Arthur: "You came."
Seated on my cathedral-like chair, a grateful smile tugged on my lips as I spoke. Fortunately, the person I had been waiting for had arrived—albeit a little late. Still, I was glad. Otherwise, the show would have had to be postponed.
Persephone: "You are definitely planning something again."
I glanced to my left, eyeing the person who had thrown the condescending remark at me. Persephone stood there, her expression practically screaming, I'm right. Yes?
And she might have been. But as I observed her from the corner of my eye, I also caught the presence of someone else behind me.
A shoulder—an inch or two taller than Persephone's—and the faint glint of silver hair framed by the dark folds of a cloak. The silhouette's black fabric contrasted with the black feathers decorating Persephone's gown.
Who is this average-built figure? With that silver hair, who else could it be? Ducas was standing behind me.
Wait—when did he get here? Wasn't he by the window earlier? I pushed the confusion aside, deciding not to dwell on it.
Still, having one person on my left and another one right behind me… Hmm... This doesn't feel right.
I gestured subtly, signaling Ducas to move to my right, while sending Persephone a quick message in the chatbox:
-How can you be so sure?
Ducas made a complicated face but complied, shifting to my right. Persephone paid no mind to my gesture, continued speaking in that ominous tone of hers.
Persephone: "You cannot hide it from me. I can see inside your soul."
Her aura loomed over me, and my smile stiffened—though I quickly recovered. What a corny statement. Is she trying to intimidate me? Perhaps—it was fitting for the goddess of the underworld.
I brushed aside the thought and turned my attention back to Todd.
Arthur: "You must have received the delivery. Did you like it?"
I raised my eyebrows, feigning innocence.
Ducas, the delivery boy, had handled it, so I was certain it had reached Todd. I couldn't ask anyone else without exposing Todd's identity, and I'd asked Ducas because only he could leave my message in Todd's room without leaving behind any presence.
As I sat with a composed smile, the tall man stood in his crisp butler uniform, white gloves neatly clasped behind his back. His stoic expression gave nothing away, but his eyes flickered with an unspoken tension.
But one thing—or rather, one person—was putting Todd on edge. Not me, but Ducas.
Todd's yellow eyes flickered subtly toward him. He tried to mask his unease, but his grip tightened on the small piece of paper in his hand—the supposed "delivery" I'd mentioned.
This was the same receptionist who usually sat at Trivia's reception desk in studious glasses and a simple suit, hair styled plainly, flipping through stacks of papers, greeting people in polite but with detachment.
The same person I'd interacted with before anyone else here.
Now, he stood before me transformed—still professional, but sharper. His hair styled in precision, his stance measured, his silence heavier. There was a quiet, dangerous edge to him, as if I could see his lean figure could strike at any instant should he choose to.
Then, a message flashed before me:
+
[The Lower Existence Todd is uneasy about Lower Existence Ducas.]
+
'He must've been the one who delivered this.' I was sure that was his thought as I kept noticing the subtle shift in his gaze.
It was a fleeting reaction before Todd refocused on me, his mind racing. For Todd, I am still an unknown. He couldn't be certain of my capabilities. Still, he refused to believe there is anyone—besides Ducas, whose strength he had overlooked—could leave his perception.
He must have initially assumed Ducas was just another average follower of mine. I recalled their first meeting—Ducas barging into my conversation with Lisa after loudly shouting at Todd in the hallway.
This hundred-year-old boy sometimes acted like a child.
I knew Todd wouldn't sense potential from either of us. The difference was, he couldn't feel anything from Ducas because Ducas was already on a much higher level than him. The speed with which Ducas appeared behind me was proof enough.
Unlike Ducas, my stats were painfully low. I had no origin—that's what everyone knew, and it was true. But despite that, I kept ending up at the center of events no one expected me to be part of. Annoying, yes—but it was bound to raise suspicions.
Arthur: "Nothing to say? Was it not to your liking?"
Breaking the heavy silence, I raised an eyebrow and rested my chin on the back of my palm.
Todd still said nothing. More messages appeared:
+
[Existence Todd is being cautious of Existence Ducas.]
+
[Existence Todd is wondering about Existence Ducas.]
+
[Existence Todd is showing curiosity towards you.]
+
It seemed reading vague impressions of someone's thoughts wasn't too difficult for me—though it wasn't the same as what happened outside the warehouse when I overheard Timothy's inner thoughts. That incident remained unique, and I didn't know why.
Finally, Todd spoke for the first time since entering the room, his jaw barely moving.
Todd: "How?"
Just one word—cold and direct.
How what? Speak like a normal person, for god's sake.
I had a pretty good guess what he meant. Still, the show had to be entertaining. Nubeculas were watching, after all.
Arthur: "How what?"
I tilted my head, still resting it on my palm, letting confusion and arrogance mingle in my tone.
For a moment, Todd's face twitched—fighting the urge to frown—but he held his stoic mask. Without another word, he snapped his fingers, his right hand extending toward me.
Swish.
A piece of paper shot from his grasp, slicing through the air like a magician's thrown card.
It came at me fast enough to split me in half—or so it wanted me to think. I didn't flinch. A silver feather intercepted it, stopping it mid-flight and pinning it neatly to the tip of a needle-like knife.
My gaze shifted to the paper. Written on it were the words:
{Let me help you, Great Assassin Ron. Room-203. Preferably at 7 in the evening.}
Todd: "How did you know?"
Todd—or rather, Ron—spoke again, his voice icy, a stark contrast to the mild-mannered receptionist I'd met in the morning. He was clearly demanding an answer, but all I let out was a surprised sigh.
My gaze drifted to the paper, and in the next moment, my eyes flew wide in shock. I turned toward Ron as though I were staring at a ghost.
Arthur: "You're The assassin Ron?"
I straightened my back, maintaining the same stunned expression. My head tilted up, supported by two fingers under my chin, my elbow resting on the arm of the chair. My voice faltered deliberately.
Arthur: "The one who dwells in shadows, becoming a silent wind? P-please... spare my life."
Desperation laced my words, my tone bewildered—though my posture remained relaxed.
Ron's face twisted dark with frustration. He clearly didn't understand—or more like appreciated—the sudden shift in my demeanor.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' comments: "What is going on?" ]
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments: "I don't know." ]
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is concerned. ]
[ Some Nubeculas watching you are confused. ]
+
The messages flooded in. Even Ducas gave me a look—though I couldn't read his eyes. Only Persephone kept her sly, fox-like smile, watching me with an emotion that felt dangerously close to fascination.
Sensing her amusement, I sighed and relaxed back into my previous posture.
Arthur: "I'm just kidding."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' comments: "Bastard!" ]
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments: "He—" ]
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' shakes her head, releasing a relieved sigh. ]
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments: "Don't make us worry like that. The show must go on!" ]
[ Some Nubeculas like your sense of humor. ]
+
[ 1,400 points have been donated. ]
+
A mix of reactions flooded in—some amused, some annoyed. From my right came a sigh; from my left, a giggle. But the person in my direct line of sight frowned deeply, clearly unimpressed.
Ron looked more frustrated than angry. I decided to speak before he could.
Arthur: "You know, I always say this in response to that question you asked earlier."
He swallowed whatever he'd been about to say. A smirk tugged at my lips as I spoke with deliberate arrogance.
Arthur: "It doesn't matter."
His one eyebrow twitched upward—so subtle I almost missed it.
Arthur: "It doesn't matter how I know. What matters is that I know."
Persephone: "It doesn't matter how I know. What matters is that I know."
Her voice echoed mine, mocking me mid-speech. Of course, no one else heard it—just her graceful mimicry.
-"You had to do it."
Persephone: "It's your catchphrase."
She smirked, as if declaring an indisputable fact.
I wanted to argue, but couldn't. She wasn't wrong—I do say it often.
It's not my fault I just… know things.
I consoled myself internally, feeling unfairly accused. I wasn't some omniscient meddler by choice. I only saw things in my dreams. Not my fault.
Pulling myself back to the moment, my gaze fixed on Todd's movements.
Arthur: "So, how about it? Are you interested? Let me help you."
Todd—tall, composed, his eyes sharp stared at me with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Despite the deadness in his eyes, there was life behind them.
I couldn't track his quick movements or subtle expressions, but I could read his thoughts—literally—through the incoming messages.
+
[ Existence Todd is frustrated. ]
[ Existence Todd is curious about you. ]
[ Existence Todd is worried about the Existence Ducas. ]
[ Existence Todd is annoyed. ]
[ Existence Todd has made up his mind. ]
+
As if on cue, I spoke just as he tensed to act.
Arthur: "Before you make your move, I have a question."
Todd stiffened immediately.
Even Ducas looked startled. He'd felt the shift in Todd's aura but dismissed it—things like this always happened around me.
With the tension fading, I spoke lazily.
Arthur: "Is it tough?"
Todd: "…What is?"
Arthur: "Protecting them... while they never know what you did for them."
A flicker crossed his eyes before they lowered again.
+
[ Existence Todd is showing concern. ]
+
Todd: "I'm not sure I follow."
Arthur: "And I'm sure you do. You don't have to hide anything from me—I already know."
I narrowed my eyes with a sly smile; he narrowed his in return.
Todd: "…I never thought about recognition."
I nodded knowingly.
Arthur: "Yes. You're still the same as when the Archduke was alive."
That earned me a deep frown.
Todd—assassin under the Archduke of the Cloud Continent—had served in shadows under the name Ron. No one but the late Archduke knew the full extent of his work. He handled the far-off approaching problems.
When the Archduke died on the battlefield, Todd took it upon himself to shield the family from unseen threats. For years, he worked in silence, eliminating dangers before they had to be handled by Lisa or her daughter.
Now, a younger man—me—sat across from him, speaking like I'd lived through it all. And worse, he couldn't touch me. Lisa's assistant was untouchable, whether by miracle or curse.
Even now, Lisa, her daughter, and their closest confidants knew nothing of his deeds. But here I was, dropping truths I shouldn't know.
Arthur: "Eliminating the Duke's scheming servants… slaughtering that greedy baron's family… even killing the Empress's fifth husband when he grew too fond of Lisa."
Each memory hit him like a blade. His grip tightened around the knife hidden behind his back. His eyes darkened, emotions flashing—disbelief, fury, shame.
The question—How?—screamed in his stoic expression. I'd seen it before, in my fleeting dreams that were short but sharp.
No matter how small the events seemed, they'd safeguarded the Archduke's household. That alone had been enough for them to appear in my visions.
Arthur: "So, how about it, Todd? Are you interested in what I have to say?"
Todd regained his senses, and his clouded eyes sharpened as they focused on me.
Todd: "You are brave. Even after knowing about me, you still expect to walk away after saying all that."
Arthur: "That is true."
Todd: "That you are brave? Or that you've decided to die here?"
Arthur: "Neither, actually. But you're not going to kill me."
A yawn escaped before I could suppress it. Fatigue from the day was starting to set in.
Todd's expression barely shifted, yet somehow it grew more dangerous in my eyes.
+
[ Existence 'Todd' is showing hostility towards you. ]
+
[ Several Nubeculas are enjoying looking in your direction. ]
[ 1800 points have been donated. ]
+
Todd: "Is that a fact?"
I nodded without hesitation.
The situation was dangerous, but I wasn't worried. I trusted Zoe would stop any knife thrown at me. And with Ducas standing right behind me, there was nothing to fear.
Todd: "You are highly overestimating yourself."
Arthur: "I'm not estimating myself at all, because I know my standing, my backing, or any other thousand hypothetical advantages don't matter to you. You just clean up trouble for the Hart family."
Todd: "Still?"
Arthur: "Believe it or not, Todd, I'm just trying to help."
Todd: "I don't need your help. And your luck has run out now."
Tension thickened in the room as dark matter began to coil around Todd's body. The low, ominous hum of it filled the air.
Behind me, Ducas tensed. His hand slid to the hilt of his sword, the faint clink of steel loosening in its sheath cutting into the silence.
Arthur: "Isn't Mr. Eddie being a nuisance?"
My tone remained indifferent, but the tension in the room didn't fade.
Todd: "And I told you I don't need your help."
+
[ Lower Existence 'Todd Middleton' is confused. ]
+
Go ahead, act tough all you want. There is a difference between need and want. There is still room for insisting in this conversation.
Arthur: "You keep denying it, but you know he's trying to get close to Miss Lisa. He wants to be Archduke."
Todd: "I can take care of him."
He showed no surprise that I knew Lisa's and Eddie's true identities—if he was shocked, he hid it flawlessly.
Arthur: "Can you? He's tenacious, cunning, and willing to do anything for his goal. He's even affiliated with heretics. Not to mention, he is from a royal family. And his two-faced personality… well, he's loved by all."
At those words, Todd fell silent.
Dealing with a royal abusing their authority was familiar ground for him—not because it was easy, but because he knew the game. The deceased Archduke had always handled the aftermath for him, and Todd knew how to read royals well.
But heretics? An outside organization complicates things.
And Eddie's popularity meant Todd couldn't simply kill him.
I wasn't misleading him—I was working him, knowing his habits and comfort zones.
When he didn't reply, I finally lowered my hand from my chin and reached into my coat, hiding my storage ring as I retrieved an item.
Arthur: "You won't kill him because it would lead to an investigation."
Todd didn't argue, but his eyes—and Persephone's and Ducas's—followed my movements closely.
Arthur: "He's still a royal, but his involvement with heretics is the real problem. He's probably made a deal with them, and if he dies, they'll come hunting for the killer. Tracking them would be a hassle for you. You wouldn't be able to focus on protecting Miss Lisa."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Dynosius' comments: "Quite the problem." ]
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars and Candy' comments: "Should just kill him, easy." ]
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds for the Heartbroken' comments: "Killing won't solve anything." ]
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments: "So what's the solution?" ]
+
I'm glad you asked, because I have the perfect solution. I need to get rid of him too—after all, he messed with me.
I resisted the urge to laugh maniacally like some villain.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is watching you intently.]
+
I drew out the item from under my coat—a palm-sized glass bottle, similar in shape to an elixir vial. The liquid inside was a marmalade-orange, swirling as I tilted it side to side, my index finger resting on the cap.
I didn't look away from Todd, ignoring the incoming messages only I could see. His clueless yet threatening expression was far too entertaining.
I let some of the item's energy leak into the air.
+
[ Item: Hydra's Extract Poison (Grade-2) ]
+
Persephone: "Ah, I see. Interesting."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments: "I like what you're trying to accomplish." ]
[ 1000 points have been donated. ]
+
Both comments almost made me smile.
Arthur: "Then, what if he were to... fall ill? Incapacitated—unable to move or think rationally?"
Todd: "And you're offering to help with that?"
I said nothing more and tossed the bottle to him.
The tension in the room shattered as he caught it effortlessly.
His eyes widened as he focused on the bottle's energy, reading its details.
The night Griff got poisoned by it, I had asked Felicity for the poison just as she and Griff were leaving my room.
Since the issue between her and Valerie had been resolved, it was no longer needed. A rare item, but she'd handed it over without hesitation… oddly enough.
Grade-2 Hydra Extract—It was lethal, but Eddie's high stats and connections might let him survive. Not that Todd would care.
Arthur: "Believe me, I'm trying to help."
Todd: "But why?"
Arthur: "I want to live a normal life. And that incident in the plaza I got caught in? He was behind it. I just want it to stop."
Todd didn't show much reaction, simply slipping the item into his pocket.
I guessed my answer had convinced him—or maybe he just wanted to keep the rare poison for himself. Either way, he didn't say it out loud, but I knew he'd be keeping a closer eye on me from now on. That was fine. I wasn't trying to harm anyone… except Eddie.
A snicker almost reached my lips, but Todd's words pulled me back.
Todd: "Then I guess there's no reason for me to be here anymore."
I nodded.
+
[ The Lower Existence Todd has activated the skill 'Pass From Sight Lvl.2' ]
+
And with that, Todd vanished into thin air, as if he'd never been in the room threatening me.
I stood from the chair and was about to turn the other way—
Ting!
Hm?
Just as I was about to accept that the death looming over me had literally disappeared, a small sound caught my attention. My gaze shifted left… and landed on an object near my foot.
Arthur: "Scary lunatic."
Another needle-like knife.
Ron, the assassin, hadn't left without trying to kill me one more time. But of course, Zoe had protected me again.
Sigh.
Letting out a deep, relieved breath, I turned to Ducas.
Arthur: "Well, that's settled. Now...why did you come here?"
The tense yet calculated exchange with Todd had been part of my plan, but Ducas's presence wasn't. I was a little curious about his reason for showing up.
Ducas: "Um. I was just… I…"
The most powerful Lower Existence I knew was stammering. I tilted my head slightly, staring at him with mild disinterest, while Persephone gave him the amused look of a mother catching her child red-handed.
Why was he acting like a child caught by his father? I'd only asked a simple question.
Ducas: "Umm… That receptionist was dangerous, and you had a meeting set up with him, so… I thought it would be better if I came?"
His words trailed into a question, as if he was unsure whether his decision was right or wrong.
To be fair, his presence had helped. I just don't understand why it seems like he is asking for validation. This was Ducas—the most powerful Lower Existence I knew. He can do whatever he wants.
Arthur: "Alright. But now you should go back to your dorm."
I waved him off.
Ducas: "Absolutely, Sir Arthur."
With a bow, he vanished through the window—closing it behind him so swiftly it might as well have been a skill. Yet no system message appeared. His stats alone made the impossible look effortless.
Arthur: "I am surrounded by eccentric people."
Persephone: "Well, I think you are surrounded by normal existences."
Said the higher existence, a Quasar-level Nubecula, and the goddess of the underworld.
Sigh.
Arthur: "Alright. The show's over. I need some sleep. I've got an early day tomorrow."
+
[ The Nubecula 'Dynosius' comments "It was enjoyable, worth taking out my bottle of wine" ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Dynosius' is taking a sip of his wine. ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' comments "tch. It was boring." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments "You're saying that because he was cool." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "Yes! Yes! So cool!" ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "Perfectly planned show." ]
+
[Several Nubeculas are satisfied.]
+
[ 4000 total points have been donated ]
+
Content with the donations, I put the chair back near the table and took a sip of the wine sitting on it before heading for bed.
Persephone: "Shall this Queen prepare your bed?"
She said it with the kind of tone that suggested it should be an honor. But as her Soul Partner, it didn't feel that way to me.
Arthur: "I'm perfectly capable of handling my own needs, Your Highness."
****
A week and a half later, inside Lisa's office—just past eleven in the morning—after she had finished her morning lecture on Magic and Its Existence.
I sat across from her desk with Hekate purring comfortably in my lap, looking as content as a cat could possibly be.
Sigh.
Lisa removed her glasses, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. I glanced up from the papers in my left hand, my right elbow propped on the armrest, chin resting on my fist.
Her eyes were closed, her black hair neatly pinned up with ornate accessories. A beautiful purple collar peeked out from under her cloak, resting around her neck. There were countless other details about her appearance that could draw the eye, but something else caught my attention.
Among the pens and scattered items on her desk, she held a single sheet of paper in her left hand. The paper was upside down from my perspective, so I couldn't read its contents, but she gripped it tightly, her elbow resting on the desk.
I kept watching her for a while.
Perhaps she sensed my gaze—or maybe she had intended to meet my eyes all along—but she suddenly opened them, revealing irises of plain, clear purple. Not the ametrine shimmer of Persephone's, but strikingly simpler in their own way.
Lisa: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Arthur: "Like what, Miss Lisa?"
I noticed her chewing her words slightly, as though holding back words she wanted to say. Maybe she was once again bothered that I didn't call her Professor.
Arthur: "Are you troubled by whatever's written on that piece of paper in your hand—the one you seem eager to crumple and throw away?"
Sigh.
She let both her arms rest on the desk before leaning back against her chair.
Arthur: "What is it?"
Since she didn't deny my guess, I knew I was right. I set down the papers I was holding.
Lisa: "It's a request from the acting headmaster."
Ah. That explains why I didn't know about it. As her assistant, all her documents usually pass through me first—but if Eldrich handed it to her directly, I'd have no idea.
Arthur: "Aaaand?"
If Eldrich had given her something, it was probably related to academics. He knew how passionate she is about magic. Yet her scowl suggested otherwise.
Lisa: "He wants me to take an additional class for the second years—'Basics of Magic.'"
Arthur: "'Basics of Magic?'"
Lisa: "Yes. It's basics. I don't need to teach that. It would just waste my time."
Right. She had already researched the subject deeply—so deeply that she was close to developing an item capable of containing a soul-like environment and storing a skill.
I had helped a little with that project, since I needed the item myself, but it's entirely her work.
If she agreed to teach these classes, she'd have to prepare materials, teach, and review student work. For such a fundamental topic, it really would be a waste of her time. And mine, ofcourse.
Arthur: "If that's the case…"
I reached for the crumpled request. With a slightly puzzled expression, she handed it over. I pulled it toward me and examined it.
Arthur: "Hm… I'll take this class."
She looked utterly bewildered.
Lisa: "No. You can't."
She shook her head, meeting my gaze. I set the paper down and frowned slightly.
Arthur: "Why not? You said it's basic."
Lisa: "Because—even if it's a basics class—it's still not as easy as you think."
Arthur: "You mean the reputable scholar of this school wouldn't want her students taught by a twenty-year-old?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Lisa: "That's not what I meant."
Arthur: "It's alright, Miss Lisa. It's not you but the students who will think that. Well, as you said, it's basics. And I'm your assistant, I can certainly handle teaching a basic one."
Lisa: "But—"
Arthur: "You hired me to lighten your load, which means I'm here for you to depend on. You should let me do this. Besides, assisting the professor who teaches advanced magic qualifies me for basics, no?"
Not to mention, even if she taught the class herself, I'd still end up handling materials, reviews, and management duties anyway.
Persephone: "Says the person who never depends on anyone."
Ugh. Her refrain since the Brigians church incident. What exactly had I done to earn this nagging? I kept my grumbling to myself and let the comment fade.
Lisa watched me with a complicated expression I couldn't quite read. After a moment, she licked her lips and spoke.
Lisa: "Alright."
She replaced her glasses, and Hekate began to lazily sway her tail.
Arthur: "But why assign it to someone else, though?"
Lisa: "It was Professor Eddie's class. He's apparently sick and has taken some time off. So there's a need for replacement."
I barely stifled a laugh, quickly covering my mouth with the hand holding the letter, trying to hide the smirk threatening to spread.
Persephone: "So your plan bore fruit, it seems."
Seems like it. Now that Todd had successfully used Hydra's extract on Eddie, I could stop worrying about that particular problem. Finally, the nuisance was gone—at least for now.
Lisa, noticing my reaction, looked concerned.
Lisa: "Are you sure you want to take this class?"
Meow.
I scratched Hekate's ears.
Arthur: "Yes, I'm sure. I'll gladly take his class. You should focus on your research, Miss Lisa."
I smiled brightly. Lisa only sighed in response.
+
[Several Nubeculas want the barrier to be removed.]
+