Chapter 30

“A magic that makes you younger.”

It all made sense why Nia became a Magic Arts Professor.

‘If you can make yourself younger, then adults can enter the Magung too.’

Only students who haven’t reached adulthood can enter Magung.

So the world had no choice but to make tough decisions.

To protect the world from the Evil Zone, they were sacrificing students under the noble guise of a mission.

Of course, the world wouldn’t find this entirely agreeable.

Sure, there are exceptional individuals among the students worthy of the title of hero.

But who knows what the times hold?

To an aged person, the young always seem infinitely youthful and risky.

They respect the young to an extent, but the anxiety that comes from assigning them tasks is hard to hide.

Most importantly, adults have responsibilities.

It’s their duty to pave the right path, ensuring that the younger ones can progress to a better society.

So adults were in a bind on how to handle the Magung issue.

It’s a heartbreaking tale, but even the current third-year generation is branded as the weakest.

If the next generations continue to lack talent,

the apostles won’t be stopped, and they will open the gates of Magung.

The resulting solution was the age-reducing magic.

‘It looks like it’s based on the same method I used with the shroud’s bandages.’

Bickamon was originally in the third year.

By next year, he won’t be able to enter Magung.

But the shroud’s bandages solve that.

They’re a unique item among items.

Created through mystery, it’s a one-of-a-kind exclusive item.

Anyone who uses the shroud’s bandages can change into anything.

This means it’s possible to reduce one’s physical age.

‘Using the shroud’s bandages means anyone can enter Magung.’

This is a fact known only to players.

One might think, why not just put the shroud’s bandages on a promising knight commander from the Empire and send them to Magung?

If it were that simple, I wouldn’t be going through this pain.

‘Above all, the Duke of Robliju would be scheming.’

The Duke of Robliju has already allied with the Evil Zone.

He wouldn’t just let that slide.

The knight commander would be killed somewhere, and the shroud’s bandages would be disposed of.

Just considering that makes it impossible to give the shroud’s bandages to a capable person and have them descend into Magung.

‘But the age-reducing magic is different.’

As it’s actively being researched in the world.

Even the Duke of Robliju won’t have a solution against that.

If it succeeds, they could send the entire knight squad to Magung.

For the Empire, there’s no reason not to research such magic.

Nia was in charge of researching this magic and had achieved some degree of success.

And it was clear she had temporarily come as an assistant professor to try it out.

‘Then why, in the game route I usually played, wasn’t Nia supposed to come to the academy?’

In other game routes, it would have been reasonable for her to come for a test.

Why didn’t Nia come, and why was she ultimately assassinated?

‘I’m not sure where it all went off track.’

I knew there would be many variables since Lucas died, but with a completely new character appearing, my head was spinning.

‘What can I do about it?’

I have to navigate through it.

“Princess Sweet Potato, why are you thinking so much while eating?”

Seron said while twirling his spoon in front of me.

“I envy how you always seem carefree.”

“Are you challenging me?”

“Can you win if you fight me?”

“As long as I don’t self-destruct, I can win!”

Did they just forget that I lost when I didn’t self-destruct last time?

“Hey, look, it’s the troublemaker trio.”

“Hanging out with their kind.”

Then I heard the giggling voices of some passing kids.

I didn’t mind, but Seron frowned heavily.

“They don’t even realize we saved their lives.”

Is this about the forest keeper?

Since the professors discussed the recent Magung transformation in detail, other students also knew about the forest keeper.

However, being grateful was a different story altogether.

People don’t realize how serious things are until they experience them themselves.

Even if it was something that saved their own lives.

The perception changes based on whether they were directly saved or not.

So even if the professors praised us for doing something great,

the students, who didn’t understand how dangerous the forest keeper was, were indifferent.

Some students even thought it was a big deal to catch a low-tier apostle.

“Aren’t you angry?”

“What’s the point of getting angry here? Nothing changes.”

My reputation was already in the dumps.

Think of all the things I did just to provoke Isabel’s anger.

If my reputation were good, I’d have felt wronged instead.

“Hehe, don’t worry. There are also people who think highly of you because of this incident.”

Card chimed in from the side.

According to Card, there are students who gained a better reputation because of this incident.

Especially, there are upperclassmen who well-understand the risks of this transformation.

“I just don’t want to see those who poke fun at us.”

Seron grumbled.

If that’s the case, they could just not hang out with us.

Looks like he doesn’t want to be alone.

“Oh.”

Just then, I noticed that it had suddenly grown quiet around us.

Seron, who had been complaining, froze in place along with the fork he was holding.

When I turned to see what was happening, I too froze.

There stood a familiar face.

With long black hair and striking red eyes.

The most feared figure in the Empire, and a bewitching woman hard to look away from after just one glance.

The 3rd Princess, Iris Haishirion.

She was standing right behind me.

“Y-Your Highness, the 3rd Princess.”

“It’s fine.”

When Seron and Card hurried to show their respect, Iris stopped them.

She averted her eyes downward before looking at me.

“Shall we talk for a moment?”

The 3rd Princess wants to talk to me? I had no right to refuse.

“Gladly.”

I stood up, asking Seron to clear my tray.

Coincidentally, I had just finished my meal.

She must have known that and approached me.

She was drawing attention in the dining hall, but she didn’t seem to care.

After all, she was someone who gathered attention wherever she went.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

After a small while, Iris arrived at a peaceful park.

It was still mealtime for the students.

Perhaps that’s why the park was deserted.

Iris sat on a bench.

As I stood before her politely, she tapped the seat beside her.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Since the princess asked me to sit, I had no choice but to comply.

I gladly sat beside her.

“Nia Cynthia.”

And unexpectedly, she spoke my name.

“Do you know why he came as a professor to Jerion Academy?”

What does that mean?

She asked without glancing my way.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t read her expression.

“Yes, I heard it’s to test the magic that makes one younger.”

So I replied honestly with what I knew.

It wouldn’t benefit me to battle with the 3rd Princess.

“It’s an interesting magic. If that’s possible, then the academy students wouldn’t need to sacrifice themselves anymore.”

“Rather than sacrifice, it’s a noble mission.”

“Even if you dress it up, a sacrifice is still a sacrifice.”

Iris didn’t seem pleased with the students’ situation.

“Do you think the age-reducing magic will be successful?”

“To be honest, it’s almost impossible.”

The Shroud’s Bandages are a magical item filled with mysterious power.

So it’s possible, but

when it comes to pure magic, the story changes.

Magic certainly makes the impossible possible.

But there’s always a limit to that.

“Transmutation magic is rather dangerous, as it can lead to a mental breakdown if someone identifies too closely with their transformed form.”

As she said, transmutation magic is quite tricky.

It requires you to completely transform into the new being, not just to layer a façade over it,

and it can unknowingly have many adverse effects.

The Shroud’s Bandages are no different in this regard.

“But with the age-reducing magic, it’ll be even worse.”

“You’re very skeptical.”

“I just think it’s a waste of time to spend on such magic.”

Honestly, I shared similar skepticism.

If such a thing were indeed possible, the world would have conquered it long ago and taken the head of Evil Zone.

Yet, the fact that they haven’t succeeded till now means there’s a reason.

‘I’ve never seen such magic completed by the time I reached the end.’

It’s likely this would be the case again.

“Is there a reason you’re sharing this with me?”

The real question is whether there’s a need to share this with me.

I don’t have any particular connection with Iris.

We’re tied together by blood and other ways, but this isn’t exactly a conversation meant for a personal invitation.

“Someone is targeting Nia Cynthia’s life.”

My eyes widened slowly.

It was hard to believe such words were coming from Iris’s mouth.

Iris has been living under the protection of the Duke of Robliju, aiming to become emperor.

For her to bring up an assassination plot against Nia Cynthia, who is on the side of the 1st Prince, is shocking.

Not to mention that Nia’s possible assassination would come from the side of the 3rd Princess.

“…Let me ask again, why are you telling me this?”

“I think you can stop it.”

What does that even mean? I couldn’t grasp the intent.

I fell silent for a moment.

“Do you wish for Nia Cynthia’s survival?”

“She’s a talent for the nation. Of course, I don’t want her to be assassinated.”

As she spoke, she got up from the bench.

“So if possible, I’d like her to live.”

I was taken aback.

Iris cared for the Empire more purely than I had expected.

She didn’t want the sprout that could later become a great strength for the Empire to be cut down due to politics.

That must be the reason.

No matter how much the Duke of Robliju supports her from behind,

her sincere desire for the Empire draws the 3rd Princess faction to her side.

“If it’s true, I will do my best.”

I don’t know how she would be assassinated, though.

Iris didn’t tell me that part.

With that, Iris turned to leave.

Then, as if a thought occurred to her, she glanced back at me.

“I liked what you told me last time. Do you have any more recommendations?”

It was about her insomnia issue.

“There’s a plant called Suyeocha, which grows in the western part of the Empire. If you make it into a candle and burn it, it’ll produce a soothing scent that helps with sleep.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Iris departed.

Nia Cynthia had come to Jerion Academy.

But the beasts targeting her had not yet finished.

Originally, in the Butterfly Flame side, Nia Cynthia’s assassination was unavoidable.

However, right now,

there might just be a unique opportunity to prevent that assassination.

If Nia Cynthia doesn’t die, Nikita’s darkening route also disappears.

But in that moment of preventing it,

the world will drift even further from the main story.

‘I—’

What choice must I make?

My gaze fell upon the sky.

If the world cannot advance to its rightful path, it will perish.

Lucas, what would you have done?

I’m missing someone I’ve never seen just once.