22

Following Arc's orders, Camilla secretly snuck onto the island where the survival training was happening.

She's the top member of the "Fingers" intelligence unit, so it wasn't hard for her to pose as a student and join the exercise.

That said, the academy's security isn't super lax.

They didn't reveal the location until the last minute, and you have to use an ancient artifact for warp magic to get there.

Plus, only official academy students can activate that warp device, so even Camilla couldn't just stroll in.

But right after Arc told her what to do, she stole the info from the academy, then sneaked in ahead of time.

She'd already been hiding and surviving there for days.

All because Arc felt like it.

Camilla thought Arc must have had a solid reason for ordering her to do this.

She never guessed Arc was just "too lazy to do the exercise and wanted someone else to handle it."

This time, Arc told her: "Make sure the exercise ends safely from behind the scenes."

Which hinted there might be trouble.

Camilla assumed the Dark Hand would attack.

Arc denied that.

So if there was going to be an attack, it'd be someone else for some unknown reason.

Camilla gathered what info she could, trying to figure out Arc's true purpose, but came up empty.

Because Arc didn't really have a plan.

So she gave up and just focused on her job—killing golems, as Arc asked.

That's when a black golem suddenly appeared.

It clearly wasn't the usual type.

Camilla watched in silence while the other students ran.

She thought, "This must be the threat Arc was worried about."

Her job must be to protect the students.

She remembered Arc's words: "(Make sure I) finish this exercise safely from behind the scenes."

So she obeyed.

But she was fed up with these carefree students.

"Arc is risking his life against the Dark Hand," she thought.

Camilla had noticed the magic inscriptions engraved all over Arc's body—his "marking."

She knew he was determined.

She knew he was risking everything.

So these naive students annoyed her.

"Aaaaaaaaah!"

She heard a girl scream.

Camilla removed her disguise and rolled up her sleeves.

On her arms were what looked like slave shackles.

They were ancient artifacts, magic tools that modern technology can't replicate.

Camilla treasured them.

Arc had given them to her.

Of course, Arc's reason was, "Fwahaha! You belong to me! A slave should wear chains!"

But Camilla didn't know that.

She thought it was a sign of trust.

She truly wanted to live up to that trust.

A massive misunderstanding indeed.

It turned out that Camilla was very well-suited to use those artifacts.

Ancient artifacts depend heavily on the user's abilities.

These shackles, called Slave Chain, can only be used by people who can manipulate physical matter.

Matter manipulation is basically an extension of Physical Enchant.

Physical Enchant controls the magic within your body, while matter manipulation controls magic outside your body.

You use it to enhance and move outside objects.

Camilla was great at Physical Enchant, so matter manipulation came naturally to her.

Arc didn't plan it that way, but Camilla ended up with a perfect weapon.

She poured her magic power into the shackle on her right arm.

With a jingling sound, chains appeared.

She'd spent years training with these chains, so she could move them like her own limbs.

"Pierce."

The end of the chain shot toward the black golem.

Then—

—Thud.

It easily punctured the golem's chest and destroyed the magic stone core.

Without its core, the golem collapsed on the spot.

Black golems aren't weak.

In fact, they're strong.

They have very tough bodies you can't just stab through.

But Camilla worked hard to stand by her beloved master's side, and that made her this powerful.

"If they're not the Dark Hand, who's attacking?"

She put her hand on her chin and glared at the black golem.

"Um…"

She turned around.

There was a girl standing behind her.

Camilla knew her.

She knew every student at the academy.

She was much more capable than Arc, who's a bit scatterbrained.

The girl's name was Barrett.

Arc had once saved Barrett by accident.

Camilla had noticed that Barrett liked Arc.

She wasn't exactly happy about that, but she could see why someone would admire her master.

Her mind goes blank when it's about Arc.

"Th-thank you!"

Barrett said weakly, looking at Camilla.

"Who are you…?"

"I am Camilla."

Camilla bowed politely.

Barrett knew Camilla as Arc's servant.

She didn't think Camilla could fight.

She had no idea why Camilla was even here.

Where was Arc?

Who is the Dark Hand?

Barrett had so many questions.

Camilla said, "Pardon me," and tried to leave.

"W-wait!"

Barrett called out.

"What is it?"

"What on earth is happening?!"

Camilla turned around, narrowing her eyes.

"This doesn't concern you.Enjoy your academy life in blissful ignorance."

She spoke in a cold, mocking tone.

"I don't want to stay ignorant!"

Barrett wanted to help Arc.

She wanted to catch up to him in her own way.

"Sometimes you're better off not knowing.Learning certain truths only brings misery."

Camilla knew Barrett's father secretly planned to sell her to Viscount Hageno.

But Barrett had no clue.

Camilla felt telling her would bring nothing but sorrow.

"Just remember one thing:Barrett, you were saved by Arc more than you know."

It wasn't good to tell Barrett exactly what Arc had done.

But at the same time, Camilla hated how Barrett was clueless about how much Arc had done for her.

"You have what you do now thanks to Arc.Don't forget that."

Finally, Camilla left.

Barrett stood there, not knowing what any of it meant, feeling lost.