Now officially part of the Special Task Force, Earl was currently fidgeting and shaking his leg nervously.
It was all because of the actions of his older brother, Leo, who held the prestigious position among the Golden Way Zodiacs.
“Wow~ It’s been a while since I’ve been back at the Academy.”
Leo smiled happily at the sight of his alma mater.
He had barged into Allen’s office uninvited, along with Earl, and was casually drinking tea without permission.
Though his behavior was shamelessly bold, no faculty member of Minerva Academy dared to stop the movements of a Golden Way Zodiac.
Even Headmaster Heinz Kambella, the only one who might have scolded him, had been dismissed by Leo, who was now treating Allen’s office as if it were his own personal room.
No matter how much Earl respected his older brother… wasn’t this going too far?
“Uh… Is this really okay, Brother? Commander Allen is in the middle of a class, and entering an unattended room…”
“So what? We’re practically family here. Between family members, it’s proper to skip excessive formalities.”
“What does that even mean…”
Though Earl considered himself quite shameless, he felt utterly embarrassed by this attitude.
Taking a sip of tea, Leo glanced around the room with a bored expression.
“Hmph, such a barren office. There’s nothing but teaching materials here.”
“Isn’t that normal for an office?”
“Is it? I seem to recall the Gold Eagle Palace having a full bar.”
“… That’s because that person is special.”
Earl shook his head, remembering last night when he attended a wild drinking party in Paulo’s office.
The sight of officers rushing in upon hearing the alarm, only to be told by Paulo:
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a drink. Bring some snacks.”
“… Yes sir.”
The exasperated sigh and look of reproach would stay with Earl for a while.
And the bonus memory of getting drunk until dawn on the hastily prepared feast made him feel a hangover coming on.
“Bored. Let’s just go check out Allen’s class.”
“Excuse me? Interrupting a class seems a bit…”
“Just watching from afar should be fine. Don’t they have parent visitation days? We’ll count it as that.”
Finishing the rest of his tea in one gulp, Leo strode out confidently.
With a sigh, Earl followed his brother’s imposing figure, feeling his respect for his older brother rapidly diminishing…
***
Meanwhile, Allen had more visitors than just the Helios siblings.
The mysterious figure who had slipped away from her organization to meet a precious friend was none other than Black Wolf.
“So this is Minerva.”
Despite the warm weather, her completely covered face with mask and robe drew attention – or it would have, if Master-level assassin Black Wolf wasn’t already a master of perfect stealth without even trying.
“I can faintly sense it. Allen’s scent.”
Her sense of smell, enhanced by both marine and canine traits combined with her mastery, was unparalleled.
Once memorized, scents were never forgotten. Following Allen’s trail, she silently scaled the walls of Minerva Academy’s main building, undetected.
The protective magic barriers erected around the campus were powerless to stop a Master.
There was only one person who noticed her presence:
Minerva’s headmaster, Heinz Kambella.
“Tch, what kind of day is this… First the Lion Palace, now an assassin.”
Seeing Black Wolf through his crystal orb, Heinz sighed deeply.
After the incident with the Arrogant High Priest Alba, he had received lectures from both the Royal Palace and his teacher Infantry Palace.
Reflecting on his complacency, Heinz had strengthened security throughout Minerva.
Thanks to these upgrades, he was able to detect Black Wolf’s infiltration.
“At least the security system performed well. If we can detect a Master, perhaps such tragedies won’t happen again.”
He felt vindicated by seeking his teacher’s help.
With this level of security, Minerva could be considered safe.
“Still… So you have connections with Blackwater’s top agent too? Truly, Professor Allen’s network cannot be underestimated.”
Had he not received Black Wolf’s dossier in a document this morning, he might have ended up battling her right now.
According to rumors, she turned anyone blocking her path, ally or enemy, into a puddle of blood.
While surely exaggerated…
The sharp killing intent emanating from her, even through the crystal orb, seemed to confirm the stories.
“If this continues…”
Black Wolf was moving straight toward Allen, leaping between buildings and roofs.
At this rate, she’d likely encounter the Helios siblings before reaching Allen.
While Earl might not notice her, fellow Master Leo certainly would.
What will happen next…?
“… I don’t know. I’ll leave it to Professor Allen to handle…”
With many other issues demanding his attention for Minerva’s normalization, Heinz quietly chose to ignore the situation.
***
Following Leo toward the outdoor training ground where Allen was teaching, Earl continuously tried to stop him.
As someone returning to serve under Allen, he wanted to avoid making a bad impression.
“Brother, shouldn’t we return to the office now…”
“We’re almost there. Stop whining, brat.”
“But Brother, I’m the one who has to stay! Don’t you remember being a junior officer?”
“That distant past is long forgotten…”
Leo suddenly narrowed his eyes, sensing something unusual.
Though caught off guard, Earl instinctively placed his hand on the staff at his waist – thanks to Allen’s teachings about maintaining constant vigilance.
“What is it?”
“There’s something…”
Satisfied with his younger brother’s quick response, Leo still took a battle stance.
Then he swung his sword toward a distant rooftop movement.
[Lion Sword: Wind Slash]
Swish-
A piece of black cloth fell as the sharp blade cut through the air.
“So we have an agile visitor. Why don’t you show yourself?”
“…Why are you interfering, human?”
Appearing as if she’d been there all along was Black Wolf, her face hidden by mask and robes.
Placing his sword at her throat, Leo replied matter-of-factly.
“Wouldn’t it be strange to ignore an assassin found within the Academy?”
“I’m here to see a friend. Don’t get in my way.”
“Then the world would be ruled by assassins if we took your word for it.”
“…If you don’t move, I’ll force my way through.”
“Try me then.”
The tense standoff was broken not by Leo or Black Wolf, but…
By Earl, who had deeply internalized Allen’s teaching: “Hit first when in doubt.”
[Fire Magic: Mirage Fantasy]
The battlefield-experienced Earl’s magic distorted the surroundings, having reached a level of mastery.
This support magic, originally meant to aid Allen’s movements, created artificial heat mirages.
In short, an illusion magic that confused the enemy’s vision.
“!”
Seeing Black Wolf’s startled eye movements, Leo instantly understood the magic’s effect.
Spotting her opening, he swung his sword.
However, Black Wolf, also a Master, blocked it with a dagger drawn from her robes.
Clang!
Pushing Leo back with an explosion of aura, she threw daggers and disappeared.
Casually deflecting them, Leo swung his sword toward the sensed presence – but
“Damn! Can she create illusions of presence too!”
Realizing he’d swung at empty air, Leo quickly regained his stance, but
His opening was faster than Black Wolf’s dagger.
“Such a violent one.”
[Lion Sword: Nemean Skin]
Clang!
Understanding he couldn’t evade, Leo condensed aura around his body to block Black Wolf’s dagger, then immediately countered with a punch.
“Guh…”
Though Black Wolf blocked with aura as well, the size difference was undeniable.
Sliding back, her concealment broke.
Watching this, Leo shook his head and said:
“My goodness, where did you crawl out from?”
Though he blocked it, a red mark remained on his side.
Had she been any more serious, he wouldn’t have avoided injury.
“…I’ll kill you.”
Growing impatient to see Allen quickly, Black Wolf began emitting killing intent.
“This is… getting dangerous.”
Faced with unexpectedly lethal killing intent, Leo dropped his playful demeanor and became serious.
Seeing his brother’s expression, Earl realized the situation was grave.
“U-Um, are you alright, Brother?”
“Step back quietly. I can’t afford to protect you while fighting someone of this caliber.”
Just as the battle between two Masters was about to begin…
A professor appeared between them.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
It was Allen, who had hurriedly finished his class.
