Chapter 32 — Head Maid Veronica

1

Daily life at the academy flowed as usual.

All second-year students had returned, and Alano also excellently completed her mission.

The task given by Harrison was to eradicate an undead lair.

There, Alano brilliantly demonstrated her tremendous magical abilities.

Changes were occurring everywhere.

Melanie was gradually taking control of Class B, and she now knew about the tower’s existence.

“This concludes my report.”

“An investigation into anomalies… Unfortunately, we’ll have to postpone that for later.”

“Pardon?”

In the Chairman’s office.

Veronica was giving her report there.

She was in charge of managing and supervising overall affairs at the academy, not just the dormitories.

The role of head maid was more extensive than expected, and even nobles couldn’t treat her carelessly.

Chairman Nyx flatly rejected the request of such a figure.

He pushed up his glasses and explained the situation.

“You must know that the ‘Corpus’ night is about to begin soon.”

“Ah, is it that time already…”

“We need to prepare for that. Because death is looming. Even Mythos Academy isn’t safe.”

“I understand. Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Veronica bowed her head.

Chairman Nyx briefly stopped Veronica as she was about to leave.

He had forgotten an important question while thinking about the Corpus night.

This was truly a crucial matter.

“There’s still no movement from the Imperial family, correct?”

“That’s right. You don’t need to worry.”

She showed a calm smile as she opened the door and left.

She thought she’d get a definitive answer if she reported to the Chairman, but-.

Her expression crumpled slightly.

It was quite unusual for cracks to appear in her always-smiling face.

If someone saw, strange rumors might spread again.

Veronica quickly composed her expression and looked around.

‘Ah-.’

In the distance, Manus was walking towards her.

Did he perhaps see?

She felt a bit pathetic for needlessly worrying.

Originally, she wasn’t someone who operated in such places, but when did she become like this?

As they say, the position changes the person — living peacefully among children, she wondered if her personality had become too mild.

“Good morning, young master.”

“Good morning.”

She greeted him to change her mood, and he returned the same greeting.

Her steps halted once again.

It was strange.

“— You seem to be in a good mood today.”

“It’s ordinary.”

“Since it’s the first time you’ve greeted me-.”

Manus gave a faint smile.

This audacious tutorial boss had fearlessly approached Veronica, who was quite strong even in the world’s lore.

It was fortunate that Veronica suppressed her personality, otherwise he might have been found dead the next day if the timing had been slightly off.

— He felt she’d been taking a keen interest in him lately.

Ah, of course, not romantic interest, but interest in the newly changed ‘Manus’.

Manus looked straight into her eyes and spoke.

“I see. I’ll be mindful. I have much to think about alone.”

“Ah, there’s no need-.”

“There’s no one in the academy who would disregard the head maid. Well then.”

Manus just said what he needed to say and passed by.

But those few words resonated deeply with Veronica.

Head maid.

It had been over 10 years since she started working in that position.

When others her age were entering this academy, she took on the duty of head maid here.

Countless nobles looked down on her and treated her like a mere maid, but she endured.

The worst among them?

— Undoubtedly, it would be Caesar Manus.

‘He really seems like a different person.’

It felt as if someone had put in a new soul.

Could he have been forcibly transferred by some black mage’s trickery?

But his skills were far too excellent for that.

“Speaking so openly like that, I don’t know how to react.”

Hoho-.

Is it right to feel this good over just a few words?

Though raised as an assassin, she hadn’t abandoned her human personality.

No, rather, it was because she didn’t abandon her personality that she could rise to a higher position.

Emotions are important even for martial artists, and she realized around that time that one cannot reach higher levels through mechanical training alone.

She is a Master.

— Though she reached it at a young age.

It wasn’t a particularly good feeling.

Rather, today’s greeting left a deeper impression.

To her, being a Master meant just about that much.

2

Entering the Chairman’s office, Manus briefly reported on yesterday’s events.

New forces, and the treatment of Livy.

Even the tower investigation was progressing smoothly.

Chairman Nyx nodded with a satisfied expression.

Though there was an unfortunate incident, it ended up increasing their forces instead.

The Lauer family would ultimately walk the path of ruin.

“You did well. I hear you also completed a diamond-grade mission this time? Congratulations.”

“It’s nothing. The night is coming soon, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. We’re making thorough preparations to protect the students.”

[The Night of Corpus].

Commonly known as the Festival of the Dead.

The only event where something must be protected, and the most dreaded period across the entire continent.

The festival night that returns every 21 years happened to coincide with this time.

An event where the continent’s dead rise all at once, pouring out their resentment towards the living.

After venting like that, they supposedly calm down as if nothing happened.

It’s said that the God of Death arranged this to increase his people…

‘Bull, it’s just because tower defense games were popular at the time.’

Random Something Defense.

It was quite a popular game back then.

It was a defense game based on various comics, and the developer must have been deeply impressed by it.

It was a purely forced setting, but looking at just the content within the event, it was quite well-portrayed.

A story that received praise saying it would have been good to proceed with a defense game rather than climbing a tower.

It was also the point where the world view started to darken in earnest.

“You should prepare more thoroughly.”

“Mythos Academy is a place that even the Imperial army can’t easily breach. There’s no need to worry.”

Manus wondered how he should explain this-.

It’s not simply a matter of enduring for a few days.

Because it will become a calamity that befalls Mythos Academy.

Simply saying he knows the future lacks plausibility.

He needs to at least make them have a sense of urgency-.

Ah, right. That method would work.

“It’s also a revelation from the Caesar family. They say this night will be terribly dreadful.”

“…From the Caesars?”

Manus nodded silently.

All he needed to do was borrow the name of the all-powerful cheat key, Caesar.

His father was a man who had perfectly mastered 7th-class magic, a realm beyond human comprehension.

People would believe even if told his excrement was made of mana.

In other words, they’d believe even a vague explanation.

“I thought you disliked being associated with your family… I see. We’ll be careful.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Did Melanie say she’d participate in the exploration?”

“— She has an admirable mindset.”

Nyx smiled with satisfaction.

Come to think of it, didn’t he want to attend 3rd-year classes?

He thought the Caesar bloodline was indeed different.

The door closed.

Manus headed to the 3rd-year classroom.

Today was the day to attend 3rd-year classes instead of 2nd-year ones.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

The joy of studying, which he had never considered before.

Every time he saw himself gradually adapting to this world, he felt like he was becoming the real Manus.

“Student Manus?”

“…Hello, Professor.”

A familiar face recognized him.

It was Professor Trail, who taught Elemental Studies.

He strode over to Manus’s side.

His eyes, resembling blue lakes, were the spitting image of Duke Labeth whom he had once observed from afar.

This brilliant student was now ready to soar in earnest.

Then, as a teacher of Mythos Academy, there was only one thing to do.

“You’re attending my class today, right? With the magic skills you’ve shown before, you shouldn’t have any problem following along.”

“Thank you.”

This student, his personality seems to have changed subtly-?

Since it’s in a positive direction, there’s probably no need to worry about it.

Trail was curious to see how far this student would go.

Perhaps even surpassing his illustrious siblings…

“Third-year classes are when we start learning advanced magic in earnest. Oh, and we have a new student joining us today.”

Manus walked confidently and stood beside Professor Trail.

The third-year students’ eyes widened.

They all stared at him with similar expressions.

“I’m Caesar Manus. Nice to meet you all.”

“Wow-. Isn’t that a rude way to introduce himself to his seniors?”

“Still, I kinda like him?”

“I heard he even used 4th-class magic recently? Well then…, I guess we have to acknowledge him.”

Someone raised their hand abruptly.

The professor granted permission to speak with a look.

For academy students, grades are naturally the biggest concern.

This was an event where a competitor, and a formidable one from the Caesars at that, was joining in.

— Of course, they had to clarify the issues that needed addressing.

“Will his grades not be reflected in the rankings?”

“That’s correct. His grades will be based on 2nd-year standards. You all can rest easy.”

Ooh-.

The students let out low exclamations.

Yes, this is how it should be normally.

Even among 3rd-years, no one would dare match the talent of a Caesar.

Just a guest who came to indulge in knowledge.

The protagonist with enviably mad talent.

That was precisely Manus’s position.

“Let’s start the class. Manus, please sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

Numerous gazes fixed on Manus as he trudged to his seat.

Curiosity, envy, a bit of wariness, and so on.

‘Still feels burdensome.’

Though he looked at them through Manus’s eyes, deep inside he felt the pressure.

Perhaps it was the fundamental self that couldn’t be discarded feeling this way.

Manus sat down and looked around.

‘There are no characters from the original work here, so I should be able to attend class comfortably.’

No need to interfere, just time purely for acquiring knowledge.

He attended a proper class for the first time in a while.

Professor Trail’s 3rd-year class was different in quality from the start.

What to be mindful of when constructing magic circles.

How to efficiently construct those magic circles.

How those who use 4th-class and higher magic utilized their methods.

“We’ve analyzed the techniques used by actual mages. I’ve even conducted quite a few interviews with them, but our data is still lacking.”

Professor Trail’s passionate lecture.

This became a stepping stone for Manus to reach new heights before the night of madness arrived.

His mind was filled to the brim with new knowledge.

‘This is fun.’

Only after coming here did Manus become engrossed in his studies.

As if making up for wasted time in the past, his hands and mind showed no signs of stopping.

–TL Notes–
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