A day had passed.
Most of the Kreutz assassins who had infiltrated Zone 0 had been exterminated.
And the one who contributed the most to the success—none other than Professor Dante Hiakapo.
He had climbed the transmission tower and used a “Crystal Sphere” to communicate with the other professors, relaying the movements and strength of the Kreutz assassination squad. Even those under [Concealment] had been unable to evade Dante’s eyes.
That alone would have been impressive, but he went further—tracking and flushing out the scattered remnants that had fled and gone into hiding. Not once were his orders off the mark.
‘How the hell did he find them...?’
‘I’ve heard he’s strong, sure—but this is beyond anything I imagined...’
Everyone set aside their doubts for now. The situation was still too dire to dwell on them.
The assassination war among the top-tier assassins of Zone 2 still hadn't ended.
The reason: Jinksythe had grown a fourth arm.
Students and faculty alike watched it in horror.
“It grew another one again...?”
“Damn it... this is making me sick...”
Only one more remained until the summoning was complete.
And yet, there was still no clear “hotfix” schedule from above.
The newly emerged fourth arm carried an especially dangerous curse.
It wasn’t a triggered curse requiring activation, but a [Totem-type Curse]—a passive field effect that applied debuffs just by existing.
The moment it appeared, the entirety of Zone 0 fell under its influence.
『Curse of Weakening』
KUUUUUUNG...
A massive and ominous curse radiated from the sky, pressing down across the land.
It sapped the strength of the exhausted, forced open the wounds of the injured, and accelerated aging in the elderly.
– Beep! Beep! Beep!
“His heart rate’s dropping! Nurse! Get the nurse!!”
“Damn it, the wound’s festering—! Increase the dosage!”
The infirmary descended into chaos.
With tension rising, the Academy summoned the professors to convene.
– Emergency meeting on the subjugation unit. All standby professors in Zone 0, report to the Assassination Department immediately.
Over a hundred professors gathered in the central hall.
“...We will now begin... the meeting...”
The meeting was presided over by none other than Angela, senior professor of Black Abyss.
She was still not fully recovered from her [Petrification]—half her upper body and even one lung remained impaired.
That was the problem.
This meeting was meant to form a raid party to subdue Jinksythe.
But each time Angela spoke, the rasping wheeze in her breath made everyone feel uneasy.
This was Angela—the once-mighty top-700 ranked assassin, revered like a deity.
And now, after severing two of Jinksythe’s arms, she was left in this condition.
Who would dare take on Jinksythe after seeing that?
“Please... if anyone is willing... hsss... we’ll need around 30 people...”
Angela, well aware of the danger, nonetheless stood as a representative of the faculty and promised substantial research funding and the Academy’s full support to those who volunteered.
“I’ll join.”
“Me too.”
A few stepped forward.
Professors like Leo and Vyper—those with real conviction.
But only 15 in total.
Out of over a hundred.
Just fifteen.
“This time will be far better... We’ll open the Academy’s armory...”
“If you’ll fight alongside us... we can subjugate it more safely...”
“Please... just a few more... If even fifteen more of you raise your hands...”
“...Are you truly saying... this is all...?”
Despite her repeated urging, no more hands were raised.
Angela continued to plead.
Still—silence.
“Professors...”
Outwardly appearing in her forties, but in truth over eighty years old, Angela let out a long, quiet sigh.
Though she knew her very presence made people uncomfortable—
She couldn’t stay silent in the face of what she was seeing.
This new generation of assassins, so obsessed with self-preservation...
“...I am... deeply disappointed. Professors.”
Her voice was soft.
But it was laced with a chilling killing intent that crushed the air around them.
“...There’s less than seven hours before... that thing grows another arm... before the summoning is complete... And yet here you are... Professors of the Royal Academy of Grand Hiaka... cowering in the face of danger...?”
Despite her damaged lungs, she raised her voice.
She raged.
“What exactly... are the students supposed to learn from you?”
The professors’ heads bowed. They couldn’t meet her gaze.
Angela felt devastated.
This was why—
This damned Academy—
Had gone numb when the traitors began to emerge.
They had long since lost their edge. Chased only after money, safety, material gain...
Even if such self-preservation was the nature of an assassin, this was supposed to be a military and educational institution.
And now, in the face of real crisis, that rotten core was laid bare.
“...No wonder the royal family, enemy states, and even the continent at large treat us with contempt.”
And what of Kreutz?
They were the enemy, yes—but their assassins had thrown themselves into Hiaka, risking certain death.
The contrast was impossible to ignore.
“...Forget it. I’ll go myself...”
“S-senior Professor...!”
“I don’t need your permission. And when this is over—I’ll resign from the Academy as well...”
BANG—!
Just then—
The doors to the conference hall slammed open.
A man appeared.
Every head turned.
“Who the hell shows up late to an emergency meeting...?!”
A senior professor was about to scold him in embarrassment—but quickly shut his mouth.
It was Professor Dante Hiakapo.
“Apologies for the delay, Senior Professor Angela.”
He looked unwell, as if he had taken the full brunt of the 『Curse of Weakening』.
No wonder—he hadn’t slept since the first detection of Jinksythe, fighting non-stop through the extermination of Zone 0’s assassins.
“...It’s fine. Please, take a seat...”
Angela, who had been scolding the others with fire in her voice, now offered Dante a gentle smile.
But Dante didn’t sit.
“I’ll join the subjugation party.”
Angela’s one eye—still not petrified—widened in surprise.
“...You, professor...?”
At the same time, every other professor’s eyes twitched.
***
I had no intention of attending the meeting.
From the moment the 『Curse of Weakening』 activated, the sensation in my eyes had started to fade.
I had every excuse to sit this one out. I’d done my part. More than enough, really. I had earned the right to just sit down and rest.
But then—another system alert popped up.
⧉ Hotfix Schedule Notice
Hello, this is 「System⧉」.
The hotfix schedule has been finalized. Please see below:
Scheduled Time: Year 501, October 17, 9:00 PM ~Details regarding rewards and adjustments will be announced after the hotfix is complete.
Thank you.
Finally. There it was—the schedule.
My brain ran the numbers instantly.
9 PM was five hours away.
Jinksythe’s estimated full summoning time was around 11 PM.
Which meant—
Jinksythe will disappear before the summoning completes.
Perfect.
The main storyline would end cleanly. Peacefully. I had already locked in a safe resolution to this arc.
And yet...
The gears in my head began to spin.
I alone knew the exact time the monster everyone feared would vanish.
Just me.
Wasn’t that... a little too valuable to just keep to myself?
It felt like I could use this somehow. But how?
As a player, not a professor—what was the optimal move?
Ah!
Lightning struck in my brain.
And so, dragging my weary body, I entered the Assassination Department’s faculty conference room.
Under everyone’s stares, I said:
“Yes. I’ll join the subjugation party.”
“...We’re grateful, but even so, we’re still far short of numbers. We need around thirty people...”
“No. Thirty won’t be necessary.”
“...Then...?”
That’s when I noticed the group of professors who had stood—likely the ones who had already volunteered.
But several among them were injured.
“Pardon the boldness, but those fifteen over there aren’t needed either. Please entrust the subjugation to me alone.”
“You’re saying...?”
Angela’s eyes narrowed.
At the same time, the other professors quieted, trying to figure out my true {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} intentions.
What I had decided—the one thing I had to do right now—
“I will kill Jinksythe alone and return.”
A bombshell declaration.
Angela’s expression froze, and ripples of shock spread through the professors.
“...You mean... you, professor?”
“Yes.”
The murmuring among the hundred-plus faculty began to grow.
“You... can defeat it?”
“Yes. As you know from the earlier battles, I have a high degree of understanding about Jinksythe. A one-on-one fight in my current state would be difficult, but with support from the faculty, I can take it down without anyone else needing to bleed.”
The murmurs grew louder.
Did I push too hard?
At first, I thought the growing noise meant people were skeptical—thinking I was being arrogant, that my claim was absurd.
But glancing at the 【Script】 told me otherwise.
【 Professor Hodrigu (White Saber): “Professor Dante. That man is seriously...” 】
【 Professor Eugene (White Saber): “Why go this far...? He’s clearly not even in full condition...” 】
【 Professor Curtin (Black Abyss): “This guy’s insane.” 】
...What kind of reactions are these?
I kept reading.
【 Professor Ludenbach (Black Abyss): “Even if he’s strong, no one can take down the monster that maimed two senior professors... alone. So what’s his real aim...?” 】
What real aim?
I’m just doing this because it’s fun. Because I can.
【 Professor Ludenbach: “...It’s a sense of duty.” 】
...Huh?
【 Professor Ludenbach: “Even a neutral professor who usually chases money... to act out of pure duty... It makes me ashamed of myself...” 】
【 Professor Eugene: “That’s what a real professor is... He’s the kind of person I wanted to become when I applied to teach...” 】
This was getting out of hand.
I had no such noble intentions.
And the chain reaction wasn’t stopping.
【 Professor Eugene: “I’m volunteering.” 】
【 Professor Curtin: “Tch... Even so, we professors need to do our jobs.” 】
No, no, no.
This was getting worse.
I didn’t even incite anyone, yet everyone was getting swept up.
Their misunderstanding was theirs to have—but I needed to reduce the number of professors receiving institutional support, not increase it.
“Professors, please calm yourselves.”
I stepped forward with a wide stride and addressed the room.
“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. I am not stepping forward out of any pure sentiment, nor due to patriotism, nor some grand sense of duty as a professor seeking to protect this school.”
“...Then why?”
“I came to this decision by cold, calculated logic as an assassin. I will subjugate Jinksythe solo. In return, I ask for full support from the Academy.”
“...If the subjugation succeeds... Of course. What is it that you want?”
I raised a finger.
“Give me National Treasure No. 17 of Hiaka.”
Another bombshell.
The room fell silent for a moment—then erupted.
“What?!?”
“...National Treasure 17?”
“What the hell, Professor Dante?!”
“You dare demand a national treasure?!”
This time, the backlash was strong.
National Treasure No. 17.
A greatsword known as 「Titan's Blade ○」, roughly 80 centimeters in length.
A [Legendary II] grade national strategic weapon.
Untradable. No amount of money could buy it. A weapon gracing the gateway to the celestial tier.
It was housed here in the Academy and authorized for use only in wartime.
And this was wartime.
Unlike the rigid ownership associations we imagine when we hear "national treasure," in this world, about half of all national treasures and sacred relics were on loan to individuals or organizations.
I merely wanted to join their ranks.
Because it was different when I used it.
I knew the weapon’s secret mechanics—and how to unlock its true potential.
“...Professor Dante. That’s...”
Even Angela frowned.
Just moments ago, she looked at me like a beloved grandson.
Now, it was the look you give a grandson asking for the deed to your house.
I had pushed the demand a bit too far.
“...Do you even understand what you’re asking for?”
“Of course, ma’am. I am fully aware of the significance of National Treasure No. 17. And to face Jinksythe alone, I absolutely require the 「Titan's Blade ○」.”
One of the professors shouted.
“Professor Dante. Isn’t this too much, even given the situation? People have died out there!”
That’s when blood began to drip from my left eye.
The room, full of professors in far better condition than me, fell quiet.
“Apologies. What was it you were saying?”
“N-never mind...”
The shouting professor fell silent when I turned my gaze to him.
Alright.
I’d pushed twice.
Now it was time to pull once.
Wiping the blood from my face, I said:
“Of course, I’m not asking for ownership. I know better than to dream of that.”
“...Then what are you asking for?”
“Only a temporary two-year loan, under the pretext of research support. I require no other assistance beyond that.”
The murmuring softened.
Even Angela’s expression began to ease.
And honestly, it wasn’t a bad deal.
Two years was plenty of time to obtain an even higher-tier weapon.
“Once more, I ask you to consider it positively. If I kill Jinksythe alone, then not a single professor here will need to shed blood.”
“......”
Angela and the senior faculty fell into deep contemplation.
They were now faced with a difficult decision.
Meanwhile...
【 Professor Ludenbach (Black Abyss): “See?! I knew it—duty...!!” 】