Dark Moon

A temporary butler from the graveyard?

"Could it be that every new student is assigned a corresponding butler?" Han Dong asked curiously.

"That's right, our [Graveyard Management Committee]'s duty is to receive the Knight-Errants, and also to be responsible for the environmental hygiene and basic security work on the inner island."

"Graveyard Management Committee..."

Han Dong tried his best to accept it all and followed this graveyard butler towards the main building.

"The surface of the body shows obvious lividity, with some ulcerated open wounds. Without the function of blood cells, the body is clearly in a 'dead' state, yet it can still carry out normal physiological activities?

If I had the chance and equipment, I'd really like to observe their cellular structure."

Due to the limitations of the experimental equipment, Han Dong couldn't conduct normal cell research.

Once he had sufficient funds and understood the Holy City's scientific technology, he also planned to conduct in-depth biological research on these strange magical creatures.

On the way to the main building, the graveyard butler provided detailed explanations about some basic information regarding the Mysticism Department.

"The main building of the Mysticism Department—[Dark Moon Tower]—was renovated and expanded by Mr. Black and White, the department head and chief of staff of the [Plague Knights], thirty years ago.

The 'Dark Moon' setting, which completely hides the tower and its surrounding ancillary buildings, makes it the tallest structure in the Royal Knights Academy.

It is divided into four major layered zones and 14 important areas."

"Plague Knights, Chief of Staff!?"

This was the second knight order name Han Dong had heard.

Moreover, a position like 'Chief of Staff' was most likely the second-in-command within a knight order, which showed how high the position was.

The graveyard butler said with considerable pride:

"Although the Plague Knights are not the strongest among the thirteen knight orders, they are an indispensable special group. Mr. Black and White's existence is incredibly important to the entire Holy City."

"Hmm... Thirteen knight orders? No wonder, when Barton Foggs learned that I passed a four-star novice event, he wanted to pull me into the Black Rose Knights where he belonged."

The butler continued:

"With [Dark Moon Tower] as the main building, the Mysticism Department also has four major ancillary areas—[Dark Moon Forest], [Great Graveyard], [Old Sewers], and [Dead Water Swamp].

Each ancillary area has its own significance, which you will understand in the future.

I want to specifically remind you to be careful in the [Old Sewers] and [Dead Water Swamp] areas, as entering them rashly could be life-threatening."

"Understood."

Han Dong had a general understanding of the Mysticism Department's territory.

"Excuse me, since you live in the graveyard, won't you become Ghouls?"

The butler replied with a smile: "Under the protection of the 'Dark Moon,' we will not be disturbed by anything from outside the city walls..."

"Dark Moon."

Han Dong looked up.

A black moon, similar to a lunar eclipse, hung in the sky (the center was black, with only a white halo outlining the circular shape).

The Dark Moon's shroud hid all areas of the Mysticism Department from the outside, and at the same time, it completely blocked out the mental influence emanating from Higher Lifeforms outside the city walls.

After spending half an hour passing through the graveyard.

They finally arrived at a side entrance of [Dark Moon Tower], sealed by a heavy black iron gate.

Turning the valve, Opening the gate, It wasn't a grand hall filled with many Knight-Errants.

It was an elevator room.

Over ten old elevators were set up here.

Each elevator corresponded to different floor levels.

Additionally, one needed to input a corresponding serial number on the brass key panel for the elevator to operate normally.

"The elevators are a fast and safe way to transfer within the tower.

They can help you bypass some dangerous areas and reach your desired destination directly... I suggest you memorize the various elevator sequences within a short period after registering, as it will save you a lot of trouble."

"Okay."

The elevator stopped near the middle levels of the tower.

The graveyard butler did not continue to lead the way and motioned with his hand:

"The temporary assembly room for Knight-Errants is ahead. Go in and submit your test items.

After all the Knight-Errants for this batch have completed their tests, the announcement of test results, self-introductions, and mentor selection will take place inside."

"Thank you."

Mentor selection.

As a university associate professor and master's student supervisor, Han Dong was naturally well aware of what mentor selection entailed.

After the graduate students were admitted, the faculty within the department and the graduate students who passed the entrance exams sat together in a conference room.

They would engage in discussions regarding academics and personal interests, ultimately selecting suitable mentors based on the students' personalities and areas of interest.

"Let's take a look first."

Han Dong was completely unaware of the faculty situation within the Mysticism Department.

Currently, he only knew of one person, who was also the department head mentioned by the butler—Mr. Black and White… It wasn't easy to get a mentor at the dean level.

Creak~

He pushed open the ebony door at the end of the corridor.

A larger-scale round table assembly hall was revealed.

It was a two-tiered design.

A candelabra with hundreds of branches hung from the ceiling, shaped like human arms, with palms holding candles.

The first floor was a round table area for the Knight-Errants. A giant Black Stone round table could accommodate sixty students, with each student's profile displayed on the tabletop for them to find their assigned seats.

The second-floor design was peculiar, with over ten seats embedded in the walls, allowing the teachers to sit suspended in the air.

More than twenty Knight-Errants had already gathered here.

Most of them had European features; even with different hair colors, they shared the same pale skin.

Furthermore, most of their attire and accessories indicated that they were not commoners by birth but the younger generation from middle- to upper-class families, much like Edward.

Han Dong's commoner attire stood out starkly in such a setting.

Of course, everyone who came here had passed the rigorous tests to become qualified Knight-Errants, so no one judged based on appearance. At most, they might privately grumble about Han Dong's physical condition.

However, students like Han Dong, who had no obvious external injuries, were rarely seen.

Most students had been injured, some even severely, during the tests arranged by the Mysticism Department.

Han Dong placed the iron box corresponding to his test into the designated groove on the tabletop… With the sound of gears turning, the iron box sank on its own, handed over to the relevant department for review.

Most people were dissatisfied with the dangerous tests administered by the Mysticism Department and voiced their complaints.

Take the male student beside Han Dong, for example.

He had a large wound on his abdomen, the bleeding stopped by special means. He used a unique suturing technique to self-stitch his blood vessels and outer skin.

Of course, he was continuously cursing as he performed the stitching.

"These individual tests are different from the group cooperation in Fate… Once your own abilities fall short, it truly is dangerous."