Chapter 25

◈ Chapter 25: The Black Dawn Society (2)

‘What is it? What are they talking about right now?’

Rudger was having a deep conversation with a female student.

At least, that’s how it looked to her.

But no matter how hard she strained her ears, she couldn’t hear their conversation from such a distance.

If that were all, Flora would have thought that Rudger was just giving career advice to the student or talking about a lecture.

But she saw it with her own eyes.

The strange magical field surrounding Rudger and the girl.

‘What is that? Magic? Does the color mean it’s blocking sound?’

Flora Lumos had a secret she hadn’t told anyone.

The reason she maintained her reputation as a genius even in Seolren.

The reason she could see the flaws in magic or magical formulas she had never seen or learned.

It was because Flora Lumos had a unique condition called <Mana Synesthesia>.

She could feel the ‘color’ and ‘smell’ of mana.

Most people only perceive mana or magic as a visual phenomenon.

After all, the only sense among the five human senses that can see the magical formulas used by others is sight.

But Flora could also feel the color.

She saw well-constructed magical formulas as a single picture and felt them as the aroma of a delicious dish.

Being born into a noble family, she was so sensitive to these things that she could easily find the slightest inconsistency in a formula more easily than anyone else.

Especially when a color didn’t harmonize with others or when a foul smell mixed in with a pleasant one.

Whenever Flora detected ‘flawed’ magic, it was always like this.

Naturally, when she felt proper magic, she perceived it in a completely different way from others.

Like the colors floating around Rudger now.

As expected of a teacher who had resisted her control, the magical formula surrounding Rudger was flawless.

Though the smell couldn’t be detected from a distance, the color of the magic was very clear through the terrace’s glass window.

‘To be able to have a conversation while using magic. What are they talking about?’

Curiosity arose.

If it were an ordinary teacher, she would have ignored it and moved on, but since it was Rudger, she couldn’t bear the curiosity.

‘Should I pretend it’s a coincidence and go over once?’

Thinking up to that point, Flora shook her head. That would be too obvious.

And it would make her look like she was interested.

‘Absolutely not!’

Rudger was a wall she had to overcome.

On the first day, how much humiliation did she feel in front of everyone?

Of course, there was no room for argument about the defeat itself.

To criticize the opponent after losing a fair duel was something her pride wouldn’t allow.

Rudger’s magic, called Source Code, was so powerful that she had no choice but to lose.

She had never even heard of such magic.

So, she would surpass him purely through magic, just as she had always done.

‘Still… it was something amazing.’

When Rudger cast the Source Code magic, it was a sensation Flora had never experienced before.

A visual pleasure that couldn’t be expressed in words and a sweet aroma.

Especially, Rudger’s Source Code magic was like seeing a magnificent painting made of countless pieces of silver and gray metal intricately and firmly woven together.

Flora Lumos, due to her unique condition and talent, had felt a sense of pride in magic, but now even a sense of boredom.

However, the Source Code magic Rudger showed reignited the spark in her bored emotions.

If there was more, she wanted to see it.

But, due to the image she had built up so far, Flora couldn’t move rashly.

‘Just a quick peek…’

Just as Flora was about to move.

“Flora? What are you doing here?”

“Eek?!”

Startled by the sudden voice from behind, Flora straightened her back.

Turning around, she saw her best friend Cheryl looking at her with a puzzled expression.

“Cheryl, it’s you. What are you doing here?”

“Why are you here? You were the one who suggested we study together in the reading room.”

“Oh, oh right. That’s right, wasn’t it?”

“…Are you really okay?”

Cheryl sent a subtly worried look.

It was already well-known that Flora had been thoroughly defeated on the first day of Rudger’s manifestation class.

Because of this, some students who usually looked down on Flora started to mock her.

Cheryl was very worried about this.

“Hmm? Just… nothing.”

“Is there something over there? It looked like you were watching something.”

“No, no. It’s not that. Let’s hurry and go study.”

“Hmm.”

Flora pushed Cheryl’s back and headed towards the library.

But her gaze couldn’t leave the second floor of the distant café.

* * *

Having obtained information from Sedina Roschen, I left a message to meet her again and immediately returned to my personal office.

Hanging my coat on the hanger and sitting on the soft sofa, I rested my chin in my hand.

‘Let’s summarize this first.’

There is a group called the Shamshu School, a collaboration between black mages and mad scientists. They were the ones who created the werewolves.

While they are a separate group from the Black Dawn Society, they have formed an alliance or at least a temporary partnership.

One of the Black Dawn Society’s officers, Victor Dreadpool, has collaborated with the Shamshu School.

From Sedina’s explanation, it seems he is responsible for inventions and research within the Black Dawn Society.

‘The problem started with the Shamshu School.’

Three werewolf test subjects that the Shamshu School was secretly experimenting on escaped.

The exact location of the laboratory is unknown, but given the chaos in Leathervark, it’s likely nearby.

If the werewolves had been captured early in the incident, it might have been manageable, but the rumors have already spread throughout the city. With fatalities, it’s impossible to cover it up.

Worse, one of the werewolves infiltrated Seolren and injured two students.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities in Seolren, but the situation has become uncontrollably serious.

‘It would be right to let them handle it since it’s their fault, but the problem is that the Black Dawn Society supported the Shamshu School’s experiments to some extent.’

And it involves the original owner of my identity, Rudger Chelisi.

If another member was implicated and exposed, I would welcome it, but it’s different if I’m involved.

To survive, I need to capture the werewolves before anyone else.

‘First, I need to eliminate the werewolf that has infiltrated the academy.’

Fortunately, security patrols have been intensified.

Even if we exclude the existence of werewolves, it’s certain that there are intruders in Seolren, so teachers will patrol late into the night.

If I eliminate the werewolf here, no one will find it strange.

‘I thought I had quit being a hunter a long time ago.’

Five years ago, I ended the bloody hunt and effectively retired.

The reason was simple: I had become too famous.

Using the pseudonym Abraham van Helsing was, of course, to keep my true identity hidden.

But after hunting monsters for the reward, I became so famous that many people tried to approach me, which became a problem.

So, I retired that identity and changed to a new one.

‘How many times have I changed my identity now?’

The last identity I used was a wealthy middle-aged man named ‘Gerard,’ and after that, I became Rudger Chelisi.

Though it’s a fake life, I don’t feel particularly dissatisfied or stifled.

Maybe it’s because I died once and was reborn in this world.

My perception of life and death has changed somewhat from others.

‘Still, I don’t want to die again.’

Having already died once, I now find death even more undesirable.

I want to live longer and more comfortably. But to do that, there are things I need to do.

Heading to the capital of the empire this time was part of that.

But that damn train terrorist attack completely changed my life.

‘First, I need to focus on capturing the werewolves.’

I need to handle it before anyone else discovers it.

I thought about how to capture the werewolves.

* * *

Among the students of Seolren, the rumor of the werewolves was a hot topic.

Even students who had dismissed it as just a rumor began to accept the existence of werewolves after hearing that two students were injured.

Being students, such rumors tend to be exaggerated.

Naturally, teachers had to suppress the students’ curiosity and youthful vigor as much as possible.

“Study, study! Why are you believing in such nonsense! I’ll definitely put this on the test today, so focus! Those who get it wrong will deal with the consequences.”

“Everyone, this is the enhanced patrol week. Go straight to your dorms after sunset. If you’re caught wandering around, you’ll get demerits.”

“Don’t drag your feet after getting demerits; take care of yourselves.”

Some timid students thought they should return to the dorms immediately after class due to the teachers’ warnings, but there were also many who didn’t.

The more pride a student has, the more they want to do something they’re told not to.

“Hey, werewolves, aren’t you curious?”

“Of course.”

“Let’s catch them.”

“What? Didn’t you hear that you’ll get demerits if you’re caught?”

“Hey, think about