Chapter 219

Episode 219. Seven Stars Cultural Festival (5)

A boy bursts into laughter, clutching his stomach.

Though his face is hidden behind a mask, his small frame makes him look no older than ten.

“Guess I’ve been caught. Oh well.”

The boy in the monkey mask smiles brightly and continues speaking.

Though his voice doesn’t carry due to the distance, his lip movements make it clear what he’s saying.

“Let’s… play… tag.”

“Tag?”

Before I can even furrow my brow in confusion, the boy sitting on the rooftop melts into thin air and disappears.

“Dammit.”

I bite my lip and stare at the spot where the boy in the monkey mask vanished.

“Beast Mask Group?”

No.

Something feels different.

“Don’t tell me…”

I recall the image of the boy sitting leisurely on the high rooftop, swinging his legs. Memories of the recent final evaluation flash through my mind, but I shake my head.

What’s important now isn’t whether he’s part of the Beast Mask Group or not.

“When a person’s heart bursts… it’s said to look like a heart, right?”

A foreboding premonition runs down my spine.

Suddenly.

Professor Lucas’s words come to mind.

The incident that happened in Valhalla City.

A major criminal organization wiped out overnight by a single boy.

“…Professor Elisha.”

“Why have you been acting strange since earlier?”

“Do you know about the incident where a major criminal organization in Valhalla City was wiped out recently?”

“I do.”

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Professor Elisha nods with a serious expression.

“What did that criminal organization mainly do?”

“From what I know, they were involved in human trafficking and the distribution of illegal magical tools.”

“Illegal magical tools? What exactly are those?”

“Explosive magical tools that can only be used for military purposes.”

“…”

Explosive magical tools for military use.

These tools, which can only be crafted with high-grade magic stones or above, are strictly controlled in their development and distribution even among the three nations. Most people would never even see one in their lifetime.

“Damn it.”

My ominous feeling grows stronger.

I grit my teeth and look up at the spot where the monkey mask disappeared.

“He said he wanted to play tag.”

If that’s the case, there’s a high chance he’s still inside the school.

After all, tag can’t happen without a “tagged” person.

“Professor Elisha.”

“Speak.”

“Someone has infiltrated the school.”

“…!”

Professor Elisha’s eyes widen.

“…Did you see who it was?”

“It was a boy wearing a monkey mask.”

“A monkey mask… Is it the Beast Mask Group?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

You can’t guess someone’s identity just by an animal mask.

“…So, what do you plan to do now?”

“Chase him, of course.”

We can’t let an unidentified intruder roam freely inside the school.

“Understood. I’ll help too.”

“No.”

I shake my head slightly.

“There’s something else I need you to do, Professor.”

After explaining my request to Professor Elisha, I set off to chase the boy in the monkey mask.

Please, let my prediction be wrong.

* * *

‘Where is he?’

The first place I arrive at is the rooftop of the annex where I first spotted the monkey mask.

Standing on the roof where the boy had been sitting just moments ago, I slowly scan the surroundings.

Of course, there’s no sign of him with the naked eye.

Nor are there any traces of magic power or aura.

Instead.

“…A note?”

Unfolding the note on the ground, I see a message written in a child’s scrawl.

[Where am I now~?]

1. Main building rooftop.

2. Central Plaza.

3. Candidate cafeteria.

4. Your

Something was written in option 4, but it’s covered in red bloodstains, making it impossible to read.

‘Magic aura.’

The faint aura of magic emanates from the bloodstains on the note.

‘In that case…’

Whoosh.

The ash fire flickers at my fingertips.

If the bloodstains aren’t made of real blood but of magic aura…

Sizzle!

The bloodstains disappear with a puff of gray smoke.

The words beneath the bloodstains read:

4. Right behind you☺

“…!”

Whoosh!

I instinctively duck, and a red blade slices through the air just above me.

“Hahaha! You dodged that pretty well?!”

A laugh echoes from behind.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Following the red blade, sharp crimson spikes shoot up from the ground.

A surprise attack with no time to draw my sword.

I stomp the ground and swing my fist toward the rising spikes.

Berald Martial Arts.

Mountain Splitting Fist.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, the crimson spikes shatter into pieces.

“Wow, impressive!”

The boy in the monkey mask claps and giggles.

I frown and glare at him.

“Hmm~ Wondering who I am? Huh? Wondering? Who could I be~? Huh?”

“Sigh.”

I let out a deep sigh as I watch the boy’s playful antics.

That unique mischievous attitude and the aura of blood.

Even with his face hidden behind a mask, it’s not hard to figure out who he is.

“What’s the Grand Archbishop of Madness doing here?”

“Huh? Grand Archbishop of Madness? Who’s that? Look, look! I’m wearing a mask, see? A mask!”

The boy points to his monkey mask and hops around.

Tsk.

I click my tongue and frown.

“If you’re trying to imitate the Beast Mask Group, stop. You’re nothing like them.”

“…Huh? Beast Mask Group?”

The boy stares at me with wide eyes, then bursts into laughter, clutching his stomach.

“Hahahaha!!! Are you seriously calling the ‘Eternal Church’ the Beast Mask Group?”

“…Eternal Church?”

What’s the Eternal Church now?

Don’t tell me the masked guys we call the “Beast Mask Group” are actually the Eternal Church?

‘Wait, does this kid know more than me, a regressor?’

The Beast Mask Group… no, the Eternal Church. Considering that the wolf mask, a member of the Eternal Church, is hundreds of years old, it seems the Eternal Church has existed for a long time, not something formed after the future changed.

But.

‘I’ve never heard of the Eternal Church before.’

Given that I don’t even feel a sense of déjà vu, it’s not something I heard and forgot.

“Sigh. Beast Mask Group… Well, that might be a fitting name for them.”

The boy takes off his monkey mask and tosses it aside.

Behind the mask is, as expected, the face of the Grand Archbishop of Madness, Seto.

“Long time no see, Dale Han.”

Seto grins and waves at me like an old friend.

“Not exactly thrilled to see you.”

“Ehh?! You’re not happy to see me after all this time? I’ve been looking forward to meeting you again!”

“Really?”

I wasn’t looking forward to it at all.

“Hehe. So… want to know about the Eternal Church? Should I tell you?”

Seto grins mischievously.

“If you beat me in a game, I’ll tell you about the Eternal Church.”

“A game?”

“Yeah! A fun and exciting game!”

Seto spreads his arms wide and smiles brightly.

“…Like last time, where you shot me in the head?”

“Eh~ We already did that. Same games are boring!”

“Then what?”

“Hehe. The game we’re playing today is…”

Ta-da!

Seto points to the school’s central plaza in the distance, even adding sound effects with his mouth.

“Today’s game is ‘Mine Sweeper’! Or, more accurately…”

He smiles with a mad grin, his red eyes gleaming.

“‘Bomb Finding’… would be more accurate.”

“…”

“Somewhere in the school’s central plaza, I’ve hidden a bomb. If you find it in time, no one gets hurt. But if you don’t…”

Seto clutches his stomach and giggles.

“Boom! Everyone’s hearts will explode, creating beautiful heart-shaped fireworks!”

“…”

“How about it? Sounds fun, right?”

Fun, huh.

“Why did you specifically gather couples?”

“Huh?”

“If you wanted to gather people, you could’ve spread different rumors.”

“Ah~ That?”

Seto shrugs and continues.

“The bomb I planted in the central plaza… I tweaked it a bit, so it has some ‘gaps.'”

“Gaps?”

“Yeah! The explosion range isn’t a perfect circle but more like jagged spikes.”

“…”

In other words.

If the bomb explodes…

“If two people are close together, only one of them will die. Well, if they’re unlucky, both might die.”

“…”

“With a bomb like that, isn’t it more fun to gather couples and set it off rather than just randomly gathering people?”

Seto spreads his arms wide and spins around like he’s dancing.

“Imagine it! Your lover’s body goes boom! right in front of you! Hot, stinky, sticky blood pouring over you as you scream!”

Haa! Haa!

Seto breathes heavily, his cheeks flushed.

“Doesn’t imagining that just make you so excited?”

“…”

Yeah.

I’ve had enough of this guy.

I know exactly what I need to do now.

“Hihihi! Shall we start the game? The first clue is…”

“Nope.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Sounds like your game isn’t going to be much fun.”

“…”

Seto blinks, clearly not expecting that response.

“Huh? If you don’t find it in time, the bomb goes boom! and explodes, right?”

“So?”

“So… what do you mean ‘so’? Haha! I just explained what happens if the bomb explodes! Dozens of candidates will die!”

“So what do you want me to do about it, punk? Am I supposed to care if they die?”

“Huh…? Wait, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go…”

Seto stumbles back, looking flustered.

“Instead, I have a game to propose this time.”

“…A game?”

“Yeah. It’s boring always playing your games.”

I draw my sword from my waist.

“The rules are simple.”

Whoosh!

The blade ignites with burning ash fire.

“From now on, I’m going to burn you to death.”

I twist my lips into a fierce grin and point my sword at the Grand Archbishop of Madness.

“Let’s see if you can survive.”