Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: The Graduation Ceremony (4)
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Gelsia hurried after Balkan with anxious footsteps.
Balkan was deliberately heading toward a secluded area. It was a sign that he'd noticed her tailing him long ago.
"So you're the traitor."
"...!"
Sure enough, the moment he revealed himself, his gaze pierced right through her.
'As expected.'
Balkan had already sensed that outlaws would attack.
And not just that—he'd even figured out there was someone inside communicating with them.
There was no point hiding it anymore.
Unlike their encounter in the auditorium hours earlier, Gelsia came clean about the whole incident.
She laid it all out: her predicament, the deed she'd committed, and the fact that outlaws had infiltrated the academy grounds.
As she spoke, she tried to gauge his reactions from his expressions, but his face was hidden behind his helmet, foiling her every time.
In the end, her eyes locked onto his.
Meeting those icy eyes made her body shrink back instinctively.
"Why spill everything now?"
"...No matter how this plays out, if the outlaws commit crimes, I'll be their accomplice. I can't let all the academy's hard work go to waste. And..."
Once she started confessing, the words flowed out smoothly without stopping.
Her anxiety over her life being ruined by association with the outlaws, the guilt over sacrificing her fellow assistant Rayhem—it all weighed heavier than she'd imagined.
By the time she'd bared it all, an inexplicable sense of relief washed over her.
Meanwhile, Balkan narrowed his eyes as he watched Assistant Gelsia confess with a relieved look on her face.
'In the end, it's all for herself.'
She'd been coerced into the deed, but now that she thought back on it, she was terrified.
Confessing to a professor would wreck her career.
So instead, she wanted him to step in and help.
That was Gelsia's motive for confessing.
'Her family's in the crosshairs, which is pitiful, but honestly, none of my business.'
He shoved aside the stray thoughts and focused on one key truth.
The important part was the intel she'd provided.
Details on the Blaz clan leader Vesta and her nine members: appearances, features, strength levels, and more...
"So in the end, you don't even know that much?"
"...Yes. They're using disguise artifacts enchanted with illusion magic to change their looks. All ten are wanted outlaws with their faces plastered on posters."
Gelsia didn't know the disguised appearances of the Blaz clan members using artifacts.
It meant there was no catching them by sight.
But he had one method.
"Do you at least know their names?"
"Not all of them, but I know Vesta and a few others."
If he had names, he could cross-reference with status windows.
It was a unique perk only he possessed in this world.
"Their goal is most likely kidnapping students. Vesta seemed more interested in human resources than money. And they had me prepare a carriage and large oak barrels for midnight... Considering the timing, they'll strike during the dinner party. They're probably already infiltrated the banquet hall by now."
He'd gleaned even more intel.
Gelsia pieced together the information from her confession.
First: the scale, names, and details of the Blaz clan members infiltrating the academy.
Second: their purpose for attacking the academy, and the timing for escape after achieving it.
'Not a bad haul.'
Until now, he'd only had vague info that outlaws might attack.
Now it was confirmed fact, complete with specifics.
"You okay with that?"
"......"
He eyed Gelsia, who'd been dragged into this mess by Vesta, but her face remained tense.
"The outlaws haven't made their move yet. Plenty of time to turn back."
'Though she'll still end up in prison.'
Even if it wasn't her own will, she'd aided outlaws in committing crimes—she couldn't escape punishment.
But she could cleanse her sullied conscience.
"Turn back... chance..."
Just words, but the hope of atoning sparked light in Gelsia's eyes.
He watched her murmur quietly for a moment, then made a proposal when her lips finally stilled.
"...You want me to do that?"
"Yes. If you want to prove it wasn't intentional, you'll have to take that risk."
"......"
Vesta probably thought she had Gelsia on a tight leash.
But right now, Gelsia had spilled everything to him.
'She'll need insurance if things go south.'
This situation could be turned against them.
"Come to think of it, you said they hid in oak barrels containing that Clu de Bleu wine to sneak in?"
"Ah, yes."
"Disguise artifacts can't alter a person's scent?"
"Yes, correct."
A brilliant idea struck him.
"Meow!"
Thinking of Shuding made the haughty, elegant-faced cat leap from his shadow.
Edelbert's familiar he'd left in his care, Shuding.
This cat-shaped familiar could enter and exit shadows at his command.
"Wh-what... from the shadow...?"
Gelsia stared dumbly at Shuding, but the cat ignored her completely, rubbing its face against his helmet.
After Edelbert left Shuding and headed to the labyrinth.
He'd occasionally let her out, fed her, trained her, and played— they'd grown close fast.
Now she understood his words perfectly.
"Shuding. Know what green apple scent smells like?"
The Clu de Bleu wine had a green apple aroma.
Having hidden in those oak barrels for days, their whole bodies would reek of it.
"Meow~"
Clever Shuding nodded immediately.
"Can you scout around and let me know if you find anyone with a strong green apple scent, giving off a rough or sinister vibe?"
"Meow~"
It was a complex order for a mere cat, but Shuding nodded right away.
"Good girl. Well done. Go!"
"Meow?!!"
He praised her lavishly and patted her butt, startling Shuding into stiffening her tail and shivering.
"Meeeooow..."
Letting out a sticky breath, Shuding bounded off awkwardly over the buildings, patrolling the academy grounds.
The dinner party's opening was less than two hours away.
He wrapped up with Assistant Gelsia and headed to the banquet hall.
Even to him, with little aesthetic sense, the building was stunning.
Stepping through the wide-open doors revealed glittering chandeliers and long tables piled high with food.
"Haha, Mr. Jayden. Long time no see. Business treating you well?"
"Oh, you know, my son got recommended as a retainer to the Coxon family."
"My goodness! If it isn't Professor Mangkostil!!"
Even before opening time, men in tuxedos and women in dresses mingled, champagne flutes in hand.
A few professors were among them.
'They've all gotten old.'
Too blunt? Maybe, but undeniable.
Most here were parents of children.
Skin starting to wrinkle with age.
But not all were elderly.
"Still a virgin?"
"Gahhh! Fail! Deflowered!! ...Well, he's got parents, so duh?"
"Crazy bitches... How do they pull that off here?"
"They developed a virginity detection spell for their graduation project. Shows intercourse count too. That'll sell like hotcakes."
Fresh graduates shedding their student look mingled in proper attire.
He scanned the room.
Diana and Elly hadn't arrived yet.
"Well, well! If it isn't you. Been a while."
Turning to the voice beside him, a wrinkly-faced old lady looked up at him.
"Professor Mangkostil? Long time no see."
Professor Mangkostil, whom he'd met during that escort job, chuckled at him.
"Heh heh. How long's it been? You're even stronger than back then."
"Haha, you're too kind."
"Kind? Those watching you up close must be entertained. Sigh, if only you had more magic talent..."
Professor Mangkostil trailed off with a chuckle.
He chuckled too, sweat beading.
If he'd had magic talent, wouldn't he have ended up like Gelsia or Rayhem 2.0?
Imagining a future as a grad student terrified him.
"That offer still stands."
Professor Mangkostil brought up the proposal from their last parting.
—If you ever want to study magic properly, come find me anytime.
He'd put it on hold back then.
He was interested in magic, but diving into the academic side now was inefficient.
'Better to hire a reliable mage.'
"Haha... Appreciate it, but I'll think it over a bit more."
"Sure. The door to learning's always open. Your brain's still sharp—learn while you're young."
He chatted briefly with Professor Mangkostil while surveying the surroundings.
"...Who's that guy? Professor Mangkostil's giving him such a warm smile..."
"If she rates him that high, he must be pretty skilled."
"Tsk. That helmet? No way. The guy from the carriage at the gate?"
Varied reactions, too many eyes.
"Professor, if I may..."
"Heh heh. Got it."
Reading his mood, Professor Mangkostil tapped her staff on the floor.
Woooong—
A subtle mana wave enveloped him and the professor.
"Whoa! The professor...? Where'd she go?"
"N-no idea. Vanished? That guy too?"
People around the professor panicked and scattered.
"Silence and invisibility spells. No one can hear or see us now. Ah, don't move. It's a simple spell—motion breaks it. So, what's on your mind?"
A professor lived up to her title—sharp instincts.
'She's connected to Diana, soloed labyrinth floor 8 for her students. Trustworthy.'
He explained the situation immediately.
Outlaws had infiltrated the academy to kidnap students.
"Hmm. Then we block escapes first. Rally the assistants and guards I've got posted."
Professor Mangkostil proposed the next move right away.
"...You believe me?"
"Why wouldn't I? You risked your life protecting my students from that variant minotaur. I don't think you'd lie."
His brain, prepping persuasive responses, blanked like it'd been slapped.
"Even if you did lie, you won't be able to lie to me again for life. No biggie. Heh heh heh..."
Her wrinkled smile chilled his spine.
"That won't happen."
"Heh heh. So, what do you want from me? You came to me specifically—must have a plan."
"Halt the banquet now and screen for disguised outlaws in the hall before they kidnap students."
Professor Mangkostil looked troubled at his words.
"Regrettably, impossible. Outside my authority, and even if I told the dean, he'd refuse. That old fool's stubborn—won't show weakness with the second princess here."
He raised a puzzled brow at her words.
"The second princess...?"
"Yes. She's attending the dinner party tonight. The dean's obsessed with a flawless event—no chance he'll cancel."
In short, he wanted the event to proceed smoothly without upsetting VIPs.
"...Can't let that happen."
"Agreed. Blocking kidnappings will cause a commotion inevitably. But we can minimize noise. Got a way to filter outlaws?"
"Not all ten, but seven at least."
"Impressive. Care to let me help?"
"Of course."
He wanted no harm to students or Elly, and above all.
'Opportunity.'
A chance to rack up a huge debt from the professor and academy.
It'd pay off massively later.
A pain, but fitting rewards motivated him.
Woooong—
Mana gathered in Professor Mangkostil's staff.
Tok.
Mana from the staff touched him, wrapping his body in vast, bizarre flows.
"Hm. Haven't used this in ages—used a bit too much mana..."
"Wh-what is this?"
"The spell I just cast. Silence and invisibility. But I overdid the mana—should last two months."
What, insane?
"I'll be invisible for two months?!"
"Heh heh, no. You can toggle it at will. Think of it as a free temporary blessing."
Wishing to dispel the invisibility as Professor Mangkostil spoke.
"Gasp...! Wh-what the—?!"
A wandering graduate yelped and tripped at his sudden appearance, spilling wine over her dress.
Looking closer, it was one of the thugs badmouthing Elly. No sympathy.
He glared down briefly, then vanished again.
"Wh-what? There was definitely someone..."
"Watch where you're going. Know where you are? Stay alert."
"No, Mom, there really was...!"
"Tsk!!!"
Someone vanishes right before your eyes. The victim would be baffled.
"...Incredible spell."
"Poured extra effort, so you can take a few steps invisible. But sudden moves break it—be careful. Those with keen aura sense might notice."
Even with flaws, it was amazing.
For two months, he had a risk-free stealth blessing.
'This precise a spell by 'accident'?'
No way.
A professor wouldn't slip up on an academy student, let alone him.
This was a reward—and direct aid from Professor Mangkostil.
"Now we can handle it quietly. I'll repay your help with academy affairs. I'll do what I can. Can't let saboteurs escape."
"If the outlaws pull back, they'll use Assistant Gelsia's carriage."
"...I see. Such a good kid, how'd she end up like this..."
Professor Mangkostil seemed to catch that Gelsia was the traitor from his brief words.
He crouched, leaving her bitter chuckle behind.
"Meow~"
Without dispelling invisibility, Shuding somehow found him and meowed at his feet.
"Found the targets?"
"Meow!"
"Good girl. Well done."
Patting her soft black-furred butt made the black cat's tail wag wildly.
First impression was haughty and sharp, but she was pure pet now.
He followed the excited, leading Shuding to a dim balcony on the banquet hall's fourth floor.
"Ugh... L-let go... ughhh..."
"Heh heh. This guy's wasted. Can't even speak right. Serves a fresh grad right for mouthing off."
"He's basically begging to get laid. Tsk. Hot as hell."
Two women in tuxedos toyed with a masked male graduate too drunk to stand.
Just a familiar street scene at first glance.
Noble district or not, nobles were human—booze and lust led to similar antics.
Maybe even harder tastes, given their refinement.
But these weren't nobles.
They were the dregs of the labyrinth city.
"Hah. Wanna pump three billion sperm into him right now, but gotta hold back."
"Just a bit longer. Smooth operation, and we'll have cash to fuck these types till we're sick of 'em. Big Sis said so."
"Yeah. Gotta endure. But Big Sis is bold. Needing mana-handling slaves, raiding an academy?"
"Dunno details, but her slave trading... er, tribute spot ain't ordinary. Must have reasons."
Chilling lines even from afar.
[Kepson Jullier LV.25]
◆ 4112th Marionette's Curse
[Valteri LV.27]
◆ 3812th Marionette's Curse
Names matching what Assistant Gelsia had revealed.
The bizarre curse attached as expected.
Cross-verified with status windows—confirmed.
These two were Blaz clan outlaws.
Invisible, he strolled right up unnoticed and placed hands on their heads.
Left hand on one, right on the other.
"...Huh?"
"What, feels like someone's petting my—"
High-five.
Crack!
Their skulls collided with a splintering sound.
"Gurgle—"
Foam bubbled from their mouths. Not dead, but out for the night.
He blindfolded the passed-out drunk and bound the outlaws, muttering.
"This is why I do assassinations."
Eight prey left.