In the end, I turned down the offer last night.
What did it matter if it was one hundred million or a billion Hika? If war broke out around me, no amount of money would save me. So, holding back tears, I could only say:
‘I’m sorry.’
When I questioned how he could even propose such a ridiculous sum, Professor Leo gave me a candid answer.
‘To be honest, I was only authorized to go up to 80 million Hika. But I was willing to dip into my personal fortune if it meant bringing you in. Like I said—Hakon, that bastard, killed my younger brother about 15 years ago.’
In other words, I did what they never could—killed the thorn in their side. So Leo, filled with personal gratitude, had gone all-in.
(Of course, I didn’t kill him—but they believed I did.)
Anyway, I refused.
But White Saber clearly wasn’t ready to let me go.
“Good morning, Professor~!”
“Professor Dante, are you a fan of golf? Hiking?”
As I walked through the Academy, professors kept approaching me, pretending we were old friends.
“Oh, you’re eating already? Mind if we join you?”
“My TA just had to meet you, Professor. Go on, introduce yourself.”
“Ah... Hello, sir...”
The meals I used to share in peace with just Adele were now filled with smiling White Saber professors around the table.
“Professor Dante, how about a drink after the faculty meeting today?”
“We know all the best spots in town!”
After meetings, they’d gather around, hoping to build rapport. Not one or two—but a parade of professors, lavishing me with praise and affection in shifts.
Naturally, I ignored them all.
‘Professor, please... smile, just a little...!’
Adele couldn’t take it anymore. She begged me to respond—just once. Show them I was human.
But I betrayed her hopes.
I remained stone-faced.
Like a rusted statue in a flowerbed. I sat in that conference room with a dull gaze, trying to come up with an escape plan, even after the faculty meeting had ended.
That’s when someone sneered.
“Well, this is goddamn hilarious.”
A snake-like face. Narrow, slit eyes. One of the Black Abyss professors who’d been [Concealed] until now.
A senior professor—middle-aged.
● Black Abyss Professor Vyper
Why the hell is he stepping out alone?
“Professor Vyper. What’s with the sarcasm?”
Professor Leo—the lion-man from White Saber—spoke up in response.
“You’re crossing a line.”
“Says who?”
“Regardless of our factions, when a fellow professor passes, you pay your respects. Even for three days. You don’t go roaming around like a pack of mongrels without a shred of dignity.”
White Saber professors’ expressions hardened.
“Hah. You’re just bitter ‘cause Hakon was your friend, huh?”
Leo smiled as he continued.
“Well, we’re celebrating. What do you expect? It’s a festival now that the bastard who killed my brother is dead. Honestly, we should be setting off fireworks at his memorial.”
Vyper’s eyes filled with cold killing intent.
Something was wrong.
Vyper had clearly seen me refuse White Saber’s offer. So why was he here?
“Watch your mouth, Professor Leo Bardo.”
“Don’t come pissing on someone else’s party, snake. Just slither back to whatever hole you came from.”
The tension between them soared.
Neither side was backing down.
Then Vyper turned his gaze toward me.
And flinched, narrowing his eyes.
【Black Abyss Professor Vyper: ‘What’s with those eyes...?’】
Apparently, I looked intimidating.
Strange—he looked way more murderous to me.
“What’re you waiting for, Professor Vyper? Get out before I throw you out myself.”
“Seems the Bardo bloodline’s always had bad eyesight. Just like your brother—couldn’t see straight, ended up buried.”
“......”
The smile vanished from Leo’s face.
“You son of a— Hey. Did you just say that out loud?”
The 40-something professor let loose a vicious curse.
The atmosphere turned immediately hostile.
White Saber professors began subtly backing away.
Vyper, meanwhile, had accomplished what he came for.
【Black Abyss Professor Vyper: ‘That should do it. Tension’s rising.’】
【Black Abyss Professor Vyper: ‘Still can’t shake the suspicion. Could that Dante guy really have killed Hakon with no outside help...? This is my chance to find out.’】
Shit.
This wasn’t good.
Vyper had come not just to provoke Leo—but to test me.
【Black Abyss Professor Vyper: ‘I’ll pretend to strike the lion... and instead, I’ll go for those pink eyes.’】
At that moment, Leo picked up a mug and hurled it.
Crash!!
The mug shattered against the wall beside Vyper’s head.
“Vyper, you snake-headed piece of shit. I’ve hated your guts for years.”
The lion tossed the bait, kind and clear.
The air turned glacial.
“Then one of us is going to die today.”
The snake took it instantly, stepping forward, fingers piercing his own palm as he drew a glowing blue dagger from beneath his skin.
He advanced—toward Leo.
【Black Abyss Professor Vyper: ‘Now’s my chance.’】
No.
Not Leo.
Toward me.
Goddamn it.
***
Leo Bardo drew his cherished weapon, Sua Blade. A savage-looking dagger. It was a human-slaying weapon carved from the fang of a beastly spirit creature.
He slowly controlled his breathing.
『Hunting Focus』
His blood boiled. His heartbeat quickened. His nerves accelerated, and the flow of time around him seemed to slow.
At the same time, Professor Vyper unleashed his own magic. Half a dozen venomous snakes slithered from within his robes, flicking their tongues. Thick swirls of violet mist began to coil around him.
『Viper Summon』 『Toxic Fog』
And then there was the Poison Fang jutting from his palm—a truly menacing weapon.
Vyper was a poison-type assassin. Whatever personal grudge one might hold, he was undeniably formidable. A single misstep, and he could be fatal.
Professor Leo leveled his breath and thought:
‘If I drag this out, the poison will give him the edge. I need to kill him in one blow.’
Just as the tension reached its peak—
As Leo stepped forward, ready to lunge—
“......!”
“......!”
Everyone in the room froze.
From the floor, walls, and ceiling, twelve swords extended outward.
⋮
『World Forgery: Spatial Forgery [Dominion of Blades]』
⋮
No sound, no murderous aura, not even a trace of magical energy—and yet the blades moved on their own.
Each sword aimed squarely at Vyper and the venomous snakes he had summoned.
This was no ordinary skill. It was an 8th-level combat-type ability, nearing the realm of the ultimate.
Dominion of Blades.
Twelve swords encircled the room as though governing space itself. The air grew cold and heavy. A man’s rough voice echoed through it.
“Professor Vyper.”
Everyone turned toward the voice.
Dante Hiakapo.
He sat with one leg crossed, hands in his pockets, seemingly at ease. But the moment he lifted his head, and their eyes met—the soft pink hue of his irises locking with Vyper’s—Vyper froze. His body reacted before his mind could.
Dante spoke in a soft, slow voice.
“I’d like you to leave.”
Vyper gave a dry, silent laugh.
“.......”
There’s a word: Presence.
The ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) aura, dignity, and weight one exudes. It cannot be earned through effort—it is something one is born with.
It’s what makes a dying warrior, even with a blade through his chest, impossible to dismiss. It’s why powerful politicians feel like cowards pretending to roar.
Then, what is the presence of an assassin?
It is not the same as overwhelming aggression.
A great warrior exudes the presence of might and fortitude.
A great mage exudes mastery of cosmic order and truth.
But beyond them is something even more frightening. A presence that strikes a primordial fear into the soul—one that whispers:
"This being could kill me at any moment."
Killing Intent.
There was something shocking here.
Professor Dante... had it.
‘...Unbelievable.’
Vyper had thought he was just another sharp-looking but vacant-eyed professor. A cut below the refined assassins who spent their days sharpening themselves to perfection.
But now that Dante had released his killing intent, Vyper’s mind flipped.
He couldn’t believe it himself. He, Vyper, was being overwhelmed by someone else’s presence?
“Third parties should stay out of this.”
Vyper forced the words out, straining under the pressure. Still pretending he was focused on Leo. But the tension in this space was now far beyond his control.
Dante slowly gestured with his hand. The blades hanging in the air closed in slightly toward Vyper.
“Best to listen while I’m still being polite.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed.
“Leave.”
One of the swords inched even closer, right between Vyper’s eyes.
Vyper grimaced, baring his fangs. Would this end in blood? Or...
He shut his eyes and let out a long sigh.
“Tch... filthy little insects.”
He turned and walked away. Pretending he hadn’t lost an ounce of composure. But the White Saber professors all realized—
That arrogant bastard Vyper had just been completely crushed.
‘...Tch.’
Meanwhile, as Vyper stepped outside, a firm conviction settled in his mind.
‘It’s true. Hakon was definitely assassinated by Dante.’
Vyper had lived twenty years as an assassin, ten more as a professor.
He knew.
Anyone who exuded that kind of killing intent—
Not one of them was lesser than Hakon.
They were all at least [Grandmaster]-class assassins. All of them were incomprehensible monsters—
Like Betelgeuse, the current Hiaka Division Chief, and former executive of the continental Black Abyss.
‘You fucking fool, Hakon.’
A fresh wave of rage rose at his dead colleague.
The idiot had always been too emotional.
For an assassin, he was easily swayed. He let useless anger consume him and caused trouble time and again.
‘He should’ve known better than to go in blind.’
But Hakon wasn’t stupid. He must have assessed Dante before attempting the hit.
He would have known Dante was a high-tier assassin. Would have recognized his mastery of Dominion of Blades.
And yet he’d gone in anyway.
‘...Then it really was a dog’s death.’
As that thought solidified in Vyper’s mind, the hidden Black Abyss professors approached in the shadows.
They were standing right next to him—yet they used [Telepathy] to communicate.
<What did you find?>
Vyper exhaled deeply.
<I’ve confirmed it.>
<Professor Dante Hiakapo possesses more than enough ability to have killed Hakon unaided.>
<And given that he rejected White Saber’s offer, the stance we should adopt toward him is...>
***
Second floor of the mansion. My room.
I sat in a daze, carving a new [Illusion] model. Part of my nightly training ritual.
<『World Forgery』 Proficiency: 87.11% (▲0.05%)>
But then I noticed something strange on the [Mini-map].
Someone was rapidly approaching.
I halted my training and warily looked outside.
Tap tap.
A knock on the window.
It was... a crow?
Not just any crow—clearly summoned via [Summon-Taming] type ability. Judging by the round, cute eyes, it was likely a “Messenger Crow”—a breed used for communication.
There was a tag on its collar: [Betelgeuse].
It came from the Black Abyss Division Chief.
Now what?
Tap tap.
As I hesitated, the crow knocked again.
I cautiously opened the window.
It fluttered in, then spoke its message:
“Two hundred million.”
I’m gonna lose my mind.