[50] Academy Ghost Story [5]

"A knight in armor?"

"Doesn't it look more like a military uniform?"

"His whole body is pitch black, how can you tell if it's armor or a uniform?"

"...Whatever it is, it doesn't seem hostile."

The silhouette glimpsed through the moonlight filtering through the clouds.

It was a black, humanoid figure.

It, no, they were wandering between the canyon and the valley.

Once I spotted one, others began to come into view.

Clearly, they were patrolling in turns.

"Could they be a new type of monster? Maybe they nested here after the last attack and have been breeding."

"No, those aren't monsters."

"...Teacher?"

Those aren't monsters. And they're certainly not human.

Yet, their demeanor is distinctly human.

They move in orderly attire, weapons slung over their shoulders, walking with a steady gait.

That's typical...

"Shadow sentinels, perhaps."

Shadow sentinels. I don't know who created them, but it's clear they're guarding this place. Given that their bodies are made of magical energy, they seem to be created by magic or a skill.

Despite being conspicuous, the guards didn't impose any sanctions, leading me to think they might be the work of one of the professors.

'It doesn't seem like the work of Professors Nam Hwa-yeon, Tiger, or Emilia. Then, perhaps the chairman? No, it doesn't feel like the chairman either...'

Dozens of professors flashed through my mind, but none stood out.

It's not like there's a vampire or a professor specializing in shadow manipulation here. Then, could it be part of the academy's security system?

Probably not.

'If it were, it would have acted during the last attack.'

It's hard to consider it a security system.

The shadows were guarding the perimeter of the valley, keeping watch.

But since they didn't attack us as we approached, it seems they don't consider us enemies.

Even the one I struck with flames blocked the attack and continued patrolling.

"Is this the mystery's true form? But what are those things?"

"Could they be additional security after the last attack?"

"Most likely. So, what do we do? It ended up being quite anticlimactic."

Regardless, the courage training ended anticlimactically.

There weren't any real ghosts, and with the academy's security clearly visible, there wasn't much else to do.

We returned to the dormitory with nothing gained.

I sighed in disappointment and reached into my pocket.

But it felt unusually light.

Something that should have been there was missing.

"...Ah, my wallet."

I rummaged through my pockets.

All that came out of my pants and shirt pockets was a handkerchief.

I must have dropped it on the ground.

"T-Teacher, what about your wallet?"

"What do you mean, what about it? I'll have to go back and find it."

"Should I... come with you?"

"Tsk, losing your wallet so carelessly."

Lee Ji-han and Seo Yerin worried about me after I lost my wallet.

Maybe because they call me 'Teacher.'

They tend to worry about me more than the other students.

How much warmth am I receiving?

Moved, I cried buckets in my heart.

Of course, I didn't actually cry.

I've never lost my wallet before.

I just needed a reason to return to the canyon.

I waved my hand, insisting I was fine, and headed back to the canyon alone, ignoring the wallet's presence in my back pocket.

***

After guiding the students near the dormitory, I immediately went to the canyon to find my wallet. Perhaps because I was alone this time, the spring breeze felt unusually chilly.

"...Let's see."

As I walked, I reached an area that required a teaching assistant's ID to access.

Normally, if you've lost your wallet, you shouldn't be able to open it.

But with a beep, the door opened wide.

In my hand was a leather wallet and an ID.

I calmly stored the ID in the wallet and put it in my pocket.

I walked as if nothing was wrong.

"Huh, where did I drop my wallet?"

I fixed my gaze on the ground and walked slowly.

Who knows where I might have dropped it.

Maybe a squirrel ran off with it, so I even checked the trees carefully. Where could it be?

'The shadows seemed to stretch from this direction.'

I scanned the shadows cast by the moonlight and objects.

That alone told me where the shadow sentinels came from.

'Their bodies are made of moonlight shadows.'

Shadows require light and an object.

With all the terrain in the canyon and valley, considering the moon's position, I could figure out where the shadow sentinels came from.

From what I saw, the shadow sentinels were─

Crawling out of the ground.

"They're not moles."

All the clues pointed underground.

They're not really moles, so there must be a burrow underground.

Once that thought occurred, there was no need to keep pretending to look for my wallet. Let's just strike first.

"Burn."

As I spoke, magical energy flowed out through my throat.

The massive magical energy began to construct phenomena according to my words.

The magic burned as I commanded.

It wasn't just creating flames with magic; the magical energy itself began to burn.

─Whoosh!

A thin scar appeared as if slashing the air with a dagger.

Through that gap, magical energy flowed like red blood.

From top to bottom, following gravity, the red magical energy burned fiercely, forming a circular magic circle.

[Pyrokinesis]

[Fox Fire]

The contents of the magic circle were simple.

A mix of magic and skills I created.

But the efficiency and power were insane.

As the magic circle's various formulas and characters took shape.

Whoosh!

A massive flame surged from the magic circle.

Purple flames poured onto the ground.

With a bang, the ground flipped. Plants burned, rocks crumbled. Amid the half-destroyed area, a massive burrow came into view.

To be precise, it was a network of burrows connected into one.

"...It's bigger than I thought."

A majestic burrow, as if a giant earthworm had eaten through the ground.

Creating such a large burrow would weaken the ground and alert the guards and professors. How did it remain undiscovered until I uncovered it?

As I looked at the burrow, a thought struck me.

Perhaps this is part of the truth behind the Seven Mysteries of Seven Stars.

'Maybe it wasn't ghosts but the wind entering the burrow, sounding like ghostly wails, or someone moving through the burrow.'

Thinking about it, the ghost-related mystery was odd.

Ghost-related mysteries usually have plausible ghost stories.

But no ghost stories circulated about this canyon.

Students passed down scary tales about the canyon, but they were just rumors.

What value do ghost stories have when they change with each telling?

The ghost stories about the canyon varied so much that none were worth listening to.

'Well, maybe one was true...'

A monster that survived the last attack is hiding somewhere in the vast academy grounds, dreaming of revenge.

The ghost-related mystery of the canyon is a rumor that the spirits of the monsters killed then are lamenting to the surviving monster. Though a relatively recent addition, it wasn't entirely false.

After all, I found monsters dreaming of revenge.

Not just one, but several.

─Squawk, it's too bright. Are we at the exit already?

─No. Everyone, look over there!

─I-It's a human...!

Goblins, orcs, lizardmen, and other monsters were moving through the burrow. As the ground collapsed, revealing the burrow's contents, I couldn't help but narrow my eyes.

They were the exact same monsters that ran rampant during the last attack.

I was certain.

These were the remnants of the last attack.

Could they have been hiding underground, prolonging their wretched lives?

What an unexpected harvest.

"Were you guarding this?"

I raised my hand toward the shadow sentinels.

A gesture saying, "Speak or die," but how would mere shadows understand me? Still, it sends a threatening message to whoever created them.

"I don't know who you are or what you want."

Let's burn this place first and think later.

If you want to stop my arson, use the shadows or show yourself. But my fire will be faster.

"Burn."

Cursed flames erupted.

The flames melted the monsters' flesh and bones, burning their souls to grow larger.

The eerie ghostly wails spread wider with the purple flames.

But it still wasn't enough to completely cover the burrow.

The monsters desperately ran through the burrow.

Struggling to survive. I found their desperation pitiful.

Do you think I'll let you go?

"Burn fiercely."

A simple modifier added to the incantation.

A nonsensical incantation, but as my throat choked with indescribable pain, more magical energy and a massive magic circle engraved themselves in the air.

Though still an incomplete incantation, its power was formidable.

Crash!

The ground flipped, and the burrow collapsed.

It felt like watching a mine collapse from above.

Along with that thought, dirt, rocks, and gravel filled the burrow, making it impassable. Any creature inside would have been buried alive.

Even if not buried, the flames flipping the ground would have suffocated them quickly due to lack of oxygen.

No worries about the burrow now.

"Now, the problem is these guys."

I glared at the dispersing shadow sentinels.

Though burned by flames, they weren't living beings, so even if dismembered, they'd disperse into the ambient magical energy.

They were indeed guarding this area.

But if their protection was for the monsters inside the academy, their creator is clearly an enemy. Otherwise, why would they protect monsters within the academy grounds?

"...A traitor, or an inside operative."

Thinking deeply, it's absurd that one of the world's top five academies would allow an attack by someone like Yuren.

Even without most of the professors and guards, Seven Stars is still Seven Stars.

It wouldn't fall so easily.

Especially not to thousands of monsters and S-class villains.

Unless it's a demon, a titled monster, perhaps.

The fact that Yuren, whom I killed, succeeded in the attack was highly unnatural.

Yet, the professors and association officials concluded it was Yuren's solo act. A very fishy situation.

I'm convinced there's a traitor behind all this.

I'd like to interrogate the shadow sentinels, but what can you do to shadows that even torture won't work on?

Moreover, the ones I defeated were gradually dispersing.

Even if I came back at this time, I probably wouldn't see the shadow sentinels again.

Frustrated, I looked at the distant mountains.

Swish!

Something quickly passed by.

"...What was that?"

Something definitely caught by the [Demon Eye].

When I focused my gaze, it was gone.

It wasn't a fast monster.

There was no trace of magical energy.

It was more like a mirage, no, a ghost or spirit.

"Ah, it couldn't be."

Even if these eyes can observe spiritual concepts, they wouldn't actually capture a ghost.

If they could, I'd have seen the souls of wronged students and Yuren's vengeful spirit before anything else.

Still, something felt off.

"...Looks like no sleep tonight."

I have a lot to do at dawn, and tonight feels particularly restless.

I scratched my head and organized my tasks in my mind. Read a few magic books, plan how to systematically teach them.

Nothing more to do.

After tidying the disturbed ground with basic elemental magic, I headed straight to the dormitory.

No reason to look back, so I didn't notice.

"..."

Two large eyes were intently watching the back of my head.

My back felt itchy, so I scratched it, but it's probably nothing.

I just ignored it.

***

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