1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

111. The Party (2)

At the entrance of the corridor, Leana stared blankly.

Having only maintained eye contact, I decided to tease her slightly, casting a fleeting glance at the silk dress she wore.

Its texture was so smooth that raindrops would surely slide off it.

The subtle sheen of its color accentuated the curves of the garment even more.

It was undoubtedly an outfit that had been given considerable thought.

“Are you wearing thin armor beneath that?”

The words were delivered with a spiteful grin.

Yet, the brow of Leana, which I had expected to furrow, remained smooth and untroubled.

In fact, her lips seemed to part slightly, as if her mind was elsewhere, too preoccupied to care about my teasing.

“…What style is that dress from?”

“Dress?”

In that moment, I realized my mistake.

Wasn’t it the day I had entered Leana’s mind through Rockefeller’s magic?

I must have faced her in the suit I wore to the office.

Noticing her attention drawn to similar attire, it seemed she still held onto that memory.

I silently thanked the designer.

Had he not imposed his own aesthetics, this pretense would have sounded less convincing.

“Due to the tight schedule, some things were left out. They said it’s hard to meet the deadline, so all the intricate details had to be omitted.”

The adornments on the shirt collar, the metal buttons, the ties—these were all things that could be prepared quickly.

Claiming it was a hastily made outfit, Leana nodded in understanding.

“But why the clothes?”

When I asked, Leana turned her head away.

“I won’t tell you…”

Then she faced forward and walked past me.

I glanced back at Asley and Limberton, who had been watching from behind.

But then Leana spoke again.

“Hursel.”

“Hmm?”

Leana stood tall, her back to me, before turning around.

With a slightly shy smile, she said, “I know. You were the one who led the effort to save the children. I hesitate to say this, but you seem like a better person now.”

Then, with a satisfied expression, she added some trivial words.

“I truly hope the madness hasn’t left you…”

I stood there, staring blankly at Leana as she walked down the corridor, her heels clicking against the floor.

···Did she just call me crazy?

‘Hussel, that woman’s gaze feels oddly familiar, doesn’t it?’

‘Yes, Selly used to look at me like that often. It seems that brat must have heard something.’

I decided I would give Selly a piece of my mind later.

Still, it’s a pity.

In truth, I had been contemplating crafting a wristwatch, reluctant to fuss with pulling out my pocket watch every time.

Now that Leana had taken an interest in my attire, adding the distinct feature of a wristwatch would surely draw suspicious glances.

In this world, I wondered if there were even people who wore such things.

“Should I postpone watchmaking until graduation…?”

For the time being, I resolved to stick with the pocket watch and turned to the two who had been waiting idly.

“Let’s go quickly. Food tastes best when it’s fresh.”

I led the way down the corridor.

Between the columns, an indoor garden offered a feast for the eyes.

As I enjoyed the pleasant scenery, Limberton spoke to me.

“Somehow, I feel a bit jittery.”

“What’s that?”

“Nothing, really. I just don’t have the best memories of balls.”

It seemed Limberton was recalling the trauma from that time.

The worst memory of all—Silla pouring stew and scattering chicken feathers everywhere.

Besides that, he was often the butt of jokes at any party, so it seemed he lacked the confidence to play the Casanova as usual.

I offered him some words of encouragement.

“Limberton, you know I’m not one to give compliments often, right?”

“True enough. You’re the kind of guy who wouldn’t praise even an ant.”

His remark irked me slightly, but being magnanimous, I continued the warm atmosphere.

“There’s no need to feel down. You’re plenty cool. Just look at that outfit. You don’t look like a fool as you usually do. So enjoy this moment. It might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

With half-closed eyes, Limberton nudged Asley’s arm with his elbow.

“Asley, did you see? Even when he compliments, he always adds a curse.”

“I’ll accept that too, Limberton.”

We chatted about trivial matters until we reached the end of the corridor.

Beyond the door lay the most lavishly constructed place in the fortress.

On a day as special as today, the main hall was open only to students.

Servants from the Adel Hall dining room laid dishes upon the tables.

Waiters distributed drinks served in straight glasses to passing students, while some, unable to wait, poured liquor straight from the bottle into their wine glasses, grinning foolishly.

A woman, already tipsy, danced with a nearby male student, her flushed face swaying to the music of the choir performing on the platform.

As I lifted my gaze slightly higher, I caught sight of the faces of the Adel Hall students leaning over the second-floor railing.

The walls were adorned with portraits of graduates who had etched their great achievements into history, and judging by the way Eruzel was puffing his nose in front of one frame, it was highly likely to be the portrait of Aol.

His voice boomed so loudly that his bragging pierced through the music and reached my ears.

“Hahaha! My father’s portrait isn’t the only one hanging here! Have you heard of the Hall of Fame? I stopped by out of curiosity, and lo and behold, my father’s statue is right there, standing proudly next to the Grand Sorcerer!”

Ah, how embarrassing it is that that obnoxious laughter belongs to my brother.

As I clicked my tongue in disdain, our eyes met.

“Ha!”

He widened his eyes in surprise, then forced a smile and waved at me.

Ever since he returned from the practical magic training, Eruzel’s attitude towards me had shifted to an unsettling degree.

Where he once flinched in fear, now he seemed to adopt a facade, as if entertaining a distasteful business partner.

I tore my gaze away from him and focused on filling my plate.

It was a buffet, after all—unlimited.

Asley piled his plate high with whatever he could grab, while Limberton selected only meat dishes.

“Hmm, I do love bread, but if I want to build muscle, I suppose I need to eat more meat?”

“An excellent choice.”

As I expressed my agreement, Limberton set down his tongs and scanned the room.

“By the way, doesn’t it feel like we’re being watched since earlier?”

I too lifted my head slightly.

Men and women were glancing our way, their eyes fixated precisely on my attire.

“Limberton, want to swap clothes with me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. If you wear my clothes, they’ll burst.”

“Boss, what about my outfit?”

“No, yours is way too big. And if I wear yours, it’ll tear.”

Yet, I couldn’t very well sit here in just my underwear.

I calmly ignored the gazes and attempted to grasp my fork as I settled into my seat.

Then, suddenly struck by a thought, I withdrew my hand and checked once more to ensure the gloves tucked away in the inner pocket of my jacket were still there.

I felt the leather strap of the holster resting against my chest.

Only after confirming that my magic wand was secure did I allow myself to breathe easy.

* * *

Leana leaned over the second-floor railing, gazing down at Hessel while listening to Eruzel chattering nearby.

He seemed to be shivering, perhaps from a chill, wrapping his arms around himself as he trembled.

“Thinking back, it’s horrifying. Every time that man beat me, if he had just once truly meant it, ugh…”

Beside him, Riamon chimed in with a smirk.

“Right? It’s a wonder you survived! If you were my brother, I’d have probably hit you for real at least once. Sometimes you do provoke a beating, you know.”

“Look who’s talking.”

I tore my gaze away from the bickering men and returned my attention to Hessel.

In that moment, Sila approached and asked,

“What are you staring at?”

“Just wondering why everyone keeps looking over.”

“Hmm. If it’s that, it’s probably because of the clothes, right? I hate to admit it, but honestly, they do look sharp. The fit is nice too.”

As Sila spoke with a nonchalant tone, I caught snippets of conversation from passing men.

“Where did he get that tailored?”

“Honestly, it’s tempting, isn’t it? He’s such a playboy, but his sense of style is impeccable.”

Sila turned her gaze away from them and took a swig of her drink.

“Hmm, seems like a trend is shifting among the men.”

Leana’s eyes remained fixed.

Sila, half-closing her eyes, grinned slyly.

“But why are you staring so intently? What about that man you mentioned before?”

The one who saved Leana during the demon incident.

I hadn’t heard much about him since Rockefeller had instructed me to keep it under wraps, but Leana had mentioned a few details.

It seemed she hoped I would dig around and find him, but that was a wild goose chase.

Just as I wondered if she had given up searching, Leana spoke in a flat tone.

“I just feel like he’s not as wicked as he used to be lately.”

Sila scoffed.

“Oh, is it because he saved those kids? That’s just him trying to manage his image now. All the things he did in the past? He’ll just brush them off as youthful mistakes. Then he’ll do a few good deeds and claim he’s reflecting on his past, saying not to hate him too much even if he’s made it big. Isn’t that a common trick for rascals as they grow older?”

With a sardonic tone, Leana nodded.

“I think so too. Still, if we look at the outcome, it’s true that something good was done. Even if it was for selfish reasons.”

“Or perhaps they were just mad.”

“Exactly.”

Leana turned away from Hessel, seeking to enjoy her meal.

Just as Sila was about to follow her, a girl approaching Hessel caught her eye.

“Hey? There’s a witch going to talk to your husband.”

“…He’s not my husband. I’m too tired to argue about it now.”

Leana took a step forward without even glancing back.

Yet Sila remained rooted to the spot.

As if witnessing something extraordinary, her jaw slackened, and her eyes widened in surprise.

“Sila?”

“Goodness, I’ve seen it all in this life.”

“Hmm?”

The girl, whom Sila had thought was heading toward Hessel, was actually speaking to Limberton.

“Oh, it’s Limberton. Now that I think about it, I’ve heard bits and pieces about him lately. People say he’s not the same as before.”

“Not the same, indeed. Just because he caught that big boss, he’s strutting around like a peacock. He’s still a fool. That girl’s lost her mind.”

Sila clicked her tongue and spun around sharply.

Then, with a nervous glare, she stared at the grandfather clock.

“Wait, why are the professors so late?”

Time was already slipping away.

Just as she contemplated having another drink, hurried footsteps echoed through the air.

Curious about the commotion, she turned to see a servant rushing in.

But his complexion was far from normal.

His face was pale with fear, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead to his jawline.

He cast a frantic glance at the entrance.

Then, as he hastily shut the door, someone asked.

“What’s going on?”

The servant banged his fists together and shouted loudly.

“We need to close the door right now! There are monsters outside!!”

At that moment, a dull thud echoed from the door, as if someone had slammed their body against it.

Thud!

And then, a faint, fractured voice.

Gwooor—

It was unmistakably the undead.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Not just one, but dozens of them…

* * *

While the gaze of the hall was fixed on the attendant, I slipped away to the sparsely populated waiting room beside the podium.

Thanks to countless hours of practice, the inventory spell that would have taken me five minutes to cast was now reduced to three.

The inventory opened, and I drew forth the newly acquired sword and weapons from Limberton.

Three quivers filled with arrows, each fitted for a high-tension bow.

Gathering these, I stepped into the main hall, where Luon’s voice reached my ears.

—Ah, you might be a bit surprised that it’s not Rockefeller’s voice.

He must have been munching on some fruit, as the crisp crunching sound punctuated his speech.

I listened intently to his calm tone, envisioning the events that were about to unfold.

—Currently, the dormitory, as well as the faculty building, the layers of the fortress, and the stairs are all sealed off. It’s best not to expect any help from the students and professors trapped within the barrier.

Frost Heart was equipped with protective barriers on every floor and in every room.

Now that the principal’s office was occupied, control of the facility lay with Luon.

In the end, this meant I wouldn’t be able to rely on anyone but the first-year students.

—I know you’re probably lost and can’t grasp the situation. Let me put it simply. This is a game. If I tell you the rules, it might sound a bit more intuitive. So, listen closely as I explain.

His next words were a penalty.

—My new friend is going to unleash a rather amusing spell. I don’t know much about it, but I believe it’s called the ‘Grimoire of the Crimson Apple’? With that alone, he claims he can sacrifice everyone here. The moment the spell activates, your defeat is assured.

A colossal spell etched into the ground, a golden art that devours all life.

—But don’t worry too much. As I said, this is a game. Winning absurdly isn’t any fun. I’ve made sure there are plenty of ways for you to win. Of course, you’ll have to figure that out on your own, but if you manage to do well enough to take my head, then victory will be yours.

What we needed to do was raid the armory, break through the horde of undead, and find the key to dispel the barrier to approach Luon.

—The time limit is three hours. The invitation should be in the attendant’s pocket, so be sure to check.

Of course, the participants were the playable characters and a few significant supporting roles.

“W-well, the truth is, I came here to deliver the invitation. Ahem, those whose names I call should come this way. Riamon Sel Rebetura. Erucel Ben Tenest. Asley Tortamakura. Limberton Bel Delsi. Rix Don Orian. Shila En Lionheart. Belman Tol Gers…”

And then, the extras who received special invitations from him.

“Hussel ben Tenest.”

With this, the campaign against Luon began.