F-Rank Soul Eater-Chapter 125: Invading The Science Research Institute

An essential function of the Orientation garden was to act as a guide to govern cadet behavior within the academy.

Amongst the standing rules of the academy, there was one that clearly outlined the boundaries of cadets.

It was by landmass—which extended several kilometers in certain directions.

Access and restrictions for cadets were divided into three parts, labeled by color.

Green: This indicated that cadets were free to roam here as they liked. An example was the dormitory area and the cafeteria.

Yellow: This indicated that cadets could only come to this area with permission from the instructors or higher authority. And examples were the Orientation Garden, staff admin buildings, and the hunting grounds.

Red: This indicated that cadets were strictly forbidden from entering.

Surprisingly, this part carried the biggest land mass and facilities.

The science research institute was located in the Red Zone.

Under no circumstances were cadets allowed there.

This was the reason Polystar said that they could be expelled if they were caught.

—only if.

....

They didn’t leave immediately.

A bit of planning was important.

Polystar stopped them just before the outer path, lowering his voice as his fingers flicked across the holographic map projected from his wristwatch.

"Red zones are never alone," he said quietly. "Every single one is situated inside a yellow zone. Think of it as... insulation."

Soren leaned in, eyes scanning the layout.

Polystar had only been here for a few weeks.

Soren was impressed that the boy managed to get such information about the place.

The Yellow territory that was their target stretched like a buffer ring around the Red zone.

"So first," Polystar continued, "we pass through Yellow. The instructors are still teaching, which gives us a window. A very small one."

Vass snorted softly. "How small?"

"By the end of this class period," Polystar replied, eyes sharp behind his lenses, "every instructor’s Blackfield will be sweeping back toward the academy. If we’re still outside when that happens—"

"They’ll feel us," Soren finished.

"What’s a Blackfield!?" Vass asked.

Of course, he did not know. The only reason Soren knew was because of prison.

"Let’s just say it’s a kind of sixth sense that helps you get a feel of your immediate environment," Soren explained.

"Oh... I see." Vass nodded as if he was contemplating it.

However, Soren only rolled his eyes at the thought. After all, it had taken him many days of constant death to comprehend.

Soren believed Vass was too dumb to understand.

Polystar nodded. "So we move back and forth before the period ends and find out the information the instructors are keeping from us."

Silence fell.

Then all three exchanged looks and nodded.

Now or never.

---

They moved low and fast, sticking to blind angles between the academy’s structures, slipping through walkways that were normally busy but now empty because of classes.

The yellow zone felt different from the green zone. It was cleaner and much quieter.

They were halfway across a narrow passage when—

Footsteps.

Polystar froze.

Vass cursed under his breath. "I thought you said there would be no one here."

"They shouldn’t be," Vass replied. "Instructors are far too organized to miss classes. Besides, my source said it should be empty."

Source!? So there is an insider.

Soren thought to himself.

An instructor rounded the corner ahead.

She hadn’t seen them yet—but she was close.

Too close.

The only luck they had was that her Blackfield did not seem to be active.

Then again, Blackfield was exhausting to always maintain.

Soren exhaled slowly.

"I’ll handle it," he murmured.

Before either of them could respond, he slipped off to the side, ducking behind a tall storage wall where Polystar and Vass could not see him.

A heartbeat passed.

Then—

A second Soren burst from the corner, sprinting full tilt across the open path.

"HEY!" the instructor barked instantly. "Cadet! You’re not supposed to be here!"

She broke into a run, chasing after him.

The clone vanished down a side corridor, boots slapping loudly.

Polystar’s eyes widened. "...What... what was that?"

Soren simply shrugged, "A technique I learned from prison."

Polystar raised a brow. He was a noble and had heard of many techniques, but never this one. He did not say anything more.

Bringing Soren along seemed to be the best choice.

They crossed the passage in seconds and disappeared into the shadows just as the instructor’s shouts faded into the distance.

Of course, Soren’s clone would vanish when they were far gone.

---

The Science Research Institute loomed ahead of them.

It was massive.

Angular steel and glass fused into a monolithic structure that felt more fortress than laboratory.

The air around it was colder even though it was winter. Still.

But unfortunately guarded.

Red Sword Inquisitors stood at the entrance.

Two of them.

Soren remembered them. They were the ones that came to his room this morning after that attack.

Vass stopped dead.

"...That’s it," he muttered. "Dead end."

Polystar frowned sharply. "No. That shouldn’t be."

He glanced down at his wristwatch, pulling up the data again. "My source said there would be no guards stationed here during class hours."

Vass shot him a look. "Your source lied."

"Or something changed," Polystar shot back.

Vass clicked his tongue. "Either way, we can’t go forward. Red Swords are specifically trained by sacrificing their life force to deal with Soulbound warriors."

They are? No wonder Soulbound warriors are so scared of them.

Soren thought to himself.

Just then—

A low hum cut through the air.

All three turned.

A sleek black vehicle rolled to a stop near the entrance, its surface gleaming unnaturally clean against the academy stone.

The door slid open.

A woman stepped out, unhurried, biting lazily into a candy bar.

Soren stiffened.

"...Doctor Kaya."

Back at the prison, she had said that she would be visiting the academy and would want to see him.

Of course, Soren never treasured their encounter. It ended up with her wanting to poke him with needles.

The Red Sword Inquisitors snapped to attention instantly, slamming fists to their chests.

"Doctor," one of them said. "Apologies for the early summons. The case has escalated."

She waved a hand dismissively, chewing. "You people escalate everything. Just give it to me plainly."

"It’s still the matter with the Shade Stealer," the inquisitor continued. "The number of victims has risen to seventeen."

Seventeen.

Soren, Polystar, and Vass all went still.

Polystar’s lips parted slightly.

"...Seventeen?" Vass whispered.

That didn’t add up.

Everyone knew it was fifteen victims before this morning.

And the cadet attack in Soren’s room made it sixteen.

So who—

Doctor Kaya sighed, licking chocolate from her thumb. "I have a long day ahead of me. Lead the way."

The inquisitors nodded quickly.

As they reached the entrance, Kaya placed a finger against the panel.

Scan complete.

The doors slid open.

She stepped inside, red swords flanking her.

The entrance sealed shut behind them with a heavy hiss.

The three cadets stared at the closed doors in silence.

Seventeen.

Was it possible there was a victim the instructors had kept a secret?