Chapter 6 — It’s Better to Ask for Help in Advance

1

Dawn broke.

Come to think of it, how was the moonlight last night?

Kael had a haggard appearance from the nightmares that plagued her all night.

‘I want to sleep more’.

Kael yawned hugely as she headed to the shower.

Starting today, classes would begin in earnest, so she needed to prepare thoroughly.

She absentmindedly let the water run over her as she thought of her parents.

She knew.

The fact that Kael herself wasn’t actually a commoner.

And that she came to this place, Mythos Academy, through their arrangements.

‘…’

But Kael thought it didn’t matter either way.

Just go with the flow.

In the end, she would reach the ultimate result that someone had predetermined.

Knock knock-.

“Kael! Aren’t you out yet?”

“I’m coming-.”

A voice that energized her just by hearing it pulled her out of her thoughts.

‘Oh right, I need to hurry and get ready’.

Kael waved her hand, using magic to dry herself off, and got dressed.

Being late on the first day of classes would make her stand out even more.

That was something she wanted to avoid.

She just wanted to live going with the flow.

Click-.

When she opened the door, Anais was there to greet her, still wearing that brilliant smile like a flame.

“Let’s go!”

“-Okay.”

“Pearson should be waiting just up ahead.”

“Have you two been close since you were young?”

“That’s right. Our territories are next to each other and there’s a large Orc village to the north… We have no choice but to cooperate.”

Kael nodded.

An Orc village, huh.

That aggressive warrior race always caused trouble for humans.

Bandits who moved in groups and attacked merchants or small mercenary bands, using their superior physical abilities.

Sometimes they even attacked villages, and because of those guys, the village where Kael lived faced crises several times.

“Yo-! Good morning!”

“It’s embarrassing to be associated with someone like this-.”

Pearson, who had been waiting in front of the dormitory, greeted them brightly.

Anais, who had been muttering that he was the type to raise morale even on the battlefield, had to endure an inevitable counterattack.

“Hey-! It’s because of me that you’re able to shine, you know? Remember when we were ten and snuck into that group of merchants but got caught by the knights— Ack!”

“Instead of blabbing about other people’s embarrassing pasts, why don’t we just get going? Hmm-?”

Pfft-.

Kael laughed softly.

Despite everything, those two seemed to have built up a familiarity with each other over a long period of time.

It seemed like they were the type of friends who would risk their lives to protect each other if anything happened to either one of them.

“Hey, hey-. Look over there.”

“Huh? Why?”

“The tyrant is passing by.”

At Pearson’s words, the other two looked in that direction.

-A somewhat strange scene was unfolding there.

“Isn’t that senior the student council president for the entire second year?”

“Yeah. Were they close?”

Dark hair like shadows settling down.

A confident stride looking only forward.

Manus’ appearance, with his ramrod straight posture that even turned the creases in his clothes into fashion, was like a painting come to life.

Someone once said.

Those who inspire fear must possess the power to overwhelm others with their mere presence.

Look at that figure.

Even though he’s just walking straight ahead, doesn’t he exude the aura of an absolute ruler?

“He’s so cool-.”

Anais let out a small exclamation of admiration.

“Yeah, he’s different from certain people. I wonder if we could ever become like that?”

Pearson’s lament followed.

Kael also looked at the two without saying anything.

In truth, her gaze wasn’t drawn to Manus.

The owner of hair as bright as pristine snow.

The student council president — Alano.

‘Impressive.’

That was the emotion Kael felt when she first saw her.

Indeed, she was the student council president who had a hand in all the major and minor affairs of the academy.

She also held the power to directly interact with the board of directors and professors.

Needless to say, ‘connections’ played a very important role in this world.

Kael felt it too.

Having good connections could at least get you noticed..

Could she become friends with her?

If the opportunity arose, she would like to at least have a conversation.

Somehow, she saw a familiar aspect in her.

2

“Are you really going to let it go without saying anything? Such a big incident?”

Alano said with a furrowed brow, as if frustrated.

Last night’s horrific event was still vivid.

She couldn’t even sleep properly for fear of having nightmares-.

-And yet the only friend who could be of help was so indifferent!

At this rate, the academy would be in great danger.

So she asked again.

“It doesn’t make sense that no one knows about this phenomenon, right?”

“-Enough.”

“Don’t try to do everything alone. I’m a Harrison. I can help you.”

At Alano’s words, Manus looked straight at her with his blue eyes.

The two people who already attracted the most attention at the academy were walking together, drawing an excessive amount of gazes.

With their voices rising, unnecessary attention increased as well.

It was uncomfortable.

He disliked receiving attention itself.

Alano should be next to Kael over there, not him.

Manus decided to push her away for now, regrettably.

“It’s not yet time for you to step in.”

“…You-.”

Mana rippled in Alano’s eyes.

Disappointment at being unilaterally pushed away was visible in her gaze.

Her desire to protect someone clashed with Manus’ stance of standing by.

How selfish-.

The Caesars were always like that.

That arrogance of having to stand alone.

That was the Caesar way.

Manus, you too are a Caesar after all.

The will of the Harrisons moved her heart, and just as her lips parted-.

“This is neither the right place to have this conversation, nor am I the right person to have it with, Alano.”

“What do you mean… Don’t tell me, truly no one knows?”

Manus resumed walking.

It was a silent affirmation.

Alano stared at him blankly.

Just how much does he know— to say such dangerous words so casually?

Curiosity arose.

This time for a different reason.

‘If he’s not the right person to talk to, that means there is someone I can talk to about this.’

Manus.

The words he uttered like a dagger were a crucial hint.

Her objective changed.

This was not a matter to be discussed with just anyone.

Why had she forgotten that?

Standing still, Alano tried to fathom Manus’ thoughts.

“-Hah.”

All she could do was lower her slightly embarrassed face and quicken her steps.

Although she had used mana to prevent her voice from leaking out, she had still carelessly brought up such a dangerous topic.

For some reason her cheeks felt hot, and a blush was visible on her fair skin today.

At the same time, while Manus walked on seemingly nonchalant, he was dying from the uncomfortable stares pouring in from all around.

Alano.

He knew she was a girl overflowing with a sense of justice, but-.

‘Is it today? Alano will find out soon enough anyway.’

Today, the original story begins in earnest.

The two full moons signify the day the God of Death descends.

God of Death: Because this is the day when the energy of Mors is strongest.

The day when monsters living outside and the previously docile demi-humans explode with ferocity.

That’s why the entire continent holds its breath once every three months.

The moon seen from here, the Rox Continent, was massive and eerie.

‘A moon that rises blue and turns red.’

They would see that grotesque supermoon with their own eyes today.

The Ziggurat in the academy.

Drawn to it, the forces of evil will begin to stir in earnest.

Those who seek to lead the world to destruction will descend.

Demons.

Beings that surpass them: The appearance of the Demonium.

From the First Magician to the Thirteenth Reaper.

A story where the protagonist approaches the secrets of the tower while defeating these enormous enemies.

“Hmm-. Interference… I suppose creating a foothold should be enough.”

Above all, to receive help from the chairman, he needed to make a move in advance.

The only one in the academy who knew about the existence of the Ziggurat.

For the protagonist to properly play their role going forward, his assistance would be needed.

Rumors spread through the school in an instant, and stories about Manus and Alano circulated knowingly or unknowingly.

That they were engaged, that they were assassins sent by their families, and so on.

“Could that be true?”

“What does it matter to us? We just need to focus on our classes and grades.”

“Come on~ It’s interesting! The tyrant and the queen in that kind of picture! Right, Kael?”

Kael was staring blankly at the two of them.

She said, as if out of habit:

“…It doesn’t matter either way.”

“Really, I can’t tell if you’re just easygoing or completely uninterested in the world.”

Manus.

Everyone here knew about the bad rumors surrounding the second son of that great family.

However, his behavior yesterday and today was quite different from what they had seen so far.

They had never seen him interacting with others for the past year.

He was a student considered to be in a different league from the start.

He even refused the student council president position, saying it was troublesome, yet now he was interacting with someone.

Anais stared at Kael intently.

“Could it be that he’s interested in you, Kael?”

“Come on-. That’s going too far. Just because of two words? Hey, I say dozens of words and no one listens to me!”

“Well, that and this are… a bit different in caliber, aren’t they?”

“Caliber?! Ca-ca-caliber?!”

Anais silenced the fuming Pearson by pressing down on his head, then looked at the chiming pocket watch.

“Class is starting. Kael, about tomorrow’s ability evaluation? I’m curious which class you’ll end up in. Study hard, and see you later!”

As they dispersed to their respective classes, Kael focused intently on her lessons, trying to calm her unusually nervous stomach.

Ability evaluation.

Unlike those who were assigned to classes through entrance exams, transfer students or F-class students who had not yet awakened their talents undergo ability evaluations once a week.

This was no exception for other classes either.

Even if you entered A-class, you could plummet to B-class in just a week at Mythos Academy.

If one’s talent and ability were recognized as worthy in this evaluation, they could advance to a different class.

Some call it hell, while others call it a land of opportunity.

There were often cases of students who started in F-class and graduated as the top of their year.

Kael closed her eyes and recalled what she could do.

Magic.

Her everything, and the only asset left by parents she had never seen.

‘I hope it goes well.’

And like that person, she hoped to maintain a confident gait.

Not intimidated, not ignored, but confident.

She thought of one person.

His hair was as black as the night.

3

Today’s classes were ordinary.

Manus confirmed that not only could he comprehend everything the professor said in its entirety, but he could also apply all the advanced concepts.

Such a prodigy born into such an extraordinary family — the main house must have been at a loss for what to do.

That’s why they attached a shadow to him.

‘I wonder if they reported back?’

Manus continued these useless thoughts as he walked.

‘Is it there?’

After all classes had ended, the place he arrived at was the chairman’s office.

Chairman, huh-.

Yes, even a place like this needs money to keep running.

Knock knock-.

As he knocked on the door, a gentle voice came from inside.

“Come in-.”

It was a room with the scent of soft wood wafting through the air.

Antique elegance.

Furniture that perfectly showcased what vintage charm was.

The yellow-toned light softly illuminating the dark brown colors naturally made one feel at ease.

A carpet combining white, black, and brown colors put the finishing touch on that luxurious atmosphere.

The man sitting in the middle had an appearance that perfectly matched this ambiance.

Chairman: McPherson Nix.

The man with the gentle impression looked at Manus.

Manus’ blue eyes stared straight back at him.

His mouth opened, and words that would greatly surprise the chairman were assembled and poured out.

–TL Notes–
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