NOVEL NEXT chapter 65
65. The Wraith (4)
By the time the teacup was nearing emptiness.
The mistress stamped the last document.
Before long, the moon had risen outside the window.
Only after she finished her work did the head maid, who had been standing beside her, finally speak up.
“Madam, have you perhaps heard the news?”
“News?”
“The eldest son of the Vanas family has enrolled in Frost Heart.”
The head maid cautiously gauged the mistress’s reaction.
She had brought up the tale of the man who had often disturbed her mood since the day the festival was conceived.
But that was all in the past.
As expected, the mistress spoke as if it were of no consequence.
“I was aware. He was meant to be sent there from the very beginning.”
The Vanas family estate was infamous for the myriad of ominous events that transpired within its walls.
Sudden comas, madness, deaths from heart attacks—tragedies that befell its inhabitants.
There was a common thread among the victims: they were all half-brothers of Luon, the eldest son.
Though there was no concrete evidence, suspicion loomed large, and Luon’s fate was all but sealed.
He merely sought to erase it with honor.
“In the end, it seems that man’s wish has been fulfilled.”
“Indeed.”
The mistress feigned a contemplative expression before breaking into a chuckle.
“Thinking back, isn’t it a pity? I thought it was all in good fun, but in the end, it feels like he won.”
The head maid wisely kept her mouth shut.
The mistress must have recalled his relentless attempts, even when she had barred all communication with the outside world.
He sent countless letters, and even tried to sneak messages through the supply carts entering the mansion.
There were also attempts to infiltrate the Tenest estate with members of that wretched club, Lethe or whatever it was called.
Ultimately, when he crossed the line, the mistress contacted the Banus family to have him imprisoned, and that settled the matter…
“How dare he plot to invade the mansion? Such audacity was excessive.”
“That’s true. He was a man who knew not his place.”
The head maid chuckled softly and nodded.
* * *
The mystery unraveled quickly.
Luon al Banus, having gained the freedom of the night.
He knew of the special envoy, Pheldira, at this very moment.
Given the circumstances, he must have witnessed another missing person brainwashed by a different thought, and Luon, driven by curiosity, likely followed them.
Thus, it seemed plausible that he would encounter them in the forbidden library.
Yet, there remained one point that puzzled me: this place was a labyrinth, perfect for hiding.
Despite such a natural advantage, instead of concealing himself, he revealed his presence willingly.
This was clearly an act accompanied by a confession.
…What would he do if I reported him?
“I never imagined I would meet you in a place like this.”
Luon approached with an easy stride.
A sense of wariness flared within me, but he wouldn’t suddenly launch an attack.
He was in a position where he had to retreat, whether it be a corpse or a wound, it would remain as evidence.
Still, just in case, I glanced at the woman slumped against the wall.
“Did you do this?”
“I merely choked her until she fainted. She will awaken soon enough.”
Just as I let out a sigh of relief, Luon asked with a face full of curiosity.
“By the way, what brings Hessel here?”
A red flag.
What should I say to cover this up?
—
Should I just make up some excuse that I’ve come to dig through the Forbidden Library like you?
“That is…”
“Hmm? The white glow of that staff. Is it enchanted with a spell that breaks the mind’s shackles?”
This guy, he has a keen eye.
“Yet, the scent of mana feels strangely foreign, as if it belongs to another.”
And he has a good nose too.
“······.”
“That magic seems to be a trick of the professor’s.”
Damn it, I’ve been found out.
With no choice, I met Luon’s questioning gaze and answered honestly.
“…I came to subdue the two missing persons at the professor’s request.”
Upon my confession, a soft smile spread across his face.
“Oh, how delightful that our goals align. What a fortunate turn of events.”
What could possibly be so amusing?
His voice carried a hint of excitement.
“Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable for you, being associated with the professor? Why are you so pleased?”
“Well, it’s been quite a while since we’ve been together. We used to have so much fun as children.”
A flicker of vitality danced in Luon’s expression as he spoke.
…Is there some unspoken bond between these bad folks?
I needed to understand the true nature of his goodwill more precisely.
“Don’t you resent me for leaving Lethe?”
Let’s test the waters a bit; he blinked in surprise.
“Do I even have the right to blame you? I haven’t been able to reach out in the past year.”
“Reach out?”
“That thieving cat has been quite the obstacle.”
The thieving cat must refer to the mistress.
It seems he did try to make contact, but she had blocked him.
“Then, wouldn’t it be more likely that I’m the one who would get caught with the book? It’s not hard to understand why Hershel decided to leave.”
So, if I were to deduce, it seems Luon blames himself for my departure from Lethe.
“Is that so?”
—
—
Then it is good for me.
A second-year knight from the Bürgert Academy, a rather unremarkable opponent, but the first-year sorceress from the Adel Academy is a daunting challenge.
If he is willing to continue offering his goodwill, perhaps I should take advantage of it.
It was only a matter of time before he discovered the location of the Forbidden Library, and as long as I could ensure that he wouldn’t bring anything back from there, I would be fine.
Before that, however, I must make a request that carries some risk…
“Then, do not even think of taking anything from the Forbidden Library. That is the condition for your companionship.”
I boldly threw that demand at the boss of Act One.
Yet, he nodded in agreement without hesitation.
“Well, even without your request, I had no intention of doing so. I merely came to see what is hidden in various places today.”
Was my worry unfounded?
Well, that makes sense.
If anything were to disappear from the Forbidden Library, the professors would hunt it down like hounds, and he wouldn’t want to shoulder such a risk either.
But he didn’t stop there; he added another reason.
“Besides, I cannot put you in a difficult position.”
That made me uncomfortable.
“If you lay hands on something, it would be Hershel who bears the brunt of it.”
…Too overly friendly.
At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder.
Why is this so-called boss treating a weakling like Hershel with such kindness?
As far as I remember, he wasn’t the type to dote on someone like Bidon…
“Ahem.”
I had felt it before, but there was a certain attitude about Luon that suggested he would give his all—his guts and liver—without a second thought.
It seemed there was some backstory to it…
For now, I decided to draw the line with him later.
“It’s getting late. We must hurry to pursue.”
With no more time to waste, I sprinted after the crow’s tail.
As I did, I asked him how he had subdued the woman.
“I understand you choked her. What tool did you use?”
At that, he opened his mouth in surprise.
“It was an accident paralysis powder. So, about that…”
—
—
Luon muttered softly the strategy he had devised to bring the creature down.
“…This is the method I intended to use.”
It seemed this fellow had also caught on to the fact that they were learning.
“Very well, I shall align with your plan.”
Thus, we raced forward, avoiding the maze, choosing only the correct path.
The man stood at the door, his palm raised, weaving a spell.
Now was the moment to open the entrance to the Forbidden Archive.
Tatata-tak!
I quickened my pace.
Though it was futile, as I was outpaced by Luon…
With half the distance to the entrance remaining, the man fully opened the door and aimed his staff.
Whooosh──
The air surged violently.
Dust from the corridor was swept away by the wind, faintly revealing the shape of a massive, transparent window.
Thud!
I seized Luon by the nape and yanked him back.
“Eh?”
As he stumbled, the spear of wind that filled the corridor slammed into my body.
Kwah-BOOM!
[Impact detected.]
[Ability activated.]
[1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds]
“Hu, Hessel?”
I ignored Luon’s startled voice and turned my gaze to the man, igniting the ‘Ember of Noble Blood.’
“That nonsense won’t work on me. Enough of your petty tricks; show me something else.”
Peldira’s specialty was curses.
Moreover, I had learned that ignorant attack spells were ineffective against me.
Just as I hoped my ploy had succeeded, the man’s staff traced a curse-type spell.
I let out a sigh of relief inwardly and slightly turned my head toward Luon.
Then, I reached for the staff I had holstered.
—
‘Donathan, prepare yourself.’
‘You may begin.’
Once more, I ran forward, my gaze fixed ahead as the cursed magic, thick with black fog, surged toward us.
The moment it touched my skin, my heart raced, and the world was drenched in crimson.
[1 Second Invulnerability Cooldown: 43 Seconds]
[Status Ailment: Blood Fury Curse]
Swoosh—
My hand, guided by Donathan’s will, drew the staff from its holster.
The hidden white light revealed itself.
As the staff made contact with my head, my heart, which felt ready to burst, steadied, and my vision returned to clarity.
Quickly, I tapped the top of Luon’s head!
Thud!
With all his might, Luon charged forward, reaching the man in an instant.
He tossed a sheet of white paper.
As the powder, akin to flour, spread out, the man scoffed, as if to say it was futile.
“Do you think I would fall for the same trick twice?”
At the tip of the man’s staff, wind magic was charged.
Whooosh──
A fierce gale swept through, enveloping Luon in the powder.
He stood frozen, as if his limbs had been paralyzed.
The man aimed his staff at Luon’s head, sketching the curse of explosive death that would trigger upon activation.
“I’ll take care of this leech first.”
In that moment, Luon’s hands moved.
Snap!
With a grip that threatened to shatter the man’s staff, Luon seized it with both hands.
“Ha!”
In an instant, Luon wrested the staff away and locked a joint hold on the man’s body.
Soon, his arm tightened around the man’s neck.
For a mage vulnerable in close combat, overpowering Luon was an impossibility.
“…Ugh. W-why?”
When the man asked, Luon replied with a calm smile.
“It was just powder made from grinding that stone.”
I approached the subdued man and tapped his head lightly with my staff, imbued with purification magic.
“It’s over.”
As Luon released the man, who had fainted without a fight, he flashed a knowing smile.
“Hussel, I’m truly glad you came. Alone, I would have surely perished.”
A lie.
If it had truly been a matter of life and death, I would have cast aside the shackles of restraint and ended him myself.
No matter how strong the opponent, he had an uncanny knack for finding a way to win.
That was Luon’s most terrifying weapon.
“Well, is that really the case?”
At my words, Luon flinched slightly at the corners of his eyes.
I nonchalantly pointed to the forbidden library.
“Care to take a look around?”
Luon raised an eyebrow at the keyhole, puzzled.
“Hmm, but I wonder why there are two ways to open the door.”
Surely, the man had opened it by pressing the spell inscribed on his palm against the wall.
Yet, the keyhole was blatantly visible, making it a reasonable curiosity.
The reason was that the spell to unlock it had been lost to time, never passed down to future generations…
Thus, the Frost Heart was littered with hidden elements even the professors were unaware of.
“Well.”
I feigned ignorance, even though I knew.
Those were secrets that the main characters and this fellow had to uncover for themselves.
* * *
The wizard and the knight were supported by Luon.
After escaping the maze, I took charge of the two.
He, with a surplus of supplies, gifted me a ‘paralysis powder’ and then hid away.
Just as we were about to exit through the northern entrance, I, having conspired with Luon, approached the injured and groaning professors to draw their attention.
Oh, just look at the devastation around us.
“Gah. Gah. H-Hussel Ben Tenest.”
Rockefeller fought tooth and nail against Leana, yet she treated him like a mere specter, invisible and unworthy of her regard.
“Y-you wretch! How dare you disregard my words!”
“I have brought her.”
The professors gasped, their eyes wide as they stared at the missing person sprawled on the floor.
In that moment, Luon seized the chance to slip away.
With this, my task was complete; I intended to return to the Shulafe coffin and seek some rest.
But the group of professors clutched at me with urgent voices.
“Wh-where do you think you’re going without helping Professor Rockefeller?”
“Ah, I’ve done what I was asked. The rest is up to you.”
“Hershel Ben Tenest. If you do not comply immediately, I shall cast the curse of control upon you.”
“Do as you wish. Really, for professors, you all have quite the expectations of a student.”
As I began to truly walk away, Rockefeller spoke in a voice that was barely alive.
“H-Hershel… Ben… Tenest. P-please. Please help me.”
His unwavering resolve to never call for Akandric until the end…
It was fierce, relentless.
“Ah, who was it that said they would punish me for breaking curfew?”
I jested lightly, and Rockefeller glared at me as if he wished to kill.
But that moment passed quickly.
As Leana charged at him like a blade, he grimaced as if bowing to a sworn enemy.
“…I-I will cancel it.”
“I can’t hear you.”
“I said I will cancel it!!”
I chuckled softly and drew forth my staff, imbued with purification magic.
The professors shook their heads in disapproval.
“That won’t work.”
“Hm? It won’t work, you say?”
“Professor Rockefeller has already tried it, but only for a moment. He soon fell back into the brainwashing.”
So it doesn’t work on Leana, then.
This was a predicament in itself; was there any way out of it?
I laid bare my own incompetence before Rockefeller.
“Professor, I don’t think there’s anything I can help with.”
“Three seconds. No, even two will do. Just buy me a little time!!”
“Well, if that’s the case.”
With ‘1 Second Invincibility’ and ‘Accident Paralysis Powder’ at my disposal, it shouldn’t be too hard.
I approached Leana with a leisurely stride, then halted my steps.
Of course, I’d decide whether to help only after hearing the method.
“But what do you plan to do?”
He squeezed out his magical power, barely managing to respond.
“Ugh! It’s a mental magic called the Recitation of Memories.”
This time, he used the snowy field as a smokescreen to conceal his body.
Whooosh—
Though he was quickly swept away by Leana’s sword wind.
“Ugh, it’s about mending the weak mind from within! The only way to prevent being brainwashed again is to seal the cracks from the inside!!”
He struggled to stabilize his flying body with telekinesis, finally regaining his posture.
“Sending you there is the only way.”
“Me? You mean I’m the one?”
I asked, my expression blank, and Rockefeller shouted as if in disbelief.
“Who else but us, the professors? Who else could do this but you, with your connection to the matter!”
It felt like it would backfire instead…
This time, Leana took a piercing stance aimed at Rockefeller, and I hurriedly ran before he could truly die.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared before me, launching an invisible attack.
Ping!
[Shock detected.]
[Traits activated.]
[1 Second Invincibility Cooldown: 59 seconds]
From the form, it seemed she had aimed a horizontal slash at my neck.
The blade, of course, was split in two.
Having already sprinkled the ‘Accident Paralysis Powder’ I received from Luon, I gazed at Rockefeller, who was charging a sky-blue spell.
“…Remember this, Hessel Ben Tenest. There’s only one chance.”
He pressed the tip of his trembling, azure-stained staff against Leana’s head, then struck my own head with a resounding smack!
This b*stard.