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While traveling in the car to the deep zone, Adela was lost in thought.

‘Could what Violet said be true?’

When she met Violet again, she felt a great joy—a sense of excitement at seeing a girl who could possibly be her junior.

She was very disappointed when she realized Violet had deceived her name. She had thought she was a cute and innocent child, but it turned out she had hidden such a malicious side.

Just as she was about to turn away in disappointment, when she looked into Violet’s eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a slight wavering.

The tears were welling up in the eyes of this young girl as she stammered to explain her situation.

-My parents have passed away. And bad people are after me… I can’t attend the academy anymore…

There were many aspects that couldn’t be explained rationally. The excuse she gave seemed strange and exaggerated. It was clear she was hiding something.

However, her intuition, honed through training and experience, told a different story.

At the very least, it seemed there was no lie in what Violet was saying itself.

-Sister Adela. Can I go now? I need to earn money with my friends…

“Calling me sister…”

Adela muttered.

According to what she had learned, interpersonal matters should be analyzed and judged rationally. Yet she found herself unable to do that with this girl; she didn’t even know why.

After the car arrived at the deep zone, encountering Violet again while leading the juniors she was assigned was indeed a coincidence.

‘Let’s talk to her first.’

She said with an awkward smile.

“I didn’t expect to see you here again… I’m sorry for getting angry earlier…”

“Hehe, it’s fine! I did something that could easily be misunderstood too.”

As Violet replied with a grin, Adela found herself feeling a bit relieved for some reason. Was it because she didn’t want to be resented by this girl?

She noticed the armed soldiers sitting behind Violet.

If one didn’t concentrate, they’d leave a vague impression, a Recognition Interference Device.

‘Why is this girl here like this? Who are those people?’

The term forced labor flashed in her mind. She began to suspect if she was being used by some dubious organization.

Adela cautiously asked. Violet answered immediately.

“Oh, those people? They are from Ariel Group…”

“Ariel Group?”

Violet gestured to the back. The soldiers who had been sitting stood up and moved in unison to line up.

“They’re my bodyguards. Left by my parents.”

Violet managed a somewhat sad smile.

Seeing that, Adela’s mind lit up like a bolt of lightning.

Her knowledge of the world of Awakened Ones and high society, as a prospective head of an old noble family, began to operate like cogs in a clock.

The flow of knowledge and thought pointed to several clues given.

Deceased parents, a female student from Awakener Academy, an unidentified escort organization, and companions who looked like Awakened Ones.

‘A power struggle within the clan. Issues of inheritance and shares.’

The Cascadia Family has a vast network. Thanks to that, she often hears rumors and stories entangled with numerous clans, whether she likes it or not.

There’s nothing that brings gossip to the lips of busybodies more than the blood-soaked power struggles and share disputes among family members.

‘If her parents died and she is being chased by relatives or competitors…’

A narrative naturally unfolded. A common story.

Individuals become ruthless in the face of money and power.

Violet was an orphaned girl chased out of her clan or family due to some reason. Unable to attend the academy, she was adventuring through dangerous dungeons with loyal soldiers and friends to reclaim her rightful birthright.

The puzzle pieces that had been missing were gradually fitting together. There was no definitive evidence, so she couldn’t conclude entirely, yet it was a sad situation.

It was frustrating that due to the family policy, she couldn’t intervene recklessly in someone else’s affairs.

“I see.”

Adela swallowed the bitterness and put on a facade of calmness.

‘If it’s true, then poor child…’

**

When Adela suddenly asked about the true identity of our Violets, I was honestly taken aback.

I didn’t know how to explain it. I barely managed to answer by pretending to know Irene’s situation. Thankfully, Adela let it slide.

「I’m alive! The excuse about my parents’ bodyguard worked!」

「That’s a relief.」

I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

Just then, I was contemplating how to leave this place when Adela approached my bodyguards, that is, the Violet squad members standing in a line beside me. They stood still without a motion.

「Still suspicious, huh? What should I do?」

「It’s okay. We’ve got insoles, right? They won’t notice!」

Adela looked at our members. A glimmer of goodwill was in her amethyst-like eyes.

“You all seem like good people. I’m glad.”

「Why is she suddenly saying that?」

I was puzzled but stopped thinking about it. For now, it didn’t seem like Adela’s mood was sour.

After resolving the crisis, I became curious.

Why did Adela come here?

「Could she be concocting some strange human experiment?」

「Don’t be foolish! Adela is kind.」

The ones who were slowly glancing this way must be younger students without a doubt.

But I wondered why the Student Council President was accompanying these lower grade students on a field trip. It was strange for the Student Council President to join such an outing.

Now that I look closely, I see some students wearing armbands that look like they belong to the disciplinary committee. There were also quite a few armed guards.

I inquired about that, and I noticed Adela wearing a perplexed expression.

“Well, actually, a first-year student got into trouble this time. So the senior members of the Student Council stepped in.”

“Trouble?”

When I asked back, Adela placed her hand on her forehead as if she had a severe headache.

“Well, some new student ran away claiming they’d find a relic and went to a dungeon with friends. Thankfully, they were quickly rescued, but it was a mess. Because of this, the safety regulations for experiential learning have been strengthened. We need to prevent any other incidents.”

“Huh, I can’t believe that happened! That’s scary.”

When I responded, Adela nodded and made an uncomfortable expression.

“The adventurous spirits of young juniors are too high. Holy Grails… confessions…! Sigh…”

I caught on to the situation from a few words that slipped from her lips.

Goodness, this had to be about that Alex character. Tsk, tsk, it seems like he’s been caught.

Suddenly, something I had completely forgotten popped into my mind.

「Wait, field trip, huh?」

I was doubtful that the Aegis Academy people knew about the Unity Cult. Just moments ago, I had just explained about those cultists at the Forward Base.

“Excuse me, Student Council President? I have something to tell you.”

I explained the existence of the Unity Cult and what I had experienced.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes! Their things…”

I pretended to put my hand in my pocket and took out the loot I had obtained from them from my inventory.

Adela’s expression darkened as she looked at the pocket scripture of the Unity Cult.

“Thank you for letting me know. Violet! I need to tell the professors immediately.”

Just as she turned around, a fierce gunshot echoed from somewhere far in the deep zone.

Every one of the people there turned their gaze toward the darkness beyond. It was too loud for a hunter’s shout.

Strange and unique noises followed in succession, reminiscent of tearing coarse fabric with a knife. It sounded like gunshots, but sharper and more peculiar.

“This is the sound of Federal Army weapons…?”

As Adela muttered, images of the scene I had seen last night came flooding back.

“Right, I saw Federal Army tanks coming last night!”

“Is that true?”

I talked about the Federal Army mobile unit. The moment she heard it, she rushed toward the academy bus.

**

Somewhere in an unnamed ruin, while the members of the Special Investigation Department 3 rummaged through the corpses of the zealots, Lera, who was operating the detector, spoke.

“The Federal Army has begun to move. We need to hurry.”

She glanced at one side of the wall while sending a telepathic message. The noises were disturbing.

The sound that could be heard from a distance was quite loud and also unique.

The characteristic sound that occurs when tungsten projectiles fly is something you wouldn’t typically hear from the ordinary firearms circulating in the market.

“Oh my, these are electromagnetic weapons. They’re quite prepared.”

The Vanguard commander, leaning against the wall, raised his arms theatrically as if something huge had happened.

“With this, there’s no reason we brought along something heavy on our backs. Did you see the expression on that Elder when he died? ‘Why isn’t it firing?’ That thought just makes me laugh more as I think about it.”

Hearing the commander’s words, the nearby agents chuckled. The modulation of the voice behind sealed masks sounded somewhat eerie.

“We didn’t come to play. You know that.”

“Well, the young folks these days are too serious. Alright, be careful!”

The commander grumbled.

“Anyway, isn’t it just finding the goods and then it’s over? No one will know who we are since we came in under different identities. Oh, look, found something just now.”

One of the staff discovered a peculiar key among the crushed and mangled bodies of Unity Cult zealots.

Lera took the key, examined it, and inserted it into a prominent hole in the corner of the ruin. The attention of the team members was focused on her. The wall trembled, and the gear ball inside revealed itself.

The atmosphere filled with anticipation among the operatives calmed down. It wasn’t the relic they wanted.

“This isn’t a Vision Prism. What a disappointment.”

Lera didn’t hide her disappointment.

“Weren’t those things necessary for the plan anyway? Don’t be too hasty! We have plenty of time. Keep your cool.”

She gave other instructions to the team. The team members prepared to take out the gear ball fixed to the wall.

From a distance, more team members with equipment came into view. One member saw a corpse and quickly ducked his head and retched. The equipment clattered and fell to the ground.

“Ah, damn… who’s not a new recruit…”

“Ah, ugh. Sorry! Ugh, ugh!”

The members expressed their annoyance.

Lera approached a female member, pulled her aside, and comforted her.

“I-I’m so sorry…”

“It’s okay. I’m not angry. Is this your first time on site?”

“Yes, I was assigned from the laboratory… This is my first field exploration… Ugh! What in the world are these people…”

The brown-haired girl trembled.

“You heard the explanation earlier, right? They’re zealots. You’ll get used to it, so don’t be too hard on yourself.”

The brown-haired girl gloomily held her equipment and returned to her duties.

After a while, the metal sphere detached from the wall.

Lera quickly evacuated with her team. The noise was getting closer.

**

After Adela left the spot, she was seen discussing with people who appeared to be professors. The instructors around were also listening carefully with serious expressions.

The results came quickly.

“…Adelaide’s words are correct. Now, everyone pay attention!”

The professors called the students over and spoke loudly.

The conclusion drawn by the Aegis Academy members was simple. Cancellation of the experiential learning!

「Faster than I expected?」

If it were Polaris, they would definitely have said to endure with sheer will.

Given that it’s a good school, they seem sensitive about safety issues. The moment risks arise, they decide on withdrawal immediately.

They focus on ensuring a safe educational environment for students. Indeed, I must attend that school. By any means necessary!

「They would provide good meals, right?」

I slowly prepared to return to my real work.

Finding precious relics in the deep zone, earning a lot of money, and buying weapons.

As I was gearing up to withdraw, a frantic voice came from the Aegis Academy side.

“Where did those guys go?”

“Three teams are missing!”

Oh no, it seems there were other Alex types lurking around. That school is in big trouble.

While the escort unit transporting other students hurried back to the safe zone, Adela approached me.

“Oh? Sister. What’s the matter?”

“Um, sister? Uh, that’s not it… Violet, how long will you be here? It’s dangerous.”

“I’ll find a few more relics and then leave. I need money.”

“Ah… then I guess there’s no helping it. But can I ask you for one favor?”

I nodded. Adela spoke with a worried look.

“We need to withdraw quickly, but a few of our academy students are missing! For now, I’m thinking of searching with others, but the area is too large, and we have no idea where they went. If you happen to find the students, could you bring them to this coordinate? I’ll reward you.”

There was no question about the answer. I couldn’t refuse this. It might help with my enrollment or transfer into the academy if the professors noticed me.

“Yes! I’ll bring them right away if I find them!”

More than anything, it was Adela’s request. I had to fulfill it!

“Don’t overdo it. Violet’s job comes first. Understand?”

I received pictures of the students and the coordinates from Adela. The coordinates pointed to a border zone on the internal map of the dungeon.

I returned to my team and explained.

“Let’s find both the relics and the students!”

Finding people would be a piece of cake for us.

 

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