Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Trust
“Did the contact go well?”
“Y-Yes...”
In a corridor of a space so utterly dark it was impossible to tell where they were.
The man who had become the leader of the Black Mages, Raising Death, wore a weary smile full of exhaustion.
“Heh heh... Good. That's our only hope left to cling to now.”
Dark circles had settled heavily under his eyes, as if a great many things had happened.
Yet his lips trembled as they curved upward, betraying his improved mood.
“The Academy of Education. If we seize that place alone, we can offer this world to the Great Ones.”
It was because, with most of their key Black Mages torn apart, they had finally found a way to recover.
Because they had located a minion of 'The Chewer' who had infiltrated the Academy.
Moreover, the Black Mage cooperating with him could be swayed by Raising Death's authority.
'We have to make this work, no matter what.'
For the demon Raising Death served, the Harvester.
For the Harvester, Raising Death would do anything.
That was why he had decided to personally assist in the plan to seize the Academy, and the Black Mage—a minion of The Chewer—had eagerly accepted support from a heavyweight like Raising Death.
A collaboration where both sides only stood to gain.
Raising Death's lips tugged upward even as fatigue dragged at him.
The Black Mage, intimidated yet pressing on with his report.
“And... there's additional information.”
“Hm? What's that?”
“The Saintess... has personally infiltrated the Academy.”
“...What the fuck did you just say?”
Raising Death shot to his feet.
He grabbed the reporting Black Mage by the collar and demanded.
“Why the hell is the Saintess coming to the Academy herself? Why not just send her underlings!”
“According to the infiltrated Black Mage, there's a way to take her out along with everyone else at once.”
“Isn't that a bit too arrogant?”
Released by Raising Death, the Black Mage caught his breath and explained.
“They're planning to summon The Chewer's pet.”
“Ah, that's what it is.”
Raising Death let out a sigh of relief and slumped back onto the sofa.
“Is that all with the Saintess?”
“Besides her, one other Holy Knight entered... but no unusual activity during the investigation, apparently.”
“Another corrupt Holy Knight, huh. Fine by us, but the Holy Kingdom really can't manage their people.”
Coming to hunt for demon infiltrators yet not properly investigating?
Obviously a corrupt Holy Knight who pretended to be devout while slacking off.
Well, with the top brass rotten from the start, proper management was impossible anyway.
Thinking that, Raising Death dismissed the Black Mage and opened a drawer.
-Rattle!
He drew out a dagger emanating an ominous aura from the drawer.
Without a moment's hesitation, he plunged it into his left arm.
-Stab!
“Hng! Hoo... So damn sleepy.”
The pain snapped his eyes wide open, and crimson-black smoke seeped into his arm.
His eyes reddened with burst blood vessels.
“Heh heh, heh heh heh heh! Since I've become the top dog, I'll make use of every last one of them.”
Behind his chilling laugh, a corpse with a 'horn' jutting prominently staggered forward.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Rustle rustle.
“Should be around here...”
Late at night, after sunset when the sky had darkened.
I slipped out of the Academy through a dog hole just like in the game and climbed the mountain behind it.
To find the hidden item that could suppress Capi's misfortune.
But hidden items weren't something you could find easily.
“Grrr...”
“Grrr...”
“...There they are.”
Despite being the mountain behind the Academy, it was home to magical beasts too tough for students.
To preserve the natural environment and test slightly more advanced students' combat and coping skills.
In other words...
-Slash.
“Kyaaang!”
...for someone like me who had long surpassed student level, they were no big deal.
Just mob enemies even when playing the game.
Still...
'Found it.'
Thanks to those wolf beasts just now, I pinpointed the cave's location.
You could only encounter those wolves near the cave.
Pushing through the underbrush bit by bit, I spotted a cave faintly glowing blue.
“Grrr...”
“Grrr...”
Two wolf beasts guarding the entrance.
I charged at the one on the right.
“Grrrng!”
The moment they spotted me, both wolves lunged.
I bashed the left one away with my shield, then brought my shotel down on the right.
-Stab!
“Kyaaang!”
The wolf beast impaled on the shotel and lost its life.
A grayish energy flowed from its body into the surviving wolf.
“Kiiing...”
Its eyes clouded over, and it suddenly turned toward the cave.
'Just like in the game.'
In the game, the reward depended on which of the two wolves you killed first.
Kill the left one and follow the right, and you get the Dragon Flute—a hidden item that summons Dreania no matter where she is.
Kill the right one and follow the left, and you get...
“Found it.”
Far inside the dark cave, bathed in moonlight: a staff.
Standing vertically embedded in rock like Excalibur.
About two meters tall, it boasted its presence with a blue gem at the end of its long wooden shaft.
“Grng.”
Reaching the staff, the wolf collapsed as if its task was done.
-Whooo...
Grayish energy flowed from the fallen wolf's body.
It streamed toward the staff and was absorbed into the gem at its tip.
Then—flash—the staff lit up the cave interior.
I cautiously reached out and grasped it.
-Whumm...
The moment my hand touched it, the staff vibrated faintly, scattering subtle gray energy.
Gripping it firmly, it came free smoothly.
“Got it.”
I had easily obtained the hidden item that would change Capi's fate.
“Time to head back.”
With the item secured, all that was left was to return to the dorm.
I descended the mountain quickly, slipped back into the Academy through the same dog hole.
Done. No one would suspect a thing.
I wrapped the staff in bandages just in case; it looked like a sword now, so even if acquaintances saw it, no issue.
And so, I naturally returned to the dorm.
“Phew...”
Sighing in relief, I turned on the room light.
“...?”
For some reason, the bedcovers were bulging.
“...”
I drew my sword and went on alert.
Muffling my footsteps as much as possible, I approached quietly.
-Fwoosh!
I flung the covers aside to reveal the intruder—
“Miss Capi?”
“Eek! A-Ace...!”
It was Capi.
Trembling in fear.
'Ah, could today be...?'
The moment I saw her, I realized another event had triggered.
Capi, shunned by everyone in the Academy.
No matter what she said, no one listened—and by chance, she uncovered the identity of a spy hiding in the Academy.
Perfectly by coincidence, on a night she was practicing stealth magic to hide from finger-pointing crowds.
The spy was scouting the area and reporting back, and Capi witnessed it.
If it had been ordinary Academy-level stealth, the spy would have noticed, but Witch Capi's skills were advanced.
In the end, the spy missed her completely and finished reporting.
And probably thought she fled to her own room...
'Why here, though.'
She was supposed to run to her own room—why was she here?
The answer came quickly.
“Ace...! I-I...”
Capi, kneeling on the bed, on the verge of tears.
She had come to me because I was the most 'trustworthy' person.
“Y-You might not believe me... No, I'm sure you won't, but... I... I...!”
Trembling in terror yet trying to convey what she'd seen.
I sat quietly beside her and took her hand.
“Take your time. I believe you, Miss Capi.”
“B-But...”
“In my eyes, you're not a witch—you're just Miss Capi. So please, calm yourself a little and tell me.”
“...Hoo, Ace... Actually...”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “...Hm? You two seem even closer now?”
“Ahaha... Do we?”
“Ah, sorry...! Were we too close...?”
Afterward, Capi and I grew even closer.