Chapter 18

EP.18 Class Assignment Exam (2)

Yetoal, the Black Tower Master, is a flexible individual.

He makes quick judgments. He is not rigid. He pursues efficiency over formality. He is not bound by discipline.

He is different from the elders who have become conservative and rigid after ascending to high positions.

Yetoal has always pursued the benefit of the tower. Even if it goes against the norms. Even if it incurs public outrage, he does not hesitate.

'That's why he could discover that child.'

Velnua, the Nightmare of Twilight, who destroyed Twilight. The best talent Yetoal discovered. Recalling his first meeting with that child, Yetoal let out a bitter smile.

Yetoal did not have a bad impression of the organization, Twilight, which resided in the slums. Of course, he knew they were dirty. He knew they engaged in illegal activities.

But so what?

You can get materials that are hard to find in the black market there. As long as you pay, they will perform any dirty task without hesitation. To Yetoal, Twilight was merely a tool to be manipulated.

One day, it happened.

As usual, Yetoal visited the slums to buy materials. That day, the slums were strange.

The magical lamps illuminating the slums were broken.

The darkness in the alleys was thick with the smell of blood.

The guide from the organization was nowhere to be seen.

*Thud.*

And.

*Plop, splash!*

The sound of something being smashed and something splattering was heard continuously.

*Footsteps.*

When he approached the center of the sound, Yetoal met a boy.

'Ghost.'

The boy, covered in blood, stood alone on a pile of bodies. Yetoal vividly remembered the boy's ghostly appearance.

This child could do it.

Even in the dirty back alleys, this child could blossom with talent and chase the shadow of Raniel.

Yetoal could never forget the thrill he felt that day.

"Many people misunderstand."

Recalling that day, Yetoal smiled bitterly. People often misunderstand, thinking that Velnua destroyed Twilight after becoming the Black Tower Master's disciple.

However, the reality is different.

Velnua was already a complete monster before becoming Yetoal's disciple. The boy destroyed the slums without learning anything.

'A monster.'

A child who had not properly learned anything.

Destroyed Twilight, which had ruled the slums for decades. His ghostly talent was unmatched.

"The White Tower Master is said to have raised the Grand Duke of the North."

There is a rumor that the Grand Duke of the North, among the new students, is the strongest. It is said among the mages that no one can defeat him in a real battle.

"What a ridiculous story."

Yetoal laughed at the rumor.

It's a story told by those who haven't seen Velnua. Yes, maybe he might lose in a fair fight. But if it's a 'real battle', a fight to the death.

Velnua is unmatched by anyone.

"Hmm."

Yetoal stroked his chin and looked at the documents on the table. The progress of the class assignment exam. As requested, Velnua is facing Rak alone.

'A chance to flatten the White Tower Master's nose.'

While Yetoal was smiling bitterly, a line in the document caught his eye.

"Huh?"

A line that was originally blank.

The section for the assistant professor assigned to the northern sector, where Velnua and Rak were assigned, was filled in.

'There's someone assigned to that sector?'

Isn't it a position that an assistant professor shouldn't handle? At least a full professor should be there to mediate the fight.

'What a cocky brat.'

Out of curiosity, Yetoal looked at the name filled in.

Then.

"Huh?"

Yetoal stiffened for a moment.

'Lania...?'

Lania von Trias.

Yetoal's eyes flickered slightly upon confirming the name. But only for a moment, as Yetoal quickly assessed the situation.

'Is the plan still feasible?'

The plan he had set up. Should the plan to touch the White Tower Master's top disciple through the exam be revised?

Recalling Velnua, Rak, and Assistant Professor Lania, Yetoal didn't need to imagine them together.

Just recalling the girl's skills from the podium, the answer was clear.

The amount of spells she had stockpiled.

Dozens, hundreds of spells perfectly under control.

'At least on par with the Ashen Tower Master's skills.'

She was a person of such caliber.

'Is it possible for Velnua's curse to activate under her watch?'

No, it's probably impossible.

No matter how talented Velnua is, he can't do anything in front of her.

'She must be confident enough to control any situation.'

That's why she was assigned to that sector.

Confidence born from her skills.

"Hmm..."

Yetoal rubbed his temples and sighed.

"I guess I need to change the plan."

He had intended to touch the White Tower Master's top disciple through the exam... but now the story is different.

'No need to make enemies so early.'

Yetoal took out a letter.

A letter to his disciple.

2.

Two days after the opening ceremony.

I was enjoying a leisurely life every day. Every day is new.

Aphria Academy.

This place, the best academy in the kingdom, had facilities beyond my imagination.

What if a former royal chef made the food.

What if a famous alchemy workshop craftsman brewed the coffee. The opulence and luxury of the facilities are endless.

Is it possible for meals to be served on time, and even warm?

That alone was a luxury for me. In the battlefield, eating cold canned food was the norm.

"Here you are, Professor."

"Ah, thank you."

I sipped the coffee the owner had brewed, resting my chin on my hand and looking out the window.

The warm sunlight is pleasant.

The flowers sway in the breeze.

This peaceful scene, though unfamiliar, seems to be gradually getting comfortable.

"Feeling lazy."

Enjoying a rare moment of leisure, I looked out the window. Among the students wandering around the campus, the figures of the assistants were occasionally visible.

'...No undead here.'

The dull eyes.

The limp limbs dragging along. Looking at those who walk sluggishly, I feel sorry for them.

I, on the other hand... Thanks to Master's consideration, I only get a moderate amount of work and enjoy a leisurely life, but is this normal for an assistant?

'Ah, that's why they all looked so worn out when they saw me.'

If they keep working like this, they'll lose their taste.

*Hm, Assistant Professor Lania is quite relaxed, isn't she?*

*Huh?*

*Have you finished the documents you were assigned? You've been coming to the cafe a lot lately and are often seen on the school benches. So relaxed...*

*Well, I submitted them yesterday.*

*...What?*

The one who always sneered at me... What was his name? Caesar?

'He also lived a tiring life.'

He would lecture about the need for thorough supervision and the responsibility for injuries... but honestly, it didn't resonate with me.

'Isn't it just a matter of stopping someone if they're about to die while watching the students fight?'

Unfortunately.

I had experience mediating such fights. A lot of them.

*This elf bitch can say anything, can't she?*

*This zealot bitch can say anything, can't she?*

...

*Are you going to finish it today?*

*Ah, can you even run properly?*

Hmm.

'It was terrifying.'

Arrows flying everywhere.

Holy Missiles, or something, tearing limbs apart. The sky was adorned with divine magic.

'Thinking about it, Sara used more Holy Missiles on Remia than on demons.'

I remember feeling absurd when I saw her skill improving every time they fought.

It probably continued for about three months of the journey.

By the fourth month, after Kai, Sara, and Remia moved into a luxurious accommodation, the fights became less frequent...

'Wait, thinking about it, it's kind of a mess?'

Maybe I should have let one of them die back then.

"Sigh."

I laughed bitterly at the thought. I wonder if they're still like that without anyone to keep watch.

Well, they'll figure it out on their own.

While sipping coffee and having such pointless thoughts, I heard a jingling sound. Turning my head, I saw a customer entering the cafe.

"..."

I looked at the customer.

He was also looking at me.

Snow-white hair, a slightly sharp appearance.

And the handle of an axe tied to his waist.

It was a familiar face.

'Ah, one of the four representatives of the new students.'

Lak, the son of the Grand Duke of the North, a Battle Mage.

As I recalled his name, he suddenly shivered.

*Hiccup.*

Then he started hiccupping.

Lak turned his head away from me, seemingly trying to avoid eye contact.

'...Why is he like that?'

For a while, Lak stood at the entrance, staring blankly.

The owner couldn't stand it and spoke to him.

"Hey, student."

"What, what is it?"

"Since you're here, why don't you order something? Is there anything special you want to drink?"

"Hmm."

Lak's eyes darted around, and he finally spoke in a low voice.

"Black... black water."

"What?"

"Um, I want to drink the black water that person is drinking."

"...You mean coffee?"

"...That's what it was called, I guess."

He's not normal either.

I thought to myself.

3.

Lak, the son of the Grand Duke of the North.

He had spent his 17 years in the snowy mountains of the North and was now experiencing 'civilization' after enrolling in Aphria.

'The capital is so diverse.'

I began to understand why Father wanted me to come to the capital.

'So, I was just a frog in a well.'

I'm full of things I don't know.

Only new things.

However, Lak was enjoying it.

Thanks to the teachings of the northern warriors from his childhood.

*Young master, don't fear new things.*

*Living in such a northern region will make your mind rigid. We only need to swing our swords, but... don't you need to rise to a higher place, young master?*

The warriors who laughed heartily and advised him not to stop learning and seeing new things.

Recalling their teachings, it was natural for Lak to be drawn to the cafe.

'A cafe must...'

A place that sells 'black water', the drink the northern warriors introduced as something only wise intellectuals could drink.

"Hmm."

Lak nodded slightly and entered the cafe confidently. Now that he was attending Aphria, the best academy in the capital, he could be called an intellectual.

'I want to try that black water.'

Entering the cafe, Lak.

"!"

He was taken aback by the sight of a predator in one corner of the cafe.

"?"

The predator looked at him.

Those green eyes felt like the eyes of a predator he had encountered in the snowy mountains at night.

*Hiccup.*

Trying to suppress the hiccups, Lak turned his head.

'That person is definitely...'

Assistant Professor Lania von Trias, the assistant of Professor Roselle.

The mysterious strong person he had met before.

'To meet her so soon...'

Lak shivered.

He turned to leave the cafe hastily, but the moment he touched the doorknob, the voices of the warriors echoed in his ears.

*Showing your back is a warrior's shame!*

*It's not about running away or dying in a fight. It's about facing and winning, young master!*

Indeed.

"Hmm!"

Lak took a deep breath and lifted his head. He confidently ordered 'black water', the drink of intellectuals, from the owner who was looking at him.

"Here you go, student."

"Thank you."

Holding the drink, Lak looked at the predator. The predator seemed uninterested and was just looking out the window.

'Fear is something to overcome.'

Lak nodded vigorously and confidently headed to the seat next to the predator.

*Thud!*

He sat down with a loud noise.

The predator slowly turned his head.

"Hello."

"...Hmm?"

"I'm a new student this semester, Rak von Grace."

As a student, one must respect the professor.

Lak bowed his head slightly in greeting. It took a lot of mental effort just to make eye contact, but he was satisfied to have completed the greeting.

His throat was dry from tension.

Lak gulped down the black water.

'It's hot!'

But it's bearable.

Lak frowned at the bitter taste that filled his mouth after drinking a third of it.

"Ugh."

It tastes bad.

Do the intellectuals of the capital drink such tasteless things?

'This is also unknown.'

Lak nodded and sipped the coffee.