Chapter 142: Headmaster’s Thoughts, World Threat?

Dorian looked at the group of children standing before him with a complicated expression.

At the moment, he was sitting in the Teacher’s Cafeteria, patiently waiting for his food.

Calling the group in front of him brats would actually be an understatement.

Four of them were ordinary-looking human children, two were young Barbarians, two were unique summons: a talking panda and a talking dog, and then there was Caelum, who somehow looked older than a seven-year-old should.

Sharing the table with Dorian were three other teachers.

Lumi, one of the academy’s most popular instructors, known equally for her beauty and kindness.

Stein, a foreign researcher whose genius in magical studies was well recognized throughout the Empire.

And Johnson, a nobleman infamous among the staff for his tendency to look down upon commoners.

"So..." Dorian began looking at each of them.

"You all want permission to enter the Goblin and Undead Dungeon tomorrow, despite it being a holiday, am I understanding this correctly?"

"That’s right!" Bonjour answered before anyone else could speak, standing proudly at the front like the group’s representative.

Dorian felt the situation was absurd, because who asks for homework during holiday?

"The practical classes are already intense enough for most students... well, perhaps not for you." He paused, his gaze settling on Bonjour.

The barbarian child already possessed muscles that looked more developed than his own.

For a brief moment, Dorian questioned their authenticity.

"You children should be resting," Lumi said gently.

"Won’t you have Physical Training again the day after tomorrow? Overworking yourselves isn’t healthy."

"Don’t worry, Teacher, this is simply extra practice." Caelum replied politely.

Stein adjusted his glasses before looking over the group.

"Hmm... from what I can see, only you and Bonjour actually look enthusiastic."

He glanced toward the others.

Paul looked nervous, Skyler looked sleepy, Ryan was quietly polishing his sword, Sénior looked expressionless.

Caelum immediately defended them.

"Of course they’re secretly happy, its just that their happiness is... secret!"

"..."

Nobody reacted but Stein slowly nodded.

"I see..."

At that moment, Johnson stroked his magnificent mustache before speaking.

"I think you should grant their request, Dorian. It isn’t every day students voluntarily ask to enter a dungeon during their holiday. Even I’ve approved similar requests in the past."

The sunlight reflecting off his carefully maintained mustache somehow made it appear unusually majestic.

’This teacher doesn’t seem bad at all,’ Caelum thought, completely unaware of Johnson’s notorious reputation throughout the school.

Although Johnson openly disliked commoners, he was surprisingly dedicated to his work.

Combined with his unforgettable mustache, he had become one of the most recognizable teachers in the Foundation Division.

Meanwhile, Johnson quietly observed Caelum as a trace of regret flashed through his eyes.

Previously, another exceptionally talented noble child, Ethan Morvendrell, the Duke Morvendrell’s second son, had been assigned to his Foundation class.

Johnson had personally taught him with great care.

Seeing another gifted noble standing before him now, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that the son of the famous Count hadn’t ended up in his classroom.

As for the two Barbarian children, he merely acknowledged them before shifting his attention away.

"But Sir Johnson, aren’t you encouraging them too much? They’re still children. They deserve to enjoy their holiday." Lumi objected gently.

Johnson flashed the experienced smile of an adult.

"The reason I am encouraging them is because the children are full of youthful energy, and if they wish to spend that energy in becoming stronger... the future of the Empire is in great hands."

While the other teachers continued discussing the matter, Dorian quietly examined the group once more.

According to the latest practical reports, every one of these children greatly surpassed the average Foundation student.

Especially the two standing at the front.

After several moments of thought, he finally sighed.

"...Very well, I’ll grant you permission."

"YEAHHH!"

The children cheered together as though they had just defeated a dungeon boss.

Several nearby teachers turned to look at them as Dorian covered his face with one hand.

Perhaps, he should have thought about this for a few more minutes before agreeing.

***

The Headmaster of the Imperial Zenith School, Aurelius Zenith, sat comfortably in his office chair with his hands resting on the armrests.

To an outsider, he appeared relaxed as though he were simply taking a short break from his work.

Yet beneath that calm appearance, his eyes shone with an unusual sharpness.

’No matter how many times I think about it... those things simply don’t add up,’ he thought deeply.

Ever since the incident involving the Outer God, he had personally investigated every clue he could find.

The Necromancer’s involvement had already been confirmed.

The traces of the Outer God’s influence had also been verified.

However, there was still something missing.

He couldn’t explain why, but he was absolutely certain of it.

His intuition as an Arch Mage had warned him countless times throughout his life, and it had never led him astray.

Among all the events surrounding that incident, the only abnormality he had managed to record was Stein’s absence during the children’s PDD.

Ordinarily, that wouldn’t have attracted much attention.

After all, teachers occasionally took leave.

But Stein’s leave had been personally approved by Yelena, the Head of the Foundation Division.

’That alone places her under suspicion as well,’ Aurelius thought.

’But Yelena isn’t the type of person who bends the rules so easily unless there is a proper reason behind it.’

He slowly tapped his fingers against the desk.

The latest research Stein had submitted also perfectly matched his usual field of expertise and personality.

There was nothing wrong with the contents.

On the contrary, it was excellent.

Far too excellent.

’It somehow feels... as though Stein wasn’t the original creator of this research.’

The thought had bothered him ever since he first read it.

Whenever Stein explained his own work, Aurelius noticed something subtle.

Instead of the confidence of a creator presenting his masterpiece.

Stein often reacted with the fascination of a researcher discovering something remarkable for the first time.

It was an incredibly small detail.

One that almost anyone else would have ignored, but Aurelius didn’t.

Stein certainly possessed the ability to produce outstanding research. He was also slightly narcissistic and never hesitated to praise his own talent.

However, he was never the type to publish groundbreaking work without thoroughly understanding every single detail behind it.

This research gave Aurelius a strange feeling.

The idea itself resembled something Stein would have conceived.

Yet the way it had been developed and refined felt oddly... forced.

As though someone else had already completed the difficult part for him.

Naturally, Aurelius had investigated that possibility countless times.

He questioned Stein repeatedly and even observed his behavior over several weeks.

He even erased portions of Stein’s recent memories on multiple occasions before asking him to explain the same research again, simply to verify whether his reactions remained consistent.

And every single time, the result was exactly the same.

Stein showed no signs whatsoever of mental manipulation.

Instead, after reading his own research again, he would become fascinated by it, praise himself for such a brilliant discovery, and enthusiastically explain every detail with complete confidence.

There wasn’t even the slightest inconsistency.

’If my deduction is correct...’ Aurelius closed his eyes.

’Then someone temporarily replaced Stein, obtained leave through Yelena, completed whatever objective they had, and disappeared without leaving behind a single trace.’

That possibility alone was terrifying.

Yet Yelena herself had also undergone thorough examinations.

And just like Stein, she showed absolutely no signs of memory alteration, hypnosis, soul interference, or any other form of manipulation.

Everything appeared perfectly natural.

Which was precisely what made it so unnatural.

After all, only one object had disappeared from the school’s treasury.

It was a simple pendant.

Aurelius slowly exhaled.

’If such an enemy truly exists... one capable of replacing another person so perfectly better than even the Shapeshifters or Mimics, that even I cannot detect the deception from...’

His expression gradually became solemn.

Because that was not just the threat to the Zenith Empire.

’It may very well become a threat to the entire world.’