Survival 89

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#89

“Your steps seem heavy. Isn’t it only polite for a fiancé to visit their partner’s room?”

I crossed my legs and smiled at the pink-haired lady sitting across from me.

“Wish grant.”

“Ugh.”

With just a word, the hierarchy was clearly set, and then I poured her some tea.

“Put it away. Do you think I came here to drink tea? State your business.”

“Don’t be like that. Let’s discuss our future plans while we enjoy the tea that even Luciana praised.”

“You’re the one who’s brewing the tea? Unless she’s being sarcastic, I can’t see Luciana actually saying that.”

After all, the tea wasn’t brewed by me.

Elizabeth looked at me with weary eyes as I nonchalantly shrugged.

“Aren’t you planning to improve your own skills? This is disqualifying for a servant.”

“What are you talking about? Managing maids is also a duty of a servant.”

Elizabeth nodded her head slightly, urging me to quickly state my business.

“You know I can ask my wish for you to stay away from Luciana.”

“Pfft-“

Elizabeth, who had just taken a sip of tea, spit it out and yelled.

“Never! Think about why I’m cooperating with you, a demon in the first place!”

“Ah, of course. Even if I am the so-called ‘evil demon’ you speak of, I don’t interfere with one’s deepest desires. Certainly not.”

As I smirked behind my teacup, twisting the corners of my mouth, Elizabeth finally realized she was being teased and her body shuddered.

“I wouldn’t make such a cruel request. I just need help.”

“Sigh, just hurry up and say it. I’ve also made time to come here.”

She glanced at me and looked down, seemingly more relieved that her relationship with Luciana was still intact than angry about the prank.

‘Well, I heard she’s been quite busy.’

While most freshmen are excited and anxious about the academy, Elizabeth is busier because she entered the succession competition late.

-The reason for her busyness, isn’t it because of the mess you’ve made?

“Is it true that assault is bad?”

-What? Such insolence from a vassal! To dare…

Ignoring Bathory, who started to rant, I turned back to Elizabeth, who was lifting her teacup to her mouth again, and told her my real wish.

“I will steal the academy’s model of the holy sword. Please cooperate.”

The basics of negotiation.

First, make an unreasonable demand, then present the real condition you want, breaking down the mental barriers.

“Pfft~!”

Unfortunately, this too was a far-fetched request. Elizabeth spit out her tea for the second time.

-Poor thing. To be entangled with you.

Bathory, seemingly sympathetic to the sight, clicked her tongue.

“Oh dear, Bathory. It seems the tea didn’t suit your disciple’s taste. Please take it away.”

“…Understood.”

As Bathory suddenly popped out of the shadows and clattered away the cups and plates on the table.

-Bang!

Elizabeth’s hand slammed down hard on the table.

“Are you insane? Theft at the academy?!”

“What’s so surprising about that? The coral branch staff that Lady Elizabeth carries around was also stolen, wasn’t it?”

“That was different from the auction!”

Elizabeth slyly hid her staff behind her back.

That didn’t mean her fierce momentum had died down.

Her glaring eyes were fixed on me.

“Why the model? The real Holy Sword is in Saleranto, it’s useless.”

“Would you believe me if I said it was merely for my collection?”

“Sure, I’ll believe that. What’s your real scheme this time?”

The replica of the Holy Sword.

A relic that can be obtained without going through the church or the black market, essential for strengthening my weapon.

I responded with a smile, without giving her an answer.

There was no need to explain my situation to her since she was bound by the wish grant anyway.

“…Tch. So, what do you want me to do?”

Elizabeth is a merchant and among her peers, she’s known for her exceptional grasp of the political landscape.

She understood my intentions all too well.

“Great question! I have a separate request for you, Elizabeth, in addition to causing a distraction.”

***

Mana and Aura.

Two mighty forces that transcend reality.

The mere clash between those who wield these powers can wreak havoc on the surroundings, especially in an academy filled with inexperienced students.

Naturally, due to the hot blood of these young ones, the academy has faced many troubles.

Moreover, the clear class distinctions and disdain among the students.

The only reason the order hasn’t collapsed under such violence is solely due to the dean’s ability.

[Patrol System Activation]

Order is established by a force more overwhelming than any strength.

The existence of golems, capable of immediately suppressing any sudden actions by the students, has been keeping the fiery temperaments of academy students in check for decades.

Of course, there were those who did not comply… 

The neatly arranged plaza.

While not as luxurious to suit the tastes of nobles, the intricately designed monuments and decorations were flawless.

The long corridors and arched marble pillars next to them evoked the image of a temple, hinting at the academy’s purity, but…

“The security is tight.”

“I told you! They’re patrolling everywhere! Wouldn’t they be at one of the academy’s main attractions like the plaza?”

It was like watching AI training in some game.

The golems, moving according to a certain pattern, were everywhere you looked.

They might be smaller than the training golems seen during the tutorial, but the sheer number of them seemed overwhelming.

Elizabeth whispered as she approached.

“You still plan to steal in such a place? Wouldn’t you like to change your mind now?”

“Oh, are you trying to act as if this never happened? Then, will you refund the wish grant?”

I declared boldly to her, who turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.

“Me, Frost Mane. Whatever I target, I’ve never missed. Faithful to desires, whether it’s emotions or objects.”

“…The former doesn’t need to be said out loud.”

Elizabeth, who hasn’t stopped sighing since meeting me, unfolded her fan. No, she straightened her cleverly modified coral branch staff.

Depending on the situation, it serves as a staff, and at times like now, as a fan.

She naturally adapted it without saying a word.

‘She definitely has the makings of a thief’s assistant.’

“Phew, never thought I’d actually use this. But you’re sure it works, right?”

“Of course. Didn’t Bathory guarantee it?”

-Frost Mane had a hard time with this magic due to incompatibility, but you were born for this magic!

Even the critical Bathory couldn’t help but praise her talent.

The look on Elizabeth’s face as she cast the spell, still in disbelief, was quite something to see.

“Why not let Bathory do it? Why me…”

“That’s because it would be troublesome if things got too big.”

According to Bathory, within a domain of a great mage, casting magic above a certain scale could allow others to detect each other’s magical power.

And this academy is swarming with great mages and those of similar caliber.

‘It’s too precious to use Bathory here.’

Though rumors of me controlling a demon had been spread, with all the talk about freshmen and grade exams, it had probably slipped everyone’s minds by now. She was essentially my hidden card.

Fortunately, it seemed magic that allowed one to hide in shadows didn’t fall within the detectable range, but any other magic still needed to be tread carefully.

“From the moment you decided to steal it, the game had already become big.”

“If we don’t get caught, that’s all that matters.”

“Hurry up and go, then.”

Her mana, fluffy as clouds, seeped into me.

Soon, her cotton-candy-pink eyes fluttered.

“…Even the caster can’t be seen.”

The magic Bathory praised was ‘invisibility magic.’ But, being a special magic, it was rare to learn and to teach, with few users even in the original work.

I hadn’t expected Elizabeth to be a suitable user.

“Ha-ha, this really is a perfect skill for a thief. How about making your debut as my assistant now?”

“Forget it! Who are you trying to drag into this?”

Chortling, I stood in front of the dean’s golem.

Though it was within reach with just an outstretched hand.

[No issues during duty. Moving to the next patrol location.]

The golem started walking past the corridor as if nothing was amiss.

Even if they operated around the clock, 24/7, they couldn’t filter out an invisible intruder.

‘This is going to be easier than I thought.’

I quietly followed behind it.

The golem’s patrol route was so tightly guarded it seemed impossible to find a gap.

However, the moment the golems switched places during their patrol was the opportunity.

It felt like electricity was flowing through every joint in my fingers.

The thrill of stealing artifacts, the fruits of someone else’s effort!

At the Baltrion Count’s residence and at the auction house, just recalling the intense emotions I had felt made my shoulders twitch involuntarily. The moment when the golems passing by each other. 

Sleung.

The ornamental holy sword stuck in the ground in front of the plaza’s fountain. It revealed its roots far more easily than I had anticipated. To others, it must have seemed as if a sword suddenly floated up into the air and then disappeared. 

…But there were no witnesses. 

‘I should finish this.’ 

I remembered the words from the book that had turned me into a phantom thief. 

[Being a third-rate pickpocket is about clumsily touching and getting caught.]

[Being a second-rate pickpocket is about slipping the wallet into your hand without the other person noticing and smoothly making your escape.]

[However, a phantom thief must always be a first-rate pickpocket.]

[Being a first-rate pickpocket means, at the same time as stealing the wallet, placing an empty wallet back into the person’s pocket.]

Meaning to delay the victim’s realization as much as possible. 

‘In other words, it’s enough if it just appears fine on the surface, right?’ 

And then. 

[Additionally, since it’s most important for a phantom thief to announce their presence, leave your mark in the wallet!]

‘That author had quite the bad taste, I must say.’ 

Of course, I, who had received his teachings, wasn’t much different. 

Not hiding my joy, with a grin spreading across my face, I quickly put the displayed holy sword into my bag and took out something else. 

The size, appearance, and even the weight. 

Creating a replica identical in every aspect wasn’t difficult. 

After devouring about five volumes praising and chronicling the great holy sword, collecting only the overlapping descriptions, and requesting it, they produced a perfect replica. 

So, in my bag was the model of the real holy sword. And stuck in the ground was a fake of the fake. 

The switch of the holy sword models was achieved purely through the strength of fingers and wrists. And the dexterity that transcended art and reached the realm of magic, of sorcery. 

‘Good, it’s just like the real thing. Now I just need to sneak out.’ 

Sluh.

As the golem was about to finish its patrol and return to its place, I quietly moved to escape from there. 

Just as I was about to slip past the students walking in the plaza and almost out. 

[Beep, Warning, Warning!]

The golem, closing the distance in an instant, leaped towards where the holy sword was, emitting a heavy mechanical sound. 

‘…Did, did I get caught?!’ 

Just as I thought I might have to swiftly destroy this golem and escape. 

[Access prohibited. Souvenir damage signal detected. Please step back immediately.]

Passing by me, who was in an invisible state, and blocking someone approaching the fake fake holy sword. 

Realizing the earlier warning wasn’t directed at me, I exhaled the breath I had been holding in case I was discovered. 

I thought it was just on guard duty. 

I hadn’t accounted for the damage signal detection sensor. It was a miscalculation. Something I didn’t know about in the latter half of the academy, either due to the dean’s cooperation or because the dean had died. 

But who is that person? 

‘Is that Elizabeth? Such timely support is commendable, but…’ 

Drawing attention now wouldn’t be good. 

Wondering if she had intentionally drawn the golem’s attention to herself, I checked the person. 

‘No.’ 

Someone clad in a drab, ash-colored robe. 

Such an item would be detestable to her, with her tidy nature and born nobility. 

But before that. 

I knew who owned that robe. 

‘…Why are they active already?’ 

The emblem sewn on the robe, a mix of black and red stars.

He was indeed a member of ‘Kerzo,’ a cult that committed acts of terror across the empire, including the academy, according to the original story. 

The golem’s warning was cut short because a sword, brimming with aura, cleaved through its waist. Additionally, the aftermath slightly clipped my hair, but I didn’t even have the time to care about that. 

“Is this the pride of the academy, a pile of scrap metal? It’s not as impressive as I thought.” 

The face revealed by the aftermath under the robe. And the voice, seasoned and worn as if soaked in the passage of years. Its identity was immediately clear to me. 

[Boss] 

[Sword Demon] 

A fanatical cultist who follows the four calamities, including the Demon King, and sings of the destruction of the Manhett Empire. That a major officer had personally made an appearance was unexpected. 

He pulled out the model of the holy sword that I had switched earlier and examined it thoroughly. 

“Hmph, even the fortune-teller is doomed. Despite it being just a model of the holy sword, he babbled about it having a faint power.” 

The object he threw to the ground was soon trampled and crushed. 

[Intruder detected! Intruder detected! Execute immediate execution!] 

The blades of various patrol golems pointed towards the Sword Demon. 

“Ha ha! These piles of scrap metal dare to challenge me without knowing their place! Come at me then! Watch as I protect the students you cherish so dreadfully!” 

The clash of swords and the sound of metal ringing. And the heavy thud as massive chunks of metal fell to the ground. 

Amidst the chaos, I quietly moved away in my invisible state. 

‘Why did the Sword Demon raid this place alone? Was he checking the academy’s security in advance?’ 

No. 

That would only heighten the dean’s vigilance. There was absolutely no reason to take such a reckless action at the risk of that. 

‘Or is it a butterfly effect due to the quick emergence of a saint threatening the calamities?’ 

But this, too, was too flimsy a reason. If the aim was to assassinate the saint, even the full force invested would be insufficient, let alone just sacrificing a Sword Demon. 

‘Forget it.’ 

What’s the point in logically analyzing the actions of fanatics? Their irrationality is often more understandable intuitively. 

Even though they appear as major villains in the academy part of the story. 

There’s a reason they remain mere terrorists, not mainstream. They neither possess overwhelming power like Bathory or the high nobles. 

Nor do they have a powerful force like a ducal family. 

Even if individuals possess exceptional strength, they disdain each other. 

So, his end would likely be surrounded and killed by golems, just like that. 

“Ugh, these damn things! Attacking without end.” 

Just hearing that rough breathing, the future felt not far off. But. 

‘That’s all an act, isn’t it?’ 

With the Sword Demon’s abilities, he wouldn’t really die. Rather, it’s an ideal situation for me. 

A scapegoat for the theft of the holy sword has been found. It’s none of my business now, so I should just remove myself from the situation… 

‘…Wait.’ 

Granted, Kerzo isn’t considered a significant terror organization, but they’re still a hostile force. There were times when they put students in danger. 

Their plots had often troubled the player, and there were not a few instances where a must-recruit talent was injured or driven away because of them. 

Because of them, my ’37th Elite Party_Final Revision_Revision 2′ couldn’t be completed. 

‘Rather than ending this with just knocking down one Sword Demon…’

Wouldn’t it be better to tie them up like dried yellow corvinas and deal with them all at once in a single swoop? 

* * * 

“…Tch. I shouldn’t have listened to that fortune-teller. I thought these golem creatures were nothing special.” 

Like a swarm of ants. Watching the steel ant legion slowly tighten their encirclement to bite at his neck made his skin crawl. 

“That academy dean is a monster.” 

But it was fine. This body was just a spare. Even if he fell here, he could simply switch to another body. That was why he had recklessly charged in, wasn’t it? 

‘Hmm. A frontal confrontation with the academy seems difficult.’ 

There was, of course, a gain. The gap between nobles and commoners he had witnessed inside the academy was more hideous than expected. Planning to disguise himself first as a common laborer or shopkeeper, and then possibly dying at the hands of a noble as part of his scheme, 

Just as the Sword Demon was starting to falter under the strength, ready to offer his neck to the golem’s blade, 

“What are you doing? Giving up doesn’t suit my followers.” 

He snapped to attention at the voice whispering in his ear. Hastily, he bisected the approaching golems with his aura-imbued sword, shouting. 

“Who, who are you!” 

“You refer to them as calamities. Among them… hmm.” 

The voice paused momentarily, only continuing after felling two golems. 

“Call me the Calamity of Many Faces.” 

Whether it was pleased to meet its follower, or it was simply enjoying the current situation, the voice was filled with mirth.

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