NOVEL NEXT Chapter 75
Knock Knock Knock.
“Captain, reporting in.”
The neatly dressed woman who entered the captain’s office adjusted her glasses and approached the man sitting at the desk. He looked up at her with a tired face, which was barely visible due to the pile of documents in her arms.
“Quick as a whip.”
“I mobilized the entire 1st and 2nd platoons.”
“What happened? Spill it.”
“It seems someone tipped them off, and they ran away.”
“Huh.”
Captain Gilbert sighed and shook his head.
“A mere gang knew about the security force’s surprise attack and fled?”
“They’re the leech gang, you know. They’re the biggest gang in the city.”
“Still just a gang. They can’t be that capable to sense a surprise attack from the security force.”
Deep wrinkles formed on Gilbert’s forehead. Since last year, the world had been going bonkers. The saint’s ship got stranded, monsters started attacking left and right, and even the cultists, who had been silent for decades, popped their heads up. The security force, with barely three hundred personnel, was having a tough time maintaining order in the city and the academy. To make matters worse, the special investigation unit’s personnel had their vacation requests denied due to overwork, and the 3rd platoon captain was uncooperative while the 2nd platoon captain, Serina, returned with a face full of complaints after taking on city scouting missions.
The elite 1st and 4th platoons might soon explode with frustrations too.
“This is maddening. But I can’t just take in anyone.”
“…At least consider accepting a few.”
“I can’t accept someone who’s clearly a lackey.”
“…That’s true, but…”
“Are there no promising gems among the students?”
“One of the new students, Elena, looked quite promising. But…”
The secretary trailed off. The captain recognized the name. The girl, a descendant of the first head of the Knight Department at Kalon Academy, was famous for her exceptional swordsmanship and earnest personality. The captain couldn’t help but feel regret at her unfortunate accident.
“What about the other students?”
“Catherine from the Magic Department, Viola from the Alchemy Department, and Leon from the Knight Department are all quite capable. I’ve talked to them, but I’m not sure if they’ll accept.”
“Three people, huh. What about external candidates?”
“Given the situation outside, it seems difficult to bring in outsiders.”
“…Why did I agree to become the captain of the security force?”
In the room filled with sighs, the secretary replied monotonously.
“Because you declared, ‘I will remodel this rotten security force!’ didn’t you?”
“Is there no magic to rewind time? I’d like to punch the face I had five years ago.”
“If there was such a capable person, I’d have brought them in on my knees.”
“…This is giving me a headache. Let’s put this topic aside and move on to another issue. I heard there were traces of foul magic found in the classroom near the cafeteria. Has that incident been investigated?”
“The 3rd platoon captain took it upon himself.”
“…That guy?”
The 3rd platoon captain, Cain.
He was the biggest headache for the captain. The second son of the noble Lifnich family, he was holding the position of 3rd platoon captain. Their relationship was very tense due to Gilbert losing the captaincy to him. While the guards were generally supportive of Gilbert, it was hard to dismiss the 3rd platoon captain because of the Lifnich family’s massive financial influence.
Being from a humble background, it was tough for him to keep up with the 3rd platoon captain, who had the backing of a powerful family.
“Ugh. What is that brat up to again? Probably loitering around and stealing pay…”
“And there was a clash with the saint’s escort knight.”
“A rabid dog? Or that… deadly fellow?”
“The latter.”
Gilbert recalled the knight he had seen from a distance. A large figure, muscular, with scars and burns covering his face. If his face weren’t so messed up, he might have been considered decent-looking, but that was a mere assumption.
“I’ve heard he’s quite peculiar.”
“Rumor has it he obtained over twenty certifications in just a few days. Guilds are in a frenzy trying to scout him.”
“…Does that even make sense?”
“No one believed the rumors about the guy who just became the saint’s escort knight. A man who got all those certifications in just a few days—a tall tale if there ever was one.”
“Hmm… Let’s leave it since it’s not our business. It would be tricky to touch someone from the saint’s side, so relay to the troublemakers to avoid conflicts as much as possible.”
“…The 3rd platoon captain has already clashed.”
“What? That idiot caused trouble again? Ugh. What was the reason this time?”
“That’s…”
———————–
“Where does this lead?”
“That classroom from earlier.”
Having grasped the layout of the main building and confirming there was no underground level, I sprang into action.
Digging. The underground passage leading from Yeomyeong-gwan to the main building. The academy grounds were far larger than an ordinary town, making such digging a crazy endeavor, but still,
“How do you know where that classroom is?”
“Just a hunch.”
I hadn’t just dug for a day or two. There was a time I genuinely wondered if I was human or a mole because I had dug so many tunnels. Besides, no baby bears or snakes had crawled into my tunnels. And no one would have imagined I was secretly digging a tunnel from the Yeomyeong-gwan garden to the academy.
“Crafting.”
Using the skill to solidify the ground and create a passage. Doing this insane task alone was madness, but I had my skills and Millia.
…Though Millia was just handling the lighting.
Still, Millia’s constant chatter and shining light helped quite a bit. At least I wasn’t lonely. Once we arrived, it would be her turn. For now, I should enjoy a leisurely atmosphere while working.
“I can’t believe you’d do this, Johan! Hehe…”
“Is it fun?”
“Yeah! My heart’s racing. This is what makes people pull pranks!”
“…Well, I guess.”
Pranks are fun. Especially pranks that utterly screw over someone you dislike.
Nobody can stop me!
No one can stop me!
…Did I say that out loud?
I sighed and glanced at Millia, who mimicked me playfully, and then began digging again.
One hundred times? A thousand times?
My digging finally ended after what felt like an eternity of shoveling. I looked at the tunnel, so neat it didn’t even look like it had been dug with a shovel.
My ten years of deserted island experience has its merits.
“Is it finished?”
“Yep. The main building is above us.”
“Really?”
Millia opened her eyes wide and looked up at the ceiling. Her face lit by the lamp looked adorable like a puppy. I gently patted Millia’s head as she cautiously approached me and placed a hand on the wall.
I closed my eyes.
Complex structures require clear images.
What I need is a staircase.
A secret passage.
I gauged an appropriate size. It shouldn’t be too big or too small. A width suitable for a person to pass through.
It took me five minutes to conjure the image.
I’d be in serious trouble if I made a mistake.
“…Crafting.”
A secret passage, like something out of a movie, gradually formed. Since it’s a large and complex structure, I couldn’t make it as quickly as the pillars I’ve made thousands of times. If I hadn’t had experience with building shelters, I wouldn’t have even dared to try.
“Impressive!”
“Shh.”
“Oops.”
Millia quickly covered her mouth with her palm and glanced at me with a mischievous smile. Trying to laugh it off, huh? How bold. I lightly tapped her forehead and said,
“I’ll quietly search around the classroom. There should be guards patrolling at night, so let’s keep the lighting low, and if we hear any sounds, we’ll retreat back to the secret passage. Nod if you understand.”
Nod.
“Then let’s move out.”
I silently stepped onto the staircase.
———
“…I can’t see well…”
As Millia said, the classroom was too dark. I had turned on my share of the lamp, but it was still dim. If the light were too bright, the guards might spot us; it was unavoidable.
So, we spent the next thirty minutes tiptoeing around the classroom in search.
Unfortunately, the angled structure of the classroom got higher toward the back, making my calves scream in pain, but having undertaken this task, it was something I had to endure. I examined the classroom floor carefully for any clues.
…Nothing.
In situations like this, it’s best to recall some knowledge from the original work.
There were a few questions forming in my mind.
Firstly, why were foul items found in this classroom?
In the original work, while it was for show, was it for show here too? And why did the missing person come here?
Let’s recall the original story.
All the missing persons were from the Magic Department or Theology Department.
The last known places they were found were mostly classrooms or places out of sight.
They couldn’t have gone to some remote area whispering, “Come catch me!”; it was more likely someone lured them.
Lured… them.
What would be the best method to lure a student?
“…Millia.”
“Yeah? What’s up?”
“If it were you, how do you think you would call someone?”
“Um… I don’t know. Maybe tell a friend? Or send a letter?”
Exchanging words verbally would carry the risk of getting caught, so let’s dismiss that…
A letter… huh.
A love letter?
That might have some possibility.
Let’s keep that potential open.
“Millia. For now…”
At that moment.
“Johan…”
Footsteps.
Regular footsteps, indicating two people overlapping.
Guards?
I quietly took Millia and hid beneath a classroom desk. Unfortunately, we couldn’t enter the secret passage since we were too far from it. Fortunately, I had already closed it.
We turned off the light and waited for the sound to pass. It was marked with a ‘No Entry,’ so there was no reason to patrol…
Creeeak—
“What are you doing here? The 3rd platoon captain…”
“Hey, think about it. The classroom that the 3rd platoon captain personally blocked? Doesn’t it smell fishy?”
“Tom, if we get caught, it won’t just be a warning.”
Footsteps drew closer, and the yellow light illuminated the area near the desk where we hid.
“Isn’t it a bit creepy in here?”
“Come on, man. Are you scared of a night patrol? Our security force can take on ghosts at Kalon Academy.”
If you’re gonna spout useless nonsense, could you do it somewhere else?
“Find anything? Look closely.”
“3rd platoon captain wouldn’t have left any incriminating evidence. Let’s just go…”
Thud.
Millia?
“Who’s there! Come out now!”
I looked at Millia. She had a teary face as she brushed off a bug that had crawled onto her knee.
What awful luck.
“C-Could it be a ghost, senpai?”
“There are no such things as ghosts, idiot!”
The footsteps grew closer. Time was running out. I couldn’t get caught.
I looked at the trembling Millia.
Was there a way to divert their attention…
Ah.
I tapped Millia’s knee to get her to look at me and then tapped my neck lightly. She probably didn’t get it but we at least had minimal communication down.
I swiftly pulled Millia’s head out.
“Johan…?”
In a barely audible whisper, Millia asked. I leaned close to her ear and whispered back.
“Let’s create a ghost story.”
I immediately rolled Millia’s head over the stairs beside the desk.
Before long, a man’s pitiful scream shook the classroom.