Episode 163. The Approaching End (3)
“… For that reason, Capotini Magic School is temporarily closed.”
Benitez reports on Kaizen’s death.
Although they weren’t close friends, it wasn’t common for a magic professor to die during the semester. It seemed like a huge shock.
The students thought it was just a joke from the professor. They all looked bewildered. It was a reaction that could be expected since they didn’t know the details of yesterday’s outdoor class.
But Chloe was different. Her eyes, which had sensed that it was the unmanned act that had been used against Celesne, suddenly met Rubin’s. Unlike Chloe, who was serious, Rubin was indifferent.
“The period of suspension is two weeks. It may be extended depending on the situation.”
Rubin understood the policy. The first priority was to catch the culprit, but if that wasn’t possible, he would have to find out the motive for the murder.
“… Huh, really?”
“Are you saying that Professor Kaizen is dead?”
“Ma, does that make sense?”
Like other wizarding cities on the continent, Capotini boasted a high level of security compared to regular cities. Serious crimes such as murder were rare, so in terms of security, it was no different from the mainland of the Empire.
In a city like that, a magic professor, not even a regular citizen, was murdered during the semester. It was only natural that it wouldn’t be easy to understand.
Furthermore, the residential area where Kaizen lived was a wealthy area where professors from other regions lived during the semester and where high-ranking officials of administrative facilities also lived.
Rubin guessed at Rosenthaler’s feelings. Perhaps he regretted what he had done. It was a murder that was bound to cause a stir.
‘It must have been painful not being able to use the Assassination Sword.’
The Assassin’s Creed had the ability to disguise the death of its target as an accident or illness, but not Rosenthaler.
With Hitan, who had been in charge of the board, now gone, Rulfo, who had only trusted Rosenthaler, was like shooting himself in the foot.
“professor.”
Rubin raised his hand.
“If the school is closed, what will happen to the students from other regions?”
“In principle, students should go home, but if that is not possible, they can stay in the dormitory. However, they must stay in the dormitory and must receive permission from the professors to leave the rooftop area.”
How many cadets would want to remain in a city that has become so dangerous?
Most of the noble cadets will probably return to their hometowns, and the same goes for the common cadets who are relatively poor and have difficulty raising travel expenses. It is not something that can be traded for money and life.
Of course, Rubin will remain in Capotini. Rosenthaler, the last threat to Pere, and the one who will bring Rubin a great reward. He must be eliminated.
‘You said the joint celebration hosted by the Delin and Ielos families was in two weeks?’
Coincidentally, it coincided with the end of the school closure period. That would be the day when Rosenthaler would be removed.
It just so happens that it’s a bit of a fanfare, both for Rubin and Capotini, to celebrate the fact that the danger is gone.
“In Capotini… murder.”
“I have to go home right now.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to see you in two weeks.”
For the cadets who had no idea about Rubin’s plan, all they could see were terrified expressions.
Urrrrrr.
The closing ceremony ended with shocking news. The students, each with their own plans, hurriedly left the classroom.
“miss.”
On the first floor, Celesne was waiting for Chloe. Since rumors had already spread throughout the city, she had come early to protect the young daughter of the imperial nobility.
“Celeste.”
“Don’t worry too much. I have reinforced the Imperial forces guarding the villa.”
“… Should I leave Capotini?”
“You don’t have to do that. We’ll do our best to ensure your safety.”
“… … ”
Chloe pouted her lips and made a discontented expression, as if she was not pleased with the drastic change in the school atmosphere. Rubin approached her and waved his hand.
“Bye, Chloe. See you in two weeks.”
Chloe walks away under Celestia’s protection. Rubin and Oscar, who were watching her from behind, moved their steps toward the Rhapsody Hall.
As he walked, Oscar shivered.
“It’s creepy. I saw that face yesterday. How could it suddenly die?”
“I know.”
“What are you going to do, Luden?”
“You should be in the dorm.”
“It won’t be dangerous, right?”
“It’ll be safe there, sir, because there are animals there. The professors also said they’ll guard it thoroughly.”
In addition, there were Celloc, the demigod intelligence that protected Per, and Enzo Lorenzini. In fact, the dormitory was the safest place for Per.
Of course, the person responsible didn’t know anything and just kept shivering in horror.
“I’m going to stop by the dorm library, Oscar.”
“Huh? Right now? Aren’t you bored?”
“I have books to read before dinner.”
“Yeah, I guess so. Huh? Luden, look at them. They’re already packing and leaving.”
Some of the cadets who had decided to return home were already moving. Their faces looked extremely bewildered. Almost all of them were nobles. Rubin and Oscar shrugged.
“Let’s go up, Luden.”
“okay.”
Afterwards, Rubin parted ways with Oscar on the middle landing.
Of course, he didn’t head to the library in the dorm. He was headed to a secret room in the dorm. He had to meet Enzo and try out the ‘shadow curtain’.
* * *
Rubin explained to Enzo about Kaizen’s death. It was an explanation that covered up all the facts that could not be revealed, like an ‘imperial decree’.
He explained that Hitan’s forces had left a weed in the school, and that he had been eliminated.
“Did you kill him?”
Enzo asked blandly. His reaction was completely different from that of his son, Per. Judging from the things he had experienced with Rubin, he guessed that Rubin could eliminate a magic professor at any time.
Rubin shook his head.
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“No, I just created that situation.”
He just created the situation? Enzo gulped as Rubin said that so casually. The more I look at him, the more surprising he becomes.
“You can rest easy now, Enzo. There’s still one left, but he’ll be greatly distressed by this.”
“Really? That’s good.”
“Well then, shall we check it now?”
Rubin took out a small glass vial he had prepared and said, a vial containing the blood of the royal family. He could not reveal that he was a hidden member of the royal family, so he prepared the blood separately this time.
Enzo was holding a first-class magic stone in his hand. Rubin accepted it.
“According to what I’ve tested so far, the first-grade magic stone is composed of mana cubes without any problems. The ‘property change’ has also been carried out cleanly. However… … .”
However, it was not possible to test whether it could safely settle into the Mana Cube, because only those who possessed the Darkness could do so.
Enzo, growing impatient, touched his dry lips with his fingers.
In comparison, Rubin was calm. He opened the glass bottle cap and let a drop of blood fall. The first-class magic stone that recognized the bloodline began to work.
Phew.
Before my eyes, numerous whirling sounds embedded in the magic stone floated. The first order of business was ‘Temporary Replication’.
Originally, the Mana Cube was a cube made up of eight magic stones. However, even a single Grade 1 magic stone could replicate the remaining seven to form a Mana Cube.
“So I have to choose each of these built-in magic spells?”
“It’s annoying, but it has to be done for now. There’s no other way to activate the magic stone than by dropping a drop of blood.”
Rubin faked a regretful expression. If you were of royal blood, you could choose the magic of the magic stone simply by ‘will’, without shedding blood.
Anyway, since it was in front of Enzo, Rubin chose ‘Temporary Duplication’. The sound continued, and the magic stones suddenly swelled to eight, forming a Mana Cube.
Next, I activated another magic that was built in, ‘Pyrokinesis’. The process of moving the Mana Cube to Pyrokinesis was unfamiliar, but I quickly got used to it.
Rubin took the Mana Cube to the wall of the secret place. Enzo continued his explanation.
“Now, choose ‘Correspondence’ from the built-in magic. It is one of the architectural techniques, and it will allow the Mana Cube to seep into the object. Then, at the moment when the Mana Cube seeps in, you can use your ‘ability’.”
Ability, that is, an unknown power that Enzo did not even know the concept of. It meant darkness.
While a Mana Cube in a ‘corresponding’ state can enter objects without a hitch, a living being cannot. What makes this possible is the darkness.
“If you and Mana Cube enter the object at the same time, another magic will be revealed.”
“Well, it would be ‘temperament change.’”
“Yes, it is set to manifest in conjunction with ‘Correspondence’. Then, some part of the object’s interior will turn into liquid, and that will fill the Mana Cube.”
There was no reason to hesitate. Rubin took a quick deep breath and immediately tried the ‘Shadow Curtain’ for the first time.
He created ‘Correspondence’ with a floating Mana Cube and immediately threw it against the wall.
At the same time.
Tadah.
I ran towards the wall.
As the Mana Cube was halfway absorbed into the wall, Rubin’s body leaped towards the wall. Just as he was about to hit it, a dark smoke quickly spread out.
The texture and mass of the wall that Amyeon sensed was approaching Rubin.
“Mom, I can’t see!”
To Enzo, it was just a sight of him recklessly running towards the wall. He couldn’t bear to look at it, so he turned his head away.
In fact, this experiment was still fraught with the risk of failure even after Manacube and Rubin had infiltrated the wall. At worst, they could end up stuck in the wall without being able to fully infiltrate it.
“… … .”
Enzo, who had been turning his head away, realized that he had been holding his breath unconsciously and let out a sigh.
“Luden… … ?”
I quietly called out to Rubin. And then I realized that I hadn’t heard the sound of the wall hitting me. At his silence, his eyes slowly turned to the wall.
does not exist.
Rubin, who was there just a moment ago, disappeared. Unless he used magic, he would have gone straight into the wall.
‘I can’t guarantee success yet.’
He had to check what condition Rubin was in the wall. Enzo cautiously walked towards the wall. He placed his hand on the wall and asked in a trembling voice.
“Luden? Are you inside? Knock on the wall three times, and I’ll know you’re okay.”
Knock, knock, knock.
Three sounds followed immediately. Only then did Enzo sigh deeply.
“phew…….”
Now the only question is how long he can remain hidden in the object. Enzo checked his watch.
Currently, the inside of the Mana Cube would have turned into a liquid. The change in liquid properties was what Rubin had originally requested, so I followed through with it, but I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
Although Rubin is a magical being and has a unique ability to dive for long periods of time, he is still human. No matter how much ‘ability’ he has, a human cannot stay underwater for long.
Enzo looked at the five-minute hourglass he had prepared. Saaaaah, the sand was falling. Five minutes passed so quickly that it felt like an instant.
After making sure all the sand had settled, I flipped it over again. And then I repeated it again.
‘It’s already been 10 minutes? Are you okay?’
… Gulp.
But as if to mock Enzo’s anxiety, Rubin’s condition was the very definition of peace.
A body submerged in a mana cube filled with liquid.
Thanks to the dark smoke, his breathing was extremely stable. The expected maximum was 30 minutes, but it felt like he could easily surpass that.
‘If you repeat this a few times, you’ll be able to shorten the time it takes for it to seep into the wall.’
A satisfied smile appeared on Rubin’s face.
Another magic trick, the ‘Shadow Curtain’. This was the reason why Kuze Martin was chosen among the many candidates for the Roinenser. Thanks to him, he gained abilities that he could not have even imagined in his previous life.
‘Before my regression, I didn’t have Manado, Kuze, or Enzo Lorenzini.’
Once you become familiar with the ‘Shadow Curtain’, you will find that it can be useful not only for stealth but also in combat.
‘By the way, are the professors having a meeting?’
Rubin placed his hand on the other side of the wall and opened his eyes.
The wide-spreading dark smoke detected several figures. They were sitting around a large table. Their voices were resonating from time to time.
Across from the secret space where Enzo is hiding. It was usually a study room where students gathered to study, but it is currently being used as a meeting place for the assembled professors to discuss countermeasures.
‘Egeler, Solana, Benitez. All the first-year teachers are here. There are a few other teachers from other grades as well.’
Rubin focused on their conversation. It seemed as if they were planning how to run the dorms during the school closure and how to handle security.
“… Each security point is here, here, and here.”
I spread out the dark smoke a bit more delicately and checked the professors’ security points. It was the information I needed to easily get around the outside of the Magic Tower area.
“Wouldn’t it be better to receive help from the Imperial Army? They wouldn’t just ignore us if we asked for support.”
It was Solana. But Egeler shook his head.
“It is absolutely undesirable for the Imperial Army to enter the school, Senior. I hope that the Jang Education Committee will be the first and last case. The Royal Palace has also sent a message that they will send troops, and above all, our professors are personally taking action, so what is there to be afraid of?”
“Tch, I see. But let’s place plenty of golems instead.”
Capotini Magic School is also famous for producing golems. Golems would be a great way to fill in the gaps left by the professors.
“Good idea. Let’s put them here, here, and here.”
Rubin also figured out where to place the golems.
After that, the professors’ countermeasure meeting continued. How much time had passed? Behind Rubin, he felt a knock on the wall. It was Enzo.
“Luden? It’s already been an hour. Are you sure you’re okay inside?”
It’s been an hour already. I didn’t even realize it because my breathing was so steady. This was enough.
Rubin decided to manipulate the Mana Cube again to complete his hiding. When he was inside the wall, there was no need to make a show of dropping blood. All he needed was the will to get out.
Woohoo.
The ‘psychic’ built into the magic stone was activated, and the next moment Rubin was able to come out of the wall again.
“Are you okay? Is everything okay?”
The air was refreshing, but there was nothing wrong with my body.
“Thank you, Enzo. It worked, no problem.”
“You were under the wall for an hour, right? You didn’t go over to the other side, did you? It was an hour! I wonder what kind of body you have to be able to dive that long.”
Rubin shrugged.
“Even if you feel okay now, problems may arise later. Wouldn’t it be better to just sit still and take care of your physical condition?”
But Rubin didn’t follow those words. He just put on his wizard robes again.
Enzo thought he was going back to his room in the dormitory, but Rubin actually had a different destination.
‘I think I can apply it right away in real life.’
At that moment, I remembered a place where I could test out the newly developed ‘Shadow Curtain’. Coincidentally, that place was also a place that could not be accessed without the ‘Shadow Curtain’.
