Chapter 52
Chapter 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Formation of the 3-Person Party
-----------------------------------------------------------------
About ten minutes before the midday chase unfolded.
Bennett was tailing the mage through the crowd, blending in seamlessly. The woman in the suit walked arm-in-arm with him, sticking close, which suggested they were quite intimate. Lovers, perhaps.
Or maybe it was a honey trap. Could she be an agent dispatched by Second Prince Irid's faction, seducing the mage into cooperating with their purge plan? Based on the intel so far, that hypothesis seemed the most plausible.
There was definitely a black mage who handled dream demons. If they could recruit him with a beauty like her...
Then, a tapping sound came from behind.
Bennett turned to see the midnight stalker from that night—the female student whose near-supernatural tracking skills had given him hell. She'd worn a hood pulled low over her face that day. How had she identified him?
As Bennett ramped up his vigilance, she scribbled on her whiteboard and held it up.
"...A misunderstanding?"
Scribble scribble.
Fearing Bennett might bolt, Niore wrote short, punchy key sentences. With enough time, clearing up the misunderstanding would be child's play.
"So... you're saying it wasn't a double trap to track whoever dug up the demon sword—it was just coincidence? You were just being nosy?"
Nod nod. Niore nodded vigorously, as if that was exactly her point. She scribbled her name and pointed at herself with a thumbs-up.
"...Bennett."
"......"
The opposite was true. Bennett wanted Second Prince Irid's plan to succeed, plunging the academy into chaos and terror. Ideally, a half-baked victory that left both sides with irreparable damage.
Sparkle sparkle. Niore shot him eager eyes.
Where had this misunderstanding come from? Should he exploit it or deny it? Bennett averted his gaze, buying time to think by pressing her.
"...You hid your face, but how'd you know it was me?"
"......"
That explained how she'd caught him despite the speed gap. Monster-level observation skills.
She didn't seem deceptive. Looking back, Niore lacked the polish of Second Prince's agents—stumbles here and there, unlike her flawless tracking.
People always risked their lives for flags or justice. Niore seemed that type. Even if Bennett dissuaded her, she'd dig alone.
A mere incompetent girl student? Hardly. Those eyes could track seasoned fugitives. She might prove a wildcard.
If she got decisive evidence on Second Prince's plan and handed it to Third Prince... Game over. The Emperor forbade excessive strife between heirs. Framing with a demon sword was excessive enough.
The Emperor would act, defusing the academy bomb before it even lit.
But what if he interfered midway? Pretend to investigate with her, steal clues, betray at the critical moment.
Unless he killed her here—which he wouldn't—that seemed best.
"Yeah, I want to stop bloodshed at the academy too. Glad to have a partner."
"...!"
Unaware of his true thoughts, Niore beamed and offered her hand. Bennett clicked his tongue inwardly but shook it. She pumped it enthusiastically.
"First, map their movements. Tail quietly, stay low..."
Bennett's eyes, tracking the mage's back, snapped sideways. Niore followed suit. There, a black hole sucked in all gazes—a walking one.
"...Saintess."
"......??"
Newbie Niore gawked at the saintess's fashion. She eyed Bennett: That's the saintess?
"Yeah, you've heard there's a saintess enrolled. That's her."
"......"
"Don't give me that look—I don't know why she dresses like that either. Wait... is the saintess tailing the mage too?"
Another variable. Bennett furrowed his brow at the piling unknowns. Why was the saintess after the mage? What had he done...?
"Wait—!"
Niore boldly approached the saintess. Bennett sighed and followed. No solid reason to stop her. Things were spiraling beyond prediction.
He steeled himself to make the best black mage call possible.
Positively: Pit the church against Second Prince's faction for even greater chaos?
Saintess Tara had no ulterior motives. She just wanted to tip off the poor rookie professor marked by Professor Alejandro— a quick greeting would fix everything.
There they were ahead, matching the description: man in Violet Magic Tower robes, woman in a suit. Rare combo, easy to spot.
After, she'd punish whoever traded panties for the demon sword.
Until the whiteboard-hugging newbie appeared.
Tap tap tap.
"Uh, hi, um... what do you want?"
Mute, maybe?
Dark-haired girl with swaying locks. Academy uniform, no prior memory—freshman. Eyes burning with mission.
These types popped up: spotting "suspicious" traces, reporting to passersby like her. Respect the courage and civic duty, but as the frequent target, it was a hassle.
Most were false alarms. Freshmen especially—green, wild swings. This one probably nothing too...
"Give me the specifics and details."
It was big. Big enough to raze the academy.
"...I'll explain."
Bennett stepped up behind Niore. Saintess Tara knew him—one of the academy standouts. Alejandro's disciple, trustworthy.
Bennett laid it out chronologically, simply: Niore spotting the duo burying in the pit. Bennett unearthing the demon sword by chance, the misunderstanding sparking a chase, ditching it on the balcony to escape.
And.
Niore pulled panties from her bosom, offering them politely with both hands. Tara took them reflexively.
"......??"
The midnight trade's truth emerged.
Bennett added: intel pegged the Violet Tower mage as Second Prince's parachute drop. Piecing it together—
"So, we suspect he hid the demon sword for a purge."
"Makes... sense."
Not implausible. Too weighty for casual talk. Mistake it, and blood spilled. Tara thought defensively, cautiously.
Investigate, yes. Draw blades? Premature.
Hear the demon sword's calling first.
"Talk to him first, then decide. He's right there... Huh?"
The mage got piggybacked by the suited woman. They bolted. Tara blanked, then surged mana through her body.
"Chase!"
"I'll veer left!"
The pursuit began.
Priestess mana is special. Granted by the god they serve, it's attuned to specific domains. Regeneration, healing, purification, life-boosting—advantages there.
Why no recovery or regen schools in the towers. Goddess Church priests monopolized it.
"『Blessing of the Savage Beast』!"
⟨ Enhancement Magic ⟩
Stamina boost, strength surge. Light enveloped Saintess Tara and Bennett. He staggered at the 1.5x speed spike but quickly steadied and charged.
"Adapting faster than I thought?"
"I don't stroll the academy for show... Wait, Illusion Magic?"
The mage and suited woman shimmered, duplicating into two pairs. Exquisite illusions—even mana flow was indistinguishable. They scattered different ways.
"...Can you tell which is real?"
"No clue!"
"We'll cover them bodily...! Signal if you find the real one!"
Tara and Bennett split, each taking one.
Bennett sprinted the streets, mind racing. Let them escape on purpose? Or signal cooperation?
But first, catch the mage.
The mage unleashed bizarre spells as distance closed—incantations Bennett had never encountered.
"『Telekinesis』, 『Festival Fireworks』."
⟨ Illusion Magic ⟩
Flashy fireworks burst, then an apple flew from a stall. Just an apple—blockable harmlessly—but the follow-up was the issue.
"『Light Smear』, 『Texture Dissolution』."
⟨ Illusion Magic ⟩
The apple warped, spreading its sheen over nearby objects. Ground, stalls, Bennett's skin—all glossy apple peel patterns. Reality dizzied.
Slash!
Eyes squeezed shut, Bennett unleashed sword aura, slashing the apple's core midair. It split.
Core destroyed, illusion vanished.
Distance widened slightly. Bennett gritted his teeth. Painful spells or monster maws? Ignore and push. But reality-evaporating hallucinations? Tough even for him.
"What kind of worldview lets you cast crap like this...!"
The mage answered with magic.
"『Repulsion Field』, 『Approaching Wall』."
⟨ Compound Illusion ⟩
Ground quaked, waves of earth crashing. Illusion, surely—but he'd heard the Repulsion Field chant clearly.
Hidden repulsion amid illusions repelling him. No time to discern. Bennett drew his longsword, whipping dozens of slashes rapidly.
Mana traces wove a sword net—advanced technique, sword veil, for master mana manipulators.
Repelling force shattered with the illusion.
Sword veil pierced with minimal slowdown. Distance closing steadily. Mage ducked into a dim alley. Bennett readied his blade.
Moment mage vanished from sight—peak caution time. Unknown spells incoming.
Edgy, Bennett entered. Dead-end alley; mage stood still, back turned. Woman gone. Ambush possible. Watched his rear.
"...Alone now?"
Mage spoke casually, back exposed.
"Why chase me? I... haven't done anything yet."
"Bold words. You hid the demon sword. What's the goal?"
"Always one goal: a peaceful world where everyone has fun."
"Curious how the demon sword fits that."
Test him? No saintess or Niore nearby. Perfect to reveal leanings. Bennett steadied his breath.
"I'm not like the other two. Slip me decent coin, and I might cooperate..."
"Do you think... your beliefs are the truth?"
"...What?"
Mage's loaded words hardened Bennett's tone.
Mage turned: jet-black hair, ominous red-glowing eyes. Young man, academy-student age.
He murmured low.
"Just a simple tale. Everything has its flip side."
"Talking like a proper mage. If you're dodging..."
"You'll see soon. When the time comes. You'll get it."
Whoosh.
Like a candle in wind, mage vanished. Bennett blinked. No invisibility or teleport—nothing detected by ear or mana scan.
Where'd the illusion start?
Admitting defeat, Bennett exited. Saintess fuming nearby, Niore dazed—both lost him too.
Mage's cryptic words clung stickily in Bennett's mind.
The trio formed a team. Provisional alliance to probe the mage. Per Bennett, no telling others till solid—rumors could spawn unintended victims.
Political stakes meant backlash risk. Tara and Niore agreed.
Hold off Third Prince too—no arrival yet; might seem like sowing discord.
Where and how to investigate for answers and proof? Tara had an idea.
"To catch an ogre, enter its lair."
Saintess Tara pointed to a corner of the elective list on the student plaza board.
『Otherworld Exploration』 / Instructor: Violet Magic Tower Mage (Anonymous per request)
Straightforward yet unpredictable title. Bennett narrowed his eyes.
"...You want that one?"
"Yep."
"I'm the saintess. Whatever scheme, they can't touch me."
Tara crossed arms, shrugging. Church tensions aside, saintess status was ironclad shield—Goddess Church symbol.
The three registered for 『Otherworld Exploration』. Venturing in blind to whatever awaited.