Chapter 29 — Operation to Rescue Melanie

1

Magic that searches through people’s minds.

Magic that manipulates memories.

Magic that reconstructs events.

Since the development of magic, these were the first types to be invented and widely used.

It’s said that because of this, magic and humanity were able to advance further.

However, as time passed, such magic came to be considered forbidden.

“I… It was just a prank. I didn’t mean any harm-“

“Follow me.”

As much as I wanted to treat her like a criminal outright, I regrettably couldn’t.

When cornered, criminals tend to lash out at the police.

Judging that I wouldn’t get proper answers with an uneasy mindset, I led Livy to a quiet place.

“Tell me everything in detail.”

“Well… you see-“

Livy stammered as she recounted the incident.

She admitted to kidnapping Melanie and keeping her in the club room for a short while.

And that when she went to retrieve her later, Melanie had vanished.

Of course, she didn’t mention the forbidden drug.

If she had said that too-

“You used a forbidden drug, didn’t you?”

“…!”

Could he read minds as well?!

How did he figure it out?!

Livy’s entire body trembled.

‘It’s interesting how her reactions are so obvious even with just a little prodding.’

I could understand why, despite being consumed by jealousy and becoming a villain in the original story, she never rose very high.

Yes, this was all she amounted to.

Could someone like this really be responsible for an entire family?

“Come to the club room after class. If you don’t show up-“

“Ah, I understand! Please, just don’t tell the professors. I, I have to take care of my family!”

“-Then I’ll see you then.”

Manus turned away without hesitation.

Livy slumped to the ground.

In the end, she had gained nothing.

2

“What happened?”

“We were unlucky. Melanie was kept in the club room. It seems erosion occurred where she was.”

“Then…”

Manus stopped by the club room and explained the details of the incident.

The children who heard the news were furious.

“I’ll never forgive this. The Tower is such an important place-!”

“That’s right. This is unforgivable.”

Anais, known for her fiery temper, immediately showed her anger.

Pearson also displayed subtle signs of rage.

Manus turned to look at Kael, who had been quietly listening.

‘I wonder what kind of personality she has.’

When he was the protagonist, the choices changed according to the player’s inclinations.

Countless branches and dialogues.

Actions that could be selected.

There, the protagonist was no different from the player themselves.

But here?

What kind of person would Kael be, set to default values with no one playing her?

Manus’s curiosity was directed towards Kael.

“-We must find our friend.”

Her eyes were glowing softly.

Eyes resembling Manus’s own flickered with mana.

It was exactly the same expression illustrated in the original work when she became angry.

That’s why he could smile.

“Indeed. Gather here before midnight. We’ll enter the Tower from the same place.”

“Do you have a way in?”

“We’ll forcibly open the space and enter.”

“…Understood.”

In Alano’s absence, someone was needed to ensure safety.

Moreover, since this operation wouldn’t be through official routes, a safety officer was even more necessary.

‘There are things to prepare.’

Time was quite tight.

After issuing the operation orders, Manus quickly moved on.

The first-years would have plenty to prepare among themselves.

Such events would occur again in the future.

An operation to enter the Tower from inside a building.

During that operation, there would be an event where they’d be scattered to certain floors.

‘Using communication magic is for after “she” joins. Not now.’

So, in preparation for any eventuality, he needed to obtain magical artifacts for communication.

And he should stop by the Tower to meet Black and White.

Getting permission to leave was quite easy.

He had already been given full authority for the investigation, so there was sufficient justification.

Obtaining magical items was equally simple.

Small orbs for communication were widely used artifacts in various tests.

In the commercial district right in front of the school.

“Thank you, please come again-!”

Caesar.

With the backing of that overwhelmingly wealthy family, funding was not an issue.

These devices should suffice for communication for the time being.

Immediately after, he obtained disposable tools from Black and White.

“Are you really going to use this?”

“Yes.”

“…It’ll be dangerous.”

“I’ll have to risk it.”

White nodded with a sour expression.

Thanks to this, some of the mana stones he had saved up were spent, but any losses could be replenished in the Tower anyway.

“Well then.”

He turned and left the Tower lobby.

Preparations were more or less complete.

‘Now I just need the children to gather.’

From Livy’s words, he also learned that Leveli-Malito was involved.

For now, the urgent matter was rescuing Melanie.

He planned to discuss them later.

They were a group whose lineage wouldn’t last much longer anyway.

Now was the time to focus on the task at hand.

Manus looked up at the massive Tower.

‘I hope you’re still alive.’

So that your talent can bloom brightly.

Until nightfall, Manus quietly passed the time reading books.

Reading in the club room had quite an ambiance.

While he was engrossed in a book about the 5th-Class, an unexpected visitor arrived.

“Are you in? It’s Veronica.”

“Come in.”

Veronica.

What business could the Shadow Assassin have here?

Manus’s concentration heightened considerably.

The door opened, and Veronica, the maid with pink hair, entered.

Though she tried to hide it, to walk without making any sound like that-

Veronica gave a slight curtsy with an old-fashioned gesture.

“It’s getting late. Shouldn’t you be returning to the dormitory soon?”

“I plan to study here tonight. Is that not allowed?”

Veronica hesitated for a moment before nodding.

As long as one attended classes properly, it didn’t matter where they stayed in the academy.

Even students whose only goal was graduation occasionally skipped classes.

“There’s no reason why not. I’ll inform the security in advance.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll tidy up the room. Is that alright?”

Manus gave a small nod and turned his attention back to the book.

At this silent dismissal, Veronica silently tiptoed away.

After closing the door with a click, Veronica’s expression sharpened.

No matter how she thought about it, it was strange.

It was strange that he was studying on his own, and that he was treating her so kindly.

People don’t change easily.

‘That should be the truth. Why has he changed like this?’

At this rate, all the preparations made over the past year might go to waste.

What should I do-

Veronica let out a small sigh.

‘I suppose it’s also true that nothing in this world goes as planned.’

Sigh-

She secretly sighed and continued walking.

Before leaving the main building, Veronica heard a group approaching and hid herself in the darkness.

There were four of them.

‘Those children-‘

They were the ones assigned to Class A of the first year.

The way they surrounded one person as they walked didn’t look too good.

But when she realized the identity of that person, she found herself nodding unconsciously.

‘Livy. A person related to Melanie’s disappearance case. Could it be… that Manus is in the club room today for this reason?’

Her eyes sharpened.

This is quite an interesting development, isn’t it?

Could they be planning to harm her?

‘I’ll just observe for now-‘

She concealed her presence.

It’s almost midnight.

What are they planning to do at this late hour?

“Get in quickly.”

“…Okay.”

Livy was practically dragged along by the three classmates.

After hearing Manus’s story, Kael and Anais had rushed to find her and brought her here.

There’s no turning back now.

Livy entered the club room with her head hung low, tears brimming in her eyes.

She was brought in bound to the very place where she had confined Melanie.

An oppressively heavy atmosphere hung in the air.

“So you’re here.”

“We brought her. But… shouldn’t she not be allowed in?”

Manus shook his head.

He didn’t want to use this method, which villains used in the original story, if possible, but…

Fight evil with evil.

Half-measures didn’t suit his temperament.

“I’ll take care of bringing her in. And… we need to see Melanie’s potential.”

“Sometimes I really don’t understand what you’re saying, senior. Do you guys feel the same?”

Nod, nod-

Both of them nodded in agreement with Anais’s words.

— ‘Not just sometimes, but pretty much all the time, right?’

Manus smirked upon hearing Anais’s whisper.

When their eyes met, she quickly averted her gaze with an “Ugh.”

The time has come.

The moment when one day meets the next.

The only time when one can enter the tower from an unofficial entrance has arrived.

Manus placed his hand on Livy’s shoulder.

“Ugh-“

“Stay still. And you all, take these.”

Manus distributed communication orbs from his pocket.

The frequency was already set, so they would connect to the integrated channel once mana was injected.

“Entering the tower through unconventional means is extremely dangerous. Check each other’s positions and regroup with nearby team members.”

“Understood.”

Charisma.

Precise communication.

Reliable knowledge.

Kael and the others looked at him with trusting eyes.

While what he said before was trustworthy enough, there was one thing that stood out the most.

-Overwhelming skill.

Skills that seemed capable of defeating any enemy.

This factor, more important than anything else, gave the first-year students infinite trust in him.

“Then, let’s depart.”

“Yes!”

Ten seconds until midnight.

Manus overlaid his mana on top of Livy’s.

A technique to make the tower recognize Livy as ‘himself’ as well.

There’s no need to teach these children this method yet.

No need to reveal a method that’s only discovered in the late game so soon.

Such evil methods should only be known by a tyrant like himself.

‘I’ll shoulder the role of the villain.’

So, you all move forward righteously and save the world.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

“We’re going in.”

Manus infused mana into the ‘tool’ in his possession.

Whoosh-!

A dark green gate appeared where they were standing, swallowing up the chosen ones.

Their vision flipped.

Everything was dyed in darkness.

This was no exception for Manus.

3

The tower was truly hell.

Sounds coming from everywhere.

Dark interiors.

Occasional sights of blood.

‘How can I get out of here?’

She was hungry.

Her throat was parched, and she couldn’t even relieve herself.

Forget about sleeping, she couldn’t even sit down for a moment.

It was the worst-

“If I knew it would be like this, I should have learned some life magic.”

She grumbled in a small voice, but nothing changed.

Was she going to die here?

In this place where no one knows, without a trace?

-That can’t happen.

She pushed herself off the pillar she had been leaning on with trembling legs.

She couldn’t die like this.

She had to see the faces of those who sent her here.

And she would collect this debt from them with interest.

She absolutely couldn’t die until then.

Now that she had found her resolve, she needed a method.

‘Should I trust those children?’

Spirits.

Special beings that have existed since ancient times.

Beings that only a few people can communicate and interact with.

She stared intently at these beings that had only been a hindrance until now.

“…Can you help me this time?”

As she timidly moved her lips, the spirits smiled brightly.

That smile was so innocent, it was like a baby’s smile.

A child’s smile is pure, but what lies beneath is unknown.

-Of course!

That smile was infinitely pure.

–TL Notes–
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