Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Silver Rookie Theo #5
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Dormitory Room 7.
I rushed inside and locked the door behind me.
My roommates, Hans and Benjamin, must have gone to their lectures, leaving the room empty except for me.
I needed to get out of this situation somehow, so I hurriedly packed my things and busied my hands preparing for the next class.
Right then.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Theo Gospel. You're in there, aren't you?”
“…….”
A voice came from beyond the locked door. It belonged to Mirna Draco, the epitome of a haughty, sharp-tongued noble lady.
“Dracus Mora.”
Click.
The door handle I'd locked turned on its own. Mirna must have cast an unlock spell.
Creak.
The door finally opened, and Mirna Draco stepped into my dormitory room.
“A simple unlock spell and it pops right open. Cheap rooms are hopeless, aren't they?”
She glanced around my dorm with an expression like a congressman seeing a dingy basement studio for the first time.
“Good heavens, how can anyone live in a place like this? And three people at that!”
To the highborn lady Mirna Draco, this cramped Truth Hall Room 7 must have been utterly incomprehensible.
Of course, none of that mattered right now.
Mirna Draco had personally come to my dormitory. I wasn't fool enough not to know why.
But sometimes, a person has to pretend they have no idea.
“Lady Mirna. What brings you to this humble abode?”
“Ahem. It's nothing much. But perhaps it's best to be direct.”
Mirna Draco hesitated.
“We're both busy people. Especially my time—it's precious. Ladies of House Draco are always busy.”
Her haughty pride masked a hint of embarrassment and unease. So I asked her.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Theo Gospel. You're just an insignificant, utterly unremarkable commoner. Admit it? Normally, you and I could never be in the same room like this.”
“…I admit it.”
“But your scholarly zeal and eye for people are somewhat impressive, I'll grant you that. Enough to make none other than Mirna Draco herself an object of your admiration.”
Swoosh.
Mirna Draco placed a hand on her chest. Now that I looked, her breasts were quite ample beneath her uniform blouse.
Watching them sway, I decided to cut straight to the point.
“So, you want me to play the role of the man proposing to you during next week's lecture?”
“You're sharper than you look. But it's not just a role, is it? You actually proposed to me.”
When did I propose?
Anyway.
This situation wasn't great.
If I showed up to the next lecture claiming to be the one who proposed to Mirna Draco.
I couldn't even imagine what Elga and Aira would think. Would they tear me limb from limb?
I needed to refuse this somehow.
Just then, Mirna covered her face with her fan and said.
“Consider it an honor. You've been chosen from among my many suitors, Theo Gospel. Go on, thank me.”
“Shh….”
“Shh? What does that mean?”
At her words, I squeezed my eyes shut.
“It's orphan slang for being extremely, profoundly grateful and thrilled. I'm so honored it's making my vision go dark.”
“Hmm, I see. Well, that's as it should be.”
“But, Lady Mirna. If I may be so bold?”
“What?”
“As you said, I'm just a nobody commoner. With all those distinguished suitors already vying for you, I'm worried choosing me might cause you embarrassment.”
Choose someone else—
It was what I thought, but a solid excuse nonetheless. As expected of a schemer—my wits were sharp.
But Mirna's stance was firm.
“Theo Gospel. That's not for you to worry about. However, if you're ashamed of your own inadequacies, I'll remind you there's still a week left.”
“A week…? What do you mean?”
“For a foolish commoner's benefit, I'll explain. To House Draco, a week is more than enough to sculpt unnecessary flesh into a splendid skeleton.”
“You're saying you'll turn me into a skeleton?”
“Are you an idiot? I mean I, Mirna, can transform you into a completely different person within a week.”
“Me, into someone else?”
“Yes. You're going to become the enigmatic Silver Rookie.”
“So, pretend to be someone else, got it.”
I understood.
But understanding and doing it were two different things.
How was I supposed to pretend to be someone else?
Could I fool Aira and Elga's eyes by acting like another person?
My Actor level was 9, of course.
At level 9, I was in master territory, so it might work. But honestly, I wasn't keen on it.
Especially since there was no gain for me in this.
Saying, “Everything I said before was a lie. I'm not interested in Lady Mirna,” might get my bones and flesh literally separated.
Seeing my reluctance, Mirna spoke.
“This isn't all bad for you. You'll get the chance to escort me, Mirna Draco.”
“Yes. I'm truly grateful.”
“And if you follow my instructions well, I might even teach you about ancient spells as a special favor.”
“Spells?”
“Yes. The great legacies of Angmar. Wouldn't you like to know about the 72 mighty spells, carefully selected from among them?”
That piqued my interest.
I had already acquired two words.
Halphas and Belial.
Those two were quite useful spells, and gaining more like them would boost my direct combat power—no dream at all.
House Draco had received various abilities and treasures from House Angmar, after all.
Most records of the Demon King had burned away, but it wouldn't be strange if Draco held remnants of Angmar's royal legacy and power.
Indeed.
Mirna Draco, one of the four great houses.
She knew how to push and pull just right.
She understood exactly how to move people.
“Very well. I'll give it a try.”
“Of course you will.”
“But no matter how well I act, I can't change my face or body, can I?”
“That's taken care of. We have a family treasure, the Karma Changer.”
“What's that?”
“A magic tool that alters your appearance once a month. A legacy of King Solomon.”
“Ah.”
Karma Changer.
The name sparked a memory. It was an item from an episode in the original novel, Villain Hunter.
It dropped from the mysterious mad necromancer when the protagonist defeated them—an important treasure.
Mirna Draco having it made me think the mad necromancer in Act 2 was her.
This girl dies as a villain too.
Just like Aira and me.
The thought left me oddly melancholic.
Of course, that was if Draco returned to Angmar.
This was Ark. Mirna was here.
So maybe her awakening as the mad necromancer and dying to the protagonist's party was further off.
Then Mirna said.
“Now, Theo Gospel. You're going to create a new identity with me.”
“A new identity?”
“Yes. Let's make it dramatic. How about the descendant of a fallen royal from a distant neighboring kingdom, hiding your status and infiltrating Ark to strive for restoration?”
“…….”
As I've said many times, people shut their mouths when caught off guard. Her sharp setup stabbed my heart like a dagger.
Whether she meant to or not, it pierced half of my own story.
I even wondered if she knew and did it on purpose.
“Sounds good?”
“Excellent. As expected of Lady Mirna.”
“Then, this Saturday, come to the Draco villa in Gracia. Ark cadets can leave the city on weekends.”
* * *
Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m., during teatime lecture hour.
I headed to the science building for the Fairy Studies class.
It was my first time, but my mind was too full of my earlier talk with Mirna Draco to care.
Thinking about it, hadn't I just been invited to a Draco family villa?
I might learn and acquire things there vital for reviving House Angmar.
My original plan was to befriend Mirna Draco and tame her so I could control her.
That's why I'd bared my fangs at her seemingly easier younger sister, Narmi Draco.
I'd been flustered earlier, but calmly considering it, this proposal wasn't bad for me at all.
Assuming it succeeded, of course.
But where was the classroom?
I lured a nearby pigeon with a spell and commanded it.
“Find the science building.”
“Coo coo.”
“Right.”
It fluttered off.
Magic really is amazing. I need to practice more in my spare time.
Thanks to the pigeon, I found the science building.
“Coo.”
“Good job. Now go to Platinum Dorm and surveil Elga or Aira's rooms.”
“Coo.”
“What, you don't get it?”
Complex orders were tough. Bird brain, maybe. Pigeons just don't grasp well.
Were there any crows nearby? I'd heard crows and parrots were smart.
With that thought, I entered the chilly brick building. Up the worn stairs, and there was the classroom I sought.
Swoosh.
I entered the spacious lecture hall and took a seat.
Looking around, it resembled a lab: anatomical models, beakers, flasks everywhere. That frog monster specimen pinned to the wall was probably real.
Only then did curiosity about the class spark.
Fairy Studies, huh.
I'd heard it was a C-rank lecture.
Professor was TBD—no one knew who yet.
Creak, creak. Screech.
As 4:30 approached, the door opened and people filed in. Fortunately, someone sat next to me this time.
“Hello there.”
“Yes. Hello.”
A bushy-bearded dwarf—not thrilling company. But unlike the ancient languages class, no subtle isolation. Lucky.
“Saw your fight. You took down that epsite like that?”
Talking to me felt a bit awkward and annoying.
“Something like that.”
“During that weird word game, I thought you were nuts. Who knew it was bait to provoke a duel? Impressive.”
“…….”
Enough about the word chain. It's embarrassing.
“Oh, I'm Asphalt Stonescream. 487th. Silver tier. Stone's fine.”
“I'm Theo Gospel. Gospel or Theo, whatever.”
As I introduced myself casually, the brown-haired dwarf chuckled.
“I know you. No one at Ark doesn't now. In a way, you're as famous as the Spider Queen who enrolled this year.”
“Spider Queen?”
“Aira Tarantara. And the Lion King's daughter enrolled too. Reinhardt's girl. What's her name...”
“Lady Elga Lioness?”
“Yeah. You're that famous too. So, interested in gems and stones? I run a club.”
Ah, club recruitment.
Makes sense for a school-like place.
I'd seen people hustling everywhere on campus to recruit for clubs and hero parties.
The bulletin boards were full of it.
“If you're interested, drop by. We're in the Stone Room, Central Hall 3rd floor. Here's a flyer.”
I stuffed the scroll he handed me into my bag. Hoping the lecture would start soon—then someone entered.
“Everyone, take your seats. Class is starting.”
She wore a leopard-print jacket. A fairy with mysterious purple bobbed hair swaying at her pointed ears.
A choker with a bell around her neck—like young Mathilda from that classic killer movie.
“I'm Professor Stella. Professor Migollas, who was supposed to handle this, took paternity leave. So I'm covering Fairy Studies this semester.”
Stella Belhork was teaching my class.
“It's annoying to take it on suddenly when it's not even mine, but let's all do our best.”
Why say that?
House Belhork was infamous for being as unpredictable as wind-tossed feathers. Seeing her confirmed it.
“Now, slave—er, assistant. Come in and hand out the syllabi.”
At her call outside, someone in a black nun's habit entered, distributing thin sheets.
A heart-shaped tail swishing behind her hips drew eyes.
“Imp?”
“Not an imp?”
Seeing the reactions, I was stunned too.
Isn't that Marmar? Why is she here?