Hearing her voice, I was genuinely confused.
What? How can she see me?
My mind spun, a sharp pain beginning to pulse in my temple. It felt like the onset of a migraine, but I knew it wasn't just that—it was the weight of the dilemma crashing down on me.
Silence wouldn't help now. I couldn't just hide anymore. I stepped forward, letting myself be seen.
"How can you see me?" I asked, my voice thick with disbelief.
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "I should be the one asking that. How were you able to get here before us?" Her tone was sharp, demanding an answer.
I rubbed my temples, unsure of what to say. I couldn't exactly tell her that all of this was just a novel. That I wasn't supposed to be here either. My lips moved, but no sound came out.
My entire plan had taken a sharp, unexpected turn. I expected things to go sideways, sure, but this? This was beyond anything I could've predicted. The silence between us stretched painfully until she finally broke it, her voice trembling.
"Do you know how much I worried about you? And if you knew what was going to happen, why didn't you tell us?"
Her words hit me like a storm. Pain. Fear. Hurt. It was all in her voice, crashing down like a tsunami.
"If you had given us any information, people could've been saved!" she cried, and I noticed the shimmer of tears trickling down her beautiful face.
I stayed silent. What could I say?
Yes, I could have saved them. But I'm not a hero. I wasn't trying to be. I just did what was needed to survive. My voice came out low and powerless.
"I'm sorry... Please, forget what happened. And don't tell anyone about this."
She stared at me, stunned into silence. There were so many questions behind her eyes, but she didn't voice a single one. Her expression darkened with sorrow, and without another word, she stepped into the portal.
She was hurting. But when she entered the classroom, she put on a mask, pretending everything was fine. Typical of her.
I followed quietly after, using my concealment technique to fade from notice. No one saw me slip in—except for Irish. She was always observant, always lurking near the edges. We shared a glance, but she said nothing.
Once inside, I opened the window and used the Grabbing Shallow technique to gently descend. I landed without a sound and slipped into the class unnoticed. Bitterly smiling, I looked at my loot.
Treasure beyond measure—valuable pills and two Divine Fruits. I should've felt victorious. Instead, my chest ached. Should I have saved more people?
Lives are still lives. This is real Life now. If I can save someone, shouldn't I?
Gab was the first to step forward and explain everything to the teachers. He was believable, especially with the Holy Sword in hand. The Eden Academy principal's eyes lit up. Though they'd taken a hit in reputation due to the casualties, no high-profile students had died. And a new hero had emerged—Gab.
Everyone rejoiced, grateful to be alive. Fiona looked toward Irish, sensing a kindred spirit. Her smile faltered when she saw those tired eyes.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly.
Irish gave her a weak smile, pretending not to understand.
Fiona saw through it but chose not to press further. Her thoughts drifted to Marquel—the mysterious figure who had left a deep impression on her. She chuckled lightly.
He's lucky he didn't go into the dungeon with us.
If only she knew the truth. I had been there. Not just with them—but ahead of them.
Back in my room, I laid out the loot. Pills of superior quality—far beyond even high-grade. They would restore my mana quickly and efficiently. The two Divine Fruits were priceless treasures, capable of boosting cultivation and physique alike.
I smiled. With these, my strength would likely match a 3-star cultivator at early stage. I nodded in satisfaction—then promptly collapsed onto my bed.
Those hours inside the dungeon had been truly horrifying. If not for the punishment the Empress had previously given me, I might have died. I was thankful... but also terrified.
The Empress...
---
In a secluded chamber, the Empress sat in deep cultivation. But her concentration shattered the moment news of a dungeon outbreak involving her servant class reached her ears.
She instantly teleported to Eden Academy. The air trembled with her arrival—her aura alone was enough to crush weaker cultivators. Students scattered, and even the some teachers didn't dared to approach her.
She scanned the area, but she couldn't sense him.
Her expression darkened. Anxiety twisted in her gut.
She bit her finger—anxious, annoyed, and furious. In a flash, she teleported back to her private chamber and stared into a crystal ball.
There—he appeared.
Relief washed over her for a split second, immediately followed by rising annoyance. The treasure pills. The two Divine Fruits. She knew he had entered the dungeon.
Why else would he have those?
Her gaze grew colder. Without hesitation, she teleported again—to his room. Three consecutive teleports drained her slightly. Her skin was pale, but her eyes were sharp with fury.
Hearing the faint sound of footsteps, I instantly became wary. Instinct took over. I summoned my fourteen swords and activated the One Sweep technique, layering it with the Grabbing Shallow movement.
The swords surrounded the intruder in a deadly formation.
But then—that scent.
My body froze. My pupils trembled.
No… it couldn't be.
I tried to move, but my body wouldn't respond. I was locked in place—life hanging by a thread, held in her hand.
Red eyes. Crimson hair. An impossibly beautiful and proud face.
The Empress.
She slowly walked forward, her presence devouring all resistance. Step by step, until her face was inches from mine.
Then, she spoke, voice like a blade wrapped in silk:
"Hm? My little servant is hiding secrets behind his Empress?"
My throat dried. That voice—so soft, yet filled with a promise of torment.
Her tone was casual, but I knew the meaning behind it.
This wasn't a question.
It was a warning.
And I... was in deep trouble.
[Last chapter i could do I'm really sorry that i couldn't make it all at once but i was really caught of guard getting Bombarded with powerstone T-T]