I Became the Narrow-Eyed Character in the Little Prince Game-Chapter 169: Hero (1)

A dormitory with the lights turned off.

Only a faint glow flickered within the space, where a cold chill lingered.

Amid the pale shadows, faint voices echoed.

A boy sat at a desk.

“......”

Hair dyed blue by the dawn light, eyes so transparent they seemed hollow.

His sharp, unique presence resembled someone else.

The boy’s name was Lusca Vanity.

Firstborn son of the Duke Vanity family, and twin brother of the notorious villainess.

He was accepting a call in the midst of the gloomy atmosphere.

– {Yes, Lusca.}

A voice issued from a crystal orb.

Only a pitch-black silhouette shimmered on the bluish screen.

In response to the call, the boy bowed his head.

“Uncle.”

– {How’s life at the academy?}

“Everything is fine.”

– {And your sister? I haven’t heard from her lately.}

“She’s doing well, too.”

The conversation flowed as if it were casual.

The voice beyond the crystal spoke with kindness, as if exchanging simple pleasantries.

But perhaps that dissonance had become unbearable for the other side.

Lusca abruptly cut him off and asked a question.

“Uncle.”

– {Hm?}

“Was the recent academy attack... the family’s doing, after all?”

– {You’re being rather direct.}

“How could you...! Four staff members were killed!”

– {You’re one to talk. You helped design the infiltration route.}

“If I’d known it would turn into a terrorist attack, I never would’ve cooperated! How could you do something like this...!”

– {Lusca.}

“......”

A chilling voice pierced through him.

The previously gentle tone froze over like ice.

Frost crept over the transparent crystal orb.

It was a tension sharp enough to slice.

“......I’m sorry.”

Lusca, who had raised his voice, was instantly frozen in place.

The flickering flame within him died out as if it had never existed.

The boy bit his lip tightly.

– {You should know I don’t tolerate insolence.}

“I lost my temper... just for a moment.”

– {Be careful.}

“I’ll remember that.”

A clenched fist.

And yet, the only response allowed him was submission.

Swallowing his rising fury, Lusca apologized.

His proud head bowed at last.

– {Sometimes I wonder if you’re getting the wrong idea.}

Perhaps to remind him of his place,

The shadow beyond the crystal said:

– {I’ve already shown you more than enough mercy.}

– {After all, I’ve let you live, haven’t I?}

Lusca’s breath caught in his throat.

A veiled threat no ordinary uncle would utter to his nephew.

Every word struck down on the blue-haired boy.

– {Of course... you’ll have to prove your worth.}

– {If you and your sister refuse to follow the family’s will, I’ll have no choice but to cut you down myself.}

– {To prevent that tragedy, effort is required on both sides.}

– {I trust you understand my meaning.}

The boy couldn’t bring himself to respond.

He merely clenched his teeth and suppressed his anger.

– {Think of your sister.}

– {If you at least want her to be safe, it would be best to show loyalty to the family.}

– {Wasn’t that the deal you made with me from the start?}

The weakness his uncle held over him.

Lusca’s resolve broke, and he kept silent.

Perhaps satisfied with that silence, the shadow smirked.

– {I assume that’s clear enough.}

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

– {Then let’s end the lecture here... and move on to the next assignment.}

“...The next assignment, sir?”

Lusca furrowed his brow before he realized it.

That word—“assignment”—as this man used it,

Was really just another errand to fulfill his schemes.

Last time, it had been gathering information on the academy’s security layout.

Which had, of course, been exploited in the recent attack.

‘Damn it.’

But the boy had no choice but to comply.

He was kept on a tight leash.

As he silently listened, a surprising name reached his ears.

Lusca responded calmly, showing no sign of confusion.

– {Yuda Snakeus.}

“You mean the top student.”

– {Yes... Whether it was the dragon incident or the gravekeeper situation, that boy was always at the center of every resolution. And they say his talent far surpasses even the professors.}

“He certainly qualifies as a potential threat.”

– {He’s rather suspicious in many ways.}

“Are you planning to eliminate him?”

– {Not exactly. Capture him alive. The demonologists made the request.}

“The demonologists... you mean the cultists.”

The dark mage organization, Baob.

The boy recalled the name as he connected the dots.

While hiding the boiling disgust within him.

– {They say he’d make excellent research material.}

“So they plan to turn him into a chimera.”

– {Might even create a disaster greater than the dragon.}

“But... kidnapping a student won’t be easy. There was just an attack a week ago, and security’s now at an all-time high. I’m concerned the plan might backfire...”

– {Which is why I’m asking you to handle it.}

A sly chuckle echoed.

The pupils glimpsed through the crystal orb gleamed only with greed.

The uncle clicked his tongue, then gave Lusca his command.

To wallow once more in the filth.

– {You’ll bring him to us.}

"...That’s impossible."

– {Or would you rather push it onto Emilia?}

"Yuda Snakeus is a core force among the faculty. Facing him alone is nearly impossible for me."

– {Of course, I’m not asking you to do everything. Your job is simply to deliver a ‘package.’}

"A package...?"

– {Open the box.}

A box that had arrived along with the crystal orb.

Though suspicious, Lusca cautiously unwrapped it.

And inside was an unexpected item.

"...A necklace."

A necklace glowing with a red hue.

Set at the center was a hexagonal gem tinged with blood.

The accessory gave off an ominous impression.

A magician’s intuition, perhaps.

– {This is something the businessman provided.}

"I can feel a very ominous energy from it."

– {It’s an artifact that suppresses the wearer’s mana... more precisely, a restraint.}

"My task is to make sure he wears this, then."

– {That’s right... Once the restraint is in place and you lure him to the designated location, the family’s mages will take over.}

The uncle laid out the plan.

He added details about the necklace’s suppressive power and its excellent concealment.

Originally, it was a magical restraint used to bind archmages.

The businessmen had been keeping it in their private collection, and finally decided to offer it up for this occasion.

Even for Yuda Snakeus, there would be no way to slip through this trap.

Lusca mulled over the complex feelings it stirred.

– {I hear your sister is quite close to the target?}

"...She is."

– ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) {That should make approaching him easier.}

The man beyond the crystal sneered viciously.

He spoke in a coaxing whisper.

– {Once this is over... I’ll grant you freedom.}

– {I’ll lift the vow placed on your hearts.}

– {Though you’ll be cast out of the family, at least I won’t take your lives.}

– {In short, you’ll finally be free.}

A sickening tone.

Lusca knew.

That it was nothing more than a shallow deceit—an obvious, cruel mockery.

And yet, even knowing that, the boy could not offer any answer but obedience.

For the sake of protecting the only family he had.

‘Sister.’

Instead of replying, he picked up the necklace.

It was his way of expressing his compliance.

The transmission ended shortly after.

The crystal orb dimmed with it.

– {Make the wise choice.}

– {You will never escape me.}

Beyond the fading light, the shape of a devil remained to the very end.

It had been a week since the academy shutdown order was issued.

The atmosphere at Galimar Academy was uneasy.

Once the details of the recent attack were made public, many students voiced concerns about their safety.

After all, four members of the faculty had been killed... things had escalated beyond the point of being covered up.

In the end, the academy was forced to reveal the cause of death alongside the funerals.

The cultists’ presence had been enough to reopen the empire’s old scars.

– The great empire will never yield.

– But now that its future stars are endangered, neither the imperial family nor the noble bloodlines will stand idle.

– Countless lights, rally together for the sake of the stars to come.

A solemn declaration from the Emperor.

Upon receiving the news, the royal family and noble houses rushed to send reinforcements.

Dozens of noble families deployed private troops to what was essentially a town-sized academy.

Among them were forces from the Imperial Knights and other prestigious houses.

Thanks to this—if one could call it fortunate—the academy’s defenses were now at an all-time high.

To the point it almost felt excessive.

‘I can understand it, though.’

The Empire couldn’t afford to abandon the academy.

If they withdrew now, it would mean granting the cultists exactly what they wanted.

They sought to destroy the symbol of hope that had risen after the Great War.

This was why Galimar couldn’t be allowed to fall.

To concede would be to admit the influence of the black magicians.

‘There’s a reason they’re being so aggressive.’

The symbol had to be protected at all costs.

Perhaps that shared purpose was why the troops had united so thoroughly. freewebnøvel.com

And ironically, the inside of the academy had become far too safe.

‘Of course—’

That didn’t mean things were normal again.

All classes had been indefinitely suspended, and students were confined to their dormitories.

With danger still present, it was too risky to continue normal instruction.

Some students even left for their family homes.

As a result, the academy’s atmosphere was far more restless than usual.

Especially the school grounds, which were now noticeably empty.

"Hmm."

Everyone was probably refraining from going out.

No matter how much safety was reinforced, the students were still young—they were afraid.

Well... helping them grow braver was part of the academy’s job too, but...

Given the current situation, it couldn’t be helped.

"The weather’s so nice, though."

A spring breeze brushed my cheek.

I hummed without thinking and scanned my surroundings.

The park, usually filled with people, had been nearly deserted since the lockdown.

I sat on a bench with the empty scenery behind me.

"...So, I assume there’s a reason you called me out to a place like this?"

My gaze shifted to the opposite bench.

There sat another boy.

We were in the middle of a discreet conversation.

"Young Lord Vanity."

"......"

Those distinctive blue eyes stared back at me.

I deliberately opened with a probing tone.

Lusca, who had been silent all this time, soon asked a question.

His voice trembled, unlike his usual composed tone.

"Yuda Snakeus."

A gaze sunken deep with weight.

The boy looked as though he were trapped in some internal struggle.

"What... do you think of my sister?"

It was quite the unexpected question.