In the academy camp inside the city, inside a spacious magic tent, three people were busy moving boxes of all sizes, placing them one by one onto several mana-driven carts.
Vanessa was responsible for carrying the magic tools they would need, though she didn't know the specific function of each one, so she could only stuff them into the boxes indiscriminately.
In comparison, Imeve seemed much more at ease. She methodically checked the maps and compasses required for each team, and had even made careful preparations in advance for emergency plans when passing through special terrain.
Vanessa asked, “So why did we come here?”
Ain, squatting on the ground, replied, “You'll find out in a bit. First, hurry up and move all the things we need for this mission over.”
Ain was rummaging through a dazzling array of boxes for potions. Every time he took one out, he would first examine and identify it in his hand for a moment. Once he confirmed it was correct, he would place it into a prepared box beside him.
Only forty minutes remained before departure.
Vanessa asked in confusion, “The Ice of... what now?”
Imeve asked, puzzled, “Is this the answer you were talking about?”
The few of them continued to exchange information, picking up where they had left off.
Ain shook his head and continued, “Imeve, the truth and the answer go far beyond just this...
“The news that everyone in the rescue team is to be killed was brought by you, after all.
“Have you never thought about who established this rescue team, and what their motive is for doing so? Why kill the academy students to make Erylin feel despair? Why is the academy being blocked and sidelined by various factions in this operation?”
Imeve frowned and said, “Are you talking about the mastermind behind the scenes?
“This news came from a council regularly held by the Titan Prosecution Office. However, as for the specific motives and deep-seated reasons behind it, I am currently unclear...”
Changing the subject, Imeve added, “But looking at it this way, could it be the Grand Chief Arbiter of the Titan Prosecution Office, Lance?”
Ain shook his head and said, “Actually, as the most powerful academy in the imperial capital, there is only one faction capable of making them fall into a disadvantage during an operation.”
Imeve guessed again, “Could it be the leading force of this operation, the Obsidian Chamber of Commerce, which has been putting pressure on the academy?”
Seeing that Ain still didn't nod, Imeve pondered for a long while before adding, “Are you trying to say that the Church is also one of the masterminds behind this?”
Ain sighed and suddenly muttered, “If only my Boss were here, he probably would have guessed it long ago. Sigh...”
Ain looked at Imeve with utter disdain.
“With a brain like yours, you actually want to call me your Swordbearer?
“It's not like you allocated any of your stat points into [Wisdom], did you?”
Ain had launched a point-blank ultimate right to her face.
The corner of Imeve's mouth twitched uncontrollably. She suddenly had a strong urge to pin Ain to the ground and beat him up.
You idiot, I'm right here!
It's just a different name. Is the name Sevis really that important to him?!
Seeing that neither of them could guess it, and that both were looking at him with curiosity and anticipation, clearly waiting for him to reveal the answer, Ain raised a single finger. His gaze grew cold, and he said in a low voice, “Actually, that faction is...
“The academy itself.”
Both Vanessa and Imeve froze.
“What nonsense are you talking about?! How could the Dean possibly let her own students...”
Ain ignored Vanessa's protests and interrupted her.
“Have you ever played Werewolf? A werewolf self-killing is a valid strategy, isn't it?”
Vanessa: “???”
What was this guy talking about?
Ain turned around and continued sorting the bottles and jars in his hands, adding, “Before this, didn't you think the academy's standing in this mission was a bit too low?
“Whether it's Harrison, who provoked us, or Lance, who dared to directly demand people from us, or even those two incredibly arrogant swordsmen just now...
“As the largest academy in the imperial capital, how is it that not a single powerhouse above Tier 5 is accompanying us on this mission?”
Vanessa interrupted, “I heard the Dean was originally planning to come, but...”
“But what? No news? Even if there's no news, we're about to set off. Is the academy really that short on other powerful professors and instructors?”
Ain sneered as he placed another blue potion into the box beside him.
“You're not going to say they're busy with other things and don't have time to come, are you?
“You can make up as many excuses like that as you want.
“Do you want to know why I guessed this?”
Ain's gaze suddenly turned icy, his eyes filled with nothing but fury.
“In Lillian's incident, they did the exact same thing.
“I thought things would be different this time. I was thinking that the old woman Loretta had already cleaned up the mess, but after all this time, it turns out I still have to rely on myself in the end.”
Vanessa pointed at Ain in shock and said, “O-Old woman?
“Isn't the Dean quite young and beautiful...”
Ain waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah, it was just a slip of the tongue. Don't worry about it.
“As early as when Erylin entered her second year and Lillian had just enrolled, the academy had already begun planning all of this.”
This was also before the game even started.
No wonder he couldn't find a single shred of useful information during the first playthrough.
“Do you remember? Before meeting me, wasn't Lillian always by Erylin's side?”
Vanessa said in dissatisfaction, “Do you feel proud that you lured Lillian away?”
Ain was taken aback for a moment, then replied impatiently, “That's not what I mean!
“I'm referring to why Lillian was staying by Erylin's side back then.”
Vanessa froze for a moment, then fell into deep thought. “I recall... as a member of Typhon Chain and the strongest Tier 3 Mage, Erylin was assigned to supervise Lillian, hoping she would integrate into campus life and prevent her from losing control...”
Ain smiled. “There are Tier 4 Mages in the upper years, so why did they choose Erylin of all people?”
Vanessa was stumped.
“Because she's... kind-hearted and nice?”
Ain replied, “There's a better explanation now.
“Because they wanted Lillian to die from the very beginning.
“By placing her next to Erylin to foster their relationship, Lillian's death would lay a better foundation for the despair in Erylin's heart.”
Ain's gaze sharpened, and his hand holding the potion tightened.
“They knew Lillian was kind. They knew that even if Lillian lost control, she wouldn't hurt Erylin, which is why they boldly and confidently let her stay by Erylin's side.”
The first three acts of this game, starting from Erylin losing Lillian, were no coincidence!
In the Act Three interlude, the fact that Harrison would kill Erylin's companions during this mission was no coincidence either!
Ain had originally thought this was just the usual disgusting writing of this trash game.
But in reality, Harrison was also acting on the academy's orders!
Act Three was both Erylin's growth chapter and the chapter where she completely lost herself.
In the first four acts of this game, all the tragic events Erylin experienced—losing Lillian, losing Grace, losing Loretta, losing everyone—were not coincidences!
As of now, all the bad endings in this game were not coincidences at all!
Ain also finally understood why he hadn't received a reply to the letter he had sent out yet; it had been intercepted by another group of people from the academy.
Seeing that Ain had laid out all the answers, Imeve hastily said, “I'll notify my family right now. We need to quickly discuss...”
Ain sneered. “For what? To discuss a countermeasure?
“There is absolutely no need for that.”
Looking at the manic smile on Ain's face, both Vanessa and Imeve were stunned.
Ain confidently raised a single finger and said furiously, “One second!
“Just one second!
“The moment I figured all this out, I ran through every single way those bastards could die in my head in less than a second!”
Ain's gaze remained ice-cold.
“After Act Two ended, I thought with Loretta holding the line, those bastards wouldn't make any moves in Act Three.
“I didn't expect that Act Three was also because of those bastards.
“The group of guys who forced me to watch those grotesque CGs in my first playthrough are right before my eyes...”
Ain couldn't help but recall the physical revulsion he felt a while ago when grinding the game in the middle of the night, with the screen covered in grotesque CGs.
The moment that disgust welled up, he had unhesitatingly slammed his fist onto the desk and immediately punched the monitor screen a few times to vent his frustration.
As a result of his agitation, his elbow knocked over his instant noodles, splashing soup everywhere, and the monitor was instantly ruined.
“Do you have any idea how expensive my monitor was?! That was three whole months of my salary saved up! I had to live on potatoes stewed with spuds and tomatoes stir-fried with tomatoes every day, and I could stretch a single piece of pork belly for three days! This trash game almost gave me high blood pressure from pure rage!
“I originally thought my only way of getting revenge on this trash game was to help Erylin avoid those bad endings...
“But now, it turns out this trash game that made me grind through the entire map without finding a single happy ending actually has a hidden boss...”
“Now that I know who the enemy is, things will be easy.
“I've already come up with five different ways to kill those bastards during this mission!
“I'm going to make those guys pay for my monitor in blood!”
【Word Spirit: Prayer】
【Current target characters affected: Imeve Xavier, Vanessa Godwin】
Ain's words made Vanessa and Imeve feel reassured, but at the same time, they were somewhat bewildered.
Although they didn't understand most of what Ain meant, they both managed to catch a key piece of information.
Ain seemed to be incredibly poor.
With her face slightly flushed, Imeve said with some anticipation, “Um, Ain, if you're short on money, my family actually has a pretty good position available. If you want to come, I can give you... this much!”
Imeve held up five fingers.
Vanessa also glanced aside, pretending not to care as she muttered softly, “My monthly allowance is also quite a lot. If you're really having a hard time... just, just take it as a thank-you fee for helping me before!”
Ain blinked in a daze.
Were there really this many rich girls in this game?
Rate on N.U.
