There are few things as childish—and as utterly infuriating—as nicknames.
Take Batalion, for instance. Lately, the internet had taken to calling him Scamalion.
───
< Scamalion Update: Currently burping >
Tax money, burrrp 😂
───
Why “Scamalion”?
Because it was a portmanteau of Scammer and Batalion.
Batalion ground his teeth.
‘Goddamned little shits...’
Who was he—Batalion Argius, the great sniper-assassin?
A businessman who had amassed a fortune beyond the reach of generations.
A Grandmaster-ranked combatant, ranked #415 out of billions.
A seventy-something (still young by his standards) and esteemed senior professor, respected wherever he went.
And yet, due to his vain and glory-hungry nature, these juvenile nicknames were almost unbearable.
‘I won’t look at them.’
He told himself he wouldn’t, and yet—
Everywhere he turned, another post popped up.
Every single one stabbed at his pride.
───
< Can we get rid of Scamalion already? >
Kept spouting off about how he “rescued illusion arts” from Hiaka and what now?
Reality check: Yesterday, the Imperial Academy sent an official request to have Cain as guest lecturer for illusion arts. LMFAO
We’re not even low on rankers—paid billions for this guy—should’ve just demanded a refund and kicked him out
───
Get out already, they shouted.
───
< Scamalion ← Isn’t he just gonna run back to Hiaka again? >
First betrayal’s hard. Second? Not so much.
They say adultery is addictive. Maybe betrayal is too.
At this rate, he’s gonna smuggle Kreutz’s illusion research back to Hiaka 😂
───
Gonna run back, they sneered.
───
< Scamalion ← Does he even have a mom? >
Has two dads. Pretty sure he scammed someone.
───
Absolutely random garbage.
“Why are you all out to ruin me?!”
He flung his Crystal Orb across the room.
CRASH!
He hadn’t accounted for Cain.
That bastard’s appearance was like a natural disaster—impossible to predict.
And yet, Batalion was getting chewed out on a scale he couldn’t comprehend.
‘I even paid the damn contract penalties, you parasitic worms!’
Then—he spotted a particular post that chilled his spine.
───
< I work at Assassination Daily. Foreign hire. >
This thing’s blowing up like nothing I’ve seen. Triple the usual promo budget. Phones ringing off the hook. If it were March, this’d be a year-end cover level event.
Amulet better not screw up that interview.
───
Damn it!
It was today.
“Amulet” referred to the daughter of the Carolina family—the noble illusionist bloodline of Kreutz.
She was a prodigy cadet raised under national sponsorship.
Kreutz was sending her to derail the monthly cover shoot, using her as a counterweight to Gray Habanero.
‘If this backfires, heads will roll...’
Why did Hiaka select Gray for Assassination Daily?
Public sentiment.
They needed to position Hiaka as a wronged underdog across the continent.
To remind everyone that Hiaka’s illusion arts still lived on strong.
Kreutz, on the other hand, wanted to promote Amulet Carolina for the exact same reason.
Hiaka had invoked the “⧉Name Registry” to strike back—so now the narrative was split 50/50. Both sides wanted to dodge the “aggressor” label.
Especially when the Imperial Alliance was already throwing around ideas like “punitive tariffs against instigators.”
They also wanted to prove Amulet was better.
‘Still... if only Professor Bakien pulls it off...’
The best move now was to cancel the interview entirely.
And Bakien’s plan was simple but effective:
Set off a bomb in the dressing room where Gray and Amulet were prepping.
Amulet would get a few scratches at most.
Gray would take the real damage.
As a result, Kreutz could claim it was a random terror attack—something that just unfortunately hit Gray harder.
Just then, another post dropped—from that same Kreutz staffer calling themselves “foreign hire.”
───
< [Live Post] So annoyed rn >
Hiaka’s bringing the princess over. Wtf.
No heads-up. No prep. Seriously, what the hell.
───
“What?!”
The princess was coming?
Batalion scrambled to confirm it from other sources—and yes. It was true.
But why?!
Apparently, a certain “Senior Professor Dante” had joined the party last-minute. No other unusual changes were reported.
‘Dante...?’
A face flashed through his mind.
That handsome, clever new professor he’d met once outside a seminar hall.
— “We’re talking about the assassins who attacked the neutral senior faculty.”
— “Ah, right.”
— “Might they be affiliated with Kreutz?”
That conversation had spooked him.
‘...That guy became Senior Professor?’
Already?
It had to be a special wartime appointment.
He must’ve played some role in the Assassination War.
The real issue now—
If the princess was present, Bakien’s bomb plot was finished.
They couldn’t risk targeting royalty!
It was all falling apart.
He grabbed his crystal and dialed in rage.
“Professor Bakien! What the hell happened?! The princess is coming!!”
But Bakien’s reply was absurd.
— “So what do you want me to do about it?!”
“What do you mean?!”
— “So what if the princess shows up? Why are you yelling at me?! You think I invited her?!”
“You—you...!”
— “I just found out too, dumbass!!”
Bakien’s voice was equally frayed.
— “Is this my fault?! I did everything I could! Bribed executives! Begged old contacts! Set up the bomb! You think terrorism costs pocket change?!”
He’d even kept it secret from Kreutz.
Amulet had to be hurt too—only then could the narrative become “unfortunate accident” with Gray as the main victim.
— “And how was I supposed to know the princess was coming?! I got cussed out by the Daily’s execs too! They thought I knew she’d be there and placed the bomb anyway! I just got slapped in the face in the meeting room! Lost half my damn connections!!”
“......”
— “What kind of idiot just decides to bring royalty on a whim?! I want to see that bastard’s face! Don’t you know who it was?!”
“I—I don’t!”
— “How do you not know?! You’re from Hiaka!!”
That’s when Batalion felt a fury well up from deep inside.
The day he’d met Bakien—at that bar—the image of his old worm-like friends mocking him bubbled to the surface.
But this wasn’t the time for grudges.
He needed Bakien to finish this job, even if it killed him.
And Batalion knew exactly how much gambling debt Bakien carried.
“Professor Bakien! Listen carefully.”
— “What now?!”
“I’ll pay you 72 million Hika if this succeeds.”
— ...!!
A stunned silence. Followed by complete stillness.
He had the man’s attention.
72 million Hika.
Enough to wipe away the gambling debts and mortgage on his family home.
A chance at a clean slate.
But wasn’t that a bit... extravagant?
‘Hell yes it is!’
It hurt. It burned to offer that much. But there was no choice.
If Gray successfully rebranded Hiaka’s illusion arts—
Batalion would be torn apart by the Kreutz press and royal court.
Worse, he’d have to watch the nation he betrayed rise again.
“Ruin the shoot. No matter what. No excuses. Understood?!”
— ......
A long pause. A slow breath. And then Bakien’s voice returned—calm, low.
— “Screw you.”
He’d been rejected.
Click.
The line went dead.
“......”
After that, Batalion’s assistant professor had to endure two straight hours of their superior smashing everything in the office.
***
Early morning. I arrived at the airship terminal. Senior Professor Wilhelm raised a hand in greeting.
“Yo. Professor Dante.”
A tall, lanky middle-aged man with a lazy look. Wrinkled clothes. Patchy shave. Frizzy hair.
“Pleased to work with you, sir.”
“Mm. Likewise.”
After that, I {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} greeted the others with him.
“Yaaawn...”
Wilhelm yawned, not from a lack of motivation—but because that’s just the kind of person he was.
He was ranked #876, a professor of Assassination-Protection Magic.
The highest-ranking figure in this shoot, here to represent Hiaka Academy’s stance.
A dual citizen of the Empire. Known for ignoring orders. And yet, he’s the one who pulled strings to make this shoot happen.
He was White Saber, but had willingly agreed to escort Gray (a Black Abyss cadet). A testament to his character.
“Gray already left aboard the royal airship. Let’s get going too.”
“Yes.”
We headed to Zone 4’s airport—the same place I’d brawled the Disciplinary Bureau yesterday.
For this shoot, our party would consist of:
Wilhelm, his assistant professor, me, Gray, maid Lucy, the princess, Cheongru, and Layme. Eight in total.
Soon, the airship rose.
Our destination: Peaceful Valley, Empire.
That was where Assassination Daily’s headquarters stood—one of the continent’s most important corporate cities.
Along the way, I flipped through the best-selling issue of Assassination Daily this year.
In this magic-based world, “magazines” were essentially subscription-based YouTube videos. Even the printed images moved.
‘Hm.’
I’d already dissected it several times. But now I felt sure.
‘Gray is better.’
By my judgment, she had the edge.
Her story, appearance, skill... everything supported Hiaka’s image—and showed that its illusion arts still held power.
‘As long as the shoot isn’t disrupted.’
That’s when the quest notification popped up.
┃ Main Quest [Advising Professor]
┃ Reward: 25 × Star Shards / Bonus payout based on interview result
Twenty-five!
I’d only earned 50 from the Hotfix Patch and 100 from the Peaceful Stigma. This was a rare payout.
One of the highest for a single quest.
‘Rewards scale with public opinion of the model, huh?’
I was determined to make it 10:0.
After a few hours slicing through the skies...
“...We’re nearly there.”
My first time in the Empire.
As we stepped off the airship, a sprawling, magnificent city spread out before us.
Elegant, artistic city planning. About 10% of the buildings floated midair.
To people who’d only lived in Hiaka, the sight was staggering.
“Wow... It’s huge...”
“This is the Empire’s top industrial city? Are we sure this was built by humans?”
The group marveled like countryside yokels on their first city visit.
For reference, Peaceful Valley’s GDP ranked #4 among all continental nations. The Empire’s dominance was no joke.
“Professor, look at that castle—it’s flying!”
“Hmph... blocks the sunlight. Shoddy design.”
And with that anticlimactic remark from Wilhelm, we headed to the Assassination Daily building.
It resembled a modern media conglomerate. And it was packed.
After meeting various staff and being shown to the waiting room...
“Whoa, check her out.”
Near the restroom, I spotted a girl in dazzling attire.
● Department of Assassination – Amulet†
Ah. Her.
Didn’t think I’d see her this soon.
The prodigy illusion-assassin from Kreutz.
Gray’s rival.
They must’ve poured effort into her. As tall as Elize, wearing towering heels, tiara glittering with gems. Head to toe, she looked like she radiated light.
Wilhelm nudged his assistant, who was drooling. “Mouth.” “S-Sorry...”
“...She’s very Empire-style.”
The assistant muttered. Like a medieval European gem-studded gown—but a bit more modern. They were clearly trying to impress the publication.
“Amulet. Hurry.”
“Huh? Ah...”
A professor appeared and whisked her away, shielding her like she was about to be assassinated.
Can’t blame them. To them, we’re the murderers.
“Hmph. Ours is better.”
“You haven’t seen ours yet.”
“Shut up. Ours is better.”
Wilhelm slapped the back of his assistant’s head. And we moved to the greenroom.
It was fancier than my entire dorm suite.
While the staff explained the procedures...
I quietly slipped away and headed for the dressing room where Gray was.
One hand rested on the hilt of the Giant Soldier’s Sword○—just in case.
I was tense. Because of the second scene I’d seen during a forged time slip.
───
Imperial Crime Report – Gray Habanero Incident
First attack logged: Type: Unidentified Explosion
Location: Assassination Daily Dressing Room
Time: 13:21
───
<13:18>
Three minutes left.
With Rebecca present, a terror attack shouldn’t happen. But you never know.
<13:19>
I scanned the [Mini-map]. Nothing.
Still. Just in case, I planned to cover the whole room with the Giant Sword’s phantom hand—to shield it from any blast.
<13:20>
One minute to go.
Just as I reached for the door handle...
The door swung open.
“...Whoa, you scared me.”
A familiar voice.
But not a familiar look.
“Professor.”
With the Giant Sword’s phantom hand already wrapping around the room, I snapped back to reality.
It was Gray.
And she—
Wow.
I’d wondered how she would compare to Amulet earlier.
Now I had my answer.
Hair neatly tied up with a hairpin. A clean neckline. Below that—a gown. An old-fashioned grey dress.
Something about it felt familiar.
According to setting, it was Hiaka’s traditional formal wear.
Dino once said each world shapes itself around the player. Maybe that’s why Hiaka’s formalwear resembled fusion hanbok.
Almost no decoration—just elegance and restraint. Yet her neck and shoulders were boldly exposed, her red and blue tattoos displayed like fine jewelry.
At the center: a black choker with a bell—Hiaka’s clan symbol.
I was genuinely impressed.
Symbolic. Elegant. A touch of shock value. Paradoxical beauty.
The Royal Chambermaids were frighteningly skilled. They’d transformed this gremlin into a goddess.
“Ta-daaa...?”
She twirled, holding her skirt.
Then bowed demurely and asked—
“What do you think?”
She knew.
She could feel it.
She knew exactly what she looked like now.
That’s why she wasn’t shy at all.
Cheeky.
I didn’t want to answer. On principle.
“...You’re beautiful.”
But what else could I say?
“......”
Gray slowly lifted her hands and hid her eyes behind the blue butterfly on her hand. Lowered her head slightly.
But her mouth—peeking between her wrists—was curved into a massive grin.
“You know you’re beautiful, don’t you?”
She shook her head—
But her crooked tooth was practically exploding with smug joy.
“...I don’t.”
And the dressing room didn’t explode either.