On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 369

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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First Day of Infiltration, The Organization Was Destroyed — Episode 369
Finding the Secret Base (3)
Strictly speaking, calling it a simple ghost would have been far too crude a designation for something far more intricate.
Ziel and Gilbert didn’t know it well, but the world was home to things born from grudges layered upon grudges, year after year.
When those grudges grew so powerful that they took shape, what emerged was the existence of the former priest who had clung to this Scepter — a will that refused to disperse.
It had been roughly two hundred years.
When Edelwein Academy was founded, priests were expelled from the temple that had been built alongside it, and the temple was left to rot.
In that time, he alone had escaped the Imperial Army’s notice, hidden away, until at last he could not flee and met his end in this place.
And so for some two hundred years he had kept vigil, repelling any intruder who drew near.
Naturally, rumors of a haunted temple circulated through the Academy.
But today.
For the first time, an opponent appeared against whom his power did not prevail.
“Boss, this is the entrance that leads underground.”
“Understood. I’ll be there soon.”
An existence that had not only suppressed him effortlessly with an overwhelming brilliance, but had even blocked his attempt to seize their body!
‘What in the world are you?’
He had never encountered such an opponent.
People had approached before, yes, but had any of them ever subdued him so lightly?
They had all fled in terror!
And the most startling thing of all was that tremendous burst of blazing light!
Something had exploded — and unable to maintain his form against such violence, he had fled back into the Scepter.
‘A mage, perhaps? Or a god? No, it was different from the mages I’ve known…….’
While such unanswerable questions drifted through his consciousness, Ziel and Gilbert completed their survey of the underground.
“There’s a passage to the outside, and it’s not even particularly damp. Excellent conditions.”
“We should expand the passage, shouldn’t we? Make it connect all the way to the Faculty Dormitory.”
“That was my intention.”
At last, the secret base had been secured.
Edelwein Academy.
Not a particularly secret location, but a place that no one dared to approach — terrifying to the core!
An abandoned temple, nothing more.
“We can store weapons here without issue.”
“Excellent. Boss, we’ll decorate it together, won’t we? I’m so excited.”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
And they had gained a ghostly guardian to boot.
“But are you sure we shouldn’t dispose of it?”
“He seems afraid of being destroyed, so I’ll leave him be. In fact, it’s more efficient. We can devote less attention to security.”
Ziel cared little for the ghost’s ancient grudges. Imperial religious persecution and such matters lay far outside his concern.
One thing alone.
The significance lay in having finally secured a secret base.
“This place reminds me of my safe house.”
“The safe house that was scarcely safe at all?”
…….
As far as Ziel was concerned, the old Erso’s — no, Gilbert’s — safe house had been as good as nonexistent!
“In any case, I will take my revenge on those Red Raven dogs.”
“See that you do.”
It would not be long.
The day he ascended to Master Grade.
That was when he would begin his blood revenge against the Red Raven who had cast him out.
More precisely, he would annihilate the Branch Leader who had ordered his abandonment and all those connected to him!
That was Gilbert’s dream.
Of course, it was undeniable that he was happier now than he had been then.
Though the Human Skin Mask was occasionally inconvenient, his quality of life was far superior to what it had been.
Above all, did he not follow the Boss?
‘Should I be grateful for the betrayal……?’
He had gained so much that such thoughts now occupied his mind, but he gathered his wits once more.
The Red Raven.
He would have his vengeance on those above them.
‘Or perhaps absorb them into our organization instead?’
It was Ziel who roused Gilbert from his reverie.
“We need to furnish this place. Gilbert, prepare the materials to be moved.”
“Ah, yes, Boss. By the way, Boss—when do you think I’ll reach Master grade?”
“I don’t know.”
“I see.”
Listening to that blunt reply, he sensed it would take considerable time.
“I was too hasty, Boss. I’ll go gather the modification materials right away.”
“Mm. First priority is connecting to the Faculty Dormitory.”
“Yes, understood.”
And after Gilbert left.
Ziel considered the timing of the question Gilbert had just posed.
“Earliest this year, latest early next year, I’d say.”
Reaching Master grade typically required some special catalyst, but judging by growth rate alone, it wasn’t far off.
In fact, considering both the quantity of his mana and how he wielded it, the possibility was higher than Kelvin’s.
As the thought of Kelvin crossed his mind, Ziel turned his head.
He remained unconscious.
To think he feared ghosts that much.
In that case, special training to overcome his fear of ghosts seemed necessary.
“I’ll need to visit Professor Emeric Kent.”
Kelvin’s descent into hell was thus scheduled.
Flinch.
Kelvin reacted instinctively to those words, but unfortunately, being unconscious, he didn’t comprehend them clearly.
His body merely trembled with inexplicable dread.
—No, no, I must not be annihilated!
The ghost cried out amid all this, and Ziel answered matter-of-factly.
“Fulfill your role as Security Guard. If you allow anyone besides us to approach, I’ll annihilate you then.”
—Ah, understood.
“Your speech is becoming clipped again.”
—…Understood, sir.
A secret base, and now an unexpected ghost sentry too.
Today had been quite a productive day.

* * *
An unexpected debate was unfolding among the second years.
“Doesn’t Teacher Ziel seem to be in a good mood today?”
“What nonsense are you talking about, Ann?”
“No, it’s not nonsense. The corners of his mouth seemed to turn up.”
“You should say things that make sense.”
The subject was Ziel’s expression.
“Does that make sense? The teacher smiled?”
“You don’t know? The teacher smiles sometimes. Very rarely.”
“That’s impossible. I’ve never seen it.”
One side flatly denied something that couldn’t possibly exist in the world.
“Why not? The teacher can smile too. He’s not completely devoid of emotion.”
“Even so, you’re saying the teacher looked happy today? Does that even make sense? He just looks the same as always.”
“Then does that mean I got hit by the teacher three times in a row because he was in a good mood?”
“That’s not it. I’m telling you, the teacher really does look happy today.”
The other side was paradoxically insisting that miracles exist in this world.
“Then why don’t you just ask him?”
“Am I really going to ask him?”
“Go ahead. What did Ann eat today? Are you feeling alright?”
“The teacher really does smile sometimes, I’m telling you! Yurio, you’ve seen it too!”
“Yeah, he does smile. Sometimes. But it could be my mistake. Honestly, I only caught a glimpse.”
Even Yurio, who spoke with Ziel relatively often, couldn’t be certain!
In the end, Ann stepped forward as the representative and approached Ziel.
“Teacher!”
She hesitated for a moment.
‘Can I really ask such an odd question?’
“What is it, Ann Peshwa?”
But it was already too late.
Ann mustered her courage and asked.
“Teacher, are you in a good mood today?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Unexpectedly, the answer came quickly.
In fact, that’s why I pressed further.
“Really, truly?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I’d rather not say.”
A strange answer came back.
“……So you really are in a good mood, right?”
“Yes. Don’t I seem like it?”
“Well, you don’t smile much normally…….”
“Do I have to smile to be in a good mood?”
“Not necessarily, but if you smile, people can tell you’re happy.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
After wrapping up that odd conversation, Ann returned and delivered the news.
“The teacher’s in a good mood!”
“Is that so.”
“So the teacher can have moods like that?”
“But why won’t he smile?”
Their interest faded with remarkable speed.
In the end, Ann alone became the strange one.
Standing alone—well, with Quantus—Ann even heard an odd encouragement.
“Ann, you won!”
“Shut up, Quantus. Get your sword. We’re sparring today.”
“Oh, sounds good!”
And Ziel had to work hard to suppress the twitching at the corner of his mouth.
‘I didn’t smile. Success.’
His mood was excellent.
He’d finally confirmed the location of the secret base!
But he absolutely could not tell anyone.
Why is it called a secret base, after all?
Because it’s a ‘secret’—that’s why it’s a secret base.
The students must never find out.
‘The Faculty Dormitory isn’t far off, so a passage should open up before long.’
Since he couldn’t enter in front of everyone, he planned to move from the Faculty Dormitory once the passage was connected.
A secret base eternal, so long as the temple wasn’t torn down!
Of course, if someone suddenly issued an order to demolish it, Ziel was prepared to leverage his ‘connections’.
A secret base precious enough to make him think of using connections for the very first time!
That secret base would naturally be filled only with things befitting a secret base.
For instance, Subject One.
Or Ziel’s personal items related to Black Sky.
Preparations to ensure no problems should the Faculty Dormitory ever be compromised!
In truth, the very act of storing things was joy and happiness for Ziel.
“Teacher! Do you have a moment?”
“Understood, Student Celia Rihart. You need me to observe your swordsmanship? Ah, yes. I noticed earlier—your slashing attack is weak. I’ll start with that.”
“……?”
And so he obliged even with requests that hadn’t been made.
‘I came to ask about custom-made sword materials, but suddenly……?’
Celia found herself receiving private swordsmanship instruction quite by accident!
And she’d meant to ask where Teacher Kelvin had gone today, since she hadn’t seen him.
“Again. Diagonal stroke. Your blade wavers at the end.”
“Yes, sir!”
But there was no time for that—the private instruction had already begun.
“Once more. Your wrist is losing tension. Any cramping? Did you train yesterday?”
“W-well, I did…….”
“That’s enough. Again.”
Ziel even infused mana into her movements himself, teaching with unusual intensity.
He was normally proactive, but never quite this proactive!
‘Is something going on with the teacher……?’
Celia, unaware that it was all thanks to the secret base, simply returned drenched in sweat.
‘Ah, I should have asked about that.’
But it was too late.
“Class dismissed for today. That’s all.”
Ziel vanished like the wind the moment he finished speaking.
Gilbert hurried after him.
“Where’s he going……?”
“Right? I’ve never seen him leave like that before…….”
It was literally a blur.
He’d ended class in a blur and left in a blur.
Among the students left in the auditorium, various theories began circulating, though none would reach any real conclusion.
“Boss, let me come with you!”
“There’s no time. We need to break through as soon as possible.”
“It’s not like anything will explode if we don’t!”
“Still, I want to break through quickly.”
It was all because of the secret base!
Even enough to mislead Gilbert.
‘He’s really in a hurry about this secret base, isn’t he? What could he possibly need it for?’
There was anticipation that he must have some special purpose in mind.
Without anyone noticing, Ziel and Gilbert approached near the temple and began digging a passage through the underground.
It was tedious repetition of reinforcement work and excavation, but they moved at a remarkable pace.
Gilbert was covered in dirt because of it.
“Boss, how do you stay so clean while we’re working together like this?”
“By avoiding the dust and dirt.”
“……Here? In this cramped space?”
“Is that not possible?”
Gilbert felt guilty for asking and returned his focus to the work.
After finishing today’s work and emerging, the two headed for the Faculty Dormitory.
“Boss, I wonder how Kelvin is getting on?”
“He’d better be doing well. Otherwise he’ll pass out when we come back here.”
By the way, Kelvin hadn’t participated in today’s class.
More precisely, he’d been staying in the Faculty Dormitory since yesterday.
“Oh, Teacher Ziel. You’ve arrived?”
“Boss. Your timing is perfect. I’ve been developing the illusion of the ‘ghost’ a bit further as you instructed, and the results are excellent.”
This was because he was training with the Ghost Adaptation Training tool that Emeric and Zephyros had created together.
“The effect is better?”
“Yes. He passes out the moment he sees it. We added sound effects too.”
“Good. Keep conditioning him so he can adapt to it.”
“Understood.”
While Kelvin’s harsh adaptation training continued, both mages’ eyes gleamed.
“Do you have any other orders? I never knew making things like this could be so fun.”
“Teacher Ziel, I honestly didn’t know I’d enjoy something like this so much.”
The two seemed to get along incredibly well.
“I’ll ask you both for more requests as they occur to me. Professor Emeric Kent, thank you for your hard work.”
Emeric cheered in response.
“Would you like to dine at the Unlimited Table today?”
“Of course!”
“Understood.”
Ziel seemed to be in particularly high spirits today.
Emeric read that too and tilted his head, but he couldn’t possibly know it was because of the secret base.
Meanwhile, Kelvin, who had been unconscious, awoke.
“Ghost, g, g, ghost!”
“Are you adapting now?”
“Aaahhh!”
Kelvin’s terror seemed likely to persist longer than expected.
But if he couldn’t overcome it, he wouldn’t be able to use the secret base going forward.
It seemed he would pass out just from the awareness that a ghost existed!
“But are you planning to deal with a ghost, Teacher Ziel? Why the sudden interest in ghosts…… Of course, it’s been enjoyable work for Zephyros and me.”
“That’s right. I’m planning to deal with a ghost.”
Emeric thought that Ziel was finally joking around.
“Haha, there are many different things in this world. Why couldn’t there be ghosts?”
Teacher Ziel was changing, I thought.
“By the way, sir. Were you thinking of selling this later?”
“Is it something that can be sold?”
“This will probably have enormous demand for research purposes. Of course, it could be used more than adequately for training as originally intended. Of course, given that the opponents lack physical form, physical techniques won’t work.”
I’d already been thinking of how it might be used in educating the students.
“I have no intention of selling it.”
“Ah, I see.”
“However, I believe it can be used freely for educational purposes.”
“Excellent!”
At those words, Emeric brightened as well.
“If so, then… would it be all right if Arcane School used this?”
“If it’s for educational purposes, there’s no objection.”
“Sir, you are truly… a true educator.”
If the purpose was education, no compensation—money or otherwise—was necessary.
Arcane School had opposed Ziel in the past, but that gave no reason to hate the students themselves.
That was how Ziel saw it.
“However, we must also obtain Zephyros’s permission.”
“Of course! If we use this in Festa…”
Emeric was practically jumping with joy.
It wasn’t a magical tool without precedent, but with Zephyros’s touch added, the functions became all the more refined!
“By the way, sir. I heard you’re holding an external exchange tournament…”
“Yes, that’s right. We’re holding an exchange tournament with Telvir Academy.”
“That sounds good. We’re thinking of pushing for something similar next year as well. Though rather than competition, we’re leaning more toward a teaching exchange.”
Telvir Academy may be competent enough in swordsmanship, but in magic their strength is somewhat lacking.
Rather, it’s an academy where humanities and the arts are more developed.
“But will the schedule work out? For Festa, adding that on top would seem nearly impossible given the academic calendar…”
“Yes, it will work.”
“Oh, so you’re doing it briefly—just a day or two?”
“No.”
Then how was he managing it?
“The exchange tournament will take place concurrent with Festa.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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