1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

143. The Skull of the Dream Beast (1)

Emmerich walked down the corridor, burdened with a stack of documents.

In his hands were proposals he had long believed would benefit the students during his time at the academy.

The hardships he had endured flashed through his mind, lifting the corners of his mouth.

“Heh heh, back then, I could never have imagined this.”

—

From the very beginning, the aim had been to seize the seat of the Ten.

Yet the walls of reality loomed high, and once seated, the corrupt regime stood once more in the way.

But now, thanks to that man who had just enrolled, everything began to roll into place.

‘At last, normalization has come.’

Emeric made his way to the Ten Lounge, his heart alight with anticipation for the meeting.

It was then that he crossed paths with Berndal. This was no mere coincidence.

He too must have been on his way to the meeting, timed just right.

“Ah, Emeric. Are you heading to the lounge?”

“Indeed.”

“Then let us go together.”

They walked in silence for a while until Berndal began to scan their surroundings. Seeing no one, he cautiously spoke up.

“Emeric. I’ve been thinking it over too, and that Hessel fellow… I reckon you’re right. He really does seem to be gunning for the student council president position.”

Emeric let out a soft chuckle.

Now he chose to believe what he had dismissed as mere nonsense.

Perhaps it was because he had witnessed undeniable proof.

“I told you, Berndal. He will not sit in the seat of the Ten.”

“Indeed.”

If he were to aim for the presidency, he must absolutely not become a member of the Ten at this juncture.

The next election was a year away.

It was far too early to stand out.

“If he had chased Kerdel away, he would have appeared hostile in the eyes of the council. Even if he is a fool, he knows how to listen.”

To be marked this early, with so much time until the election, would only invite scrutiny.

In that year, they would surely devise ways to prevent him from even running.

“They are masters of tyranny. If they deem him a future rival, they will cut him down before he can bloom. Hessel knows this and has taken preemptive measures.”

At Emeric’s words, Berndal nodded, his face pale with realization.

“I know, I know. That’s why Hessel acts as if he has no interest in power, right? Meanwhile, he’s pulling the strings behind the scenes, gathering everything he can. But Emeric.”

“What is it?”

“What does it matter to you if that guy becomes president? Why are you so concerned? I know all about it. You’ve been digging into the student council’s affairs secretly, haven’t you? The election is after we graduate, so why?”

Emeric halted his steps and locked eyes with Berndal.

“Simply put, I wish to leave a gift for a junior I admire.”

Bernthal chuckled softly and patted Emeric’s back.

“Well, well. Just remember, you’re digging into their dirty business. You’ve held on for over two years, right? How much longer do you have left? You should at least graduate safely, shouldn’t you?”

“Yeah, I’ll be careful.”

They were almost at the Tenfold Lounge when the door swung open, and Mircel yawned as he stepped out.

“Yawn.”

Emeric asked, puzzled.

“Where are you going? The meeting is about to start.”

“Huh? Oh. Actually, I quit. I don’t even know what they do there, and it’s just boring.”

“What? If you’re not there, one vote is gone. That would be a problem.”

Emeric reminded the still-young boy of his position.

But Mircel nodded in agreement with his next words.

“But big brother said I could quit anytime I wanted, right? So there’s no need to worry. If those guys act up, big brother told me to just tell him everything.”

“I see. Then it’s fine to quit. Farewell, brother of Hessel.”

Mircel scratched his shoulder and left.

Bernthal stared at the boy’s retreating figure, questioning if it was truly acceptable.

“The Dorothians are vacant, and so is the Ninth. If he’s absent, that’s three abstentions. They have four votes. We can muster only three at most, even with Erucel. Is this really okay?”

Emeric scoffed.

“Do you still not get it? Bernthal. Hessel said if they have complaints, they should speak directly to him. That carries significant weight.”

“Weight?”

“Heh, Hessel means to take us as his agents. And with a very profound intent behind it.”

Bernthal leaned in, listening intently. Then he felt a chill at Emeric’s next words.

“Hessel thinks this is not the right time to show his teeth, hiding in the shadows. He needs pawns like us because he can’t reveal himself openly! Just in case that Kerndel brat dreams of rebellion, we must prevent it beforehand! Marvel at this, Bernthal. What a brilliant strategy it is!!”

Cold sweat trickled down Bernthal’s forehead.

Emeric’s gaze resembled that of a fanatical cultist.

He hadn’t been like this until last year, but since becoming a third-year, a strange madness had emerged.

“…I think you’re overinterpreting things a bit, but anyway, I got it.”

Bernthal entered the lounge, looking at Emeric as if he were a madman.

‘…Emeric, this guy. I always thought he was diligent and smart, but since he became a third-year, his mind seems to have gone awry.’

As they approached their seats, Kerndel greeted them with a displeased expression.

“Humph, daring to be later than us.”

“Shut up, Kerdel.”

Berndal replied coldly. It was a release of the accumulated sorrow he had borne.

Kerdel’s eyes widened in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected such a response.

“What, what? You, Berndal, dare to speak to me?”

“Humph, a toothless tiger still clings to its pride, does it? Don’t scratch where it doesn’t itch; why not just keep your mouth shut?”

Kerdel ground his teeth.

He stood up, ready to unleash a curse, but Emeric placed a hand on Berndal’s shoulder, shaking his head.

“That seems a bit unwise, Berndal. If one holds power, one must act with the decorum it demands.”

“Hmm?”

“Let me show you an example.”

Emeric, leaving a bewildered Berndal behind, raised his hand high.

“I will now propose a motion. The subject is Kerdel’s vow of silence. Those in favor, please raise your hands.”

For a moment, Berndal’s astonished expression lingered, but as he caught on to Emeric’s intent, he shot his hand up.

Eruzel, standing beside him, joined in with a dazed look.

“This feels a bit strange, but, ahem.”

Kerdel, sweating coldly, forced a smile.

“Ha ha, surely you’re not all seriously considering this foolishness?”

Though Kerdel said this, the others busied themselves, glancing at one another with troubled faces.

Emeric, unfazed, snorted and picked up his pen.

“Hmm, three abstentions. Three in favor. Four against…”

“Hey, Emeric. Enough with the jokes.”

Even as Kerdel spoke, Emeric didn’t respond, merely scanning the faces of those who opposed.

“Four against… This may need to be interpreted as a conspiracy. I shall report this to Hursel.”

As he scribbled with his pen, the few who had raised their hands gasped in shock and shot their hands up again.

“Ah, no. Wait a moment. I just had a cramp in my arm. In favor. Yes, in favor.”

“Me too, me too.”

Emeric paused his pen for a moment, adjusting the count to include the three who had also voted in favor.

Thus, the document for the motion was drafted.

“Here you go, Kerdel.”

As Emeric handed over the proclamation, Kerndel asked with a quiver in his voice.

“What, what is this?”

“It is tradition for the First Speaker to deliver the proclamation. As the First Speaker, it falls to you, does it not?”

“…Are you, are you serious? You want me to personally convey this ridiculous rule that tells me to keep my mouth shut?”

Emeric nodded gravely, his expression unyielding.

Watching this, Berndal smiled softly.

‘Somehow, it feels like we are ushering in a new tyranny…’

It was not an unpleasant feeling.

* * *

Strangely enough, there exists a class taught by the students themselves.

It is the class of Sacred Studies.

This tradition began when the priests from the “Order of the Sun” monopolized the student council seats, a vile custom that has persisted since.

Of course, the purpose is to spread their doctrine.

To engage in such charades within the academy, under the guise of a cult, is truly absurd.

“Well then.”

A man clad in priestly robes that shimmered with a light akin to a blade opened a book. He was a member of the student council.

“Today’s lesson will be about the ‘Arrogant Immortal.’”

As is customary in religious texts, the lesson begins with a tale of a character from folklore.

Once upon a time, there was such a person who foolishly made various mistakes, a story as common as dirt.

It was a rare moment when one could afford to sleep.

After all, the early morning training had left him weary; perhaps a brief nap would do.

“Having achieved his task, he swore fealty to the gods as a demigod, yet foolishly, he was not satisfied and dared to rebel…”

Listening to the priest’s voice, soothing like a lullaby, I half-closed my eyes to check if Dorothian was present.

As expected, she was not. It was only natural that a girl who usually wandered about aimlessly would have no interest in such a class.

Relaxed, I began to drift off.

“Is that true? A skeleton, you say? Who murdered and buried it?”

Some, unable to find sleep, began to whisper among themselves.

“They say it doesn’t look human, that it has horns on its head. They say it even has wings and a tailbone?”

It seems Professor Gomon must have discovered something.

“Come on, it can’t be real, can it? Surely, no one is playing a prank?”

—

“Well, there are indeed plenty of pranksters around here. It seems someone has made it their mission to tease Professor Gomon.”

Heh, I wish it were fake, but it’s real.

“But if it’s real, wouldn’t that be amusing in its own right? Rumor has it that it might be the legendary demon, the Mungma.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, it does fit, doesn’t it? A tail with wings, horns on the head. That’s a common motif in literature, isn’t it? Offering strange dreams and sucking the life force in return. Hehehe.”

When it comes to Mungma, such clichés do exist.

A seductive creature that takes life energy in exchange for blissful dreams.

But that’s merely a fabrication born from the imaginations of men.

The reality, how should I put it…

Is that it’s a hypnotist who makes reality feel like a dream, rendering one incapable of sound judgment even when the most bizarre events unfold.

Though already dead, it had once cast a spell upon itself, becoming a lingering thought, and it was set to stir up trouble once more.

Its goal was to feast upon the dreams of the dulled humans, manifesting the dream world it had cultivated into reality.

This scenario also involved an event to procure hidden items, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to participate.

I should prepare quickly before the evening arrives.

* * *

The dormitory on a rainy day is always bustling with crowds.

As I stepped into the lobby, shaking off the raindrops, I stumbled upon the bizarre antics of Makdal and Riks.

“Physical telekinesis magic!”

“Cough!”

Makdal was struck by Riks’s staff and rolled across the floor.

Then, coughing, he muttered something that sounded vaguely familiar.

“M-Magic? Ugh… You just hit me with a stick, didn’t you… *cough*.”

They were undoubtedly mimicking the duel between me and Kerdel.

“Hahaha, if this is magic, then knights must be magicians too, right? Just pushing someone over is the same thing!”

Such childish antics from these fools.

I approached the two of them.

“Indeed, but—no. I don’t think so, Senior Makdal. Physical telekinesis magic is a legitimate form of magic that utilizes mana.”

“W-What? Riks. Why are you suddenly spouting such strange words like something Hessel would say… Could it be?”

Sensing something amiss, Makdal whipped his head around.

“Gah!”

“Shall I make you understand what true physical telekinesis magic is with your own body?”

—

“It’s fine, really.”

I brushed past the tightly wound Makdal.

Then, a certain someone who had been absent lately crossed my mind, prompting me to ask.

“By the way, Senpai. Have you seen Limberton? He hasn’t been around much lately.”

“Oh, that guy? I think he’s been hanging out with some girl from the Bürgerhaus. After all that time searching for a partner, it seems he finally succeeded. Hahaha.”

Limberton with a girl?

“…Don’t joke around. That can’t possibly be true.”

“No, I’m serious. Hursel. I saw it myself.”

“Is that really true? Rix.”

“He even bragged to me about going to the club floor!”

That can’t be right.

Limberton was destined to graduate the academy solo.

Perhaps there had been a serious error in the script.

“When did he go there?”

As I asked, Rix glanced at the grandfather clock.

“About five minutes ago?”

“Alright, got it.”

I headed straight for the club floor.

In this scenario, the only one who should still have time to match up was Limberton.

Asley was absent today due to after-school remedial classes.

Mircel was busy catching up on her studies since she had transferred.

But I couldn’t allow him to wander the campus with some girl all alone; that was unacceptable.

I passed through the fortress and arrived at the club floor.

With my eyes narrowed in search, I spotted Limberton giggling with a girl beside him, a shopping bag in hand.

‘Isn’t that the girl I saw at the banquet?’

‘Hmm. She does look familiar to me as well, Hursel.’

‘This guy… I distinctly warned him that she seemed like the type to take advantage of him.’

Limberton had plenty of coins.

Moreover, he had gained a fair bit of recognition for his exploits.

Even so, he still had that off-putting habit that kept him from being considered a romantic prospect among the girls.

But what am I to do about this?

Upon arrival, my mind became a tangled mess.

Isn’t this the very moment he has longed for in his life?

It was clear he wouldn’t even hear my words.

Even if I were to forcibly tear them apart, that little bird wouldn’t sit idly by.

Should I give up and look for another one…?

With a deep sigh, I turned my steps away.

Then, I felt a sharp prick in my back. It was the gaze of the woman, Sila, compelling me to lower my eyes.

With a scowl etched on her face, she watched Limberton and the woman, then asked,

“Can we just leave that alone?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just look at her, she’s clearly eyeing him like a meal. That fool is grinning like an idiot.”

“And so?”

As I asked with a sullen face, Sila widened her eyes.

“He’s your friend, isn’t he? Shouldn’t you care a bit?”

“I know him better than you do, that’s why. Whatever I say to him now would be pointless.”

“…”

“Still, I think it’s for the best. Maybe if he gets a good scare this time, he’ll come to his senses.”

It wouldn’t be so bad for him to learn to see women with a sharper eye.

Then suddenly, a question arose, and I asked Sila,

“But, you. Were you following them around just to gawk?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think I’m that idle? To gawk at such fools?”

“I only asked because it looked that way.”

“I’m here waiting for Leana. I just happened to see them pass by.”

“Oh, is that so?”

I tore my gaze away from the displeased Sila and shifted my focus.

More importantly, I should concentrate on my own tasks.

Is there no suitable talent to join me in the hunt for hidden treasures?

“Let’s see…”

The folks from the Adele Ministry of Magic are busy with special classes, and Rix is tied up with his duties at the Shulafe Ministry, so he’s out of the question.

Eruchel found herself suddenly in the art club.

At least there was Riamon, but in this scenario, he was not the main character, so she had no idea where he was wandering off to.

I pulled out my pocket watch.

Tick-tock.

Oh dear, there was less than thirty minutes left until the scenario began.

Soon the sun would set, and the lurking nightmare in Professor Gomon’s lab would unleash a sleeping gas across the entire Frost Heart.

“Well, it can’t be helped. I might as well look for Riamon with the time I have left.”

* * *

Limberton was still lost in thoughts of the Burgers’ daughter.

Sila, watching him with a mix of pity and amusement, turned her head at the voice that came from beside her.

“Sorry, Sila. I thought I’d find you waiting, so I would have come sooner.”

“No, it’s fine. I was the one who came quickly without a word. But, Leana.”

“Hmm?”

Sila grinned mischievously and pointed upwards.

“Let’s go upstairs. How about a café? My treat.”

Leana nodded, her expression one of confusion.

Sila led her to the café.

The bell on the door jingled, and Shelly greeted them warmly.

“Ah! Welcome, Miss Sila. Miss Leana.”

They ordered their usual tea and snacks and settled into their seats.

Perhaps it was because she had just seen Hursel and then Shelly, his attendant.

A playful thought crossed Sila’s mind, and a wicked smile crept onto her face.

First, she would break the ice.

“Did you see your husband earlier?”

But Leana responded with a soft, knowing smile.

“Really? I wonder what Hursel was up to.”

There was a hint of mischief in her reply.

It seemed she had learned from past experiences; getting caught up in this kind of banter would lead to trouble.

“…What’s with that reaction? Boring.”

“I’m not falling for it anymore. And let’s stop with those kinds of comments. The Tenest family is not just any family… I know you’re joking, but it’s quite the burden.”

Sila chewed on the snack with a sullen expression.

‘From the reaction, it seems like it’s bothering her a bit… but is she unaware of it?’

As she stared blankly, Leana covered her yawn with her hand.

Sila, too, felt fatigue creeping in and took a sip of her tea.

In that moment, a loud thud echoed, followed by the sound of shattering glass.

Crash—

The people around them had their faces buried in the table.

Leana had succumbed to the same fate.

Thud!

“Uh? Leana. You…”

With half-closed eyes, Sila tried to shake Leana’s shoulder, but soon her body grew heavy, rendering her unable to do so.

Thud!