"One-eyed Sword Jane has been taken down."

A shocking statement from the Top Rank F-Class.

In response, the Top Rank E-Class, who was chewing on grass nearby, reacted.

"What do you mean... The exam hasn't even started yet. No matter how much authority the Disciplinary Committee has, this is too much!"

"Calm down."

The Top Rank F-Class recalled the scene he had witnessed.

Gardner carrying the collapsed One-eyed Sword Jane on his shoulder heading towards the Medical Room.

To anyone, it looked as though he had dealt with One-eyed Sword Jane.

However, nothing is certain yet.

They need to meet with One-eyed Sword Jane directly to confirm.

Did Gardner attack and incapacitate her beforehand?

Or was it just a coincidence?

If it’s the former...

The Top Rank F-Class was considering reporting him to the Legal Department's Punitive Squad.

One-eyed Sword Jane was feeling good.

Although the slight fracture in her skull had almost killed her from the pain.

At any rate, she was alive.

Couldn't she stay hospitalized legally?

Moreover, she had obtained a ticket...

‘Hmm… They won't take this back, will they?'

A brief worry surfaced but soon subsided.

'I can just say I got injured while fighting Gardner.'

After all, she was hurt because she was startled by Gardner.

It's not exactly a huge lie, right?

‘Even if I did lie, what could they possibly do?

Would they go and ask Gardner himself?

I don't think so.

They were scared of fighting Gardner themselves, which is why they hired me.

Hehe... I earned some leisure money without even taking the exam...'

How lucky.

-Smiling contently.

But the smile didn’t last long.

As footsteps approached from outside, her expression hardened.

It might be the two who had given her the assignment.

If they discovered her, they might take the ticket back.

The door creaked open.

Just like the saying 'Speak of the tiger and it will appear.'

The Top Rank E-Class and Top Rank F-Class entered through the Medical Room door.

'Control your expression, control your expression.'

Jane hardened her expression once more.

She looked miserable, like a swordsman who had just lost family before their eyes.

Before the two could speak, Jane began first.

"Did you come? Gardner, the person you hired me to deal with... he was certainly strong. I couldn't possibly take him on."

"So, you were defeated by Gardner?"

"Yes... I struggled, but in the end, I lost. There's no helping it. Anyway, I think I need to rest for a while... I'd prefer if you didn’t visit and just leave me alone."

Before they could ask for their payment back, she preemptively spoke.

At her words, the two men pulled distressed faces.

One looked shocked, as if realizing his meal ticket had just vanished...

The other was different.

He suddenly seemed to gather his spirit.

With a determined expression, he stated.

"No matter what, even if it's the Disciplinary Committee, should a student be beaten this badly and hospitalized?"

"Huh, what?"

"This is unacceptable behavior, even for the Disciplinary Committee members!"

"Oh, no... I also fought... and, well, wasn't this match quite satisfying? I mean, I'm content?"

"No! You mustn't brush this off so casually!!!"

The Top Rank F-Class shouted, utterly incensed.

Coincidentally, the Health Teacher was away on business.

There was no one to stop his outburst.

"This is a blatant abuse of power by those in authority!!! I will report this to the Ministry of Justice immediately!!!”

“Oh, no! I’m fine, I’m telling you! Please stop!!! Hey!!!”

-Bang!

The Top Rank F-Class slammed the door and ran towards the Ministry of Justice's office.

Watching his retreating figure, Jane turned pale.

“D-damn it…”

The Ministry of Justice.

Two women were sitting side by side, enjoying tea.

“Wow… are you really that Elki?”

Her orange silk-like hair shone as it reflected off her white back, making it seem as if it were ablaze.

Her eyes were crimson, her skin alabaster white. Just looking at her made one feel as though they were burning under her brightness.

Her name was Ella.

She was a 2nd-year member of the Academy's Punitive Squad.

She was repeatedly expressing her amazement at the drastically transformed appearance of Elki.

“A shut-in who didn’t attend classes because you were a special student… It seems like just yesterday you had that distinct animal-like smell because you rarely bathed…”

“…”

-Clink.

Elki quietly sipped her tea.

There was no reason to respond to someone marveling all on their own, and besides… Why she had changed was something Elki couldn't discuss, as it might redirect Ella's interest towards Gardner.

In front of her was Ella, the girl with an obsession, particularly towards the Head of the Disciplinary Committee. There was no telling what kind of fixation she might develop for Gardner.

Elki merely offered the excuse that she became more diligent simply because it was time to work.

While they were having this conversation for quite some time...

-Knock Knock.

Someone knocked on the Ministry of Justice's door.

"Oh, for crying out loud, I just got back, and there's more work?"

Ella cursed under her breath as she got up from her seat. Assuming it was another task handed over from a professor or the Disciplinary Committee, she opened the door.

But standing there wasn't a professor or a member of the Legal Department. Instead, it was a first-year cadet she did not recognize.

She was momentarily curious about why a first-year cadet would be knocking on their door, but that curiosity quickly turned into annoyance when the cadet spoke.

"I have something to report!"

"Reports go to the Disciplinary Committee! This is where we catch criminals, not the Disciplinary Committee!"

The Punitive Squad typically only takes action when the Disciplinary Committee deems a case to involve more than a petty crime and requests their intervention.

So, for ordinary matters, one should go to the Disciplinary Committee. Coming to the Punitive Squad by mistake is troublesome and irritating.

That's why there's a poster outside the door.

[Please direct simple reports to the Disciplinary Committee.]

Such misdirection really gets on their nerves.

Just as she was about to kick him out, he spoke again.

"The Disciplinary Committee! They beat someone up!!!"

"The Disciplinary Committee hitting people isn't new, is it? And wasn't it during a restraint? In that case, some consideration can be given..."

"No!!! How can that be!!! An ordinary cadet has a skull fracture and is hospitalized!!!"

"Well, if it was that severe, they did go too far, but... still, go to the Disciplinary Committee, they'll handle it."

One might question the logic of reporting the Disciplinary Committee's actions to the Disciplinary Committee itself. However... she had faith in them.

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee wasn’t someone who would tolerate such things.

Just as she was truly about to kick him out this time, he said something intriguing.

"The one Gardner, whom the Head of the Disciplinary Committee values greatly, did it!!! How can they not be biased!"

-Clatter.

"What do you mean by that?"

As soon as that was heard, Elki stood up from her seat.

Just as she was about to charge at him with a twisted expression on her face, Ella stopped Elki with her hand.

Ella grabbed the collar of the man who had reported and spat her words fiercely.

"Who? Cares about whom?"

"Uh, that... the Head of the Disciplinary Committee values Gardner..."

"Tell me immediately where he is. Given the severity of the offense, he will be detained."

The man stammered out Gardner's location. Elki glared at the man, her face twisted with fury as if she could kill him.

Ella.

A man feeding all the information about Gardner to this crazy psychopath lesbian woman. He could not possibly look good to her.

It was strange.

Despite having killed the Parasite Queen, I didn't have a ‘dream.’

I always thought dreams came to me like rewards whenever I did something significant, like handling an issue or contributing to one, actions that earned experience points.

Even when I killed the Parasite Queen this time, my contribution wasn't insignificant. I expected another dream to visit me, but it didn't.

Why was that?

I considered various possibilities and focused on the most likely one among them.

‘Iscaliote’

Her flame didn’t extinguish, instead, it grew in size.

The fuel for that flame was Magical Creatures.

Even the flame attached to the Parasite Queen parasitizing her likely continued growing without burning out.

So, if the body of that Parasite Queen transformed into something like experience points and became fuel for my dreams...

Would Iscaliote’s flame transfer itself and ignite mine?

“No way.”

The reason the ‘dream’ hasn’t come to me...

Could it be because Iscaliote’s flame is burning it away?

If I needed proof, it would be the full spectrum scent almost assaulting my nose.

I was convinced it was the smell of dreams burning.

“This is bad…”

I needed to rush to Trinia right away, regardless of whether she could do anything about it or not.

Just as I was going to ask her to tell my sister to put out the fire...

A jewel-like voice came from behind me.

“I smelled the scent of a parasite, so I came. Who are you?”

I slowly turned my head to face the owner of the voice.

Golden hair cascading straight down.

Eyes burning with a green glow.

Though she seemed somewhat translucent...

Basking in the sunlight, a woman sat on the window frame.

I knew her name.

“Iscaliote…”

With her appearance, the full spectrum scent vanished.

The woman's translucent figure shimmered like a mirage in the sunlight.

"Why do you know my name?"

Her voice was as agitated as the flickering flames one could barely see beneath her serene appearance. I pondered the intentions behind her question.

With caution, I replied, "You left a strong impression in the Library of Eternity. Your tales are hard to forget."

Her shimmering figure seemed to quiver, a delicate blend of curiosity and caution etched on her face.

"Your existence itself is fascinating," I continued, attempting to put her at ease and perhaps glean more about the fading scent of dreams.

Though her expression softened slightly, the sharp intensity in her eyes remained.

"I can say the same about you," she said, her words deliberately measured.

"Iscaliote, do you know what's happening with the flames lately?" I asked, my mind racing to connect the events.

She nodded slowly. "Flames that feed on magic are perilous, consuming everything intangible and suppressing dreams."

Her words cast a chill over the room, the hint of danger ever prominent.

"And a solution?" I pressed on.

Her gaze not wavering, she replied, "It requires sacrifice. A part of one's own existence must burn brighter."

Her ethereal presence flickered again, as though making a difficult decision.

"But there are always choices," she murmured, almost to herself, before looking at me with renewed determination.

Without hesitation, I challenged her, "And what will you choose, Iscaliote?"

Her gaze softened, perhaps relieved by my question.

"I've already chosen," she declared, the fire in her eyes unmistakable and resolute.

In that moment, I felt the weight of what lay ahead, knowing our paths were irreversibly intertwined.

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