Chapter 148

Silla screamed internally. The moment Rockefeller touched Limberton’s head with the Staff of Purification, it would all be over. The conversations they’d carelessly had, thinking it was all just a dream, would become a reality. Silla quickly walked ahead of Rockefeller. “Wait a minute, Professor.” Rockefeller raised an eyebrow and asked, “What is it?” “Please, think again. It’s Limberton we’re talking about. The fool from the Schlaphe Hall. If you had chosen someone else, maybe they could be of help, but do you really think this guy will be any use?” Though her voice was louder and a bit rambling, Rockefeller didn’t seem to find it suspicious. Rockefeller looked at Limberton and nodded. “Limberton Bell Delcy. You’re right; he’s a rather worthless nobody. He wanted to become a knight, but he couldn’t even hold a sword properly, nor was he exceptionally strategic. But…” Silla felt uneasy hearing that “but.” “…I can’t deny that he’s pioneering a different path. He’s even shown some success, so maybe there’s some potential. Now, back off.” When Rockefeller’s eyes gleamed wildly, Silla felt a shiver and took a step back. Limberton, meanwhile, lazily covered his face with his hand. As Rockefeller’s staff neared Limberton’s head, Silla’s heart pounded uncontrollably. Just as she was about to intervene, someone suddenly grabbed Rockefeller’s arm. Rockefeller turned his head, only to see a man glaring at him. “What do you think you’re doing to a child who’s having a pleasant dream?” the man growled. He had two small horns on his forehead, bat wings, and a tail. With the sudden appearance of this demon-like figure, the atmosphere grew cold. Rockefeller hastily shook off the man’s hand and stepped back. The man surveyed his surroundings and spoke in a cold tone. “I saw my minions collapsed as I came in. You really shattered quite a few of them. Was that all your doing?” Rockefeller said nothing in response. Silla, not understanding what was happening, whispered to Bellman, “Minions? Did you guys do that?” “If he means those armored knights, then yes… but we only took out two.” “So does that mean more have woken up?” “Probably.” Even amidst the tension, Silla felt a bit relieved. Thanks to this man, it didn’t seem like Rockefeller would wake Limberton up right away. Rockefeller, now glaring, pointed his staff at the man. “So, you’re the mastermind, huh?” “Mastermind? You make it sound like I’m the villain here.” The man gently waved his hand through the air and introduced himself. “I am Irte, the Lord of Dreams, your savior who will guide you into the world of dreams.” “I don’t know who you are, but I can tell you’re out of your mind,” Rockefeller retorted with irritation, swiftly swinging his staff. With a “Pop!” Irte’s body exploded. Silla looked on in confusion, finding the result strangely anticlimactic. However, Rockefeller’s expression remained serious. “…The demonic energy remains. He’s not dead.” The scattered pieces of Irte’s body began to wriggle like slime, gathering together to reform into his intact figure. Irte smirked and said, “This is a world I created. I’m like a god here.” Rockefeller lowered his staff and asked. For now, he knew far too little about the enemy. “Let’s hear it for now. What do you want from us?” “That’s something you should say. My job is to give you the dreams you desire. I can plant a honey-dripping illusion, far sweeter than the dreary reality. So perfect that you won’t even realize it’s a dream.” “And if we refuse?” Irte’s smile vanished instantly. “Do you really think refusal is even an option?” A humming sound spread throughout the fortress. The walls rippled, as if they were inside the belly of a beast. Rockefeller narrowed his eyes in discomfort. Before he could process it fully, the surroundings began to fill with purple gas. The students, who had been laughing, thinking it was all a dream, started collapsing one by one. Rockefeller quickly used telekinesis to disperse the sleeping gas and gestured toward Bellman. “Be careful not to touch it.” Bellman created a barrier to prevent the gas from reaching the group. Irte chuckled softly. “No matter how much you struggle, it’s just a matter of time. The moment this place became my domain, the outcome was already decided.” Rockefeller thought this place felt like a dungeon. The way it could be reshaped at will, the traps it harbored. On top of that, the guards that revived even after being killed, although the revival cycle was far quicker than any he had ever seen before. However, given that even blowing him apart hadn’t killed him, there was no flaw in his physical body. That likely meant his weakness was hidden somewhere. Rockefeller had encountered situations like this many times before. In dungeons, and at Frostheart too. In the former case, they simply had to destroy the tool, while in the latter, crushing the heart was enough. Rockefeller composed his thoughts and gripped his staff tightly. “You said you’re like a god? That’s somewhat believable.” Irte remained still. The tip of Rockefeller’s staff was pointed toward the group protected by Bellman’s barrier. Rockefeller asked, “If it’s a good dream, can I choose it myself?” “Indeed. I’ll make sure to give you special treatment.” “And I won’t even realize it’s a dream?” “Of course.” Rockefeller laughed heartily, as if satisfied. Bellman’s eyes widened in shock. “Professor?” “He says he’ll give me a good dream. I’ve been so stressed from work lately, it’s not such a bad offer.” “Are you telling us to surrender?” “Yes. You lot should put down your weapons and surrender as well.” Bellman clenched his teeth, his eyes burning with fury. Rockefeller mercilessly swung his staff toward the ground. Boom! A hole appeared in the floor as if a mole had burrowed through it. The vibrations began to resonate, as if an earthquake had hit. One second later, a hole also appeared in the barrier. Bellman and the others flinched, retreating as if something invisible had brushed against their shoulders. “W-what is this?” Bellman only had a moment to voice his confusion. Before they knew it, Bellman, Ricks, Edina, and Silla were flung far away by some unseen force. Rockefeller watched them disappear beyond the door of the club floor, then turned his attention back to Irte. Trusting that they would handle it well, he pointed his staff at Irte. *** To finish things safely, we had to return to the place where Leana’s hypnosis had started. Just long enough for her to wake up in the café and think, ‘What a strange dream I had.’ Thanks to having swept away most of the armored knights on our way, we weren’t likely to encounter many more. Occasionally, Rockefeller’s crows would survey the area like CCTV cameras, but they probably just assumed we were hypnotized students, so they didn’t alert anyone. “There sure are a lot of crows, Hersel.” “That’s a bad omen. At weddings, it’s supposed to be white doves, isn’t it?” We safely arrived at the café in the Adele Hall. I carefully returned Leana to the seat she had been in. Then, I took out my watch. The key to this scenario was for Bellman and the others to destroy the core before Irte noticed. As a veteran of this, I had perfectly memorized the timeline and could predict exactly what would happen next. “Five minutes left…” “Huh?” “Never mind, it’s nothing.” In five minutes, Rockefeller would confront Irte, and the others would fight to buy time until they found the core. During that process, the sleeping gas would once again fill all of Frostheart. I had to wait for Leana to fall asleep, so I sat down and asked, “Would you like some tea?” “Well, I’d like to see the menu first…” It shouldn’t be a problem. All I had to do was leave Leana here, hide, and hope that the main players succeeded. But then, something unexpected happened. Ssssssss— Despite it not yet being time, purple sleeping gas had already begun to seep into the café. My eyes widened in surprise. Leana, looking drowsy, softly closed her eyes. “Ah, suddenly… I feel so sleepy…” Of course, I wouldn’t fall asleep, thanks to my ‘1-second Invincibility.’ I quickly stood up, sensing that something was off. As much as I disliked it, I figured I needed to check things out… Bellman and the others rolled on the ground before coming to a stop. Silla, who had crashed into the wall in a ridiculous position, grimaced. “Rockefeller, you dirty traitor!” Silla raged, but Bellman paid her no mind and urgently cast a barrier spell. The approaching sleeping gas was blocked by the barrier. With a brief moment of relief, Bellman looked at Silla. “Calm down, Silla.” “Are you kidding me? The professor betrayed us, and that’s all you have to say?” Still focusing on his barrier spell, Bellman carefully removed his coat. “When Professor Rockefeller threw us earlier, I felt warmth. The fabric seemed to hold some kind of message. Would you read it for me?” Ricks opened the coat. As Bellman had said, glowing letters were inscribed on the back. Edina read them aloud, clearly and steadily. “It seems he doesn’t have the ability to detect. If he did, he wouldn’t have wondered about the mysterious figure who dealt with the armored knights.” Bellman immediately understood. Rockefeller had only captured two knights. It was likely pure coincidence that they had encountered Irte. That seemed like the most plausible explanation. Even during the third trial, Silla’s outbursts had exposed her to dungeon creatures several times. “The condition for hypnosis appears to be sleep. Be cautious and avoid inhaling the gas at all costs.” Edina continued reading. “There must be a weakness. I’ve commanded the crows to search. If they find anything suspicious, they’ll caw. Use that as a clue for further investigation. That’s all from Professor Rockefeller.” Bellman turned to Silla and warned her. “I’ve told you before to lower your voice in tense situations, haven’t I?” “I know, but this time I couldn’t help it…” Bellman, curious, asked, “Oh? Was there some reason for it?” “I don’t know. But instead of talking about it, can we focus on getting out of this situation?” Silla grumbled, turning her head sharply. Bellman sighed deeply, surveying the surroundings. They were in the hallway at the entrance to the club floor. Unlike before, there were noticeably fewer people around. Rockefeller had sent only Bellman, Ricks, Edina, and Silla flying. For now, they had to rely on the cawing of the crows as their clue. Bellman gave instructions to the group. “We can’t afford to stay here any longer. Let’s move. And keep your ears wide open for the sound of the crows.” There were staircases on both sides of the hallway. To ensure they didn’t miss any sounds from outside, Bellman opened a window. With a scraping noise, the sound of a crow’s cawing came through. Caw! Caw! The cawing wasn’t just once—it was repeated at regular intervals. Bellman asked the others to confirm what he had heard. “Does it sound like it’s coming from above to you?” “If that’s the case, there’s a way to be sure.” Ricks grinned and used materialization magic to create a ladder. “We used to live in a creaky house, so I got pretty good at finding where the noise was coming from.” He climbed the ladder and pressed his ear to the ceiling, nodding. “The vibrations suggest the sound is definitely coming from above.” “Then, let’s go check it out.” Bellman maintained his barrier spell, prepared for the sleeping gas, as they climbed the stairs. The sound of the crow’s cawing grew louder. They arrived on the floor where only Adele Hall could access the dining room and café. As they approached, Bellman’s eyes widened at the sound of a deep voice. “Everyone seems busy.” Hersel was leaning against the wall, speaking casually. Bellman gave a bitter smile. Judging by the expressions of the others, it seemed they had reached the same conclusion. Bellman approached Hersel and asked, “It seems you haven’t been affected by the hypnosis.” Hersel half-opened his eyes and replied, “Yeah, that’s true. But what are you all up to?” Ricks quickly summarized the situation. Irte had taken over the academy, Rockefeller was fighting him, and they had received a message from Rockefeller indicating that there was a hidden weakness they needed to investigate. It was a concise yet accurate briefing. But Hersel let out a particularly complex sigh as he stared intently at Silla. Silla, looking irritated, asked, “What? Why are you sighing while looking at me?” “You’re from the Knight’s Division, so how did you end up with this group?” “I just happened to run into Rockefeller while I was hypnotized, and he freed me. What’s so strange about that?” “No, there’s nothing strange about it. Nothing at all…” Hersel led the way, walking ahead. “Anyway, I understand the situation. Follow me. I was just on my way to check out the place where the crows have been cawing.” Bellman’s group felt a surge of hope, thinking they might be able to end this soon. They followed Hersel’s lead. The destination was the garden located directly beneath the principal’s office. Silla shuddered as they arrived. “This place…” It was the same spot where they had been utterly defeated by Luon. The others, recalling those memories, clenched their teeth as they stepped inside. The once-beautiful garden was now eerie, with wilted plants that looked like poisonous weeds and grotesque statues. At that moment, Bellman wrinkled his nose, sensing a strong demonic energy. He walked toward the source. “There’s a thick scent of demonic energy coming from the statue.” “Is that so? Then that must be its weakness.” At Hersel’s words, Silla clenched her fist, now glowing with aura, and swung it at the statue. Thanks to her training, Silla was now able to release aura, and with her power, the statue should have been shattered to pieces. However, the statue didn’t budge, and all Silla could do was shed a tear. “Ouch! That really hurts!” “If aura doesn’t work, I guess we’ll have to try magic,” Bellman said, swinging his staff. He fired a ‘Spear of Flame,’ one of the more destructive elemental spells. But the result was the same. Hersel looked at Edina. “If physical methods don’t work, transmutation might be the answer.” Bellman thought this was the right idea. ‘There are stories of ancient relics, treasure chests that wouldn’t open. Transmutation magic is said to be the best way to unlock them.’ This was why special branch wizards with transmutation abilities were so valuable. They were like a master key capable of unlocking any dungeon mechanism. As Edina raised her staff, Hersel gave a word of caution. “Everyone, arm yourselves. If the heart really is hidden inside, the moment we break the outer shell, it’ll know.” “A reasonable assumption. If it’s a body part, even separated, it might still sense what’s happening.” While Hersel and Bellman were talking, Edina swung her staff. “Ready? Here we go!” The statue melted like mud, and a heart floating in midair was revealed. Thump, thump. Hersel took a step back, moving far away at the sight. Just as Silla was about to strike the heart with her aura-infused fist, Bellman and the others were suddenly pulled away by some unseen force. Standing before them was Irte, holding the heart in his hand. “What are you trying to do with my heart?” At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind. Bellman turned his head and swallowed hard. Rockefeller, with vacant eyes, was walking toward them, holding his staff high. Silla’s face lit up, and she approached him. Bellman quickly stopped her. “Silla, stop right there!” “Huh?” “He has hypnotic abilities. Look at the professor—he seems to have become his servant.” Irte clapped his hands. “Yes, exactly. But don’t worry too much. For now, I’ve made him a slave of subjugation, but once I finish dealing with you, I’ll send you all to the world of dreams.” As the sleeping gas surged toward them, Bellman quickly cast a barrier spell. Irte scoffed. “No matter how much you resist, it’s only a matter of time. Do you really think you can maintain that barrier forever?” “You don’t understand. Even if you’ve brainwashed Professor Rockefeller, we still have a trump card.” Bellman glared confidently at Irte. But then someone tapped his shoulder. He turned to see Silla shaking her head and pointing at something. Bellman’s eyes widened. “Gasp!” The trump card he had counted on—Hersel—had been caught outside the barrier and was now engulfed in the sleeping gas. His eyes were blank, and his shoulders slumped. Irte grinned wickedly. “Judging by your reaction, this man must be someone important.” Irte’s eyes gleamed violet as he approached Hersel. Grabbing his chin, Irte stared into his eyes. “Ha! What will you do now? This man is now one of my loyal servants.” As Irte walked, Hersel obediently followed, stumbling along behind him. It was the worst possible situation. Having Rockefeller against them was bad enough, but now even Hersel, their strongest ally, had become an enemy. Bellman wiped his face with his hand, desperately trying to come up with a new plan. But no matter how hard he thought, nothing came to mind. Fear seemed to have spread to the others as well. Ricks, Silla, and Edina gulped, clearly terrified. Meanwhile, Hersel thought to himself… Hersel glanced at the heart in Irte’s hand. 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