Chapter 63
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Black Hand
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A clear day perfect for heading outside, spreading out a mat, and taking a nap.
Anyone looking at me would see a well-fed loafer who wandered in after stuffing himself.
True to my Platinum rank, I still hadn't taken on any adventurer quests, and there were no practical classes today either.
Yet here I was, heading to the academy of my own volition.
Me, such a diligent instructor who loved the academy this much? Rike would surely be proud.
'I get it because of the books... but it's a shame they don't allow drinks inside.'
It would be perfect with a cup of coffee here.
All the cadets were in class at the moment.
Sitting in the quiet academy library, savoring the smell of books while basking in the sunlight, I heard quiet footsteps approaching—an elderly man drawing near.
The library director, whom I hadn't seen in a while, pulled a metal card from his pocket as soon as he spotted me and handed it over.
"Creating a pass for the underground library requires more intricate magic and craftsmanship, so it will take additional time."
Apparently, for now, I could access up to the second floor.
The fact that he'd open the basement later suggested Doran intended to grant me full access.
'Nice. I like that.'
I appreciated his sincerity in openly sharing things he could have easily hidden from an outsider.
"Keep this pass on your person, and you'll have free access to the second floor. The moment you use it once, it records and binds to you, so please keep that in mind..."
"Thank you."
The security magic around the second floor was child's play compared to the wards guarding the stairs to the basement.
Still, crafting a pass that nullified those spells and authenticated approved personnel must have cost a pretty penny.
The underground pass would naturally demand several times more, no doubt.
And on top of that, Doran hadn't even imposed a non-disclosure contract for anything seen on the upper floors.
He'd only made a verbal plea through the library director.
This bold decision was his way of demonstrating just how much personal attention the dean was paying—and showing his commitment.
I reassured the director that no information would leak outside and made my way up.
'This place is ridiculously huge.'
No one could dismiss the academy library as just a two-story building.
Its sheer size and collection dwarfed the average libraries from my past life, making it a relief that it ended at the second floor.
Creeeak—creeeak—
I climbed the creaky wooden stairs without issue and reached the second floor.
The upper library, off-limits to cadets, wasn't sealed away because of dangerous items like legendary magic tomes, as the rumors claimed.
Shelves upon shelves came into view upon arrival.
Most of the books lining them followed a uniform format and size.
Their spines, where titles should have been, bore crudely inked dates instead—rough, utilitarian records.
'I know what these are, so the contents don't interest me at all...'
The second floor of the library served as a warehouse and archive for meeting minutes, papers, and various document templates used by internal staff, instructors, imperial officials, and others since the early days of Lofty Academy.
They held no practical use now, but from the perspective of staff or the dean, their value was incomparable to common books.
Exposing records full of outdated remarks that didn't align with modern sensibilities to outsiders? Unthinkable.
Did the dean or library director think an adventurer like me would be disappointed by these?
'Let's see... the date...'
I wasn't here to chase old academy ghost stories.
I scanned for a specific date's minutes, my fingers moving swiftly.
'This is it!'
Shuffle—
I opened the thick, dust-covered minutes volume and flipped through the pages rapidly.
Even at that speed, every detail jumped out at me.
[3rd Imperial Officials' Meeting on Academy Textbook Censorship]
(The kraken illustrations are too slimy... reminds me of sex...)
(You don't have to actually use magic to be a mage...)
'...What the hell is this nonsense?'
These minute details were nowhere in the game.
What kind of meetings had they held back in the academy's past?
I ignored the dubious remarks questioning their intelligence and kept flipping until I found what I wanted.
Tucked into the final page of the lengthy minutes was a golden bookmark.
It was even coated, but I carefully slid it onto the desk, wary of tearing it with my strength.
'Whew... was worried it might not be here...'
[Memory Bookmark]
▷View a target's memories from a specific time period.
▷Requires target's consent or their personal diary for viewing.
▷One-time consumable.
[Memory Bookmark]
▷View a target's memories from a specific time period.
▷Requires target's consent or their personal diary for viewing.
▷One-time consumable.
A consumable from Akarite, used when progress with a heroine stalled or story advancement hit a wall.
Its purpose: delve into past events or traumas for deeper insight, categorize locations or items that triggered landmines or boosted favorability, and infer accordingly.
No other heroines left to use it on now? I didn't care.
Still, ever since acquiring the Martial God's first form, I'd been thinking about this item nonstop.
My plan for it veered in an entirely different direction.
I tucked the bookmark gently into my inventory, swept up every apparent hidden piece that seemed useless, and headed back down from the second floor.
One of the Imperial Knight Order's limbs, led by Eclair Dreitna in her role as captain.
Leo Floyd, a member of the Silver Shadow Knights, was reveling in the golden years of his life.
Knights in imperial service could delay marriage indefinitely under the guise of patriotism, so no one nagged or pointed fingers about it.
Thus, Leo's indulgences—freed from the shackles of restraint—raged on unchecked.
'The capital's women are on another level~'
The reason he could act so boldly stemmed not just from his talent and skill that earned him a spot in the palace, but overwhelmingly from his backing.
His father.
The head of the Floyd family occupied the spot between Yurgena di Venta and Eclair Dreitna among the Empire's Five Knights—the fourth position.
His father's mere existence wielded influence that no imperial knight could easily defy.
Even now, with his mind loosened by drink, the squad members hesitated to beat him or scold him harshly without Eclair's lead.
They knew how precious Leo, the only son of the doting Floyd patriarch, was treated...
Normally, the knights should have thrashed the attitude out of him early on.
But that had fizzled out.
As Eclair drowned in waves of paperwork, confined to her office longer and longer, Leo's tightrope-walking leveled up to the extreme.
The squad's attitudes grew ambiguous—something felt off, but snapping about it seemed petty.
Calling it out directly just looked small-minded.
'In the end, the Silver Shadows are all about the captain.'
The key was not crossing lines in front of her.
Once, he'd overstepped, nearly dying under her icy glare—and he'd never forgotten it.
The upside from that lesson...
If he confronted her with genuine intent instead of lies, the perpetually rushed captain would only reprimand him verbally.
'Gotta stop with the brute-force approaches now.'
Ten strikes and no dice... or whatever the saying was?
Last time he suggested the wine bar, zero chance in sight.
At this rate, a hundred invites wouldn't budge her.
Keep pushing, and he'd be the one losing out.
Eclair Dreitna's professional firmness and stubbornness offered no leniency just because he was the Floyd heir—no dodging or delaying punishment.
'Am I pushing it a bit now too?'
His invitations had likely tanked his favorability hard so far, but switching tactics and trying various angles should uncover a way to turn it around.
Thus, Leo walked the thrilling tightrope of boundaries, savoring the rush.
He had the confidence that, as the son of the fourth knight, he wouldn't die for it.
What siege engine could topple that beautiful fortress?
He felt keenly that ordinary methods wouldn't even pique her interest.
Lost in thought, Leo halted in front of a shop.
"For real? Seriously?! They said even reservations take weeks here!"
"Reserved it ahead for you and Bianca."
"Leo!! I'm gonna cry..."
He grabbed the waist of the gushing Bianca and slipped through the parted crowd.
With only a handful of guests, the spacious interior felt delightfully serene.
And he ranked above that elite few.
Guided to a private room, the dim lighting and sleek decor suited him perfectly.
The aquarium dominating one wall bubbled soothingly, a treat for the ears without overwhelming.
"Shall we start with a light drink?"
...
...
After quenching his lust twice with the Bianca marinated in fine liquor, the wave of post-nut clarity hit. He picked up his discarded clothes.
The thing between his legs hung limp now—no reason to stay bare.
"Oh my~ Did I arrive too late?"
Click—
Shing!
At the piercing feminine voice, Leo reflexively drew his sword.
"...Who are you?"
The private room's door had never opened.
So where had she come from?
The lower face and voice visible under the black hood were a woman's.
But no imperial knight was fool enough to take that at face value.
"I'm a representative of desire, or... hmm~ Hard to put it right without that old man around. So frustrating."
Fsssh—!
Leo's face twisted as blue aura flared from his blade.
"Quit wasting my time and spit out your name, bitch."
"This really isn't my style... Leo Floyd. To put it simply~ We agree with your way of thinking."
"...Hah. You know my name and still slink in like this?"
The bit about "thinking" didn't matter.
He hadn't entered the palace solely on his father's fame.
Leo took pride in his top-tier skills and experience from the Knight Department.
Reading the hostile vibe clashing with her words and expression in an instant.
Face schooled blank, he rose fully into a combat stance.
"Women are objects for satisfying men's lust. Discard thought and ego, offer your body quietly... was that it? Excellent. Being honest about your desires is the manliest thing there is?"
Words he tossed around like everyday chatter during drinks with friends.
The more vulgar the talk, the bigger the laughs among those buddies... and with high-status folks gathered, leaks were impossible.
Regardless.
'Digging into the Floyds without fear?'
Her tone and laugh, as if she knew him inside out, grated on him.
Leo was a battle-hardened knight. The alcohol haze had cleared mid-conversation.
Mana surged to his legs as he dropped into a low stance.
His eyes locked on her movements, prepping several counters.
The lips visible under her robe curved into a grin.
"Hehe— Just etch this into your mind for today... With us 'Nematos,' even the desire to claim one woman is within reach. See you again~"
Booom!!!
A black hand erupted from the floor, seizing the woman in a flawless grip.
Then it melted into the ground and vanished.
This sticky, repulsive mana.
"Urk, black magic?!"
He halted his forward lunge, shifting to defense.
"...."
With the black mage fully vanished into the floor, Leo bolted to the door, smashing through it and out.
Bam!
"Fuck... what the hell was that."
Emerging, he saw everyone else in the shop—save himself—asleep.