Chapter 16: Intruder of the Academy
Late February, a few days after the entrance ceremony preparations began.
The main gates of Klomes Academy finally swung wide open.
Lapland Town bustled with crowds gathered from all over the country, and events were held everywhere to celebrate the students’ matriculation.
Flower shops selling vibrant wreaths, street vendors cooking special dishes, and souvenir shops selling all sorts of fantastical gifts.
Sellers and buyers flocked together, creating a truly bustling market.
However, there was a particular presence that truly captured everyone’s attention.
“There they come!”
“Look at that! A carriage pulled by Pegasuses!”
Shouts erupted from the crowd gathered to watch.
The imperial family of the Vǫlsunga Empire, scheduled to enter this year, was arriving in Lapland Town.
They rode in a white, airborne carriage pulled by eight Pegasuses.
It was transportation provided by the academy for the prince and princess arriving from afar.
The Pegasus carriage, flying above the crowd, soon left their cheers behind and entered the academy grounds.
It then landed softly on the grassy campus.
As the carriage door opened, the people who had been gathered in clusters by the flowerbeds all rushed towards it.
They were the academy staff, including Dean Roakan, who had come out to greet the Emperor’s children.
“Welcome to Klomes Academy, members of the Hohenlaufen Imperial Family. I am Bardon Roakan, the dean of Klomes.”
Dean Roakan stepped forward with a broad smile.
Representing the faculty, he clasped his hands together and bowed in the manner of mages.
It was a polite greeting that highlighted the experience of an old man who had dedicated half his life to the academy.
“It is a true honor to welcome the two children of the Vǫlsunga Empire to the academy this year. I hope you will temper your minds and bodies in this place of learning and exchange, and become talents who will protect the foundation of the empire.”
At that, Krimhild and Ferdinand, who had disembarked from the carriage, also bowed respectfully.
Krimhild’s elegant response, in particular, was more than enough to enhance her reputation as a woman of iron and blood.
“We sincerely thank you for the welcome, Dean Roakan. May the sun’s blessing, which watches over all things, be with you. May the blessing of unending magic be upon the academy.”
“Hoho, indeed, the dignity of the Vǫlsunga Empire’s princess. This humble old man is at a loss for what to do.”
While the dean was stroking his beard and making pleasantries, Ferdinand, who had only been observing their conversation, suddenly spoke up.
“Excuse me, Dean Roakan? I heard there will be a major personnel change at the academy this year. Especially in the compulsory subjects department…”
“Ah, of course. The retirement of Professor Kamala, who has been teaching black magic defense, has been decided. Come to think of it, her successor happens to be someone recommended by Sir Nathaniel.”
Nod, nod. Roakan, nodding his head repeatedly, looked at Ferdinand with a subtle, knowing smile.
“Although there was an unfortunate accident, the academy has gained an excellent talent thanks to Your Highness’s confidant. I offer my sincere gratitude.”
“Hahaha, not at all. I am also pleased to be able to contribute to the academy. Then, if I may ask, when might I be able to meet that professor…?”
“Oh my. You seem to be in a hurry. We will have a celebratory banquet after the placement test, so you will surely be able to meet her then. Please be patient for a little while.”
Soothing the prince with a playful reply, Dean Roakan raised an arm.
He pointed to a building across the campus and said.
“The entrance ceremony will begin soon, so please head to the grand auditorium first. Many freshmen are already taking their seats.”
“Thank you, Dean Roakan. We shall see you after the entrance ceremony.”
Exchanging formal greetings, Krimhild and Ferdinand had their servants move their luggage.
At the same time, as Dean Roakan had suggested, they began to walk towards the grand auditorium where the entrance ceremony was in full swing.
Finally, the two siblings were separated from the crowd with only a few attendants.
And once they no longer needed to worry about prying eyes.
“You seem quite thrilled, don’t you? Seeking out the new professor as soon as you entered the campus?”
Sharp attacks towards each other began to flow without restraint.
“Hmph. I wish you would tone it down, sister. Your nasty temper is famous throughout the nations, but there’s no need to flaunt it here, is there?”
Ferdinand’s retort, pinching the bridge of his nose.
He unleashed his mockery, his eyes gleaming with the characteristic malice of a troublemaker.
“This older brother of yours never stops worrying. I’m afraid your suitors will run away, unable to handle that temper, and my dear sister will end up a lonely spinster.”
“Hmph, bullsh*t. It’s not worry, it’s annoyance. Because you want to sell me off like a breeding hen to a foreign country, but it’s not going as you planned.”
At this, Krimhild’s lips curled up as she shot back mercilessly.
Perhaps because of her experience fighting magical beasts on the brink of death, her mouth was quite coarse for her dignified appearance.
Ferdinand, who knew this well, continued the verbal spat without showing much surprise.
“Besides, that’s not why I wanted to see the new professor. Misunderstanding is your freedom, but I hope you don’t assume everyone is on the same petty level as you.”
“Why? Aren’t your shoulders puffed up because things went your way?”
Krimhild scoffed as if it wasn’t even worth a laugh and glared.
“Congratulations, my wonderful older brother. To have an academy professor on your side. School life will be quite a spectacle from now on, won’t it?”
The disgrace Ferdinand, the problem child who shamed the imperial family in every way.
The thought of witnessing his antics in real-time at the same school made her stomach churn.
Wasn’t it so bad that even their eldest brother, Maximilian, had half-given up on disciplining him?
The fresh academy life that any student would be excited about.
The reason Krimhild held no romance for it was all because of Ferdinand.
‘But not a chance.’
Glancing at her utterly detestable sibling, Krimhild steeled her resolve once more.
‘I will definitely make that professor mine, you fool Ferdinand. While you’re busy chasing after women’s skirts.’
However, Krimhild was unaware.
That Ferdinand, the person in question, was not in a comfortable state of mind either.
‘Early admission by the dean’s authority? And a warlock, not even an ordinary magician?’
An intelligence report secretly sent by a confidant he had planted just before arriving at the academy.
News from within the academy that began to surface as the entrance ceremony approached.
It was the final report, compiled after painstakingly extracting the information.
‘What happened? Didn’t he say he would select a magician who was easy to control?’
Chew. Ferdinand muttered, unconsciously biting his thumbnail.
Warlocks from the Northeast were arrogant beings who never bowed to authority.
And if they were powerful magicians, there was no need to say more.
Wasn’t this choice completely contrary to the purpose of writing the recommendation letter?
‘What on earth were you thinking, Nathaniel!’
The fact that the deceased court magician had recommended a warlock, of all people, to the academy.
That fact continued to confuse his master, Ferdinand.
And that confusion soon led to the memory of that nightmarish day.
The day he had to directly stain his noble hands with blood.
To the intense memory of murder that had not yet faded.
“Tsk.”
“What? Are you sulking again after hearing what I said? So petty.”
“It’s nothing, so mind your own business.”
Retorting to Krimhild’s impertinence, Ferdinand bit his lip.
His foolish sister would never know.
Why he wanted to plant a collaborator in the academy.
What he truly wanted to achieve through it.
‘I’ll have to meet her one-on-one to know for sure, but…’
The plan to make an academy professor a collaborator seemed to have gone wrong from the very first button.
But it didn’t matter.
If you get hung up on the first button being wrong, you can’t do what you could have done.
He was just going to focus on what he could do.
Even if it meant starting everything over from scratch.
Even if it meant dying at the very end, covered in all sorts of infamy and dishonor.
‘…Beatrice.’
The name of a woman he could never forget.
Repeating it, Ferdinand quietly walked on.
“Haaam.”
“Hey, George. Stop slacking off and stand guard properly. Do you think you get paid to play around?”
“Yes, yes.”
‘Damn it. He acts like he’s the one paying me.’
Muttering to himself, the young magician on guard duty at the academy stretched.
Then, he secretly flipped the middle finger at the back of his departing superior.
Today was the magnificent day of the academy entrance ceremony.
Naturally, the academy was on edge due to various issues, including security.
That was why George Kapkhan, a guard who usually just patrolled, was guarding the outskirts of the academy.
The academy was a treasure trove of learning where talents from all over the country gathered.
Therefore, even field personnel like campus guards were not recruited carelessly.
A certain level of combat prowess, experience in subjugating magical beasts, and mental fortitude.
Only those who possessed all of these could wear the guard’s name tag.
That’s why George Kapkhan had always been proud of his position.
Although the labor exploitation was severe during this peak season, he prided himself on it being a profession he wouldn’t be ashamed to mention anywhere.
“I’d be even prouder if it weren’t for that old geezer’s nagging.”
He was chuckling, muttering his simple wish.
Rustle.
Suddenly, a low rustling sound came from the other side.
Hearing this, George flinched and went on alert.
“Who’s there?”
He raised his voice, preparing to chant a spell.
George Kapkhan was a soldier who had considerable experience in magical beast subjugation.
He could distinguish between the movements of ordinary wild animals and dangerous creatures.
And what he had just heard was definitely not the sound of a stray cat.
“Come out and identify yourself! Otherwise, I will attack!”
Thump, thump. George warned, walking cautiously.
The outskirts of the campus, lined with old statues and overgrown bushes.
He wandered, searching for the unidentified intruder hiding there.
But no response came.
The atmosphere of the campus was just as peaceful as if he had heard an auditory hallucination.
‘…I should report this first.’
He thought to himself, preparing a short-range communication spell.
When a suspicious sign is detected, it is basic security protocol to immediately report it to the academy.
It was a natural procedure to be wary of intruders who might have been missed.
“Ah, Administrator Verza? Can you hear me? Administrator Verza! This is George Kapkhan, guarding the western defense of Amethyst Hall!”
[Loud and clear, Kapkhan. What’s the matter?]
The communication was finally established.
George immediately reported what he had found to his superior.
Or rather, he was about to report it.
“Ugh?!”
Suddenly, something attacked him from behind.
A writhing, dark green liquid instantly enveloped the young guard’s body.
Then, it absorbed him into its body like a jellyfish snatching a fish.
“Grrgle! Gaaahk!!”
Devoured by the liquid monster, George struggled and resisted desperately.
But no matter how hard he tried, there was no way to escape from the sticky slime.
And before long, George Kapkhan’s frail body melted away without a trace in the acidic liquid.
His guard’s badge and magician’s robe, of course.
Skin, hair, eyes, organs. In the end, not even a single bone fragment was left.
Gurgle! Kruk!
Finally, the dark green liquid, having finished its ‘digestion,’ let out a grotesque cry.
It now had a distinct human form with arms, legs, and a head.
“…is.”
Then, the first clear word came from the liquid monster’s mouth.
The gurgling, slimy vocal cords of the monster were gradually changing into those of a human.
“No…problem…is…no…thing…wrong…”
The human voice was gradually being completed.
Like a baby babbling, it wriggled, repeatedly muttering the same sentence.
“Hey, George! Why did you cut off the communication? What happened?”
The superior who had received George Kapkhan’s call suddenly appeared on the scene.
He was a middle-aged man who served as the academy’s janitor, responsible for campus security and management.
He crossed his arms irritably and pressed in a phlegmy voice.
“Hey! What are you doing standing there blankly? I asked why you cut off the communication! Can’t you hear me?”
At that, the silently standing ‘George Kapkhan’ slowly turned towards the administrator.
And then, a faint smile.
He spoke fluently with a calm and collected smile.
“There’s no problem. I mistook a stray cat for something else and contacted you.”
“What? A stray cat? Good grief.”
The superior frowned, finding it ridiculous.
He gave a light reprimand as he returned to his post.
“Stand guard properly, you brat. Don’t bother people with trivial things. Don’t you know everyone’s busy on the day of the entrance ceremony?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll be careful. I won’t let this happen again.”
“Right, right. Don’t make the same mistake again. You’re a graduate of the academy, after all. You have to live up to your name.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Please go ahead.”
George Kapkhan bowed his head repeatedly as he saw off the superior.
Then, as he completely disappeared from sight.
Drip! Drip!
He slowly raised his arm and dropped the green liquid onto the dirt floor.
The liquid that flowed from George’s fingers gathered into small pellets.
Then, they became miniature versions of the original liquid monster and waited quietly for instructions.
George Kapkhan, watching this with satisfaction, opened his mouth.
And the next moment.
—–!!!
His mouth opened so wide that his skin tore.
A chilling cry flowed from beyond his jaw, from which green ooze dripped.
Not the cry of an ordinary wild animal, nor of a bird.
A gruesome and ferocious roar that ripped through the air.
Taking the roar as a signal, the small liquid pellets scattered in all directions.
Then, they disappeared one by one deep into the campus grounds.
A man stood blankly, letting out a satisfied smile.
Leaving the fake George Kapkhan alone in that place.