Chapter 44
“What do you think?”
“This… it’s clear this is beyond something the Academy could produce on its own.”
“So, that means?”
“Yes. This is like…”
Addy quietly waited for the woman to finish her sentence, her gaze fixed on the ghoul corpses lying on the floor.
These were the ghouls the Commander had insisted on bringing back, thinking they might be helpful.
Swish.
As the woman with blue hair moved gracefully, Addy instinctively took a step back.
The woman, crouching in front of the ghoul corpses and examining them closely, had an elegant and sophisticated appearance that seemed incongruous with the sight of undead bodies.
She touched different parts of the ghouls’ bodies without hesitation.
Very few people, even within the Black Shadow Corps, knew her identity.
She was Yuria, the Captain of the Black Shadow Corps’ 4th Squad.
Though a Captain, Yuria never participated in routine missions.
So much so that even some squad members were unaware of the 4th Squad’s existence.
The 4th Squad only mobilized under exceptional circumstances, and its Captain, Yuria, had visited the Black Shadow Corps headquarters for the first time in ages.
“They’ve already reached this level…”
Yuria murmured to herself as her fingers brushed over the ghoul’s corpse.
Addy waited patiently for Yuria to complete her observations, thinking she seemed even more refined than before.
“Ah, I’m sorry. There’s no way the Academy could have created this. It must be the work of an external force, and the Academy is likely trying to cover it up.”
Realizing she had left Addy’s question unanswered, Yuria finally spoke.
“A dark mage has returned to the continent, haven’t they?”
“It’s 99% certain. I suspected it, but their power seems stronger than expected. But why is the Academy hiding it…”
Standing up from the ghoul’s corpse, Yuria didn’t bother to mask her confusion.
The appearance of undead during Crescent Academy’s Inter-Year Competition should have been a huge issue, yet it was not publicized at all.
Even Addy, who had seen and experienced everything while serving under Ryu Yeong, found the silence unsettling.
For an event of this magnitude, even if it wasn’t officially announced, rumors would typically spread.
Yet this time, there wasn’t a single whisper.
It was as if someone was actively suppressing all related information.
And in the underworld, where information was currency, the fact that this level of control existed suggested that the “someone” behind it was an organization of massive scale.
For example, the Crescent Empire government itself.
“So, where is our rookie Commander? After the hourglass incident, I feel like I should at least have a conversation with him.”
Yuria’s playful grin lightened the heavy atmosphere. Addy returned a faint, bitter smile as Yuria inquired about Ryu Yeong’s whereabouts.
“I have no idea. Ever since he entered the Academy, I haven’t been able to manage his schedule.”
“Heh. He’s probably causing trouble somewhere again.”
The mention of “trouble” reminded Addy of the undead Ryu Yeong had boasted about.
The Commander had even given it a name, “Greenie,” and proudly declared he’d show off its mounted form someday.
Come to think of it, wasn’t capturing that creature already a form of trouble?
“Yuria, have you ever seen a skeletal horse?”
“A skeletal horse?”
“Yes. A horse made entirely of bones, with legs engulfed in green flames.”
“…Is that another undead creature that appeared recently?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve never seen such a thing, but it doesn’t sound like it would be easy to handle.”
“So, even you haven’t encountered such an undead. Phew.”
“Why?”
“Well, the Commander brought one back, claiming he’d ride it in the future.”
“Oh? He captured it?”
“Yes. Please, if you meet him, tell him it’s absolutely not suitable for public use. He won’t listen to me.”
“Haha. To think of capturing an undead. That’s so like the Commander. I’d like to see it myself.”
“Exactly. Usually, he’d be back by this time, at least to stop by the office for formalities, but he’s unusually late today.”
Typically, Ryu Yeong would at least make an appearance in the office around this time, but not today.
If he had known Yuria was visiting, he probably would have come back earlier, but her visit had been unannounced.
After Ryu Yeong handed Addy the ghoul corpses for investigation, she had done her best to learn more about the undead.
But finding anyone with expertise on the undead had proven almost impossible.
In desperation, she had reached out to Yuria, the Black Shadow Corps’ resident mage. The moment Yuria heard the word “undead,” she arrived at headquarters within a day.
“Well, at least it’s a relief.”
“What is?”
“That our rookie Commander is in the Crescent Empire.”
“Hmm? And why is that a relief?”
“If something goes wrong, you can handle it.”
“Come on, I told you I’m done with things like that. Besides, if trouble arises, the Commander will find a way to escape on his own. There’s no holding him down.”
“Still, it’s comforting to have that sense of security.”
Addy naturally poured a cup of tea and handed it to Yuria.
Accepting the cup with a gentle smile, Yuria sipped her tea gracefully.
Yuria being the Captain of the Black Shadow Corps’ 4th Squad was a fact known to very few, but that wasn’t the only thing she kept hidden.
Her name was Yuria, and her family name was Prisis.
Together, she was Yuria Prisis.
Yuria hailed from the Prisis family, one of the Six Great Houses of the Crescent Empire.
Although she had left the family to act independently, the name “Prisis” carried immense influence in the Crescent Empire.
“Fufu. I once said something like this to the Commander.”
“What did you say?”
“It was back when I was still with my family. I told him that if he ever ran into trouble in Crescent, he could just use my name, and it would probably resolve the issue.”
“That’s true.”
“At the time, the Commander confidently said he’d never have to rely on such a thing.”
Yuria smiled slightly, taking a sip of her tea.
As old memories resurfaced after so long, she couldn’t help but smile.
“Now, I’m not sure if saying my name would have the same effect in the Empire…”
The end of her smile carried a hint of bitterness.
Addy, who roughly understood Yuria’s circumstances, stayed silent, refraining from saying anything unnecessary.
‘When is he coming?’
She quietly blamed Ryu Yeong for not showing up.
***
“Yuria Prisis!”
“…”
“You know, from the same Six Great Houses—Prisis.”
“Yuria…?”
Royce Sinclair, still holding his sword in a defensive stance, looked at me with a suspicious expression.
I instinctively knew there was no point in claiming innocence to Royce, who had already misunderstood—or perhaps even uncovered the truth.
It was all my fault for getting carried away.
Wanting to test my magic, wanting to challenge the Ironclad Knight—it had all been too much.
Royce naturally assumed I wasn’t an ordinary student, leaving no room for excuses.
In that moment of crisis, an old name popped into my mind.
Yuria, our Captain of the 4th Squad.
She might just be the only way out of this mess.
“Yes, yes. Yuria Prisis. I actually work under her.”
“Huh?”
Royce’s brow furrowed as he looked at me with even sharper eyes.
Thunk—
“I’m serious. If you don’t believe me, feel free to strike me down right now.”
To show my sincerity, I threw my sword to the ground and raised both hands.
Even as I discarded my weapon, Royce remained vigilant.
Ironclad truly was the perfect nickname for him.
“You work for the Prisis family?”
“Yes, yes. The Prisis family discovered something suspicious happening within the Academy, so they sent me in as a student to investigate.”
“From what I know…”
‘What now?’
Even someone as detached as me knew about the reputation and influence of the Six Great Houses.
In the Crescent Empire, falsely using the name of a Great House was an unforgivable offense.
Even for minor things, those who misused their names would be relentlessly tracked down—it was common knowledge in the Empire.
Royce, as the head of the Sinclair family, would undoubtedly be well aware of this, which likely made my words somewhat believable.
Of course, there was nothing suspicious in the Academy.
I was only here because of a quest.
“I heard Yuria left her family.”
“Ah, yes. She did leave the family, but that doesn’t mean she stopped working. Yuria still does her own work outside the family.”
“Hmm…”
My heartfelt explanation seemed to be slowly convincing Royce.
The white glow enveloping his wooden sword faded, returning to its original deep brown.
He retrieved the mana surrounding his sword and then lowered it.
‘Phew.’
“I’ll need to confirm this with her.”
“Yes, yes. If you mention my name to Yuria, she’ll immediately know who I am.”
It was fortunate I knew where Yuria lived.
Even if Royce contacted her as quickly as possible, there was no way he’d be faster than my Spatial Movement.
“There are too many things I can’t understand.”
“Ahem.”
Royce muttered to himself, and I couldn’t help but let out an awkward cough.
“You claim to have infiltrated the Academy as a student for an investigation, yet you act so conspicuously. Why is that?”
“…”
I had no answer for that.
—
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