Chapter 125
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: The Shadow Portal
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In response to my request, Luna pulled massive logs out of her pocket one after another.
They were trees that looked at least three times her height just from their size, yet she handled them effortlessly with one hand, as if plucking a blade of grass.
She placed one hand against the wall and stretched the other toward the materials she'd laid out.
Then she manifested her heart once more.
At the same time, the blank wall began to cave inward as if hollowing out. She filled the resulting gap with an ornate wooden door, elegantly engraved in an antique style.
"Whoa... That's amazing."
Isna seemed inwardly fascinated by the power manifested through the Machine God's heart.
Screeech...
Soon, when the completed door swung open, a narrow gap just wide enough for one person appeared.
Hm, this should do.
Afterward, I slowly began activating the death spirit mana I'd prepared in advance.
Whoooosh!!!
Black mist-like energy erupted from my feet and swiftly enveloped the newly created door.
Crunch... grind...
Soon, twisting sounds echoed out as some of the wraiths lurking in the shadows seeped into the door and the entire space I'd prepared behind it, wrapping around everything.
"Undead?"
"Yes. Unlike elemental magic, death spirit magic has some limitations when it comes to spatial abilities."
Once fully infused, the door faintly emanated an eerie aura, but coating it cleanly with death spirit mana erased any traces.
At this level of concealment, no one short of a high-ranking church official would notice.
I cast another spell on the now-completed door infused with wraiths.
This time, it was the 7th-circle magic, Shadow Transfer.
However, simply placing a basic Shadow Transfer would require me to open the door every time. Instead, I planned to engrave it directly onto the door itself as a medium.
Of course, engraving a 7th-circle Shadow Transfer required at least 8th-circle mastery.
But that was fine.
My goal from the start was perfect 8th-circle casting, and I already had a way to do it even at 7th-circle.
Overcharge (Circle Overload)
By paying a heavy cost, instantly draw forth the next-tier magic from your current level.
A false ring momentarily appeared and vanished atop the seven rings that looked like one.
At the same time, the power of death slumbering within—Thanatos—stirred violently, but thanks to my practice, I quickly suppressed it.
Soon, the wraith undead I'd set up in two different locations under identical conditions began linking together.
"There, done."
I flung the door open for a test, and an empty space greeted me.
I stepped inside, closed the door, then opened it again.
A completely different scene filled my view.
"Okay. It's working."
When I closed and reopened it, the space led to the Cascadia Count's mansion.
The positions of the two wraiths swap when the door opens and closes—triggered by entering and shutting it behind you.
Just like riding an elevator.
In truth, it was far less efficient than a teleport gate and consumed death spirit mana continuously, but it had its own advantages.
"Uh... This is the Cascadia Count's territory... right?"
Isna, who had followed me through, poked her head out in bewilderment, looking around.
"Teleport gate?"
"Something like that, but a bit different. Each has its pros and cons, but this is the limit of what I can manage right now."
If I'd learned elemental magic, I'd just slap an 8th-circle warp magic circle on it, but no need to dwell on what I don't have.
"How does it work?"
"It's an application of magic that swaps the positions of the undead and its contractor. The wraiths envelop the entire space beyond the door. Then, when the person who wants to travel steps inside and closes the door, the two undead swap places, and reopening it takes you to your destination."
This method was largely free from the unique risks of teleportation magic.
To be precise, its more complex structure allowed even someone like Melissa to use it without me, but the basic framework was sound.
Screeech! Click!
After successfully confirming the link between Cascadia and the academy, I returned to the dorm and sank comfortably into the empty sofa.
"This setup makes commuting a total non-issue. Come here in the morning, head back when there's no class."
"Exactly."
"Things worked out easier than expected. Leave of absence sorted, commuting sorted. Now we just need to convince our junior."
"If Melissa has a way, she'll graduate."
The simple reason Melissa wouldn't return was her sense of responsibility to lead the family.
But if she could attend classes and return right away to handle work, she'd do it in a heartbeat.
Of course, if she truly had no attachment to the academy, I'd respect that choice.
"Then let's talk about something else. Her mentor."
I figured I'd look into it while I was here.
From what I gathered, even when Melissa was ignored for coming from a small nation, Professor Rommel had supported her a lot. Ignoring his plight in this situation would be rude.
"Hmm... But Professor Rommel seemed reluctant to talk about it himself."
"Lady Isna, since when do you worry about others' opinions?"
"...Just because the academy has prestige and top-tier professors doesn't mean there's no corruption."
She stated matter-of-factly.
"To put it simply, a few professors who dislike him have been sabotaging Professor Rommel's career—poaching his exam proctors or getting them injured. With his influence weakened, they've found openings for cheating."
"What happens if it goes wrong?"
I knew the answer, but asked to confirm.
"They just wreck it—postpone or cancel. Either way, it'd be chalked up as his failure. He'd face disciplinary action, but more importantly, it would utterly contradict his principles."
Someone like Professor Rommel naturally had many enemies.
Her explanation sorted things out.
His classes were Swordsmanship Theory and Monster Studies Intro—both key subjects that couldn't be slacked on, with high attendance.
However, scions from high noble houses hoping for top grades were mixed in, and to rig scores for them, they'd targeted the obstructive Professor Rommel.
"Doesn't the school mediate?"
"These are sudden accidents. They've probably planned it long-term. Note-taking isn't a huge demand, but practicals require qualified proctors."
Changing exam formats or mediating now violated academy rules.
Letting it proceed might even make postponement the best outcome—the situation was that dire.
The problem was that students would inevitably suffer.
"Helping out doesn't seem hard. But Professor Rommel seems burdened by accepting our aid."
"Heh heh. Don't worry—just wait. I know the professor well. Leave the convincing to me."
She waved the Mielephon family crest.
Ah, power play it is?
About two hours later, she returned with the permit and Professor Rommel in tow.
Professor Rommel ultimately accepted the help. He explained the elements and timing the proctors needed to watch for.
Like Isna, he said the written exam itself wasn't too tricky—just monitor for cheating.
But once we took the job, we'd do it right.
Three days later, exam day arrived.
In the meantime, Leon quietly waited without telling Melissa about the academy.
And Professor Rommel didn't request a postponement.
Swordsmanship Theory and Monster Studies Intro would each be held twice across four exam halls.
As major subjects, they were crucial for swordsmanship department and related academy cadets.
Practical skills mattered, but his written exams carried significant weight too.
"This'll do it, right?"
"Don't worry. Everything's prepared."
The boy Buren, scion of a respectable noble house, nodded at Professor Pibian's words.
Pibian wasn't even in swordsmanship or monster studies, but it didn't matter.
What counted was delivering results.
He was someone who could help secure high grades.
Professor Rommel was incorruptible—no bribes or threats worked, making score manipulation nearly impossible.
His two weakest subjects were already a headache; bad grades would bring family backlash.
He'd cheated on the entrance exam anyway—the academics here were brutal.
Family connections existed to be used. Grades and academy prestige were just competition; no reason to abandon advantages.
His semester even had the imperial princess enrolled.
Young, but high scores could build connections beneficial to the house later.
Buren wasn't alone in this thinking.
Many highborn scions plotted similarly; it was common knowledge among alumni and current students.
Contacting Professor Pibian came from aggregated intel from above.
No academy was immune to corruption.
Buren smirked in satisfaction and entered the exam hall unprepared.
Time better spent networking or harassing rivals than studying.
Why crack a book? Subordinates handled knowledge work.
He exchanged grins with like-minded students and entered Exam Hall 2.
Then paused.
Was that the TA from Professor Pibian's side? Looked too young. Early graduate maybe?
Appearance around 17.
Honestly, barely older than cadets.
No—even younger than late graduates.
Tap tap.
"Is that the TA Professor Pibian mentioned?"
Buren cautiously asked another aligned cadet.
"Nah, doesn't match who I saw. Looks like Rommel found someone after all."
"What do we do?"
"What do you mean? They won't be skilled like Rommel's usual TAs or assistants. Stick to the plan—they won't notice a thing."