Rockefeller Academy carried on with its magic classes today, despite ten students being absent. As the Empire's largest magic academy, Rockefeller Academy held unique advantages, far surpassing other institutions in education quality. Its students were destined to become pillars of the Empire.

Thus, the Empire placed immense importance on its teachings.

So why had the Academy Chancellor deployed these future elites to a patrol squad?

"Chancellor, your tea."

In the office, a female secretary placed a teacup on the Academy Chancellor's desk. He didn't utter a word of thanks—a stark contrast to his usual self.

Adeshium Valianda, a man over sixty, frowned at the documents before him.

"Is something troubling you?" the secretary asked out of concern.

"I'm fine, Miss Eileen."

The Chancellor lifted the cup and sipped. The tea melted on his tongue, bitter yet sweet—a top-grade brew—but he had no heart to enjoy it.

His ten students had been sent to find the princess. It should have been natural. Yet the Chancellor knew the kidnappers weren't ordinary; likely a terrorist organization within the Empire. Sending mere students was absurd. Initially, he hadn't grasped His Majesty's intent.

"This is to avoid unnecessary trouble," the Emperor had said.

If the Imperial Army couldn't be deployed, only one reason fit: the kidnappers weren't terrorists. Terrorists would have drawn out the Holy Knights and Imperial Mage Corps. But the Emperor had only sent ten academy students. That meant the Empire was under foreign surveillance; deploying troops would expose the princess's disappearance. The culprits must be rival nation assassins. Otherwise, the Empire wouldn't hesitate to act.

Still, students were just students. What was the Emperor's true aim? The Chancellor couldn't fathom it. Even sending the academy's top two students wouldn't change much.

"Chancellor, Duke Fodisar is here."

The secretary's words snapped him back. He nodded. She opened the door, admitting a man in a white suit. A smile played on his lips, full of vigor, yet wrinkles marked his face with time's passage.

"Long time no see, Chancellor Valianda."

"You look well, Duke Fodisar."

The Chancellor gestured for him to sit. The Duke wasted no pleasantries and prepared to speak.

"You wouldn't visit without reason. This is about the princess, I presume."

"As you say." The Duke admitted directly, no need for discretion.

"The princess vanished from the academy. It's my fault. As Chancellor, I bear full responsibility."

"It's not your fault."

"Beyond her royal status, she's a student here. I'm responsible. But sending students to find her? That's dereliction of duty."

The Chancellor's guilt was palpable. The Duke said little. Tea arrived; the secretary quietly left, leaving two Empire heavyweights alone.

"The Emperor knows best. He's issued a secret order: the Imperial Army will covertly deploy mages into Death Forest. But..."

"But what?"

"Keeping it hidden from the Empire and neighbors takes time. Deploying these warriors needs at least two days."

"So you needed my students... Right. Students raise no suspicion. Perfect bait."

"I'm glad you understand. Though I don't fully agree."

"After all, your child is among them."

The Chancellor set down his cup, brow furrowed. The Empire's methods weren't new, but dragging students into this was unprecedented. An accident would be catastrophic. Yet compared to the princess, his students meant nothing to the Empire. He worried most for his two treasures: Lunorette and Theos, the Empire's future. If harm came to them, he'd never forgive himself.

"Trust them. They'll hold out for two days," the Duke consoled.

Nothing could be changed now. The Chancellor drained his tea.

"Duke Fodisar... does that child still resent you?"

The Duke set his cup down. His expression darkened, lost in thought.

"As long as they live well, I don't care about being misunderstood." He smiled, but it held deep resignation.

"I'll break the curse on them. Before being a duke, I'm a father."

The Chancellor stayed silent, refilling the Duke's cup.

Today, the academy remained shrouded in gloom.

---

Theos glanced up at the sky. The forest canopy blocked the sun, allowing only thin rays through.

Moyu Manatsu stared at beast corpses littering the ground. A nauseating stench stung her nostrils; her hands trembled nonstop. She pulled out a white cloth, wiping blood from her knife. Her mind went blank for a moment.

"Never thought I'd slowly get used to this..."

After slaying the Silver Wolf and moving on, they'd encountered many magical beasts. But these were less fierce, lower-level. The journey had been relatively easy. Moyu Manatsu was growing accustomed to killing—a bad sign. This world was worlds apart from games; death here meant no respawns. She swallowed her unease and kept walking.

"Lunorette, your pace seems slower than before. Are you alright?" Saria noticed her friend's odd behavior. The girl's body trembled slightly.

"Mm, just a bit tired. But I can keep going." She showed a hint of a smile, insisting she was fine.

Ahead lay a trap. The enemy surely had a big surprise waiting. Moyu Manatsu had to stay on high alert.

"Roar!"

True enough, as they entered, a bear-like beast roared out, its ferocious voice sending chills down spines.

"A high-level beast... Bear King." A bead of sweat rolled down Caina's forehead. Her mood turned heavy. This beast was often hunted by mercenaries; its claws were precious materials for crafting Magic Artifacts.

"I'll handle it. Fall back!" Theos saw the Bear King was tough. His classmates, knowing his strength, didn't object.

"Spirits of wind, heed my call—rend all asunder!"

Theos drew his sword, chanting. Green energy surged. He swung; wind-element Mana erupted, striking the Bear King head-on.

"Roar!"

Yet the beast stood firm. Sharp claws swiped; Theos barely blocked.

"This brute strength..." He struggled to hold his ground, face grim.

Saria couldn't stand by. A stream of fire shot out, hitting the Bear King.

"Thanks, classmate Saria!" Theos seized the chance, flipping mid-air. His sword followed, slashing into the beast. It let out a pained roar.

Other students stepped back. Suddenly, a terrifying sound came from behind. A massive lizard emerged from bushes, its tongue horrifying.

Ghost Lizard—one of the forest's kings, famed for speed.

It vanished in a second. Before anyone reacted, it appeared before Moyu Manatsu, swatting down.

"Luno-chan!"

Her body flew backward, crashing into a tree. Bones nearly shattered.

"So painful..." Only Lunorette's strong body saved her from being pulp.

A screech echoed from the sky. Moyu Manatsu looked up: a lizard-like bird roared, diving toward them.

Magical beasts attacking humans was normal. But so many appearing at once was shocking. Like grinding monsters—but here, it risked real death.

"Seriously? How many more? This is endless!"

"Everyone, scatter! Defend with all your might!"

Academy elites adjusted fast. Some had real combat experience; they faced the assault head-on.

Moyu Manatsu forced herself up. The academy's Chief Student, Lunorette, couldn't even use half her strength now. Of course—Moyu Manatsu wasn't Lunorette.

These beasts appeared in patterns. Magical beasts attacked humans, but some weren't native to this forest. Beyond the Terror Bird and Ghost Lizard, other foreign beasts must lurk. Finding where non-native beasts came from would reveal the princess's kidnapping site.

The girl gripped her sword, charging. She thrust into the Terror Bird's neck. It screeched. She yanked the blade out, stabbing again, haphazardly releasing Mana from fragmented memories. Pale blue energy surged—left in Lunorette's body. She unleashed it fully. The bird's neck blew open, collapsing with a final cry.

Just an ordinary beast. Nothing special. Next second, the Ghost Lizard's tail whipped toward her.

"Underclassman Lunorette, watch out!" A senior classmate lunged, unleashing Mana that blasted the beast.

Moyu Manatsu quickly created distance. Adapting to battle, she admitted humans were terrifying creatures. A shut-in loser like her was fighting magical beasts in another world—how powerful humans were.

Suddenly, her sharp eyes caught a snake-like beast slithering toward Theos's back.

She almost forgot how to breathe.