Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Bizarre Music Box
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90
1
For starters, this fancy blue box seems to be a music box.
I have no idea why a music box would produce screams, though...
If we're splitting hairs, this isn't even a forbidden book.
Meaning it's not something that belongs in the Forbidden Archive.
To begin with, the fact that sound from the underground Forbidden Archive in the Minenbar Library reached the Tartarus Hall...
"No, get a grip. Don't think about it logically."
This is the Broken World.
A realm madder than Alice's Wonderland or the Looking-Glass World.
The more you cling to common sense, the less you understand, so just accept it.
There were no mechanisms inside the music box.
To be precise, it had what looked like a spring mechanism attached, but it wasn't moving.
No hole or key to wind it, and despite the spring and resonator showing no sign of activity, it screamed on its own.
Yet when you close the lid, it goes silent.
In fact, if you press your ear to the closed lid, you can hear what sounds like a spring turning.
It's no different from a regular spring mechanism winding right then releasing energy left.
A bizarre object that embodies contradiction itself.
"This thing is blatantly suspicious."
A creepy music box stored in the Forbidden Archive is actually Tartarus Hall's Easter egg!?
It's pulling aggro way too well.
If this is Tartarus Hall's Easter egg, it makes sense that I couldn't find it even after investing dozens of hours.
No one would imagine the sound originated from the Forbidden Archive.
The Archive itself offers few chances to enter, and even fewer actions once inside.
Plus, thanks to that damn security system, every exploration has time limits and restricted areas, so skipping it wouldn't be unusual.
"So what the hell is this Easter egg, anyway?"
If the Forerunners went so far as to steal it, it's no ordinary item.
Did the devs hide it with some purpose or intent, not just as a joke?
Or was it originally a simple gag, but changed now that the game has become reality?
"...All questions with no answers, no matter how much I ponder."
My head throbs.
I tilted my head back and stared blankly at the sky.
One thing's for sure: this world's Easter eggs differ from what I remember in some ways.
If I want clear answers on causes and effects, I'll have to investigate myself.
For now, return the music box to the academy.
Since it was stored in the Forbidden Archive, keeping it will just cause problems...
Above all, a screaming music box is too creepy to hold onto.
"In the end, my workload just increased..."
Why does work multiply the more you do?
It must be a duplication bug.
Shit game.
"You made it back safe."
"Looks like you did too."
Leon nodded and approached.
Bathed in moonlight, he was covered in blood, but it didn't seem to be his own.
Whether due to his vivid red eyes or his dark cocoa-colored hair that matched the dried blood, he somehow pulled off the blood-soaked look impressively.
"Noel seems unhurt too."
"I thought I was gonna die..."
Yeah, talking casually about life and death means he's really fine.
No scratches visible, and sticking to pure ranged combat means Noel wouldn't get hurt anyway.
As expected of the ADC, reliable.
"The item stolen from the Forbidden Archive."
"I've got it. Not a book, though."
I held up the music box.
They both looked puzzled at the "not a book" part, but I don't know the details either.
No matter how you slice it, we'll have to head back to the academy and figure it out there.
Dragging our weary bodies, we found the nearest village.
We handed over the three Forerunners to the village vigilantes and rented a carriage, picking up Kyriakos, Louis, and Ethan on the way back to the academy.
Fortunately amid the misfortune, all three had serious injuries but no life-threatening ones.
The pursuit took half a day, but by carriage, we entered Esterro Academy in under an hour.
Things were somewhat under control, but Esterro Academy still had Night Hornet corpses scattered about.
Buildings with smoke rising looked ominous, and guards and students rushing everywhere were par for the course.
"Lots of injured... right?"
"Obviously. But who's worrying about whom...?"
Louis replied heavily, wrapped head to toe in bandages.
Fair point; this wasn't their concern.
If I said I felt no pangs of conscience, that'd be a lie.
Esterro Academy getting attacked is an annual event if you're bored.
But that's just in the game.
When real people die, the weight is on another level.
The heat on your skin, the stench piercing your nose, the screams clinging to your ears—they all scream that this moment is reality, not a game.
I'll witness scenes like this many more times.
If I could prevent them all with my knowledge, great.
But with variables everywhere, even that's impossible.
To start with, my very existence is a living variable.
The butterfly effect is in full swing now that Theo Agrit, who should've been expelled, is boldly starting the second semester.
Guilt over that...
...No, wait—why should I feel guilty?
The Forerunners caused this, not me.
With or without me, they'd have stirred up trouble—fact.
The deceived have no fault.
The deceivers are always wrong.
So the Forerunners are the bad guys.
Since they're behind everything, I need to keep tabs on their movements.
To ensure potential incidents don't blow up and guarantee my peaceful life.
2
You need a healthy body to stay vigilant.
Half-reclining on the plush infirmary bed, I dangled a stem of strawberries toward Choco.
Choco, perched on my lap, grabbed it with both paws and started munching with juicy crunches.
I speared a strawberry with my fork and popped it in my mouth.
The sweetness was a relief, but... it oddly made my head pound, furrowing my brow.
"You okay?"
Leon asked flatly.
I massaged my brow and pointed my fork at Ethan, Louis, and Kyriakos, all bedridden beside me.
"Better off than them."
Ethan had arm fractures and exhaustion, Louis major lacerations and blood loss, Kyriakos full-body cuts plus accumulated fatigue-induced mana depletion.
A regular hospital ward.
Their appearances varied wildly.
Ethan's entire right arm from fingertips to shoulder was in a cast; Kyriakos was wrapped head to toe like a mummy; Louis, with a massive back wound, lay prone with a sullen expression.
"You're unscathed, so why are you lying down?"
I just shrugged.
I look fine on the outside, but overusing mana got me ordered to rest quietly.
"More importantly, Senior, is your back okay? How'd you get hurt there?"
"A blunder on my part. I stepped up to block the revival."
Kyriakos nodded slightly.
Hard to tell if he actually nodded under all those bandages.
"Thanks to that, I gained some insight."
"Insight?"
"Louis's words struck a chord."
What the hell happened?
First time seeing Kyriakos look so satisfied.
I shot Louis a questioning glance, but prone as he was, he just shrugged.
Anyway... the damage this time was too severe.
Gotta hold back on this approach next time.
Of course, just taking it lying down would piss me off more, so next round, smash the Forerunners' backsides good and hard.
Feeling good trumps hassle.
So the next incident...
Variables abound, so no guarantees, but Esterro Academy will max out security for a while.
Forerunners won't dare touch it, so they'll show up in Hilfenberg Territory as planned.
Most events in this world chase the protagonist, Leon, anyway.
Sure, some happen without his knowledge... but I can't access those anyway, so ignore.
Even knowing, my options are limited.
So focus on what I can do.
3
And so, we returned.
To Riverflow, heart of Hilfenberg Territory.
"Good thing it's close to the academy."
Normally, I'd schedule for the weekend and rush it...
But Esterro Academy's suspending classes for a week to handle attack damage.
Repairing collapsed buildings and reinforcing barriers in a week is impressive.
If it were Agrit Territory, it'd eat up all the travel time...
Ah, what a shame.
Gotta burn that week off working.
If not for the Forerunners, it'd be perfect for fun.
Damn them...
These bastards cluttered my head these past days; I couldn't tell if food went in my mouth or nose.
Definitely got anger issues...
No choice.
First, raid the Forerunners' hideout in Hilfenberg Territory.
I left it alone knowing it'd shut down if touched... but they struck first, so it's legal. Legal.
Wrap this up, then hand the rest to Leon.
After that, crash hard.
"Unpack first."
Leon said lowly, dragging my suitcase too.
Hey, aren't you sticking way too naturally?
I got discharged early since my injuries were minor.
Ethan, Louis, and Kyriakos are still serious, stuck in beds.
Noel, pondering something, ditched for solo training to get stronger.
So Choco and I came to Riverflow alone... but Leon's glued to my side somehow.
"You're here because the Duke of Hilfenberg summoned you, right? No need to visit home?"
"Just greet him before heading back to the academy. He's the Duke, after all."
Ah~ I get it.
Considering Lucius's personality from that last banquet...
He'd probably summon, then say he was just bored.
"Let's move first."
"Where to?"
"We're here to vacation, aren't we?"
Leon tilted his head quizzically.
We did come under vacation pretense.
Of course, it's a pretext.
Real goal: hunt Forerunners and smack their heads.
Vacation on the side... obviously.
Bash jerks, then rest.
What rest could be sweeter?
"This way."
While I mulled, Leon grabbed my suitcase and led.
"Hey, where are we going!"
"If you're vacationing in Riverflow, there's only one place."
Leon's voice held zero hesitation, utterly assured.
That confidence pointed to one spot.
"No way, there?"
Leon said nothing, just strode ahead silently.