A few days later, Astro Headquarters.
I was seated at a conference table, attending a eting with my closest aides.
Every individual present was a key figure within the organization.
Only Irene was absent, as per my request for her to stay at the academy.
"I’ll be waiting."
"I’d like you to return as soon as possible, though."
It was a ti when stability was crucial.
And now that she had grown into a warrior on par with the professors, having her remain at the academy brought a sense of relief.
Even if it was only for a short while, the academy felt vulnerable in my absence.
Monts like these reminded how reliable she had beco.
Regardless.
‘That’s not what’s important right now.’
I pushed aside the idle thoughts.
As I redirected my gaze across the table, my silver-haired vice-commander t my eyes.
Her scarred, burn-marked eyes regarded steadily.
Neria.
"The issue we feared has beco a reality."
I had asked Neria to investigate the Vanity Ducal House.
After hearing Ruska’s cryptic warning, I knew it was necessary to discuss this with my inner circle.
On the round table, neatly arranged docunts were spread before us.
A detailed report.
I skimd through the contents.
"Commander, the connection between the Vanity House and the cultists has been confird."
"Betrayal, is it...? It seems they truly intend to commit treason."
"With this, our enemies now stand as a trinity: Baoth, Vanity, and the corporate factions. The three pillars have co together."
"So, it’s finally co to this."
I sighed under my breath.
It wasn’t unexpected.
The Vanity House’s corruption was preordained in the original story.
But knowing it didn’t make it any less unpleasant.
Because this was Emilia’s family.
With a heavy heart, I flipped through the reports.
The rustling of papers filled the air.
"······."
Then, soone posed a question.
A middle-aged man with red hair and a rugged beard.
Kyle, the Crimson Swordmaster.
"I can’t believe it."
"Chef."
"What the hell happened to the Vanity family? I rember them as a house of unwavering loyalty."
"Co to think of it... Sir Kyle, weren’t you acquainted with the previous dukes?"
"We fought together on the battlefield. They were the finest ice mages I’ve ever seen."
"That much, huh? For a Star to acknowledge them?"
"Their frost magic was nearly on par with the Stars themselves."
His voice sank into low reminiscence.
As if he was recalling a long-gone past.
Kyle’s gaze was unusually calm.
I tapped a finger against the docunts.
"Malice and scheming have the power to erase even the most radiant seasons."
"Commander... do you know what happened to them?"
"Roughly. Of course, I’ll need to confirm the finer details."
"I see..."
Kyle rarely looked this serious.
I responded with certainty.
"A storm will soon cast its shadow over the world."
"A war, then?"
Kyle chuckled bitterly.
More than anyone, he understood the misery of war.
He had always stood on the frontlines, wielding death like second nature.
The lion with the crimson mane muttered, as if exhaling exhaustion.
"Perhaps... this war will be bloodier than the one six years ago."
"I assure you, no such tragedy will occur again. We will stop it."
"Then... do you plan to strike first?"
"Is there a reason to hesitate?"
"But... what about the Vanity House?"
The Star questioned quietly.
His gaze wasn’t filled with doubt, ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) but with pure curiosity.
It was sothing that had been on my mind for quite so ti.
Though now, my answer was clear.
"They are one of the Empire’s Three Great Ducal Houses."
"That’s right."
"Astro could wipe them out if we chose to interfere... but we’d be making an enemy of the entire Empire."
"That’s not sothing to worry about. The Emperor will take our side."
"...The Emperor?"
"Once we provide undeniable proof of their cris, we can have the Vanity House declared traitors."
"If that’s the case, we might even secure imperial support."
"The Empire is already within my grasp."
"Then, I will trust in you, Commander."
"Those are words I’m happy to hear."
Kyle nodded in understanding.
The discussion moved on naturally.
Now, our focus shifted to Galimar Academy’s security.
A pri target for both the cultists and the Vanity family.
I turned toward my vice-commander.
"Galimar... We need soone to safeguard its walls."
The academy was not safe.
I was well aware of the threat posed by the underground labyrinth.
That tangled maze would undoubtedly serve as an entry point for the cultists.
But at the sa ti, closing the academy wasn’t an option.
To the Empire’s citizens, Galimar had beco a symbol of peace.
This wasn’t just about defending a school.
It was a battle of wills against the Empire’s festering underbelly.
Thus, rather than shutting it down, I had to fortify its defenses.
After long deliberation, I had chosen the perfect person for the job.
"Lady Neria."
It was none other than the vice-captain.
I quietly asked.
"Would you go to the academy with ?"
The role I wanted from her was clear.
The gatekeeper of Galimar's labyrinth.
Although the faculty was keeping an eye on it for now, later, the enemies we would face would surely be stronger than them.
Now that we are approaching the final chapter, core mbers from the other side would likely appear.
Especially the conductor, the drear, the gravekeeper... when the top forces start moving, the faculty would find it overwhelming.
Fighting is always disadvantageous for those who defend.
'I need soone I can trust.'
Neria is strong.
From the mont she was born, she was chosen by the stars, and the unparalleled brilliance was contained within her.
Among the mbers of Astro, she was second only to Kyle in strength.
Although most of her starlight was sealed now, there was no deficiency in entrusting the academy’s defense to her.
I made my request to the girl.
"If your star shines upon adversity, it would be the greatest joy."
"Everything is as you wish."
The girl did not add any further words.
She simply expressed her obedience.
I responded with a faint smile.
"Thank you."
The agenda was settled.
The eting, unusually long today, ca to an end.
I let out a faint sigh, brushing off the fatigue.
At that point, I had no idea what was coming.
The day's real problems were just beginning.
"Captain!"
Bang-!
A desperate voice followed by the door to the eting room being roughly opened.
Beyond it, one of the mbers was calling for .
It was none other than Lena.
"Lena?"
A spatial magician.
She was one of the officers who helped move the team mbers using the [Portal] ability during operations.
The dark-haired woman was rarely showing a flustered expression.
She lowered the mask that covered her lower face as she spoke.
"Captain! There was an attack at the academy...!"
The urgent news was delivered.
Before the sentence could even finish, I jumped to my feet.
It was the only day in the past two weeks that I had been absent from the academy.
Of course, it had to happen today, when I was away.
"Damn."
It seed that sothing had gone wrong.
Approximately 30 minutes ago.
The figures clad in blood-red robes were walking down a darkened path.
The gravekeeper, leading the group, flicked his hand.
Thud-.
Crimson spots were left on the ground.
The blood from the man’s sleeve was dripping.
The strangers all wore expressions twisted by malice.
"Hmm."
The gravekeeper muttered briefly.
At his feet, several corpses were rolling about.
As if they had been gnawed on by sothing, the chunks of flesh were gruesoly disfigured.
The only way to identify them was by the insignia on their clothing, which revealed that they were faculty mbers of Galimar.
There were four skulls scattered on the floor.
"How pitiful. The little lambs."
They were the guards posted at the entrance to the academy.
The exit leading to the academy.
From the fact that they were blocking it, it seed the faculty had been guarding the labyrinth as well.
There had been four staff mbers stationed at that point.
The gravekeeper fiddled with the slimy pieces.
"Futile. Life. Rebirth. In the form of the original."
Though they were said to be the finest educators on the continent, life would inevitably collapse before a funeral march.
The strangers, who had not stopped walking for a while, soon reached a dead end.
More precisely, the exit to the labyrinth was waiting for them.
The gravekeeper quietly extended his hand.
Kugugugu-.
At his signal, the exit opened.
The heavy darkness that had settled was now lifted.
"······."
The scene outside was the academy grounds.
The gravekeeper extended a barrier around them, concealing the group's presence as much as possible.
Slowly, as they set foot into the academy, he muttered.
It was a ssage directed to the subordinates following behind him.
"Everyone. Fulfill your mission."
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