[Breaking News:
Student Alice Rosenfall is in critical condition after a confrontation with a 7th-tier Demonic Human!
The current whereabouts of the Demonic Human are unknown. Please alert your professors immediately if you spot anything suspicious.]
...
The message flashed before me—one that I hadn't anticipated.
...???
My first thought was, why has the future changed again?
Originally, if Alice had survived the attack on the hotel, the next steps would be to seek out the hero, find clues about the spy, and secretly eliminate the threat. No news should've leaked.
But how did she even manage to survive without the hero? Wait—how did she even find Kellen? It should've taken a few more days, especially without the hero's help. Yet she managed to find him, fight him, and come out alive.
'...Did I completely underestimate her? Or did I miscalculate the entire situation?'
Maybe Hell Mode significantly boosted her powers?
But if Kellen escapes, it will become quite troublesome. He's nearly gathered data on every first-year student. If he manages to escape with it, they will gain access to the students' vulnerabilities.
By exploiting family members, weaknesses, and personalities, they could force the academy's students to join the Syndicate. If the recruited students' talents are determined to be decent, then they will proceed to force them into a pact with demons.
This will result in the Syndicate gaining even more spies to work with, and with enough resources invested into them, they can become someone strong enough to threaten my future plans.
Especially if they had recruited that person…
Ugh, let's not think about that. It's too annoying.
And the worst part right now is that the Headmaster is missing. Today was also the day that the Union called for a meeting. So as one of the highest Seats in the Union, he naturally has to attend.
Why suddenly today?
Well, one of the Union's Seats had plotted to ensure he had left the school grounds to either get Kellen out or gather the data and let him die.
While the Union's summons usually takes a week to resolve. Which provided a perfect window of time, for the Syndicate to act during this time. With plausible cause for the summons, the Syndicate will begin their operation to get the data during this time frame.
"Tsk."
How annoying.
I glanced at Ryder, whose expression slightly darkened as he read the breaking news on his bracelet.
'...how can she survive against a 7th-tier demonic human?'
…is what he is probably thinking. His ego is quite high for how weak he is.
Meanwhile, Eilot was already preparing to head out.
As a Grandmaster-ranked fighter, Eilot is probably the strongest in the academy as of right now.
So naturally, he would have to step up to protect the Academy, especially against a demonic human. Whose whereabouts were not confirmed.
A demonic human is someone who has let a demon take over their body and this tactic is mostly used in scenarios where their survival is in grave danger.
As a last resort, Kellen has allowed a mid-ranked demon to possess his body, leading to a surge in power that would keep him alive long enough to deliver the data.
Even if he were being hunted by all available personnel, he would still manage to escape the city.
'But I know exactly where he is headed.'
"Stop."
I called out to Eilot and Ryder, who were both about to leave.
"Why?"
They both asked simultaneously.
"First of all, you two can't do anything right now. Even if you are a Grandmaster, tracking him down is impossible."
Both of them fell silent.
Eilot's brows furrowed into a frown, his expression growing grimmer.
"...Then what do you suggest I do?"
It seemed he accepted that he couldn't do much as of right now.
"Head to the southern gate of the academy, near the forest. You'll understand when you get there."
He slightly paused, nodded, and quickly left.
While Ryder's face briefly twisted in disappointment before he masked it, slipping back into his usual expression.
But in that split second, I caught the change.
'...Isn't this perfect?'
I thought to myself, studying his face.
If I continue to make him feel inadequate, wouldn't his determination only grow stronger?
You see, emotions aren't just fleeting feelings—they're the fuel that drives you to be stronger.
The stronger he gets, the higher the chance of him defeating the Demon King.
And all I do is just make sure that his environment is perfect for him.
Isn't it wonderful, to control everything behind the scenes—something that was deemed impossible in the game?
For example, I can just sit back and relax while the Hero does all the work.
The best part is that a quest like the one I've received can be completed if a third party intervenes, killing the targeted person instead of you. Or if that person dies by any other means, the quest is automatically completed.
Now with that in mind, my current goal is to make him stronger, stronger than ever before. Using every means available to me, I will nurture the hero myself. While also growing strong enough that I wouldn't be wiped out in an instant.
Unbeknownst to me, a twisted smile crept across my face—a smile so unnerving that Ryder visibly shivered when our eyes met.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"...Nothing."
He hurriedly turned away from me.
'...Hmm, this won't do.'
Oh, right, let's do that, then.
"You follow me."
He looked at me, confusion written all over his face.
"What could you possibly—"
I cut him off mid-sentence.
"Don't you want to fight that demonic human? He should be pretty weak right now, so weak that your strength alone should be enough to deal with him. Don't worry—you won't die under my watch."
To be completely honest, I can't guarantee what I just said. But it should be fine.
He thought carefully for a second, his brows knitting together as uncertainty flickered across his face. The determined mask he usually wore faltered, revealing a hint of doubt. His jaw tightened, and I could see the gears turning in his mind as he weighed his options.
"I won't ask how you know that,"
He finally said, his voice steady, though a shadow of unease darkened his eyes.
"But I'll come."
"Great,"
I replied, anticipation curling in my chest as I imagined the spectacle he was about to put on.
"Let's head off now."
***
Fwoosh—
A man, riddled with wounds, sped through the forest. Burnt remnants of clothing clung to his battered body, and his right arm had been blasted away. His face was a mess of scars, and injuries scattered across his form as he tore through the forest, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
He was currently in the northern forest, near the first-year dormitory.
His superiors had contacted him, instructing him to escape through the northern forest while they created distractions in the south.
To ensure his safe passage, they caused chaos in the southern forest, leaving trails of demonic mana to throw off any pursuers.
As he dashed through the thick trees, he grimaced in pain. The ambush by a student—Alice—had left him with these grievous wounds, forcing him to synchronize with his contracted demon.
Despite the synchronization, a sliver of sanity remained, thanks to a specialized chip implanted in his head. All Syndicate members on spy missions had one. Designed for emergencies like this, it left him no choice but to use it.
The chip allowed him to keep his rational thoughts intact, even when synchronizing with the demon inside him.
He didn't want to use it, but with his life in danger, he had to.
'...I should be close to exiting the forest and grouping up with the other members.'
On his body were equipped with multiple artifacts used to thwart the detection system of the Academy. Without those artifacts, he would've been captured long ago, with his intense demonic mana leaking out.
Looking like the plan had safely worked as he saw what seemed like the end of the forest, he slowed down, thinking he had survived.
But in a quick moment, he detected something coming in his way.
'Fast.'
At a glance, he recognized it as a sword, he quickly gathered his demonic mana to block the incoming attack toward his neck.
Yet it seems to cut through his defense, which was fortified by demonic mana.
"...how?"
He voiced out his surprised question.
One needed to know that demonic mana is much different from mana and with his current powers, that weak attack shouldn't even faze him. Yet it left a bloody gash on his left arm.
"...!"
His eyes widen in surprise.
In front of him is the current ranked 1 student in the first-year admitted student. A student whose talent grade was determined to be unknown. Meaning his potential talent was higher than a grandmaster's. And with his current rate of growth, he can easily achieve humanity's strongest title in the future.
'... but he was one of the targets that was supposed to die in the attack. But they have failed.'
'The organization will certainly get rid of him for good in the near future. '
He thought to himself as he spotted another figure right next to him, Alyssa, a student who was deemed useless by most, yet held on to her position as a past rank 1 student.
What surprised him was she was holding a bag of chips, nonchalantly munching away.
'... is she not even fearful in my presence?'
Doubt began to fill his mind as he tried to comprehend how these students managed to find him.
"You two, move out of the way, or else you two will die."
"..."
"Hey, you heard this bastard?"
"..."
"Oi, don't ignore me now Ryder."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Kill him, what else?"
"... How can I kill him? He is certainly stronger than me?"
'Huh, they are thinking of killing me? How naive.'
"Are you stupid? Use that stupid Limitless skill of yours."
The black-haired girl hurriedly smacked Ryder's back as her actions flustered him.
While Kellen looked confused as he witnessed what was happening in front of him.
'...Why do they look like a couple having a lover's quarrel?'
But time was running low, he had to get through them quickly, and if he couldn't even manage to go past them, then the organization's Black Regiment would come and find him.
He shuddered in fear, recalling their cruelty. He couldn't afford to slack off now—not after coming this far. He had to succeed.
In an instant, his left fist collided with Ryder's sword.
Clung—!
His hardened fist sent Ryder flying, crashing into the tree behind him.
Boom—!
"Ugh"
Ryder grunted as he struggled to stand, then quietly mumbled something under his breath.
"[Limitless]"
In an instant, his aura surged beyond its usual limits, elevating his power to rival a 7th-tier ranked person.
"..What?!"
Kellen stared in shock as he just witnessed someone jump through two ranks. One that wasn't deemed possible even if they took forbidden elixirs.
"How can you do that?!"
He exclaimed but was suddenly met by a sudden clap.
Clap–
Clap–
The girl next to him started clapping, with an eerie smile as she witnessed the scene.
"Let the games begin. Hehe"
With a creepy laugh, she walked and sat down next to a tree branch.
Feeling anger at being humiliated like this, he rushed towards Alyssa, with the intent to end her in one strike, yet Ryder's sword blocked it. Which was glowing with condensed mana.
"!!!"
He started in shock, condensed mana, mana which was condensed so hard, it was visible to the naked eye. A sign that someone who has reached the peak of the Master realm was currently being exuded by a student.
"An Aura sword…?!"
How can a mere student have this kind of power?!
What kind of terrifying talent is this?!
Fear creeping in, he shuddered at the thought. If Ryder were left unchecked for a few years, he couldn't imagine how powerful he'd become.
"Hahaha! Wonderful! Keep going!"
The girl cheered for Ryder, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she watched the intense battle unfold before her.
She busily munched on her chips, savoring each bite as if she were at a theater, watching a thrilling performance rather than a life-and-death struggle.
"Heh…"