Chapter 596
The so-called “uninvited guests” — the minions of the Executioners — had interfered, but the fortress war of the Frigod Autonomous District ended in victory for humanity.
The Gahal tribe residents sang songs of the miraculous triumph.
But the Mimickers would return again. Even though their forces had been cut down greatly this time, unless the seeds of the Mimickers lurking within the remaining 39 fortresses were completely eradicated, it was only a matter of time before humanity would face inevitable defeat in this war.
And then, someone stepped forward.
A wholly unexpected person.
— Isn’t it also a noble’s duty to care for the people? The honor of the Ivory Tower, which has been tarnished, must be gradually restored, and this is a good opportunity.
It was Serne.
She contacted the Ivory Tower headquarters and had several time artifacts retrieved from the collapsed Tower of Time brought here.
And the next thing she did was simple.
She simply scattered the time artifacts throughout the fortress. The Mimickers swarmed around them, staring blankly as they observed the illusions of human behavior displayed by the artifacts.
And the next day.
Something astonishing occurred.
The Mimickers began fighting amongst themselves.
For power.
For food.
For wealth.
Inside the fortress, they killed and were killed in endless cycles.
And when a Mimicker managed to seize the fortress and consolidate power, it was not content. It led others to attack neighboring fortresses.
A grand war erupted among the 39 fortresses.
Some Mimickers seized more than 10 fortresses and built mighty forces, but even they were betrayed and slain by supposed allies.
Forces that had been held together only by the charisma of one powerful Mimicker collapsed, and once more, they turned upon each other.
Monster scholars observing this sight were horrified. The Mimickers had slaughtered each other so relentlessly that their numbers plummeted to an unbelievable degree.
They asked Serne what on earth she had shown them.
She replied with a smiling face:
— Human history.
Of course, the Ivory Tower side must have cut out the more positive aspects of humanity, but what the Mimickers witnessed were genuine events and history.
Monsters who thrived by imitating humans were now driven into ruin, by imitating humanity.
The three-day, two-night Dullahan training camp came to an end.
The Butcher that Simon had defeated was sent to the Keyzen headquarters, and the students, after enduring the grueling second night, rested briefly before finishing out the third day’s schedule.
Thus, the summoning students arrived back at Roke Island on the evening of the third day.
Everyone was utterly exhausted when they returned to the dormitory.
“But in the end, Professor Lin and Professor Rune never came, huh.”
Toto muttered as he collapsed onto his bed. Simon sat on the bed beside him and responded.
“The camp’s over, but the Dullahan special lectures aren’t finished yet.”
This camp had merely been part of the Dullahan curriculum. Starting next week, the regular Dullahan special lectures would commence on Roke Island.
“More importantly…”
Yawning with a sleepy face, Toto continued.
“We fought so hard in that fortress, but it’s a shame we couldn’t get a Guardian. What about you, Simon?”
“I did… technically…”
Simon smiled bitterly and scratched the back of his head.
“But the head is missing.”
“Eh?”
Toto shot upright.
“W-what are you gonna do?! A Dullahan only carries its head. It’s not supposed to be an actual headless undead!”
He was right.
What Simon had was essentially a damaged corpse with no real use.
The sensible choice would be to just discard it and buy another corpse, like that of an Ogre Lord or something from Avalon, from the Necromancer shop.
But—
“I’m going to try anyway.”
Simon wasn’t one to take the easy road.
“I’ll replace the missing head with another undead’s.”
“W-what are you talking about?!”
Toto jumped in shock.
“You learned this too, Simon! The ‘Rune of Linkage’ of a Dullahan only works because the head and body are from the same undead! You can’t just swap them and make a Dullahan!”
Simon leaned back against the bed.
“And we also learned this, didn’t we?”
— They laugh at me now, but history will vindicate my research.
“The first necromancer who created the Dullahan. Back then, the common sense of the age was that a beheaded corpse had no value. But he overturned that and ended the era of knights.”
Simon’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the ceiling.
“I want to overturn common sense too.”
* * *
The next morning.
After major classes, they had the long-awaited general subject, Jane’s “Darkness Dynamics” lecture.
It was the last class before the midterm exam.
Arriving early to the classroom, Simon stretched with a yawn as he sat down in a decent spot.
Enjoying the peace of ordinary school life after a long while, he slowly pulled out his textbook.
“Simoooon~”
Turning his head, Simon’s face instantly brightened.
“Ah, Kami!”
Kamibarez fluttered her tiny bat wings as she dashed toward him. She stopped by his side and beamed.
“It’s been so long, Simon!”
“Yeah.”
Simon smiled awkwardly.
“After the dispatch evaluation, I had the camp right away. I didn’t even have a chance to say hi. Have you been well?”
“Yes! Since it’s exam season, there hasn’t been anything major in the student council either!”
“That’s good to hear.”
But as she cheerfully chatted, her wings drooped slightly.
“B-by the way… nothing happened at the Ivory Tower, right?”
“Ah.”
Simon scratched his head.
“I’ll explain slowly when Dick and Maelyn come too. But why do you ask?”
“Well…”
Kamibarez fidgeted.
“After the Ivory Tower incident… Maelyn has been acting a little strange.”
Simon’s heart sank.
Come to think of it, Maelyn had gone to the Ivory Tower right after the dispatch evaluation to investigate. Even after returning to Keyzen, she hadn’t seemed well.
“What do you mean by strange?”
“Um… she still smiles and acts normal, but… she seems more troubled than usual. Like she’s carrying a heavier burden.”
Simon realized he needed to make time to talk with Maelyn properly.
For now, he still had some time left before class began. He stepped out of the classroom to visit the restroom.
“Oh, Simon! Long time no see!”
Jane’s Darkness Dynamics class was one many ex-Class A students took, so there were lots of familiar faces. Unlike the summoning students, who addressed him as “President” or “Top Student”, these classmates simply called him by name.
Simon cheerfully greeted them as he walked .
Tadadadak—!
Familiar light-blue hair came into view. Simon flinched and quickly hid behind a pillar.
‘It’s Maelyn!’
But she wasn’t alone. She was dragging someone by the wrist.
“Maelyyyn! Seri’s wrist hurts~”
The one being dragged was none other than Serne. With a terrifyingly stern expression, Maelyn was pulling her somewhere.
‘What’s going on?’
Simon immediately stifled his presence and followed after them.
They walked outside and slipped into the secluded space behind a building where no one else was around.
Thud!
Maelyn shoved Serne against the wall and spoke sharply.
“Tell me exactly what happened at the Ivory Tower.”
“So scary~ Maelyn.”
Serne shivered her shoulders as if frightened.
“If you push Seri so roughly, how am I supposed to say anything?”
“...Haa.”
Normally she would have glared with contempt, but instead Maelyn pressed her forehead and let out a long sigh before stepping back a pace.
“Talk. I also have the right to know about this incident.”
“But Maelyn, didn’t you already go to the Ivory Tower?”
Serne tilted her head.
“You must’ve heard everything from Uncle Daniella, right? That’s all I know too.”
“Really now?”
Maelyn’s eyes twisted.
“What about the Frozen Clock?”
For the first time, a crack ran through Serne’s smile. Simon, who was secretly listening in, also felt his heart lurch.
“Don’t deny it. I know everything already.”
Maelyn’s eyes blazed as she clenched her two small fists so tightly they seemed ready to shatter.
“The Ivory Tower’s great ambition was to release the Absolute Seal on the Frozen Clock, wasn’t it? A project dating back long before even my father and grandfather were born, the plan to move the Ivory Tower into the Neutral Zone.”
Serne bit her lip faintly, while Maelyn’s blue eyes gleamed sharply.
“But only the Absolute Seal can break the Absolute Seal. And to break it, the caster must sacrifice their life.”
“.......”
“Am I wrong?”
Serne let out a small sigh.
“You’re right. And what of it?”
“Could it be that you…”
Maelyn’s voice began to tremble with unease.
“That you were aiming for the position of Ivory Tower Master, and so—”
Without a word, Serne opened her palm.
Shrrrkkkk!
A magic circle unfolded, and an immense array of ice-element formulas lit up in the air. Maelyn recoiled slightly, lifting her gaze to them.
“This is the formula to shatter the Absolute Seal.”
Serne smiled sweetly.
“It was personally developed by former Ivory Tower Master Bermude. If you have talent with ice formulas, you can use this to release the Absolute Seal without side effects. This was the very formula that allowed us to release it this time.”
“.......”
“As for the old saying that ‘only the Absolute Seal can release the Absolute Seal’, that was common knowledge from 300 years ago. So, is your curiosity satisfied now?”
Maelyn’s pupils trembled with a complicated expression.
Then suddenly—
“Ugh, so annoying!!”
She shouted furiously.
“That I even thought for a second that you… you… might have…! I’m such an idiot!”
Returning to her usual expression, Maelyn spun around sharply. Serne quickly dashed to link arms with her.
“Oh my, and what might that have been, hmm?”
“Hey! Stop clinging to me, you creep!”
“Is that all you wanted? You’re leaving already? Let’s hang out together, Seri wants to play~”
“Get lost!”
Maelyn shoved Serne away and jabbed her finger at her face.
“You! Delaying the appointment of the Ivory Tower Master this time was a mistake! Just wait! After I graduate from Keyzen, I’ll be the one to take that seat!”
Serne smirked and licked her lips slowly with her tongue.
“Do your best then~ mediocrity.”
“Shut up!”
Breathing heavily with anger, Maelyn stormed away. Simon let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Thud.
His head turned. Serne had slid down the wall and collapsed into a sitting position, exhaling a long breath.
Her long hair veiled her face, so he couldn’t see what expression she wore.
“.......”
No one on this continent had the right to comfort her.
‘Stay strong, Serne.’
Simon quietly rose and walked away.
And just a short distance away, he spotted another figure, a girl with sky-blue hair, crouched with her hand pressed to her chest, shoulders trembling.
‘Stay strong, Maelyn.’
* * *
At the same time.
Roke Island pier.
“Please make way!”
“Coming through!”
A group of sailors who had just disembarked from a large ship were quickly hauling something wrapped in heavy packaging.
Perhaps it was dangerous, as the bundles were layered with multiple sealing spells.
“Right on time.”
Behind them stood a girl with flowing cream-colored hair.
After signing to confirm the safe receipt of the goods, she looked at the sealed container and smiled.
“Will it be ready before class ends, I wonder?”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters