Professor Bronze may have shrunk in height, but that area remained invaluable.
“Watch closely. The fundamental element that forms our world, mana, can be handled like this.”
When mana fits into a predetermined puzzle, the spell is completed, and a specific magic activates.
You can add a few incantations to change or enhance the power and effect of a spell, but what Professor Bronze is performing right now goes beyond that dimension.
‘The ultimate of a skill. Just by activating it, it can imprint one’s will on a world akin to a specialized realm!’
A super enhancement of a function, an ultimate manifestation.
For instance, Jiang’s ultimate form of stealth unfolds into [High-level Stealth].
On the other hand, if I, the player, reach the ultimate of stealth, I could one day unfold [Absolute Stealth] as well.
That’s right. Even in the same ultimate realm, everyone’s power isn’t equal.
Some mix in the function of revenge to create enormous synergy, while others enhance a single trait of a function to manifest effects at the level of divine power.
[The Shadow of the Rogue]
Professor Bronze’s rogue shadow leans toward the former.
A unique ultimate mixed with the function of revenge.
Even I, as the player, found it hard to deplete all my resources, as countless ultimates were intertwined.
Only Professor Bronze in the world could execute her complex linked functions.
Commonly referred to as her unique function.
If you delve deeply, functions such as shadow movement, material transfer, and spirit embodiment are smeared all over, but if you focus on the core, it’s simply this.
A trick to manipulate a person’s personality and will through a shadow she has touched!
Thus, some shadows can exert greater power than the original, while others unleash unexpected forces entirely different from their originals.
It is the result of potential hidden in the person’s personality blooming or the embodiment of tiny, neglected fragments of personality that have been magnified.
Unless aiming for a specific personality, the personality that emerges is random.
[Hehehe]
[Destroyer, no matter how much time passes, you still seem like a child.]
While Professor Bronze certainly didn’t intend this, the personality awakened was none other than Havi Nodi.
[Always walking your path without eyeing other places. That foolish and stubborn childlike adult mindset you’ve stubbornly maintained into adulthood.]
The Masugaki Princess, hidden behind an opaque curtain, watched with bright eyes that felt hot on my cheeks.
“What a cruel technique. Those who gaze at desire will also be gazed upon by desire. Is that what you wish to claim?”
Professor Destroyer’s gaze sank coldly.
Isn’t this a bit dangerous…?
The professor’s furious demeanor, which I only felt in the atmosphere during lecture time, now sank deeply into the moment, far beyond the [Safety Range].
[Please give up the embers of desire.]
[Even so, you probably won’t listen, right? I don’t care about embers. Let’s talk.]
Havi Nodi’s shadow sat playfully, leaning back against the feet of the Destroyer, wearing a mischievous smile.
The blazing fireball that was trying to crawl out from the open lantern was struck by Havi Nodi’s finger.
Thwack!
With a natural ease, the Dark Mana that burst forth from her fingertips made the fireball spin in circles, unable to stabilize as its eyes spun wildly.
[You know, if nothing had happened between us, and if we met again peacefully, what would you have done?]
“An irrelevant assumption.”
[0 points. Refusing even a little fantasy for yourself? That’s too harsh. How’s a crafty class like a rogue supposed to function with such a rigid mind?]
“The real Havi is dead.”
[So you’ll throw away the opportunity to reflect on your own heart? You’ve been regretting that moment when you killed me all along.]
Gulp.
From across the way, I sensed the tense movement in the Masugaki Princess’s throat.
Oh dear, this is totally obvious!
Shh.
Young Professor Bronze’s soft finger pressed against my mouth, stopping me from scolding the Masugaki Princess.
[You know, I want Dit to be free. I don’t want to witness a life where he meets no other women and dies old, haunted by memories of a dead woman.]
“…A revolutionary? Is that a puppet sent to imitate Havi’s unpleasant shadow?”
[So think about it again. Really consider it the last time. So that a specter borrowing Havi’s name doesn’t emerge from you again.]
“…….”
[If we meet again, what would Dit have done?]
Beyond the orchestra filling the hall with violin music, I saw Professor Destroyer’s lips move in response to Havi’s shadow.
The answer didn’t transmit through sound, but with my keen eyes trained in reading subtle cues, I caught a glimpse.
【Proposal】
Doubt turned into conviction.
Sure enough, the professor liked Havi.
She projected that feeling onto a child, which is why she liked me!
[You’ve made me wait too long. You fool.]
The shadow playfully poked at Destroyer’s waist with her finger.
Havi Nodi, putting my concern about the professor into action, tried to resolve his unease.
If that unease is released, the professor’s inappropriate romantic feelings for her student will be naturally resolved, just as she thought.
‘Havi, but also Nodi, what a commendable effort from my clone!’
Slowly, Professor Destroyer placed her hand on Havi Nodi’s head.
Not just Masugaki Princess, even Rosgini raised her hands to her mouth in awe at the remarkable atmosphere between the two!
Go, go, Havi Nodi!
You can do it!
It’s about successfully helping the professor find closure!
While I cheered earnestly, suddenly, a wave of magical energy radiated from the professor’s hand.
“If this is a fragment of my desire, this will also be my answer.”
Shadows flowed from Destroyer’s fingertips.
[You really are a fool.]
“I know.”
[Only a royal fool gives the gift of death as a proposal.]
“This is a declaration towards the desire within me.”
[What’s the difference between that and what you’re saying to me?]
Hehe.
With a faint laugh, Havi Nodi’s shadow sank into the floor and disappeared.
Swish.
Then the shadow at her feet returned.
Not standing up on its own, not laughing or chuckling.
Just a whimsical shadow mimicking its master’s gestures, but unable to speak.
“I have transcended desire. Is it not enough to witness the end of this unpleasant show yet?”
At the professor’s gaze, Rosgini hiccupped in shock.
The moment when the owner of the victory prize was determined.
*
“Don’t be so scared. Just because a shadow dies doesn’t mean the body does too.”
Young Professor Bronze offered a kind of non-comfort, but my position was slightly different.
Havi Nodi was murdered.
Contrary to my expectations, the professor opted for a very decisive method of closure.
Murder.
She coolly just eliminated Havi’s remnants.
And that makes it even scarier.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d face the same fate as the avatar.
“Ugh. I won’t imitate Havi Nodi ever again. I’ll dump those heh sounds onto Older Sister Arcadia!”
Young Professor Bronze giggled.
“It was too difficult of a challenge for a rogue freshman. But still, I managed to steal everyone’s confidence except one person, so I can’t say it was a complete failure.”
“Really?”
“See for yourself. Over there, that ugly person who has lost confidence.”
Where Young Professor Bronze pointed was a man wearing a white hood who hadn’t dropped out of the fire show alongside Professor Destroyer until the very end, protesting.
But the protest didn’t last long.
The victorious Professor Destroyer approached personally, unfolding her domain right before the man’s eyes.
“…!”
A clash of energy so intense that the aftermath could be felt in the air.
The output was spectacular, but the disadvantage was evident.
The man in the white hood was pushed back, and just as he was glaring ferociously, ready to do something, a Cat Beastfolk intervened.
“……!”
The man in the white hood and the Cat Beastfolk VIP customer exited the hall together.
“Impressive, right? That person just overpowered a gold-tier contender purely by momentum.”
“Y-Yeah!”
“Are you scared of him?”
“Not really? As long as I don’t become Havi Nodi, I won’t be killed! And if I don’t get caught, I won’t melt away like ice cream!”
“That’s what you call being scared.”
Young Professor Bronze chuckled.
“Still, it’s troublesome. I became a child for this rare moment, but to cut such a sharp line with my past… How unfortunate.”
“What were you going to do to Professor Destroyer?”
“Temptation?”
“Gasp!”
“Now that’s a thing of the past. Your shadow, it was intriguing. The ability to unsettle that man to this extent was impressive as well. But now it’s time to part ways.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Let’s meet again when the opportunity arises.”
As Young Professor Bronze walked toward the setting sun, unlike her childlike appearance, she looked back with the shadow of an adult on her.
“By the way.”
“?”
“Be careful. That man interpreted your shadow. Without a doubt, he could read not only [Havi] but also [You].”
“Hieeeee?!”
“A rogue always attracts a persistent detective who doubts their identity. Congratulations! With this, you’ve taken a step closer to becoming a worthy rogue.”
Not a single word of gratitude as Professor Bronze vanished.
