"Who else could it be? One of your puppets, Dean Alderson," I pointed out.
"A puppet?"
"Didn't you make a bunch of puppets on the fourth floor of the Tower of Training? You used data from the students who climbed the tower and created puppets based on that. One of them didn't seem like a puppet at all. It could use miasma..." My voice came out rougher than I intended. I must have been more rattled than I realized.
Alderson showed no sign of offense as he listened. Then he closed his eyes slightly and murmured, "Leone..."
He looked lost in thought. Meanwhile, I searched my pockets, hoping to find Leone's note.
There's nothing? My heart sank for a moment.
Could I have imagined it? Still, this felt too much to dismiss.
Panic hit me briefly before I realized I wasn't wearing the same clothes. Someone had changed me into a loose-fitting patient gown. My hero disciple attire, where I'd kept the note, was nowhere to be found.
Of course. That made sense. The fight in the Otherworld had reduced my clothes to rags.
At that moment, Alderson muttered, "Ah, that's right. Leone. Even if no one else remembers, I shouldn't forget her... No. Wait."
His expression suddenly stiffened, and he turned to me. "Hero Disciple Luan, listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"What is this all of a sudden?"
"The truth is, I don't know much about Leone. I'm not sure if she was always like that or if I've been brainwashed like this. But my current condition isn't normal. I feel like I'm about to forget everything about her."
"You mean—"
Alderson nodded. "Leone might have the power to tamper with memories."
It didn't sound far-fetched. I agreed, but part of me hesitated. This was Alderson Marbour, a former Archmage. He had been stripped of his powers and was arguably more trustworthy now than before, but I still couldn't reveal everything about my situation.
Saying "I can manipulate miasma" was very different from admitting "I became a priest of the Dark Church." Even if Alderson was friendly now, it was uncertain how he would react if he learned I had become a priest.
Thus, I chose to share only part of it.
"Leone might be the Dark Pope," I said, voicing a suspicion I had held onto for a long time. Somehow, I felt she was the one who had chosen me to become a priest.
"Is there any basis for that?" he asked.
I explained, "I met Leone in the Otherworld. She helped me during your rescue, Dean Alderson. Without her, I couldn't have taken down the legion commander."
"That alone doesn't prove she's the Dark Pope," he said.
"Of course, there's more. Isn't the Otherworld essentially a dream world? From what I've heard, one of the Dark Pope's signature powers is control over dreams. If that's true, it explains how she appeared there so suddenly and vanished just as quickly," I elaborated.
Alderson didn't respond right away. He closed his eyes slightly, as if sorting through his thoughts, then spoke slowly. "I don't think it's impossible. If Leone truly is the Dark Pope... then she may be a Puppeteer far beyond my level."
I tilted my head at the unexpected term. "What do you mean by Puppeteer?"
"More than a hundred years ago, magical puppets became popular in the empire. They were considered a new form of artifact at the time, but the technique actually came from a now-forgotten kingdom."
"Kingdom..."
"I don't know if you've heard of it. Its name was Setitus," Alderson revealed.
Naturally, Leone's note came to mind at once. "See you at Setitus. P.S. I'm tired of being a puppet."
Setitus—the evil empire Eldest Senior Brother had destroyed. I had a strong feeling the Dark Church was somehow connected to it.
If I ever have the chance, I have to go there.
Alderson continued, "The Dark Pope... For someone who nearly caused the demon king's descent in the capital, it would be stranger if not to be involved... Let's get back to the point: if the Dark Pope is a better Puppeteer than I am, I won't be able to salvage any personality data from the puppets in the tower. But..."
Alderson smiled faintly. "I have a compulsive habit. I record detailed profiles of every puppet I create."
"Do you have it? A document with Leone's data?" I asked, surprised.
"My memory's hazy, but yes. I'm sure it's in a drawer in my office."
"You want me to find it?" I asked.
"I will be summoned to the imperial court as soon as my condition improves. I don't know how long I'll be gone. Maybe I'll never return to the academy."
"I see."
"There's also a chance we will forget this conversation. You might not remember Leone as clearly as you do now." He let out a bitter laugh. "Now I understand. Dreams are private domains—individual worlds shaped by personal imagery. If someone can walk freely through them and rule over them... that is absolute control over a person. Maybe I was a puppet of the Dark Pope, too. That's all the more reason I'm asking this favor."
Alderson met my eyes. "Luan Badniker, please find that document."
I just nodded instead of answering.
***
The next day, Alderson left. As he had predicted, the imperial court summoned him as soon as he was well enough to travel.
"Best of luck, Dean Alderson."
"Thank you. I hope we meet again someday."
Fortunately, I was in pretty good shape and managed to shake his hand.
The room felt noticeably emptier once he was gone, though I had little time to dwell on it. I turned my full attention to recovering.
About a day after Alderson left, I was able to stand. Another day passed, and I reached a half-recovered state. I could move without much trouble, but I kept it hidden. I had a bad feeling I would be dragged all over the academy if word got out.
A middle-aged man who looked like a healer handed me a cup of medicinal tea. "This is your medicine for today. Drink it all."
I swallowed it with a pale face, not pretending. Medicine meant to heal should taste bitter, but this was unbearable.
After forcing down the bitter tea, I ate bland, healthy food. I wanted to survive, so I pushed myself to finish it.
Once I barely finished the meal, I asked the healer, "By the way, how are the others doing?"
"For the most part, they're fine."
The phrase "most part" implied some were not.
The healer caught my gaze and sighed. "Hero Disciple Charon's wounds are severe. As you know, potions or the treatment of a priest have little effect on injuries deeply corroded by miasma. His crushed right eyeball is likely beyond saving.
"Hero Disciple Mir is still unconscious, and the young lady of the Goodspring family is constantly radiating cold. I hear she practically lives in the bath, swapping out the hot water all day."
It sounded like most of my raid team had come out worse for wear.
Seren would probably recover with time. The real concerns were Charon and Mir. Charon's condition, especially, seemed worse than it had been the last time I saw him.
A bitter taste lingered on my tongue—not just from the medicinal tea.
"How is Mir exactly?" I asked.
"She's a lot like Lady Seren, but there's something different about her. Her body temperature is low, though that's not unusual given her heritage. Physically, she's strong, and most of her wounds have already healed," he replied.
"But she's still unconscious?"
"That's right. Neither the other healers nor the priests know why."
I felt I had to see her with my own eyes. Maybe I could help her recover, as I had with Seren, or get some insight from the Martial God.
Sensing my intent, the healer warned in a firm voice, "Hero Disciple Luan, your injuries are just as severe as theirs. Please take it easy for now. We'll do everything we can to care for your companions."
I have almost recovered, though, I thought.
Even so, I gave a short nod and asked, "By the way, where are my belongings?"
"They are in the closet over there."
"Ah." I nodded again.
As the sun set that day, I rose from my bed and stretched. My joints cracked all over.
" Ugh. " After lying in bed for days, doing nothing but circulating internal energy, frustration nearly overwhelmed me. Yet I had to keep up the act. That left only one option: sneak out immediately.
I opened the closet the healer had indicated. My belongings were neatly stored inside.
"This outfit... is it the school uniform?"
Presumably, it had been set aside for me to wear once I recovered. I wouldn't be able to wear the hero disciple attire.
Actually, this might help me stay unnoticed. I quickly changed into the student uniform, then stood before the mirror and studied my reflection. Hmm, this damned handsome face will probably draw attention. My platinum-blond hair is especially annoying at times like this. Should I wear a hat like Glenn?
As I considered it, something among my belongings caught my eye. "Ah."
It was one of Alderson's collection pieces, the mask of the Linchal race. It was a tool that contained the power of transformation.
I think I can use this. Wearing a mask like this might look suspicious, but how exactly will the power of transformation work? With that thought, I covered my face with the mask.
"Ohh, oh?"
The odd-looking mask clung to my face like a thin cloth soaked in water. Surprisingly, it didn't feel unpleasant. Instead, it was quite refreshing.
Then I looked in the mirror again. A girl I had never seen before stared back at me.
I gasped.
No. I looked once more, and it was a boy.
"Damn. That scared me," I muttered under my breath.
In any case, the features were so delicate I could easily be mistaken for a girl. The mask didn't just change my face; it altered my build to some extent as well. Now I appeared as a boy with waist-length black hair. The impression I gave was far more fragile than Glenn's.
To be honest, this look wasn't my style. The hair alone was far too conspicuous. Still, I was confident no one would associate this appearance with Luan Badniker.
"It can't be helped." I had to compromise.
I opened the window and jumped down. The moment I landed silently from the third floor, a pleasant breeze swept over my skin. It felt good, but the hair whipping in the wind was irritating.
Was there any place to get a hair ornament? The only people I knew who tied their hair in a ponytail were Charles and Mir.
By the way, I heard the academy was bustling right now. And it was true—the night air felt restless. I recalled wandering the academy late at night just before the incident. After dark, it was usually hard to find anyone outside.
Now, quite a few people walked beneath the street lamps. Most of them weren't students. The biggest surprise came when I reached the shopping district to fill my stomach.
What is this? The scene looked like midday. The cluster of lights dazzled so intensely it could have passed for sunlight, brimming with vitality.
I grabbed a passerby and asked, "What kind of festival is this?"
" Uh...
"I see."
"Wait... Aren't you a student? Shouldn't you know more about this than I do?"
"Thank you." I gave a vague answer and kept walking.
I had a general idea now. It seemed the academy had drawn a flood of outsiders. Word was, their numbers were unusually high. The academy couldn't house them all, so most were probably staying in the shopping district's inns.
Given how big this incident was, many of the visitors were likely influential. Naturally, they wouldn't be short on money. As a result, the once-empty commercial area had sprung to life. It felt like a tourist hotspot in peak season.
The academy's closed, but most of the students are staying here.
There was no way the local vendors would pass up such a golden opportunity. I wouldn't be surprised if they had joined forces to organize events or set up a food alley. As I walked through the streets, a delicious scent filled the air. After days of choking down tasteless healthy food, my mouth watered immediately.
Meat. Meat first. I have to eat meat—no exceptions. This would be my first proper meal, and it had to be delicious. Failure wasn't an option.
I prowled the street like a hyena hunting meat. Eventually, I didn't believe the best restaurants hid only in obscure spots, but somehow the smell was stronger here.
"Hey, you there. It's dangerous to wander alone in a place like this," a confident voice called out.
I turned to see a young man and woman standing at the alley entrance, watching me. They looked about my age but didn't seem like the academy's students.
It wasn't just their clothing. They carried a polished aura and bore bodies shaped by real combat. None of the academy's knight students matched their presence. They had clearly faced many battles.
"It isn't very dangerous," I replied.
They chuckled.
"Sure. That's exactly what aristocratic ladies on the verge of kidnapping would say."
"Idiot. I'm not a young lady, but a young master," I corrected him.
"Oh... really? You are so pretty, though..."
Who were these two?
The academy had become a gathering ground for all sorts of factions. It wasn't necessary to identify everyone right away, but I somehow felt that they were both unusual characters.
They spoke quietly between themselves.
"How about that one? He looks like a student here."
"Judging by his tie's color, maybe a senior. Hmm... not bad."
"Then, him?"
Hey, I can hear you. Strangely, their conversation didn't feel malicious. They had some hidden agenda, but they didn't seem to want to harm me directly.
Perhaps the woman made the decisions as she raised her chin slightly and smiled at me. "Hey, what's your name?"
"Yeah, what is it?" I blurted out.
"Uh?"
"Nothing, don't mind me. My name is Nalu," I said.
I just rearranged Luan.
"That's a pretty name," the man said.
"If you say pretty one more time, I'll smack your head," I warned, annoyed.
They both laughed. Their reaction reminded me of how people treated spoiled young masters.
"Alright, alright. Sorry. Anyway, Nalu, could you do us a favor and show us around the academy?"
"We're actually looking for someone," the woman added.
I studied them for a moment, then nodded. "Sure. But you're buying me a meal first."