Chapter 50

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Episode 11 - Mysterious Murder [2]

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"Cadets, Adel, Lumina Moonlight, Verónica, Julián Reinhard, and Charlotte Starlight, the Director has called for you."

As I ate the last sandwich and finished drinking my coffee.

A man whom I recognized by his voice, Director Bernice’s assistant, went through a list, calling certain names.

Upon hearing the list, I thought with mixed feelings.

’So Rinna wasn’t called.’

In the game, Rinna was called as part of the murderer search group.

But because of Verónica’s intervention, a strange variable, things changed.

’It’s within my expectations.’

I knew she was going to be selected as part of the search group.

Since she is among the strongest first-years, she was no exception.

Although Rinna is strong, she is actually the weakest among all of us.

Her only real effectiveness would be in combat against villains, but the search group was not formed to kill the villain.

Rather, it was meant to search for clues and assist the main team under Director Bernice’s orders.

I quickly finished swallowing my sandwich, stood up from my seat, and said to Rinna,

"See you later."

She nodded and said,

"Goodbye."

The other main characters and I followed Director Bernice’s assistant.

As we headed toward Director Bernice’s office, Verónica, who was by my side, murmured,

"Older brother, what do you think is the reason they called us?"

"..."

"It’s probably because of the murder; we have nothing to do with it."

I lowered my head slightly and spoke in a low voice.

"Shut your mouth. And do you think I don’t know the reason?"

Someone who knows about the Status Window would naturally know about the Main Missions.

With a sigh, Verónica finally said nothing more, and soon we arrived at the office.

We crossed a tall and wide hallway with paintings on both walls.

And two paintings in particular stood out.

’They must be the First and Third Saints.’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Director Bernice admired those two Saints; they were the ones who tried to change how rotten the entire Sacred Continent was.

However, they knew that even if they tried.

One day, everything would return to the way it had always been, and Director Bernice had told both of them, in different eras.

That there was no point in changing the Sacred Continent.

By nature, people seek selfish and immoral personal gain.

No different from most villains.

However, both Saints, strangely enough, gave her the same response, and ever since then, Director Bernice has admired them to this day.

’Well, it was unfortunate that the Holy Church killed both Saints, and Director Bernice never learned the truth about their deaths.’

Pushing the thought aside, Director Bernice’s assistant knocked on the door, and soon a voice said.

"Let them all in."

The assistant opened the door and stepped aside to let us enter.

As we walked in, we found a large office, but overall an ordinary one, like any other, with nothing extravagant about it.

The office was filled with books, and nearly all of them were grimoires.

This place would be a treasure chest for mages.

After all, every grimoire here had belonged to at least a dozen 9-Star mages and scholars capable of revolutionizing the world.

However, since I wasn’t a mage, I paid no attention to that; the only thing that would truly catch my interest would be the grimoires of the Primogenitor Mage.

’Professor Ashly is still searching for another grimoire of the Primogenitor Mage.’

Thinking about her, I sighed as I focused on Director Bernice, who was seated behind her desk.

Soon, she opened her mouth and spoke.

"Take a seat. This will be a rather long conversation."

The five of us sat down without saying a word.

I could clearly feel it, the enormous amount of mana possessed by a 10-Star.

It was almost similar to the sensation of entering a Mana Channel for the first time.

’She’s like a walking Mana Channel.’

Pushing that thought aside, I listened to the Director’s words.

"You’re wondering why I brought you here, aren’t you?"

Only Julián nodded his head; the rest simply listened in silence.

Director Bernice continued.

"You already know what happened this morning, so I’ll get straight to the point."

She leaned slightly to one side and said,

"We will form a Search Team; there will be three teams in total: the first-year, second-year, and third-year teams. Only the strongest students from their respective years will participate in this search."

Julián raised his hand and asked,

"Director Bernice, why don’t the teachers or someone specialized handle the search for the killer? Wouldn’t it be easier since they’re stronger than us?"

She answered Julián’s question calmly.

"Yes, it would be easier, but... this killer hides from those who are 6 Stars and above; that includes me. During the investigation of the Hunting Festival incident, we discovered that only those who are 5 Stars or below can uncover anything about the infiltrated villains."

Before Julián could ask another question, she continued.

"And the reason is simple: apparently, there is an organization calling itself the Church of the Black Dawn, made up only of villains with traits never seen before. The villains infiltrated within the Academy specialize in hiding from me and the teachers, so only someone who is 5 Stars or below can discover anything."

Julián nodded, understanding the purpose and reasoning behind creating the group.

Then Director Bernice looked at each of us one by one before saying,

"You may accept if you wish, and if you don’t want to, that’s fine too, there won’t be any problem; just act as if I never said anything."

Lumina was the first to respond.

"I’m in."

The following were Julián and Charlotte.

"Me too."

"Same here, Director."

Then only Verónica and I were left; Director Bernice looked at both of us.

Verónica was the first to speak.

"Me too. I’ll help however I can. Besides, I’m the first-year representative, so helping is only natural."

I listened to her in silence. Although she said she would help me as much as possible, she also made it clear that she would not interfere in the Main Missions.

It was better to keep her close to me, and anyway, I have to admit that her strength is real.

Then Director Bernice looked at me. I nodded and said:

"Me too."

Director Bernice clapped once and smiled.

"Very well, then I’ll begin explaining the plans and objectives you must accomplish."

During the next half hour, Director Bernice explained in great detail where we had to investigate, follow certain rules, and so on.

The place our group would enter was beneath the Academy.

Just this once, the Director granted us access to all of the Academy’s underground facilities.

Even the Labyrinth located in the deepest part of the underground.

’There are many useful magical items there.’

And above all, there was the White Dawn Staff, a staff for mages that players could obtain.

By giving it to Rinna, you could secure her cooperation in some of the game’s Main Quests.

No matter where she was or how busy she might be.

’I can only obtain it during this Main Quest; otherwise, I’ll have to wait until third year.’

Only in the third year did the cadets have access to the Labyrinth.

And the reason is quite simple.

The Labyrinth is a strange space where time flows differently; in addition, its structure changes every twenty-four hours and, above all, it is possible to appear in a place inhabited by powerful Wild Beasts.

’It is also the reason why the first Saint built the Academy in this place.’

After her death, she passed the position on to Director Bernice.

Although neither of them knew exactly who had built the Labyrinth.

Finally, Director Bernice finished her explanation.

"That is all, and the reward, if you manage to find the murderer, will be a favor from me. You may ask me for anything, as long as it is nothing unreasonable like killing someone."

I remember that Rinna had asked for something rather funny in the game.

’I think she said she wanted to go for a ride on Director Bernice in her dragon form.’

Even Director Bernice could not help but be shocked by Rinna’s absurd request.

Rinna could have asked for anything, yet what interested her most was riding a dragon.

Then, Director Bernice said something unexpected.

"Then, which one of you will be the leader? Normally, there wouldn’t be a leader, because an inexperienced leader’s orders could ruin the cooperation of the entire group."

In theory, it is better to create a group without a leader in cases where no one experienced in leading groups is present.

Everyone there, except for Lumina and perhaps Verónica, had never been leaders of a group.

And as for Lumina, she disliked leading groups because of the many mistakes she had made in several regressions.

’And me, well, I have no experience at all.’

Julián and Charlotte looked at the others, but no one said anything.

Then, the two of them looked at each other and instantly said:

"I’ll do it."

"I’ll be the leader."

They looked at each other again; then, they quickly said the same words once more.

Director Bernice looked at both of them with a smile.

Charlotte, seeing that there would be no progress, suggested something.

"How about rock, paper, scissors?"

Julián thought about it for a moment; then he nodded shortly afterward.

"Very well, let’s do it."

Both moved their hands, and the two of them threw rock.

On the next round, they threw scissors, and on the third, it was paper.

"..."

Everyone looked at the duo, who kept throwing the same thing and ending in a tie.

They continued, but in the end, it was always a tie.

Then Verónica stepped in and said:

"How about trying not to follow an order? You always start with rock and end with paper, so maybe if you don’t follow that order, there’ll be a winner."

At her suggestion, the two looked at each other in silence; then they shook their hands again.

And what they threw was paper.

Another tie. I brought a hand to the bridge of my nose; then Director Bernice said:

"How about choosing through a vote?"

The two fell silent; then they turned toward us and said at the same time:

"Vote for me, and I’ll guide you properly."

"No, vote for me. I have a bit of experience leading my younger siblings."

And a pointless discussion about who was better continued for the next few minutes.