on you! Taking on the academy head-on? You're aiming to be the worst outlaw out there! I'll follow you forever!"
Vesta eyed the one calling her Big Sis.
'Iron Bar Kalino.'
A former mid-tier explorer turned outlaw after a curse transformed him into an orc.
Once blessed with top-tier boons like [Blessing of the Iron Fist] and [Blessing of Toughened Hide].
But his vicious nature made outlaw life a perfect fit, and he was the second strongest in the clan after Vesta.
'At least she's useful.'
She followed orders well, making her easy to control.
Play her cards right, and they could snatch students unnoticed and slip out of the noble district clean.
They'd use the same 'Rat Hole' that nabbed Rayhem—no issues getting in or out of the academy.
"Getting in was fine, but after we hit the academy, will the 'Rat Hole' still be open?"
"Heh. As long as we hold his parents, that guy's got no choice but to keep it clear for us."
"Kekeke. Blackmailing an academy assistant like this? Big Sis, you'll go down as Labyrinth City's top outlaw for sure."
Vesta answered the question, then smirked at the bootlicking flattery before hushing them in the shadows.
To hunt, strike when the prey's guard is down.
"We attack once the party's in full swing."
I'd ridden in a carriage once before.
A grimy, sagging seat stained from countless passengers, filthy interior.
Even at that snail's pace, the lack of cushioning made my butt ache something fierce. But Diana's ride had none of those flaws.
The cushions felt like sinking into a plush sofa, and the ever-changing scenery outside made the trip downright enjoyable.
Dudum– dudum–
The unpaved road made it jolt now and then, but that just meant I got to watch Diana's ample chest bounce wildly in her tacky dress—not half bad.
After admiring the view for a bit, I spoke up.
"Ellie headed to the academy, right?"
"Yeah. She stopped by just long enough to get fitted for her dress... She's probably deep in graduation rehearsal prep by now."
Ellie, who'd gone to the palace for career stuff, had popped in for a day to get her dress, then rushed back to the academy on schedule.
So I hadn't seen her face in over two weeks.
The carriage slowed after a long run. We'd reached the noble district walls.
Knock knock.
The coachman's voice followed.
"The guards are asking for your purpose and ID verification to enter the noble district."
Sure enough, security seemed tighter here than in the temple or explorer districts.
"Here, hand them this."
Diana pulled a blue explorer's badge from her bosom.
Not the wooden junior, silver mid-tier, or gold senior kind—I tilted my head at the unfamiliar top-grade one.
"T-Top-tier explorer...?"
"What the—it's real!"
"Gasp...! S-Sorry! We didn't recognize you, milady! What are you idiots doing?! Open the gate!!!"
Panic and shock mixed in near-screams from outside.
The gates creaked open again, and a stiff-faced guard slipped a document through the crack.
"V-V-V-Visitor log. P-Please s-sign..."
I snatched the log from the guard's frozen hand, too rigid to speak properly.
It listed entry records and notes.
A familiar name topped the recent entries.
[Entry][Notes]
[Assistant Gelsia][40 bottles of dinner party wine. 15 large oak barrels imported.]
Professor Mangkostil's assistant Gelsia.
Forty bottles and fifteen kegs? They planned to party hard.
"Th-Thank you!!"
I scribbled our names—mine and Diana's—and handed it back. The guard vanished in a flash.
The carriage resumed toward the academy.
Glancing out, I saw the noble guards, led by their squad captain, lined up saluting our ride.
Not knowing Diana's full story, it wasn't a perfect comp, but it looked like green squad leaders greeting a visiting division commander.
Fair enough. Even the guard captain groveled before her. Nothing weird.
Diana handed the badge back to the coachman and smiled warmly, like nothing happened.
"First time in the noble district?"
"Yes."
"Heehee. It's not a place you can just visit anytime, so make the most of it and look around."
I turned to the window at her words.
Expected flashy landmarks or a capital vibe, but after a long ride, it was just dense forest and trees.
"The academy's outer noble district is wrapped in woods like this."
A whole district with this much forest? Labyrinth City Balerus's sheer scale hit home again.
"I'd have gotten lost without you."
"Yeah, it's a maze. They forced these paths for looks, ignoring the walls' ugliness..."
Diana peppered the ride with fun tidbits to keep me from getting bored.
"Still, isn't this complexity risky? If guards fail, perps could slip away."
"Nobles prioritize erasing eyesores over practicality. They've suffered breaches before, yet added more trees..."
Rayhem's intel resurfaced.
The ominous tip that Blaz might hit the academy today.
Her mention of past incidents made it nagging more.
The explorer district captain said he'd liaise with the academy, but it didn't reassure me.
I looped Diana in just in case. Her vibe shifted subtly.
"Did the guards really coordinate with the academy? Mention extra manpower?"
"...Heard they would, but no firm yes."
"Got it. Better check on arrival. If you're that sure, maybe an inside man..."
Spilling to Diana beat blindly trusting guards.
I came purely to celebrate Ellie's graduation, but prep never hurt.
We dropped the heavy talk for today's schedule.
Two main events.
"Daytime dean's speech in the grand hall, then dinner party at the banquet hall tonight."
The speech was standard graduation drudgery. The real draw: dinner party.
A grand bash for grads, parents, relatives—a networking gala.
And academy kids usually had killer connections.
Noble heirs, tycoon kin, mid-to-high explorer offspring.
Prime networking goldmine.
Explorers thrive on connections.
Not just dungeon dives—mercenary gigs too. Network and rep dictate commissions.
I'd overheard mid-tiers griping that in taverns.
This party was a once-in-lifetime shot.
My level explorers don't get invites like this.
Thanks to Diana and Ellie. Nothing but gratitude.
"We're here already."
I peered out at Diana's words.
A majestic sight unfolded.
Damn, Hogwarts-scale.
Towering trees framed buildings that awed on sight.
I knew squat about aesthetics, but the massive structures oozed grandeur and power.
Like a country bumpkin in the big city, I gawked at the Royal Academy.
And the endless carriage line at the main gate.
"...What the hell's all that?"
In front of the academy main gate.
A snaking line of waiting carriages.
As endless as holiday highways, frayed folks vented gripes in unison.
"Damn it. How long we gotta wait?!"
The huge grounds had a ridiculously narrow entrance, jamming traffic every peak season.
Families rich enough to send kids here wouldn't slum it on foot.
They killed time in decked-out rides, but patience had limits.
"Over an hour already! Do you know who I am, making me wait like this?! I'm the nephew and third son of the Claudia Merchant Group's famed heir—second son too!"
One exploded, storming toward the academy guards at the gate.
"Yes. Entry procedures for those ahead are ongoing. Please wait."
The guards stonewalled with icy formality.
Academy policy.
They poured funds into talent over one-off complaints or needless expansions like widening gates.
"Tch..."
Even complainers, who'd trusted that ethos to enroll their kids, slunk back defeated.
As they returned empty-handed, a plain carriage slid past smoothly.
Nothing fancy: bland exterior, ordinary wheels, horse that screamed reject from breeding lines.
"They nuts?"
The sight begged the question.
Fancier rigs than theirs queued obediently—yet this junker blew past?
"Which house? Anyone recognize?"
"No house crest on it... Looks commoner."
"The build alone..."
Laughter erupted at "commoner."
They could guess what came next.
Nobles, tycoons, kin—all waiting patiently. Some no-account commoner cuts line?
Guards ignoring their own complaints?
"Guards'll rip 'em a new one."
"Yup. For us, a send-off. For peasants? 'Can't wait your turn?' Total smackdown."
"Perfect timing. Bored of waiting—need entertainment."
"Amen."
Boredom peaked, ripe for a show.
Irresistible.
They imagined the drama, craning necks out windows.
What they saw:
"All hands!!! Salute!!!!!"
Academy guards snapping rigid salutes in near-screams.
Dudum– dudum–
And the shabby carriage gliding through the gate.
Stunned silence, then dawning realization widened eyes.
"...What? Guards saluting that hard? Who the hell?"
"Second Princess just peeks at the dinner party—no way she's here now."
"Who?! Anyone glimpse inside?!"
"I... kinda saw a helmeted guy... Wasn't clear, so didn't mention."
"Helmet at a shindig? Bodyguard?"
Peak frustration flipped to curiosity, then massive intrigue.
They came for the graduation for various reasons, but top was networking.
Climbing higher meant connections.
And now, someone leagues above appeared.
Amid the rear commotion, a woman with closed eyes murmured softly.
"A man in a helmet..."
Her whisper carried layers of meaning.