Chapter 7 — A Group is Needed for Unity

1

The Chairman looked at Manus, who had just become a second-year student.

There was something different about his aura.

In his first year, he was endlessly arrogant and unable to care for those around him.

He was impatient and merciless towards the weak.

He even hit the staff, but everything was overlooked simply because he was a Caesar.

But now, his demeanor seemed… more composed.

Some people have a presence that suppresses their surroundings even when they’re still.

The aura often called the quality of an emperor.

Seeing Manus after a long time, he truly stood out as a descendant of Caesar.

“Your atmosphere has become much calmer. So, what brings you here?”

“I need help.”

Asking for help out of the blue-.

It seemed his personality hadn’t changed that much.

“Someone like you, Manus, asking for help? That’s unexpected. What’s the matter?”

“I want to create a club.”

“A club? Right… it’s almost club season. You could just submit it officially. The fact that you came to me directly must mean there’s another reason, right?”

The Chairman was a smart man.

He chuckled while calmly meeting Manus’s expressionless gaze.

That small smile was always unsettling, but he was an excellent supporter.

“I believed you would approve it right away if you heard about it, Chairman.”

“Me?”

“I discovered an anomaly. There’s another world. The entrance is-.”

“-Stop.”

His snake-like eyes widened.

Chairman Nyx, who had no combat abilities whatsoever.

The air changed just by him raising his hand to interrupt.

The Chairman looked at Manus with his snake-like eyes.

An aura no less imposing than a tyrant’s gradually dominated the air.

It was a suffocating pressure, but Caesar remained calm.

Manus continued speaking composedly.

“You must know about it, Chairman.”

“-Yes, I do.”

Chairman Nyx admitted it readily.

Huuu-.

He let out a deep sigh and tapped the empty paper with the pen he was holding.

After a moment’s pause, he spoke heavily.

“Who else knows about this?”

“Alano is involved.”

The Chairman nodded quietly.

He stared at the dot on the blank paper, lost in thought for a moment.

Ziggurat.

The cursed tower that has existed since ancient times, and the only secret the Academy has neglected.

He thought the lineage of those who could enter had been cut off long ago.

Those who could enter the hidden world were called ‘the Chosen Ones’.

The tower always needs sacrifices.

Not just the ‘Chosen Ones’, but ordinary people too.

The Chosen Ones were also called that because they became sacrifices for the tower.

‘Of all people, it had to be a Caesar. Was this the reason for his change in demeanor?’

The Chairman closed his eyes tightly and continued his thoughts.

Manus waited silently without saying a word.

Finally, the Chairman who had finished deliberating opened his eyes.

He asked the most important question.

“How far up have you gone?”

“-The 5th floor.”

“The 5th floor alone…”

He had to acknowledge it.

The tower wasn’t just a place full of curses.

Information left in faint memories.

That it serves the same role as external dungeons.

Those who can enter face one of two fates.

Either they are devoured by the tower, or they devour the tower.

‘However-.’

No one ever returned.

Why was that?

The talented were arrogant, and the untalented were swallowed by the tower.

The Chairman was one of the few who had directly witnessed part of this process.

“I can’t allow you to enter the tower.”

“If we had enough manpower to explore, would you permit it?”

“Two people wouldn’t be nearly enough.”

Manus smiled faintly.

Was it irritating that he didn’t lose his composure?

Or was he curious about the reason?

One of the Chairman’s eyebrows twitched up and down.

Manus seized the moment and drove the point home.

“Today is the night of two full moons, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. Going outside is strictly forbidden.”

“Will you continue to work here, Chairman?”

Manus’s words were full of confidence and without hesitation.

-As if he knew the future.

Chairman Nyx nodded slowly.

“Please watch from here and give your final approval.”

“…Alright. Then just sign the club establishment application in your own handwriting.”

People who gather for a single purpose form a group.

-Association, -Union, -Society, -Club, and so on.

It’s only natural to form a group for unity.

Originally, Alano would establish the club, but it’s better to ask for help in advance.

‘It might make things easier for her.’

That’s the kind of character Alano is.

A girl who jumps in to protect people even if she can’t take care of herself.

A girl who jumps in despite receiving all kinds of contempt, disregard, and incomprehensible looks.

She got a lot of criticism because of that strong sense of loyalty.

But, she will play a tremendous role as the spiritual pillar of the club.

“Is the club president you, Manus?”

“Alano Harrison. She will be the club president.”

Manus said.

Or should we call it an appointment here?

A club was being established for her without her knowledge.

2

Haah-.

Alano sighed.

She got scolded for not being able to concentrate during class.

‘What did we learn today-?’

She scratched her head, recalling the conversation they had in the morning.

It wasn’t her intention, but she ended up showing a really embarrassing side of herself.

‘Ugh-. This is not befitting the dignity of a student council president…’

“Alano.”

She quickly looked up as she heard someone calling her name.

Manus.

The very person who had been troubling her all morning and afternoon.

He was standing there with his arms crossed.

Alano’s long eyebrows curved.

Why is he here again?

Even though he seemed so reluctant to get involved-.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Sigh… Alright.”

She nodded with a small sigh.

She’s too kind-hearted.

Manus smiled inwardly as he started walking.

There are too many eyes here.

The two walked slowly, keeping a small distance between them, and went to the left of the twin towers.

The left tower with various facilities.

Alano stopped walking, remembering what happened yesterday.

“It won’t change this far, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

She asked, looking around.

Manus took out a piece of paper from his chest.

Her eyes quickly scanned the words written on the paper.

“Establishing a club?”

“Yes.”

‘No, I’m already busy enough with student council work, and now suddenly a club? I really don’t understand what he’s thinking…’

She pressed her hand to her forehead.

This man’s thoughts are truly incomprehensible.

She was about to refuse, her lips parting slightly, but Manus’s words were a beat faster.

“The Chairman knows about the anomaly.”

“Wh-What?”

“Do you know how old the Chairman is?”

She recalled the face that was starting to show more wrinkles.

But… how old was he again?

She remembered that whenever someone mentioned ‘the Chairman of Mythos Academy’, everyone invariably thought of the name ‘Nyx’.

Even her father.

“He must have been watching for quite a long time.”

“If it’s him, could he help us?”

Manus nodded.

Then he handed her the application form.

“Here, sign this.”

“…Cultural Exchange Club?”

The name is…

‘Well, I guess it’s better than a suspicious name that stands out too much.’

Alano was carefully examining the document when she stopped at one place.

“But… why is my name listed as the president?”

“Because you’re suitable for that position. There won’t be any activities. Just gather members and build up our strength.”

“Strength… Will we find more people like us who can enter that place?”

Manus nodded silently.

Can we do it just by ourselves?

Alano remembered last night, the terrifying maze and the monstrous creatures that had etched the emotion of fear into her entire body.

What can we, mere students, do?

The tip of her pen trembled with fear.

“-You can do it. If it’s you all.”

[Interference begins.]

[Interference confirmed.]

[Reward: Increased absorption rate of magic stones]

As if by magic, the trembling stopped when she heard Manus’s voice.

Why ‘you all’ and not ‘we’?

Alano felt she vaguely understood the meaning.

It must mean he can’t guide them indefinitely.

Manus must also be seeking help. Since he’s been entering that place alone, his purpose is likely investigation.

She wanted to know the reason.

‘Why is he trying to go to such a dangerous place?’

“Do you know what happens if we leave the tower alone?”

A fundamental question.

It was about why they need to conquer the tower and enter it periodically.

To this sharp and textbook question, Manus answered simply.

“Everyone dies.”

“…”

The tower seeks sacrifices.

Manus read many fantasy novels when he was on Earth.

A common theme there was ‘dungeon break’.

The same applies to the tower.

The tower’s inhabitants will keep increasing, and if the tower, the world, can’t contain them, they’ll leak out.

There are many other hidden stories, but that wasn’t important right now.

“For now, it’s just the two of us.”

“Your strength will grow. You need to lead them well.”

“Huh? Me?”

The ones who really need to become strong are you, the protagonists.

If Manus himself intervenes too much, they won’t feel the urgency.

When they face death and contemplate life, that’s when they truly grow.

That’s how the characters in this game were.

Limited personnel.

Limited resources.

A game where you have to climb the tower with limited magic.

That’s why it was more fun, and it was enjoyable to watch each character’s growth.

The process of students who only pursued grades finding their own values.

-Manus had no right to take away that growth.

“You all need to become strong. There’s a limit to what I can do alone.”

“…I understand. Your feelings.”

Manus smiled very faintly.

He knew everything, but there was no need to tell them everything.

He didn’t want to overwhelm them with an enormous sense of despair.

His smile came from sympathy, not joy.

Alano wanted to get closer to his knowledge.

Someday, she’d be able to repay this debt.

‘As I thought, you’ve been investigating all of this.’

Alano inferred a lot from the calm gaze of her friend.

Moreover, she became certain of the doubts she had last night.

As expected, Manus must have done that on purpose.

She wanted to be of help to this willful friend.

Above all, since they were the only ones who could do it-.

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

Harrison Alano.

Her name was written in elegant handwriting.

It was complete.

The Cultural Exchange Club, one of the main organizations in this game.

‘The problem is that the cultural exchange is with demons.’

The start was relatively smooth.

Next, he just needed to create a connection between Alano and the protagonist’s group.

Before moving, Manus said politely.

“It would be good to be outside tonight.”

“-Tonight?”

She also knew about the legend of the full moon nights.

And that going out tonight was against school rules.

What did he think of her image?

“-I’m the student council president, you know?”

Manus gave her a meaningful look and disappeared.

If only he wouldn’t vanish so abruptly, it would be really nice.

The image of a tyrant was gradually being diluted.

3

As the sun set, two full moons began to rise.

Like a body rising from under a blanket, two round moons started to emerge over the horizon.

Manus was watching this scene through the window.

Mors.

The day when the god, known only in legend, exerts his authority.

All worlds are turned upside down, and Mors chooses a ‘sacrificial lamb’.

99.99% of humans will spend the day without any abnormalities.

‘The chosen ones and sacrificial lambs…’

The god of death sends his minions to find the sacrificial lamb, and it comes with unimaginable cruelty.

The sacrificial lamb is dragged away in a helpless state.

Once every three months.

It was the only harvest festival given to the god of death.

A device that prevents interference with the event itself, no matter how strong one is.

It’s also a device that allows him and the protagonist to handle things actively.

An environment where no one can help, and no one can give advice.

A grueling schedule awaits where they must overcome all these difficulties with only their own strength.

‘I’ll see the protagonist’s activity with my own eyes.’

Today, Kael, the protagonist, will show outstanding performance.

Overwhelming talent bestowed with protagonist correction.

She’ll defeat the first boss, demonstrating her excellent magic skills to the fullest.

At the same time, she’ll take her first step into the extraordinary.

‘It’s also the time for the full-fledged use of Cadenza.’

Isn’t it quite exciting?

The synthesis of magic.

An overpowered passive that can overcome vast class differences.

The event that drew the enthusiasm of players who saw its full power was approaching.

Manus’s dormitory was at the very top.

It was a place where you could see the entire view of the Academy at a glance.

Today, he planned to leisurely observe the event from this royal floor.

In fact, it can be considered the real tutorial boss excluding Manus, an event to learn the use of Cadenza along with basic combat.

The ominous mana felt in the hidden world covered the sky.

The moment that mana touched the Academy’s tower-.

“-It begins.”

On the night when two red moons formed perfect circles.

A perfectly still world without a single cloud drifting.

The time has come when the god of death opens his eyes wide and searches for prey.

And then-.

[Uuuuuuuum―――――――――!!]

It appeared.

Mage — Ace.

The pinnacle of mage arcana descended right here.

Unlike a mage, it was holding a sword.

A monster appeared, holding four swords and wearing a robe.

Wearing a long mask like a plague doctor.

Its red inner light moved here and there, searching for the designated sacrificial lamb.

‘Seeing it with my own eyes, I understand. They are definitely…’

As if the god of death was looking down, under the bright light of the two full moons, he looked at someone.

The target of the blade that slaughters everything in sight was a young girl who had been wandering outside fearlessly on the day of death.

“Uh-.”

The girl witnessed and experienced a strange phenomenon.

It all started with a very small bet.

A night shrouded in death.

-A courage test competition that began in pairs.

The challenge of reckless students soon brought disaster.

The timid girl tightly held her friend’s sleeve and walked to the dormitory where all lights were out.

Her heart pounding.

Her lips drying up.

She strained her eyes so much that her temples felt stiff.

“Wh-What is this-.”

Her brown eyes trembled endlessly.

The friend who had been walking with her in the schoolyard had disappeared at some point.

And what she saw was a masked monster with eerie blades.

Her legs trembled and her breath quickened.

What’s going on, what on earth is happening-!

“Uh-uh-!”

The mana she reflexively drew out was immovable.

Prey.

In the phenomenon experienced by those marked as prey by demons and the demonium, she had become a helpless ordinary person.

Her vision blurred.

In this incomprehensible situation, all thoughts stopped.

[Hmm-!]

It wasn’t a courage test anymore, but a time when real courage was needed.

But she couldn’t withstand the approaching disaster that was sharpening its blade.

The fear of death overwhelmed her, and she eventually lost consciousness.

Was it the feeling of preferring to die comfortably rather than feeling fear?

[Hmm-!]

The unique voice of the mage with the mask was heard, and those sinful arms aimed at the prey.

Swinging the sword and making blood flow.

That was the mask’s only purpose.

The reason it lives, the reason it was born.

To kill, take blood, and present it to its master.

Led by that instinct, Mors’s minion moved.

Just as a simple action was about to take a person’s life, a sun appeared, blocking the moon.

[Ignis]

Kwaaang-!

Flames as hot as the sun prevented the sacrifice.

“-Stop right now, you monster.”

Red hair, made even more vivid by the red moonlight, fluttered in the wind.

–TL Notes–
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