Chapter 9: Escape
CW: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Gore
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Paladin dashed to his room and began packing his belongings. He decisively took a glove from the cabinet and wore it on his right hand to hide the dim golden light emitted by his hand. After packing so dry food, he packed the short knife.
His footsteps ca to a halt just when he was about to open the door. A small silver-plated cross necklace that was casually placed on the table caught his attention. This cross was Paladin's most valuable possession. The only thing that had accompanied him since he was abandoned at the door of the Freemasons’ Association. It was also the reason why the most humiliating na was bestowed upon him by the organization. It was more fitting to say that it was the only token from his parents, who never bothered to hide their faces.
Paladin expressionlessly picked up the cross and put it in his bag. He opened the Ripley Scroll. He was resolved to perfectly morize the magic circle. After morizing it, a fire was lit and the scroll was burned. If an alchemist saw this scene, they would definitely bite off the Paladin's flesh. After all, the Ripley Scroll was the highest masterpiece of alchemy, a legendary and fantastic scroll. Even if it was no longer needed, no one would have the heart to set it on fire.
However, Paladin only glanced silently at its ashes before turning around and leaving. In his opinion, the role of this legendary scroll was to bestow great power onto people. As for Paladin, he naturally didn't want the scroll to get snatched soday in the future. Other people should co out and snatch the Philosopher's Stone directly from him in order to gain its power.
"Power, It’s enough for alone to have it…." Paladin muttered. He quietly left after completely destroying the magic circle he had previously carved on the ground beyond recognition.
On the way, Paladin deftly avoided the guards who were patrolling back and forth. When he passed the dormitory area and reached the side gate, two figures erged from the dormitory area while clinging to each other.
"Onix~ Where did everyone go? Why is there no one?"
When Paladin heard her voice, an evil smile blood on his face. He quickly hid behind the wall and removed the glove. His fingers beca five thunderbolt-like light blades once again. The two were sticking close to each other, with disheveled clothes that were the sa as yesterday afternoon. The identity of the two were Onix, the student who teased Paladin, and his charming lover!
The smile on Paladin's face widened. He was worried about how he could escape now that the castle was full of guards. Just in ti, these two idiots fell right into his lap. It was much easier to trick the guards into opening the side gate if he put on a student uniform.
At this mont, Onix and his girlfriend had already exited the corridor. Onix was about to say sothing to her when he noticed Paladin, the pitiful slave, squatting in the corner. He laughed sarcastically.
"You idiot, here–" Before he could finish his words, Paladin gave a sinister smile and ran towards him. His right hand, which had transford into blades of light, stabbed the woman in front of Onix, who was about to sneer. There was a loud bang—possibly because the attack was fueled by Paladin’s hatred—and there was a gaping hole in the woman’s entire left chest. Blood and internal organs imdiately splattered all over the floor.
"Eh..." Onix saw this and was stunned for a while before he showed so reaction. But, how could Paladin wait for him to regain his senses? Paladin turned to face him, leapt forward, and tackled Onix in one swift motion. The light blades in his hand dissipated to cover Onix’s mouth and nose. His other hand grabbed Onix's throat tightly.
"Wwmmghh!" Onix let out a series of terrified whimpers, flailing his hands weakly and frantically. Since he didn't have any fighting experience, his movents were predictable and too weak. Paladin sat on top of Onix's body, happy and refreshed after rubbing his victory on Onix’s face. Paladin gradually increased the strength of his grip.
Looking at Onix's terrified bloodshot eyes that flicked from side to side, Paladin's eerie smile gradually faded as he laughed out loud.
"You’re lucky to die this way. Don't dirty my clothes. Hahahaha!"
Crunch. Paladin strengthened his grip more, directly crushing Onix’s throat. Then he stripped the corpse of its clothes and wore the student uniform. He looked like a regular student after changing his clothes.
Paladin picked up his bag. Not far away, four or five guards stood guard at the side gate. He then moved his feet quickly out of the corridor, leaving the two corpses there. Lying on the ground miserably as their bodies gradually went ice cold….
"Which departnt do you belong to? Don’t you know that the dean had just ordered all of the students to gather in the hall?" said one of the five guards guarding the side gate when he saw Paladin walking silently towards them with his head down. Although they couldn’t see his face, the student uniform still made the guards more or less relax their vigilance. After asking politely, the guard stood up and waved his chain-sickle.
"Ah…. Is this the side gate? Oh, yeah…. I went to the wrong location." Paladin said with trepidation. While slowly advancing towards the guards, he secretly stretched his right hand behind his back, ready to take off the glove. Paladin, who still hung his head low, showed a nervous look on his face as if this was his first ti being lost. At that mont, a voice suddenly ca from behind Paladin.
"A student? Why is a student still loitering here?! Didn't I order all of you to gather in the hall?!" Paladin's eyes instantly widened and his body trembled uncontrollably. He then lifted his head. With a silly smile plastered on his face, he turned to look at the person behind him.
A frail young man. This was the man’s first impression in Paladin's eyes. But then, Paladin suddenly realized that, despite his skinny stature, the man's firm eyes made Paladin afraid to look at him directly. The long coral-blue hair hanging over his shoulders and his silver-white pupils cented the fact that Paladin had never seen this person before in the more than 20 years he had worked here.
Although Paladin's status was humble, he had taken care of the entire castle’s inhabitants’ sundries. That was why he had even t the dean, Ryan, several tis before. This man’s appearance was so distinct that it was impossible not to leave the slightest impression! Furthermore, he hadn't heard of a new ntor coming to the branch, so the identity of this person was worth pondering over.
Moreover, what made Paladin raise his guard the most was the presence of 1,200 blue orbs—which were water magic elents—jumping up and down jubilantly around this tutor! Paladin had obviously never seen an alchemist with such powerful magical power, as the magic elents surrounding the man floated around like a stream of water.
The man with magical power ford by two thousand magic elents had to be a famous alchemist. Considering that Paladin himself had only the power of fifty magic elents, and was already easily overpowering ordinary people. This only made Paladin beco more alert.
Keeping that in mind, Paladin pretended to be stupid, and dazedly inquired, "Excuse , teacher, why haven't I ever seen you in the school?"
Even though it was subtle, Paladin noticed a slight agitation in the eyes of the frail tutor in front of him.
‘This person is really not a tutor here! He is an outsider who has snuck in!’
The skinny man frowned, pinched Paladin's ear as if they were close, and reprimanded him angrily, “Kid, I'm a botanical tutor! I asked you because your back is familiar to . Why are you running around by yourself again?! Co back with ! The dean is already very angry!"
Paladin was taken aback. He couldn't help but laugh inwardly when he saw the guard's puzzled expression.
‘You brought this to yourself, outsider. Don't bla .’
So, Paladin innocently tilted his head and sucked his thumb. He then asked, "Who are you? I don't know you."
As soon as he said that, the guards noticed that sothing was wrong. They’d never seen this ntor before! Coupled with the student's questions, their vigilance had been increased to the extre! The leading guard pressed forward, waving his chain-sickle. He scowled and yelled, "Please, Sir, do not move. Show us your armband and ID. Otherwise...."
The man who called himself Nasura shook his head helplessly. He took out his identification and armband from his bag. Nonchalantly, he said, "Why are you guards so nervous? I’m a newly transferred tutor from the headquarters. Take a look at this if you don't believe ."
The guard hadn't noticed the contradiction in the man's words in that short fra of ti. If he was a newly transferred tutor, how could he recognize a student from here? The guard subconsciously walked forward and gradually lowered his chain-sickle.
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