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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 123
From the start, it was an artifact worth billions.
For nobles, three hundred million cel might not be a huge sum, but it was certainly not an amount they could simply spend recklessly.
For impoverished noble families, it was an unattainable price.
Because of that, the artifact wasn’t created with a deep enthusiasm for the game itself.
It was meant to be a simple pastime—an additional feature.
The main focus was the newly added terrain and extra functionalities…
It was originally designed as a paradise artifact, allowing people to enjoy a vacation without leaving their homes.
But it felt like designing a PC computer for office work, only for gaming to become its primary use.
At this rate, should I add a strategy game as well?
As I strained my mind with countless thoughts, two people were chattering away, giggling as they discussed equipment efficiency, seemingly oblivious to my internal struggle.
Although it was called a virtual reality artifact, avatars were controlled not through physical movement but through mental projection.
Rather than pure realism, incorporating a slightly surreal experience received better reviews.
Thus, after about a week…
Isna, who originally came just to deliver news, became a hardcore fan of the game, frequently immersing herself in the artifact I created.
Through this process, I was able to gather meaningful feedback and successfully make various adjustments.
I had to admit—making a game wasn’t as easy as I had thought.
So, I modified my initial plan slightly, deciding to add only the board game and one hero-themed game.
As for the main story—well, I wasn’t particularly gifted in storytelling, and there were no copyright issues to worry about, so I simply pulled from my past life’s memories to construct the narrative.
Once the artifact was complete and handed over to Aurora, she was delighted and immediately got to work.
* * *
Rebecca, a promising rookie of the Hercules Mercenary Corps, lowered her gaze with a complex expression.
She still couldn’t shake the shocking story she had heard from the red-haired woman she met in the alley.
“Rebecca, what’s wrong?”
Lura, another promising recruit and an elite from the Magic Tower, peeked out from under the bed and asked.
“Oh… it’s nothing. I think I’m just a little tired.”
“You acted the same way after meeting Leon Cascadia. You’ve been acting strange lately.”
Leon Cascadia.
As soon as that name was mentioned, a chill ran down Rebecca’s spine.
It was because, ever since that encounter, she had been seeing the same vision over and over in her dreams.
—Remember, we are not saints or holy beings. What you saw was not a prophecy or foresight.
—It was a memory of something you have already experienced.
Nonsense.
She had never died in such a miserable state.
Yet, the leader of the Moon Watchers spoke as if they knew.
That it was something that had already happened.
She wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but as time passed, she found herself gradually accepting it, which sent chills down her spine.
—Once you’ve experienced it, the memory will only become clearer. It’s like a disease. If it becomes unbearable, come find us.
Then what is this world?
—If it’s not the first, then it’s the second.
They told her to come find them again once she had made up her mind.
The Moon Watchers was not just an assassination group.
They were all people who had experienced the same thing as Rebecca.
They all moved with the same purpose.
To suppress the increasingly vivid memories.
They came from all walks of life—peasants, merchants, nobles, priests, mages.
Their numbers weren’t vast, but they existed.
Perhaps, one day, Rebecca would join them too.
Not that joining them would mean leaving the Hercules Mercenary Corps.
But even so, Rebecca couldn’t fully believe their words.
Which made her all the more curious.
Who was the owner of those cold, sky-blue eyes that had pierced her heart?
As she recalled the chilling gaze glowing in the darkness, an overwhelming sense of fear gripped her.
She quickly shook her head, trying to drive the image from her mind.
* * *
Of course, just because the artifact was complete didn’t mean it would sell instantly, so only an initial batch of 300 units was released.
The total contract volume was much larger, but Aurora suggested distributing it gradually to prevent sudden chaos.
And since I no longer planned to hide the artifact’s creator, we decided to release it with the Cascadia logo.
During negotiations with Aurora, Isna, seemingly curious, expressed a desire to join us, but Aurora actively avoided her, muttering, “That senior is a bit…”
“Now that I think about it, you’re an academy graduate too, right?”
“Yes, I was, though I left.”
Watching her munch on cookies while holding ice cream in both hands, I couldn’t help but wonder—does she never gain weight?
Come to think of it, in this continent, it’s rare to see overweight people, especially among women.
“Why do you ask?”
“I was planning to stop by the academy anyway because of Melissa’s enrollment issue. My sister is quite stubborn and probably won’t want to return, but as her older brother, I’d like to see her graduate.”
At my response, she tilted her head slightly.
“But the Imperial Academy is quite far from here, isn’t it?”
“There’s a solution for that. She can commute.”
She can attend classes during the day and handle estate affairs whenever she’s free.
At my explanation, Isna tilted her head again.
“The academy’s mana gate isn’t really suitable for commuting.”
“I won’t be using that.”
For commuting through a mana gate, something like spatial teleportation would be necessary.
That’s where a smaller-scale teleportation gate comes in.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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Traditional teleportation gates are too large to be practical, but after becoming a 7th-circle necromancer, I gained access to a new spell.
The [Shadow Transfer] spell.
It’s the same one I used when invoking Death’s Authority, allowing me to swap places with a connected undead while resonating with it.
This ability could be repurposed for spatial teleportation.
The only drawback is that there must be an undead or a similar entity at the target location.
But that problem could be easily solved—I’d just take a short trip to the academy under the pretense of filing her leave of absence and set up an undead there.
To be precise, I could imbue the [Shadow Transfer] spell into an object, turning it into a medium that would let me teleport to an undead’s location.
A simple shadow transfer was possible even at the 6th circle with a circle overload, but embedding it into an object required at least the proficiency of an 8th-circle mage.
Melissa would likely scold me for doing something so unnecessary, but older brothers exist to torment their younger siblings.
And if I fulfilled our father’s wish for her to graduate, she’d be too busy to interfere with my affairs—an added bonus.
“Then let’s go together. It’s been a while since I visited the academy, and I can guide you.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Oh, you might not know this, but the Imperial Academy’s layout is quite confusing. First-timers often get lost. Some even end up in the mountain behind the school and need to be rescued.”
Was that really true?
Well, it wasn’t necessarily a bad idea.
The only issue was that walking around with her would draw attention.
But then again, it wasn’t like I had committed any crimes, so it didn’t really matter.
“Just… please don’t wear that doll costume.”
“Alright.”
“And… don’t wear the Reaper’s robe either.”
“……”
I had already experienced this before—when I accompanied her to the Black Friday auction, she chose to wear the Reaper’s robe instead of the doll costume.
In Mielephon’s territory, people were used to her eccentricities and would just think, Ah, the lady is at it again.
But outside?
That was a different story.
Why was it that she did the embarrassing things, but I was the one who felt embarrassed?
After contemplating for a while, she finally nodded as if making a big decision.
“Then when do you plan to go?”
“I’ll observe for another day before making a move.”
“Alright. I’ll be ready by then.”
For some reason, that statement made me uneasy.
* * *
Imperial Academy.
There were many academies across the continent, but the Imperial Academy, founded by the Pascalia Empire, was one of the most prestigious among them.
Its high academic standards were one reason, but the renowned faculty and exceptional facilities also contributed to its reputation.
Many students, like Melissa, even came from foreign nations to enroll.
Only 300 to 400 students were admitted each year.
Naturally, the competition was brutal.
This made the selection of professors and assistant instructors a crucial matter.
And that was where the current problem lay.
“Too many talented people have left recently…”
Many of the assistant professors and teaching assistants who had worked under Professor Bismark Rommel had either defected to rival academies or met with unexpected accidents, creating a significant personnel gap.
The situation had unfolded so suddenly that the academy had been slow to respond.
And now, with exams underway, there was a severe shortage of proctors.
The issue was particularly critical because the students taking the exams were highly skilled, and the difficulty had been raised to ensure proper differentiation in their abilities.
As a result, Rommel had reached out to his contacts, hoping to recruit help.
Even just one capable individual would be enough, but in the current situation, finding a reliable candidate wasn’t easy.
He had compiled a list of potential candidates, but most had declined or were simply too busy.
Thud!
“Professor Rommel, have you still not found an assistant professor or teaching assistant to proctor the exams?”
“Professor Viviane.”
“I told you, you could borrow my assistant professors and teaching assistants.”
Rommel clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight of the middle-aged woman walking in with a sly smile.
Professor Viviane.
She wasn’t particularly pleasant company.
Her skills as a professor weren’t bad, but she was far too obsessed with money.
Under normal circumstances, she would never offer her staff so freely.
Which could only mean one thing—she had ulterior motives.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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