On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 380

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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 380
Festival Preparations (3)
Mortis had joined them. That alone was enough to set the Academy buzzing again. It had been a full year since their last meeting.
“So the Second Years invited Lord Mortis again this time?”
“I heard Lord Mortis isn’t getting involved with the festival itself, just teaching the students a bit?”
“That’s actually nice. Either way, the students are doing most of the work.”
“I’m jealous, really jealous. When will our Arcane School manage to charm someone like Lord Mortis and bring them over?”
The most envious, of course, was the Arcane School.
The Arcane School had also staked everything on this year’s festival.
Last year, they’d been crushed by the Sword School in a humiliating defeat.
“What do we do, Professor Emeric? If the Sword School has already secured Lord Mortis this year as well…….”
“That’s exactly why I said we should go after him! But no, everyone wanted to save face and pretend we weren’t chasing Sword School’s coattails!”
“And is that just my opinion? Everyone agreed during the meeting!”
Watching the other professors squabble over this only made Emeric’s head pound harder.
‘If they’ve already brought in Lord Mortis, what do we do?’
From what he’d heard, Lord Mortis wasn’t directly involved in the festival itself.
More precisely, he was teaching the students things like sculpture and maze design methods.
So while it would be harder for Lord Mortis’s design sensibilities to dominate the festival like before…….
Still, on the surface it looked like Lord Mortis was coming to help the Sword School, which was why everyone was reacting this way.
“We need a countermeasure, a real one. If we keep going like this, we’ll lose just like last year!”
“From what I hear, the Sword School’s students are handling almost everything themselves this time. Wouldn’t that make it a bit sloppy?”
“That’s exactly what we thought last year when we dismissed them, and look what happened — everyone flocked to their First Year festival planning! They’ll all expect something amazing again this year!”
This festival mattered.
The Arcane School was no longer what it once had been.
The Sword School was always beneath them!
But everything changed when Ziel joined the Sword School.
“Should we just bring Teacher Ziel over to the Arcane School?”
One professor had actually said something so absurd that Emeric nearly told them to shut up.
“Let’s not say ridiculous things like that.”
“I apologize, Department Head…….”
Still, he couldn’t say he didn’t understand the sentiment.
They couldn’t lose this time.
If they lost again, the Arcane School’s external prestige would plummet.
That was unacceptable.
“Well, if I may suggest something…… we find out what the Sword School’s planning and perhaps we…….”
Old habits died hard.
“Professor, now is not the time to resort to such underhanded tactics.”
“Professor Emeric, underhanded tactics?!”
“Is it not?”
…….
The Arcane School could not return to its old ways.
“We must compete fairly against the Sword School. Relying on such schemes accomplishes nothing. Our opponent is Teacher Ziel. You’ve all heard the reports, haven’t you?”
…….
There was no need to explain what reports he meant.
“Against such a terrifying opponent, playing cheap tricks rather than accepting defeat…… I don’t see how that’s any different from suicide.”
And the Emperor himself had designated Ziel as an Imperial hero and bestowed rewards upon him.
“Let’s search for our own approach. We’ll meet again at this time tomorrow, professors.”
Only after the Department Head had summarized the situation did the meeting finally conclude.
“Phew. Professor Emeric, surely there’s some way forward?”
…….
Alone now in the conference room.
Emeric had no clever solution either.
But there was one thing he could say.
“I think we have no choice but to show the most magical thing we can offer.”
“The most magical thing…….”
“We are the Arcane School, after all. Yes, the Sword School is formidable, but that doesn’t mean we should abandon what makes us ourselves. The visitors haven’t found our past festivals boring either.”
“That’s true enough.”
Last year’s Sword School exhibits had been so overwhelming that the Arcane School’s offerings had simply suffered by comparison—but the Arcane School festival had always been well received in its own right.
Spectacular attractions and delicacies born of magic!
Magical experiences that would be difficult to offer any other time!
And even a project designed to make people feel like they’ve become mages!
“We’ll prepare thoroughly, Department Head.”
But it seemed the Arcane School would also need to bring in external personnel this time.
“Department Head, would it be acceptable if I brought someone in?”
“Someone?”
“Yes. I know an exceptional mage.”
The Department Head tilted his head curiously.
“More skilled than Professor Emeric over there?”
“……I’ve only recently surpassed the early 5th Circle threshold myself.”
“Is there really someone like that here besides you?”
The praise left him momentarily speechless.
“If you permit it, I’ll bring them by.”
“And who would that be?”
* * *
“You’re asking to borrow Zephyros, Professor Emeric Kent?”
“Yes, Teacher Ziel. We need him for our Arcane School Festa planning.”
At first, he’d worried it might be presumptuous.
But there was a reason compelling enough to come regardless.
“I’m still far from adequate, Teacher Ziel. In truth……I need to lead this Festa myself, and I require assistance.”
Emeric acknowledged his shortcomings honestly.
The previous power holders of the Arcane School had committed plenty of misdeeds, but they possessed corresponding skill and experience.
But Emeric had only recently broken through the early 5th Circle, and hadn’t even been working as an Academy professor for long.
“Teacher Ziel, though the Sword School and Arcane School are rivals……I’ve come to ask for your help.”
“We were rivals?”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve never thought of it as competition.”
“Teacher……!”
Emeric was moved.
Such character!
He felt ashamed of himself.
‘That’s right—what rivalry in a children’s festival? It’s wrong for students to become casualties in adults’ power struggles……’
“The Sword School will win anyway.”
“Ah.”
The emotion was fleeting.
“And if the person has no objection, you’re welcome to take them.”
“Really? Truly?”
“Yes. We’re going to win regardless.”
“…….”
In truth, lending them out wouldn’t have been difficult even if they didn’t win.
That was how Zephyros came to arrive.
The two had grown quite close, having already collaborated on creating ghost illusions.
“The Arcane School?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm……I have research I need to do. Ah, right. The Arcane School has plenty of research materials, doesn’t it?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct. Unless it’s truly rare, we have nearly everything.”
“Good. I’ll join. But in exchange, unlimited supply of research materials I request. What do you say?”
“Excellent. That much is within my authority.”
Poor Emeric, who had no idea how ominous those words were!
The corners of Zephyros’s mouth rose like a sinister villain’s.
“Boss, then I’ll be off to rehabilitate that Festa.”
“Very well.”
Ziel saw Zephyros off without much hesitation.
Emeric silently cheered.
Unaware of the future that awaited him.
“But Senior, won’t you really tell me your true identity?”
“Well, I’m here on a special mission, so what else is there to say?”
“Then what’s your relationship with Teacher Ziel……?”
“The Boss is the Boss, and I’m his subordinate!”
Gilbert approached, watching the two depart.
“Boss, where is Zephyros going?”
“I’m going to help with the Arcane School Festival.”
“Ah, wait—is that even allowed?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Well, we’re competing against them……”
“We’ll win anyway.”
At Ziel’s certainty, Gilbert nodded along.
“True enough—look who we brought in.”
“Ah, right. Take this.”
He thrust forward a letter, seemingly out of nowhere.
It was sealed with remarkable elegance.
Unexpected as it was, Gilbert’s eyes widened the moment he recognized the seal that had secured it.
“That’s…… the Imperial seal, isn’t it?”
“It’s for you. Just arrived. Processing took some time, apparently.”
“For me? What did the Imperial Family send me? And…… processing?”
“Read it yourself.”
Gilbert broke the seal with extreme care and unfolded the letter.
As he read through the contents, his hands trembled slightly.
Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes.
His voice came in choked, halting bursts.
“Boss…… is this, is this really……”
He couldn’t find the words to continue.
“Yes. I had your record with the Crow erased. You’ve been granted a new, official identity.”
“Boss.”
That was exactly it.
Ziel’s requests had gone beyond the beer.
None of it was for himself.
It was all for Gilbert.
“You’re the one who brought down three of the highest-ranking Ravens.”
“B-but that was only because of you, Boss……”
“Who killed them?”
“……”
The credit belonged to Gilbert alone—the erasure of his Crow activity record.
The remnants of the Red Raven had been captured, and information had leaked.
As a result, the Imperial Family already knew that Gilbert had once operated under the name Erso.
The very fact that he’d been part of the Red Raven was a vulnerability.
Foreseeing this, Ziel had made his request.
To erase that fact entirely.
“You did this…… for me……”
“I did it for myself.”
“Sir?”
“If your past becomes a liability, you won’t be able to continue as an Academy teaching assistant.”
Gilbert wiped away his tears earnestly and let out a soft laugh.
“Even if you say that, I don’t think I could fail to understand your sincerity.”
Truth be told, it was a lie this time.
Ziel had made the request for Gilbert’s sake, not his own.
More than anything, securing a stable identity was Ziel’s dream.
Perfect settlement as an Academy professor, after which no one could harbor even the slightest suspicion.
That was what Ziel truly desired.
Thump.
Gilbert dropped to one knee.
“I will serve you…… for my entire life! With absolute loyalty, Boss.”
“See that you do.”
“For life! I swear it!”
“See that you do.”
*Hic.*
With that, Gilbert’s identity issue was cleanly resolved.
His past as Erso had officially vanished.
There might be those who knew, but none could formally raise it as a matter of concern.
The Imperial Family had officially erased the record.
At this point, Ziel began to seriously contemplate what power truly was.
‘How absurd—that something which clearly existed can simply be denied by the Imperial Family, and no one dares object. Power truly is a wondrous and profound thing.’
Of course, he harbored no desire for power itself.
If he wished it, breaching the Imperial Palace or assassinating the Prince would be within his reach—but Ziel was an assassin no longer.
“Um, so… does that mean I don’t have to wear the Human Skin Mask anymore?”
“Correct.”
Gilbert hesitated.
“But what about the kids? If my face suddenly changes……”
“Tell them you got into a fight. Your real face is uglier than the mask anyway.”
“……”
“I read it in a novel once—the protagonist disfigured his own face with ruthless scars to disguise his identity. They’ll likely assume something similar happened.”
“I… I’ll just keep wearing the mask……”
The moment’s levity faded, but Gilbert’s tears still would not cease.
“Thank you, Boss! I swear… I’ll repay your grace with unwavering loyalty!”
“See that you do.”
A smile bloomed at the corners of Ziel’s mouth—noticeably deeper than before.
Still subtle, yet unmistakably warmer than it had been.
‘Well done.’
He’d ascended to Master Grade, and his status was now assured. Everything had unfolded perfectly.
Now he could prepare for Festa without a care in the world.
And watching the scene from a distance, Kelvin tilted his head alongside the students.
“Master Kelvin, why is Master Gilbert kneeling in front of Master Ziel?”
“Did… did I miss something?”
“Yeah.”

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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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