Chapter 4: The Collapse of Everyday Life, Remnants of the Past

The next day.

“Uwooooh!? Late, I’m gonna be late!?”

A familiar scene unfolded on the road leading to the academy.

The source of the shout was, of course, Glenn.

And this time, there was no excuse like a misaligned clock. It was a genuine, honest-to-goodness oversleep.

“Damn it! I forgot the humanoid auto-alarm clock went off to the capital last night!”

With a piece of bread stuffed in his mouth, he frantically moved his legs, sprinting as fast as he could.

“Seriously, why do I have to teach on a day off!? This is exactly why I didn’t want to work! Ugh, long live the unemployed!”

Regardless, being late was bad news. There was one particularly naggy person waiting for him. Right now, his top priority was reaching the academy as quickly as possible. If things went well, he might just barely make it in time.

Glenn dashed from Celica’s mansion, where he was freeloading, all the way to the academy. He cut through the main streets, darted through a few back alleys, then rejoined the main road.

And when he reached the usual crossroad, a landmark on the way to the academy.

Glenn noticed something off and instinctively stopped in his tracks.

“…!?”

It was unnaturally empty. Even in the morning, this crossroad should have had at least a few ordinary citizens passing through at this hour. But today, it was eerily silent, not a single soul in sight. There wasn’t even a hint of human presence. It was clearly abnormal.

“No, wait, this is…”

No mistake about it. He could sense faint traces of magical residue in key spots around him. This was a warding barrier designed to keep people away. Its structure suggested it would only be effective for a short time, but while active, ordinary citizens with low mental defenses would unconsciously avoid the area centered on this crossroad.

(Why would something like this be here?)

A prickling sense of danger seemed to sear his temples. It had been a year since he’d felt this kind of sensation.

Glenn sharpened his senses, staying vigilant of his surroundings.

And then.

“…What’s your business?”

Glenn asked with a quiet, intimidating tone.

“Come out. I know you’re sneaking around over there.”

Glenn shot a piercing, razor-sharp glare toward one corner of the crossroad.

And then—

“Ho… you noticed? I heard you were just a third-rank, third-rate mage… but my, aren’t you quite sharp?”

The air shimmered like a mirage, and from that distortion, a man emerged as if seeping out.

A short man of indeterminate age, with distinctive curly brown hair.

“First, allow me to commend your keen senses. But… why are you looking that way? I’m over here, you know?”

“…Tch, whatever.”

Glenn awkwardly turned to face the man who had appeared behind him.

“So, uh, who the heck are you, exactly?”

“Oh, no one worth mentioning.”

“If you’ve got no business, mind getting out of my way? I’m kinda in a hurry here.”

“Hahaha, no worries, no worries. There’s no need to rush, you see… You can take your time heading to your destination.”

The man’s evasive words made Glenn visibly furrow his brow.

“Look, I said I don’t have time. You deaf or something?”

“I’m telling you, it’s fine. Your destination has already been… changed.”

“Huh?”

“That’s right. Your new destination… is the afterlife.”

“—!?”

In the split-second Glenn was caught off guard, the small man began chanting a spell.

“《Defile・Rot・—”

(Crap—!?)

Feeling the rising magical energy prickling against his skin, cold sweat poured from Glenn’s body.

He’d let the enemy take the initiative. He hadn’t meant to drop his guard, but he hadn’t expected an opponent this ruthless, attacking without warning. At this rate, Glenn’s three-verse chants wouldn’t be fast enough to counter with any spell.

(And that spell—)

A deadly combination of two spells with devastating power. Moreover, it was condensed to its absolute limit. Only a top-tier mage could combine and shorten spells like this.

“—Decay》”

The small man’s spell completed in three verses.

The terrifying power woven into its formula was about to be unleashed—

At the main gate of the magic academy, enclosed by trees and iron fences, an odd pair stood.

One was a man who looked like a typical city thug. The other was a gentlemanly figure clad in a dark coat. Unlike the empty-handed thug, the man in the dark coat carried a massive attaché case.

“Think Carrel took care of him?”

“Of course he did. When has that man ever failed to eliminate a target?”

“Kekeke, never, that’s when. Well, guess that means…”

“Right now, there isn’t a single mage of instructor rank or higher inside that academy building.”

“Kehaha! So, that class is full of cute little chicks chirping away, huh? Alrighty, big brothers are gonna take real good care of ya!”

“Leave Carrel to his work. We’ve got our own job to do.”

Their demeanor and appearance were polar opposites, a combination that would surely draw curious glances. Yet, for some reason, there wasn’t a single person around today.

“Ugh, Reik-nii, looks like we can’t get in after all?”

The thug-like man grumbled as he tapped on an invisible wall at the arch-shaped main gate, which appeared unobstructed at first glance. This was a barrier that blocked entry to anyone unregistered or unauthorized by the academy.

“Stop messing around, Jin. Hurry up and test the unlocking spell that man sent us.”

“Yeah, yeah, got it.”

Just then.

“Hey, who are you two!?”

A guard from the nearby security post spotted them and approached.

“The academy grounds are protected by a special barrier. Only authorized personnel are allowed—”

At that moment, the thug-like man, Jin, pointed at the guard’s left chest and muttered a single word.

“《Zap》”

Instantly, the guard convulsed violently, and those were the last words the unfortunate man heard in this world.

“Alright, here we go.”

Without sparing a glance at the guard, who collapsed like a discarded puppet, Jin pulled a talisman from his pocket and recited the runic spell written on it. A sound like shattering glass echoed through the area.

“Whoa, just like the intel said! Nice work!”

Confirming the invisible wall covering the gate was gone, Jin bounced around like an excited kid.

“Hmph. That man’s work is flawless, as expected.”

“Took long enough, though, huh? Alright, let’s report in.”

The two slipped through the main gate, infiltrating the academy grounds.

Jin pulled a halved gemstone from his pocket and held it to his ear.

“Yo, yo, we’re good here. Go ahead and wrap it up!”

A few seconds later, a metallic clang resounded from the gate. The barrier surrounding the academy had been reconstructed.

“That guy’s terrifying,” the man in the dark coat—Reik—said with an icy smile.

“To think he could so perfectly manipulate the magical security of an imperial institution.”

“Guess that’s what obsession gets ya, huh? Heh, even the rumored magical fortress is nothing now!”

“Let’s move.”

The two looked ahead.

The main building of the magic academy stood before them, its annexes spreading out like wings on either side.

“The target’s in Classroom 2-2, second floor, east wing.”

“Got it, got it!”

“…He’s late!”

Sistine gripped her pocket watch, her hands trembling with frustration as she growled.

It was currently 10:55 a.m. Today’s class was scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. Twenty-five minutes had already passed.

Yet Glenn still hadn’t shown up in the classroom. In other words, he was late.

“That jerk… he’s been giving really good lectures lately, so I was starting to give him some credit, but this? Ugh!”

Sistine muttered irritably.

“It’s kinda rare, though, isn’t it? Glenn-sensei’s been super consistent with not being late lately,” Rumia, sitting next to her, said, tilting her head curiously.

“That idiot… he didn’t actually think today was a day off, did he?”

“No way… even Glenn-sensei wouldn’t mess up that badly… right?”

Even Rumia, who trusted Glenn wholeheartedly, couldn’t fully deny the possibility.

“Aah geez, hopeless people really are just hopeless… Alright, today for sure, I’m gonna give him a piece of my mind.”

“Ahaha. Don’t you mean ‘again today’ instead of ‘today for sure’, Sistine?”

“Details, details! Who cares!”

Pouting and resting her cheek on her hand, Sistine glanced around the room.

This classroom used to have plenty of empty seats. But now, it was packed to the brim. There were even students standing at the back, attending as auditors.

“That guy… he’s gotten really popular lately, huh?”

“Well, yeah! Sensei’s classes are so easy to understand. He explains bachelor-level stuff like ours clearly, but he also breaks down advanced master-level concepts in a way that’s super approachable. Plus, he actually takes the time to logically explain things most instructors just gloss over as obvious.”

“Hmph… I’ll admit, listening to him does make even basic stuff click better, which is great, but… it’s kinda annoying, you know?”

“Hehe.”

Rumia gave Sistine a knowing smile, like she’d figured something out.

“…What’s that look, Rumia?”

“You’re feeling a bit lonely, aren’t you, Sistie? Because Glenn-sensei’s becoming everyone’s favorite?”

“W-What are you talking about!?”

“I mean, back when we started, you were the only one who’d talk to him, even if it was to scold him. But now, everyone’s chatting with him so casually. It’s like he’s drifting away from you, right?”

“Tch, I don’t care who that jerk talks to, girls or otherwise! Rumia, you’re totally misunderstanding something here!”

“Oh? I didn’t say anything about girls specifically, did I?”

“Guh—”

Caught off guard, Sistine’s face twisted as if she’d bitten into something sour.

It wasn’t like she saw Glenn as that kind of person, but it was true that she’d been the only one in class who paid him any attention back then. Seeing someone like that suddenly become popular with everyone else was… well, it just didn’t sit right. Especially when it was other girls. It was a complicated, maidenly feeling.

“So, what about you…?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you! You’ve been weirdly fond of Glenn-sensei from the start, haven’t you? You’re the one who’s probably annoyed by this situation, right?”

“I’m… happy, I think?”

“Huh?”

“I’m just so glad everyone’s starting to see how amazing Glenn-sensei really is.”

There wasn’t a trace of pretense in her words. Rumia genuinely seemed overjoyed, as if it were her own accomplishment, that others were finally understanding Glenn.

“…I feel like I just got schooled in what it means to be a woman.”

“…?”

Sistine sighed, pressing her palm to her face, while Rumia tilted her head in confusion.

It was at that moment that the classroom door swung open unceremoniously, and a new presence entered.

“Ugh, Sensei, what are you thinking!? Late again? Honestly… huh?”

Sistine, ready to give him a piece of her mind, froze when she saw who walked in.

Instead of Glenn, there was a thug-like man and a man in a dark coat, both completely unfamiliar.

“Yo, this the place? Man, you kids are studying hard, huh? Keep it up, young’uns!”

The sudden appearance of the mysterious duo sent a ripple of murmurs through the classroom.

“Oh, about your teacher? He’s a bit… tied up right now. So, we’re here to take over. Nice to meet ya!”

“Hold on… who are you people?”

Sistine, her sense of justice flaring, stood up and strode toward the pair, undaunted.

“This is the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy. Outsiders aren’t allowed in here. How did you even get onto academy grounds?”

“Whoa, whoa, one question at a time, kid! I ain’t exactly a scholar like you lot!”

“…!”

The thug-like man’s flippant attitude threw Sistine off, and she fell silent, her expression sour.

“First off, who we are? Let’s just say… terrorists. You know, scary big brothers picking a fight with Her Majesty.”

“Huh?”

“As for how we got in? We took out that weak, pitiful guard, smashed that annoying barrier, and just waltzed right in. How’s that? Cool, right?”

The murmurs in the classroom grew louder.

“Don’t mess around! Answer me seriously!”

Sistine shouted, her shoulders trembling with anger.

“I’m dead serious, though~”

The thug-like man spread his arms dramatically, playing it up.

“The guards at this academy are combat-trained mages! There’s no way someone like you could take them out so easily, and the academy’s barrier can’t be broken even by top-tier mages!”

“Oh, really? Guess this fancy-pants magic academy ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. What a letdown.”

“…If you keep up this joking attitude, we’ll have to take matters into our own hands.”

“Ooh, what’s that? What’s that? What’re you gonna do? Tell me, tell me!”

“…! We’ll knock you out and hand you over to the guards! If you don’t want that, leave this academy right now…”

“Eek! We’re gonna get caught!? Oh nooo!”

Showing no sign of leaving, the pair pushed Sistine to her limit, and she steeled herself.

“I warned you.”

She began channeling her magic. Through breathing techniques and mental focus, she regulated her mana biorhythm.

Pointing her finger at the man, she started chanting the spell for Black Magic [Shock Bolt].

“《O thunder spirit—”

“《Bang》”

But the thug-like man’s absurdly casual spell completed overwhelmingly faster.

To Sistine’s eyes, it looked like his finger merely flashed for an instant.

But at the same time, the sound of air being sliced tore past her ear, followed by the noise of something punching through the wall behind her.

“…Huh?”

“《Bang》《Bang》《Bang》”

Three more flashes. Lines of light grazed past Sistine’s neck, waist, and shoulder.

“Ugh—”

Unable to move a single step, sweat poured from Sistine’s body in a rush.

Trembling, she slowly turned around. The wall behind her was riddled with small, coin-sized holes, completely pierced through. She could see the other side.

The terrifying penetrating power. Sistine—and everyone in the class who witnessed it—realized the true nature of the spell the man had cast.

“No way… that… that spell just now… was [Lightning Pierce]!?”

Black Magic [Lightning Pierce].

A military assault spell that pierced its target with a single bolt of lightning. At a glance, it didn’t seem much different from [Shock Bolt]. But its power, speed, penetration, and range were on an entirely different level, capable of effortlessly punching through thick plate armor. The electrical current it carried was incomparable to [Shock Bolt], and an ordinary human without magical defenses would die from electrocution just by being grazed. Despite its simple appearance, it was a terrifyingly lethal spell. In the past, it had rendered bows, guns, and even armor obsolete on the battlefield.

“H-How… why would you use such a dangerous spell…?”

Her legs shook uncontrollably. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor.

“A-And… to cast it with such a shortened, single-verse chant… and rapid-fire like that…”

Despite his playful demeanor, anyone trained in magic could understand the sheer mastery behind the thug-like man’s spellcasting.

In that moment, every student in the room knew. They could never defeat this man. The gap in skill was too vast. Even if the entire class attacked at once, they wouldn’t stand a chance. The difference in their abilities as mages was absolute.

“No way… you guys are actually…?”

“Told ya, didn’t I? We’re terrorists. This academy’s under our control now. You’re all hostages, so be good and stay quiet, ’kay? Oh, and if anyone wants to resist, go ahead and try now. I’ll just kill ya.”

No one dared resist. [Lightning Pierce] was a military spell—used by mages in the army for warfare. Only military magic could counter military magic. None of the students could use military spells. Teaching bachelor-level students such high-lethality magic was forbidden. For students still inexperienced as mages, military spells were far too deadly to learn.

The assault spells bachelor students were allowed to use were things like [Shock Bolt] to knock out opponents, [Flash Light] to blind them, or [Gale Blow] to blow them away—spells with low killing potential.

Facing someone who could cast [Lightning Pierce] with a single-verse chant using basic magic was like trying to fight a gunman with a water pistol. The only reason Sistine was still alive was pure whim on the part of the thug-like man.

And then, the panic arrived late.

“Uwaaaaah!?”

“Kyaaaaah!?”

The classroom was on the verge of descending into chaos.

“Shut up, you brats. Quiet down, or I’ll kill you.”

The man’s single threat, backed by the genuine killing intent of someone who’d taken countless lives, silenced the room instantly. The students, with no resistance to such malice, could only tremble in silence.

“There we go, good kids, good kids. Gotta keep the classroom nice and quiet, right?”

While everyone else was frozen, the thug-like man laughed cheerfully.

“So, I’ve got a little question for you good kids.”

He scanned the class, his gaze falling on the terrified, downcast students.

“Is there a girl named Rumia-chan in here? If you’re her, raise your hand. Or if you know her, speak up.”

Silence. The entire classroom went deathly still.

“…Rumia?”

“…W-Why is Rumia…?”

Hushed whispers, barely suppressed, leak out from all corners.

Why would Rumia’s name come up here? Confusion ripples through the classroom.

And because her name was mentioned, the gazes of several students instinctively shift.

“Aha, I see. So Rumia-chan’s around here somewhere, huh? Hmm, which one is she?”

The thuggish man, quick to notice, saunters toward the corner where Rumia is seated.

“Are you Rumia-chan?”

He leans in close, peering at Lynn, a petite girl sitting two rows behind Rumia.

“N-No… I’m not…”

“Then, do you know who Rumia-chan is?”

“I-I don’t know…”

“Hmm? …Really? ’Cause I really don’t like liars, y’know…”

It’s like a frog frozen under a snake’s gaze. Lynn trembles, tears streaming down her face in sheer terror.

At that moment, Sistine shoots Rumia a subtle glance. She has to—because Rumia, clenching her fists with a look of resolve, seems ready to stand and reveal herself any second.

(No, Rumia. They’ll kill you.)

(But…!)

(Just stay put, I’m begging you!)

Exchanging words through glances and shakes of the head, Sistine scolds her trembling knees into submission and rises to her feet.

“Hey, what do you people want with this Rumia girl?”

“Hm?”

The thuggish man, seeing the girl challenge him again, grins with amusement.

“Do you know Rumia-chan? Or maybe you’re Rumia-chan?”

“Answer my question! What’s your goal here!?”

“Tch, you’re annoying.”

His playful demeanor vanishes in an instant, replaced by a cold, serpentine cruelty.

“Guess I’ll start with you.”

“…What?”

Without hesitation, the man points a finger at Sistine’s head—

“I’m Rumia.”

At that moment, Rumia stands from her seat.

The man’s movement halts.

“Oh?”

As if he’s lost all interest in Sistine, he turns his gaze away from her and steps in front of Rumia.

“…Ah.”

Realizing she’s just narrowly escaped death, Sistine collapses back to the floor.

“So, you’re Rumia-chan… Yeah, I already knew.”

“What?”

“C’mon, you think we didn’t do our homework? I knew it was you the moment I saw you!”

“Then why didn’t you just come for me from the start…?”

“If you hadn’t stepped up, I was gonna play a little game—either you’d come forward, or someone would rat you out. Until then, I’d just take out one irrelevant kid at a time, bang! That was the plan!”

Rumia is speechless at his words. This man is utterly deranged.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m over it now. I mean, since you’ve already come forward, it’d just be boring one-sided killing, right? The fun’s in watching people betray their friends to save themselves or step up to protect them… seeing those faces caught in the middle, that’s the thrill! So, nice one, Rumia-chan. A real clutch play!”

“You monster…!”

As the man claps mockingly, Rumia glares at him with a rare, fiery anger in her eyes.

“That’s enough playing around, Jin.”

The man in the dark coat, who’d been silent until now, suddenly speaks up.

“I’ll take the girl to him. You move on to phase two. Handle the rest of these kids.”

“Ugh, what a pain. C’mon, Reik-nii, do we really gotta put [Spell Seal] on all of ’em? These small fries don’t matter, do they? Even if they all ganged up, they wouldn’t stand a chance against me. Besides, they’re already totally defanged, aren’t they?”

The thuggish man, called Jin, surveys the classroom with a smug smirk.

Everyone averts their eyes, avoiding his gaze.

“That’s the plan. Stick to it.”

“Yeah, yeah, fine.”

Jin scratches his head, looking thoroughly annoyed.

“Would you kindly come along, Lady Rumia?”

The man in the dark coat—Reik—looks down at Rumia with an air of arrogance.

“I don’t have the right to refuse, do I?”

Unyielding, Rumia meets his gaze head-on with a resolute stare.

“You catch on quick. That’s helpful.”

“…Could I have a moment to speak with her, please?”

Rumia glances at Sistine, who’s trembling and slumped on the floor.

“Fine. But don’t try anything funny.”

Feeling Reik’s razor-sharp, unyielding gaze on her, Rumia kneels in front of Sistine, meeting her eyes.

“…I’ll be back, Sistie.”

—No, Rumia.

Sistine’s anguished cry doesn’t form into words. Her lips barely move.

But it seems to reach Rumia all the same.

“I’ll be fine. And… Sensei—Glenn-sensei—will definitely save everyone.”

For some reason, Rumia says this to Sistine.

—Sensei?

Sistine can’t fathom why Glenn’s name would come up now.

But Rumia seems to believe it without a shred of doubt.

“So…”

Rumia reaches out to Sistine, as if to reassure her, her hand moving toward her cheek… but then—

“…Don’t touch her.”

With a chilling wave of murderous intent, Reik presses a sword—drawn from who-knows-where—against the back of Rumia’s neck.

Rumia’s hand freezes just before touching Sistine’s cheek, and Sistine lets out a choked gasp.

“…Why not?”

Even with a blade at her neck, Rumia asks calmly, without flinching.

“No reason. Just don’t touch her. Especially not a mage. Do it, and I’ll cut that arm off.”

“…I’m not going to resist at this point.”

Rumia withdraws her hand reluctantly, muttering in quiet defiance.

Reik doesn’t respond, merely jerking his chin. The conversation’s over—follow him.

With no choice, Rumia stands, and Reik throws cold, cutting words at her.

“By the way, it seems you’re all pinning some hopes on this Glenn Radars guy… Give it up. That’s a pointless dream.”

“Yo, Reik-nii, who’s this Glenn-sensei?”

Jin cuts in, picking up on Reik’s words.

“The name of the part-time lecturer assigned to this class. At least remember that much.”

“Oh, Glenn, right? That loser Glenn? Got it, got it, I remember now. Heh, talk about bad luck for Glenn-sensei!”

Rumia recalls Jin mentioning earlier that “Sensei’s been taken care of.”

“What… what did you people do to Glenn-sensei?”

“Oh, that Glenn-sensei? One of our guys took him out.”

“Wha—”

“Some nutjob who uses this nasty alchemy spell, [Acid Venom Rain]. Acid and poison—either one’s lethal on its own, but this freak chooses to combine ’em. Talk about twisted taste. The poor saps he takes down end up in gruesome shape. Even I’m kinda grossed out. Bet right now, somewhere in this town, they’re finding an unrecognizable corpse and freaking out big time.”

“No… Sensei…”

“It can’t be…”

The fact that Glenn is dead hits hard. Sistine, already broken, and Rumia, who’d been holding strong, both pale with despair.

“Let’s go.”

Reik urges Rumia forward.

Rumia lifts her face, glaring at him.

The despair is gone. Her expression is one of stubborn belief in Glenn’s survival.

“…Quite the girl.”

Reik mutters, slightly impressed, before leaving the classroom.

Rumia takes a deep breath, her face set with determination, and follows him.

At the crossroads leading to the academy, a large crowd has gathered.

People surround something from a distance, buzzing with commotion.

“That’s… awful. Haven’t the guards shown up yet?”

“Hey, what’s going on? Is that guy still alive?”

“No idea… But even if he’s alive, he’d probably be better off dead than like this…”

“Ugh… What a horrific sight…”

“It’s too much… Too gruesome… I can’t even look…!”

“Damn it… Demons. This is the work of demons…!”

At the center of the crowd lies a small man, unconscious. His body is battered from a brutal beating, stripped naked, bound in intricate rope ties, covered in humiliating graffiti scrawled with blatant malice. A flower is stuck in his backside, and a piece of paper labeled “Tiny” is plastered over his groin.

“Tch—What the hell happened!? What’s going on here, damn it!?”

At the academy’s main gate.

Confirming that the fallen guard isn’t breathing, Glenn slams his fist into the ground.

“I’m supposed to be academy staff, and even I can’t get past this barrier… Someone’s tampered with the barrier’s settings. Who’s the idiot that went and did something this annoying!?”

Fortunately—or unfortunately—the warding barrier set up by the culprits seems to be working, as there’s no one else around. Glenn decides to take a moment to assess the situation calmly.

“No… I know who’s behind this. The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom… those no-good bastards.”

This became clear after he’d taken down the small man who attacked him earlier. After knocking him out and, for good measure, stripping him naked as a prank, Glenn found it: a tattoo of a snake coiled around a dagger on the man’s arm—the emblem of that detestable organization.

The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom. One of the oldest magical societies in the Alzano Empire. They believe that to master magic, anything is permissible, any sacrifice is acceptable—encouraged, even. They hold that the world should be led by superior beings, namely their own mages, and that anyone outside their lofty group is a blind fool, mere livestock. This rotten ideology drives their actions, making them a terrorist group at odds with the empire’s government throughout history, the darkest stain on the magical world.

Realizing the man who attacked him was a mage of the Researchers, Glenn put him into a deep sleep with White Magic [Sleep Sound], bound his limbs with magical ropes conjured by Black Magic [Magic Rope], and sealed his ability to cast spells with an enchantment from Black Magic [Spell Seal]—an excessive but thorough neutralization. Even if the guy was an irredeemable villain, Glenn couldn’t bring himself to kill him outright. So, he opted to ruin him socially instead. Definitely not just for kicks.

Thanks to Glenn’s measures, the man should be harmless for a while. If the guards see that emblem, he’ll be handed over to the government and locked up in no time. No problem there.

“But man, I had this bad feeling and came to the academy, and this is what I find.”

A murdered guard, a sealed-off academy. Combined with the fact that the mage who attacked him belonged to the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, it’s hard to see this as mere coincidence. It’s more logical to assume they’re all connected.

In other words, the Researchers likely targeted today, when senior mages and instructors are absent, to launch an attack on the academy.

There are Guardian Golems stationed in some areas to fend off intruders, but with the magical security system so thoroughly compromised, Glenn doubts they’re functioning properly.

“But… what’s their goal? Why target the academy?”

Could it be the magical tomes stored in the library’s underground vault? Or perhaps the magical artifacts and devices sealed in the museum’s warehouse? Those items are valuable, sure, but would a group as powerful as the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom really bother with anything less than top-tier relics?

“Damn it… If it’s those lunatics, the town guards won’t stand a chance. The only ones who could handle this are the Imperial Court Mage Corps. So, Celica, get your butt out here already!”

Glenn presses a halved gemstone to his ear, channeling magic into it repeatedly. It’s a communication device linked directly to Celica. But there’s no sign of her responding.

“What’s she doing? Don’t tell me she’s sleeping in!? Sleeping in is the lowest of the low for a professional! Where’s her sense of responsibility as a senior figure, that idiot!”

Glenn shoves the gem back into his pocket with a rough motion.

“Now… what do I do?”

From his pocket, Glenn pulls out a single talisman. It belonged to the small man who attacked him earlier, something Glenn found and took when he stripped the guy. Incidentally, it was this talisman that made Glenn rush to the academy in the first place.

“This is probably a key talisman to enter the sealed barrier.”

Judging by the spell’s structure, it’s a consumable enchanted item—a one-use deal. If he uses it to enter the academy, he won’t be able to leave until he deals with the mastermind.

Should he use it and charge into the academy alone?

“No… Too dangerous.”

He doesn’t know the enemy’s strength. The mages of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, especially those specialized in combat, are literal monsters—each one worth a thousand soldiers, no exaggeration. Diving into their lair would be nothing short of suicide.

Then, should he wait for the Imperial Court Mage Corps to arrive?

“…Guess that’s the only option.”

Without this disposable talisman, even the Mage Corps would take time to breach the barrier. In the worst case, they might not be able to break it at all. Whoever tampered with this barrier is likely a god-tier mage of unparalleled skill.

“But… how long will it take for the Mage Corps to get here?”

He’d have to run to the town guard post, convince the lazy guards who probably won’t believe him, drag them to the scene, make them understand the situation, have them report to their superiors, who’d then contact the military or the Ministry of Magic… The more he thinks about it, the more hopelessly time-consuming it seems.

There’s no guarantee the enemy won’t harm the students trapped inside during that time. Normally, the students’ value would be as hostages, but this is the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom—common sense doesn’t apply. It’s entirely possible they’ve occupied the academy to use the students as sacrificial offerings for some ritual. Even novice mages have abundant magic power; sacrificing dozens of them could summon a powerful demon or forge high-quality orichalcum. It’s exactly the kind of depraved thing that organization would do.

“Damn it… What’s their goal? Should I have used mind-reading magic on that idiot before knocking him out? Not that I had the time, and my level of mind-reading probably wouldn’t work on a mage of that caliber anyway.”

Without knowing the enemy’s objective, Glenn has no way to act.

“No good. I can’t move recklessly. I need to contact the guards now—”

Just as Glenn turns to leave.

A streak of light cuts across the sky.

“—!?”

The light, seemingly fired from within the academy building and piercing through the walls, is—

“[Lightning Pierce]…!?”

No way that was a student’s spell. It’s unmistakably the enemy’s. Someone just used that terrifying slaughter spell inside the academy.

After a brief pause, three more flashes of [Lightning Pierce] streak across the sky.

If those were aimed at a crowded space, at least ten people are dead.

“…”

His feet, already heading toward the guard post, stop. A strange palpitation grips him.

Are the students okay? Did someone just die? Cold sweat won’t stop.

It’s not like Glenn has any special attachment to the students. Teaching is just a job he does reluctantly. Lately, they’ve been talking to him more, but that’s it. He doesn’t even know their favorite foods. They’re practically strangers.

So why does this burning urgency consume him?

And why do the faces of two particular girls keep flashing in his mind? Those annoying two who’ve been pestering him since he started as a part-time lecturer.

What if one of them was caught in that spell?

What if they’re lying there, limbs splayed, discarded like broken dolls, just like the poor guard?

What would he feel, standing before their corpses later?

“Hmph… Doesn’t matter. I’ll report to the authorities. That’s the undeniably correct, best course of action.”

Shaking off the pull at his heart, Glenn turns his back on the academy and starts running.

His destination is the town guard post. There’s no room for hesitation.

“What’s your goal? What do you people want with someone like me?”

Walking down the corridor behind Reik, Rumia musters all her courage to ask, her voice laced with anger.

“Why… why me?”

“You know exactly why, don’t you, Rumia… or rather, Princess Ermiana?”

“—!”

Called by that name, Rumia catches her breath but quickly regains her composure and says calmly,

“I don’t know where you learned about my background. But let me make one thing clear: I no longer have any value as a princess.”

“We know. You’re an existence that shouldn’t even be alive. Yet, thanks to the mercy of Queen Alicia VII, here you are.”

Reik responds curtly, casting a cold, appraising glance over his shoulder at Rumia.

“You shouldn’t exist, yet you do. That’s where your value lies.”

“…!?”

“Even a discarded, cursed existence like you can be used by the right person at the right moment to shake the current royal family and the imperial government. Plus… our organization’s leaders are very interested in your unique traits. Don’t worry. You’re rare, so you won’t be treated too harshly. At worst, you’ll end up a specimen. That’s pretty lucky, if you ask me.”

“That’s—”

Rumia clutches her shoulders, shivering with an unbearable chill.

The sheer disconnect in this man’s mindset fills her with visceral disgust.

“If I’m your target, then everyone else has nothing to do with this… Please, let Sistie and the others go!”

“You’re really something, you know that? To still care about others after hearing all this. Is it your bloodline, perhaps?”

Reik responds, sounding genuinely impressed.

“But unfortunately, that’s not possible. We’ve got a rare haul of fresh, young mages, even if they’re just fledglings. Some of our comrades are eager to use them as experimental material.”

“That’s… How can you call yourselves human!?”

“Human? Don’t be ridiculous. We’re mages.”

As if declaring the conversation over, Reik falls silent.

“Sensei… Glenn-sensei…”

Rumia clutches her hands tightly at her chest, whispering Glenn’s name.

“C’mon, this way. Hurry it up.”

“Kyaa!?”

Shoved forward, Sistine collapses onto the hard, cold floor.

“W-What’s your problem!?”

Sistine’s hands are bound behind her back with magical ropes conjured by Black Magic [Magic Rope]. Once she’s down, she can barely move, let alone stand.

Lying on the floor, she glares up at the thuggish man—Jin—with only her head turned. Jin looks down at Sistine, writhing like a caterpillar, with a leering, amused grin.

After Reik took Rumia away, Jin bound all the remaining students in the classroom with [Magic Rope] and cast [Spell Seal] to block their ability to use spells, rendering them completely helpless.

After finishing one task, for some reason, Jin dragged Sistine out of the classroom, locked the door with a magical lock, and completely trapped the other students inside.

Then, he brought the unresisting Sistine to this room, threatening her all the while.

This was the magic laboratory. Apparently, some kind of barrier construction experiment had taken place here yesterday. On the floor was a pentagram drawn in chicken blood. Sistine, collapsed at the center of the bloody barrier, looked like a sacrificial offering dedicated to a demonic worship ritual.

“Bringing me to a place like this… what are you planning to do with me!?”

Swallowing her inner anxiety and fear, Sistine lashed out at Jin.

“Hm? Ain’t it obvious? I’m bored, we’ve got time, so I figured I’d have some fun with you.”

“Wha—”

“I mean, I found myself a pretty fine catch. Gotta make use of the downtime, right? Heh heh heh…”

His casual reply, as if discussing lunch plans, left Sistine momentarily speechless. His vulgar phrasing was unmistakable, and she wasn’t so naive as to miss its meaning. A chill of dread raced up her spine.

“Y-you… what are you saying…?”

“Man, I’m kinda into brats like you, all young and fresh. What’s that called? A lolicon? Haha, guess I’d get arrested!”

While Sistine paled, Jin laughed with glee.

“Hmm, but is it really lolicon if I’m into girls your age? You’re old enough to get married, right? What do you think?”

“Don’t mess with me! I’m a daughter of the Fibel family! If you lay a hand on me… my father won’t let you get away with it!”

“Ooh, scary! But who cares? Also, what’s this Fibel family? Some big shots?”

“Kyaa—!”

Completely ignoring the weight of the Fibel name, Jin pinned Sistine down.

Her movements were sealed, her magic suppressed, and to her frustration, she couldn’t resist at all.

Right now, Sistine was truly nothing more than a sacrifice offered to a demon.

“…Do whatever you want.”

With a voice trembling with quiet fury, Sistine glared up at Jin, who held her down.

“Oh?”

“If you want to make me your plaything, go ahead. But mark my words—you, and you alone, I’ll kill. Maybe not now, but one day, I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth and make you pay. I’ll avenge this humiliation… in the name of Fibel.”

“…”

For a moment, Jin froze, as if pierced by her razor-sharp gaze, falling silent.

“Pfft—hahahahahahahaha!”

Suddenly, he burst into explosive laughter.

“W-what’s so funny!?”

“Hahaha! Oh man, it’s just—”

Wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, Jin said,

“Truth is, messing with someone like Rumia-chan wouldn’t be any fun for me.”

“Huh?”

His words, completely out of context, left Sistine baffled.

“Rumia-chan looks like a frail little girl at first glance, but she’s the type who’s always ready for anything. People like that—no matter how much pain or humiliation you throw at them, their spirit never breaks. Not until they’re dead. I can tell.”

How could he know something like that?

Asking would likely yield a horrifying answer, one Sistine didn’t want to hear.

“But you? You’re different.”

“What did you say…!?”

“You act all tough, but you’re fragile. Just a kid desperately hiding your weaknesses behind a mask. I love breaking girls like you. It’s the best. Like, what’s the point of fine wine if you can’t pop the cork, right?”

“—Tch!”

His humiliating words sent a rush of blood to Sistine’s head.

“You think I’d ever submit to you…?”

“Oh, you will. Probably pretty quick, too.”

“Don’t screw with me! I’m the proud daughter of the Fibel—”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s see how long that lasts.”

Rip! Without hesitation, Jin tore at the front of Sistine’s uniform, exposing her white undergarments and bare skin.

“…Huh? …Ah.”

A dry, hoarse whimper escaped Sistine’s throat. The cold air against her skin made the reality of her impending fate sink in.

Slowly but surely, an undeniable, fatal sense of terror and revulsion brewed in her heart.

“…Ugh… ah…”

“Whew! Modest chest, but damn, that’s some flawless skin! Oh man, I’m getting fired up… huh? What’s wrong? You got all quiet all of a sudden. Where’s that fire from before?”

I won’t lose. I won’t break. I’m a proud daughter of Fibel. To a mage, the body’s just a tool, a consumable, right? Sistine repeated to herself, her lips trembling as she tried to steel her resolve.

But despite her rational mind, her mouth betrayed her, weaving different words.

“…Um…”

“Hm? What’s that?”

“…Please… stop…”

The moment those words slipped out, there was no going back. Overwhelmed by the grief of her imminent violation, by the unfair end to her secret dream of giving her first time to someone she truly loved, Sistine’s tears spilled over, her body shaking uncontrollably.

“Um… please… I’m begging you… anything but that… please spare me… “

“Hahahahaha! You broke way too fast, didn’t you!? Hahahaha!”

After laughing his fill, Jin looked down at the sobbing Sistine with cold, cruel eyes.

“Sorry, but that’s a no-go. It’s too late to back out now.”

“…No… no… Father… Mother… help me… someone, please help…”

“Heh, you’re the best! Alright, let’s dig in!”

“No… NOOOOOOOO—!”

As Jin’s hand reached for the frantically struggling Sistine’s skin—

Click.

The laboratory door opened with a comically anticlimactic sound.

“Huh?”

“…Eh?”

A man stood frozen beyond the open door.

It was Glenn.

“Uh…?”

Glenn scratched his cheek awkwardly, eyeing the two tangled together.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. Carry on…”

He started to slowly close the door—

“Don’t go! Don’t close it! Help me—!”

At Sistine’s scream, Glenn sighed with a reluctant expression, reopening the door and stepping inside.

“Ugh, really? It’s one of those messed-up situations? I thought maybe you two were just a dumb couple going at it consensually, like, ‘damn lovebirds, go explode’ kinda deal…”

“As if that’s the case—!”

Jin, momentarily stunned by Glenn’s appearance, snapped back to reality, leaping away from Sistine and facing Glenn, ready to fight.

“Who the hell are you!?”

“Just a lecturer at this academy. A bit of advice as a teacher: what you’re doing is, y’know, a crime? I get that you might not be popular, but still…”

Glenn was saying something completely off the mark, like he was lecturing a delinquent student.

(Oh no…)

Sistine remembered. In her desperation, she’d instinctively called out to Glenn for help, but Jin was a mage with immense power. While Glenn excelled as a lecturer, his prowess as a mage was hardly remarkable.

“Shut up! Where the hell did you even come from!?”

“Oi, don’t treat me like a cockroach. That’s rude to cockroaches, y’know!?”

“Nobody said that! Also, how much of a masochist are you!?”

If Glenn and Jin fought with magic… there was no doubt Glenn would die. Glenn could only manage three-phrase chants. There was no way he could stand up to Jin’s lightning-fast single-phrase chanting.

“No…! Sensei, run!”

“You’re yelling ‘help me’ one second and ‘run’ the next. Make up your mind!”

“Just go! You can’t beat him!”

“Too late for that!”

Losing patience, Jin pointed at Glenn.

Glenn moved his hand in response—but he was too slow.

“《Zap》!”

Jin’s spell completed instantly, and lightning was supposed to surge from his fingertip, mercilessly striking Glenn—

“…Huh?”

Black Magic [Lightning Pierce] failed to activate.

Even though he’d finished the chant, no lightning sparked from his fingertip.

“Tch… 《Zap》!”

Jin chanted again. The result was the same.

“What… what the hell’s going on…?”

That’s when Jin noticed something in Glenn’s hand.

“The Fool’s… Arcane Tarot?”

It was the Number 0 card of the Major Arcane, The Fool, one of the twenty-two cards.

“What… what’s that?”

“This is my custom-made magical tool.”

Glenn flashed the card’s design at Jin, explaining,

“By reading the magical formula encoded in this Fool’s design, I can activate a certain spell. That spell—completely nullifies all magic activation within a specific radius centered on me.”

“Wha…”

“Tough luck. No matter how fast you chant, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Magic activation… remotely sealed across a range!?”

Indeed, there were spells like the one used on Sistine and the others to seal magic activation—Black Magic [Spell Seal]. But that required enchantment as a prerequisite, and for this spell specifically, the caster had to physically inscribe the spell onto the target’s body to imbue the effect. No mage would allow such a time-consuming process in actual combat.

Yet Glenn claimed he could perfectly nullify magic activation across a wide area just by glancing at a single card.

“Don’t screw with me! What kind of nonsense magic is that!? I’ve never heard of anything like it!”

“Well, duh. It’s my Original Magic.”

“Original Magic!? You’re saying you’ve reached that level!?”

Watching the exchange from the sidelines, Sistine shuddered with both awe and disbelief.

In a magical duel between mages, being able to unilaterally seal an opponent’s magic from a distance was an invincible power. It wasn’t just a one-sided game—it was overwhelming. Even if Glenn could only chant in three phrases, his win rate would be one hundred percent. No, with this Original Magic as his foundation, he wouldn’t even need inefficient single-phrase chanting to begin with.

“Guh…”

Jin realized he’d been completely outmaneuvered, cold sweat dripping down his face.

But then—

“Well, I can’t activate magic either.”

“Huh?”

Glenn’s casual muttering left both Sistine and Jin dumbfounded.

A strange silence hung over the room for a few long seconds.

“I mean, I’m in the effect radius too, right? It’s a spell centered on me.”

“Wha—what’s the point of that!?”

Sistine couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Hahahaha! You idiot! A mage sealing their own magic—what the hell are you gonna fight with!?”

“Huh? I mean… even without magic, I’ve got my fists, right?”

Glenn loosened his collar, saying something utterly un-mage-like.

“Fists?”

“Yup, fists.”

Suddenly, Glenn exploded into motion.

In a flash, the distance between Glenn and Jin vanished. A sharp left jab, launched from a razor-like step-in, struck Jin’s face with lightning precision, followed by a blazing right straight.

“Guaaaah!?”

The lightning-fast one-two sent Jin’s body flying, slamming into the wall.

“Huh? No way… what was that movement…?”

Sistine couldn’t even follow it. She stared at Glenn, stunned.

Glenn shifted into a half-stance, slightly hunched, hands turned outward and subtly rotating—a stance reminiscent of ancient boxing techniques. He kept his eyes locked on Jin, stepping lightly, never letting his guard down.

“You bastard—!”

Jin scrambled to his feet, charging at Glenn in a fit of rage.

But Glenn met Jin’s wild punch with a perfectly timed counter, overlaying it from above.

His movements were fluid like a spring, powerful like a crashing wave, and blindingly fast.

“Gah!? Urk!?”

As his fist sank into Jin’s face again, Glenn shifted his weight sharply. A deep knee strike dug into Jin’s side, and Glenn grabbed Jin’s arm and chest, swept his legs, and threw him over his shoulder.

“Gyaaaaah!?”

Jin crashed into the wall again, screaming.

“Man, I’m definitely rusty. Been a while, y’know?”

Meanwhile, Glenn cracked his knuckles, grumbling lazily.

“You… bastard…”

Jin staggered to his feet, nose bleeding.

“Oh? Surprised? Believe it or not, I used to train a bit at a local dojo…”

“Don’t mess with me! It’s got some weird flair, but that was straight-up Imperial Military Combat Technique, wasn’t it!? And you’re damn good at it… who the hell are you!?”

“Glenn Radars. Part-time lecturer.”

At that, Jin’s eyes widened, like he’d seen a ghost.

“Glenn, you say…!? You’re that guy!? No way… did Carrel lose to you!? That’s a joke, right…!? A mage like him…!?”

But it wasn’t impossible. This man, Glenn, casually did something no sane mage would dream of—sealing all magic, including his own, in a wide radius. His extraordinary combat skills were likely honed for fighting mages under that very seal. In front of this man, the purer the mage, the more powerless they became.

“Damn it! Don’t screw with me! A mage settling things with hand-to-hand combat!? Don’t you have any pride as a mage!?”

“What, you’re that hung up on losing without magic? Fine, fine. The next blow I land on you? It’s a legendary super spell called [Magical Iron Fist ☆ Punch]. I’ve just awakened it.”

“Huh?”

As Jin gaped, Glenn raised his fists and charged.

“Magical Iron Fist—”

“Ugh, whoa!?”

Reacting to Glenn’s cocked fist, Jin crossed his arms to guard his face.

“☆ PUNCH!”

Instead, Glenn swung his right leg up, threading a whirlwind-like high roundhouse kick through the gap in Jin’s guard, slamming into his temple.

“GYAAAAAAAH!?”

Kicked to the ground, Jin tumbled across the floor.

“Let me explain. [Magical Iron Fist ☆ Punch] is powered by some kinda mysterious magical force, delivering the strength of a kick—said to be twice as strong as a punch—in a totally awesome magical punch.”

“Except… it was actually a kick, not a punch…”

“Heh, that’s what makes it magical.”

“Damn it… to think I… got taken down… by a clown like this…! Urgh…”

With those final words, Jin’s consciousness sank into darkness.

For a fleeting moment, Sistine almost felt sorry for him.