The atmosphere in the tavern grew heavy in an instant.
The lively chatter characteristic of the pub died down, leaving only the clinking of utensils.
The mere act of descending the stairs was enough for the Black Tower mages to exude an overwhelming presence.
Oscar gazed at them unfazed.
‘Three.’
One woman at level 5, and two men at level 4.
Among them, the woman who appeared to be the leader did not avoid his gaze.
Her jet-black hair, like a melted night sky, reached down to her waist, with bangs cut evenly just above her eyebrows.
Even the side strands dangling near her jawline were trimmed straight, making her small face appear even smaller.
At that moment, as she shifted her gaze, she glared at Veronica.
Noticing this, one of the men behind her muttered quietly.
"Kiri, they’re mages from the White Tower. And not just any..."
"...You don’t need to tell me. I’ve got eyes."
"There’s no benefit in clashing with them now. Think of our mission."
The woman called Kiri nodded slowly at his words and headed to a corner seat in the tavern.
Soon after, the tense atmosphere that had built up began to dissipate, replaced by the usual boisterous noise.
Chomp, chomp.
Meanwhile, Killian, who was enthusiastically devouring his steak, spoke up.
"Oscar, can I have another plate? This place is great."
"Go ahead."
"This time, I’ll try the tenderloin."
As Killian placed an additional order, Oscar turned to Veronica.
"That woman seemed to recognize you. Do you know her?"
“Well, it’s not like we’re strangers.”
Veronica spoke with a slight hint of discomfort.
"I told you on the way, didn’t I? That I visited the Black Tower on a field trip when I was a kid."
"You did."
"Back then, there was someone who joined me for the program. We got pretty close in just five days and even talked about working together to change the Black Tower."
"Don’t tell me..."
"You’re thinking it right. That’s Kiri Gloria—her."
What a coincidence.
Oscar let out a faint laugh.
"Is that why she seems to hate you?"
"...Probably? After all, I decided to join the White Tower in the end."
If they were young, it could indeed have been a significant shock.
“She seemed to be a level 5 mage.”
"Yes, a genius. The Black Tower's rapid growth owes a lot to her contributions."
A level 5 mage at such a young age—comparable to Oscar’s past life talents.
Curious, Oscar asked.
"There aren’t more like her around our age, are there?"
"Oh, there are. From what I know, at least three more."
Three more.
Oscar didn’t bother asking where they were from.
"...But it’s strange."
"What is?"
"She’s a level 5 mid-tier mage and a significant figure within the Black Tower. By rights, she should only be assigned to crucial missions. So why is she here, in a rural area?"
Similar to himself.
If one has exceptional abilities, nothing is impossible—especially in an emerging Black Tower.
‘If someone of her stature is directly involved, it must be....’
Clearly, they were here for something important.
Narrowing his eyes, Oscar began drawing upon his magic—subtly and faintly enough that no one in the tavern would notice.
‘No sound is coming through...’
It was because a remarkably well-crafted Silence spell enveloped them.
Undoubtedly the work of Kiri Gloria herself.
‘But there’s a way around that.’
Oscar mimicked her magical code and created a small breach in the Silence.
The gap was barely large enough for a needle to pass through.
Although he wanted to make it larger, that would risk detection.
‘Especially since she’s a genius, caution won’t hurt.’
The more sensitive one is to mana, the more they’d notice such infiltration.
Through the gap he’d created, fragments of their conversation began to filter in.
White Tower... noticed... must hurry...
Resurrection of the predecessor... ritual...
Divine... Veronica... the other one... noble...
Wait.
At that moment, the woman abruptly cut off their conversation and stood up, casting a sharp glance toward his direction.
Oscar instinctively ceased his magic, but she continued to stare at him for a long while.
Chomp, chomp.
Killian, finishing his second plate of steak, commented.
“Oscar, she’s glaring at you pretty hard.”
"Did you do something?"
"What could I have done?"
Oscar replied nonchalantly and rose from his seat.
"Let’s head back to the inn. It seems..."
Meeting Kiri’s gaze, he finished his sentence.
"Tonight’s going to be a long one."
Back at the inn, Oscar gathered his thoughts.
‘There’s definitely something going on.’
They were clearly paying attention to his group.
If they weren’t up to something shady, they wouldn’t care.
The mention of resurrection and rituals, in particular, left a bad taste.
After all, those brought back by such means were rarely benign.
‘...If.’
If the young mages of the Black Tower were plotting something heinous again—
Oscar’s eyes grew cold for a moment.
He might have to stain his hands with a mage’s blood tonight.
"Shall we head out?"
"It’s almost midnight. That’s when they’re supposed to appear."
Called by Veronica and Killian, the three left the inn and headed toward the graveyard outside the village.
After about a 20-minute walk, they arrived.
"There’s definitely something here."
The eerie energy was palpable, even on their skin.
At this level, it wouldn’t be surprising if a powerful undead emerged.
Sensing the same, Killian and Veronica’s expressions turned serious.
"They’re moving."
As they stepped into the graveyard, crack!
A skeleton burst from the ground, grabbing Oscar’s ankle.
Just as Killian rushed to kick it away—
"Wind Bullet."
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Whizz!
A blast of wind magic pierced the skeleton’s skull.
Its shattered remains crumbled instantly.
“Killian, search the forest around the graveyard. Veronica, patrol the perimeter and take out any skeletons heading toward the village.”
“Understood.”
“...I don’t like being ordered, but fine.”
As the two moved off, Oscar leisurely strolled through the graveyard.
Occasionally, skeletons lunged at him from the ground, but they were destroyed before fully emerging.
By the time he’d circled the graveyard, Oscar had eliminated twelve skeletons.
Though a significant number for a small rural village, he wasn’t satisfied.
‘This can’t be all.’
The ominous energy prickling his skin remained.
Its source was undoubtedly beneath the graveyard.
‘Does that mean...?’
Could there be a dungeon below?
As he stared at the ground, lost in thought, Veronica returned.
“I got them all. Five of them were heading toward the village.”
“Good work.”
Kilian, who followed behind, wore a completely different expression than usual—one that seemed anxious.
“Oscar, I found something... and it’s likely...”
“A dungeon, right?”
Kilian’s eyes widened in shock as he asked,
“How did you know?”
“The level of the undead doesn’t match the ominous aura we’re sensing. Plus, these creatures weren’t naturally formed from lingering grudges.”
Oscar glanced down and continued,
“They’re skeletons, artificially created by the intense energy leaking from beneath the ground.”
“Let’s go. To the dungeon entrance.”
“...Are you sure about this?”
Kilian cast a sidelong glance at Veronica, who immediately frowned, knowing exactly what his look meant.
“Hey, if you’ve got something to say, spit it out. Don’t dance around it.”
“If you insist. Oscar, we don’t know what dangers await in the dungeon. Bringing someone who doesn’t understand loyalty increases the risk severalfold. It might be better if just the two of us go.”
“This guy...!”
Before they could start bickering, Oscar stepped in.
“Enough.”
Interrupting just in time, he turned to Kilian.
“I don’t know what you think of Veronica, but she’s not the type to betray her comrades just to save herself in a crisis.”
“And more importantly, she’s as much my comrade as you are.”
At this, Kilian nodded slowly.
“If that’s what you believe, I won’t say more. And... woman.”
“My name is Veronica Fricks, not ‘woman.’”
“Right. Veronica Fricks. If I offended you, I apologize.”
Veronica clicked her tongue lightly and looked away.
Oscar knew she wasn’t rejecting the apology, just that she had nothing else to say.
‘Well, considering how much of a lone wolf she’s been, it’s not surprising Kilian thinks that way.’
“All right, if we’re done here, let’s move out.”
Sensing the aura growing stronger, he murmured,
“We can’t afford to waste any more time.”
“This way!”
The dungeon entrance Kilian had discovered was quite far, impressive given the short time it took him to locate it.
“I found it because of the distinct, alien energy emanating from the forest.”
“Well done, warrior of the forest.”
The stone door, now open, was covered in vines and moss.
Had it not already been ajar, they might have passed it by without realizing it was a door.
“Let’s go.”
Leading the group, Oscar walked down the dungeon corridor, his face growing more serious.
‘Too quiet.’
Most dungeons were filled with monsters and traps, but this one had neither.
‘Not even signs of battle.’
“Kilian, was there anything unusual when you opened that door?”
“Hm? I didn’t open it.”
Kilian shook his head.
“The door was already open when I got here.”
“What?”
Oscar’s expression hardened instantly.
Why was this idiot saying that now?
“Damn it! Run!”
The ominous aura grew stronger by the second, now accompanied by a ghostly wail that could paralyze an ordinary person.
When they reached the end of the corridor, a massive chamber unfolded before them.
‘A coffin?’
At the center lay a massive coffin bound tightly by glowing magical chains.
Surrounding it were familiar faces.
‘Black Tower mages...’
The mages stood in a triangular formation around the coffin, chanting spells and scattering magical energy.
“Kilian, take the man on the left! Veronica, handle the one on the right! We have to stop the resurrection ritual!”
“Got it!”
“Understood!”
As they leaped into action, Oscar charged toward the woman radiating the strongest magic—Kiri Gloria.
“You Black Tower scum... I don’t know what scheme you’re up to this time, but—”
Swish!
His Wind Cutter spell tore through Kiri’s sleeve, forcing her to break her incantation and dodge.
Her face twisted in fury.
“You fool... Do you even know what you’re doing?”
“Did you think I’d just let you complete your resurrection ritual?”
“Resurrection ritual? What nonsense are you—”
Before she could finish, the coffin’s lid began to creak open, releasing a plume of black smoke as the magical chains snapped like threads.
“This can’t be...”
Kiri Gloria’s eyes filled with dread as, with a thunderous crash, the coffin lid flew into the air and embedded itself in the ground.
From within, a long-dormant being slowly rose to its feet.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]

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