novelraw Chapter 62 : The Five Days of Emptiness (1)
Chapter 62 : The Five Days of Emptiness (1)
Chapter 62: The Five Days of Emptiness (1)
“Full Moon.”
Two men in armor climbed to the top to find Tyrant.
They were Daemon, the Captain of the Royal Guard, and Ignito, the Vice Captain—both summoned by Tyrant.
The two kept a respectful distance from him, lowering one knee to the ground and bowing their heads in a display of utmost decorum.
“I have something to order you both.”
“What is it?”
Daemon, the Captain, replied, while Ignito merely stood upright, listening in silence.
His lips didn’t even twitch, as though sealed by magic.
With his superior right beside him, it wasn’t his place to speak first—neither to question nor to answer.
“Gatekeeper, hand it over.”
“Yes, Full Moon.”
The Gatekeeper approached the two kneeling men and handed each a small glass vial.
A potion bottle.
But the potion inside was unlike any they had ever seen before.
At a glance, it looked exactly like colorless, odorless water.
“What kind of potion is this?”
“Nothing special. Just something to reinforce your mental strength.”
Tyrant replied as though guarding a secret.
Just as a mismatched medicine could become poison, so too could a potion.
The two men instinctively felt uneasy about drinking an unknown substance, but since it was something Tyrant himself had given, they asked no more and simply trusted him.
To others, it might have looked like excessive loyalty, but to them, such obedience was both natural and absolute.
“You two will take that and go to the Ed Branch School’s 1st Class.”
Finally, Tyrant’s command was given.
“What are we to do once there?”
“There’s a student named Artel in 1st Class.”
“I’ve already heard rumors.”
“Oh? Even the Royal Guard has heard?”
“Yes, he’s the first Double Caster born in 500 years.”
“Well, it’s not surprising.”
“What should we find out from the student?”
“Nothing. Just go and give him a little attack.”
At that, the two men lifted their heads in shock.
It was Ignito whose expression turned particularly grim.
“Full Moon, as you know, Ed Etar harbors impure intentions. If the Royal Guard not only visits his school but also attacks someone there, the friction will no doubt escalate into outright battle.”
Daemon seemed to share the same concern; his words were polite but clearly urged Tyrant to reconsider.
However, Tyrant immediately countered.
“Artel is a Double Caster of Fire and Darkness. That means only Ignito, a Darkness Elementalist, should be sent. Yet I’m sending you too, Daemon, a member of the Lamic Family. Do you not understand why?”
“You mean…”
“The conflict with that man began 300 years ago. To lay a hand on a member of my Royal Guard is to challenge me directly. There is no mercy for such a mage. Only execution. So you will take care of it. Consider this the perfect pretext to kill him.”
Daemon was a 7th Circle Water Elementalist.
By contrast, Etar was an 8th Circle Fire Elementalist.
No—by now, enough time had passed that Etar might even have reached the 9th Circle.
Still, the elemental advantage clearly favored Daemon, and Tyrant calculated that he could suppress Etar with ease.
‘Even if he fails and dies by Etar’s hand, it doesn’t matter. I have another plan ready.’
Whether he achieved the desired outcome or not,
Tyrant stood to lose nothing.
“So the true objective is actually Ed Etar?”
“No. Etar is merely a side dish. The real target is Artel. Confront him.”
“Understood.”
“Depart for the Ed Branch 1st Class immediately. Gatekeeper.”
“Yes, Full Moon.”
“Send a message to Ed Etar. Inform him that the Royal Guard will be coming—tell him to open the path.”
“Yes, understood.”
“You two, move out now.”
“Move out”—the formal order that initiated an official operation of the Royal Guard.
At the command of their master, the Archmage Tyrant, the two stood, bowed lightly, and turned to leave.
“Oh, right. I almost forgot something important. The potion’s effect lasts for thirty minutes. But unlike other potions, it doesn’t work instantly—it takes five minutes to activate. So, drink it five minutes before entering 1st Class. You must meet and attack Artel within those thirty minutes. Understood?”
They didn’t know why they had to attack Artel specifically within that thirty-minute window, but neither of them asked.
They simply believed there was meaning behind the order.
[Notice]
Dear students, this is Headmaster Ed Etar.
During the past semester, you have all endured far more intense training than in your first term.
Therefore, as Headmaster of this school, I believe it is only right to provide an environment where you can focus more deeply on your studies as the semester ends. I have reached the following decision.
Within five minutes, pack only your essential belongings and come to the main gate. 1st Class students only—this is a special recess.
The reopening date will be announced later through Mob.
Until then, I sincerely hope you all enjoy a peaceful rest.
Written by: Ed Etar
“A special recess?”
The next morning, this message suddenly appeared in Mob like a letter from Headmaster Ed Etar.
An unscheduled special recess—
And with no specified duration.
That meant that as long as the recess continued, the duels for 1st Class graduation would also be suspended.
“All of a sudden…”
[Ranking List]
Artel – 281
Kiena – 233
Mihael Russel – 221
Banshi – 220
Lamic Vir – 218
Hei – 202
In just one day, Nohill Hapert had lost to Lamic Vir, changing the ranks—but Hei’s position remained the same.
A precarious 6th place.
He instinctively sensed that things would take a strange turn if the recess began like this.
Hei was still stuck in 6th place, and now, with duels suspended, there would be no chance to climb higher.
And it was an indefinite recess.
I also instinctively felt that Ed Etar would reopen the term either the day before or the very day the semester ended.
It was clearly a move to expel me, and the timing couldn’t have been more convenient.
Hei had barely managed to stay at 6th place—safe from expulsion for now—but who knew how they might twist their words next?
How could I possibly know what kind of schemes that man was plotting to drive me out using the Joint Admission System?
Thinking I couldn’t let things stand as they were, I headed for the main gate.
All the students were already there, each carrying only light luggage as instructed in the notice.
And the one opening the portal to the Underworld wasn’t Professor Nide—but Vice Headmaster Former.
He had returned to 1st Class.
As if being chased by someone, he hastily opened the portal and said to the students,
“Enjoy your special recess, everyone.”
His face showed clear signs of unease, as though he had to get the students out as quickly as possible.
‘Something feels off.’
He was acting completely unlike his usual self.
There seemed to be a reason behind this sudden special recess.
“Vice Headmaster.”
“What is it, Student Artel?”
The moment I called out, he snapped back in his usual curt tone.
“Why a special recess all of a sudden? There are only five days left in the semester. The duels from now on are crucial, aren’t they?”
“It was all stated in the notice, wasn’t it? It’s for rest.”
“There was no stated duration.”
“I’m sure it was mentioned—‘to be announced separately.’”
“That’s not a fixed duration. We need a definite date.”
“Why are you so persistent? Since when were you so passionate about academics, when you used to sleep through Class 0?”
He was unusually talkative.
“I’m asking because it looks like it won’t reopen even after five days.”
“……”
At my question, Former immediately shut his mouth.
If the recess was truly ending within five days, he could’ve simply said so.
The fact that he didn’t meant there were no plans to end it within that time.
That would place a huge obstacle before me, Hei, and Kiena.
Although it was fortunate that all three of us were still in the top ranks, Hei’s 6th place made things especially problematic for the special selection.
He had avoided expulsion for now, but whether he would advance to 2nd Class, fall to 3rd, or face expulsion under some absurd pretext remained uncertain.
This was something that needed to be clarified.
“After five days, won’t the graduation from 1st Class be decided based on our current scores?”
As I asked, I glanced toward Hapert.
His expression immediately changed to one of desperation, his lips forming the silent word ‘Huh?’ as he looked back and forth between me and Former.
Just yesterday, Hapert had lost to Lamic Vir, bringing his points to zero—if the semester ended like this, expulsion was certain.
He wasn’t even from a commoner’s background, but a mage of a noble house.
Being expelled from 1st Class would mean being cast out from his family, no matter how direct his bloodline.
It was a corruption that had plagued mage families for centuries.
Even now, three hundred years later, I was certain it hadn’t changed—if anything, it had worsened.
Of course, during my time as an Archmage, expulsion had been rare, but even then, a few such cases did exist.
“That can’t be…”
At Hapert’s muttered words, the rest of the students gathered at the gate began to stir.
They were beginning to taste the bitterness hidden behind the sweetness of this so-called recess.
Only six students could graduate from 1st Class.
And there were twenty-eight of us here.
Six would move on to the next class, while ten of the remaining twenty-two would be expelled.
More students would be expelled than promoted—so it was no wonder resentment filled the air.
Now, no one cared about the “special recess.” What mattered was whether they still had a chance to rise.
“Don’t worry, everyone. Classes will resume before five days pass.”
Former tried to reassure the students, but it was clear he was struggling to mask his discomfort.
Still, his words carried no conviction.
It sounded like an excuse meant only to calm the situation.
Wasn’t his sudden change of tone proof enough, when he’d refused to give a clear answer just moments ago?
Yet, since he had just declared as Vice Headmaster that it would indeed end within five days, I couldn’t press him any further now.
‘Well, if a problem comes up later, I can use that against him.’
That was enough of an answer for now.
“Was that a satisfactory reply, Student Artel?”
His tone carried thorns.
“Yes. Surely, the Vice Headmaster wouldn’t break his own promise.”
“……”
It was a subtle warning, and he understood.
Looking irritated, Former began urging the students into the portal leading to the Underworld.
One by one, maintaining order, the students stepped through, until at last I stood before the portal.
“Artel, do you remember what I said to you back in Class 0?”
Why bring that up now, all of a sudden?
It didn’t seem to carry any deeper intent.
“Yes, I remember. You asked if I could become a mage worthy of inheriting the pure white one.”
“Good. But remember this.”
His expression turned grave.
“I meant those words sincerely. It wasn’t just flattery. And I’m not the only one who has such expectations of you.”
The moment I heard that, I almost blurted out, “Then why is that very same man trying to get me expelled right now?”