The battle was completely one-sided. Despite Arthur being the active Mercenary King before even enrolling as a student, Byulya was literally toying with him, landing brutal blows that echoed with sickening cracks and crunches. With a deafening crash, Byulya’s kick sent Arthur flying from one end of the room to the other. He slammed into the wall, losing his grip on his sword as it clattered to the floor.
"Arthur!" Molly cried out, rushing to his side.
"I thought she was the Venomology professor... not Combat Magic," Sasha muttered, her face pale with bewilderment.
Slumped on the floor, Arthur glared up with burning fighting spirit until his strength gave out and his head finally dropped.
"Ah’, that was fun," Byulya said, flopping down into a seat. She picked at her teeth as if she had just finished a decadent dessert. "He’s got a solid chin, and it felt great beating him up. The guards around here were totally boring, so this really cleared my head."
The hotel owner, stripped down to his underwear, trembled violently, as if some terrifying memory had just resurfaced.
Byulya grabbed the expensive liquor resting on the table and chugged it down, her throat bobbing noisily. She let out a satisfied gasp and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Ah’, on days like this, the kumis from my home in the grasslands is the absolute best."
She slammed the empty bottle onto the table and flashed a jagged, shark-like grin at the other two girls.
"You guys saw that, right?" Byulya asked. "This red-haired punk came at me first. He said it was vacation and that we were meeting as a phantom thief and a mercenary."
Sasha let out a heavy sigh. "I don’t really care what happens to the Idiot King. He charged in without listening to the whole story."
Even half-unconscious, Arthur groaned from the floor, muttering, "Not the Idiot King... the Mercenary King."
"Are you out of your mind?" Sasha demanded. "A Kizen professor using force to rob a hotel’s private property?"
"Hmm?"
"Depending on your answer, you might have to step down from your professorship at Kizen, and we might have to take you on."
’Us?’ Princess Molly’s eyes darted between Sasha and Byulya, her face stricken with terror.
"Man, what the hell have you been talking about?" Byulya asked, idly picking at her ear.
Realizing they were talking past each other, Sasha tried again. "You sent a calling card to this hotel. You declared that you were going to rob this place blind today."
"A calling card? Oh, that wasn’t a calling card. It was a letter of challenge."
"Excuse me?"
Byulya waved a hand dismissively and explained the whole story.
Fond of drinking and gambling, she had come to the famous resort town of Verino for her vacation. While gambling, she had ended up losing the massive salary she’d earned working as a professor.
’Like, is this even statistically possible?’ she had wondered.
Enraged, she had immediately grabbed the casino dealers, the players she had gamed with, and the manager. After force-feeding them truth serums, she quickly discovered that the whole operation was a rigged scam.
She immediately confronted the man in charge—the hotel owner who ran numerous casinos across Verino. But instead of resolving the issue, he sent thugs to shut her up, treating her like any other unruly customer.
In the end, after smashing all the mercenaries sent her way, Byulya issued him a letter of challenge: ’If you don’t hand over my money, I’ll storm the place right now.’
"Isn’t that a threat, not a challenge?" Molly asked quietly.
Byulya ignored the correction. "But when I told him to cough up the money, this bastard just beefed up security and told me to screw off. So I smashed everything and forced this piece of shit to his knees right in front of me."
The hotel owner, still in his underwear, trembled violently and bowed his head. He was arguably the most powerful man in Verino, but whatever Byulya had done to him, he couldn’t even meet her eyes.
Listening to the explanation, Sasha narrowed her eyes. "I understand the situation, but using violence to get your money back is—"
"I figured you’d say that, so here are the memorandums and deeds." Byulya pulled a fluttering stack of papers from her bag and scattered them across the table. "Of course, they wrote the memorandums themselves."
Sasha and Molly stepped closer to inspect the documents. They were official memorandums admitting to the rigged gambling, promising to return the stolen money, and agreeing to turn a blind eye to any minor property damage or injuries. They were stamped with the hotel owner’s thumbprint. Not only that, but she had obtained similar signed confessions from the waiters and staff at the casino where she had lost her money.
"Jane always nags me whenever vacation rolls around," Byulya grumbled, picking at her ear again.
’I won’t tell you not to cause trouble. However, no matter where you go or what you do, leave everything in writing.’
Molly broke into a cold sweat as she skimmed the paperwork. "Setting aside the suspicion that these might have been obtained through threats and drugs, the memorandums themselves seem perfectly legally binding. As expected, Vice President Jane has incredible foresight..."
"Who said anything about threats?!" Byulya slammed her fist on the table and glared at the hotel owner. "Did I threaten you?"
The man squealed like a frightened pig.
"Answer in human words!"
"No, ma’am!"
The hotel owner looked as if he were about to faint the moment he met Byulya’s terrifying gaze. It seemed there wouldn’t be any legal repercussions. Even if he changed his mind later and tried to raise an issue, there was no reason for a local businessman to intentionally make an enemy of a professor backed by Kizen.
"Well, this ended up being a total letdown." Once it was clear the situation was resolved, Sasha let out a yawn and dismissed her plant-type summons back to their subspace. "I shouldn’t have helped the Idiot King with his mission. If I had gone to the grasslands with Simon and the others, by now..."
Byulya, who had been chugging from the bottle again, suddenly spat out her liquor. The alcohol sprayed right into the face of the kneeling hotel owner, leaving him soaking wet.
"What did you just say?" Byulya shot up from her seat. "Simon? Our little cutie went to the grasslands?"
"Yeah, well," Sasha replied nonchalantly. "Professor Hongfeng invited him to her house in the grasslands, so they went to hang out there. I was super jealous."
"Oho?" A sharp glint flashed in Byulya’s eyes.
They were getting closer to the area in question. Simon’s group felt the need to act more stealthily. They deactivated Meirin’s Jet-Black Ice Barrier and approached on foot. The sky was slowly growing dark.
Muffling their footsteps, they carefully parted the tall grass and advanced step by step. There was no longer any need to rely on Kamibarez’s acute sense of smell; even Simon could feel the oppressive, suspicious aura lingering in the air.
"Whoa’," Dick breathed, his eyes widening. "What is all that?"
Hidden within the lush greenery of the lower grasslands was a massive ancient city. It was filled with bizarre structures built in a peculiar architectural style, featuring towering step pyramids made of overlapping stone blocks.
"It’s kind of spooky," Kamibarez whispered, shrinking back.
"It gives me the creeps," Meirin muttered, rubbing the goosebumps on her arms.
But since Professor Hongfeng might be inside, they had no time to delay. Simon moved swiftly, pressing his back against the city’s crumbling perimeter wall and peering inside.
"No sign of anyone," he whispered. "Let’s go in."
They slipped into the ancient ruins. Once inside, the ominous feeling grew even stronger. Meirin, who had been glancing nervously at the towering stone structures, quietly nudged Simon.
"Simon, do you think this is the ancient civilization from your history books?"
"I think so," he replied softly.
Meanwhile, Dick approached a nearby structure and brushed his palm across the stone surface. He stared intently at his hand, rubbing the dust between his fingers.
"What’s wrong, Dick?" Simon asked.
"I get that this is a city from the ancient civilization era," Dick said, looking around the plaza. "But doesn’t it look like it’s been maintained?"
He was right. If an ancient city had been abandoned for millennia, it should have been completely swallowed by weeds and thick vines. And if the ruins were this exposed, there was no way adventurers or archaeologists wouldn’t have discovered them by now.
Simon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So you’re saying someone used this place recently?"
"Probably."
Something was definitely wrong. The four of them moved forward with heightened caution. As twilight deepened, the ancient city felt less majestic and more grotesque. They couldn’t pinpoint exactly why, but the architecture seemed to loom over them, radiating a primal, ominous energy that set their nerves on edge.
"Come to think of it..." Simon stopped dead in his tracks.
"Hey, don’t say it," Meirin warned.
"The ancient civilization here had a custom of human sacrifice—"
"I said don’t! You idiot!" Meirin smacked Simon’s forearm, her face pale with fright.
Kamibarez flinched and looked around nervously, while Dick narrowed his eyes with a grave expression.
"Wait, hold on. Then by now, Professor Hongfeng might also..."
Meirin delivered a full-swing smack to the back of Dick’s head. Dick let out a yelp and ducked.
"Wow, playing favorites again!" Dick complained, rubbing his head. "Simon gets a tap, but I get a concussion!"
"You crazy bastard! Learn to filter what comes out of your mouth!"
While the two of them bickered, Simon pointed ahead. "Doesn’t it look like someone’s over there?"
At the top of a towering stone structure, they could clearly see a figure tied to a post. The group’s expressions instantly stiffened.
"P-Professor Hongfeng?" Kamibarez stammered.
"No, the silhouette looks like a man," Simon said. "I’ll go check."
He quickly dashed up the stepped ruins.
"Simon! Be careful!"
"Let’s go together!"
The other three hurried after him. Reaching the top of the ruins first, Simon approached the figure.
It was a man, emaciated to the point of looking like a mummy. Based on his woven attire and features, he seemed to be a local from the grasslands. He was bound tightly to a wooden pole, looking exactly like a victim prepared for human sacrifice.
"Are you okay?" Simon asked, quickly untying the thick ropes.
However, the man was in no condition to speak. He groaned, babbling incomprehensible, frantic syllables as his eyes rolled back. Simon supported the man’s weight as they climbed back down to the plaza, where the other three joined them.
Once they were safely off the exposed ruins, Dick handed the man a canteen. "Why were you tied up there? Who did this to you?"
The man must have been incredibly thirsty, as he greedily gulped down the water. But it seemed to be pure instinct; his sunken eyes still lacked focus.
"Have you seen Professor Hongfeng by any chance?" Simon asked gently. "Hongfeng Toon Soqum Marlat!"
At the mention of Hongfeng’s name, the man flinched violently.
"O-Offer! Sacrifice!" he rasped.
"What does that mean?"
The man’s vacant gaze turned toward the sky. The sun had already set, plunging the city into deep twilight. Suddenly, he started foaming at the mouth, his body seizing with violent tremors.
He let out a bloodcurdling scream and violently shoved away Simon and Dick. Hitting the ground, he began to scramble away on all fours.
"Sacrifice, sacrifice! As a living sacrifice! ’Arghhh!"
Flailing wildly, he scrambled into the dense foliage and fled into the forest like a madman.
"Wait!" Simon called out, stepping forward.
"Let him go, Simon." Dick grabbed his shoulder to stop him. "It’s safer for him to run away from here anyway. More importantly, the chances of Professor Hongfeng being here just went up."
"Right."
Just then, Kamibarez raised her arm, pointing toward the towering structures.
"What’s wrong, Kami?" Meirin asked.
"Over there..." Her fingertips trembled violently. "Blood..."
The last rays of light vanished, and full night fell over the ancient city. At that exact moment, thick crimson blood began pouring down from the tops of all the surrounding temples. It cascaded over the stone steps, flowing endlessly like a gruesome waterfall.
But that wasn’t all. Hazy, spectral human figures began to manifest one by one atop the blood-soaked temples. A chill ran down Simon’s spine as he realized they were the exact same beings he had seen during his night watch the previous evening.
"Everyone stay calm. This way," Simon whispered urgently.
They would be spotted if they stayed out in the open. Simon ushered his friends, who looked like they were on the verge of fainting from panic, into the shadows of a narrow stone alleyway.
More unidentified figures continued to materialize across the temples. They were moving rhythmically, striking and stabbing downward at unseen targets. Every time they brought their weapons down, a sickening thud echoed through the night, and fresh waves of blood poured down the stone steps. The nocturnal city was rapidly turning into a complete bloodbath.
"Ugh..." Meirin stopped, her face rigid with disgust. The blood flowing from the temples and towers had already pooled heavily across the stone pavement, seeping toward their boots.
Kamibarez sniffed the air, seeming to calm down a fraction. "It’s okay! It’s not real blood!"
"R-Really?" Meirin stammered. "Then what the hell is that red stuff?"
"Just keep moving!" Dick hissed.
They didn’t know what was going on, but they knew nothing good would come from being discovered. Just then, Dick pointed to the side.
Looming in the darkness was the largest temple in the vicinity. At its base was a massive, dark hole that looked like an entrance. The four of them sprinted toward it, channeling jet-black to boost their speed.
Suddenly, an unidentified, blood-covered monster prowling around the temple let out a wet gurgle and a sharp shriek as it spotted them and charged. It was a grotesque, squelching mass of flesh, its horrifying appearance defying description.
"Run!" Dick shouted.
He took the lead, with Meirin and Kamibarez rushing behind him. Taking up the rear, Simon launched Bone Armors to batter the creature and keep it at bay. They sprinted with all their might, their boots splashing through the crimson puddles.
Soon, the first three rushed through the dark entrance of the temple. Simon, entering last, spun around and stomped his left foot hard on the stone floor.
[Open!]
With a rapid clattering of bones, Overlords burst from the floor. They grabbed the heavy stone door above the entrance and pulled it down with tremendous force. The massive slab slammed shut with a deafening thud, plunging them into darkness.
The four of them stood frozen in the pitch-black corridor, covering their mouths and holding their breath. Through a narrow crack in the stone wall, they could see the blood-covered monsters standing blankly in front of the sealed door. They didn’t seem to possess much intelligence, as they soon lost interest and squelched away to another area.
The four of them let out a collective sigh of relief, their shoulders slumping.
"Who..."
A strange, small voice echoed in the darkness. Everyone flinched, shrinking back against the wall.
"Who are you?"
Simon quickly turned his head. A young girl, looking no older than ten, was pressed against the far wall, her face pale with terror.
’She’s speaking the continental language!’
While the others remained on high alert, their nerves frayed from the horrors outside, Simon alone smiled warmly. He stepped forward and replied in the same continental language.
"Hello there. We’re Professor Hongfeng’s students."
The little girl’s eyes went wide with shock. Keeping a respectful distance so as not to frighten her further, Simon crouched down to meet her at eye level.
"Hongfeng Toon Soqum Marlat. You know her, right?"
The girl, still trembling with wariness, gave a tiny nod.
"We came here because Professor Hongfeng invited us," Simon said gently. "Where should we go to find her?"
Hearing that, the girl slowly hung her head low, her expression darkening with sorrow.

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