Be careful? How absurd.
Even if he lacked shame, Weinstein should at least possess some fear. And what inspires fear more profoundly than pain?
My strike should've shattered his nose. Two weeks would be enough to heal the physical damage, but would he still dare to look me in the eye after that?
Unless… he hasn't shown his full hand yet.
The thought gave me pause and an unpleasant realization.
Ether.
That wellspring of power awakened with the arrival of the Gates. It resides within every living being, woven into muscle, bone, and cell, lying dormant until it Activates at a certain age.
For humans, that's around seventeen. Though in rare cases, it can awaken earlier, or much later.
That was my real concern.
I could handle the martial arts part. But Ether? This unknown variable left me unsettled.
Information on it is locked in the Student Archives, accessible only to staff and a select few students. Gaining access would be a complicated, drawn-out process.
So, I took a shortcut.
I spotted that girl's retreating figure from a distance. It felt less like a calculated move and more like a stroke of luck.
I had just left the classroom building, heading back to my dorm, when I passed the empty volleyball field, there she was—the same girl involved in that 'ambush' earlier.
She wore a hoodie pulled over her head. Granted, lots of people wear hoodies, but that other distinctive marker… the piercings in her nose and ears… I've only seen a few like that around the academy.
Everything pointed to a girl named Navi. The one who chose to run after Weinstein's pathetic defeat.
She'd made me the subject of some bet or dare. Bold words for a coward.
This time, I made sure she wouldn't slip away.
Navi walked past the dormitory and into the adjacent district.
To explain briefly: the grounds are divided into about five sectors, separated by low walls.
The first holds the classrooms, libraries, and dorms. Then there's the entertainment sector—malls, cinemas, arcades. Next is the combat sector, with its advanced arena, training gear, and even tamed monsters. Then one sector whose purpose remains unexplained to this day.
And finally… the faculty residences. Where professors are housed in units with facilities far more advanced than anything students get.
That's where Navi was headed.
The sectors aren't guarded, but I'm certain CCTV covers every corner. If she crossed that barrier, my tailing journey would likely end.
Luckily, she stopped just short. At a narrow turn behind the sports warehouse, two men were waiting. I didn't recognize either from this distance.
I edged closer, careful to stay out of sight.
As I neared, voices reached me.
"…that's one of them. Now I'm almost certain." The voice was feminine and familiar—undoubtedly Navi.
"Has it been confirmed with the Detector?" One of the men spoke up.
Navi snapped back, "Forget the Detector. That bastard Ebony, retired or not, is still a Hunter. Just as rotten as the rest."
I frowned. Ebony? Was she talking about Ebony Wood? That Ebony Wood?
"But his knowledge gave us a lead, a clue pointing to Lord Bastien."
"So? Are we supposed to owe him? Ebony Wood has his own agenda. He can't be trusted. From now on, limit contact with that old fool. If possible, remove him entirely," Navi said.
"Then how do you identify Lord Bastien? The inscriptions don't even specify a gender."
"Relax. I have good instincts."
"Lady of Forth, I believe you, but relying on guesswork for something this important… isn't that reckless?"
"Who said I'm guessing?" Navi paused. "That commotion today wasn't just a show. Weinstein's ego outweighs his skill, but his brain is smaller than an insect's."
"You don't mean…"
"By morning, there will be at least two corpses. Whoever is left standing… that's our guy."
***
I returned to my room uneasy. I stared at my phone, at the nearly ten-minute recording.
What should have been leverage had become a Pandora's box I couldn't ignore.
At least two corpses by morning…
They were clearly talking about the three of us. However, what is Lord Bastien?
I glanced at Salazar, asleep on my sofa in human form. He might have answers, but after all our interactions, I've learned that creature can't be fully trusted.
There was other information, too: Lady of Forth. An organization? Given their disdain for Hunters, they didn't seem aligned with anything 'good'.
It was a connection I could potentially use later.
But now, I had a more immediate problem.
Weinstein.
From Navi's conversation, he seemed as weak as I thought. But there's always another possibility: mercenaries.
This is a private Hunter academy that prioritizes commercialization. My three mothers' connections helped get me in, and they're all high earners. Most students here come from upper-middle class or higher. And Weinstein… his demeanor suggests he's from a tier even above that.
Hiring one or two Rank A Hunters to eliminate three students whose Ether hasn't even awakened, then covering up the evidence… that wouldn't be difficult for him.
Not like I'm afraid. Not after what happened in Riverdale a few days ago. Not after that Rank A monster attack.
But… what about Fletcher and Bianca? If they die and I survive, doesn't that just announce me as 'Lord Bastien'?
Again—what is Lord Bastien, anyway?
Knock. Knock.
The sound sent an unpleasant jolt through me.
I swallowed. I hadn't expected it to happen this fast.
My eyes went to the cutlery in the mini-kitchen near the bathroom. One was a small dinner knife. It wouldn't be as effective as the Mana Dagger, but channeling some energy into it could make a decent substitute.
I grabbed it, moved quietly to the door, and peered through the peephole.
Only one person.
Fairly tall. Wearing a red crop top under a familiar black jacket, and a jean skirt.
The tension in my shoulders eased. My grip on the knife relaxed.
I let out a slow breath, opened the door, and faced my visitor.
"What are you doing here…
…Fiona?"