Chapter 565
Snowfield Castle.
Thunk!
"Why can’t I go back!?"
Maelyn slammed the table with a furious expression.
The documents on the desk jumped and then fell back down. She pressed her fingertips firmly on the table and pointed behind her.
"You clearly said five hundred ice monster hearts! I brought them all!"
Behind her was a small hill made of frozen chunks.
It was the result of three days of relentless hunting, camping out without returning to Snowfield Castle even once. Maelyn’s determination to return early and study for the exam was terrifying.
"Student Maelyn."
But the elder of Snowfield Castle, who was facing her, shook his head calmly.
"I told you to collect the hearts of ice monsters. I never once said that finishing the collection would mark the end of your dispatch mission. Next is a Class-3 danger monster, the Freezny…"
"You’ve got to be kidding me!"
She banged the table again and again in frustration.
"Asking for 500 hearts in five days was insane to begin with! I nearly killed myself collecting them, and now you’re telling me I have another mission!?"
"I had intended to assign you tasks step by step from the beginning."
The elder muttered shamelessly. Maelyn’s anger rose all the way to the top of her head.
"Why are you doing this to me!?"
She gritted her teeth.
"Don’t tell me—this is because I criticized Lord Raheim of Snowfield Castle back in my first year!?"
"The Lord’s school life and privacy are not under our purview, nor do they have anything to do with this dispatch."
"I’ll protest to Keyzen! I’ll report that I was subjected to unfair demands during my mission!"
"It is within the authority of the dispatcher to adjust the mission to the circumstances on the ground, which change at every moment."
The elder spoke coldly, then widened his eyes.
"I repeat, Student Maelyn. Until your mission is complete, you cannot return to Keyzen."
* * *
Ivory Tower’s Main Spire.
At the top floor, inside the Ivory Tower Master’s office.
"An interesting report came in today."
Flutter.
The Ivory Tower Master, with a long beard and haggard face, spread open a document.
"A sudden historical recreation occurred on the 68th floor. But thanks to Student Council President Simon Follentia and Rank 4 Merida Hugh Ikel, the defense was successful. The situation is currently under control."
He lowered the papers with a smile.
"Just as you said, Serne—he truly is an irreplaceable one."
Whoosh—
With her radiant ivory hair fluttering, Serne sat by the window, gazing outside the tower.
"I told you, didn’t I? That child is someone the Ivory Tower must have."
"But it’s too late now."
The Ivory Tower Master leaned deeply into his chair.
"We should have moved when he was just an unknown first-year. Now he’s been Student Council President—his loyalty to Keyzen must be deep. More importantly—"
The Lord’s eyes turned toward Serne.
"If he learns what we’re planning, he’ll point his blade at us without a second’s hesitation."
"…"
"It’s time you gave up."
Still gazing blankly out the window, she gave a small laugh.
"If you deliberately corner me so I can’t help but give up, and then say that—don’t you think that’s a bit too cruel, Father?"
"Serne."
The Ivory Tower Master clasped his fingers together, his face cold.
"There is no time."
"I know."
"I gave in to your stubbornness once, but not this time."
A chill crept into his voice.
"We cannot save everyone. Sacrifice is inevitable. At least one must be abandoned."
"…"
She descended from her seat at the window.
"Why are you in such a rush? You promised me you’d wait until Maelyn and I graduate."
"There is no time."
The Lord repeated himself.
Serne’s eyes swept the office. In the trash bin lay tissues soaked with vivid red blood.
"Is your health deteriorating?"
"I’ve been ill with this trivial sickness for twenty years. The issue is the timing of our great work. A grand deed can’t simply be tailored to suit our convenience."
His gaze gleamed.
"My daughter, this is our only chance to wipe out Keyzen—the ones we loathe—from the continent."
"…"
At the mention of Keyzen, a spark lit in her eyes as well.
"They will pay the price for their sins. The Ivory Tower’s era will come again. Just like in the past, when we ruled the continent. Everything will proceed smoothly."
He stretched out his hand.
"I need your help, Serne."
"…"
Slowly, she took her foster father’s withered hand.
* * *
After Simon and Merida’s inspiring defense, dawn arrived.
The tower was wrapped in complete darkness.
Shhh. Shuffle.
Simon climbed the stairs silently, gathering Darkness at his feet to muffle his steps as much as possible.
‘I hope nothing happens…’
His face was more tense than ever since arriving at the tower.
The next mission target from Keyzen was the 76th floor.
That was where the mass butcher, Girdon, was lurking.
Currently, the Ivory Tower had sealed the floors from the 70th to the 90th. Simon had to slip past the defenses, avoid Girdon, and reach the 76th floor.
He pulled his robe over himself and masked his face with the disguise he used as Feon.
First, he made his way up the spiral staircase toward the 70th floor.
‘Ah.’
The staircase was walled off. "No Entry" ropes were strung across the area, and defensive magic circles glimmered everywhere.
The only possible passage was where the magic elevator could pass. And above that, guards stood packed tight.
After assessing the situation, Simon slipped down to the 69th floor.
[Young Master.]
Flap!
Akemius swooped in through the window, bowing respectfully.
[From the 70th to the 90th floor, all windows are sealed. Not even an ant could slip through.]
"…As expected."
Girdon was a necromancer who specialized in spatial black magic. He could stretch and compress his body at will—so the Ivory Tower had sealed even the tiniest of gaps.
Akemius also reported that a massive barrier covered the outside of the tower. Flying out was impossible; clinging to the tower walls was the only option.
[It also blocks communications and teleportation. No outside interference. Only internal movement is possible.]
Simon folded his arms, lost in thought.
"Exiting is impossible… so what should we do, Feer?"
[Keh-heh-heh, how about using their fear of Girdon?]
Feer’s doppel grinned slyly.
[If Girdon’s that notorious for being reckless and indiscriminate, we use his infamy against the guards—shake them up.]
Simon’s eyes lit up.
"Oh, that’s a good idea! Tell me more!"
* * *
70th floor.
Ivory Tower guards blocked the entry to the floor. They rubbed their sleepy eyes, chatting idly.
"Another all-nighter, huh."
"I even used vacation days for the Festival of Time, and this is what I get."
Because of the Girdon incident, innocent guards were suffering.
As they grumbled, orderly footsteps echoed—another squad was approaching.
"Shift change."
Finally, they could rest.
The guards quickly gathered their gear, relief showing on their weary faces. Some exchanged small talk with the incoming squad.
"Still no news of catching him?"
"Yeah. Seems like he’s hiding real good. They say they’re combing every room, every gap in the walls, even the patterns carved into the stone—but it’s no easy task."
"Tch, figures."
"Be careful. Quite a few people have already been carried off in bloodied heaps."
Just as the guards exchanged orders and prepared for shift change.
Rrrrrrrumble!
A deafening roar shook the floor.
"What was that?"
"Probably some explosion experiment or weird anomaly."
Ruuumble!
Booooom!
But the noise grew louder—closer.
The captain of the guards at the 70th floor widened his eyes.
"It’s Girdon!"
"Huh?"
"Damn it, what else could it be? He must be smashing the floor to escape!"
At the word Girdon, everyone’s faces hardened. The captain drew his staff.
"Everyone, except those guarding the entrance, with me!"
"Yes, sir!"
The captain and most of the soldiers dashed toward the source of the sound, leaving only a minimal force to guard the entrance of the 70th floor.
They kept their eyes on the front, the sides, and above. But—
BOOOOOM!
The explosion suddenly came from below—the 69th floor entrance. In an instant, smoke and dust engulfed the area. Guards coughed, choked, and fell into confusion.
"What the hell!? All of a sudden—"
Shhhrrrk!
In that fleeting moment, something like a bundle of feathers burst through the smoke at the entrance and shot upward. The guards couldn’t make out its form.
"D-Did you see that!?"
"See what?"
"Something pitch-black…!"
At that moment—
From the thick darkness on the ceiling, pillars and broken furniture began dropping down. The guards instantly deployed defensive magic circles.
"It… It’s Girdon! It has to be Girdon!"
"He’s attacking the entrance with spatial magic! Request reinforcements!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Rumble, crash!
Chaos erupted.
Meanwhile, Simon was flying swiftly in Akemius’ grasp, wings spread wide. What he had dropped from subspace were objects scavenged from the lower floors.
The thunderous booms earlier? They came from attaching zombies below and detonating them with Corpse Explosion.
"The plan worked perfectly, Feer!"
[Keh-heh-heh! But the 70th floor’s security will be even tighter now.]
"Let’s finish the job quickly and get out."
Thanks to Akemius’ speed, Simon reached the target— the 76th floor—almost instantly.
"Reinforcements! Reinforcements!"
"Girdon’s assault on the 70th floor!"
The guards searching the 76th floor abandoned their posts to respond to the commotion below.
Simon hid behind a pillar, waiting for them to leave, then carefully stepped forward.
‘Pitch black…’
The floor was utterly dark, not a single light lit. Flying with Akemius here would be difficult.
"From here on, I’ll move alone."
[Yes, Young Master.]
Akemius’ intense Darkness could easily be detected by sensing spells.
Simon sent him into subspace and walked into the shadows alone.
‘Hmm.’
76th floor.
Thick, suffocating darkness.
An endless silence, no trace of life.
And knowing this was Girdon’s domain made the tension unbearable.
Simon crept forward on tiptoe.
‘Room 10 on the 76th floor… right?’
He searched carefully, room by room. Then—
‘…?’
A puddle of yellow liquid glistened on the floor.
Drip. Drip.
It dripped down from the ceiling.
A foul stench filled the air.
‘Wait… this is…’
Slowly, Simon raised his head toward the ceiling.
‘!!’
Something pitch-black was stuck up there.
Simon froze, pressing himself against the wall, his blood running cold.
‘G-Girdon!?’
Every vein in his body seemed to chill. But upon looking again, thankfully, it wasn’t Girdon.
It was the corpse of a Time Tower monster, pinned into the ceiling.
Its face was completely caved in.
‘Wait, who shoved that thing up there…?’
[Keyzen.]
A rasping, metallic voice rang out.
[I smell you.]
It wasn’t from the ceiling—it came from beyond the wall. A chill ran down Simon’s spine.
[Don’t hide. Come out.]
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed, not far away. Simon clenched his teeth and summoned Darkness.
‘Tch, if I use the power of the Legion, I can fight…!’
But if he fought here, he’d be discovered. The Ivory Tower guards would all swarm in.
Yet he had no choice. Simon grit his teeth, preparing for battle—when his eyes caught something.
‘That…!’
Hanging on the wall was a rabbit mask.
‘It’s a signal from the Ghost of Time!’
Keeping to the shadows, Simon sprinted toward it. The masks clung to the wall in succession, marking the path like signposts.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
But the footsteps behind him grew faster too.
At this rate, he would be caught.
Simon leapt across a patch of Darkness, darting into a narrow passage.
‘?’
Shhhrrk!
Suddenly, two hands shot out from the wall and clamped over Simon’s mouth.
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