-chapter 64-
“Director, this.”
Director Doran Slayde of the 1st Special Operations Department accepted the binder handed to him by his subordinate, the wizard Lunen.
It contained damage reports and a list of casualties, detailing the aftermath of a murder spree that had recently taken place in the Alliance’s border division.
As Doran skimmed through the list of victims, he quickly grasped the implications of the document.
“Hmm, it appears they disguised it as a retaliatory attack, but their true objective seems to have been gathering information. A bit of misdirection on the side.”
“That’s right. And take a look at the names of the missing or deceased individuals.”
There was no connection among the victims. They hailed from different origins, varied in age, and were active in completely different regions.
The one commonality among them, however, was that they all shared the name Rain.
So, the crows are after Rain Ludwick… Doran’s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing his cold gaze.
“I’m curious about what happened at to have the Black Church searching so frantically.”
“Wouldn’t it be wise to take protective measures? Now, only two adventurers share the name Rain, including the counterfeit.”
“No, if we intervene here, they will immediately cover their tracks. We should wait until they take the bait.”
If my suspicion is correct… the underlings of Talreina have infiltrated . Since they are searching for Rain so openly, that bastard is bound to make a move soon.
“But isn’t it too risky to wait and see? What if the counterfeit Rain gets hurt?”
“Well, we’ll see how that plays out, but I don’t believe they’ll take any lethal actions.”
Rain Ludwick is an extraordinary talent that belies his young age. Perhaps he has inherited magical prowess from his parents… If he continues to grow smoothly, he will undoubtedly become a leading figure in the magical community.
Therefore, the real concern lies with the other Rain.
“I’ll handle this. You stay near Tirinted and wait by the school. Engage immediately if you detect any dark magic reactions.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and do your best to capture them alive. We need to find out exactly how they intend to resurrect Lin.”
I know their goal. The problem lies in the means and methods they will employ to achieve it.
Their opponent is a legendary priestess capable of incredible feats. One cannot afford to underestimate her, even in the worst-case scenario.
While I smile, my thoughts remain dark.
“I wonder if we should instead resurrect Lin to stop such a monster…”
* * *
“This is outrageous!”
As soon as the meeting in the auditorium adjourned, I rushed to the president’s office.
After having guided Kasena, visiting the office had become almost routine for me, allowing my visits to be easily announced without any intervention from the secretary.
“I don’t comprehend what you’re saying.”
Madelia Page jested shamelessly while slicing into her veal steak.
“What I mean is, you’ve enrolled Miss Kasena into the school. And I’m to guide her…?”
“I was merely following longstanding traditions. It just so happens that you were the top student after her enrollment.”
Is this really mere coincidence? If someone else had been the top student, would Madelia have taken such drastic measures?
Perhaps knowing these mixed feelings, Madelia let out a sigh along with a wry smile.
“To be honest, your presence played a significant role in making this decision possible. Kasena wanted that too.”
“Even so…”
“She’s my daughter, so of course, she has the talent for it. What I want from you is to ensure that she doesn’t suffer disgrace in the final exams.”
Asking for that is easier said than done.
Despite the prestigious lineage of magic flourished by her family, whether she can compete against other students under the current conditions remains uncertain.
With a throbbing headache, I shut my eyes tight, and Madelia eventually spoke with a soothing tone.
“Of course, I’m not asking for a straight give. How about we make a second deal?”
“Excuse me?”
“Kenis, bring the golden curtain.”
Then, the secretary, Kenis, approached with a curtain made of purple silk. The Page family crest, an intertwined golden rose, was luxuriously embroidered on it.
“This is a pass granting unrestricted access to the restricted book section of the central library. Mind you, it’s only for the third type book, namely the .”
“???!!!”
“You’re very similar to me… you hold an insatiable thirst for knowledge, don’t you? So, wouldn’t you like this?”
As if tempting a cat with fish, Madelia waved the curtain in front of me, and it was impossible not to feel a pang of desire.
With conditions like these, turning her down was out of the question. Is it truly possible for everything to work out this well?
Just consider how much I’ve struggled just to obtain a single book from Tureina… You mean I could read such books freely?
“Wait, this feels like a devil’s temptation.”
It is indeed a devil’s temptation.
A devil’s temptation, and yet… ugh, I can’t refuse this opportunity.
My trembling hand stretched awkwardly toward the curtain.
“In truth, I would prefer to teach her more myself as well. It would be a shame to let this excellent opportunity go to waste.”
Madelia blinked her eyes in disbelief before smirking mischievously.
“I was afraid you might take after your father and be too stubborn. Now, I’m pleased.”
She soon wore a sinister smile. A contract was just formed.
“Of course, it did serve as bait, but this is merely a part of the reward you deserve.”
“Reward? What reward?”
“Are you really trying to act humble? Heh, we’ll discuss this after final exams. You, too, will be quite busy until then.”
I haven’t deeply considered what she meant after hearing her explanation, as my current focus lay in savoring the texture of the curtain in my hands.
“Hoho.”
With no intention of hiding my pleasure, I left the president’s office while stroking the curtain, closing the door behind me.
“What are you grinning about?”
I heard a voice from the side unexpectedly, momentarily pausing in surprise. It was Kasena Page, dressed in her school uniform.
“Hmm, unexpectedly suited you well.”
The only notable difference was that she wasn’t wearing the pure white school uniform cloak.
Perhaps it was a discomfort due to her crutches or simply a matter of personal preference—I couldn’t be sure.
I observed her attire, and while she scanned the students passing by the main building with fervent excitement, she didn’t bother trying to keep her excitement contained.
“Today’s a school tour! Rain, you’re my guide—show me everything!”
She yapped on, practically buzzing in excitement. I felt a sigh escape my lips involuntarily.
“What’s wrong? Why are you sighing?”
“Miss, do you even realize what kind of situation you’re in right now?”
“What do you mean…?”
“The final exams are in two weeks. And I’ve received a request to ensure you won’t disgrace yourself in them. Yet, you’re looking to tour the school right now? You think your day consists of 72 hours or something?”
Since childhood, my nature thrived on picking apart the faults and missteps of others.
‘Though I’ve tried to refrain from doing so since becoming Rain.’
Kasena bit her lip in a worried manner, her excitement visibly wilting as I examined her reaction.
“Ah, I know! I was just joking!”
Yes, sure, a joke.
But then why the downcast expression?
“So, where are we going?”
“We’re heading to our classroom. Although we skipped class for today’s orientation, it is now time for first-period courses.”
“Oh, I knew that!”
Just as I was preparing for another disappointment, I noticed the first-year academic building, Yongmyeong-gwan, come into view, and Kasena’s eyes glimmered with excitement.
She even began to tidily fix her uniform while gazing at the students entering the building from afar.
She likely thought that she would never set foot in for a lifetime and now finds nostalgia creeping in… I just chuckled silently, not vocalizing my thoughts.
“Wait a moment!”
As I reached to open the classroom door, Kasena quickly halted me and placed her hand over her chest, taking a moment to compose herself.
She was still a young lady, carrying some innocence and shyness reminiscent of a six-year-old.
Remembering this, she nodded, indicating she was ready to proceed.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The classroom that had buzzed with the talk of Kasena quickly fell into a heavy silence the moment we entered.
Their welcoming of these two figures marked the instant the rumors that once spanned across the city were truly confirmed.
Krista Warden was also present, staring at the scene with a dazed expression, and it was Gertrude, standing nearby, who made the cheeky remark.
“Oh my! Does this mean you two actually planned to elope?”
Rain had always ignored the whispers surrounding him, but with Kasena hyper-aware of the scrutiny, I couldn’t help but worry about her. Surprisingly, it seemed my concerns were unfounded.
“Wow…!”
Holding her breath in awe, Kasena stared in wonder at the space within the classroom. It was the one place she’d always dreamt of. She gestured towards the window.
“This is definitely the window seat!”
“I’ll choose that spot! Rain, come over here!”
But Kasena’s innocent excitement was quickly overshadowed by an enormous obstacle that suddenly approached in the form of Krista.
“Rain, we need to talk for a second.”
Kasena instinctively recoiled, sensing a peculiar feeling stemming from the familiarity in how Krista addressed Rain. Her gaze sharpened.
“Rain was in the middle of speaking with me.”
As Krista crossed her arms defiantly, her brow arched in disbelief matching Kasena’s narrowed gaze, the tension prickled in the air like static.
“It’s just a moment.”
Though Krista hesitated, she still respectfully addressed Kasena. “You can provide your opinions afterward, can’t you?”
“Rain! Just how many hours seem to fill your day for you to act so rudely! Final exams are soon!”
I stared incredulously at Kasena’s direct defiance; the tension heightened, mirroring a battlefield.
“How can you be so disrespectful toward him?! Rain is my tutor!”
“My, my. Tutor?! You mean that isn’t the only type of relationship you have?”
“You mean, ‘what kind of relationship?’ I am his instructee! He’s my teacher, and you should address him properly!”
The commotion in the classroom grew, drawing the attention of fellow first-year students while others gasped silently.
Nervously, I caught sight of Krista mirrored against Kasena. This gave the impression of a heated battle ongoing among two young ladies.
“How could someone like you be his tutor?! I’m Rain’s employer! Rain is my personal instructor!”
Encountering this counterattack, I couldn’t refrain from shaking my head in disbelief.
“Is this how we define a tutor? Who on earth are you, really? And who’s supposed to claim the title of employer?”
The inquiry unraveling was stretched thin, but I sensed Krista’s gaze shifting, glimmers of concern flickering in her amber eyes.
“You know very well that’s a lie! A tutor being a young age?!”
Yet this moment of silence fraught with tension captured a select audience.
Having sat at the back, Weber of the Rohuinem school frowned, exasperated at the farce laid bare before him which prompted Gertrude to contain her giggles behind her hands.
“What a mess…”
“Looks like it’s going to be a show this time.”
A collective intake of breath suddenly rippled through the crowd, punctuating the emerging suspense.
Kasena turned towards me, pressing nearer. Her concern reflected in her wide blue eyes.
“Rain, who was this wicked woman again? How can you remain so close to her?”
At this point, Kasena’s confidence had sparked within her frame. “Rain being ever the empathetic one towards someone like you… what kind of joke is that?”
“You think I’m joking?”
Thus continued the playful banter, and I merely observed as the situation intensified.
The tension coiling in the air, I felt lightheaded, having long relegated myself to an audience role in this mess unfolding about me.
I certainly didn’t have the energy to engage in this petty feud.
Raising my brow, I inquired, carefully crafting the words in my mind before expressing, “And you need to do that? Isn’t it mandatory for boys and girls to sit separately till a particular age?!”
Krista’s expression faltered, scrutinizing my retort.
“Are you cornering me right now?!”
“Well… this is the norm, isn’t it?!”
As gazes flitted across the room, Krista’s downward stare captured yet another ripple of surprise.
Frustrated by the commotion, Kasena finally scoffed. “Stop wasting your time! You have no right to barge into someone’s discussion!”
Krista’s eyes widened dramatically as Kasena’s voice boomed across the room, her fiery determination igniting interest from the curious onlookers.
“How can you presume to interfere?! Don’t you dare interfere when it’s serious!”
“But, but… we all know this is silly!”
“So, your last resort lies brazenly with my relationship with Rain?!”
Caught in the unintended spotlight, I spluttered, feeling an array of eyes barricading me from all sides.
“What are you talking about?! What would even warrant this?”
A soft murmur resonated through the classroom filled with déjà vu as to the meaning of everything laid before them.
Collectively, they stood poised, awaiting revelations. The undercurrent of expectation simmered as they observed the duo before me.
“This is neither situation nor relationship you fabricate! Your claim is nothing but hot air!”
Within the exchange, I couldn’t help but concede quietly. “It’s too absurd to debate… please, settle down and turn it back to order.”
“Order, she says!”
Murmurs among the students accelerated.
Hand clenching, Kasena whipped around towards me, her face fierce.
“Rain, you are not avoiding this!”
“Eh…?”
As I stood aghast, Krista also knotted her brows. “Are you trying to fight? Is that what this is about?”
The air felt infectious with tension holding everyone at the classroom’s doorstep, waiting for what might emerge next.
It was only then—after the audience had shared in the spectacle— did the melody of cheers begin to mount.
“Wow! A fight! A real one!”
Excitement crackled through the crowd as uncertainty spread like wildfire.
I could feel a tar-like weight clenching my chest.
“Hey!”
It was impossible! Truly impossible!
As if the room melted from underneath, shifting into mounds of excitement where chaos danced around like flickering flames…
Kasena stared at Krista firmly. “Listen. I won’t yield over petty nonsense, and will fight tooth and nail till we accept that roles must exist to protect individuals! Surely you can grasp this?”
“Of course, but your attitude is awful! How dare you come and impose upon me!”
The bell signaling the end of the first period chimed through the air, loud as an explosion.
“Stop pretending! We’ll see whose voice claims more impact!”
And just like that, chaos erupted between the young ladies.
Paradigms shifting, amongst twisting plots, the theater unveiled itself amidst laughter stirring within the classroom.
The tale of that competition had begun—half in jest, half in earnestness—where friendships wound tighter, and those supporting their combatants craved spectacles.
At last, I concluded, perhaps embroiled in a magnificent illusion where all was an elaborate play.
And thus the rest awaited their grand performance.
