Chapter 423

Words : 2349 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

“What? Zero Order? Are you joking right now?” Gregorium frowned. He had just been expelled from the Old Magic Tower. Although he left on his own accord, everyone knew it wasn’t truly voluntary. He was already in a foul mood, and the fact that the other person introduced himself with an alias rather than a name made him wonder if he was being mocked. Gregorium was about to shout loudly. Even though he had become disconnected from the Old Magic Tower, his magical hierarchy was nothing to be taken lightly. “......” However, no voice came out. It was because of the young man who raised his index finger towards him and brought it to his lips. “Shh. Even though it’s a running carriage, if it’s too noisy, people will hear.” “Who...who are you?” Gregorium barely managed to speak with a stutter. His voice was completely cracked by then and no sound came out. Even though the other party hadn’t applied any pressure, his voice suddenly got stuck. Gregorium looked down at his hands. His hands were trembling as if he had gout. While his mind couldn’t understand why, his body was instinctively consumed by fear. Upon recognizing the fear, the man before his eyes looked different. He transformed from a rare handsome young man into something like an evil spirit lurking in the darkness of the world. “Why, why did you approach me?” “Because I was the one who got you expelled from the Old Magic Tower.” “What...?” Gregorium wanted to ask what that meant but before he could question it, his eyelids growing heavy took precedence. Gregorium helplessly collapsed under the storm-like drowsiness. As his eyes closed, his body slumped sideways. His breathing remained steady as he had merely fallen asleep. However, Gregorium’s sleeping form looked no different from a dead person, which made it even more chilling. The running carriage stopped in a place with few people around. The coachman who had been driving the carriage turned his head slightly and asked. Looking closely, it was young skin without a single wrinkle. “Are you alright?” “I’m perfectly fine.” “Gregorium has fallen into the surface world of Dreamland.” “Oh? Just as planned.” The coachman hesitated for a moment. Zero Order gave permission, saying he could speak if he had something to say. “Are you thinking of accepting Gregorium as a new executive?” “Your reaction suggests you’re not keen on it. You weren’t like this with Rudger Chelici.” “That man is more outstanding than the previous John Doe. He even fought against Belkart. He might be the strongest among all existing First Orders.” “That’s probably true.” “At the same time, he’s also an untrustworthy person. Still, since his skills are real, I think this uncomfortable alliance is fine for now. But Gregorium is different.” Zero Order smiled as if finding it interesting. He waited for the next words with deliberate composure, as if telling him to say more. “Although he’s from the Old Magic Tower and knows the internal affairs well, his skills have deteriorated significantly as he focused on politics rather than magical achievement. Moreover, his desires have only grown stronger with age.” “You can tell all that?” “His consciousness that entered the surface world is transmitted to me. After all, the consciousness of humans heading to Dreamland tends to reveal their deep inner self.” “That makes sense. Since you created our conference hall in the surface world, you would naturally know such things.” “In that sense, Gregorium is not suitable as a First Order. The imbalance between his desires and abilities is too severe.” Zero Order grinned as if finding it amusing. Although it was a subordinate’s advice and criticism, he didn’t mind. “Don’t worry. I didn’t specifically drive him out for that purpose.” “Then was there any reason to intervene in the Old Magic Tower and cause his downfall?” “I felt like we needed to offer a sacrifice.” At the word ‘sacrifice,’ the man disguised as the coachman’s body suddenly stiffened. He asked in a slightly disbelieving tone. “Has he started to awaken?” “Yes.” Zero Order understood who was being referred to by “he.” At those words, the coachman let out a small exclamation. Considering his usually ice-cold emotional expression, this was quite an intense reaction. “Is the time approaching?” “Yes. Basara, who was sealed in the imperial capital, has also awakened. I and Helia are also moving. It’s time for other apostles to move as well.” “So that’s why you wanted to confirm. To check that place, you needed a capable magician. So you cut the strings of that old man who was in a precarious position.” “Gregorium will become our canary. That’s fortunate.” Zero Order said this while glancing outside. Through the curtains of the carriage, suspicious figures could be seen busily searching for someone. “He’s someone who would have disappeared without a trace right after leaving to protect the organization’s secrets. Rather than dying to keep his mouth shut, it’s better to use him in a slightly more useful way.” To extract efficiency was hardly something to say about a person but neither Zero Order nor the coachman felt any pangs of conscience. “I’ll start moving soon. The eyes of the Old Magic Tower might reach here.” “Alright.” Following the coachman’s gesture, the horses began to move their legs again. Amidst the clattering of hooves, the coachman asked quietly. “Will Gregorium open his eyes?” “We should hope so. For now.” “Three days. That’s the average time it takes for consciousness sunken into the depths of Dreamland to float back up. If he doesn’t open his eyes even after that time...” Instead of the coachman who held back his words, Zero Order nodded and answered. “It would mean the most troublesome apostle has been unleashed from deep within the abyss of unconsciousness.” * * * Besides the story of Gregorium being expelled from the Old Magic Tower, there wasn’t much else worth paying attention to. Most of it was about what happened during the Night of Mystery. Particularly, they were busy talking about the Earth Element Lord who suddenly appeared. However, Sedina wasn’t interested in that part. She only gathered information separately because Rudger and Hans said it was necessary, but she never looked for it out of her own curiosity. Just as the report was about to end, the sound of students laughing cheerfully could be heard from outside the window. Rudger glanced at the window where the sound came from. He sensed something in the strangely excited voices of the students. “Everyone seems quite happy. Did something happen? I thought it wasn’t vacation time yet.” “Ah, haven’t you heard? They said they’re holding a ball as Theon’s last festival before vacation.” “A ball?” “Yes. It’s a party held internally by Theon, and it’s quite a traditional event that has been continuing for a long time.” “Ah, I see. I understand.” Rudger vaguely realized that such a thing existed. He hadn’t paid attention to it because he wasn’t particularly interested. The season was now fully entering summer and the ball was an event to give students one last good memory before vacation begins. “So that’s why they’re so happy.” “They’re students after all. They naturally enjoy dressing up prettily and dancing while smiling and having fun at balls.” Sedina spoke as if it were someone else’s business. Despite being the same age, Sedina had lived a life far removed from such balls, so she didn’t consider it particularly significant. However, gathering information was different from having interest. “As befitting a ball, various events are planned, and there are gifts for them too.” “That’s just what students would like.” “Yes. Moreover, there’s an award ceremony for the most beautiful person, so the female students are particularly enthusiastic.” It’s an occasion where beautiful and well-dressed men and women gather in the banquet hall. When such an atmosphere is created, it’s natural for some people’s eyes to meet. Theon’s ball was also a regular event that produced the most couples in a year. “It’s not related to me anyway.” From a position where there were already many things to pay attention to, even taking interest in something like a ball seemed wasteful. Rudger stood up from his seat since it was almost time for class to start. As he walked down the corridor after leaving the faculty office, he saw some students passing by. They all seemed quite excited and full of anticipation for what was to come. Their feelings were so strong that some students who would normally avoid Rudger even greeted him with a smile. ‘Well, this is something.’ Just like during the Magic Festival, the magic of festivals was truly mysterious. This remained true even until Rudger entered the classroom and stood on the podium. Students who would normally be quiet as mice or well-behaved didn’t stop chattering. The classroom atmosphere itself was heated up. “Did you come here to play?” Rudger spoke with magic in his voice and that single phrase covered the entire classroom. It was not a loudly reverberating sound, but a feeling of fine vibration traveling through the skin across the whole body. The students finally closed their mouths. However, they still couldn’t easily suppress the energy bursting from within but for now, that was enough. “I understand your excitement, but at least distinguish between time and situation when you act up.” The students instantly became gloomy. Of course, there were some who didn’t. In Julia’s case, she hadn’t expected anything from this ball in the first place. At that moment, someone raised their hand high. Rudger’s gaze turned straight to the student who raised their hand. “What is it, Aidan?” It was Aidan who had raised his hand with sparkling eyes. At that sight, the expressions of the students in the classroom were instantly filled with anxiety. No way. It can’t be? It won’t be. But this is Aidan we’re talking about. While some eyes urged him not to do it, others had given up, thinking it was inevitable since it was him. Some even seemed expectant, wanting him to just do it. Rudger found this incredulous. How did Aidan usually behave to get such reactions from everyone around him? What was even more incredulous was the question Aidan blurted out. “Teacher, aren’t you attending the ball?” Some students widened their eyes with dumbfounded expressions. It was the same for Tracy, and Leo sitting next to her bent his head down with a sigh as if he had a headache. He seemed to have already given up completely. “Aidan. What do you mean?” “Well, there’s going to be a ball soon, right? So I was wondering if Teacher Rudger would be attending too.” “Me?” “I heard that not just students but everyone else is attending too?” His voice sounded like he asked out of genuine innocent curiosity. It was even more dizzying because it wasn’t simply pretense but came from truly thinking that way, especially when looking at those clear eyes. While the students clicked their tongues at Aidan’s behavior, they simultaneously gazed at Rudger with strange expectant looks. What’s done is done, and they couldn’t help but be curious. “Everyone’s curious about who teacher’s partner will be.” “Partner?” Rudger sharply furrowed his brows but he quickly understood what Aidan meant. The partner probably referred to the dance partner at the ball. Following Aidan’s question, students gradually gathered courage and opened their mouths. “That’s right. We’re curious too.” “Who are you going with, teacher?” Once the students who had been quiet until now opened their mouths simultaneously, the classroom became noisy again. This was naturally what students were interested in, and once the flow started, it was difficult to stop. Of course, not for Rudger. “Enough.” Rudger again made a sound infused with magic. The students’ chatter was washed away as if pushed by waves and opened their eyes wide in surprise. Controlling the atmosphere with magic resonance contained in a single word was truly magical control that had reached the level of divine skill. “Focus on the class.” Rudger started the lecture, paying no mind to the students’ reactions. * * * “Teacher Rudger. Do you have a partner?” During a lunch shared with fellow teachers after a long time Merilda suddenly threw out a question. “You’re talking about the ball.” “Everyone’s noisy about it anyway, right?” “There’s also the option of not attending.” “We just got newly appointed, right? We’re just starting to settle in, but even so, you’ll definitely need to attend this event? The President will probably say the same thing.” Rudger was about to say he couldn’t go because he was busy as the Planning Department Head, but stopped. Rather, the thought occurred that these were exactly the kind of occasions where one should show their face more actively. “I haven’t thought about it yet.” Rather than clear rejection, he decided to speak more indirectly since there was no need to decide here anyway. “Then how about Teacher Selina? Teacher Selina also happened to need a partner.” “W-wait a moment! Teacher Merilda!” Selina shot a glare at Merilda in startled surprise. Yet she still glanced sideways at Rudger with a slightly reddened face. “Teacher Selina is attending as well?” Instead of her, Merilda answered the question. “Of course. She’s even thinking about getting a new dress made for it.” “W-why are you telling them that!” “Dress?” Unexpectedly, Rudger reacted to a different aspect. “Everyone’s actually desperate to get custom dresses made to show their best appearance for the contest.” Rudger became strangely interested when he heard about custom dresses. More precisely, he had caught the scent of business.

Chapter 423

Comments (0)