I Became the Narrow-Eyed Character in the Little Prince Game

"This time, it will be different."
In this life, there was a way.
A way to save the academy and the people from being engulfed in destruction.

Because the card called "deception" existed.
Of course, it wouldn’t serve as a perfect solution either.
Even so, it was undeniable that it remained the joker in breaking through the calamity.

The plan was simple.
"All I have to do is exploit it."
If the enemy targeted this side's weakness, then it was only fair to target theirs in return.

The underground passage that detection magic couldn’t locate.
Their task didn’t end there.
To awaken [It], they had to inject considerable energy into it.

After all, it was about breaking an ancient seal.
Undoubtedly, the cultists would rely on demonic energy to supply that power.
In the original story, dozens of high-ranking officers participated in the terror attack for this purpose.

And that very moment...
"A gap."
In that very moment...

No matter how isolated the space might be, the distinctive aura couldn’t help but leak out.
That instant was the opportunity.
With all my senses heightened, I would immediately track it the moment that signal was detected.
It felt somewhat inefficient, but at the same time, it was the most certain solution.

A problem like distinguishing a single drop of ink in the ocean.
Fortunately, I had eyes capable of catching even such ink.
Overwhelming them with ability.

“For that reason... I’ll be counting on you.”
Given that the survival of the academy was at stake, I sought help from a few in advance.
It was best to be as thorough as possible in preparation.

I looked at the girls before me.
Charlotte and Irene, who had been standing by, nodded their heads.
There wasn’t a hint of hesitation.

“Of course, if it’s your request, Yuda.”
“To think the day would come when you relied on me… it feels a little satisfying.”
Perhaps it was worth taming them.

I felt a faint sense of pride.
The two were among the strongest individuals in the academy, more than capable of handling this ordeal together.
They were seasoned in combat, making them reliable assets.

Moreover, they wouldn’t question or oppose the absurdities of my schemes.
A relationship built on absolute trust.
"Though the same could be said for the others..."

Each had their vulnerabilities.
Rezia excelled in firepower, but there wasn’t enough force to back her up.
Emilia was a well-rounded talent, yet her relative lack of experience held her back compared to the others.

As for Elize, her body was never suited for combat in the first place.
Unrealized potential still awaiting its bloom.
"That’s why..."

I couldn’t recklessly involve them.
Calamity was no trivial matter.
I intended to minimize dangerous probabilities as much as possible.

For this operation, the fox and the little prince were sufficient.
I organized my plans.
"We will be on standby at the church branch."

"Everything will proceed as you command."
There had been an offer of support from headquarters, but I declined.
They were to be stationed outside the academy.

The cultist attack wasn’t confined to the academy.
If [It] were successfully revived, evil would spread across the continent, ready to act at a moment’s notice. Forces needed to be evenly distributed.
Rash actions would lead to casualties.

"Key locations attacked in the original story."
The church branch, the remote barony, the northern snowfields, and so on.
I deployed units to selected locations.

Neria was said to be leading them directly, so there was no cause for worry.
Additionally, any available cards were brought forward.
“It’s been a while.”

-{To think I’d receive a call from your side.}
The monarch.
Though subdued since his defeat, he remained an influential figure.

In terms of organizational scale, there was no rival.
This made him an individual of considerable utility.
The old man replied with intrigue.

His voice echoed beyond the crystal sphere.
-{Another interesting request, I see.}
“Cooperate.”

-{Naturally.}
“All you need to do is act according to the plan.”
-{A plan... Are you not placing too much faith in an outlaw?}

“If a mere puppet can’t even manage that much, the master will have no choice but to dispose of the defective product.”
-{Appreciate the advice.}
Exchanges of veiled remarks as usual.

Though there was a bit of a power play, I was able to secure support without difficulty.
I handed over the plan and the attack locations.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

-{Tsk... May luck be on your side as well.}
The signal cut off afterward.
An unreliable individual, but undeniably a capable asset.

I took a deep breath and ended the communication.
"This should be enough."
Preparation was thorough.

Plans accounted for countless contingencies, the output of deception was at its peak, and even the previously shaky manpower issue was resolved.
The snake sat quietly, organizing his thoughts.
"No need to worry..."

As always.
All that was left was to move according to the board I had designed.
***

And then.
The day of the calamity arrived.
-"I can’t believe the vacation is already over."

-"Right? I’m already starting to miss it."
-"Did you hear there’s a quiz in two days?"
-"Already? That’s way too fast."

-"It’s that insane bald professor. What do you expect? Even he should take it easy with the pace."
-"Seriously... He pushed us so hard on the first day back."
The peaceful daily life flowed on.

On the surface, it was just another ordinary weekend at the academy.
A brief moment of rest accompanied by complaints, chatting with friends, and recharging energy for upcoming studies... a serene time.
A scene that would soon be shattered.

The fragile peace held only because the calamity had not yet arrived.
Its precariousness felt like walking on thin ice.
"..."

The snake silently watched the scene.
The boy sharpened his senses, ready to detect the calamity before it was too late.
Beside him were the vigilant fox and the ever-dazed princess, calmly holding their ground.

A gust of wind brushed through her golden hair.
The winter fragrance painted the moment.
And then.

Boom!
A deafening roar echoed across the academy grounds.
It came from the direction of the main gate.

Beyond the not-so-distant view, dust began to rise, creeping upward.
It seemed an explosion had occurred.
“What’s happening?!”

“Did something explode...?”
“It sounded like it came from the main gate! Should we call the staff?”
“Wait... something’s coming out of that hole!”

A single explosion.
The ripple that disturbed the calm daily life instantly plunged the surroundings into chaos.
Students froze in shock, staff rushed toward the main gate to assess the situation, and mysterious shadows crept through the gaping hole.

The atmosphere was rapidly spiraling into pandemonium.
Despite this, the snake simply closed his eyes.
His sharpened senses pierced through the auras around him.

“The main gate is a diversion.”
The earlier explosion was a feint.
Its purpose was to draw attention away.

Indeed, low-ranking officers and chimeras had appeared in the commotion, but they were just small fry in this chaotic scene.
The boy gradually expanded the web of deception he had spread around him, stretching it to cover the entire academy.
Ding!

[Remaining Output: 91.7%]
As the output diminished, his senses grew even sharper.
Amid the torrent of overwhelming information, he sought his target.

Deeper.
Deeper still.
And even deeper...

“Ah.”
In the next moment, a chilling sensation ran down the boy’s spine.
A grotesquely twisted symphony of mana.

It was none other than the distinct stench of demonic energy.
The trace led deep underground, far beneath the academy buildings.
He had found the passage’s location.

“Found it.”
Though it was veiled by a barrier, even the faintest trace could not escape the snake’s eyes.
He wove the remnants of that aura into a single thread.

Then, the thread extended into the air, as if pointing toward the passage, guiding the way.
The snake tied the thread securely to his fingertip and rose to his feet.
His pupils glowed a brilliant white.

“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll follow you.”

The three of them began to sprint.
The black thread pointed their path straight through the academy’s center.
The chaos caused by the disturbance at the main gate was palpable.

Professors were already engaged in battle, assistants were guiding students to evacuate, and the students, though panicked, were following instructions.
The trio dashed past the unfolding scenes.
“This way!”

They arrived at the annex.
Following the thread’s guidance, they were on the verge of finding the underground passage when a shadow blocked their way.
“Yuda.”

“Professor...?”
It was none other than the drunkard.
While assisting students with evacuation, she had noticed the boy running off and had followed him.

She extended her hand as if to take him with her.
For once, her red eyes betrayed a rare hint of unease.
“There’s been an unidentified attack at the main gate.”

“I’m aware.”
“The professors are handling it, but the situation is still unclear. You can’t act on your own.”
“I have a destination I must reach.”

“No.”
Her voice was firm.
Unlike her usual passive demeanor, it was clear she wouldn’t allow this.

“I can’t cooperate with you in such a dangerous situation.”
She furrowed her brows, treating him as if he were a reckless younger sibling.
For a moment, her stern expression faltered, revealing a crack in her composure.

While her concern touched him, the boy didn’t have the luxury of lingering.
He flicked his finger toward his mentor.
Snap!

“Ah...”
Her pupils lost focus.
Moments later, she staggered as if intoxicated and collapsed, unconscious.

He had used a fraction of his output to lull her into sleep.
The boy gently lowered her body to the ground before turning back to his companions.
“Let’s continue.”

Without further delay, they pressed on toward the passage connecting the academy to the underground.
“...”
And then.

In the spot where the boy and his companions had departed, a shadow lingered near the unconscious woman.
A man, radiating an ominous presence, smiled as he observed the scene.
“I didn’t expect things to turn out like this... How amusing.”

It was none other than Professor Cardel.
***
The underground passage was deeper than expected.

The entrance was barely discovered after breaking through layers of silence and barrier magic.
The massive gate they encountered felt like the culmination of every effort to remain hidden.
It made sense now why the passage couldn’t be found in the original story.

The magic was so sophisticated that even professors couldn’t detect it, let alone students.
It wasn’t just any legacy left behind by the [Ancient Star].
The group sprinted through the passage.

Tatatatatak!
Countless layers of barriers shimmered around them, while the maze-like interior disoriented their sense of direction, constantly shifting its structure in real-time.
An impossible labyrinth to conquer under normal circumstances.

Designed to induce nausea simply by walking through it.
However, with the guidance of deception, they navigated the passage without issue.
Thud.

Only when they reached the deepest part of the underground did the guiding thread snap, signaling they had arrived.
Before them stood a massive door.
Covered in engravings of offerings, demons, and dark gods, it exuded a foul stench and the metallic scent of blood.

The boy gathered shadows at his fingertips.
In his other hand, he gripped a jet-black sword.
“The Sanctuary of Death.”

There was no hesitation.
He propelled himself forward.
The barrier surrounding the chamber shattered, and the massive door broke apart into fragments.

As they stepped into their destination, voices echoed.
“Who goes there?”
A scene of blood and corpses filled the chamber.

Were they in the middle of a ritual?
Blood-soaked remains were piled high, and dozens of figures in crimson robes surrounded the altar.
The color symbolized the cultists.

“Fearless sacrifices, seeking calamity.”
All eyes turned to the intruders.
The voices were eerily similar, indistinguishable from one another.

Blood tears streamed from their eyes.
Moving in perfect sync, the cultists exuded a chilling aura.
The demonic energy coursed through the altar, mingling with the offerings.

“Raise your swords.”
The boy raised his blade as he spoke to his companions.
“We must stop them at all costs.”

“Understood.”
“If that’s what you wish.”
The girls unsheathed their weapons.

Together, the trio charged toward the encroaching darkness.
BOOM!
A deafening roar shook the underground sanctuary.

[EP23. The Birth of Evil]
-Blood and malice scream for death-
The game for the survival of the academy had begun.