Chapter 61: Masquerade Ball (5)
Meanwhile, a state of emergency was declared at Stella’s Magic Security Department."What? A real persona gate has appeared in Stella Dome?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Stella Knights and professors all rushed toward the Stella Dome.
Unlike the other fake persona gates that had been created for the students' entrance, there was one real persona gate emitting an ominous light.
"How is it possible for a real gate to appear here? And why are we just finding out?!"
When a persona gate was formed, it emitted a distinct wavelength that propagated throughout the magical realm and could be immediately detected by the Magic Department.
It allowed the magic warriors to be dispatched.
Although Stella Academy was a school, it was also an institution boasting the world’s best magic warriors and the best security system.
However, Stella Academy was unaware of a persona gate that appeared within their territory?
Could anything be more embarrassing?
"That... The wavelength of the persona gate was completely undetectable."
"What?"
"It's as if someone completely reversed the spatial wave detection system within Stella. The unique wavelength that accompanies the occurrence of a persona gate was completely masked. We’re all just as confused as you, but the security department is reinforcing measures right now—"
"Damn it, that's not important at the moment!"
As Instructor Lee Han-Wol growled and shouted, someone from behind echoed his sentiment.
"Yeah, he's right. What's important now is who is inside that persona gate."
“Commander Arein!"
In response to the eerie voice, Lee Han-Wol turned his head.
Even at a glance, the man approaching with a chilling expression and a shadowy presence had a face that resembled that of a dead person.
Arein Blackswan, the commander of the Stella Knights, one of the top five strongest magic knight squads in the world, had shown up within Stella Academy grounds.
He approached with a cold demeanor. "How’s the situation? Is it possible for the reinforcements to enter?"
"Ah, no... It's impossible. It seems that the people inside are doing a challenge..."
"I see. So we have to wait patiently until the students fail and die."
"That's not what I meant...!"
As Arein glared at them with disgust, the assistants trembled and lowered their heads.
It was said that he didn’t treat weak and incompetent people as human beings, and now it seemed like the rumors were true.
"Stop it, Commander Arein! You know very well that the reinforcements cannot enter the persona gate, so why do you torment the staff?"
Arein stared at Lee Han-Wol and gave a sinister smile. Others might not have noticed, but Lee Han-Wol could tell.
It was a clear expression of ridicule. "You talk a lot for someone who can't even manage such a trivial task."
Those words infuriated Lee Han-Wol, but he held it in. After all, that was Arein's usual personality.
"Enough. Let's stop the pointless argument. What’s the level of the persona gate?"
"For now, it's estimated to be between level 4 and level 5."
“Estimated? Give me the exact figures."
"Well... originally, it was level 4. But as soon as the students entered, it suddenly rose by one level."
"Unusual indeed. The persona gate is emitting fake wavelengths..."
What on earth was happening in Stella? It was hard to conceal the confusion and unease in their hearts.
"Bring me the list of students who entered."
"Yes!"
Soon, a list of students who entered the persona gate was handed to Arein and Lee Han-Wol.
"Hmm, this is..."
"Cough, ahem."
The professors couldn't hide their bewilderment as they looked at the list.
Among the other nobles, Princess Hong Bi-Yeon Adolevit was included in that list.
Stella Academy's training was notoriously harsh, and deaths during practical training were not uncommon. But if Princess Adolevit were to die, it could have a significant impact on the reputation of the academy.
It was a difficult situation.
However...
“...It seems there's no way to handle this.”
A level 5 persona gate. It meant that even seasoned mages would have to prepare extensively and strategize to overcome it. The students who entered were likely to fail in properly interpreting the patterns of that world.
No, even if they interpreted it completely...
Could class 2 or 3 mages really accomplish it?
Arein clicked his tongue, turned around, and said, "Prepare 16 body bags."
"Arein, what are you doing?"
"What? It's just an instruction for efficient operations. I'm not hoping that first-year rookies will successfully conquer a level 5 persona gate. It's like hoping for ants to kill a tiger."
After saying that, Commander Arein disappeared with his knights, leaving Lee Han-Wol clenching his fist.
Yes, logically speaking, he was right.
But Lee Han-Wol wanted to believe.
‘Some of the students who entered are survivors of the Class 5 necromancer attack.’
Even Baek Yu-seol, who was responsible for taking out the necromancer, was included in the group.Lee Han-Wol closed his eyes and prayed.
‘Please, let the kids come out safely…’
There were only two obstacles left to conquer the persona gate.
One was the dancing clock tower, and the other was the much-anticipated masquerade banquet.
She didn't care much about the masquerade banquet. Flame knew well what would happen there.
However, she worried about the dancing clock tower.
She remembered a level 4 spider-like demon would appear there.
"Old man, do you remember what happened here?" Flame suddenly asked.
Baek Yu-Seol, who was walking ahead, hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No."
"I see..."
"But I know it's dangerous."
‘Well, as a regressor, he can’t exactly remember everything. Thankfully, he knows what’s going on.’
While Flame seemed satisfied with his response, Baek Yu-Seol pondered about this place.
‘I don’t know the story very well.’
For Baek Yu-Seol, this place was just a dungeon for item farming, and he didn't know the story in detail.
The strategy for the final boss was dancing, and Eisel and Hong Bi-Yeon danced quite well.
But there was something else.
Baek Yu-Seol vaguely remembered skipping the event cutscenes by repeatedly pressing ESC, so he didn’t know the details.
It wasn’t intentional.
The 15 other players would be forced to watch the cutscene alongside the one person who refused to skip. The chatbox would inevitably be filled with messages like “Skip!” or “Who’s not skipping?”
‘I wanted to see Hong Bi-yeon dance...’
Hong Bi-Yeon was a villainess, but her unique beauty captivated the hearts of many male players in the game.
Especially one gamer who broke their monitor every time Hong Bi-Yeon died in various branches. That gamer became famous in the community.
And today, it seemed he wouldn’t be able to see her dance either.
He didn’t remember the story, but he knew what needed to be caught to obtain the hidden reward.
[You've reached the dancing clock tower.]
[If you go down the stairs here, you'll reach the ballroom.]
[The banquet seems to have just started, so hurry!]
Reading the guideline messages, Flame let out a short exclamation.
"Wow, it's high..."
The clock tower didn't feel particularly significant. It just felt like an endlessly spiraling staircase leading down.
And at the top of that clock tower, where the students' feet would never reach, resided the great blade Spider.
Flame swallowed dry saliva and took a deep breath.
‘That thing is dangerous.’
She studied the great blade spider in detail as a precaution, but it would still be difficult to prevent damage.
‘It's better if I handle it alone.’
If Eisel could safely face the final boss without anyone dying, then they could all move forward.
Flame was about to speak with that determination.
"Wait a moment."
Baek Yu-Seol, who was walking at the front, stopped and looked back.
"There's something."
He turned around and asked Eisel, breaking the silence.
"Did you see any message in the guideline?"
“No, it says to head straight to the ballroom. Strange... earlier it mentioned something happening at the dancing clock tower.”
“Alright. That means it’s a stage we don’t necessarily need to clear. You all go ahead. I’ll check it out by myself.”
"What...?"
Flame subconsciously raised her head.
The great blade spider hadn't moved yet, and the distance to the ceiling was quite far.
He said he didn't remember what happened here, so he wouldn't have known about its existence in advance.
But did he already sense its presence?
‘Well... He’s someone who can see and counter magic with his eyes. It’s not surprising that his senses are exceptional.’
While the other students hesitated, Flame stepped forward.
“Let’s listen to him for now. The most important thing is to get to the ballroom as quickly as possible.”
Originally, Flame had planned to take the lead, but if Baek Yu-Seol, who stayed behind, was the one suggesting it, he could be trusted.
"Yes. I agree with the commoner's words. It doesn't seem necessary for a large number of us to be tied down to something when it's not even a stage."
"Even the princess agrees..."
"Your wish is my command."
"M-Me too."
As much as half of the students present here were members and followers of Hong Bi-Yeon’s faction. Since the most powerful among them had spoken, Baek Yu-Seol was left behind without further debate.
Ding! Ding!
Soon, the clock tower's bell resounded throughout.
Suddenly, from the ceiling, a monstrous creature descended with a thud!
The sound of a massive creature crawling echoed.
At the chilling sound, the students simultaneously looked up at the ceiling. Their eyes instantly widened in astonishment.
"A spider?!"
"It's a blade spider! Wait…! It’s a great blade spider!”
"Insane! The great blade spider is a dangerous level 4 creature! Hurry! We need to go down quickly!"
Seeing the students rushing down the stairs in panic, Baek Yu-Seol drew out his Teripon Sword.
The students glanced worriedly at his back, but at that moment, they had no choice but to run away.
Clang!
As the blade spider descended along the wall, sparks flew in all directions. It was exactly what its name implied—a spider with eight legs, each consisting of sharp blades. Even a simple attack from it could be fatal, so it should never be confronted in such a confined space.
Moreover, it also used its sharp and sturdy spider thread to freely traverse through space.
A structure like this clock tower, with an empty space in the middle, was nothing but a stage designed exclusively for the blade spider.
"How did this happen…?"
"W-Will Baek Yu-Seol be able to hold it off?"
"I don't know. We'll have to trust him..."
As they anxiously muttered their concerns, suddenly, from the ceiling of the clock tower where Baek Yu-Seol and the great blade spider were facing off, a dazzling spark erupted.
It wasn't a simple friction spark; it appeared to be the effect of magic.
"W-What is that...?"
The students looked up at the ceiling, their expressions turning pale as they let out sighs of astonishment.
Between the walls of the clock tower were dozens of thin, serpentine lines shimmering with blue color.
Baek Yu-Seol stepped on those blue lines, leaping through empty space and wielding a transparent sword that emitted a radiant light.
Seeing this, the students were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
‘Baek Yu-seol did something again...!’
‘As expected, there’s always something with him.’
Now, there was only one problem they had to worry about.
Their ultimate goal: to reach the masquerade banquet and find a way to escape this dreary world.
That was all.