Chapter 165 — Death Is Another Name for Birth

1

Death is always near.

While the day of birth follows an expected order, the day of death often does not.

Someone being born, living their life, and then passing away is more common than one might think.

But what if death doesn’t come in a normal form?

What if it’s not a peaceful death, but an agonizing and painful one?

Or worse—what if you’re standing on the boundary between life and death, one foot in each?

[Grrrrr…]

Where is this?

Why am I hanging here in this wretched state?

Instructor Chesthip surveyed his surroundings with his hazy vision.

His perspective had shifted higher, and his body felt sluggish.

Things that were previously invisible were now visible, and sensations he had never felt before were now overwhelming.

There was only one thought swirling in his mind.

Kill the intruders.

Eradicate those who disturb the garden.

Everything… for Andrea.

“You’ve awakened. I was getting bored.”

[An…drea.]

“It seems the transformation went well. Welcome, my child.”

Ssshhhh—.

Before Chesthip, a massive magic stone appeared.

The intense mana emanating from it fueled his desires.

Why had he come here again?

Ah, yes. The contract.

He made a deal to protect Andrea, in exchange for power.

And that power was right in front of him.

Chesthip reached out, grasping the magic stone.

He needed this power.

To protect, and… to annihilate his enemies.

“If you desire that strength, kill the intruders.”

[GRRRAAAAAHHH-!]

Instead of responding with words, Chesthip absorbed the magic stone, trembling as the mana surged deep into his body.

Yes, this was it.

This was the feeling.

This was the power he had sought when he made the contract!

With this strength, he could finally face Manus, who he wanted to tear apart so badly.

Not just Manus—every single one of those pests that surrounded him.

Andrea’s voice echoed in his mind, soothing him.

For her, he would offer even his soul.

“Now, go.”

Show those who trample my garden the terror of its gardener.

As Andrea sent Chesthip off, she placed one last measure upon him.

Andrea, the keeper and protector of the garden, could not forgive those who would ruin it.

This place was destined to be visited by the God of Death one day.

And those who defiled it would never be pardoned.

She implanted a spell.

The moment Chesthip encountered his enemies, it would trigger.

She knew.

She saw who it was that Chesthip hated, and why they had come here.

‘Such a pitiful child. I’ll give him a little help, I suppose.’

Andrea would watch closely.

She would see how well her new gardener managed the garden.

And it all started with removing those who should not have entered.

Now, show me… your desire, and your power.

2

“Good work today!”

“Manus, what about you? What will you do?”

“I’ll stay.”

“Ugh… I’ll head back.”

After the battle with the Sentinels, the group was left with two choices.

Nia, Alano, Pearson, and Emerson decided to return.

The rest opted to stay and explore the tower for another day.

It was a tricky number of people to split into two full parties.

So, Manus decided to regroup at the lobby after making a few checks and then ascend the tower again.

Thanks to the unexpectedly smooth battle, everyone had a bright expression.

He glanced at Kael.

She had dark circles under her eyes, likely from using too much mana.

“You don’t have to push yourself.”

“Hehe, I’m fine.”

“You know you’re an important part of the team, right?”

Kael nodded and then said something that made even Manus nod in agreement.

“The others are important now too. They can do what I can’t.”

“That’s true.”

“I’m not trying to do everything on my own anymore.”

You’ve grown a lot.

Manus could hear the maturity in her words.

But she needed to understand something.

The challenges that Kael, and the others, would face were only just beginning.

He looked around at his comrades, all busy preparing for the next stage.

These weren’t just academy students anymore; they were growing into the warriors who would save the world.

He hoped that the end of their story wouldn’t be marked by someone’s tragedy.

They had to become strong enough to survive whatever catastrophe awaited them.

“Let’s head out.”

“This is the first time with this team, isn’t it?”

“I’ll stay by your side, Senior.”

Guillermo glanced around, feeling a little uneasy.

Fortunately, Melanie was there to provide support.

Having learned combat magic, Melanie was playing her role at the frontlines exceptionally well.

There was even talk at the academy about transferring her to the Blue Deer or Black Eagle classes.

With her in the party, Guillermo’s burden would be greatly reduced.

They had plenty of firepower.

And with Trace to draw some of the enemy’s attention when needed, they were more than well-prepared.

“Our goal is to defeat one more Sentinel in the next twelve hours.”

“Sounds good.”

With their newfound confidence, the party ascended without hesitation, unaware of the threat approaching.

3

Morning had come.

Invidea realized that this wasn’t the Caesar family estate.

Right, she had planned to resolve the situation within the academy.

She had seen Manus and his group heading somewhere yesterday.

Where had they gone? She pondered but found no clear answer.

It was likely related to the strange phenomena that had been occurring.

When would Manus finally confide in her about what was really going on?

Mornings at the academy always stirred feelings of nostalgia for her.

‘How are my fellow students doing?’

It had been a while since she had such a moment of peace.

Once she returned to her family, there would be no more such moments.

Today was the day to check on the progress of the search outside the academy.

She’d eat a simple breakfast and then start her work.

As she prepared and stepped outside, she encountered a woman.

A woman with short black hair and wearing a mask.

Aden, the shadow of the Caesar family and the one who served Manus.

Here, she played the role of head maid at the academy.

“Good morning, Lady Invidea.”

“Yes. Where’s Manus?”

“He hasn’t returned yet.”

“He hasn’t?”

Invidea’s eyes widened.

Wasn’t it possible to leave freely on weekends?

If he had returned to the family estate, she would’ve received word.

Since there had been no such message, he must be out handling matters on his own.

But had the academy really entrusted students with such a dangerous investigation?

Even if these phenomena were unusual, there were too many odd details.

It was time to ask some questions.

And the person who could answer was right in front of her.

“Aden. Do you know Manus’s secrets?”

“Yes. I do, though it is difficult to discuss.”

“I suppose it’s not good to pry too much. I’m sure he’ll tell me when the time is right… But I do worry as his sister.”

“Your concerns are understandable, Lady Invidea.”

A smile hovered beneath Aden’s mask.

Invidea brushed it off with a laugh.

Manus? Caring about someone else’s feelings?

It was still hard for her to imagine that.

Invidea continued walking, and Aden respectfully bowed.

Aden wasn’t just a maid; she was someone who had to carefully consider her actions as a member of the family.

What would happen when Invidea learned the truth about the Erosion Zone and the tower?

Knowing her, she’d likely try to mobilize the family’s resources to support their efforts.

Her ultimate goal was to make the Caesar family the greatest in history, after all.

‘That’s probably not what Manus wants.’

Aden had been saved by Manus and lived her life for him.

She wasn’t someone who would prioritize Invidea’s goals over Manus’s wishes.

As Invidea’s figure disappeared into the distance, Aden felt a twinge of regret.

As a silent apology, she bowed deeply once more.

Meanwhile, as Invidea walked to the dining hall, she was struck by an eerie sense of déjà vu.

It was as if something was pulling her, urging her to go somewhere.

She didn’t resist the feeling and continued walking at a steady pace.

After walking for some time…

“Why is no one else seeing this?”

A crack in reality appeared.

It looked like a doorway to another world.

Many people passed by, but no one seemed to notice it.

They glanced at Invidea occasionally but paid no attention to the crack.

Was this part of the strange phenomena?

She moved closer but couldn’t tell what lay beyond the crack or what might emerge from it.

There was no way to investigate it yet.

“Hm…”

Had Manus gone inside?

There were so many questions.

And she knew she needed answers.

Who could she consult about this?

It would have to be someone who wasn’t a student but a professor capable of supporting her.

“Oh, right.”

Recalling her conversation with the others yesterday, she turned around.

She now knew who she needed to seek out for answers.

Perhaps she should have gone to him as soon as she woke up.

Her pace quickened.

4

“Chairman, Lady Invidea has arrived.”

“Hmm, understood. Bring her in.”

The chairman was reviewing a report that had come in earlier that morning.

As expected, there was no news from the outside regarding Instructor Chesthip’s whereabouts.

It was as if he’d vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.

Even though highly mobile mages had spread out to search the widest possible area, it had all been in vain.

The report stated as much, and the chairman nodded, unsurprised.

Indeed, the worst-case scenario seemed to be true.

For some unknown reason, Chesthip must have fallen into the Erosion Zone.

Things had become quite complicated.

In the meantime, Invidea opened the door and entered the chairman’s office.

“Chairman, how did the search go yesterday?”

“It was fruitless, Lady Caesar. There’s no sign of him anywhere.”

“Naturally.”

There was a sharp edge to Invidea’s words.

The chairman’s eyes narrowed sharply for a moment.

Could it be that Manus had revealed the secret?

Or was it Aden?

But he didn’t dwell on it for long.

Because Invidea soon started speaking, revealing information without hesitation.

“I don’t know if I’m the only one who saw it, but there was a strange crack. I believe it’s related to the anomalous occurrences.”

“…”

“I came to you because I suspect I might be affected as well, given that I’m the only one who could see it. Manus is… probably in that place, isn’t he?”

“Are you certain you can see it?”

The chairman’s eyes trembled slightly.

He had thought only the chosen ones could witness such phenomena, and only within the academy grounds. Could it be accessed from outside as well?

No, that was merely Nyx’s own assumption.

There was nothing definitive to rely on.

He needed to listen more carefully to Invidea’s words.

If she truly possessed the qualifications, then he needed to start thinking about the future on a broader scale.

–TL Notes–
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