Invincible
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#62
🕑 Added 2024-08-26 09:14:09 +0000 UTCWraith (1)
The occasional sound of scribbling could be heard. Even though the professor was conducting the class from the podium, the students were murmuring due to the recent incidents.
"Up to here, we've described the expressions of magic before the Age of Change... Hmm."
The professor scanned the students and sighed deeply.
“It seems you can't concentrate because of recent events.”
First, it was a first-year student from Adelle Hall. Next, a second-year from Buerger Hall went missing. Today, it was a third-year from Schlaphe Hall.
There were even rumors of strange ghost sightings outside the dormitories, and the chaos showed no signs of subsiding.
“Regarding that, our professors are working on it, so you can relax. It's something that happens occasionally.”
When the professor spoke nonchalantly, Ricks raised his hand.
“Occasionally... What happened to the people who went missing before?”
“They usually come back.”
"Usually?"
“Let’s see... Last year, about seven people went missing, and six were found.”
“What about the one who wasn’t found?”
The professor replied in a relaxed tone.
"They were found dead."
The students' reactions grew colder. The only ones who remained unfazed were those who had taken the third exam.
Being exposed to deadly trials, they had already realized that common sense from the outside world didn’t apply here.
"Don’t worry too much. You know the professors are searching tirelessly, right? And, the ghosts you’re talking about aren't as dangerous as you think. They are more like explainable natural phenomena.”
The professor continued, “They are essentially something created by the mana or magical energy combined with the lingering thoughts of dead humans. We’ve researched these phenomena academically, so there’s no need to be afraid.”
"Being incorporeal, they can only influence the mind. They seep into weak mental gaps and brainwash, only to fulfill their unrealized desires from life.”
A student at the front asked, "Desires? Does that mean they're alive?"
“No, they’re just memories. Think of them like a diary where people write down their plans and wishes.”
The professor scratched his head as he looked at the students.
“But still, stay alert. Especially those with weak minds should be careful. Even the professors can’t guarantee they can deal with these spirits.”
Unlike dealing with monsters, the method to handle them is different and tricky, but at the professor’s level, it's possible to manage them.
“Though the spirit we’re dealing with this time is a bit special.”
【Fela of Loss】
Fela was a troublesome disciple whom Frostheart's founder, Feldy, imprisoned in the special hall.
A woman twisted enough that her master had no choice but to do so. Her end came as a sorrowful suicide. However, Fela didn't leave quietly; she vowed revenge on her master just before dying.
She chose the forbidden magic of splitting her soul and hiding it in cherished objects, hoping for eventual resurrection.
That created the scenario we’re facing now—a dark and ugly lingering thought. The catalyst for its release was Lethe, who, under Luon's guidance, was stirring up the academy.
"By the way, one of the scales in the apothecary broke. Please handle the items here carefully during class. They are all historic pieces. Got it? Now, let’s resume class.”
Well, what could go wrong? No matter how strong she was in life, she’s just a typical ghost without a body. The disappearances are her attempts to find a suitable host, but she would need a playable character's level of strength to be satisfied.
Those with a strong mind won’t get brainwashed, and when the time comes, the professors will re-seal her.
After all, this isn’t a scenario for playable characters but a plot device to give Luon more freedom.
***
The professor inserted the key into the hole on the iron bars blocking the corridor, causing the wall-mounted lamp to flicker out. This was the special hall for students admitted through donations.
Scrape.
Luon sat in his private room, carving a stone with a chisel. The surface shaved away like sawdust as it absorbed his aura. Despite the darkness, the details of the horse’s four long legs, muscular chest, mane, and tail were vividly expressed.
Scrape.
Gradually, the horse's form emerged.
After even sculpting the eyes, Luon headed to the living room with the completed piece.
Sniff.
The thick smell of mana tickled his nose, emanating from under the carpet. Carefully lifting it, a faint bloody scent spread.
"It's done, Fela."
When he spoke, the red blood on the stone floor began to wriggle.
It soon formed lines and then letters.
[Thank you, Master.]
“I told you I’m not your master.”
[Lies. No one else would come to see me but you, Master.]
Luon placed the horse sculpture on the floor and began organizing the information he had gathered through their conversations.
This special hall was originally a prison for this woman alone. He didn’t know what crime she committed.
As she had no awareness of it herself, he couldn't get an answer from her.
What he did know was that she was the disciple of the great wizard who founded Frostheart and that she had bled herself to death here.
"What gift would you like next?"
[A horse. A horse with a mane.]
She couldn’t update her memories.
Thus, the information he could glean was limited to what she remembered before dying.
“Alright, I’ll prepare it. But you’ll do me a favor in return, right?”
[Of course, it’s a request from Master.]
Last time, he had asked where another part of her lingering thought was sealed.
It was the apothecary’s scale.
Now that it was broken, he needed more information.
“That necklace you hid. Where is it?”
The answer took a while.
[...I don’t know. I’m sorry, Master.]
It was the same answer as yesterday.
But through their conversations, Luon knew she was lying.
“Fela, you have a habit of pausing when you lie.”
[Are you calling me a liar?]
“The word ‘accuse’ isn’t used like that. Because you are a liar.”
[Master, I hate you.]
The blood on the stone floor receded.
'Pressuring her won't work. I’ll need a different approach next time.'
Luon got up, unconcerned.
After all, once he placed the horse sculpture on the floor again, she would respond as if nothing had happened.
Forgetting the entire previous conversation...
"Let's see what’s happening outside."
Luon walked to the window and looked down through the iron bars.
This place was situated high up in the citadel. The ground below seemed very far away.
However, the black-clad professors stood out clearly against the white background, moving around like a swarm of ants.
'The surveillance has become much looser.'
Previously, each professor would monitor one person. Now, one professor was handling two.
This was because personnel had been reassigned to search for the missing students.
Luon memorized where they were going.
It wouldn’t be to a common place. If it were, they would have found the missing students already.
It would be somewhere seldom visited, possibly one of the secret spaces rumored to exist.
As expected, a few groups headed toward the wall and then disappeared.
That area was an empty lot he had visited while exploring the academy.
But they didn't come out even after some time had passed.
'There must be something there.'
Luon began mapping the professors' movements.
He marked locations like the storage room where they spent 15 minutes, the door leading underground, the dense forest path, and the small buildings, noting places that took longer to search.
Finishing his work, the pen rolled off the desk.
From tomorrow, he could investigate more actively.
***
Today, the lobby of Schlaphe Hall was peaceful.
The lazy seniors demanded escort fees from the juniors, boasting about their purification magic.
“If you get brainwashed by a ghost, I’ll save you with my purification magic.”
Listening from afar, I was astonished.
Maybe the top student from Adelle Hall could do it, but a third-year from Schlaphe Hall? It was clearly a scam.
“Are you going to scam us again like last time?”
"What?"
“If you can, show us right now.”
“Haha, I’ve used up all my mana today. I’ll show you next time.”
“Tsk tsk.”
It was a beautiful sight to see the freshmen glaring at such seniors like trash.
And then, another piece of trash, Makdal, slipped and fell with a crash, as if he had stepped on an oiled floor.
"Aah!"
Hiding behind the desk and pots, Ricks and his group sprang out like bees, wielding staffs and wooden swords, ready to strike at the groaning Makdal.
“Makdal!!”
Watching Ricks wave his staff with a face full of righteousness, Donatan commented.
- There’s nothing more dangerous than a man with blind faith who has lost his way. He seemed like a righteous man at first, but how did he become so vile?
‘Indeed?’
He wasn’t always so ruthless. How did he end up like this?
- He must have been corrupted by you.
‘That’s impossible…’
I am a walking moral textbook. He should have become more virtuous.
Just then, the Schlaphe Hall representative, Athera, clapped her hands in the lobby.
“Attention, everyone. Ricks’ group, leave that for later.”
"Yes, senior."
As Ricks put away his staff, Makdal sighed in relief.
“You all know the atmosphere on campus is unsettling lately. Especially for the freshmen, it must be quite shocking. Strange phenomena, ghosts wandering around... it must be scary. And you should be scared. Keep being scared.”
Those listening expressed confusion with an “Uh?” sound.
“This situation is serious. Professors who are adept at finding hidden troublemakers haven’t found a single missing student yet. This is extremely rare. The second and third years know what I’m talking about.”
The seniors nodded.
No wonder there were so many of them around; they sensed something was different about this incident compared to previous ones.
“So, what I’m saying is, from now on, you should always move in pairs. That way, your chances of survival will be higher.”
Athera spoke practically, fitting for a representative. However, she had already been corrupted by her regained power.
“So, I’m going to start a fundraiser. That’s actually why I gathered you all here.”
“A fundraiser?”
“Yes, as your representative, I’m the most important person here. There’s someone in Adelle Hall who can use purification magic, but they’re asking for a lot of money. So, show some sincerity.”
She was rotten to the core.
It was wrong of her to come down from Buerger Hall just to enjoy being the head of the snake here.
Unsurprisingly, no one offered any money to the collection box she held out.
“Nothing? Really... Not a single person cares about their representative’s life?”
Athera spoke in a disheartened voice.
“Anyway, especially you Schlaphe Hall guys, be extra careful since you’re all rotten to the core. Always go in pairs, and remember the dorm curfew is now at 7 PM. Be back on time.”
Now bored, she yawned and scratched her rear.
“Yawn... Oh, and club activities are banned for now. You can’t take on any requests either. Use the coins you’ve saved to get by. That’s all, dismissed.”
Apart from the pair rule, she showed no concern for the students' wellbeing.
The Schlaphe Hall students looked exasperated at the lack of practical measures.
"All we have is debt, and now we can't take requests?"
“...What is this? How long will it last?”
“What about people like me who live day by day?”
They should have saved some money earlier.
*
Meanwhile, in the Adelle Hall dormitory, Leana closed her door excitedly. She held a letter from her father, who had declared their estrangement.
She hadn't expected a reply.
Feeling down with nothing going right, she had forgotten to buy new armor because of Hersel last time and had planned to do so today, only to find all the clubs closed temporarily...
Though her trip was in vain, the letter lifted her spirits.
Leana gently put down her old armor and opened the letter.
What would it say?
She hoped her father had accepted her mother back and acknowledged her desire to become a knight... It was a moment of tense anticipation.
However, the moment she read the first line, her grip tightened.
[It’s good news that he entered Frostheart. If he doesn’t mind you wielding a sword, you must be satisfied. But don’t let your guard down. You must strive to keep his attention away from other girls.]
Rustle—
The subject was neither her mother nor herself but some other man.
It was always like this.
During meals, she was told to go meet him; when she chose clothes, she was told he wouldn’t like them. Whatever she did, it was always about Hersel, Hersel, Hersel.
Even in letters now... Hersel.
The memories of the father she loved seemed to be shrinking.
She could no longer recall the smile he had when he looked at her with pride or the excited tone he had when he said he was proud of her.
All she could remember was his icy expression and formal voice...
“I was a fool to expect anything.”
So, Leana buried her emotions.
If you expect recklessly, you’ll only be disappointed recklessly.
Better to become indifferent.
"Ah."
Her clothes stuck to her sweaty skin.
Leana suppressed her expression and grabbed her washing basket.
Entering the private shower room and closing the door, the curtain fluttered.
Tap—
A red glare flashed beyond the window.
It stared persistently at the old armor in the corner.
