Chapter 194
Chapter 194
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: The Doll Leone
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“Who do you mean...? It was one of the dolls the Dean was handling.”
“Dolls?”
“He filled the fourth floor of the Ascension Tower with those grotesque dolls, didn’t he? The creepy ones that secretly collected data on cadets climbing the tower and applied it... And among them, the one that could play instruments, even though it shouldn’t have been able to—”
I was a bit flustered myself, so my tone grew a touch rough.
Alderson listened without any sign of offense, then gently closed his eyes.
“Leone...”
He seemed lost in thought.
In the meantime, I rummaged through my pockets. I wanted to check the note Leone had left behind last.
‘It’s not here?’
My heart sank for a moment.
Had I imagined it?
No matter what, this crossed a line...
As I panicked briefly, I realized my clothes had been changed.
Loose patient garb—obviously not the cadet training uniform where I’d stashed the note.
Come to think of it, that made sense.
My training uniform had been reduced to rags from the back-world bloodbath.
That was when it happened.
“Ah... right. Leone.”
Alderson murmured in a low voice.
“There was definitely a doll like that. I shouldn’t have forgotten it, of all people... No. Hold on.”
Alderson suddenly hardened his expression and looked at me.
“...Ruan Cadet, listen carefully to what I say from now on.”
“What’s this all of a—”
“To be honest, I don’t know much about Leone. I don’t know if it was always like that or if it was brainwashed that way. But my current state isn’t normal. Call it a hunch, but I’ll probably forget all about Leone completely soon.”
“...You mean.”
Alderson nodded.
“Leone might have the power to manipulate memories.”
It didn’t sound like nonsense.
I agreed with Alderson while feeling a slight dilemma.
Alderson Marber.
The grand archmage who’d lost all his power was, at this point, more trustworthy than before...
But that didn’t mean I could spill everything.
There was a world of difference between ‘it can use instruments’ and ‘I became the Dark Cult’s High Priest.’
Even Alderson, who was friendly toward me now, might change his attitude if he learned I’d become the High Priest.
“Leone might be the Cult Leader.”
So once again, I decided to share only part of the information.
It was pulling one piece of a thought I’d been harboring...
The idea that Leone might have been the one who chose me as High Priest.
“Do you have evidence?”
“I met Leone in the back world. It helped me rescue you, Dean. If it hadn’t, I couldn’t have taken down the legion commander.”
“That alone is a hasty conclusion for calling it the Cult Leader.”
“Of course there’s more. The back world is another way of saying the dream realm, right? And from what I know, one of the Cult Leader’s signature powers is freely wandering the dream realm.”
“......”
“If that’s true, it explains why it suddenly appeared and vanished in the back world.”
Alderson didn’t dismiss my words lightly.
He closed his eyes briefly as if organizing his thoughts, then slowly spoke.
“It’s not impossible. If Leone is the Cult Leader as you say... it might be a puppeteer far beyond my level.”
“Puppeteer?”
His somewhat out-of-left-field remark made me tilt my head.
“Magic puppets started trending in the Empire about a hundred years ago. Relatively new technology, but actually, magic puppets originated from a forgotten kingdom.”
“Kingdom...”
“You might have heard of it. The name Setitus.”
“...!”
Leone’s note naturally came to mind.
[See you in Setitus.]
[P.S. I’m tired of playing doll.]
The country Eldest Martial Brother destroyed.
The Empire of Evil.
Somehow, I was convinced that ancient kingdom was connected to the Dark Cult.
‘I’ll have to visit it when I get the chance...’
That added one more task to my plate.
“The Dark Cult Leader... With the near-descent of the Demon King in the capital, it’d be stranger if they weren’t involved.”
“......”
“To get back on track, if the Cult Leader is a superior puppeteer to me, digging through the dolls or personality data in the tower won’t yield anything. However...”
Alderson gave a faint smile.
“I have one obsessive habit. I meticulously record the details of every puppet I create.”
“You have it? A document with Leone’s info?”
“My memory’s hazy, but it’s definitely there. Check the drawer in my dean’s office.”
I asked back in a somewhat surprised voice.
“Me?”
“I’ll be summoned to the palace the moment I can get out of bed, as I expected. Who knows how long I’ll stay... I might never return to the Academy.”
“Hm.”
“And I might forget this conversation too. I may not recall Leone again then.”
Alderson let out a hollow chuckle.
“I just realized. Dreams are each person’s inner world, an individual realm. Freely entering and controlling them is no different from total domination.”
“......”
“I might have been the Cult Leader’s puppet too... So I’m asking you all the more.”
Dean Alderson met my eyes and said.
“Ruan Bednicker, check the document for me.”
Instead of replying, I nodded.
* * *
The next day, Alderson left.
Just as he’d predicted, he was called to the palace the instant his body could move.
“I wish you good health, Dean.”
“Yes. I hope we meet again someday.”
Fortunately, my condition had improved enough for a handshake.
The spacious sickroom felt a bit empty after he left...
But I had no time to feel bored.
I focused right away on recovery.
About a day after Alderson departed, I’d recovered enough to stand...
And another day later, about half my condition was back. Meaning no major issues with moving around.
For now, I kept that fact hidden.
Something told me if word got out I was recovered, I’d be dragged all over the place—too annoying.
“Here’s your medicine for the day. Drink it all down.”
A middle-aged man who looked like a physician handed me some herbal tea.
I downed it with a dirt-smeared face. Not acting, for the record.
Good for the body or not, this stuff was over the top.
After forcing down the bitter, fishy brew, I choked down the tasteless health food. It didn’t even register in my liver, but to survive, I had no choice.
After barely finishing today’s menu, I asked the physician.
“By the way, how are the others doing?”
“Most are fine.”
‘Most’ meant some weren’t.
Catching my gaze, the physician sighed.
“Karon Cadet’s wounds are severe. As you know, wounds deeply corroded by the instrument don’t respond well to potions or priestly healing... High chance of blindness in the crushed right eye.”
“......”
“Mir Cadet’s still unconscious, and the Goodspring lady keeps feeling persistent chills. Heard she’s practically living in a hot bath, changing the water constantly.”
Overall, the team that joined my assault wasn’t in great shape.
Seren should recover with time... The problems were Karon and Mir.
Especially Karon’s wounds—they’d looked bad the last time I saw them.
My mouth went dry. Not just from the tea.
“What about Mir?”
“Similar to Miss Seren, but with differences. Low body temperature, but not unusual given his background. His sturdy body has already healed most wounds.”
“So only his mind’s out?”
“Yes. Neither physicians nor priests know the cause.”
“......”
Felt like I needed to see for myself. Maybe help with recovery like with Seren...
Or ask the Martial God for advice.
Sensing my thoughts, the physician said sternly.
“Young Master Ruan’s wounds are just as serious. Please rest absolutely for the time being. We’ll do our utmost for your comrades.”
“......”
*I’m almost fully recovered.*
Hiding my inner thoughts, I nodded and asked.
“By the way, where’s my stuff?”
“In the wardrobe over there.”
“Ah.”
I nodded...
And as the sun set that day, I got out of bed, loosening my stiff body.
Crack.
“Ugh...”
Lying in bed for days or just meditating had me on the verge of dying from boredom.
But since I had to keep playing weak, I had one option left.
Sneak out.
I opened the wardrobe the physician had pointed to.
Sure enough, my belongings were stored inside.
“This clothing... Cadet uniform?”
Probably left for me to wear once recovered. Makes sense—the training uniform was unwearable.
‘Might be better for staying low-key.’
I quickly changed into the cadet uniform and checked myself in the mirror.
“Hmm...”
This handsome face would draw eyes, no doubt.
My proud platinum hair was a nuisance right now. Maybe get a hat like Glenn’s.
Stroking my chin, my eyes landed on one of my items.
“Ah.”
One from Dean Alderson’s collection.
The Lynchal tribe’s mask, right?
The tool infused with transformation power.
“Will this work?”
Wearing such a suspicious mask might make me more conspicuous, but how did the transformation power even apply?
With that thought, the moment I covered my face with the mask.
“Ooh, oh...?”
The bizarre mask clung to my face like thin, wet cloth.
Surprisingly not unpleasant. Felt kinda cool, even.
Looking in the mirror again...
A girl I’d never seen was staring back.
“Gasp.”
No, a boy on second look.
“Damn... scared me.”
Anyway, delicate features that could be mistaken for a girl.
I realized the mask didn’t just alter facial features—it adjusted my build too.
So now I was a black-haired boy with hair down to my waist.
Features even more delicate than Glenn’s.
“Hmm...”
Honestly, not thrilled with the look.
Beyond the impression, black hair still stood out.
Still, no one would connect this to Ruan Bednicker.
“No choice.”
Settling on that alone, I opened the window and jumped down.
Landing silently from the third floor, a pleasant breeze brushed my skin.
Nice, until the fluttering hair got annoying.
Wonder if I could find a hair tie somewhere.
Only Char or Mir came to mind for tying hair.
‘Anyway...’
The Academy was buzzing right now. The night air felt chaotic, sure enough.
Reminded me of wandering the Academy at midnight right before the incident. Hard to find anyone out after dark.
Now, plenty strolled under the streetlamps. Mostly not cadets.
But what shocked me most was arriving at the shopping district to fill my stomach.
‘What the...’
Felt like midday.
The dazzling lights and vibrant energy were that intense.
I grabbed a passerby and asked.
“Is some festival going on?”
“Uh...”
The man stared blankly at my face, then smiled overly kindly for some reason.
“A festival? You could call it that. The cadets here stopped the Cult’s clutches... Heard it’s the first time in a century the Demon King’s descent was blocked without casualties.”
“Ah.”
“Uh... but aren’t you a cadet? Shouldn’t you know the situation better than me—”
“Thanks.”
I gave a vague thanks and walked the shops.
I got the gist.
Lots of outsiders visiting the Academy, they said.
With so many, they couldn’t house them all, so most were at inns in the shopping district.
Given the incident, mostly big shots—naturally spending freely.
That must’ve revived the dead shopping district, like peak tourist season.
‘Classes suspended, but most cadets still at the Academy.’
Merchants wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity.
Probably teamed up for some event.
Anyway, food stalls lined the streets, savory smells wafting.
Days of nasty health food had my mouth watering.
‘Meat, meat first, must have meat, absolutely meat.’
First real meal—had to be good. No failures allowed.
I prowled like a hyena hunting meat. Naturally leading me to the back alleys.
Not that I thought good eats hid in corners...
But somehow, the best smells came from around here.
“Hey. You there.”
“Wandering alone here’s dangerous.”
Then came confident voices.
Turning, a young man and woman stood at the alley entrance, eyeing me.
Around my age, but not Academy cadets.
Not just the clothes.
‘Pretty good...’
Well-honed auras and trained physiques.
Even among the Academy’s knight cadets, none had this vibe.
Definitely battle-hardened talents.
“Not really dangerous.”
I shot back, earning chuckles.
“I bet. Noble misses right before kidnapping always say that.”
“Idiot. Not miss—young master.”
“Eh... really? But so pretty...”
“......”
What were these two?
With all sorts gathered at the Academy now, best not assume...
But both felt anything but ordinary.
Meanwhile, they muttered lowly.
“...How’s that one? Looks like a local cadet.”
“...Necktie color says upperclassman. Hm... not bad.”
“...Him then?”
I could hear them, idiots.
Oddly, no malice.
Scheming something, but not out to screw me over.
Seemed the girl was the decider; she gave a slight nod, smiling at me.
“Hey. What’s your name?”
“Right.”
“Huh?”
“Uh, nothing. Name’s Naru.”
Tweaked Luan a bit.
The guy said.
“Ah. Pretty name.”
“Say ‘pretty’ once more, and I’ll smack your head.”
My annoyed tone made them both snicker. Like dealing with a spoiled noble young master.
“Fine, sorry. Anyway, Naru. Got a favor—mind showing us around the Academy?”
“We’re actually looking for someone.”
I eyed them, then nodded.
“Deal. Buy me a meal instead.”