Arsen (2)
Mounting the motorcycle, I speed toward Arsen. I'm wearing a helmet, of course, but maybe it's the velocity— the wind rushing past feels refreshingly cool. I grip the handlebars tighter and throttle up even more.
In my mind, I reaffirm my destination.
Arsen Academy.
I can't use my real name at Arsen. The Esperand family is a transnational villain syndicate, after all. They have enemies everywhere, and they've gone full rogue against the Hunter Association—fights break out every time they cross paths. Arsen's rules might prevent outright confrontations, but the cadets and faculty won't exactly roll out the welcome mat for an Esperand. Some of them have surely suffered at our hands. To minimize risks of retaliation, I need to keep my identity under wraps as much as possible.
That's why I've been given a fake identity. The name I'll use at Arsen isn't the one I've gone by until now—Shion Esperand.
"Illeionhart."
Sion Illeionhart. The youngest son of a once-prosperous noble house now fallen into ruin. No family left, just a lone survivor standing tall in solitude. From here on, I have to get used to this new persona.
...That aside.
"What kind of endless road is this...?"
True to its villainous nature, the Esperand mansion is tucked away in remote wilderness, far from any city. Hidden deep in rugged mountains, even insiders struggle to find it. And that's not all—the surrounding forest teems with magical beasts, battered periodically by mana storms. The disrupted magnetic fields make it undetectable from outside.
...A natural fortress if there ever was one.
The Duke Esperand—one of Grimoires Tales' bosses and the main villain of Act 3—is a cunning operator. He leaves no traces that could lead trackers to him. If a tail drags too long, he cuts it off without mercy. That's the man who heads the Esperand family.
The villain organization under his command: a tightly knit society of shadow-dwelling assassins.
...That's Esperand.
And now, that name has become a new chain binding me. Nothing major, just...
"Damn, this is gonna take forever."
The issue is purely the distance. Esperand's isolation means a long haul to any city. It feels like cruising an endless American highway. Tumbleweeds straight out of a Western roll across the plains beside me. And this is after three hours of riding. The road stretches straight ahead, flanked by nothing but mountains and fields. Without the occasional rest stops, I'd have lost my mind by now.
And I've still got a ways to go. It takes at least two days to reach the suburban gate districts—the closest ones. A deep sigh escapes me.
In any case, since it's not a one-day trip, I pull into a hotel. The room isn't cheap, but I come from moneyed Esperand. The travel funds they gave me make this expense pocket change.
I spend the night there. Being on the outskirts, far from city lights, the night sky is a blanket of stars.
Chirp chirp.
The next morning, I check out early. Same as yesterday, I blaze down the empty road—no need to ease off the gas with no one around.
...How much farther?
I glance at the navigation display in the center. A little over an hour left—should be there soon.
...But as some comic once put it, life never goes according to plan. That's what makes it fun. True enough. What hurts in the moment often turns into fond memories later.
And that's my situation right now. It's all falling into place too perfectly—enough to raise chills.
"Help! Please, save me!"
In the woods near the outskirts, a girl bursts out screaming. Caught off guard, I wrench the handlebars hard.
Screeech—
My first drift ever. Ignoring the long skid marks scarring the road, I turn toward the girl.
"...What the hell."
The moment our eyes meet, she collapses onto the pavement. For a split second, I think she's dead, but no—her fingers twitch faintly, and I spot the subtle pulse in her veins.
And then.
Groooar...!
A guttural roar echoes from the forest. I dismount, drawing my Glock from its holster. A magical beast lurks nearby. The loaded magazine holds fire-attribute magic bullets, devastating against beast-types. My Telescopic Vision has it locked; I'm ready to pull the trigger the instant it shows.
But it never emerges, no matter how long I wait. After holding position for a while, I holster the pistol.
Some beasts are smart like that—discerning enough to know better. They attack if the odds favor them but bolt at the first sign of trouble.
"......"
Cat-like magical beasts typically exhibit this trait. Whatever was chasing her, it's gone now—no trace of presence in the woods.
...So, now what?
I approach the girl first. Using the basic medical knowledge from training, I check her pulse. No surging mana—I've seen this before.
...Mana exhaustion.
Her condition screams it. A critical state from prolonged mana depletion.
Can't ignore this.
Like qi deviation in wuxia novels. Left untreated, mana backlash could cripple her. That's mana exhaustion for you.
Either way, I can't just leave her passed out here. Treat the exhaustion first. The fix is simple, as the name implies: replenish her mana, and symptoms fade naturally.
But easier said than done. At this stage, she lacks even the minimum mana to circulate. Natural recovery is out; she needs external infusion—mana transfusion, potions, or artifacts to boost regen.
Transfusing mine would just drain me instead, flipping victim and rescuer.
What to do...
My meager mana reserves can't save her. But abandoning her or waiting idly isn't an option.
"......"
Conveniently, I have a ring that aids mana recovery. Not packed for this, but...
-You need deeds worthy of heaven's gates.
-Like good deeds, or saving the world.
-Whatever awaits, fight to survive. Who knows? You might earn your way to paradise.
The angel's words echo faintly. Even if not for that, a little charity never hurts. Just because I'm stuck in a villain's body doesn't make me one. My path isn't as an Esperand assassin. I'll carve my own.
That's why I'm heading to Arsen—to aid the main characters, secure a comfy retirement, and bow out at the right time.
That's my road.
...Though my villainous birth might twist it. Still, I won't turn away from someone I can save.
...Not that it's some grand "path of the righteous" moment. Stat points up? Can't even open my status window to check what that means. Whatever—I'll figure it out later.
I dismiss the floating message and scoop up the girl. She's priority one. Carefully, I slip the ring from my pinky onto hers. Might not get it back, but I can replace it—Esperand has artifacts galore.
Alright, let's see.
This is the outskirts. Ambulance? Ages away. And I can't linger forever. Scanning around, the open landscape comes into view. Farther down the road, Telescopic Vision picks out a building. I infuse mana to sharpen my sight.
A sign swaying in the breeze. Dead center:
[Dalpen Inn]
A sandstorm kicks up from afar. Lucky there's lodging nearby. My enhanced strength makes carrying her a non-issue.
Step.
The moment I take one—
Plop.
Something flutters limply to the ground from her pocket. I meant to respect her privacy, but Telescopic Vision unwittingly catches part of it. I stare at the paper for a long moment.
...No helping it.
The paper matches one I carry exactly.
It's an Arsen Academy Admission Recommendation Letter.
It flaps in the wind, trying to unfold, but I avert my eyes from the contents. I have some conscience—snooping in this situation feels wrong. Gently, I pick it up.
After arriving at the inn, I lay her on the bed and head to the shower. Dust caked my face—unpleasant as hell. The innkeeper seemed to misunderstand at first, but a quick explanation got me a room without fuss. Tea and bandages came free, too.
I know the source of that goodwill.
Innkeeper Armenda Siliond's favorability has slightly increased.
Sion Esperand must've led a charmed life. Model gigs alone would've kept him comfy.
Whoosh—
I shut off the hot water. Feels great. I throw on some clothes and, just in case, don the mask from Esperand—used to conceal my identity on jobs.
As I emerge...
"Don't move! Stay back! Come any closer and you're dead!"
Her mana must've recovered; the girl is awake, staff aimed at me. Thinks she's been kidnapped, probably. The mask doesn't help. Blue hair aside from the "black-haired beast" proverb, I explain everything.
I hand back the recommendation letter politely. Her guard drops a bit.
"Anyway, that's what happened."
"For real...?"
The brief commotion ends. To break the awkwardness, we exchange introductions.
"I'm Sion... no, Galion."
The name Shion Esperand sticks in my throat. Illeionhart doesn't roll off the tongue yet either. For safety, I improvise a pseudonym on the spot.
She's clutching a pillow instead of her staff now. Her wariness has eased—good.
"I'm Lara. Lara Steelhiden."
That name rings a bell. Wait. Where from?
I know it. Lara Steelhiden.
From the original story...
For the first time, I question my Telescopic Vision. How did I miss this? Clues everywhere.
Blue-haired girl, Lara Steelhiden. Arsen recommendation letter in her pocket. Staff gripped tight even with the pillow.
"I have to get to Arsen."
...One of the main heroines, standing against evil alongside the protagonist.