Chapter 61

Our mission was, as the Chief mentioned earlier, to go to the Back Gate located to the west of the Academy and draw as much attention from the soldiers as possible.

This was merely an externally assigned mission; however, to maintain security, the Chief and Daniel went around detailing what each team was supposed to do.

It was one thing for the Chief to do this, but Daniel was unexpected. Had the two been acquainted for a long time?

And in Adella’s room, the Chief revealed a completely different operation from what he had mentioned in the lobby earlier.

“The Forest Guardian of Arcelia. Earlier, we had to be cautious due to the many eyes watching, but in this operation, Unspecified Gender, you are the key. If you hadn’t participated, this operation wouldn’t have even been carried out. So, Adella, focus on this.”

When I asked for the reason, the Chief sighed deeply and said that there would surely be spies even within ‘Abyss.’

After all, it wasn’t like the Imperial Guard could use the mana oath, and there would inevitably be flaws in an improvised organization.

But the Chief was not foolish.

“Among those you can actually trust in District 15, there’s only Daniel, Alphalion, Sisiella, and you.”

“What about me?”

“Right… you too, Adella.”

“Hmph. Be-”

On the surface, Alphalion and Sisiella were supposed to steal the laurel, then join with Daniel and hand it over to him, but the Chief twisted the operation here.

“If the diversion operation is successful, Unspecified Gender and Adella will immediately circle around the outskirts of the Academy and wait at the North Gate. Alphalion and Sisiella will hand the laurel to Unspecified Gender there and then exit through the Dongmun.”

While those who extracted the information were frantically trying to capture Alphalion’s group, the real laurel would be smuggled out from the least guarded North Gate.

It wouldn’t be as dangerous as them, but it felt like the difficulty of the mission suddenly doubled.

If it were to be revealed midway that Alphalion’s laurel was fake, it would immediately lead to a pursuit toward us.

“What’s so easy about this? You can expect it, Gestalt!”

Adella slammed the desk and stood up.

“Have a little more respect when speaking to the Chief, Adella.”

Despite Daniel’s scolding, Adella, exhilarated, made a satisfied purring sound.

“They’re not clueless about the diversion operation either. But for them to crush even that suspicion, the Forest Guardian’s performance is crucial.”

Daniel unfolded a map.

“Make the city a complete mess so they don’t even suspect a diversion operation. That was Daniel’s order.”

“The Rement Academy may seem like there’s only one in the capital, but there are actually several buildings outside as well. To the south is the Observatory, to the east is the Guard Barracks, and to the west are the Material Warehouse and the Admission Management Office.”

All of these had tight communication lines with the Academy.

Even if they successfully stole the laurel, there would be concerns about being surrounded and captured from all sides.

“You need to properly raid all three locations to the south and west.”

So that all forces are drawn toward the southwest.

At that time, Alphalion and Sisiella would infiltrate the Academy to bring back the laurel, and our goal was to do our best to escape.

And if, late in the game, the Academy realizes it’s a diversion operation, we can return, join them at the North Gate blocked by a great mountain, receive the laurel, and escape over the mountains to the outskirts of the castle.

“I almost said something foolish about the bald man being ignorant.”

“…”

Yes, if it’s this operation, it would work out. At this level, even the Kaizen Central Academy from my past life wouldn’t have been able to catch on.

The Chief, Gestalt, was someone who exchanged his intelligence for hair.

* * *

“Hahm. How long do we have to wait?”

Adella scratched her ear after her nose.

Due to the ambush mission, she couldn’t even stretch properly.

The first strike target was, of course, the Observatory.

At night, it was also the place with the fewest people and was perfect for calling in adequate forces.

Adella, who had shown enthusiasm for the operation, seemed gone, leaving only a bored cat yawning.

“Aren’t you bored too?”

“Not particularly.”

“Tell me about the past. It’s not often I get to meet an elf.”

“I don’t know much about my kind.”

After all, she’s a player type.

I don’t even know who I was supposed to be.

“How pathetic.”

Adella turned her head sharply.

However, perhaps feeling awkward, she spoke again.

“Do you know why I entered Abyss?”

A story I had never heard before.

Having not reached a high level, she was often disregarded in Abyss.

I couldn’t help but wonder why the Chief trusted her.

“I hate the Academy. I hate everyone in the Academy to the point of loathing them.”

“That’s quite sudden. What does that have to do with anything?”

“It does matter. I was the last person to fail the entrance exam for the Academy.”

“The entrance exam?”

“Hah, you really don’t know anything, do you?”

Had I attempted the admission exam for Rement Academy through normal means, this would be well-known, but I had no such information.

Adella began to explain without caring.

“The last exam for the Academy’s entrance exam is a score elimination method. As long as you stay within the top 100 until the time limit, you’re ultimately accepted.”

And Adella had barely managed to secure a spot in the top 100 two years ago during the entrance exam.

Although she had no talents blessed by the heavens, her experiences surviving numerous life-threatening situations in the gutter had led Adella to break through the arduous competition.

“I passed the Academy, which is attended only by the continent’s best talents, having grown up without a home, money, or parents. I thought I would finally receive recognition from my worthless father.”

“Your father?”

“A famous professor at the Academy.”

Adella’s origins were humble.

She was nothing but the result of a one-night affair.

Her father would never recognize her as his child, and she was coldly abandoned even by her mother at the brothel.

In the darkest and dirtiest corner of the Empire, she dreamed of the most noble and shining future, as her name ‘Adella’ suggested.

To survive, she stole valuable goods from passersby.

To survive, she stole sparkling jewels from merchants.

Though it was not an honorable life, she vowed that if she could just pass the Academy, she would live a different life.

“But that guy manipulated the rankings. He definitely didn’t want to let me pass.”

Just when she was experiencing the greatest joy of passing, she received a rejection notice the day before the entrance ceremony.

‘Special Admission for Hero Candidates’

An unknown person took the spot that she had earned and naturally, Adella, who had been ranked 100th, was expelled from the Academy dormitory.

It took less than a day for her to go from a warm and cozy bed to sitting on the cold stone floor.

Adella gritted her teeth.

Although it had already been two years, she couldn’t suppress her anger as if it had happened just yesterday.

“Couldn’t they have given up just one spot…? Why take it back after giving it to me! What is this?!”

A bird that has fallen from the highest point can never fly again.

“I’ve waited two years for a chance at revenge. I will kill them all.”

If Adella could not soar in the sky, she resolved to break the wings of others.

Her bloodshot eyes were certainly not those of an ordinary person.

The operation time had arrived.

At the same time, thick clouds covered the bright full moon, adequately darkening the visibility.

“It’s the first time I’ve properly received a mission from Uncle Gestalt. I can’t let you down in this mission if I’m to repay the favor.”

“Was it the Chief who accepted you into Abyss?”

“…”

In the distance, the bell of the imperial clock tower rang.

Among the group, Adella’s body was the first to leap out.

“Don’t die trying to keep up! I won’t wait for you!”

In an instant, she disappeared as a dot along the narrow path.

It was laughable, and I couldn’t help but smirk.

Who was warning whom?

As long as it wasn’t a butterfly bath, it was fine.

* * *

– Are you talking about that student council president if it’s a Hero candidate?

– Suddenly makes me feel really sorry for her.

– Our Delnyang is precious!

– Looking again, she seems kind of pretty?

– I want to pet the hurt cat.

– Why do they call her Am Adella in the Moonlight Gallery?

– At this level, the laundry is sufficient.

Those experiencing Nightmare difficulty for the first time said.

Doesn’t Adella deserve to be treated as a heroine with a story?

Nightmare-exclusive characters that don’t appear at all in normal difficulty.

Her appearance is excellent, and her past story tugs at the heartstrings of many.

They were already captivated by her pouty expression, glistening cat-like eyes, and the occasional tail that slaps the floor depending on her mood.

But the submaster of the ‘Korean’ clan, Great Sal, who knew all the details of the story, scoffed at her.

[‘Graduate Student Save’ donated 1,000 won!]

– The Am Adella hate stack is just beginning now.

“Nyahhhhh! Forest Guardian, save me!”

Adella let out a bizarre scream she wouldn’t dare to utter and rushed back down the narrow path.

At that moment, a sudden quest notification popped up for Unspecified Gender.

[Guarding the Rement Observatory (0/20)]

The Nightmare’s difficulty was not forgiving.

Meeting bandits in the mountains was akin to dying without knowing why.

It doesn’t tell you what to do or how to do it.

No information on the enemy, no weaknesses.

They were just there, frantic to kill players.

In the dark and narrow path.

The ominous crow sounds.

The clanking of chainmail echoed.

When the sound of a determined marching from the mountain approached,

They all simultaneously drew their weapons.

“Dispatch the intruder.”

– 20 people?????????

– Wasn’t it originally 2?

– No, I was at 1?

– Look at those eyes, they look like they’re about to kill someone.

– They came to kill, lol.

– Nightmare with maximum infamy from the start, suffering from the first battle, lol.

– 20 should be manageable, right? I mean, later there are even battalions.

– Look at their size.

“Unspecified Gender, please…! I don’t want to die here!”

Before Adella could even react, the soldier in front grabbed her ankle as she tripped on a tree root and lifted her upside down.

Her short skirt slipped down, exposing her black garter belt underwear.

– Wow, she’s really tall.

– They all seem around 2m, right?

– Look at those muscles, their armor looks like it’s about to burst.

– Is this a world where only Alpha males have Nightmare infamy 10?

– 160 cm Wa-bunge crying, ugh.

– For real, they look like they could be the commander of the guard, yet they’re just standing guard at an observatory.

– Oh?

– No way????

– This is it..!!!

– Wow qaqhaoknong, lol.

– Damn… I was counting on you guys, the guards!!!

– Totally getting carried away, lol.

– Black….um….black marks…