Chapter 32

“Done with the student council stuff!”

I shifted my feet to head back to the dorm.

As I was making my way to the dorm, I spotted a familiar figure in the distance.

Messy hair that looked like a broom.

It was Poara, the 1st Year contractor of the Spirit Sovereign.

It seemed like they were on their way back from school too.

“Poara!”

When I called out, Poara turned towards me.

With a bright expression, Poara bowed their head in greeting.

It’s nice to have a polite junior.

“Hello, Hanon-senpai!”

“Hey, are you heading to the dorm?”

“Oh, I’m actually on my way to the Spirit Great Forest.”

Even after school, they’re still headed to the Spirit Great Forest. They’re really dedicated to spirits.

“You’re diligent.”

“Ahaha, it’s not for studying or anything. I heard some strange words from the Spirit Sovereign.”

Strange words from the Spirit Sovereign? Now that piqued my interest.

“Is it something you can share with me?”

“Oh, yes! I actually wanted to consult you, senpai.”

“About what?”

“It’s about a mystery that once covered the Spirit Great Forest.”

The Steel Empress.

That’s the mystery that granted me my key ability—Steel Skin.

“And why’s that?”

“The Spirit Sovereign said they could sense the existence of another mystery again.”

My eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Mysteries are entities filled with danger.

They are twisted creatures that couldn’t ascend to godhood for some reason.

So, if another mystery is sensed, that meant dangerous events could be arising.

“But this seems a bit strange.”

“Do tell me more.”

“Ah, yes, I can definitely feel the energy of the mystery, but it’s kind of faint, like there’s a veil over it.”

“Faint, you say?”

Mysteries are typically manifestations of beings unable to control their own power, spilling over uncontrollably.

That’s what a mystery is.

For a mystery to be sensed at all is a contradiction.

“Yeah, I’m not sure about the details, but the Spirit Sovereign said it.”

Poara seems to know about mysteries. It’s not surprising if they sense something’s off.

“You’re asking me because I’ve defeated a mystery before, right?”

“Yes! You handle mystery powers, don’t you?”

Poara, contracted to the Spirit Sovereign, must have heard all about my exploits through them.

I nodded along, confirming.

“All my bare-handed fights during the last battle were thanks to that.”

“I thought you might know more, so I wanted your opinion. The Spirit Sovereign seems anxious.”

Being the one governed by the Steel Empress, it’s understandable for the Spirit Sovereign to feel uneasy.

“Alright, I’ll look into it personally too.”

“Wow, thank you! You’re the best, senpai!”

Poara’s eyes sparkled with genuine gratitude.

Looks like I’ve become a very trusted senior for them.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way!”

“Yeah, take care!”

As I saw Poara off, I fell into thought for a moment.

An unexpected mystery has emerged.

Was there supposed to be an event related to mysteries at this time?

‘At least, I don’t remember anything.’

So, what coincides with the timing of the mystery’s appearance?

Just one thing.

There’s a change at Jerion Academy that never existed before.

‘Nia Cynthia.’

My gaze sharpened with clarity.

At the same time, I recalled Iris telling me about Nia’s assassination.

Why did Iris mention Nia’s assassination to me?

‘Iris must know that I dealt with the Steel Empress.’

One of the student council members is Iris’s confidant.

So, it seems they tipped Iris off about the Steel Empress matter that was hidden from the student council, out of consideration for me.

In other words, Iris was aware of my connection to the mystery.

The conclusion dawned on me.

‘Whatever the method, Nia’s assassination is definitely linked to the mystery.’

Mysteries are unpredictable beings.

If it’s a mystery, they could even pull off Nia’s assassination.

And with an accident, clean and tidy.

My expression hardened.

‘Damn.’

I immediately chased after Poara.

Before long, I spotted her heading toward the Great Forest.

“Poara, I found out something about the mystery. Could I meet the Spirit Sovereign?”

I have no idea what kind of mystery tied into Nia’s assassination.

That made it necessary to fill in the gaps in information.

Luckily, Poara readily agreed to my request.

Entering the Spirit Great Forest.

Once inside, Poara started preparing.

Soon after, responding to her spirit sensitivity, a blurry shape began to appear above the trees.

What appeared was a gigantic jade-colored bird.

With the bird’s arrival, the wind danced cheerily around us.

It felt like the blessing of the wind enveloped this place.

Yet within that wind, my instincts screamed danger, making me instinctively shrink back.

My hands and feet trembled.

Chills crawled over my skin, etched with steel.

I forced myself to suppress it.

I could feel the Spirit Sovereign’s sheer majesty.

【It’s been a while, child. Thank you for helping our forest back then.】

A late thank you.

【Since I don’t have spirit sensitivity, I couldn’t even show my face back then. You couldn’t see me at that time either.】

So that’s why I saw no spirits that day.

It seems my lack of spirit sensitivity prevented me from seeing the spirits at all.

‘But did the Spirit Sovereign linger around after I defeated the mystery?’

I couldn’t recall all that well; my memory was dim.

Regardless, the Spirit Sovereign was incredibly kind to me, thanks to my past help.

Even though I couldn’t converse without Poara’s assistance due to lacking spirit sensitivity.

The Spirit Sovereign was aware of my deed in saving the Spirit Great Forest.

Thus, I could comfortably ask a few questions.

【The mystery is already sensed within Jerion Academy.】

The Spirit Sovereign mentioned that a mystery was present within Jerion Academy.

But as previously mentioned, mysteries are uncontrollable forces overflowing.

If it were to already be within Jerion Academy, someone would have detected it first.

“So, could it possibly be similar to me?”

I hold the mystery within the form of steel skin.

The consciousness of the Steel Empress may have faded, but…

The power of the mystery she held was undoubtedly residing within me.

【I see. Now that I look, there are indeed some similarities.】

The Spirit Sovereign agreed with my question.

As suspected, the mystery itself hasn’t fully manifested, but something possessing its power does exist.

‘Is the assassin who’s going to kill Nia harboring the mystery?’

Yet, during the student council meeting, no new characters have entered the scene.

With Nia in potential danger of assassination, I meticulously searched through the materials at the student council.

But the only new name entering this year at the academy was Nia.

‘That said, amongst those who were already here, could any of them be capable of assassinating Nia?’

Truth be told, there was no one.

I’ve played the Fire Butterfly route countless times.

I know the personalities, characteristics, and histories of the main characters inside out.

‘Of course, it could be an extra I’ve never laid eyes on.’

Nia is an active Magic Knight.

Even if they held a mystery, it’s hard to believe an extra character could assassinate her.

‘In that case.’

My head lifted.

“Spirit Sovereign, I’m sorry to ask one last thing. When did you first start sensing the mystery?”

【It was about a week ago.】

A week ago.

That timespan coincides with Nia’s arrival at Jerion Academy.

“Thank you.”

As soon as I realized this, I turned my body to exit the Spirit Great Forest and began to run.

Just as I have marked my body with steel skin.

The objects that harbor the power of mystery exist in this world too.

This is just speculation, but it’s highly probable that Nia herself possesses such an object.

And the first thing that came to mind regarding such an object was.

‘That staff.’

The staff Nia had newly acquired through a friend.

It was significant enough to catch Nikita’s interest.

Is it just coincidence that she got a new staff at this moment?

Nia’s original staff was destroyed.

Coincidentally, the staff crafter had an accident and was injured.

A friend recommended a new craftsman to her.

I sensed an ominous energy.

Nia’s assassination is inevitable.

If so, there must be some factor that generated this inevitability.

Resulting from a confluence of events that even Nia herself could not perceive.

Realizing this, my legs began to pick up speed.

Before long, the Magic Arts building at Jerion Academy came into view.

I don’t know when Nia will be assassinated.

Even if I manage to stop the attack this time, there’s no guarantee she won’t die.

Moreover, considering the story’s context, it might be right to let her assassination unfold.

Even so, my feet wouldn’t stop.

A life is at stake.

Knowing that, I couldn’t just stand idly by.

‘I said I’d do anything for the sake of the story.’

But when the situation arrives, instinct made me spring into action.

I’m such a foolish idiot.

To reach the end, I need to be ruthless.

But that didn’t come easily.

If I can’t advance the story, the world will likely face ruin.

And I’ll die too.

If I want to avoid death, I need to somehow steer the narrative toward the story.

However.

There’s someone who would grieve the most at Nia’s death.

During the Fire Butterfly route.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t prevent Nia’s assassination.

And subsequently unfolds Nikita’s darkening route.

Events before the next act are necessary for the next acts to happen.

Nikita dies as the boss of Act 3.

With Nia’s assassination confirmed, her darkening became an unavoidable route.

My fists clenched tightly.

Having played the Fire Butterfly route many times, I’m a seasoned expert.

‘Lucas has already died.’

The direction of the story twisted at dusk, and I’m just forcing it back onto its path.

Even now, I’m struggling to escape a bad ending that results in the world’s destruction.

I’m trying to witness a happy ending in the Fire Butterfly route, even without a protagonist.

‘If Nia isn’t assassinated, can I still guide this world towards the story?’

No.

I can.

Because I definitely can.

Having seen countless endings in the Fire Butterfly route, I can achieve this.

I’ve already patched up many missing pieces and can do so again.

‘Since I’m aiming for a happy ending.’

My eyes ignited with resolve.

‘In the Fire Butterfly route, there can be at least one ending where everyone smiles.’

I set a new goal today.

If I’m going to witness an ending without a protagonist.

I’ll create the most ideal happy ending.

My legs packed fresh energy.

With my determination solidified, I picked up speed even more.

As I dashed up the stairs of the Magic Arts building, I soon reached the staff room.

Just as I was about to hurry and find Nia—

Drriiing—

A familiar face walked out as the door swung open.

Her hair glimmered like a galaxy, and upon seeing me, she tilted her head.

“Hanon, why are you running like that?”

With a languid expression, she was Sharine Sazarith.

The second-year Magic Arts Top Student.

“Huff, huff, Sharine.”

Breathless, I leaned my hands on my knees, blowing out a deep breath while looking up at her.

Talking was tough.

“It’s hard for me when you give me those hot eyes.”

“Just cut the small talk. Is Professor Nia inside?”

Sharine shook her head.

“No, she left.”

Great, did I miss her?

Once I caught my breath, I stood up straight.

“Do you happen to know where she went?”

“She probably headed to Magung. She said she finished preparing for the magic test.”

At that moment, I turned on my heels without wasting a second.

Nia’s assassination was already in progress.

Of all the timings to be off, this one was truly the worst.

At that moment, a sensation of weightlessness began to wash over me.

As I flailed my legs in mid-air, Sharine flew up beside me.

“Whatever it is, it seems urgent, huh?”

Urgent is an understatement.

A life is at stake!

“I’ll help you!”

With that, Sharine immediately turned towards the window.

Whoosh!

With her wind magic, the window opened wide.

Then, lifting me up, she soared straight out of the window.

In an instant, we sped past the scenes below.

Far faster than I could run.

I was reminded of just how useful magic can be.

“So, we’re heading to Magung?”

“Yep, thanks for your help!”

“Next time, I want curry bread.”

Is she hoping to score snacks in return for helping me?

“Alright, once this is done, I’ll buy you cream-filled bread and sweet red bean bread too.”

“Wow, I gotta give it my all then!”

Sharine’s expression brightened, as she accelerated.

Suddenly, the massive door to Magung appeared closer on the horizon.

A giant entrance that looked like it could swallow the sky.

As I watched, I sincerely hoped I wouldn’t be too late.