It’s dazzling.
That was the first thought that entered my mind upon stepping into the party hall.
There might be many adjectives to describe the mesmerizing scene right in front of my eyes, but dazzling fit it like a glove.
“Of course, the money-loaded academy.”
As if they were worrying someone might criticize them for not being extravagant enough, the party hall was nothing short of dazzling.
Sparkling chandeliers were hanging here and there, and exquisite interior decorations and ornaments were not hard to find.
It was hard to believe that this very place functioned as the academy’s teaching building just a few days ago.
“Whoa, this is crazy.”
“Indeed, party halls usually aren’t this extravagant.”
Elaine, who had been delicately holding my hand, spoke up as if reading my mind. I could tell she was nervous because her hand had been trembling ever so slightly since we arrived.
After all, Elaine wasn’t the type who usually attended such elaborate parties.
“Yeah, same. Wow, there’s a lot of people.”
“Indeed…”
Though our sentences differed, the anxiety Elaine conveyed in her simple response resonated with me.
‘What’s more, everyone here seems unarmed.’
There were some male students casually holding swords, but the majority of students didn’t appear to be carrying any weapons. That fact did little to ease the numerous unsettling factors in the air.
“Hey, over there.”
As I glanced around after walking into the party, someone was heading straight toward us.
It was Yuria, her blue hair shining as she slowly made her way closer. The moment I saw her, I instinctively glanced back at Emily, who was standing behind me. After all, there had been something strange in the air between those two just yesterday.
Seemingly aware that Yuria was approaching, Emily’s head was bowed low.
“Hello! Yuria Prisis!”
“Um… Nice to see you.”
Cynthia greeted Yuria cheerfully from the front while Yuria, after briefly exchanging a glance with me, redirected her gaze at Emily who was standing behind me.
Erica wasn’t present, meaning she had likely left as soon as she realized what was happening.
“Emily Student.”
“Uh…”
As Yuria called out, everyone’s attention turned toward Emily, who was standing quietly at the back. Emily, wearing a simple dress that made her even more noticeable, still refused to lift her head.
“Emily…”
When Emily didn’t respond, Yuria called her name once more. Emily flinched under the second call, then finally raised her head. They locked eyes, and for a moment, there was an unsettling silence.
“Did you think my question from yesterday was sufficiently answered?”
“…”
Emily was the first to avert her eyes. After Emily turned her head away without answering, Yuria smiled faintly and nodded slightly.
At first glance, it looked like a simple smile, but if I paid attention, it carried a hint of sadness.
“…This seems a bit more complex than I thought.”
Clearly, there was a story here. I could tell just from looking at them.
“Hehe. Everyone, enjoy the party. I shall excuse myself now.”
Yuria bowed gracefully and walked away. As she brushed past me, I thought to myself that it was time for me to get to work as well.
“Uh, I’ll be back in a bit. Gonna visit the restroom.”
“Oh, sure thing!”
I gently shook the hand Elaine was holding, and Elaine, startled, let go of mine. The slightly awkward atmosphere from Yuria and Emily’s exchange dissipated immediately. With a smile at Elaine, who had taken a cautious step back in surprise, I moved along.
I had memorized the building layout last night. First things first, I had to meet Yuria alone.
Clack-clack.
I turned away from the path to the restroom mid-step and entered a small room near its entrance.
“Anything unusual yet?”
“Not so far, everything seems normal.”
Standing in the room was none other than Yuria, whose melancholic smile from moments ago hadn’t faded.
“Though, what’s the deal between you and Emily?”
“…I messed up a little.”
“Emily? When did that even happen?”
“That’s… I’ll tell you later. Let’s focus on today’s task first.”
“Alright, focusing then.”
“Erica went outside a bit ago. If anything happens, she’ll inform us right away. And I’ve been patrolling the party; nothing suspicious so far.”
“Hmm.”
“…I hope nothing happens.”
“If nothing happens, that’d be the best outcome, right?”
Yuria sighed and left the room. The real show was just about to start.
*
Binuar Christina.
The chancellor of Crescent Academy, and once heralded as the greatest wizard in the land. The nickname “Binuar’s Earth Dragon” was so widely recognized that few across the continent were unfamiliar with him.
Not long ago, Chancellor Binuar gave a short speech at the student party.
But now, he sat in deep concentration, his expression grave as he read something.
“To think…”
Binuar’s voice trembled faintly.
This morning, he had received an anonymous letter, its origin utterly mysterious. It clearly read:
<Tonight, I will come for that necklace.>
What startled Binuar wasn’t just someone threatening him—after all, he had received far more frequent threats in his youth.
No, it was the word “necklace” in that letter that troubled him.
‘That necklace.’
Even though the letter didn’t explicitly state which necklace it was referring to, Binuar instinctively knew exactly what it meant.
It had to be the necklace carefully stored in the safe within his office—a necklace he had inherited decades ago from his mentor.
Very few knew about the existence of this necklace, but Binuar was certain.
The one who sent this letter had set their sights on the necklace entrusted to him.
A piece passed down through several generations of mentors, this necklace was once part of an accessory set.
The necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring.
A total of four accessories.
“Hmm.”
Binuar cleared his throat, sitting in the chair as dusk fell outside. The night was drawing near.
‘If the true nature of this necklace is known…’
Binuar closed his eyes and began meditating.
If someone knew the true identity of this necklace, they likely understood the significance of the earrings, ring, and bracelet scattered throughout the continent.
In that case, they must also know what the four accessories represented together.
Tap-tap.
“…Oh?”
“May I enter?”
Binuar hadn’t noticed anyone approaching until the knock came, and he was startled.
As the door opened without a sound, relief washed over him at the sight of the familiar face.
Vice Chancellor Randgar Bayel.
“Vice Chancellor?”
“Yes, Chancellor.”
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“…”
The Vice Chancellor didn’t respond to the Chancellor’s inquiry.
As Binuar watched the silently standing Randgar, his eyes widened suddenly as if realizing something.
“Certainly…?”
“Haha, why so surprised, Chancellor?”
“Did you send this letter?”
“A letter?”
Binuar extended the note towards Randgar, who didn’t even glance at it.
At that moment, Binuar was certain.
Surely, this ominous note was from the Vice Chancellor.
“You… how do you know about the necklace?”
“Of course I know—its value to us is immense.”
“Us…?”
At this, Binuar instinctively summoned mana and stood up.
Randgar remained calm while the Chancellor prepared for battle.
“Chancellor.”
“…”
“How about we settle this without a fuss? Just hand over the necklace, and it’s over.”
“Do you really believe that would work?”
With that, mana began to swirl around Binuar.
Randgar showed no signs of preparation, maintaining his composed demeanor.
“How dare you…”
KWAANG!
An eruption of fury accompanied the sound as massive tree trunks burst forth from the floor, launching furiously toward Randgar.
SHEEWW!
“Uh?”
The tree trunks never made contact with Randgar.
The branches and trunks were forcefully deflected mid-air, bouncing back from an unseen barrier surrounding Randgar.
“Did you really think I’d face the so-called ‘Earth Dragon’ without any preparation?”
SWOOOSH!
As Randgar finished speaking, black mana began pulsating around him.
At the sight of the ominous black mana, Binuar’s eyes widened in shock.
“Tsk, Black Magic? Surely, you?”
“You won’t win against me in here, Binuar.”
Binuar’s gaze darted around the room.
Not only was Randgar surrounded by the dark mana, but it seemed the entire space had become engulfed in it.
“If we cause such a ruckus…”
“Relax. There’ll be much bigger chaos elsewhere.”
“What…”
Randgar’s grin grew sinister as he summoned more mana.
“When did you…”
Binuar muttered to himself with a somewhat defeated tone but continued to summon mana nonetheless.
Around him, massive, heavy mana began to gather—an energy far greater than the tree trunks he had used earlier against Randgar.
“Hurry up.”
“…”
Randgar showed no signs of being affected by the immense pressure from the Chancellor’s mana.
“Hmph, even if you take the necklace from me, the thing you expect won’t happen.”
KWAANG!
As soon as the words left his mouth, from behind Binuar surged something massive.
It was a gigantic form made of tree branches and soil—an earth dragon, Binuar’s signature creation, staring aggressively at Randgar with its enormous open maw.
“Haha. Did you really think we wouldn’t know that too? And by the way, you’ve grown more talkative with age. Didn’t you used to avoid such idle chatter entirely?”
“…! Impossible!”
Suddenly, a wave of unease swept over Binuar. The confident smirk and the words that implied everything was already foreseen, even facing the earth dragon.
‘Could other places be under attack as well?’
Binuar reached a quick decision.
Before figuring out whether the earrings, bracelet, and ring were also under attack, he needed to handle the betrayal in front of him first.
KWAANG!
Without further talk, the Earth Dragon lunged toward Randgar with its mouth wide open.
