That day was a busy one for Dante Hiakapo.
It began with a summons from Ezekiel, the Head of the Department of Magic.
The orphaned, aristocratic-looking mage had a strong preference for efficiency. The moment Dante entered, Ezekiel used 『Telekinesis』 to open the door, pull off his coat, and slide a chair into place.
“You’re escorting Gray to the Empire tomorrow, I hear?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re truly planning to leave. Do you have any idea how big a giant rat’s snout is?”
He then went on to explain that Shaman had refused a donut this morning, claiming no appetite. Dante pictured that sagging double chin and understood.
If a hundred-year-old geezer throws a tantrum, there’s nothing you can do.
“Next month. Could you prepare a special lecture during the break?”
“...A special lecture, you say?”
Why would the Head of Department ask personally if it were just a lecture for professors? Dante thought—so it’s finally come.
“You mean for the professors of Magic.”
“That’s right. Under the name Cain.”
“I can do that. However, would those people be willing to attend a lecture taught by an assassin?”
Assassins follow money.
Warriors follow conviction.
Mages follow pride.
Pride.
“You worry about something so human?”
“I have no intention of teaching anyone who disrespects my class.”
“...Impressive.”
Ezekiel laughed, as if to say this young brat sure talks big.
“The greatest traitor among mages was Gloomy, the former Head of Illusion Magic. Because of that fool, thirty percent of our illusion professors resigned.”
“......”
“Those who remain are at least people who care about Hiaka and the Academy. Their pride may be untouchable, but their will to learn is solid.”
Dante nodded. Since the schedule came from the Head of Magic himself, there should be no issues. He could prepare at his own pace.
“But, listen.”
At that moment, Ezekiel frowned.
“Even if you’re creating an identity—why a little boy?”
He was talking about Head Professor Cain.
Dante, face expressionless, replied flatly.
“Do you like girls?”
“No! Damn it. It’s not about gender. Isn’t he way too young? Even if you’re going for youthful, did you have to make him a literal baby?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Yes.”
“Please specify the nature of the problem so I can correct it.”
“He’s too cute.”
“...?”
Ezekiel wore a strict, grave expression.
“How can someone that cute be a professor?”
Dante’s eyes went blank for a moment, then answered.
“...I’ll put a mask on him.”
“Good idea. Maybe even a full costume head. If possible, put it on right away.”
“Any reason?”
Ezekiel waved his hand.
“There’s been a sudden schedule change. That’s actually why I called you.”
“A sudden change?”
“Within a couple hours, illusion professors from the Empire are going to arrive in Zone 9 and decorate the Christmas Tree—under the Empire’s name.”
Dante narrowed his eyes.
Jackpot.
This was very, very good news.
Even now, illusion mages and assassins from various countries were gathering to decorate Cain’s Christmas Tree using [Supermassive Illusions].
One famous name among them was the [Challenger]-rank illusionist from the Hitahita Kingdom: Gyulgyul.
She had embedded her national symbol, “Eternity ∞” of Hitahita’s star-faith, right in the center of Cain’s tree.
「 ∞ 」
That symbol caused a sensation across the continent’s online communities.
< Whoa, that Eternity Star... Gyulgyul made it?? Totally different level from other illusions... >
< It’s glowing, huge, and perfectly crafted... looks like she came just for this. >
< Gyulgyul ← absolute legend. Disappeared for years and shows up just to make that? >
< Yo this is hilarious 😂 people from Horanche Principality are mad as hell right now >
└ Why?
└ Horanche’s national star is also “Eternity ∞” lol, they’re saying they can make a bigger one
And the next day, an illusionist from the Horanche Principality did come and installed a slightly larger Eternity symbol.
< THEY ACTUALLY CAME LOL >
< This one’s bigger 😂😂 >
< Gyulgyul got owned!! >
But what defines a mage?
Pride.
A few days later, Gyulgyul returned—
< OMG 😂 Gyulgyul overlaid her own symbol over Horanche’s one LOL >
< This pride war is killing me HAHAHAHAHA >
Eventually, one side of the tree had thirteen Eternity symbols hanging on it—until Head Professor Cain erased all but two of them. (For the record, the winner was Gyulgyul.)
Among all these ornaments, not one came from the Empire’s illusionists.
That was deliberate.
The tree was, after all, a memorial.
With tension between Hiaka and Kreutz at its peak, the Empire could not afford to pick sides. If they did, the other side would explode in backlash.
The continent’s nations were split between the Southern Alliance (including Hiaka) and the Northern League (including Kreutz). The Empire had to appease both.
“And now they suddenly want in?”
“The professors from Hattengraj Academy said they’re here purely as tourists. Officially, it’s not political—they’re just showing interest in ‘Cain.’”
Ezekiel raised his chin, indicating Dante.
“...So they want a face-to-face.”
“Probably. Let’s go together.”
Dante nodded.
“Understood.”
Even as a collateral royal, having Ezekiel by his side was reassuring.
*
Next, Dante attended the senior faculty meeting.
As agenda items regarding academy operations were discussed, Dante had nothing to contribute and no interest. He sat with a blank expression, thinking about what kind of mask Cain should wear.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I have something urgent for Professor Dante. May I?”
At that moment—Sir Cheongru, Rebecca’s elderly knight-guardian, entered the room.
“Did you confirm it?”
Dante asked. Rebecca had lent him her name, and by extension, her royal authority. Dante used that royal title to dig into the Assassination Daily’s filming schedule.
The result was shocking.
“I confirmed it. You were right, Hiakapo.”
The professors looked at each other warily.
Then Cheongru dropped a bombshell.
“A female illusion cadet from a Kreutz noble family is attending the filming of the Assassination Daily.”
Dante stayed silent and nodded. Because that was what the forged future in 「Spy Vision│ㅅㅇ)」 had shown him. But the reactions around him were entirely different.
“...Excuse me? What did you say?”
“Sir Cheongru! What do you mean?!”
Cheongru clenched his jaw and spoke.
“Just as I said. Whether it was the Daily’s suggestion or Kreutz’s—A Kreutz cadet will appear alongside Gray in the upcoming cover shoot and interview.”
If they hadn’t asked under the royal name, the Empire—and the Assassination Daily—would’ve pushed ahead regardless.
That’s just how the Empire worked.
“What kind of bullet-to-the-brain nonsense is this?”
The senior professors exploded.
“Assassination Daily—those bastards have lost their minds.”
“They know Hiaka’s situation, and they’re still pairing our kid with a Kreutz brat?!”
“Does being backed by the Empire give them license to be this shameless? This is insane!”
They raged for a long time.
Rightfully so.
Hadn’t Hiaka and Kreutz just been swinging blades at each other?
Yet Dante remained calm.
To him, the Assassination Daily was a bunch of money-hungry lunatics. Obsessed with sales numbers.
Right now, Hiaka vs. Kreutz was the hottest story in the world. The two countries were at war through assassins, both denying their involvement.
So both sides still showed up at public events—each claiming innocence.
Everyone knew. But no one said anything.
The Daily was stabbing right into that gap. By putting illusionist cadets from both nations together on a magazine cover, they knew neither side had a reason to withdraw—yet everyone knew the tension was real. It would sell like hell.
“You think we should go through with this?”
One of the senior professors asked. Dante nodded.
“I believe we must.”
A shout followed immediately.
“Pr-Professor Dante!”
“What if there’s a trap?!”
“You can’t trust the Empire! And Kreutz is involved—!”
Dante nodded again.
“I completely understand your anger. But we have to go. And I believe the faculty agrees with me.”
They’d have to get used to it. This was the nature of the Betting Table.
All opportunities belong to the Empire. And all rules too.
In this metaphor, the Empire is the casino. Other countries must gamble within their rules to grow their chips.
One day, they may burn the casino down. But not yet.
“...But how did you know?”
Cheongru asked as they stepped out of the meeting room.
“I happened upon some related intel.”
“......”
Suspicion lingered in the old man’s eyes.
“Well, alright. But listen, Professor Dante. If even a hair on the princess’s head is harmed because of this—I will never forgive you.”
A knight’s warning, tagging along with his princess for external affairs.
Dante met his gaze silently for a moment.
Then he suddenly said:
“Sir Cheongru... You truly care for the princess.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Of course I’d give my life for her. That’s a guardian knight’s duty.”
Dante Hiakapo smiled cryptically.
“...Reassuring.”
That was the end of that meeting.
***
“It’s almost time.”
“Indeed.”
The professors from the Empire’s Illusion Magic Department swallowed dryly as they waited.
They were both Head Professors—Grandmasters. Wherever they went on the continent, they received the highest honors. Yet here they were, waiting for a professor from a minor kingdom.
“...Ah, there he is.”
A crowd was approaching. Hiaka’s great archmage Ezekiel was at the front, with several others accompanying him.
At the center was something bizarre—a “child” wearing a goofy elephant mascot head.
Waddling forward on little legs. But the way the crowd moved around the child was... strange.
“Wait, that kid...?”
That’s supposed to be Head Professor Cain?
“I don’t believe it.”
“Neither do I.”
There were still rumors that the “Cain Tree” was created by someone else’s hand. No one thought a genius of that caliber could come from Hiaka’s talent pool.
And while the general public didn’t know, illusion professors did: That tree wasn’t something mere skill could create.
If it were, someone like Agion, wielder of 「Stellar Constellation⁺₊⋆」, would’ve made a dozen of them already. But he hadn’t.
In the Empire’s classification, such a thing was called Sculptural Illusion—a kind of artistic creation.
To craft something on that scale required not just talent, but inspiration. It demanded the kind of soul-crushing suffering that only came from enduring the lowest depths of life as an illusionist.
Without that, even using the same formulas and circuits—
Sculptural Illusions don’t work. They either fail to materialize or shatter instantly despite their glittering facade.
So the doubt was valid. Could that child really have created such a “great illusion”?
“...Well, we’ll find out.”
The Empire’s professors were now ready to verify the truth.
They’d confirm who Cain really was. How powerful. And whether his reputation was overblown or deceptive.
“We have a duty to assess him precisely.”
“Even the faculty said so—but why, exactly?”
“The reason is simple.”
His Majesty the Emperor wants to know.