At the time when the aftermath of the underground facility experiment had thrown the Violets into chaos, two girls at the academy also faced the shock that Violet had experienced.
First, Irene, who was walking on the campus grounds, suddenly sensed danger and realized that her body had instinctively entered a combat-ready state.
The senses honed through training and experience sent her an alarm of impending crisis.
‘Who is it?’
She carefully drew the folded spear shaft from her back and scanned her surroundings.
Was it an ambush?
She would strike back without hesitation.
If it was a sniper, she would immediately seek cover.
If it were magic or some unknown unique ability, she would pull up her mana instantly and confront it with her own abilities.
And then, an anomaly occurred.
-Ziiiiing…
“…?”
A piercing noise rang in her ears.
Her eyes widened as a strange sensation began to scramble through her mind.
She immediately drew upon her mana with full force.
This situation felt as though someone was forcibly opening her mind and digging into its most sensitive parts.
Magic? What is the intent?
She couldn’t figure it out, and there was no time to investigate.
At this rate, she would be compromised.
This was not enough!
Judging that mana circulation alone was insufficient to counteract it, Irene immediately activated her unique ability.
A small whirlwind swirled around her, and golden mana radiated outwards from her as the central axis.
Golden particles enveloped her entire body, invigorating her and sharpening her mental clarity.
Although the unidentified force continued to delve into her thoughts, she managed to resist it somehow.
Time, which had been stretching like a rubber band, suddenly snapped back into reality.
“Huff… huff…”
Cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
The ordeal had lasted only a few seconds, but her breathing was as heavy as if she had run a long-distance race, and part of her mana had been depleted.
‘What was that just now…?’
She barely moved her stiff body to look around.
Under the clear blue sky, the wind casually brushed past the shrubs.
The students around her walked by as if nothing had happened.
‘Is it just me?’
Though it lasted only a few seconds, she felt a deep sense of incongruity in that moment.
Like waking up from a dream, the memory of what had happened started to fade.
The purpose and meaning of the experience vanished, leaving only emotions behind.
Before she realized it, Irene found herself wondering why she had reacted so sensitively in the first place.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Daphne, who had been listening to a lecture in the front row of the classroom, was also caught in this strange phenomenon.
The difference was that, unlike the quick response of Helios’ heir, her reaction, lacking harsh training and experience, was much slower.
By the time she realized what was happening, the unpleasant sense of intrusion had already deeply penetrated her thoughts.
“…Kyaaah!”
She let out a short scream in instinctive rejection.
Her body, sensing the threat, activated her unique ability.
A pale green shield enveloped her body, severing the unpleasant intrusion that seemed to gnaw at her mind.
“Oh my… My apologies!”
Concerned that she might have disrupted the class, she tried to offer an apology.
The classroom was as silent as a grave.
Was it because of the sound she had just made?
Feeling embarrassed by the stillness of the room, Daphne glanced around—and almost screamed again.
Everyone in the classroom, except for her, was staring blankly into space with lifeless eyes.
Every single person, with their heads tilted back, gazed into the void like dead fish, their eyes devoid of life.
‘No way. This has to be a joke, right? Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?’
After a few seconds, the students and professor, who had been frozen like statues, started moving again.
It was as if they didn’t remember what had just happened, as they acted as though nothing was wrong.
Daphne was bewildered.
Was it my imagination? Did I see it wrong?
“And so, the mechanisms of the human body… Student? We are in the middle of a lecture. Stop using your mana.”
The professor’s reprimand snapped Daphne out of her thoughts, making her realize she was still maintaining her shield.
The bizarre sight from earlier left her deeply shaken.
She couldn’t tell if what she had experienced was real or just a figment of her imagination.
Trying to gather her scattered thoughts, she attempted to focus on the lecture, but the strange scene in the classroom lingered in her mind.
Did I really see it wrong?
* * *
We Violets could no longer afford to take any risks.
Having directly experienced that mental shockwave earlier, the threat had become a reality.
We confirmed that whatever experiment they had conducted in the underground facility had begun to affect Violets in other regions as well.
Our unique abilities are no longer untouchable domains.
They can be breached at any time.
And as someone without any unique abilities, I was just a beautiful girl who could barely wield some mana.
I might really die.
If that happens, it’s all over.
Fear gripped me.
This was the first time since I had forgotten my name that I had felt such a spine-chilling dread.
“Leave only the minimum number of personnel and reverse-create everyone else. Immediately.”
“Even those stationed in the underground facility?”
“Of course, pull them out.”
Except for one person left in the dormitory, the minimum personnel instantly dissolved into sparkling dust and vanished.
The person remaining in the dormitory now had a singular objective: to steal as many valuable items from inside the academy as possible before the situation erupted.
Attendance?
Grades from a school that would soon disappear were hardly important.
“No secret vault here, huh…”
“Guess it’s because this is from five years ago.”
Ever since looting the Crystal Flower, we had been searching for major items inside Polaris Academy.
Tragically, there was nothing noteworthy left to acquire in this region after the Crystal Flower.
Even the hidden secret vaults scattered around, which offered cash and miscellaneous items when opened, were absent.
If we wanted significant equipment or weapons, we would have to head to the central or southern regions.
Even then, it was questionable whether we would find anything there.
In fact, Polaris Academy does house a five-star weapon.
A one-handed sword called <Blade of Radiant Flames>, with decent performance and the ability to perform fire-based attacks.
But there was no way to obtain it right now.
This item could only be acquired in the game by defeating one of the ghouls.
Maybe some student here has it?
Still, there were things that could be converted into cash if we searched.
For example, equipment or teaching materials.
The plan was to wander around at night when no one was around and stash those items into the inventory.
This isn’t theft.
It’s a donation to a poor girl in need.
Since the academy will soon collapse, all the items here are essentially ownerless lost property.
Unlawful appropriation of lost property?
That kind of law is too complicated for me to understand.
I lay down on the bed with a sense of resignation.
I had planned to take a nap, but I couldn’t fall asleep.
There were too many distracting thoughts.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, I peeked out from under the bed.
It was Daphne, so I waved at her in greeting and lay back down.
Tiring.
Exhausting.
Boring.
How did it come to this?
I really am an idiot.
If this was how it was going to be, I shouldn’t have come to this school in the first place.
“Rugilinn, are you feeling unwell today too?”
“Huh? Oh, no. I’m just a little tired.”
Not wanting to worry her any further, I forced a smile.
Why does Daphne go out of her way to look after me?
I’ve never done anything special for her.
From the moment we first met at the dormitory, she had always been kind and considerate.
But Daphne’s treatment of me went beyond mere kindness.
Thinking back, she had become even more attentive after the entrance ceremony, offering me help and being generous in various ways.
Even when I raided her snacks, she let it slide.
When I accidentally shoved her off the bed, she didn’t even get properly mad.
And every time I struggled at night, she used her ability to comfort me.
Thanks to her, I’ve been sleeping well lately, with fewer nightmares.
Considering the original story’s plot, she might just be uniquely kind-hearted.
She’ll probably survive the academy’s downfall.
Afterwards, within a few years, she’ll establish a small medical relief organization, using her abilities and knowledge to help the sick and injured.
Then, during a catastrophic event where a massive gate opens and beasts pour into the heart of the city, Daphne and her organization will save countless lives amidst the disaster.
That event will earn her the nickname “Saint of Salvation,” a title given by the media and the public.
She’s someone destined for such greatness.
There’s probably some extraordinary quality about her that someone like me could never comprehend.
It’s already getting dark outside.
As evening approached, Daphne prepared to go out.
“Oh, right, Rugilinn. Did you enjoy the cake I gave you last time?”
Ah, she must mean the cake I gave her half of before.
“I recently found out where that cake shop is. Apparently, they’ve launched a new cake. The name is… Pineapple Mango Fresh Cream Cake.”
“Really? Sounds delicious. But why are you telling me this?”
“I have some personal errands to run, so I’ll be heading out. While I’m out, I’m planning to pick up a small one. Want to share it with me? I can’t eat much since I don’t have a big appetite.”
I’d been craving something sweet, so this was perfect.
If she’s offering, I might as well enjoy it.
“Safe travels!”
I saw her off, already looking forward to the cake.
Pineapple Mango Cream Cake… The cake from that shop Levi bought last time was really delicious.
Since becoming a girl, I’ve been addicted to sweet things, so the pleasure of it feels even greater.
No matter what, our roommate is the best!
I ate an early dinner in a haphazard manner and waited for Daphne to return.
I waited.
Two hours passed.
She must have a lot to take care of.
Three hours passed.
Maybe she’s meeting a friend? Perhaps club activities or a group project?
Four hours passed.
It was already 9 PM.
Wait, why isn’t she coming back?
My smartphone buzzed lightly.
A message appeared on the screen. It was from Daphne’s number.
[Violet! It’s Daphne, right? My luggage is too heavy to carry!]
[I’ll send you the address, so can you come help me?]
The message came with an address.
The location was a street just outside the city near the academy.
But something felt off.
Why is Daphne talking to me informally?
An ominous feeling flashed through my mind.
I called her number, but there was no answer.
“…I’m the only Violet near the school right now, right?”
“Yes, No. 5. It’s just you. Use the mana reserves and call in a few more of us. And…”
I immediately rushed to the address she had sent.
I passed through the front gate, receiving suspicious looks from the guards, and caught a taxi to head to the city.
When I arrived at the alley indicated by the address, there was no one there.
“Daphne! I’m here. Where are you?”
I tried calling again, but this time the phone was turned off.
Feeling increasingly anxious, I wandered through the alleyways.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me.
“Who’s there?”
-BANG!
Huh? I felt dizzy.
A powerful blow struck the back of my head.
My vision went dark.
The ground seemed to rush toward me.
I opened my eyes.
The surface felt too hard to be a bed.
“Hey, she’s awake.”
“Shall we begin?”
The surroundings were noisy.
I could also hear the sound of something being repeatedly struck.
It was a bit cold.
Although it was September, Academy City was chillier at night than I’d expected.
Even though I had dressed warmly.
My blurred vision slowly began to focus.
I realized I was wearing nothing but underwear.
“Where is this…”
-SLAP!
“Are you seriously not going to wake up, you idiot?”
I tried to stand, but the person slapped my cheek.
It didn’t hurt much, but it was humiliating.
Who is this guy anyway?
The mysterious assailant grabbed my hair and yanked me upright.
It hurt so much I staggered as I stood.
Who could this be?
Was it some perverted crime syndicate targeting pretty girls?
“Hey, can you see? I’m asking if you can see.”
A girl kept pressuring me, ignoring how much it would ruin my hair.
I made a mental note to shave her head bald later.
I focused on the scene in front of me.
I was in an unfinished building.
The lights from their smartphones and flashlights made it less dark than expected.
Ahead, four or five teenagers, who looked like students, were wielding knives and axes, repeatedly striking a green, dome-shaped object.
The weapons they were holding emitted faint traces of energy blades.
And I could clearly see who was inside that translucent dome.
“Rugilinn! Why are you here?!”
The girl inside saw me and shouted in a distressed voice.
It was Daphne.
I was horrified.
“What?! Daphne! Why are you—”
Before I could finish, they kicked me in the stomach, sending me tumbling to the ground.
These guys.
They must’ve infused mana into their kick.
Thanks to pain dispersion, it didn’t hurt much, but the impact on my organs was unavoidable.
I ended up vomiting out my earlier dinner.
Laughter echoed around me, stabbing at my ears.
“No. 5! I’m going in now!”
“No, hold off for now. Call for reinforcements.”
Once again, my hair was yanked upward.
Stop pulling my hair already!
“Hah… this is so funny. Do you even know why you’re here?”
“I don’t!”
-SLAP! SLAP!
At this rate, my cheeks might puff up like balloons.
Around a dozen boys and girls who looked like students surrounded me.
I shifted my gaze.
Daphne was still inside the shield, holding on.
She looked terrified, her face pale, but at least she wasn’t hurt.
Two of the assailants nearby were still laughing and striking the shield.
“Ha-ha-ha!”
“Open it! I said open it!”
A black-haired girl, who seemed to be the leader of the group, grabbed my head and forced me to look up.
Her face, full of ridicule and arrogance, came into view.
I adjusted my tone to sound as pitiful as possible, adopting the stuttering Violet persona from my days at the lab.
“I… I don’t know… I’m sorry… please don’t hit me…”
“Looks like you’re finally understanding your situation.”
For now, I needed to figure out the reason.
Why were Daphne and I dragged here?
“Yes, I’m sorry. Can you explain…?”
Before I destroy all of you, you bastards!
You’ve crossed the line.