Miyuki's Decision
Miyuki Hanado stood silently before Kimmy Leortson.
The room had fallen quiet.
Kimmy's confidence had completely disappeared. The celebrity who had once acted comfortably and arrogantly now looked terrified.
Miyuki stared at her with cold eyes.
Huh...
I think it's time to say goodbye.
Kimmy suddenly dropped to her knees.
"Please!"
"Miss Miyuki, please don't kill me!"
"Please forgive me!"
Miyuki was about to respond, but she suddenly remembered something.
Her expression changed.
"Wait."
Kimmy looked up.
Miyuki spoke in a calm voice.
"A little friend once told me something about you."
"He said that you are kind."
"That you have perfect behavior."
"But..."
Her eyes became serious.
"I haven't seen that person."
Kimmy remained silent.
Miyuki continued.
"Are you pretending to be a good person in front of the public and the media?"
"And when nobody is watching..."
"Are you completely different?"
Kimmy lowered her head.
Miyuki sighed.
"How annoying."
Kimmy suddenly replied,
"Not only me."
"There are many celebrities like that."
"They act kind in public, but privately, many of them are cruel."
Miyuki thought about her words for a moment.
"Maybe you're right."
She summoned her weapon, Death Carnivas.
"But I didn't come here to hunt every cruel celebrity in this city."
"I came here because someone specifically hired me to kill you."
Kimmy's face became pale.
"Who hired you?"
Miyuki turned away.
"I don't answer unnecessary questions."
She raised her sword.
"And now..."
"Goodbye."
The battle ended moments later.
Miyuki remained standing silently.
Behind her, Kimmy's servant suddenly became furious and rushed toward her.
"Don't touch my master!"
Miyuki quickly pushed him away.
"Don't come closer."
The boy stopped.
Miyuki stared at him.
"I have some questions."
"Answer me properly."
"Do you understand?"
The servant nodded nervously.
Miyuki's aura made him tremble.
"Do you remember anything about your past?"
The boy slowly shook his head.
"No."
"I only remember one thing."
Miyuki narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
The boy answered without hesitation.
"That I am a slave."
"If my master is gone, I have to find another master."
Miyuki became silent.
That drug has completely destroyed his sense of freedom.
He doesn't even understand what has happened to him.
He believes slavery is the only life he can have.
Miyuki looked toward Olis.
Olis was still under her control.
Miyuki's expression became cold and conflicted.
How annoying.
What kind of life is this?
She knew that the people responsible for drugging and controlling children were the true criminals.
Miyuki made a final decision regarding the two controlled individuals, ending their suffering rather than leaving them under the control of the organization that had destroyed their lives.
The room became quiet once again.
Miyuki looked toward the window.
"Xunen Company..."
"CC2..."
"So there really is a connection."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And if Nightglass Covenant is connected to this underground business..."
"Then this situation is much bigger than I expected."
---
The School Beyond the City
Far away from the city—
The students of Haoutaro High School slowly regained their senses.
When they looked around, confusion immediately spread through the crowd.
Their school was gone.
Or rather—
It had been transported.
The entire school building and its surrounding grounds had been moved to a distant location outside the city.
Students stared into the unfamiliar landscape.
"What happened?!"
"Where are we?!"
"How did we get here?!"
Yugris looked around nervously.
Jorge stood beside him.
"This isn't the city."
Zoé crossed her arms.
"I noticed that."
Mina remained silent.
Meanwhile, Lisha turned toward Sung.
"Mr. Sung."
"Where are the Guiders?"
"You said that Guiders would be waiting to safely take the students to Louf Magnian Academy."
Sung frowned.
"Huh."
"Yes, I said that."
"But I don't know where they are."
A few seconds later—
The sound of approaching wheels echoed through the area.
A large transportation vehicle appeared in the distance.
Several powerful horses pulled the vehicle across the road.
The students stared in surprise.
"What's that?"
"Are those horses?"
"Why are they using something like that?"
Sung raised his voice.
"Students!"
"Listen carefully."
"The people arriving in that vehicle are your Guiders."
"They will escort you safely."
"You are expected to follow their instructions."
The vehicle finally stopped.
Sung turned toward Mirken.
"Mr. Mirken."
"Come with me."
Mirken nodded.
The two walked toward the captain of the Guiders.
The captain immediately bowed.
"Mr. Sung!"
"I'm sorry."
"Please forgive me."
"I misunderstood the location where the school would arrive."
"That's why we were late."
Sung stared at him.
"...Is that your reason?"
"Didn't I clearly explain the location?"
The captain lowered his head.
"Yes, sir."
"I made a mistake."
Sung sighed.
"What a foolish mistake."
The captain remained silent.
Sung waved his hand.
"Anyway."
"I'll forgive you this time."
"But don't repeat it."
The captain looked surprised.
"Thank you, Mr. Sung."
"Now begin making files for the students we recruited."
"Record their names, ages, and other necessary information."
The captain nodded.
"Understood."
As the Guiders began organizing the students, Mirken looked at Sung.
"Huh."
"Mr. Sung."
"Usually, you don't forgive people this easily."
"So why did you forgive him today?"
Sung glanced toward Lisha.
"Because Miss Lisha is here."
Mirken raised an eyebrow.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Sung sighed.
"If she sees me treating him badly, she'll become angry."
"And then she'll start talking about leaving her job."
Mirken suddenly understood.
"Oh."
"Right."
"That man is connected to Miss Lisha's family."
Lisha overheard part of their conversation.
"Hey!"
"I can hear you two!"
Sung immediately looked away.
"I didn't say anything."
Mirken laughed quietly.
The recruitment of Haoutaro High School had officially begun.
But none of the students truly understood what kind of world awaited them beyond the city.
---
The Assassin Club
Meanwhile, Julian Arkwright sat at the bar inside the Assassin Club.
He looked increasingly annoyed.
"Huh..."
He turned toward the bartender.
"Hey."
The bartender immediately approached.
"Yes, Sir Julian?"
"Do you need anything?"
Julian tapped his fingers against the table.
"Yes."
"Tell me where Celixsa is."
"I've been waiting for her for two hours."
The bartender looked nervous.
"Sorry, Sir Julian."
"I don't know where she is."
Julian frowned.
"I know you don't know."
"That's why I told you to find out."
The bartender immediately straightened his posture.
"Y-Yes."
"I'll investigate immediately."
Julian leaned back.
"Hurry."
---
Celixsa's New Offer
At that moment, Celixsa was meeting with the principal of Louf Magnian Academy, the academy operated under Nightglass Covenant.
The principal sat across from her.
"Miss Celixsa."
"We would like to offer you a position as a teacher at our academy."
Celixsa listened quietly.
The principal continued.
"Our students need experienced people."
"People who can teach them how to become stronger, faster, and more capable."
"We believe you would be an excellent teacher."
"Would you consider joining the academy?"
Celixsa smiled slightly.
"I appreciate the offer, Mr. Principal."
"And I'm happy that you believe I can help the students."
She paused.
"The payment you mentioned isn't particularly impressive."
The principal became nervous.
"But..."
Celixsa continued.
"I'll accept."
The principal's face brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But I won't leave my current job."
"I can work as a teacher during specific hours."
"Just tell me when my classes are scheduled."
"I'll come and teach."
The principal nodded repeatedly.
"Of course!"
"That would be wonderful."
"Thank you, Miss Celixsa."
Celixsa stood up.
"Thank you as well."
She left the academy.
The principal leaned back in his chair.
"Finally..."
"The Nightglass Covenant Highers specifically instructed me not to hire weak adventurers as teachers."
"They told me to find capable people."
He thought about the many adventurers he had approached.
Most had accepted the offer.
But one person remained different.
Black ViSage.
The principal sighed.
"I tried several times to convince him."
"But he refused."
"I still don't understand why."
---
Black ViSage's Answer
Elsewhere, Black ViSage sat alone at a table.
As usual, he wore his Black Knight mask, completely concealing his identity.
A Traveller approached him.
The Traveller sat across from him.
"Mr. Black ViSage."
"I'd like to ask you a few questions."
Black ViSage immediately replied,
"What is it?"
"And before you continue—"
"I'm not available for another job."
"And I don't want to join a squad."
"So if that's your purpose, leave now."
The Traveller quickly shook his head.
"No, no."
"You misunderstood me."
"I only want to ask you something."
Black ViSage leaned back.
"Then ask quickly."
"Don't waste my time."
The Traveller took a breath.
"Why didn't you accept Louf Magnian Academy's offer to become a teacher?"
"I heard that the academy personally offered you the position."
"Did you reject them because of the payment?"
Black ViSage remained silent for a moment.
Then he answered,
"No."
"The payment was good."
"Actually, it was a very good offer."
The Traveller listened carefully.
Black ViSage continued.
"Most adventurers accept jobs like that."
"It's safer and more relaxing to teach than to constantly hunt monsters or search for ancient treasures."
The Traveller nodded.
"Then why did you refuse?"
Black ViSage's voice became colder.
"Because I don't want to turn children into devils."
The Traveller froze.
Black ViSage continued.
"That's your answer."
"Now leave."
"And if you're planning to sell that information..."
"At least tell the truth."
The Traveller quickly stood.
"Don't worry."
"I understand."
As he walked away, the Traveller thought deeply.
"I only came here to collect information."
"But this man understood exactly why I was asking."
"And he still answered me."
Black ViSage watched the Traveller leave.
He knew that Travellers survived by collecting and selling information.
If he refused every question, many of them would leave empty-handed.
No information meant no payment.
And without payment, some of them couldn't even afford food.
That was why Black ViSage usually answered simple questions when he could.
Not because he wanted fame.
Not because he enjoyed talking.
But because he understood what it meant to struggle.
Black ViSage looked toward the distance.
Louf Magnian Academy...
Teaching children how to control power isn't a simple matter.
Power can protect people.
But it can also change them.
His masked face turned slightly downward.
"And I don't want to be responsible for creating another monster."
The Traveller disappeared into the crowd.
And somewhere far away—
Hundreds of students from Haoutaro High School were beginning a new and dangerous chapter of their lives.
While Miyuki Hanado had discovered another clue about the darkness hiding beneath the city's surface.
The city appeared peaceful.
But behind its bright lights, famous celebrities, companies, gangs, assassins, and secret organizations were all connected by invisible threads.
And slowly—
Those threads were beginning to tighten.