Chapter 34: Ged’s Rescue Operation in Crisis (1)

The streets of Icata were shrouded in deep darkness.

Meanwhile, the inn ‘Sunlight of the South Plaza’ was so old it wouldn’t be surprising if it collapsed at any moment.

The roof tiles and patches of the walls bore the unmistakable marks of time.

Naturally, it attracted few travelers, and the surroundings always exuded a tranquil atmosphere.

All the lights in the inn’s rooms were extinguished.

Except for one.

A faint candlelight flickered.

A single shadow swayed within its glow.

I landed right in front of it.

Tap!

Though only one shadow was visible through the window, I sensed two presences inside.

When I knocked on the window three times, it creaked open with a screech.

“Oh my. I didn’t expect you to come through the window.”

The one who opened it was a woman wearing a cat mask.

Yes.

A woman.

Surprisingly, the voice that emerged from behind the mask was high-pitched, unmistakably feminine.

But… where had I heard that nasal tone before?

“Well, I suppose for your kind, this is more like a door, isn’t it? What are you doing? Planning to hang there forever?”

At her words, I stepped onto the windowsill and entered the room.

Immediately, two pairs of eyes shot toward my face.

The cat mask and leaning slantwise against the wall was someone wearing a wolf mask.

Both were dressed in black outfits suitable for nocturnal activities.

Hanging at their waists were dark blades—black swords, weapons I was all too familiar with.

Black swords were primarily used by the followers of the Darkness Council, one of the five sects of the Beltus Cult.

Well, I had expected as much.

The Darkness Council was the assassination group among the cult’s five sects, specializing in physical prowess and martial techniques.

They were the most suitable operatives for this mission.

“So, what’s the plan? Guartes, that pervert, said we just need to follow your orders.”

It was the cat-masked woman’s question.

Though masked, her provocative eyes, red lips, and the seductive charm radiating from her sly smile were unconcealed.

“Before I explain the plan, I’d like to verify your skills.”

At my words, she let out a scoff, as if finding it absurd.

“Our skills are obviously top-notch. So don’t bother with your presumptuous checks and just tell us the plan.”

“No. As the leader of this operation, I need to confirm your capabilities.”

Her already narrow eyes narrowed further.

“I don’t like this.”

Then it happened.

Her eyes briefly flicked toward the wolf-masked figure beside her before returning to their original position.

What did that glance mean?

Was she gauging the wolf mask’s intentions?

It seemed so.

The cat mask gave a subtle nod.

“Fine. I’ll humor your request. So, how do you want to verify? Should I snatch that tacky skull mask off your face?”

Hmm.

That’d be a good method.

But it’d be too difficult for you.

I pulled a piece of iron from my pocket and placed it upright on the table.

“Cut this.”

“What’s that? Just steel-cutting?”

The cat mask sneered, as if unimpressed.

Steel-cutting.

The ability to infuse aura into a weapon—essentially, an aura sword—was the most effective way to test such skill.

It was a fundamental technique required to graduate from a knight academy.

Of course, it wasn’t something achievable with mediocre swordsmanship.

But these two were far from mediocre.

“Too easy, isn’t it?”

Confidently, she drew her sword and sliced through the iron piece in one swift motion.

Slash!

The iron piece toppled from the impact.

Upon closer inspection, it was perfectly split into two on the table.

“Done?”

“Yes.”

I turned to the wolf mask, signaling it was their turn.

Truth be told, I wasn’t really curious about the cat mask.

It was the wolf mask, standing there posing all high and mighty, that intrigued me.

From what I’d observed, the wolf mask didn’t seem to be on the same level as Guartes or the cat mask.

The aura they exuded, the cautious demeanor of the cat mask—it all pointed to something more.

They couldn’t possibly be higher than a cleric, could they?

As I reached for another piece of iron, it happened.

Swish…

A light breeze accompanied a single line drawn across my vision.

“…”

By the time I snapped back to reality, the flash had vanished.

Then, a clink sounded.

It came from the wolf mask’s waist.

They remained leaning against the wall, unchanged from their initial posture.

But the situation on the table was different.

The iron piece, previously lying horizontally, was slightly misaligned.

When I nudged it, the change became clear.

The iron piece, already split in two, had been divided again.

Four pieces of iron.

The astonishing part was that the cut pieces were sliced as thinly as cheese.

Incredible precision and a swift blade.

In that moment, I was certain.

This one was no mere cleric.

A high cleric.

To think a high cleric would come as a mere operative.

Honestly, was this even fair? I was a bit dumbfounded.

No, seriously, a high cleric was overkill.

What about my plan then?

What should I do?

As I racked my brain, the most troubling part was the final phase of the operation, where I’d have to face them.

Had I grown enough to defeat a high cleric?

As I ran simulations in my head, the cat mask’s teasing voice interrupted.

“Pfft. Look at you, completely zoned out.”

“…”

“So, how’s our skill? Top-tier, right? Snap out of it and say something.”

I broke from my thoughts and nodded.

“Fine. You’re good enough.”

The cat mask smirked, her lips curling upward.

“Now it’s your turn. Let’s hear this grand plan of yours.”

Soon, the three of us sat around the table, facing each other.

I began the briefing.

I started with the overall layout of the forest, then pointed out every tree in detail, adding precise instructions.

Which routes to infiltrate, where the traps were, which sections required extra caution.

How to deal with those areas, how to prepare for contingencies, and finally, how to escape.

When the explanation concluded, the cat mask’s gaze toward me was slightly different from before.

“Well, okay. The plan’s pretty solid. If there’s a flaw, it’s that there’s not much for us to do.”

“You never know. Nothing’s 100% certain. We need to account for variables.”

“Excluding those variables, are you saying all the info you gave is solid?”

“Of course.”

I nodded confidently.

Back when I played Heroes of Frey, the [Yurdo’s Escape Prevention] episode was one of my favorites, and the main stage for that episode was the Academy’s research wing, where we were about to infiltrate.

So, as long as you don’t mess up, nothing will go wrong.

“If you doubt my intel, you can leave now.”

“Who said that?”

The cat mask shrugged, still wearing her seductive smile.

“One last thing. No, this isn’t a request—it’s a directive, a code of conduct for completing the mission.”

Both clerucs turned their eyes to me.

“First code: Trust me. Second code: Follow my orders. And the final, third code.”

I paused for a beat, then spoke with clearer conviction.

“No matter what happens, trust me unconditionally and follow my orders.”

“…!”

“Any questions?”

As if waiting, the cat mask fired a question.

“I don’t care much for your orders. We’re here strictly for combat support. But what about sudden situations—like an ambush? What then?”

“No different. Follow my orders.”

“But combat’s our specialty, not yours. What if you’re wrong and we’re right? Then what?”

I smiled for the first time since arriving.

Because I knew this rebuttal was coming.

“I assure you, that will never happen. No matter what paths you see in there, my eyes will always be looking farther and higher than yours.”

“…!”

“So, during the operation, no matter what unfolds, follow my orders without fail. Oh, and I almost forgot—due to time constraints, I’ll only say things once from now on.”

In short:

“No arguments, no questions—just shut up and follow.”

The wolf mask, who’d been as emotionless as a robot, muttered with feeling for the first time.

“Looking forward to it, heh.”

I locked eyes with them.

“No questions from you?”

“None. Heh.”

“Me neither.”

One hour later.

We left the inn and scaled the Academy’s outer wall.

* * *

It was a pitch-black forest, untouched by moonlight.

Three figures darted through the darkness.

Gerard and two Darkness Council clerics.

After entering the Academy grounds, they ran in silence.

At some point, the scenery began to change.

From dense greenery to manicured flowerbeds, lawns, paved brick paths, corridors, and the silhouettes of buildings rising higher than the trees.

“Stop.”

Gerard, running at the lead, raised his hand.

“From here, we’re in the cadets’ activity zone. We might encounter cadets training, so no running—move quietly and swiftly.”

It wasn’t just cadets.

Thanks to Peter from the arena, Gerard already knew that security had been heavily tightened due to the Vault theft incident.

Patrols included not just guards but professors as well.

Encountering a professor-led patrol would be the worst-case scenario.

It was also what Gerard feared most.

Fortunately, they reached the research wing without crossing paths with any patrols.

“Listen while moving. As I emphasized at the inn, there are five key points to watch for in this operation. The first hurdle is the guard post at the research wing’s entrance.”

The research wing was a specially secured secret area within the Academy.

Guard posts were stationed at regular intervals.

A surrounding fence, magical resonances illuminating the area brightly.

The sight of guards patrolling in formation resembled a war fortress.

But even that ironclad place had blind spots.

How far had they moved?

Gerard raised his fist again.

He extended his arm horizontally, pointing a single finger upright—a prearranged signal that they’d reached the designated point and should move into formation.

As if choreographed, the three split in opposite directions.

Gerard and the wolf mask went left together.

The cat mask went right alone.

Rustle!

Parting the bushes revealed the fence surrounding the research wing and its entrance.

Beyond the entrance were buildings that appeared to be research facilities, blocked by a towering guard post.

So, they couldn’t break through immediately and hid in the bushes to wait.

Until the guards in the post were relieved by the next shift.

The brief moment when the guards changed shifts.

That short window was the only blind spot in the research wing.

It was fleeting, but the guards’ vigilance temporarily weakened during that time.

And there was one more thing.

Besides the main path for personnel and the side passage for guards, there was another small route.

A narrow gap between the fence and the school buildings.

It was a cramped, overgrown path, difficult to navigate. But for someone agile and small, it was passable.

That was where the cat-masked cleric would infiltrate.

‘There it is. The doghole that thief mentioned.’

It was so well-hidden that no one would find it without knowing.

As she eyed the path, a sound came from the distance.

Clank—Clank—

Three figures approached along the outer wall.

Wearing orange armor, they opened the side gate in the wire fence and headed toward the guard post.

Unaware of the three figures hiding in the bushes they’d just passed.

As they ascended to the post, murmurs came from the guard post.

At Gerard’s signal, they sprang from the bushes.

Thud!

Gerard reached the wire fence first and pulled the side gate.

It wasn’t locked—consideration for the returning shift.

A mistake born of convenience.

Thanks to that careless error, Gerard slipped through the side passage into the compound.

The wolf mask followed like a ghost.

Swish…

By then, the guard shift was complete, and the relieved guards were descending.

Just before crossing paths with the guards in the side passage, the two barely passed through and hid between the buildings.

It was a close call.

This was why Gerard had split the infiltration routes.

The time was too tight for two people to pass, let alone three—more would delay entry and raise the risk of detection.

The side passage was also a bad place to evade if spotted by guards.

In contrast, the narrow path the cleric was taking was unknown to the guards.

It didn’t require rushing like the side passage and was safer.

Of course,

Crack—!

That was under the condition of making no noise.

If an unnatural sound broke the night’s silence, the situation could change in an instant.

“…!”

At the sound shattering the quiet, Gerard and the wolf mask’s heads snapped sideways.

The first thing they saw was a broken twig.

And the shoe stepping on it.

The shoe’s owner was the cleric, just emerging from the narrow path.

At that moment.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Didn’t you hear something from behind just now?”

“What?”

The guards exiting the side passage stopped in unison.

“Really? I didn’t hear anything. You sure you didn’t imagine it?”

“Did I? Should we just head back?”

At the guard’s question, the squad leader shook his head.

“No way. Not in times like these. Go check it out.”

Inside the cat mask, the cleric’s blue eyes trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

Clank—

The guards’ footsteps grew closer.

Her heart pounded harder, her breathing quickened.

There was nowhere to hide.

Even if she retreated to the narrow path, at their pace, detection was inevitable.

She racked her brain, but only one conclusion emerged.

‘…I have no choice but to fight. Tch.’

Having made her decision, she bit her lip.

Crouching in the shadow of the bushes, she gripped the handle of her black sword tightly.

Two guards and one squad leader.

It’d be chaotic, but she could handle them alone.

‘But…’

The whistle hanging around the squad leader’s neck.

Even she couldn’t stop that whistle from sounding.

The Academy would learn of intruders.

‘Then I’ll have to be the bait…’

Draw as much attention as possible.

In that gap, the other two could infiltrate and rescue Ged.

That was the best option now.

Her eyes gleamed with resolve.

She turned toward her comrades to convey her intent.

But at that moment.

A voice echoed in her mind.

[What did I say earlier?]

She looked at the voice’s owner.

The thief.

[The final code of conduct: No matter what happens, trust me unconditionally and follow my orders.]

A clear, emotionless gaze.

Yet, meeting it, her heart, strangely, began to calm.

[Get down. Hide your presence as much as possible and hold your breath.]

At the same time, a small breeze passed over her head.

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