Chapter 32: Where the boundary between life and death is blurred


    "When is heing, for heaven''s sake!"


    The dean screamed, pacing back and forth and making loud noises.


    Two whole days had passed since the day Deus was supposed to arrive, but even his shadow was nowhere to be seen in Robern Academy.


    If it weren''t for the maid, Finden Ai, who was present, he would have already gone back to North Whedon to bring him.


    That''s how serious the situation was.


    Over a hundred students had already submitted withdrawal letters. Despite attempts by professors to persuade them through individual consultations, there were limits to what they could do.


    Furthermore, the pressure from unofficial external sources had also increased due to the parents.


    Every morning, the dean checked his pillow to find his hair scattered a little more than the day before, showing how stressed he was.


    "Be patient. Just because you''re rushing doesn''t mean the master wille running."


    "Haah."


    For some reason, even the maid in revealing attire - who spoke informally and yfully - had be annoying.


    Karen, who had her arms crossed beside her, hesitated and muttered with a frustrated expression, "Could there have been an ident on the way?"


    "An ident?"


    "Yes, it''s already sote."


    Indeed.


    Since Deus didnt look like he was going to run away all of a sudden, it seemed more appropriate to think that way.


    Finden Ai, who was eating snacks in the deans office, spoke with crumbs on her fingers as if revealing her passing by thought.


    "Now that the spirits have started expanding their range of activity, things have be really troublesome."


    The dean and Karen looked at Finden Ai with surprise, wondering what she meant.


    "There was a guy with a twisted body on the third-floor staircase, right? Yesterday, he came down to the second floor."


    "Huh? And what''s the reason for mentioning that?"


    "It''s interesting. Just keep it in mind."


    "For what?"


    Annoyed by Finden Ais nonchnt attitude, the dean vented his frustration. But Finden Ai just shrugged her shoulders and took out a cigarette from her pocket.


    "Do you have a match?"


    "Smoking is prohibited here!"


    Unable to tolerate it any longer, the dean shouted roughly, intending to kick her out immediately. However, Karen stood in front of him, blocking his way.


    "Wait!"


    Karen narrowed her eyes and frowned at Finden Ai.


    "Why are the positions of your fingers reversed?"


    "Hmm?"


    Finden Ai looked at her own hand holding the cigarette.


    And indeed...


    "Oh?"


    Her finger arrangement waspletely reversed. Her thumb was stuck in the position where the ring finger should be, presenting a bizarre sight.


    Finden Ai expressed her frustration at this discovery.


    "Damn, I''ve been caught."


    Swoosh.


    Then, Finden Ai suddenly disappeared in front of their eyes.


    No, the evil spirit pretending to be Finden Ai disappeared.


    As soon as the dean saw this, his mouth dropped open, and he looked bewilderedly at Karen.


    Karen, clicking her tongue, stood in the spot where the evil spirit had been.


    I think it was a warning. Soon, they will upy the entire academy or something like that.


    Understanding the meaning behind the statement that the range of activity of the spirits was expanding, Karen sighed.


    Just as the dean was about to sigh too and lower his gaze...


    "Um, that."


    His hands trembled, and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, feeling as if it were dry as a desert.


    "Professor Karen? Your feet are reversed."


    "What?"


    When Karen quickly lowered her head, she saw that her heels were in front. Her feet were bizarrely twisted.


    Upon seeing this, Karen let out a bitter chuckle.


    "I got caught because of that guy."


    Swish


    Karen, too, disappeared just like that.


    Seeing this, the dean frothed and copsed onto his desk.


    <strong>* * *</strong>


    "Sniff, is someone pretending to be me somewhere?"


    Finden Ai, leaning against the rooftop railing, sniffled and ced a cigarette in her mouth.


    As it was the only ce in the academy where smoking was allowed, she often frequented this spot.


    Beside her, Karen also rested her chin on the railing, staring nkly outside.


    The two of them hadn''t known each other for long, nor were they particrly close. However, they naturally ended up meeting on the rooftop because they were both waiting for someone.


    Karen sneakily nced at Finden Ai, who lit her cigarette with a lighter and exhaled smoke.


    Finden Ai shrugged her shoulders and extended her pack of cigarettes, offering her one, but Karen declined.


    "He''ll reallye, right?"


    "He better. If he doesn''te after sending me all the way here, I''ll make him regret it."


    Finden Ai chuckled and blew out smoke.


    Meanwhile, the gazes of the two women naturally turned towards the entrance of the academy, looking outside.


    They never removed their gazes from the entrance for more than a second; it felt like he would arrive at any moment.


    -Creak.


    At that moment, the door opened, and Erica Bright and Gideon Zeronia appeared on the rooftop.


    Gideon, irritated, adjusted his red hair with his hand.


    "Professor Karen, there are students waiting for you, so what are you doing here?"


    "Ugh, just taking a break."


    Stretching and yawning, Karen walked past Gideon, ignoring his annoyance, and descended the stairs.


    "Such a hard-working professor."


    Finden Ai murmured with a cigarette still in her mouth.


    Displeased by the disregard, Gideon red at Finden Ai and approached her.


    "You''re Deus exclusive maid, right? What''s your name?"


    "Finden Ai."


    "You''re short on words."


    Annoyed by her tant disregard for him even as a maid, Gideon''s mood soured, but Finden Ai didn''t back down.


    "If you have nothing to say, then get lost."


    Finden Ai remained leaning on the railing, puffing her cigarette, as she tried to shoo away the annoying idiot.


    "Leave her alone."


    Erica, who knew Finden Ais strong personality, tried to intervene and calm Gideon down, but he was the type who couldn''t stand being ignored.


    "I''ve been hearing about youtely. Don''t go causing trouble at the academy."


    "Hmm."


    What should she do? If she thought of it as barking like a dog, it might be refreshing. But he didn''t seem like he would leave until he heard an answer.


    "Do you believe in Deus? Let''s see how far that gets you."


    Blowing out the smoke, Finden Ai continued to gaze outside the academy.


    Gideon, feeling provoked by being treated as if he didn''t exist, clenched his fist and raised his voice.


    "Yeah! Deliver a message to your master for me! Erica and I are getting married, so make sure he attends as a guest and brightens up the asion!"


    Startled, Erica eximed, "What are you talking about! I haven''t agreed to anything!"


    Are they fighting?


    Now finding it somewhat amusing, Finden Ai turned her body and began to watch the two of them.


    With a resentful gaze, Erica red at Gideon, but he firmly dered that it was all over.


    "I have already sent a letter to the Bright family. Breaking off the engagement may be harmful to the woman, but if I ept it, the Bright family will probably wee me with open arms."


    "You!"


    As Erica grabbed his cor in anger, her eyes seemed to be moistened.


    "After all, it''s a political engagement. Even Bright would think that the Zeronia family, which maintains a close rtionship with the royal family, would be much more profitable than someone like Verdi on the outskirts."


    That''s right.


    In the family, Erica''s position was merely a tool for a political marriage.


    To break free from that, she had worked so hard to secure a professor position at Robern Academy.


    In the end, all her efforts turned out to be in vain. Erica clenched her lips in frustration.


    What went wrong, and where did it start?


    Her head began to overheat.


    "Erica Bright!"


    In an instant, without even realizing it, mana surged in her fingertips. Even though Gideon desperately called out to her, trying to stop her, she didnt seem to hear him.


    "Sob, ugh."


    As Erica''s teardrops fell and her golden magic was about to be unleashed-


    [What are you doing?]


    -The situation suddenly changed abruptly.


    A ck-haired girl was suddenly sitting on the rooftop railing. With her appearance, darkness began to engulf the entire academy.


    As if the sun had dimmed, the fading light disappeared calmly, like a dove caught in a children''s trap.


    As the darkness surrounded Robern, the screams of spirits apanied it.


    [Now it''s getting interesting. Can you really afford to rx like that?]


    Swish!


    Finden Ai immediately kicked toward the girl, but she was already gone from that spot.


    [Hehehehe! That person ising back?]


    The girl standing behind Finden Ai now wasughing joyfully, covering her mouth with both hands.


    [Hehe! I hope youe soon!]


    "You little brat!"


    Swish!


    Turning her body, Finden Ai attempted a low kick, shattering only the rooftop railing this time, as the girl, again, was no longer there.


    [By the way.]


    Once again, the girl appeared in front of the rooftop door, trembling with excitement. With a smile that couldn''t contain her joy, she asked.


    [What difference does it make even if hees now?]


    <strong>--- End of The Chapter --</strong>


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