Chapter 793
Who on earth am I?
There was no one here who could answer Serne’s question.
No, at least, not in the lands of the Dark Alliance.
“……”
Simon took in her figure.
Amid the drifting black feather-rain that fluttered down, she quietly lifted her head and gazed into the empty air.
There was a strange, alien beauty about her, yet at the same time, a loneliness that was palpable.
But the moment her eyes shifted and met Simon’s, for just that instant, the loneliness seemed to fade a little.
“We truly are born with such twisted fates, aren’t we? Simon.”
“……”
One who could wield both Darkness and holiness.
One who had been born with power befitting holiness, yet had become a necromancer.
Like now, staring at the blackened feathers that should have been white, he felt that strange mix of emotions.
Tak.
When she snapped her fingers, a clear sound rang out. The feathers vanished one by one, the window opened, and a fresh breeze flowed inside.
Serne walked back with a nonchalant stride, sat once more in her place, then propped her chin on her hand and glanced toward Farahan.
“In that sense, Professor Farahan, what happened with that matter I mentioned before?”
“That matter you mentioned? What are you talking about?”
At Simon’s question, she smiled with crescent-shaped eyes.
“Ah, I actually asked Professor Farahan to find someone for me, a com— no, a favor.”
You were just about to say command.
As Simon glared at her silently, Serne covered her mouth with a ladylike smile.
“A cute request from your student? Or the pressure of a future power-holder? Since I’m still in the position of a student who listens to a professor’s instructions, I hoped you’d choose the former, and when I said so, you agreed.”
Just what on earth was Serne’s way of thinking? Perhaps because she was always giving orders, even the act of making a request seemed unnatural to her.
“…Putting that aside, who exactly did you ask him to find?”
“Someone named ‘Gafen’ in the Holy Federation. Simon, you told me to look for him, didn’t you?”
“Me?”
“Strictly speaking, it was the future Simon.”
If you wish to find your roots, seek out the one called ‘Gafen’ in the Holy Federation.
The words left behind for Serne by the ‘future Simon’ he had briefly encountered at the Tower of Time.
It seemed she was still searching for Gafen.
“Ahh, what a rapturous man.”
Perhaps picturing that future Simon again, she wore a dazed expression.
“To be so overwhelmed by another person, it was the first time. To one like me, who always ruled over others, he was the one who gifted me the joy of being ruled.”
“What nonsense are you spouting!”
She had no shame, saying such things in front of others.
Simon’s face flushed as he tried to cover her mouth, but Serne simply turned her head aside.
“Hair the color of chiseled dark blue, a faintly grown beard with that sly smile, and above all, those eyes that seemed to transcend every inner layer. If I could just see that magnificent form once more, I’d have no more wishes left.”
To say that, with the very person sitting right in front of her, was more than a little embarrassing.
She spread the index fingers and thumbs of both hands, overlapped them upside down like a window frame, and framed Simon’s face within it.
“Hurry up and grow older.”
“Stop with your bizarre nonsense already!”
Moving her fingertips, she used illusion magic. Simon’s hair darkened, a beard sprouted on his lips, yet she smacked her lips regretfully.
“Still feels more like a child playing at being his father? To see that mature charm, it needs to steep a little longer.”
With a scowl, Simon yanked off the beard, the illusion scattering into the air.
“As for that Gafen you asked about.”
Farahan suddenly said,
“I asked an acquaintance, and sent a letter to that Professor Gafen in the Holy Federation. But, I’m sorry, I’ve yet to receive a reply. He must be a very busy man, so if a reply comes, I’ll let you know.”
“Of course, Professor. Please do.”
Simon let out a faint sigh, then looked at her.
“There’s no need to be so anxious, Serne. We’ll find him, without fail.”
“Yes~.”
She smacked her lips again.
“I just hope, when we cross into the Holy Federation, I might bump into him right then.”
“…That seems a bit too unlikely.”
“If you really do go to the border, both of you, take care of yourselves.”
Farahan said with concern.
“A Federation dispatch isn’t particularly rare for Keyzen students, but from what I hear, the border situation is anything but calm.”
The two nodded their heads.
“We’ll be sure to return safely.”
* * *
A few days later.
For some unknown reason, Aron’s morning classes had all been replaced with Grerion’s Materials Science.
Because the classroom was suddenly changed, the students had to scramble, grabbing carriages in a hurry to rush to Grerion’s cave.
Once everyone had gathered and the head assistant called the roll, Grerion appeared.
“Good work coming all the way here!”
He lifted his sunglasses inside the cave as he spoke.
“Let me tell you how the situation has unfolded! Professor Aron has finally secured authorization for the Death Knight material acquisition operation!”
Exclamations of awe burst among the students.
“As expected, he had a card up his sleeve!”
“So we’re really going to the Holy Federation?”
Half of them clapped hands in excitement, while the other half trembled their legs or bit their nails in anxiety.
“M-my stomach feels queasy.”
Toto belonged to the latter.
Among the Dark Alliance’s people, the Holy Federation had the image of being nothing less than a pit of evil where entering meant certain death.
“There’s no need to fear so much! Since headquarters gave its approval, this operation will be safe! Now then, I’ll be collecting signatures for participation in this mission! Once you sign, there’s no turning back, so think carefully!”
It was the usual liability waiver, the kind that said the school would not be held responsible if anything happened to them.
But honestly, they’d signed that same form for island survival assessments and advancement exams so many times, the Keyzen students barely blinked before scribbling their names.
Once all the signatures were done, Grerion wheeled over a blackboard.
“Now then, let’s begin the mission briefing!”
He pinned a map onto the board.
Students craned their necks, rose onto their knees, leaned forward, all to see it more clearly.
A battlefront map for a military operation, the very first they’d ever laid eyes on, full of military jargon and coded terms.
“This really makes it sink in, that we’re going to the Federation.”
A wave of tension swept through the cave.
Grerion laughed heartily, pointing with his baton at the map.
“On the day of the mission! Separate from us, necromancer operatives will be executing a certain operation on the frontlines. The contents are classified, so I can’t disclose them, but just know that the operation will be in progress!”
He tapped different spots on the map with his baton.
“As you all know, the Federation’s border is sealed with a colossal barrier. It detects not only physical attacks, but any kind of wavelength from outside! Things like teleportation circles can’t even be attempted!”
Flap!
The assistant hurried to stick up a magical-photograph of the border barrier next to the map. Grerion’s baton shifted toward it.
“Our plan is as follows! The necromancer operatives on assignment will riddle the barrier with holes! To make sure no one knows where we’re entering, they’ll open more than 200 holes in an instant!”
He thrust the baton through the air as though piercing it, and spoke.
“Then, the operatives will enter the barrier, and within twenty minutes, they will break into the designated area and execute the mission! There will be massive explosions and deafening noises one after another. Every nearby Holy Federation force will converge there. Meanwhile, we—!”
Thud!
Grerion jabbed at a corner of the map.
“Taking advantage of the loosened defenses, we will infiltrate through the holes that the operatives prepared in advance!”
The students began murmuring in alarm.
Eshu shot her hand up.
“Eshu Arzel! I heard that if even a single hair touches the barrier, the whole body will char black and die, is that true?”
Grerion let out a hearty laugh.
“Don’t worry! Passing through the barrier, and moving to the mission site, will all be done by my chimera! You’ll wait inside comfortably, and only come out when I tell you!”
Sighs of relief rippled through the crowd.
“My chimera will reach the mission site in twenty minutes! While the area is expected to be empty, the assistants who departed earlier will be standing by after neutralizing any possible guards! You’ll get off the chimera, then infiltrate the mission site!”
He clenched his fist tightly.
“And secure the most important material of the Death Knight.”
The remains of a paladin, one hundred years old.
Not only must they be in good condition, but in many ways, such a relic was incredibly hard to obtain. Yet Aron and Grerion were convinced it was there, at the mission site.
“Once we arrive, the mission will last for only ‘thirty minutes’. Whether or not you’ve secured the core material, after thirty minutes, you leave at once. Don’t be fools dragging your feet out of regret! No matter how badly you want a Death Knight, nothing is more precious than your life! Anyone who fails to arrive at the rendezvous on time—”
Grerion’s expression grew stern.
“—will be abandoned.”
Gulp.
The sound of swallowing echoed from every corner.
Then Grerion eased his expression with a smile.
“No matter, as long as you follow instructions properly, every one of you will return safely to school! Once the material is secured, you’ll board my chimera again, and escape through the barrier the same way. Understood?”
“Yes!”
A few battle-hungry students answered brightly, disappointed only that there would be no clashes with priests. But most wore heavy looks of concern.
Of course, on paper the plan had no flaws. To be blunt, it felt like the students were just tagging along with a necromancer operation.
The operatives would handle breaking the barrier, fighting, and retreat. If there happened to be guards at the mission site, Grerion or the assistants would deal with them.
The students’ role was simply to sneak into the site, collect the materials, and slip back out. The only chance of combat was if they stumbled upon a hidden priest. Beyond that, it was just a matter of avoiding traps and security devices.
So yes, as Grerion said, the mission itself was simple. But crossing the border in times like these was burden enough.
“If you have questions, ask them!”
Hands shot up all around.
“Vicente Borromeo! I’d like to know where exactly the mission site is!”
Grerion shook his head.
“That’s classified! If word reached the priests, they could ambush us. You’ll see for yourself once we’re on site!”
After replying, he pointed to another student in the back.
“Matt Comer! Is Professor Aron not coming with us?”
“Professor Aron—”
Grerion clicked his tongue, then answered.
“—has joined the main mission. For now, just know that much.”
At those words, unease crept over Simon. Loraine also turned her gaze toward him.
“Simon, don’t you think…?”
“He probably promised the operatives his assistance, in exchange for letting the students pass.”
It was clear Aron had wagered much on this. The very fact that he had secured approval for a Death Knight acquisition mission in such dangerous times spoke volumes.
By all accounts, Aron was shouldering full responsibility. If even one student were injured on site, or worse, captured by the Holy Federation, Aron would be stripped of his professorship at once.
After fielding a few more questions, Grerion clapped his hands and barked for attention.
“Now, to prepare for worst-case scenarios, I’ll be selecting three volunteers.”
Volunteers?
Nervous eyes turned his way.
“Though your safety will be my and the assistants’ responsibility, if—by some terrible chance—the priests’ attacks reach you, I need a defense squad to block them!”
A defense squad.
In other words, if combat did break out, these students would fight directly beside Grerion and the assistants against the priests.
Grerion shook the papers in his hand.
“Students with outstanding grades in Defense Against Holiness, and those who excelled in the recent practical training, would be ideal! Any volunteers?”
The room fell silent.
To risk oneself for the sake of one’s peers, to step forward and face danger, was no easy choice.
But then.
“I’ll go.”
Someone raised their hand, without a shred of hesitation.
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