Chapter 94: Someone "far greater" than him?

The impact of Julian’s small demonstration turned out to have an enormous effect on Canelo Academy. Even hours after the incident, students couldn’t stop talking about it.

Many of them boasted about being among the lucky few who’d witnessed it firsthand. Meanwhile, plenty more who hadn’t been there felt nothing but disappointment.

Not a single student doubted the rumors at all. Not when they could still see the snow-covered area with their own eyes, packed with students who’d flocked there to have fun.

As though they’d stepped straight into winter itself.

Meanwhile, Julian, finally opening his phone to check up on recent Central news, discovered a story spreading at an alarming pace.

It appeared to have only just been released, yet its impact was genuinely terrifying. It was spreading like wildfire, dredging up something that left Julian feeling deeply unsettled.

’...Someone terrorized Cessel of the great Mivelo family?’

Julian even took note of the comments, dripping with fanaticism.

Out of sheer curiosity, Julian dug further, eventually finding footage showing the disembodied heads in unflinching, unblurred detail.

Julian covered his mouth, a wave of nausea churning in his stomach. But he didn’t look away, focusing instead on one particular head he recognized.

’...That’s the assassin’s head, the one who attacked me?’

Julian found himself at a loss for words for a moment. How could he not be?

Truthfully, Julian had already grown fairly suspicious. He was active enough on social media that he’d occasionally noticed he always seemed tangled up in strange occurrences.

It had first happened right when he’d clashed with Eland. And, the very next day, hadn’t something massive befallen that man?

Then, when Julian had brought up the sponsorship issue. That’s when everything had started feeling genuinely suspicious.

Why had they all suddenly shown up, lining up and bowing before him, discussing sponsorship matters as though someone had threatened them right after hearing Julian’s opinion?

And now, once again.

—Who are you, daring to lay your hand on someone far greater than yourself?

"....."

Could Julian even consider that this was written for him?

Someone "far greater" than him?

Looking at how Cessel had genuinely threatened him, sent an assassin after him, and now that exact same assassin’s head sat mounted on display at Cessel’s own front gate.

’Oh god... what exactly have I gotten myself tangled up in?’

Amid all this, Julian genuinely struggled to think through any possibility. He always struggled this way, faced with something so unknown, how was he supposed to stay calm?

Julian took a breath. He closed his eyes for a moment, then activated his innate skill.

It was Fearless.

As it happened, he’d already started feeling uneasy and figured this was a good chance to test just how far this skill’s influence actually went.

And the moment Julian opened his eyes again, he could immediately sense everything around him looking entirely different.

The world seemed to shift into shades of grey. Not that Julian’s feelings and emotions had gone numb, he simply felt that... the world was far too dull, far too ordinary.

Nothing felt frightening anymore, everything felt equal, on the same level.

Julian felt his mind grow remarkably cool, experiencing a level of clarity he’d never once felt before.

As a result, his eyes flickered with a certain gleam, something that felt genuinely unique. Along with that, a distinct spark of insight struck his mind.

"...Let’s think this through again."

Julian, who always spoke only within the confines of his own mind, afraid his words might be overheard by someone and stir up trouble, now spoke directly, without a shred of worry.

That feeling was so genuinely pleasant that Julian might actually become addicted to it.

That state where he felt no fear whatsoever, the anxiety that had constantly wrapped around him ever since arriving in this world, all of it now felt like utter nonsense, to the point where Julian found himself thinking...

Why exactly had he ever been afraid of them in the first place?

The fear he’d felt back then, remembering it now, all of it felt so absurd that Julian couldn’t help but find it genuinely amusing.

"Well, whatever."

Julian let out a small breath.

His thoughts returned to what he’d been mulling over earlier. Like, why did it always feel like he had some hidden supporter backing him from the shadows?

They’d helped Julian, that much was undeniable.

At first, they’d seemed to still be operating in secret, but now, they were revealing themselves quite plainly.

Julian felt no hesitation whatsoever this time.

And his thoughts settled on someone fairly close to him.

"...Ilunia?"

Julian glanced around briefly. During class hours, Julian always spent his time in the Academy’s quiet park.

He gazed at the Academy buildings beneath the clear blue sky. Julian raised his hand, pinching his own chin.

"Ilunia’s actually been pretty suspicious... especially since she’s a seer."

Thinking about the girl’s potential, thinking about how she’d managed to survive on her own at the Academy without any clear support system, and thinking back to her behavior.

Especially back then, right?

Back when Ilunia had brought up the matter of the Academy’s sponsors, and Julian had honestly voiced his own opinion.

Hadn’t Julian actually been remarkably specific in what he’d said back then?

There was no way that girl hadn’t been steering that conversation deliberately, drawing more of Julian’s thoughts out into the open, and what Julian had said had practically handed the girl exactly the justification she needed to act.

Ilunia had guided that conversation straight into requesting formal permission.

"....."

So, was Ilunia actually the true mastermind behind all this?

That fragile, angel-like blind girl?

Julian found it genuinely hard to believe, yet his mind kept circling back to the conclusion that Ilunia really was the one behind all of this.

Sure, there were other candidates, like Lurker. But the man was far too busy for something like this, and he didn’t seem like the type to go to such extreme lengths, terrorizing someone from a great family on the same tier as his own.

There might also be some faction Julian simply wasn’t aware of. But Julian dismissed that possibility.

Unlike Ilunia. If Ilunia really was the mastermind behind all this, Julian could actually guess exactly why she’d go this far.

"I’m curious, what exactly does she see."

It had to be some specific future, one tied to Julian himself. And, perhaps, Ilunia was firmly on Julian’s side.

Julian just needed one simple confirmation now, and once he managed to confirm all of it, all that remained was weighing the risks against the benefits.

He sank deeper into his thoughts, then heard the sound of gentle footsteps approaching.

Julian turned around, finding a girl with her eyes covered. She walked with a cane in hand, tapping the path ahead of her in a short but steady rhythm.

Her golden hair flowed gently down her slender waist, and she still looked genuinely beautiful beneath the clear sky.

"...Master, are you here?"

Julian had no idea how Ilunia had managed to find him. Maybe she’d asked someone, or used some method exclusive to those who couldn’t see.

Glancing at the still-quiet Academy building, Julian tilted his head, a little confused.

"Ilunia... why are you here? I believe it’s still class hours."

Julian’s words made Ilunia turn toward him, a sweet, innocent smile crossing her face.

"Ah, Master, so you really are here."

Julian didn’t answer, simply rising from where he’d been sitting. He approached Ilunia, helping the blind girl reach the right spot, then waited patiently.

Ilunia let out a breath of relief, appearing to be in a genuinely good mood as she "looked" at Julian.

After that, she gently curved her lips and spoke.

"Master, congratulations on your progress."