Chapter 38 — At the Edge of Peace

1

Day One:
Veronica prowled the dormitory, tracking her target’s movements.

Day Two:
To execute her mission, she swapped the roster distributed to the professors.

Day Three:
She received additional intel from the Imperial Family.
The information proved quite useful.

Day Four:
She made contact with an unknown party.
After a grim exchange, she returned.

Day Five:
She disabled part of the academy’s surveillance system.
The effect would last about two days.

On the morning of the sixth day:

Having stayed up all night, there was no need to make the bed.

For a Master, going without sleep for 36 hours was manageable.

“Huu-.”

Veronica sighed softly as she watched students heading to campus.

Normally, she’d be supervising the maids while students were away, but-

Today, Veronica’s attire was markedly different.

Armor pieces patched over tight-fitting tights.

A mask covering up to her nose, her signature black hair cascading down.

Adjusting her tightly bound hair, she melted into the shadows.

‘Manus. The first to be eliminated-.’

She had mapped out everyone else’s movements.

With several professors under pressure from the Imperial Family, manipulating things to her advantage wasn’t difficult.

Except for one person.

Caesar Manus.

[Today, a significant number in the academy will die.]

[You just need to avoid saving those in crisis. If anyone else notices, deal with only them.]

What could the Imperial Family be relying on to plan such a thing?

As a mere contract worker, she had no way of knowing.

A few days ago, it seemed Manus had reconciled with the Buckley family’s eldest son-

Her sigh deepened.

The Imperial Family had promised.

If she carried out a few more tasks, they would arrange for her to live fully as the head maid.

‘I have no choice but to believe them.’

It was her only hope.

The only way to escape from the souls who departed without even being able to scream, stained with blood.

She flowed along the shadows and caught sight of someone.

Caesar Manus.

He was attending class with an expressionless face.

The black-haired student, taking the most brutal elemental studies class for third-years despite being a second-year, came into view.

Today, she needed to shadow him all day, waiting for an opportunity.

The class time flew by.

Before the class ended, Professor Trail added a few words.

“I’m sure everyone is aware of the information received last night. Remember, you are all part of the academy’s forces and mages who face the dead.”

“Yes.”

“Please ensure you understand your assigned tasks.”

That’s what Mythos Academy said.

They would be fighting under stable magic circles and reliable command anyway.

Knights and Guardians just needed to cast magic safely while protected by mages.

‘If only it were that simple.’

As he packed up his textbooks, Manus contemplated his tasks for the day.

The window of opportunity lasted until sunset.

He hurriedly made his way to the first-year classroom.

This situation wouldn’t be resolved by him surviving alone.

-Because it was reality, not a game, he felt compelled to try even harder.

To save even one person, he would need to bind the shadow flickering behind him as well.

As expected, Veronica moved according to his predictions.

‘But why me?’

Originally, the text stated that she would hide among nameless extras.

It seems the butterfly effect had triggered something once again.

This was actually better.

No need to search arduously.

He feigned ignorance and acted naturally.

The first-years also looked quite tense.

“Senior.”

“I’ll let you know what items to prepare for today.”

Class A.

And Melanie coming out of Class B.

Livy from the Bauer family rushed off somewhere as soon as class ended.

Judging by the note she was holding, it seemed she had received some kind of order from Melanie.

The shadow, and Manus, briefly glanced at Livy before focusing back on the first-years.

Manus handed out notes.

“Prepare these and come to the club room by sunset.”

“Understood.”

Kael slightly raised her hand.

Her eyes trembled as she looked at the note.

What’s wrong?

Manus asked with his eyes.

“I, I don’t have any money.”

“Here you go.”

“Ah.”

Manus handed her a few gold coins.

Kael’s face brightened instantly.

Right, Kael was currently of commoner status, so of course she didn’t have much money.

There was a subsidy, but it was just enough for food and basic living expenses.

Until Melanie asked about the sub-quest, she had to live frugally.

She had to sell artifacts through official procedures, so it would take time for the money to be deposited.

Anais and Melanie, who were standing nearby, opened their eyes wide.

“Kael, you should have told us.”

“That’s right. We could have helped-“

Kael just smiled brightly without showing much reaction.

Anais, who didn’t like that response, pouted.

What’s the point of having friends?

“Don’t say such regretful things, just tell us anytime. Okay? Promise-!”

“Okay.”

“W-we need a lot of items and artifacts too. S-so I’ll help you.”

If it’s really necessary, you can pay us back later.

The friends urged her not to feel burdened at all, without hesitation.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. We’re friends. Friends help each other. You can pay us back when you become a great mage later.”

“Yeah.”

They were such warm and pure friends.

Manus couldn’t bear the sweet scene any longer and moved on.

It reminded him of his own school days when he couldn’t do the same.

He bought something at the tool shop, then stopped by the dormitory to write something down diligently and pack it.

‘Should I kill him now?’

‘No.’

‘If I kill him in the dormitory, it will cause bigger problems.’

‘I need to make it look like he died at the hands of the dead as much as possible.’

‘Studying even at a time like this-. As expected, you’ve been working hard behind the scenes.’

The more she watched, the more regretful she felt.

He was a talent who would become an incredible figure in the future.

Far more than herself, spying from the shadows.

Perhaps even surpassing Labeth, who is currently hailed as the greatest mage.

The Imperial Family might have recognized his talent in advance.

From within the shadows, Veronica observed the blossoming talent.

His back view looked enormous, and there was something magical about him.

Not a single moment, not a single step or breath was wasted.

“Huu-.”

Manus wrote down a lot of things and tucked them into his chest.

Manus left the dormitory, taking out a thick book from the bookshelf.

The sky outside was already tinged red.

The sun is setting.

And with it, peace will set as well.

“It’s all ready.”

The scent of dense mana could be felt even from within the shadows.

His footsteps seemed anxious.

There wasn’t much time left until the sun set completely.

2

In the club room.

The first-year friends had arrived early and were inspecting their purchased items.

Manus had provided each person with a list of different items to acquire.

Pearson, adept in support magic, bought scrolls for summoning disposable familiars and artifacts to block approaches.

And holy water.

Anais, specializing in wide-area magic and high mana consumption, was advised to get mana potions, defense magic scrolls, and disposable magic gems.

Melanie bought potions to sharpen the mind, magic armor to toughen the skin, and artifacts to repel nearby enemies.

“Come to think of it, Kael. What did you buy?”

“I got these.”

The sound of clinking bottles filled the air.

Containers spilled out, rolling across the floor.

This one’s a bottle.

That one’s a bottle.

Bottles everywhere.

“W-what is this? They’re all potions.”

“Yeah. This must have cost quite a bit.”

“Why, why did you get only potions…”

Kael shook her head gently at Melanie’s question.

Why had he told her to buy these?

Even Kael hadn’t really thought about it properly.

Click.

The door opened, and a snow-white head of hair popped in.

Alano, who had been busy preparing for the night of chaos, appeared.

“Oh my, everyone’s gathered. But… what’s all this?”

“Ah, senior. This is-.”

Pearson, gifted with natural eloquence, quickly stepped forward to explain.

His explanation was rapid and long-winded.

If Anais hadn’t covered Pearson’s mouth midway, he might have continued until sunset.

Alano, having heard the whole story, let out a small exclamation of admiration.

Manus.

He cared about these juniors even more than she did.

No, perhaps that extraordinary and bizarre mind of his made this possible.

Honestly, it was touching.

“This is truly amazing. Manus hasn’t arrived yet, I see. Actually, I also have something Manus asked me to do.”

Alano looked out the window.

The sun was setting, and the red sky was turning a dark blue.

Even the air felt heavy.

“Kael.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think you can learn this now?”

What she handed over was a book of magic formulas marked as 3rd Class.

Here? Now?

Kael, who usually didn’t show much emotion, visibly flustered.

A little while ago, Manus had come to the student council room.

He handed her this book and made a request.

[Please take care of the juniors. This time, I’ll make an effort too.]

[You’re not the only one sensitive about death.]

His words, his eyes, his expression were more trustworthy than the professors who had boasted that they should only trust them.

It was a request from a close friend.

She intended to help with all her might.

Kael, who received the book, looked back and forth between the book and the scattered potions.

Rustle.

As she opened the book, a small piece of paper fell out.

The elegant handwriting stood out.

『Learn one light attribute holy magic / two magics you’re confident in from each attribute. I’ve marked the recommended magics on the pages.』

Traces of a brusque but meticulous touch were evident.

The note continued.

Kael’s eyes scanned the letters.

『Your role is to eliminate as many as possible. You’ll have to reveal the skills you’ve been hiding without holding back.』

She noticed several dots marked after that.

It was as if he had wanted to write something, but didn’t.

What was he trying to say?

Without realizing it, Kael had developed a habit of trying to think like him, following his thoughts.

After all, she had admired Caesar, whose fame she had heard of since childhood.

The fact that Manus had agonized surely meant-.

“Kael. Join us once you can use those magics reasonably well. We’ll be working hard in the meantime.”

“But-.”

“It’s okay. Just, just defend from atop the walls, right?”

“I’ll come as quickly as I can.”

Rustle.

Having finished speaking, she opened a page with slightly trimmed edges.

3rd Class.

Complex and geometric lines filled the page.

As she began to concentrate, blue mana flowed out around her.

Seeing this, Alano led the first-year juniors out of the club room.

Their appearance as they headed towards the walls was quite solemn.

‘Manus.’

Alano thought of Manus.

The reason he hadn’t come here.

Alano took out a small note from her bosom.

『A shadow is targeting me.』

He said he had some business to attend to alone and headed to a place with few people.

A place where the dead dare not enter, with flowing river water at his back.

That’s where he would go.

Who would dare target a Caesar?

She was worried about her friend, but she had a job to do.

She couldn’t disappoint the friend who had trusted her.

Outside was bustling, and darkness had fallen.

As the edge of peace slipped away, madness arrived as if it had been waiting.

[Aaaaaaaaah-!]

The festival of the dead had begun.

–TL Notes–
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