Chapter 557
"It’s top secret, so I can’t go into detail, but this matter concerns the peace of the continent."
"Pardon?"
Though he had come under the pretext of being dispatched, Simon still had to fulfill his mission from Keyzen headquarters as a spy.
And if headquarters’ information was correct…
The man he was now speaking with—Daniella Villene, father of Maelyn—could very well be an enemy.
‘Tch…’
Carrying such suspicions while conversing with Daniella, who was kindly treating his daughter’s friend, was exhausting.
If headquarters’ orders turned out to be true, would he have to fight Daniella? If, by some chance, he ended up attacking him… what could he possibly say to Maelyn upon returning to school?
What in the world was the Ivory Tower scheming?
‘This feels bad.’
Simon smiled politely as he listened to Daniella’s explanation about the Tower of Time, yet the words seemed to drift in one ear and out the other.
Snoooore—
Beside him, Merida was sleeping soundly without a care in the world. Simon found himself almost envious.
"No need to worry too much, Student Council President."
Seeing Simon’s stiff expression, Daniella spoke warmly.
"My daughter told me. You can’t return to Keyzen until you complete the dispatch evaluation. I’ll speak to the Tower Master myself and see to it that you can finish within the allotted time."
"Ah, that would be most appreciated."
In truth, the dispatch evaluation wasn’t the issue. He could only return to Keyzen after clearing headquarters’ secret mission.
"And one word of caution."
Daniella lowered his voice and gestured with his hand.
"Do you see that man in the gray coat?"
"Yes. The one sitting on the stairs?"
It was a formal event with a strict dress code. Everyone else wore tuxedos or elegant gowns, but the man Daniella pointed out wore a long gray coat, slouched on the stairs, swigging from a battered canteen.
Yellow liquid dribbled down his chin, giving off a strange stench.
‘…Liquor? Or some drug?’
"It would be best not to go near that man."
Indeed, no one dared approach him, and he himself seemed to disregard the event entirely.
"Who is he?"
"Girdon Baylis."
Daniella’s voice chilled.
"A man accused of mass slaughter."
"…!"
At some point, Merida had woken up and was staring at him.
"…Girdon."
"You know him?"
Simon asked.
Merida nodded.
"Bad man."
Simon rubbed his forehead. He shouldn’t have asked.
"When the Festival of Time begins, whatever you do, don’t go near him."
Daniella’s face was darkened with shadow. Under his breath he muttered curses about the Tower Master for inviting such a man, sighing heavily. Then he put his smile back on and turned to Simon and Merida.
"I’d like to chat longer, but I must greet other guests now."
"Thank you for the advice!"
"Think nothing of it. If you have further questions, you can ask this child. Mird, come here."
A girl in a white dress walked over. She seemed about the same age as Simon and Merida.
"He’s an important guest. Show proper respect and assist them however you can."
"Yes, Master."
"This is Mird, of the Ivory Tower Academy. You may ask her whatever you like."
"Thank you for your consideration, Sir Daniella."
Daniella glanced playfully at Simon, who scratched his cheek awkwardly before muttering in a low voice,
"M-Mister Daniella."
"Hahahaha!"
Daniella left with a satisfied grin. At that moment, Mird, who had been half-squinting at Simon, broke into a bright smile.
"So it’s true, kids from Keyzen really came."
"Pleased to meet you."
"Mm! I’m Mird, a student at the Ivory Tower Academy."
Merida blinked and asked innocently,
"What’s Ivory Tower Academy?"
For the briefest instant, Mird’s eyebrow twitched. But her blossoming smile soon covered it up.
"Oh, you Keyzen kids wouldn’t know, huh? It’s a school run by the Ivory Tower. They pour in all their knowledge and resources to raise the finest talents on the continent. They call us Ivory Tower Kids."
Naturally, the Ivory Tower maintained its own academy to rival Keyzen.
She glanced at Simon.
"Some students from Keyzen even transfer to our Academy. They all end up at the bottom of the ranks, though."
"Ah."
This explained why Serne had eliminated students she personally liked at the start of first year.
‘So she was trying to redirect them to the Ivory Tower Academy.’
Mird looked around as she went on.
"Still, I’m kinda jealous of you Keyzen people!"
Her voice suddenly rose.
"We Ivory Tower Kids aren’t inferior in ability, but we’re shrouded in secrecy. Meanwhile, you Keyzen students just wear your uniforms outside and people revere you, admiring you everywhere you go!"
Step.
Simon’s senses caught the sound of approaching footsteps.
Even as Mird chattered away, every cell in his body was flashing red alerts, tracking only those steps.
"At the Academy, we only study Darkness Dynamics. You Keyzen folks study seven subjects, right? Seems inefficient, but I guess it makes sense since you have nearly 2,000 students."
Step.
"Oh, and you call your teachers professors, don’t you? That’s so odd! Even the titles are different."
"Mird."
Simon raised a hand to his lips.
"Lower your voice a little. People are watching."
"Aw, who cares? You’re from Keyz—"
Slam!
Suddenly—
The man in the gray coat thrust his massive head toward Simon.
[…You.]
A stench of chemicals spread. His voice grated like metal scraping metal.
[Are you from Keyzen?]
The killing intent made breathing difficult.
Mird recoiled in terror, and Merida tugged urgently on Simon’s sleeve, shaking her head.
She was warning him not to answer truthfully.
"…"
But Simon looked up, smiling faintly, and met the giant’s gaze.
"Yes. I’m the Student Council President of Keyzen. What business do you have with me?"
Girdon’s eyes gleamed. Simon’s sharp glare met his.
Both men’s lips curled upward. Simultaneously, they swung their arms at each other.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire banquet hall shook with the shockwave. Guests screamed in terror as the two men’s fists collided head-on.
"What’s happening?!"
"A fight!"
Simon grimaced, shaking out his stinging arm as he stepped back.
‘Damn, it feels like my arm’s about to snap!’
[Careful, boy!]
Feer’s urgent voice cried.
[That’s not someone you can fight yet!]
Girdon silently opened and closed his fists, then let his arms hang loose.
[Keyzen are abominable demons.]
Ripples spread across his body. Steel bars, planks, pipes—construction materials jutted out grotesquely from his flesh. His face and body were covered in such objects.
[I will never forgive you.]
That metal-scraping voice rang out.
[Vanish!]
The protruding debris shot outward in every direction.
KRRRRAAASH!
CRUNCH!
RIIIIP!
Steel bars smashed the hall’s pillars. Pipes tore through walls.
Chandeliers fell from the ceiling, and the floor split open.
With the sudden indiscriminate barrage, screams erupted from every direction as the surroundings were instantly reduced to ruins.
Fortunately, every guest present was a necromancer who had already unlocked their Core. By some miracle, there were no casualties.
"…So that’s Girdon’s spatial black magic."
"Ughhh! Why the hell is he attacking us too?!"
Rumble—
Most of the debris had flown straight ahead.
As the dust cleared, Simon saw Merida standing before him.
"Merida…!"
Huff, huff.
Her breathing was ragged, her arms outstretched in an odd position. A drop of blood ran down her forehead where she had been grazed.
[She cursed the objects to deflect their trajectory?]
Creeeeak!
Dragging his feet, Girdon advanced.
[Impressive. But no Keyzen brats can be left alive. If you grow up, you’ll become demons as terrible as they are. Complete eradication is the only path for this world.]
He clutched his jaw with one massive hand.
Like a grotesque scene from a comic, his chin slammed down to the floor. From within came the screech of steel, and a blinding light burst forth.
"…No way."
Merida’s stunned voice trembled.
[Die.]
All eyes widened in horror.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
From the tunnel of his gaping mouth, dazzling light erupted—along with an entire rusted train charging forward.
‘He’s insane!’
He truly meant to kill.
Grinding his teeth, Simon shoved Merida aside and leapt forward. His subspace had already been opened, and the hilt of a sword jutted out.
‘Even if they find out I’m a Legion Commander, I don’t have a choice!’
The hilt still bore Feer’s bone. Simon reached for the Greatsword of Destruction with all his strength.
But in that instant, a man in a tuxedo rushed ahead of him.
‘Uncle Daniella?’
Darkness erupted across Daniella’s entire body. Simon saw his palm spread wide.
<Disertio>
BOOOOOOOM!
Simon’s eyes went wide. The massive train collided with Daniella’s palm—only to disintegrate into iron dust and scatter into the air.
The banquet hall was shrouded in black ash.
There was no sound of impact—just instant annihilation. Several more train cars were likewise dispersed before Daniella finally turned back.
"Are you alright?"
With a mere gesture, he had reduced an entire train to ashes.
Stunned, Simon hastily let go of the Greatsword of Destruction and nodded.
[Do not interfere.]
Girdon’s horrific voice growled.
[Keyzen deserves to be erased from this world.]
"The Tower Master ordered that you not be touched unless you acted first. But this—this has crossed the line, Girdon."
Daniella lowered his right hand and raised his left.
Vrrrrrrm!
Whirrrrr!
All around, countless magic circles flared to life—emitting smoke, cold, and sparks.
"To dare harm the Tower’s guests…"
[You call Keyzen your ‘guests’? The Ivory Tower has already fallen!]
Fwoooosh!
Daniella braced for battle. Other guests looked ready to join in as well.
But Girdon, cloaked in Darkness, suddenly raised his head. His eyes narrowed, as if sensing something.
Finally, he swirled his coat and turned away.
[I’ll go on ahead and wait.]
"You think I’ll let you escape?!"
Daniella triggered his magic circles, unleashing the four-elemental black magics in a roaring barrage.
The firepower was immense, but unlike Girdon’s indiscriminate assault, Daniella’s spells were precise—minimizing damage to people and property while aiming only for Girdon.
Lightning curled around tables, fire shot past without even singeing the tablecloth below.
But Girdon’s evasive movements were almost supernatural.
Space warped, his body twisting like a paper doll as he darted forward. In an instant, he stood before the banquet hall’s massive doors.
"He’s heading for the Tower of Time!"
"Stop him!"
Daniella’s shout echoed as Ivory Tower soldiers burst into the hall, firing black magic.
Some necromancer guests smirked.
"He’s as good as caught."
"Right. The Tower of Time only opens with the Tower Master’s permission."
But—
Spatial magic was Girdon’s specialty. His body thinned like a thread and slipped into the tiny crack of the Tower of Time’s door.
[I’ll be waiting.]
His voice reverberated.
[Keyzen!]
"…"
Simon scowled. His arm still throbbed painfully from their clash.
‘I’ll need to secretly heal this once I’m back in the quarters…’
Suddenly—
"Wah!"
Simon’s eyes widened. Daniella had darted forward and wrapped him in a fierce embrace.
"You’re not hurt, are you?"
His hair was tousled, glasses sliding halfway down his face, but he didn’t care.
"Ah, yes! I’m fine."
"Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness…!"
Fussing over Simon, Daniella dusted him off, checked him over, and only then smiled brightly.
"Now I’ll finally have the face to see your uncle and my daughter again."
…It was hellish.
To have to suspect such a good man.
To dissect the warmth in his words, even as he genuinely worried over him.
Daniella released Simon and shouted aloud,
"I declare a state of emergency! My apologies to our esteemed guests who traveled so far, but this year’s ‘Festival of Time’ ends here!"
The guests stirred in confusion. Complaints rose, but Daniella ignored them and commanded the Ivory Tower soldiers.
"Assemble a pursuit squad at once. I’ll lead it myself. We’ll drag Girdon out—"
"Who gave you the authority to end the festival, Daniella?"
Thud.
Everyone froze in place.
A man descended the stairs.
‘That man…!’
Simon didn’t need an introduction.
The current leader of the Ivory Tower’s hardliner faction, foster father of Serne.
And the most powerful necromancer in the Ivory Tower.
The Ivory Tower Master, Bermude Eindark, had entered the banquet hall.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters
Very good story and translation but half the chapter aren't for free and it is wayyyy too expensive will it stat like tjis foreve or will it get free after some time