The powerful Academy

Golden light enveloped Vila, making the Black Knife Assassin narrow her eyes like a cat beside a warm hearth.

"Very good, healer. My wounds, mostly healed."

Irina smiled. "I'm glad I could help."

Fia stepped forward and spread a sheet of parchment on the table.

"A certain lord gave me this note after some pillow talk. I hope it helps."

Vila looked at the parchment. Simple lines outlined a drawing, complete with a large red cross. It was presumably a map, but unfortunately, she lacked the ability to match a map to the real world.

In short, she couldn't read it.

She turned to Tarnished with a hint of appeal in her eyes.

Tarnished didn't disappoint her. He immediately summoned Rogier. After all, nobody knew geography better than this master wanderer.

Roger certainly knew his stuff. After studying the parchment briefly, he quickly pinpointed the exact location on a more accurate, easier-to-read military map.

"On Liurnia's eastern shore. Head down from the eastern plateau, and you'll find a hidden path. At its end is a long-abandoned catacomb. That Black Knife Assassin should be inside."

"Let's go, now!" Vila could barely wait. She had thought all her sisters were dead. Now that she knew someone had survived, she couldn't possibly leave her there.

"Don't rush. Liurnia isn't my territory. If we're sending troops there, we need to coordinate with the Academy first."

Vila shook her head. "I can, go alone."

"Are you sure?" Tarnished reminded her, "Catacombs are resting places for the dead. Well, not anymore, but to keep people from disturbing or disrupting the Return to the Erdtree ritual, they've always been guarded by plenty of magically powered imps and watchdogs. Are you sure you can reach the depths alone in your current condition?"

"In the past, I could. But now, probably not." Vila was quite honest. "My wounds, haven't healed. My weapon, has lost its power. And I lost, my concealing veil. So, how long, to coordinate with the Academy?"

Good grief, that was quite a list. So this Black Knife girl was still badly damaged. No wonder she had been so weak.

"Not long. I sent an envoy a while ago, so we should hear back soon." Then Tarnished asked curiously, "If you lost your concealing veil, how did you turn invisible before?"

"That wasn't, true invisibility. I just, used shadows, and blind spots." Vila added, sounding a little defiant, "If my weapon, still had, its power, I could, pierce your armor."

Tarnished looked exasperated. "Hey, don't go killing me like you did Godwyn."

The Black Knife Assassins' blades were imbued with Destined Death, but for some reason, Vila's dagger had lost that power.

At the mention of Godwyn, however, Rogier could no longer restrain himself. He asked urgently, "Miss Vila, what exactly happened on the Night of the Black Knives?"

"We, killed Godwyn. While he slept, in his bedroom."

"Why did you do it?"

"Because, of orders."

"Whose orders?"

"I, cannot, answer."

"Hm?" Rogier froze.

Vila pointed to her head. "A prohibition, was placed here. The memories, are gone."

Rogier frowned. "Was it the true mastermind's doing?"

"I don't know. But, probably."

"I understand." Rogier took a deep breath. "Thank you for answering."

Vila didn't care about his gratitude. She looked at Tarnished again, and he reassured her, "We'll let you know as soon as we're ready. Until then, stay in Stormveil. Don't worry. I won't ask you to do anything before we've helped you find the other Black Knife Assassin."

The Black Knife Assassin was surprised by how accommodating Tarnished was. She had never met such an approachable person of importance. In the past, assassins could only obey. There was no room for negotiation. Every time they went on a mission, they prepared themselves to be discarded afterward, because that was how it had always been.

What a strange man, showing respect to a tool.

With that thought, Vila committed Tarnished's name to memory and settled in Stormveil.

To draw less attention, she changed into a maid's uniform and was introduced as a newly hired worker at Stormveil. It was meant as a cover, but Vila unexpectedly proved to be a master of housework. Not only did she wield every cleaning tool with practiced ease and complete her daily tasks in an orderly fashion, she also possessed exceptional cooking skills-something utterly at odds with the deadly reputation of a Black Knife Assassin.

When Vila brought out a pot of incredibly delicious thick soup and began serving everyone, Tarnished couldn't contain himself.

"Are all Black Knife Assassins this versatile?"

"A maid, can infiltrate, to assassinate. A cook, can poison, meals. These are, efficient methods, of assassination. Every Black Knife, learns them."

That made so much sense that Tarnished had no reply.

Sure enough, assassins who soared over rooftops and fought entire armies alone didn't really exist. Real assassins mostly relied on tools and tricks.

Then another thought struck him. Melina's martial skills were identical to those of the Black Knives, so she had clearly received the same training. Did that mean she was an excellent cook too?

Tarnished's eyes lit up. That settled it. He would eat Melina's cooking in this lifetime, and not even the Greater Will could stop him. He meant it!

He had barely made that grand vow when Alexander, the Warrior Jar currently on duty, knocked on the door.

During mealtimes, guard and patrol duties were taken over by artificial beings-the Living Jars and Albinaurics. After all, they either had no stomachs or wouldn't develop gastritis from irregular meals. At first, Tarnished had worried they might resent it, but they took the arrangement as a sign of favor and trust. Every one of them looked ready to lay down their life to repay his kindness, leaving Tarnished marveling once again at the cultural diversity of the Lands Between.

"Come in, jar bro. What's the matter?"

Alexander replied, "Lord Rodini has returned."

"Show him in, quickly!"

Stormveil had two Crucible Knights, Rodini and Laurendi. They had been sent as envoys, one to the Liurnia Region and the other to Caelid. Rodini was the one who had gone to Liurnia.

The good news was that he had established contact with the Academy. The bad news was that the Academy hadn't been particularly friendly.

"The sorcerers are as arrogant as ever, and this time they're openly hostile." Rodini spoke between spoonfuls of soup. "They don't care who rules Stormveil, but they strongly object to our encroachment in Liurnia. They really do consider the Albinaurics their private property. Even picking up things they've thrown in the trash has them deeply upset."

"Hmph. That's what those old fossils are like." Sellen spared them no scorn. "They have no ability to establish authority, so they invent absurd rules to assert it. Take the Academy's rules: lights out at ten, no rubbish in the rubbish bins, greet your teachers first whenever you see them, wear sorcerer's robes every day. None of that improves learning efficiency. In fact, it seriously hampers it. It's management for the sake of management. Utter nonsense!"

Clearly, Sellen had a great many grievances with the Academy.

After soothing his teacher a little, Tarnished asked Rodini, "So, does the Academy want us to return the Albinaurics we've recruited?"

"No, they want payment." Rodini shrugged. "They demand compensation for their losses. Of course, they don't want money. They want goods. Food and clothing, especially clothing. You wouldn't believe it-practically every sorcerer's robe there is patched. Though it makes sense. You can't expect a bunch of sorcerers capable of destroying the world to put down their staffs and work a loom."

"Supplies, huh." Tarnished was troubled. Volcano Manor already had an order for a million. If he added the Academy's demands, meeting them would be even harder.

As expected, supporting the entire industrial system of the Lands Between alone was too much for him. He needed more resources and a better workforce.

But that could wait. His immediate priority was dealing with the Academy.

Watching Tarnished struggle made Rodini feel rather better. The Academy had given him a thoroughly hard time earlier. Now his task was finished, and his mood had improved considerably. Still drinking his soup, he asked, "This soup smells wonderful. Who made it?"

"The new maid," Tarnished answered casually, pointing behind Rodini.

The Crucible Knight instinctively turned and nearly jumped out of his skin. Vila was standing directly behind him, and he hadn't noticed her arrive at all.

"You..."

"Her name is Vila. She's a Black Knife Assassin," Tarnished supplied outright.

Clatter!

Rodini toppled backward off his chair and scrambled away to put some distance between them.

This was a Black Knife Assassin, someone who could bring down even a demigod! With her standing so prettily right behind him, even a Crucible Knight had every right to be frightened.

Vila took a step forward.

Rodini braced himself as though facing a formidable enemy.

Instead, Vila held up the soup pot and asked, "Would you like, more soup?"

Rodini's face twitched. "...Yes."

After another bowl of delicious thick soup, Rodini suddenly felt that Black Knife Assassins weren't so frightening after all.

Perhaps that was the power of food.

He was about to ask for another bowl when Tarnished asked him, "How do you think the Academy's strength compares with Stormveil's?"

"Stormveil definitely has the advantage, but the sorcerers' ranged capabilities make that advantage rather negligible. Still, I'm only a knight. Strategic planning isn't my forte, so I can't give you professional advice."

If the Crucible Knight wasn't qualified, they would ask someone who was.

Tarnished looked at Edgar and Nepheli.

Edgar was Stormveil's chief military officer. Although Nepheli was a descendant of the First Elden Lord, she wasn't arrogant. She served as Edgar's vanguard officer and learned from him humbly.

"Stormveil's army comprises multiple races, something unprecedented in the Lands Between. We're still exploring how to make the best use of each race's strengths and learning to work together. Frankly, I oppose launching a large-scale military operation in the Liurnia Region at this stage. More importantly..."

Edgar looked at Nepheli as he spoke. After a moment's thought, she continued, "We must find a way to suppress the Academy's ranged capabilities. Otherwise, even if we win, it will be a pyrrhic victory."

The old castellan nodded approvingly. By having Nepheli answer, he had also intended to test her, and her response pleased him greatly. Although Nepheli and his daughter were "romantic rivals," Edgar had come to genuinely appreciate her talent. If one was his daughter and the other his pupil, surely the two sisters wouldn't tear each other's hair out.

More importantly, that little bastard Tarnished was an absolute animal. Who knew how many more women he would bring home? Having Irina and Nepheli join forces would offer some protection against him and give them an advantage in the future struggle within his harem.

Tarnished had no idea his father-in-law was applying military strategy to the competition for favor in his harem. Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared. He loved all his wives equally, so there was no such thing as competing for his favor.

"Do you have anything to add, Teacher?" he asked Sellen.

"Stormveil can't win. At least, not right now." Sellen sounded certain.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because a barrier surrounds the Academy. Without a key, you can't enter." Sellen shrugged. "Don't even think of forcing your way through. That barrier was erected to keep the Shattering from reaching the Academy. Even the demigods could do nothing about it, let alone Stormveil as it is now. If we really send troops, we'll face a bunch of despicable cowards hiding behind the barrier and endlessly hurling sorceries at us. We wouldn't stand a chance."

Everyone was startled and turned to Rodini.

Rodini nodded. "A sorcerer did guide me inside the Academy. I thought it was a teleportation device that only sorcerers could activate. Apparently, I assumed too much."

"Even if we find a key and breach the barrier, the Academy's fighting strength isn't to be underestimated," Sellen continued to dampen their hopes. "Those old fossils lack ambition, but they've made their nest practically impregnable. The Academy has vast numbers of marionettes to use as cannon fodder, and they've built multiple towers as firing positions. Anyone who dares attack will come under fire from every direction. Without comparable ranged means of retaliation, our troops would be nothing but living targets, easily wiped out by the sorcerers."

Edgar frowned. "Is the Academy really that powerful?"

Rather than answering directly, Sellen asked, "Do you know who last attacked the Academy?"

"Who?"

"The Moon Princess, Ranni."

Everyone was shocked. Even Tarnished was a little surprised.

Sellen began recounting a little-known piece of history.

"Liurnia was originally ruled by the Carian Royal Family. Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, possessed extraordinary talent and vision, and even the Academy fell easily under her control. Unfortunately, she placed too much importance on love. After Goddess Marika banished Godfrey, the First Elden Lord, Rennala's husband, the red-haired hero Radagon, abandoned her. He returned to the Royal Capital of Leyndell to marry Goddess Marika and became the second Elden Lord..."