Chapter 63: The Bell of Black Mist

“Don’t come any closer.”

Flames bloomed from the tip of Claire’s fingers.

The speed and size of the fire were incomparably faster and larger than before she came to the Academy.

The flames brightly illuminated the surroundings.

Light.

The fire cast shadows on the startled faces of Ravena and Roland, and even revealed the intrigued expression of Assistant Professor Hoppen.

“Claire…? What’s wrong? That’s Assistant Professor Hoppen.”

“Stupid Claire. Are you determined to get expelled?”

Despite Ravena and Roland’s attempts to stop her, Claire unleashed the flames even more fiercely.

She didn’t take her fixed gaze off Hoppen.

“No. That’s not Assistant Professor Hoppen.”

A completely different presence, disguised in Hoppen’s skin.

Judging by the name…

“Airlights.”

At Claire’s words, Hoppen’s pupils widened in surprise.

“You know me?”

Just as expected.

No, just as Sirbert had predicted, the true author was a person named Airlights.

Of course, Claire’s knowledge ended there.

And Airlights easily guessed this fact as well.

“Sirbert must have told you. Well, I thought I’d be found out sooner or later, and even if you caught on, what could you do…?”

Airlights shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

She truly couldn’t care less.

Even if Sirbert discovered she was controlling Hoppen’s body—

‘What could he do?’

Without knowing the location of her true body, there was essentially nothing he could do.

“So, you’re trying to scare me with those terrifying flames? They look hot, but I’m not the one getting hurt.”

That’s right.

It was Hoppen’s body getting hurt, not Airlights herself.

That was the terrifying aspect of her ability.

“Then, do as you please.”

Airlights stretched Hoppen’s arms wide.

Claire glared at Airlights like that, then finally extinguished the flames.

Because attacking Airlights, who had taken over Hoppen’s body, was meaningless.

“Claire. What’s going on?”

As Claire’s flames died down, Ravena asked.

And…

“You, you met with Professor Sirbert alone again? You’re such a meddlesome troublemaker…!”

Roland was still spouting nonsense.

“Quiet, stupid Roland.”

Roland was about to get angry again, but Airlights was not one to listen to such nonsense.

“Looks like those two kids behind you don’t know anything… So, Claire, aren’t you curious?”

Airlights approached with crimson eyes shining as if to tempt her.

“Who Jijoncheonma… no, Hio Pavlenko really is. Why everyone’s so desperate to find him.”

Her low whisper shook Claire’s heart suddenly.

“Aren’t you curious about Hio’s purpose? What kind of opponent he’s facing?”

‘How could she not be curious?’

She had sworn to target Hio, yet she knew nothing about him.

She knew something serious was going on, but she couldn’t figure out anything beyond that.

Her heart was restless, so she only wanted to become stronger.

She believed that if she grew strong enough, she’d naturally find out.

But…

‘Would becoming stronger alone be enough? Could she truly stand beside Hio as an equal?’

Especially when it seemed he didn’t even care about her.’

Thinking this far, Claire squeezed her eyes shut.

“…Don’t fool yourself.”

Airlights, who had crept close, withdrew her pink gaze and laughed while covering her mouth.

She had naturally tried to invade Claire’s mind but failed.

“Your mental strength is quite impressive. What a pity.”

She really couldn’t influence a fellow woman so easily.

Besides, since she was not in her original body but borrowing another’s, her power was significantly reduced.

Even so, Claire’s mental defense was remarkable.

She had no special mental defense skills, but had blocked it purely by her own will.

“Tell me why you came to us.”

Claire’s eyes were steady as she looked Hoppen straight in the eye, seeing Airlights within.

Airlights smiled without erasing her grin as she answered.

“My initial purpose was to confirm something, but thanks to your reaction, I’m sure now…”

The certainty that Hio Pavlenko was Jijoncheonma.

That was what she needed, and Claire’s reaction gave her that confidence.

‘Then what was the second purpose?’

“I came to help you.”

Claire, Ravena, and even Roland—

She had come to help them.

The completely unexpected answer left Claire bewildered.

“Help? Why?”

“If you ask why… hmm…”

Airlights, who had been seriously pondering, brightened as she spoke to Claire.

“Because I don’t want to be hated by Hio Pavlenko. Or maybe to earn some favor in advance?”

She laughed softly afterward.

No matter how you looked at it, she was not normal.

So Claire reached out and pointed behind Airlights.

“We don’t need your help, so don’t smirk like that and just leave quickly.”

“Hmm. Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Airlights also reached out and pointed behind Claire.

“You’ll be dead soon.”

Suddenly—

Ding—

A clear bell rang.

Ding ding—

Claire slowly turned her head backward.

Ravena and Roland looked toward the same place.

What appeared before their eyes was a black fog soaring high into the sky.

“Imenia will soon fall.”

A vast wall of black mist spread, as if about to engulf the entire Academy.

Then a sweet whisper echoed.

“How about it? Shall I spare you?”

***

Paulon was a knight aspirant attending the Knight Department.

His most respected knight was the Imperial Sword Saint.

He hoped to join the Royal Knight Order.

A traditional and ordinary knight hopeful.

Though simply attending Imenia Academy already put him far from ordinary, at least within the Academy, he was the definition of normal.

So, as usual, he was having a normal meal and heading home normally.

On the way back, he ran into a familiar face.

“Raollet!”

His fellow classmate from the Knight Department, Raollet.

Though she held no title, her family was wealthy enough for her to enroll, and contrary to appearances, she was diligent and stoic.

He waved brightly and hurried toward Raollet, but…

“…Raollet?”

Something was off with her.

Her pupils were dilated, mouth agape, and she staggered without purpose.

“Raollet! What’s wrong?”

Paulon shook her shoulders, and only then did Raollet look at him.

Her eyes were blank.

Her mouth was wide open.

Looking at Paulon, she said, “Open the passage.”

At the same time, Raollet’s mouth opened wide.

Her eyes turned completely black, and black fog began pouring out of her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

The black mist rapidly soared high into the sky.

This phenomenon was not limited to Paulon’s location.

Black smoke erupted all across the Academy.

In moments, the sky was dominated by an opaque black fog spreading wide.

The vast Academy was gradually engulfed by the mist.

Ding—

The bell rang as if on cue.

Ding ding—

The clear bell echoed throughout the Academy.

With the bell, the black mist thickened further.

The fog that had surrounded the exterior now seeped inward.

Paulon stared blankly at the sight.

Raollet, held by his hands, had already become nothing but clothes as her entire body transformed into the black mist itself.

“What the hell…?”

And through the mist, shapes slowly began to appear.

Black-clad figures emerged one by one, moving like ghosts.

Only then did Paulon recall an old tale.

Black mist.

Followed by the tolling bell.

Whenever it rang, the worst group appeared—the symbol of terror that had drenched the continent in blood.

“…Heuka.”

The resurrection of the black mist that had remained silent for so long.

“We have to get to the professor!”

For the first time, Claire, Ravena, and Roland agreed.

The professor considered the strongest person at the Academy besides the Knight Department.

Sirbert von Ernhem. They had to get to him.

“Hmm… I don’t recommend that.”

Airlights’s voice came from behind, ignored.

‘How could they trust someone so suspicious?’

Right now, their best option was to move quickly and join Sirbert.

“The professor…”

“He’ll be in the faculty building! Let’s go!”

The black mist thickened everywhere.

Claire felt a slight familiarity.

The feeling she had experienced in Delphir Village.

No, multiplied by dozens or hundreds.

Just facing a single Heuka officer felt like hitting an unbeatable wall.

Now it was as if a whole horde had come.

They ran through the gloomy fog, aiming for the faculty building.

“Think about it. The Heuka aren’t fools. They know Sirbert. Surely many powerful allies are already with him. That means his side is even more dangerous.”

Airlights’s voice still sounded from behind.

Though they ignored her, her words subtly gnawed at their minds.

Still, they couldn’t stop running.

In this sudden chaos, a powerful ally they could trust and follow was essential.

They believed Sirbert could fulfill that role.

But their path was soon blocked.

By a single child standing alone in the middle of the road.

The black mist obscured her figure, but it was clear she was small.

“Ouch…”

She clutched her head, wincing in pain.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch. It hurts so much.”

Claire and Ravena hurried toward the child.

No, they tried to approach her.

“It’s a mine.”

They stopped because of Airlights’s calm voice.

“I suggest you don’t get close and just kill it quickly.”

Even before hearing that, the child’s form began swelling, gradually taking on a grotesque shape.

“W-What is that?!”

In an instant, the child ballooned to several meters tall.

At the same time—

“Kyaaah!”

“Ah! Run away!”

Screams echoed from all directions.

Figures resembling the monster before them appeared within the black mist.

Bam!

Fists swung, floors shattered.

Stones scattered.

A horrible sound like a watermelon breaking and bright red liquid splattered.

“Cl-Claire…”

Ravena stepped back, facing a huge black monster.

Its gaze fixed on Claire’s group.

“Fall back!”

A crimson Fireball suddenly appeared above Claire’s head.

“Barely handling a single mine and you think you can break through this slaughterhouse to reach Sirbert… huh, do you really think you can?”

Ignoring Airlights’s mocking voice behind her, Claire simultaneously launched seven Fireballs the size of heads.

Kaboom!

The huge monster, due to its massive size, took every hit without missing and exploded.

Claire felt slightly relieved, but—

Aaaaahhh.

A massive fist smashed through the smoke from the explosions and slammed down right in front of Claire.

Claire’s skill, renowned for its power even within the Academy, had no effect.

No, it had some effect, but it was insufficient to bring down the monster.

“That’s too bad… give up. If you keep going, if you run into even one Heuka officer, you’ll be wiped out. Know your place and survive.”

Airlights’s voice warned Claire as she staggered to her feet.

Roland and Ravena screamed or shouted as they desperately fired skills at the monster.

The dark night sky grew darker with the black mist, narrowing their visibility.

“Think carefully, Claire. Say you kill that monster, then what? What about after that?”

In the midst of this, Airlights’s gentle voice floated softly into her ears.

“The Heuka prepared everything and opened the passage. No matter how well you hold out, can your friends survive?”

Airlights brushed Claire’s chin gently, drawing close.

Her crimson eyes flickered again.

“Don’t you know someone who can instantly turn this desperate situation around?”

Whispering quietly near her ear,

“Hio Pavlenko.”

Claire’s vision gradually blurred.

“Tell me his location.”