Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Episode 38
EP12 - Who's Better at Illusion Magic? (3)
"An interesting proposition."
After a brief conversation, Kaiser wore a meaningful smile.
He then posed several questions: the scale, the orchestrator, the possibility of a long-term relationship, and if so, the chance to meet the leader.
"We don't have a separate leader leading our group."
"Is that so?"
Detecting the lie, Kaiser's gaze grew colder and more profound.
'A dozen or so assassins. One top-tier assassin. And on top of that, [Trap], [Bomb], and a [Grand Curse]…'
The intruders were far larger in scale than he'd thought, and the assassination attempt on Dante was prepared more fiercely than he'd imagined.
The day before yesterday, Kaiser realized it was the reporters' typical fabrication as soon as he saw the contents of the [Assassination Daily]. However, the feeling of his heart sinking the moment he imagined Dante losing some of his language abilities was still vivid. Perhaps that was why.
Kaiser wanted to kill the masked man before him.
From his perspective, even if their assassination couldn't reach Dante, it could still affect those around him.
Wouldn't his blood boil at the thought of even a Hidden Dragon Society Student getting hurt?
"Um… did we perhaps make a mistake…?"
The masked man asked nervously, sensing the ominous atmosphere.
Kaiser wore his usual dangerous smile.
"…No. You've given us a good proposal, so we'll prepare a good answer."
Kaiser calmed his excitement.
In any case, he just needed to block it at his level.
Wouldn't it be enough to send Elise to kill them all?
…Thinking that, he returned to Hidden Dragon Hall.
"No."
Suddenly, Elise refused the assassination.
“…May I ask why?”
"You want me to kill when we're about to have a fun game?"
“…They're bound to fail.”
"Hmm. Of course, they will? But it'll be fun."
“…That might not be such a fun game.”
"Huh? Yes, it is."
Then Elise put her hands together on her chest.
"I'm already getting excited just thinking about it."
Elise was thrilled about the fun game after a long time.
"…I see."
Kaiser was speechless with a troubled heart.
That's right! Even if Elise had become close to Professor Dante, she was still a madwoman who saw assassination as a game.
'Ah—'
With that, Kaiser's inner concept shattered.
'…I'm screwed…!!'
A damn incompetent mastermind! Wasn't that his very identity?
If Elise wouldn't move according to his will, there was nothing Kaiser himself could do…!
Assassination?
Bullshit!
He'd never even swung a sword, let alone assassinate anyone! He couldn't even use Stealth, and he couldn't even run! What could he possibly do with this body…!!
'Kaaaaaah!'
He realized from time to time that he was a rat, no, not even a rat, but a bug, not even a bug, but a paramecium, an amoeba, dust! A mere atom! He trembled at that overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
Was he just going to stand by and watch those damn outsiders target Professor Dante…!?
'No way!! I must protect Professor Dante no matter what…!!'
First, he tried to persuade Elise in various ways, but failed, so he decided to at least call it off.
"In that case, we'll consider this proposal unaccepted."
"Why?"
"It can't be helped. It's a rather negative proposal when it comes to assassinating the Emperor."
"Really? That's too bad."
"I'll prepare something more fun. So, stick with me today."
"Okay…"
He locked the sulky Elise in her room and mentally locked the door.
That was all.
All he could do was this, that was all…!
'Haaaaaa…. Why am I so incompetent…'
Just when frustration was exploding like a bomb inside him.
A helping hand was extended from an unexpected person.
It was Gray Habanero.
"Hey, Kaiser."
Gray, who was sitting on the windowsill, called him.
"What is it?"
"You know, you're the most perceptive among us, right?"
"……."
That wasn't true at all, but everyone seemed to think so.
“…That’s right.”
"Right? I mean, I'm weaker than you because of my limp, but you have the sharpest eyes. And the best judgment, too? That's why we all follow your decisions, right?"
“…I only strive not to betray the trust you show me.”
"Yeah, yeah~ Then, shall we have a little chat~?"
Kaiser was dragged away by Gray, who was limping and staggering.
After sitting on the living room sofa, she asked.
"Professor Dante and I—"
With a very, very serious expression.
"…Who's better at [Illusion Magic]?"
What was this out of the blue?
Thinking about it, Kaiser narrowed his eyes.
Hadn't Gray's condition been a little strange lately?
A person who always lived with a cheerful expression had been serious lately.
Gray was a complex person, but.
Simply put, she lived intoxicated by 'pride and superiority in her [Illusion Magic]'.
If Gray mentioned Dante…
'Is it inferiority?'
Inferiority to a professor, not even a Student?
Well. Most professors were inferior to Gray.
In other words, this was inferiority as a person to person.
Inferiority as an [Illusion Magic Branch] assassin to an [Illusion Magic Branch] assassin.
'Ah!'
A lightning bolt flashed through Kaiser's mind.
A feeling that several disparate fragments were connecting!
'If I play this right…'
After a few thoughts, Kaiser answered.
"Professor Dante."
Gray frowned.
"…Seriously? More than me?"
"Yes."
"No. Answer more seriously. There might be some areas where I'm a little behind, but? Think about the overall realm of [Illusion Magic]."
"Professor Dante."
Gray's snaggletooth popped out.
"No, no. Don't just answer like that! Why are you like this today? You always objectively took my side."
"……."
"Kaiser. I'll give you one last chance to answer. More carefully. Comprehensively. Answer. Okay? Who's better at [Illusion Magic]? It's Gray, right? …Okay?Her two hands made a flower base under her chin.
"Professor Dante."
"Yaa!"
"……."
Gray got angry.
"Don't be ridiculous. What do you know? I can never admit it. I'll let Elise off the hook since she's originally stupid, but are even your eyes crooked?"
Kaiser put on a serious face and answered.
“…Even if you pester me like this, my opinion won’t change. There’s a reason for that.”
"What is it, that damn reason?"
"A tiger on the verge of death is weaker than a young mouse. Superiority and inferiority accompany time value. I received a report from Elise about the [Illusion Magic] Professor Dante displayed to the intruder the other day, and I accurately grasped it. He fabricated an entire space of enormous scale. So, what about you?"
"That's not true? I can do it at a similar level, too? I even went to his class to see how good he was, and honestly, he was good…. I admit it was neat and delicate. But I can do that much, too, right?"
"That's not what I mean. An assassin should prove it with assassination. But you haven't proven anything recently, have you?"
"No, seriously…"
Gray frowned.
"Then what should I go do? Kill someone? Kill Professor Dante in an illusion magic battle? Then will you admit it? That Gray is better?"
That's it. She's almost there!
"…There's a very strong opponent. Would you like to face them once?"
* * *
Night fell. The masked man took off his mask.
He wasn't a Demon. He was a minion of the Demons, a human, and a faculty member of Hiaka.
Humans who served Demons as 'masters' existed everywhere. They were people who had received sweet offers from Demons at the bottom of their lives and found a new path in life. He was one of them.
"Haha…"
The faculty member was feeling thrilled right now. Because he had made a deal that was unbelievably big.
"I made a deal with the Hidden Dragon Society… with the class of Imperial Year 501, said to be the best ever…"
All academy officials. Professors. Students, of course. Even the 'Master' acknowledged that the current first-year Hidden Dragon Society was the best group of Students in history. So, he was nervous.
"…They're just kids, no matter what."
But when he actually met them, they were so childish and easily manipulated? He didn't even have time to take out the money he had prepared in advance.
'It's just rumors. The Hidden Dragon Society, Professor Dante, too.'
When you actually open it up, it's nothing special.
With this, Professor Dante would be killed. Starting with that, Hiaka would slowly fall into the hands of the 'Master'. And he would receive favor…
Anticipating such a rosy future, he was heading to the 'closed district' of Area 0.
"…Huh? What's this good smell?"
Suddenly, a fragrant and pleasant smell began to emanate. He didn't know what kind of smell it was. A very good smell of alcohol. Or the smell of incense. Whatever it was, just smelling it made a person feel drowsy.
Smelling it, smelling it, wanting to smell it…
"Wow…"
With a lighter heart, his staggering steps moved following the scent.
He felt as if a harem was unfolding for him somewhere.
As he walked, the world suddenly began to look beautiful.
The time was a pitch-black night. The Earth's ring stood horizontally in the dark sky. But the scenery was more beautiful and lovely than usual.
"Hmm…. It's so nice…"
Then, a butterfly emitting beautiful iridescent light fluttered and led him.
"Where are you going?"
Flutter, flutter. It moved up and down with each flap of its wings, leading him with its beautiful figure.
"Let's go together…"
The man felt like he was returning to his childhood self. Like when you see children running happily downhill on a sunny day, your feet also feel lighter. He blankly followed the butterfly.
At the end of those steps was a chapel.
In the closed district, there was a chapel that had been used in the past when 'Sacred Assassins' were trained. It was abandoned now, but the 'Master' was using its basement as a sanctuary.
A place like home.
-
Giggling.
-
Hahaha.
From there, he heard warm, drowsy, and pleasure-filled laughter from women.
Finally, the Master must have opened a festival for him.
Bang!
As soon as he opened the door of the chapel, the faculty member smiled brightly. He saw his colleagues smiling at him from high up on the ceiling. As if telling him to come here, too, they were gesturing to him.
-
Child. Come quickly.
At the same time, the 'Master' lowered his hand and bestowed a necklace upon him. It was something he couldn't possibly resist putting around his neck.
Today's champion is me.
I did it.
-
Receive it.
Yes, Master.
The faculty member received the necklace and put it around his neck.
Immediately after, the world shattered.
─── .
The inside of the cathedral was engulfed in flames. The flames were burning the dusty curtains. The wooden walls. The pillars. The chairs. And everything on the floor.
But more shocking than that was the ceiling. Six or seven people were floating in the air. Their necks were hung with thin threads.
"Kuh…. Keuk…."
"Euheuk……."
It was as if they were being hanged. The faculty member, realizing the identities of those being punished, collapsed at the shocking sight. They were the assassins of the [Platinum] Rank Badge that he had prepared in advance.
The bodies, meeting the updraft, swayed left and right like pendulums. The assassins were still alive and shaking their legs painfully.
"……."
In the dark smoke, he saw the 'Master's' corpse.
The black wings and black body, cut into pieces and dead, were placed in the center of the chapel.
The scenery, far removed from reality. The faculty member's mind went blank.
The butterfly? The beautiful light? The colleagues who were up in the sky? The women? Where were they all…? In a state where perception and senses were thoroughly violated.
A woman sitting in the seat of the chapel's leader asked.
"How is it?"
Only then did the faculty member see the woman. It was a very familiar face.
A female Student with ash-gray hair.
Gray Habanero.
She was a Student of the Hidden Dragon Society. That meant… 'Keuk!' Before he could answer anything, his feet floated up. The floor moved away. He gasped for breath.
The thread that he had received with his own hands, thinking it was a necklace, was strangling the faculty member's neck and pulling him into the air.
"Keoeok…. Keukeuk…."
Blood wasn't going to his head. As the faculty member set his nails and tore at his neck to grab the rope holding him, the world slowly turned black and his eyes began to roll back.
Then Gray asked again.
"Do you understand now? Kaiser?"
A Student with a cane limped in from beyond the door. And then indifferently examined the dead.
Kaiser felt a sense of satisfaction rising in his heart. The feeling of being together with Professor Dante's will once again.
In addition.
That bizarre monster on the floor.
He confirmed that it was an 'external monster' wearing a human mask. That it was extremely cruel. That it was alien. And at the same time, it was a threat to all assassins, including the Black Path and White Path.
"We're going first."
"There's all sorts of weird stuff."
Around that time, two male Students in the corner turned around. Kendrake and Balmung, who had come to help.
He had called them because he had a hunch that Gray would be pushed back, and they had responded.
If the three of them hadn't launched a combined attack, one of them might have died. That's how strong the guy was.
'…So, what is that?'
He didn't even know what it was. Was the target that the professor fought against something so inhuman?
"Kaiser-euuuu."
"……."
"Why are you keeping your mouth shut? You have to answer me."
Kaiser turned to Gray. Everything the faculty member had seen while coming here was, surprisingly, [Illusion Magic]. Gray easily assassinated the assassins and intruders by causing such confusion.
So, she had the right to ask this question.
"Who's better at [Illusion Magic]?"
Kaiser thought. Anyway, the goal had been achieved, so next was the time to give an answer. But unfortunately, Kaiser's true feelings were betraying Gray's expectations.
Who was better at [Illusion Magic].
'…In my eyes, Professor Dante's realm is still far superior.'
However, Kaiser decided to think carefully.
What if he said that Dante was better here? Wouldn't Gray draw her sword against Professor Dante again to prove her superiority? But Gray's assassination attempt on Professor Dante must never, ever, happen.
"I can't help but admit it. Gray."
"Huh?"
"Your [Illusion Magic] is far superior to Professor Dante's."
Kaiser didn't want to lose a precious colleague.
"Far superior…? Hmm, right…?"
Gray turned her head coyly, pretending not to be happy.
But her snaggletooth was about to explode.
“…I, said so, right…?”
* * *
< Proficiency of 『World Fabrication』: 89.00% (▲0.01%) >
The high realm of [Illusion Magic] was right around the corner. A whopping 89% proficiency in level 9 Illusion Magic…
Perhaps from here on out, growth will be really slow. Because it was the path to a higher realm.
But soon, if I reach the realm of 90%, my [Illusion Magic] will take a big leap forward. An overwhelming increase in realm, as much as going from running on two feet to flying.
When that time comes, I will be able to fabricate not only spaces, but even things that cannot be touched in general.
At least in the [Illusion Magic Branch] of the 12 Supernatural Power Systems, I will be able to rise to the ranks of the world's strongest, surpassing Hiaka.
'A new realm beyond form and phenomenon, beyond space… Even I am looking forward to how far I can go.'
Time will tell.
EP12
Who's Better at Illusion Magic?
END