52 – Formation of a 3-member Party
Approximately 10 minutes before the midday pursuit battle.
Bennett was sneaking through the crowd, trailing the magician. Watching the woman in formal attire walking closely with fists clenched, she seemed to have a quite intimate relationship with the magician. Perhaps lovers.
No, perhaps she might be a beauty. Maybe the female agent dispatched by the Second Prince’s side seduced the sorcerer and cooperated in the plan of coercion. Based solely on the information gathered so far, this hypothesis seemed the most plausible.
There was definitely a black sorcerer who dealt with nightmares. If they could recruit the author into the beauty faction…
At that moment, a tapping sound came from behind.
When Venet turned around, there was the Night Stalker. She had given Venet a hard time with her tracking skills that were almost supernatural. Surely on that day, she would have covered her face by flipping her hood. How did she figure it out?
When Venet raised his guard to the maximum, she showed him the words she had written on the whiteboard she was holding.
[It’s a misunderstanding.]
“…A misunderstanding?”
Scratch, scratch.
[On a rainy night, they saw two people burying something in a pit. They thought it was a person because they heard a sound. So I followed them. I have no connection with those two.]
In case Venet might leave the spot, Niole wrote only the key sentences in short and showed them. If they had enough time, unraveling the misunderstanding was not a difficult task.
“So…you’re saying that it wasn’t a double trap to track down the person who found the Magic Sword, but just a coincidence? You were just…meddling?”
Nod, nod. Niole vigorously nodded as if to say that was exactly what she wanted to say. While doing so, she wrote her name and pointed at herself with her thumb.
[Niole.]
“…I’m Venet.”
[Good, Venet. You’re trying to stop the Second Prince’s evil plan, right? Please let me help too.]
“……”
It was the opposite. Venet wanted the Second Prince’s plan to be executed and the Academy to fall into chaos and fear. He hoped for a moderate success that would leave both sides with irreparable damage.
[If it were just me, I wouldn’t mind, but since there are two of us!]
Twinkle, twinkle. Niole shot a meaningful glance.
Where did this misconception come from? Should he use it or deny it? Venet avoided eye contact and interrogated to buy time to organize his thoughts.
“…Even if my face was covered, how did you know it was me?”
[“…Because I’m around 175cm tall, weighing around 70kg. Our body types and footprints are identical.”]
“……”
Despite the difference in speed, there was a reason I was being pursued. It was his monstrous perception.
It didn’t seem like deception… It had its flaws when it came to the second prince’s faction. There were parts that were rare and irregular, unlike his tracking skills.
There have always been people who risk their lives for justice or a sense of righteousness. The person in front of me seemed to belong to that category as well. Even if Venet were to oppose or withdraw, she would dig into the case by herself.
While an incompetent female student might not know, she had the eyes to track even skilled fugitives. She could potentially become a variable.
If she were to obtain decisive clues about the second prince’s plan… and pass it on to the third prince. The game would be over. The emperor prohibited excessive conflicts between the imperial princes. Framing me with the Black Blade was more than enough.
The emperor would take action, and the bomb that would overturn the academy would be removed before it even ignited.
However, what if there was interference in the middle? Pretending to investigate the magician with her, she would steal the clues or betray me at a crucial moment.
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If I didn’t plan on killing and eliminating Venet here, this seemed like the best method.
“Yeah, I also wanted to prevent any incidents in the academy. I’m glad to have a comrade.”
“……!”
Without knowing Venet’s true intentions, Niole smiled brightly and extended her hand. Venet bit her tongue inwardly and shook hands with her. Niole vigorously shook their joined hands up and down.
[What’s the plan?]
“For now, I’m thinking of tracking his movements quietly. I’ll follow him without being noticed…”
As Venet’s gaze followed the magician’s back, it quickly turned to the side. Niole noticed and turned her head as well. There, a black hole that drew in all gazes was walking.
“…The Holy Maiden.”
“……??”
As a new student, Niole was confused by the fashion of the Holy Maiden she witnessed for the first time. And she was asking Venet with her gaze if it was correct to call her the Holy Maiden.
“Yeah, you must have heard that there’s a saint attending the academy. That over there is the saint.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
“Even with that expression, I don’t understand why she’s wandering like that. Wait a moment… is the saint also chasing after a magician?”
It was another variable. Beneath the downpour of variables, Vernet furrowed his brow. Why is the saint once again tracking a magician? What on earth did he do to deserve this…?
[Seeking cooperation!]
“Wait…!”
Niole approached the saint without hesitation. Vernet sighed deeply and followed her. There was no evidence to stop Niole because he couldn’t think of any reason. Now, he couldn’t grasp how this incident would unfold.
However, as a dark magician, he had to make the best judgment.
Think positively. By conflicting with the academy and the Second Prince’s faction, perhaps he could create even greater chaos?
—–
Saint Tara had no particular thoughts. She only intended to offer a helpful tip to the pitiful and pathetic new professor who had caught Professor Alejandro’s attention.
There he was, just ahead. He matched the impression she had received. A man in a purple robe and a woman in formal attire. A rare combination that could be easily recognized at a glance.
Behind them, someone who had cast a spell equivalent to exchanging panties and a cursed sword would be found and punished.
Until the new student carrying the whiteboard arrived, that was the plan.
Thump, thump, thump.
“Hello, Saint! I’m the new student, Niole.”
“Ah, yes, well, umm… Do you have any business?”
Was she unable to speak?
A girl with chestnut-colored hair. Although she wore the academy uniform, she seemed to be a new student as there was no memory of her. She had burning eyes filled with a sense of duty.
There were occasionally people like her. Those who claimed to have found some suspicious traces and wanted to inform passing individuals. While their courage and sense of justice deserved respect, it was a bit annoying from the perspective of someone who had to listen to such stories when bored.
Most of the time, it was due to false reports, especially for newcomers. Since they hadn’t learned anything, most cases were mere stumbling. This time, too, probably, it wouldn’t be anything significant…
[Second Prince is hiding a cursed sword at the academy and is framing Third Prince to attack his influence!]
“Be specific and provide detailed evidence.”
Something was indeed going on. Burning down the academy wouldn’t be without consequences.
“…I’ll explain.”
Benedict followed behind Niohre. The Saint, Tara, knew this man. He was one of the prominent figures at the academy, a disciple of Professor Alexon, a trustworthy person.
Benedict briefly organized the story in chronological order. Niohre finding the duo burying something in a pit. Benedict discovering traces by chance and retrieving the cursed sword, leading to a misunderstanding, a pursuit, and leaving the cursed sword on the balcony while escaping.
And then…
Niohre politely handed over a pair of panties from his bosom. Saint Tara was taken aback.
“……??”
[Sorry for accidentally bringing it along…]
The truth behind the nighttime underwear exchange incident was revealed.
Benedict added that, according to his findings, the parachuting gesture by the top mage was a greeting from the Second Prince. Combining such information…
“So, the reason the mage hid the cursed sword might be… not for an execution, but for subjugation, I presume.”
“That makes sense… to some extent.”
It wasn’t an unbelievable story. It was just too significant to be taken lightly. Considering the potential bloodshed if misunderstood, the Saint thought carefully and defensively.
An investigation was necessary, but it wasn’t the right time to draw a sword.
There was a need to hear the explanation regarding the cursed sword.
“Let’s discuss and think about it for now. Since it’s right in front of us… huh?”
The mage was lifted by a woman in formal attire, and she abruptly began to run away. Saint Tara, after a moment of bewilderment, infused magic throughout her entire body.
“Chase them!”
“I’ll turn left!”
[I’ll go ahead!]
The pursuit began.
—–
The power of a priest is special. It is bestowed upon them by the serving deity, giving them specialized qualities in specific fields. They receive advantages in regeneration, recovery, purification, healing, and all things that benefit life.
The reason there was no school of recovery or regeneration in the Magic Tower was because the priestesses of the Goddess Church held a tight grip on that field.
“『Blessing of the Fierce Beast』!”
Increased stamina and enhanced strength. A cluster of light enveloped the bodies of the holy maiden Tara and Venet. Venet staggered at a speed that was 1.5 times faster than usual, but quickly regained balance and ran forward.
“Adaptation is faster than I thought?”
“Since you didn’t attend the academy for show… Wait, is it an illusion magic?”
The appearance of the magician and the well-dressed woman momentarily flickered and duplicated into two pairs. Even when reading the flow of magic, it was an intricate illusion that couldn’t be distinguished. The illusions scattered in different directions.
“…Can you recognize them?”
“I don’t know!”
“We’ll have to find out with our bodies…! Give a signal if it’s the real one!”
Tara and Venet split up and chased after them.
—–
Venet ran along the road, constantly turning his head. Is it better to deliberately let them escape? Or is it better to appeal that he can cooperate?
But even that could only be done after catching up to the magician.
Whenever the distance between them narrowed, the magician used bizarre magic. It was a strange spell that Venet had never experienced before.
“『Telekinesis』, 『Festival Fireworks』.”
As visually dazzling fireworks burst forth, an apple on the display stand flew into the air. It was just an ordinary apple. Catching it with his body posed no problem at all, but the subsequent magic was the issue.
“『Radiant Gleam』, 『Texture Disintegration』.”
The shape of the apple distorted, spreading across the entire range of objects within a certain radius. The ground, the display stand, Beneath’s skin, everything appeared to be made up of repeating patterns of glistening apple peels. His mind became dizzy.
Swoosh!
Beneath tightly closed his eyes and exhaled a burst of energy, sending a shockwave towards the spot where the apple was. In mid-air, the apple split in half.
As the core of the magic was destroyed, the illusionary magic vanished.
The distance between Beneath and the sorcerer increased slightly. Beneath gritted his teeth. He could ignore pain-inducing magic or approaching monster illusions, but bizarre illusions that evaporated the sense of reality were difficult to endure.
“Using such magic to perceive the world…!”
The sorcerer responded with magic.
“『Repulsion Field』, 『Approaching Wall』.”
The ground shook as ripples surged, covering Beneath like a wave. It was an illusion. That was certain. However, he clearly heard the casting of the 『Repulsion Field』 magic.
A repulsion field hidden within the illusion sought to push Beneath away. There was no time to see through the illusion. Beneath drew his longsword from his waist and swung it dozens of times at rapid speed.
Traces of magic lingered, forming a mesh of repulsion. It was an advanced technique called the ‘Blacksword,’ achievable only by those who had mastered the manipulation of magic.
The repelling force created by magic fragmented and dispersed with the illusion.
Thanks to breaking through the Blacksword, his speed barely decreased. The distance to the sorcerer was gradually closing. The sorcerer turned into a narrow alley. Beneath readied his sword at any moment.
The moment the sorcerer disappeared from view was the most critical time to be vigilant. You never knew what magic might come flying.
As Beneath entered the alley with tension, the sorcerer stood still at the dead end. The woman was nowhere to be seen. He remained cautious of a possible ambush from the rear.
“…Are you the only one left?”
The sorcerer casually spoke, revealing his back.
“Why are you chasing me? I haven’t done anything yet…”
“You dare speak so boldly, hiding the Dark Sword. What’s your goal?”
“There’s always only one goal. To create a peaceful world where everyone can enjoy themselves.”
“I’m curious how you plan to use the Dark Sword for that.”
Should he reveal it? Glancing around, there was no Saint or Neore in sight. Now was the opportune moment to disclose his true intentions. Venet slowly chose his words as he controlled his breathing.
“I’m different from the other two. If the price is right, I might cooperate…”
“Do you believe your convictions are the answer?”
“…What do you mean?”
At the sorcerer’s cryptic words, Venet hardened his voice.
The sorcerer turned around, revealing jet-black hair and ominous red eyes that glowed. He appeared as a young man, similar to academy students of his age.
The sorcerer spoke in a low voice.
“I’m trying to tell a very simple story. I’m talking about the fact that everything has an underlying meaning.”
“You really talk like a sorcerer. If this is some nonsense…”
“You’ll find out soon. I’ll show you when the time comes. You’ll realize it too.”
Whoosh.
Like a candle in the wind, the sorcerer’s figure disappeared in an instant. Venet blinked. It wasn’t invisibility or teleportation. Even when he concentrated and extended his magical senses, there was nothing to detect.
Where did the illusion begin?
Venet admitted that he had lost track of the sorcerer and left the alley. Similarly, the resolute Saint and the seemingly carefree Neore were lingering nearby, apparently having missed the sorcerer as well.
The incomprehensible words of the sorcerer lingered stickily in Venet’s mind.
Three people formed a kind of team. It was a temporary alliance to investigate the magician. Following Venet’s suggestion, they agreed not to inform anyone else about this incident until they were more certain. If rumors spread, unintended victims could also be harmed.
Since it was a fight involving political reasons, they had to be aware of the danger of backlash if they were too outspoken. Saint Tara and Niore agreed.
They also decided to hold off on informing the Third Prince. He had not yet arrived at the academy, and it would be awkward if he heard rumors about causing trouble between him and the Second Prince.
So, where and how could they investigate to uncover the doubts and gather decisive evidence? Saint Tara had an idea about this.
“To catch an ogre, we need to go into the ogre’s den.”
Saint Tara pointed to a corner of the square in the student residential area, where a large signboard was hanging, displaying the list of elective courses. Among them, there was a noticeable lecture title.
“Exploration of Another World” / Instructor: Violet Matop Magician (Anonymous by Request)
It was a lecture title that was intuitive yet difficult to guess what kind of class it would be. Venet narrowed his eyes.
“…Are you suggesting we take that class?”
“Yes.”
[Isn’t it dangerous?]
“I am a saint. No matter who the troublemaker is, they won’t be able to touch me recklessly.”
The saint crossed her arms and shrugged her shoulders. Although she was engaged in a conflict with the sect, she was still a saint. The symbolism of representing the Goddess Church became a reliable shield.
The three of them submitted an application for the “Exploration of Another World” lecture. They would experience something unexpected there.