I sat in front of the castle gate, waiting for that girl.
"Where are you, Elithia? I've been battling since morning just to get you to come out."
I was beginning to lose my patience. She's really lazy.
"Sorry for the delay."
I turned my gaze to the source of the voice, only to see her wearing a fancy outfit unlike her usual style, with a new hairstyle I hadn't seen before.
Elithia reached me, panting from running.
"Am I late?"
"I was about to leave. First, you dragged me into attending your test, second, I woke up early just for you, and finally, you're late."
"Calm down, I'll make it up to you for everything I did."
I sighed, and we began walking together toward the academy.
…
We arrived at the Magic and Swordsmanship Academy, which was glowing and buzzing with students from different races.
"So this is the academy you study in?"
Elithia looked at me proudly.
"Yes, only brilliant students and minds like me get in. Not people like you."
"Was that an indirect insult?"
"It might be."
I glared at Elithia who was mocking me until I raised my finger and flicked her forehead.
"Ouch… why, Klo?"
She held the spot I hit, looking at me with sad eyes.
"Let's move on."
We continued walking toward the academy. The gate was guarded by two heavily built knights.
When I reached them, they blocked my path as if I wasn't allowed to attend the party.
I stared into the face of the giant knight.
"Move out of my way."
"We cannot allow villains to step foot into this prestigious academy."
"You want me to wipe this academy off the map?"
"How dare you!"
The giant knight raised his sword and aimed it powerfully to slice me in two, but before the blade touched my body, Elithia intervened with her skilled swordplay.
Their blades clashed, Elithia's eyes glowing with a flame-like intensity.
"Klo, back off!"
Before she could finish her sentence, the second knight aimed his sword at me—but unfortunately for him, he was dealing with the game maker.
Before his blade could touch my skin, he was torn into pieces, spraying the place with red.
He dropped to his knees slowly before finally collapsing face-first.
Everyone stared at me—me, who didn't move a muscle or react at all.
If the system hadn't shown me the random gift window, none of this would've happened.
This ability is called the Author's Window. With it, I can read the stats and pasts of other characters.
As for the indirect dismemberment—it's a type of assistive skill you can create, but it requires focus. That's why I stood still.
Passersby gathered around us, seeing Klo Yuthnir standing on a shredded corpse.
"It's Klo."
"The future villain has already begun."
"Don't tell me he's going to attend our academy."
Keep talking nonsense. It's the only way your minds can feel better.
"Klo, what did you do?"
"Nothing. You saw—I didn't even move."
"…You're right."
I squinted at the other knight.
He trembled and stepped aside, giving me and Elithia space to pass.
As I walked past him, I patted his shoulder.
"Good. You understand your place."
We continued toward the inside, passing a green garden full of flowers, with a white fountain in the center gushing like a waterfall.
I pulled the mask out of the system's inventory and put it on my face—to avoid frightening the people inside the academy and getting Elithia disqualified from her test.
"Klo, why did you put on that mask?"
"To hide my face."
"…Talk."
"Didn't you hear me?"
"Klo, I'm not joking—talk."
I removed the mask.
"Is there something wrong with your ears?"
"Look who's talking," Elithia mocked.
Wait a minute… did she not hear me?
"Could you hear my voice when I had the mask on, Elithia?"
She tilted her head.
"No?"
Oh.
I gave her the mask and asked her to wear it. When she did, I stared at her—nothing happened.
She took the mask off, looking puzzled.
"I was talking—why didn't you answer me?"
"What? You weren't."
"Yes, I was."
I think I understand now.
I held the mask in my hands and looked at it. Then I expanded my aura slightly—I noticed the mask had a hidden aura that prevents sound from leaving it.
I looked at Elithia.
"Actually… the problem is the mask. It has sound-blocking magic."
"Really?"
I wore the mask again and continued my path through the place.
The academy yard was filled with students wearing uniforms with the school's emblem.
If I recall my own school days, they'd be the worst.
I'm glad I won't be going back to those times.
"Ah, you've arrived, oh Sword Maiden."
I looked up at the man speaking to Elithia.
He was wearing a suit with a semi-formal hat, with a diamond-like gem in the middle.
"Yes, Director."
This young man… is the director?
Before Elithia went to him, I pulled her by her robe, lifted a part of my mask, and whispered in her ear.
"This guy is the director? Shouldn't directors be old men?"
Elithia punched me in the stomach and continued walking as I curled in pain.
Aren't anime and manga directors always old geezers?
"How are you, Director?"
"I'm well, Elithia. I see you're excited today—you even brought a guest."
The director and Elithia both looked at me with smiles.
"This young man is the one who trained me before I retook the exam."
"I see. He's got a nice mask and suit—both showing strength and elegance. They look expensive, along with that ruby pendant."
I got the mask as a system reward, and the suit… I haven't changed it since I arrived in this world.
The director approached me and extended his hand in the air to shake mine.
"Welcome, trainer. I'm Rain, Director of this prestigious academy. May I know your name, trainer?"
I shook his hand but responded with gestures.
I signaled that I couldn't speak, and that I was the one who trained Elithia.
"I see—you can't speak. Could it be because of the mask?"
He raised his hand and slowly moved it toward the mask.
Closer… even closer…
Until Elithia interrupted us.
"Director, I'd like to take my test now."
He rolled his eyes toward her and nodded his head.
"Sorry, Elithia, for keeping you waiting. I got a bit carried away with our esteemed guest.
We'll meet again, trainer."
The director stepped forward while I stood there, panting.
I clutched my chest, about to fall—until Elithia jumped to catch me in her arms.
I leaned on her and looked at that director.
I lifted a bit of my mask and stared at Elithia.
"Pant… he's dangerous."
"Don't mess with him, Klo. He's a superior-tier arts user and possesses the strongest mana the country's ever seen."
Could he be… the second hero?
"If I hadn't interrupted him the moment he reached for the mask, I would've been dead for sure."
I smiled while sweating.
"He can't kill me. He's not like me."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Don't worry about it."