The Graduate Student Wants to Assassinate the Professor - Chapter 57

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

Chapter 57

There was no interference as Leoryna equipped the magical apparatus.
‘As I thought…!’
Based on what Leoryna had observed thus far, the conditions for activating the magic inscribed on Khalid’s clothing were these.
The automatic defense magic does not activate merely because Khalid is asleep. However, it activates when he loses consciousness.
This was the difference between whether one could control their consciousness or not.
Sleep does not cause consciousness to disappear entirely. But in cases of fainting, consciousness is completely lost.
When Leoryna first attempted assassination, the poison she administered merely put Khalid to sleep. Thus, the automatic defense magic did not activate until she tried to stab him with her blade.
However, when Khalid was delirious from fever and muttering nonsense, and Leoryna attempted to render him unconscious by striking a vital point, the automatic defense magic activated, preventing her from approaching him.
‘So to deal with Khalid, the answer is to put him into a deep sleep first.’
Having fitted the magical apparatus neatly onto Khalid’s head, Leoryna activated the projector with enthusiasm.
“?”
Leoryna stared intently at the wall where the projector was displaying its image. Pongko tilted his head beside her and asked.
“Is this normal?”
“I’m not sure.”
“The screen is completely black.”
Just as Pongko said, the projector was only outputting a black screen.
Leoryna drew in a sharp breath.
“Does this bastard not even dream?”
If the apparatus was functioning properly, then either Khalid had blocked even his own dreams somehow, or the elixir was defective.
“It seems like he’s defending against something….”
Leoryna stared at Khalid as she spoke.
“Should I just enter the dream myself?”
“Is it possible to enter a dream?”
“Yes, well. Delving into deep memories does encounter resistance, but dreams are merely a light phenomenon. I should be able to observe them. However, to use magic that enters a dream, I need a mage outside to relay and maintain the connection.”
Leoryna fixed her gaze on Pongko.
“M-me?”
“Is there anyone else here?”
“Can I do it? I’m only a First Circle mage….”
Leoryna patted the top of Pongko’s head reassuringly.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll cast the magic itself, and all you need to do is serve as my guide so I don’t lose my way inside Khalid’s dream and can find my way back out.”
“If that’s all….”
As Pongko nodded, Leoryna retrieved her staff and sat on the sofa across from Khalid.
“My mana and your mana are connected, so guiding me shouldn’t be too difficult. So I’m counting on you.”
“I’ll try.”
Feeling Pongko’s mana link with her own, Leoryna pointed her staff toward Khalid.
“Leduratic.”
And she closed her eyes slowly.

* * *

I blinked my eyes open. At first, my vision was hazy, but gradually the fog lifted and the surroundings came into focus. Immediately after, I felt a flicker of surprise.
“What is this place?”
Everything was white, and before me stood a single enormous black door.
I approached the door and examined it from every angle. Normally, where there is a door, there should be a space beyond it to open into, yet this door stood alone as if it led nowhere.
The door was adorned with ornate decorations and small sculptures that framed its edges.
“There’s nothing I can do here—no choices to make.”
I scratched my head and finally placed my hand on the doorknob.
“Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
A voice came from somewhere, startling me as I spun around to look.
“Up here, up here.”
A clear, melodious feminine voice rang out from above my head. When I looked up, a woman was sitting atop the door frame.
“Hello, Leoryna?”
“You know my name?”
“Of course I do. This is Inside Caladniel’s Mind, after all. Whatever he knows, I know.”
“Then… who are you?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
This is Khalid’s dream, so who is this woman?
She had long, lustrous silver hair and rich chocolate-colored skin. Her eyes held a slightly languid quality, yet her features were quite beautiful overall.
“Are you Khalid’s first love?”
The woman burst out laughing.
“Ha ha! Where did you get that conclusion?!”
“Well, if your appearance here is a projection of Khalid’s desires in this dream, then it’s not entirely impossible, is it?”
“But Leoryna, the situation where I, his younger sister, am mistaken for my brother’s first love is deeply unpleasant for me.”
“His younger sister?”
I examined the woman’s face more carefully.
She bore no horns, the symbol of the Demon Race. Moreover, I could find no trace of Khalid in her features. But when I noticed her eyes held a mysterious azure hue, I snapped my fingers.
“Nifra!”
“You know my name?”
Nifra smiled sweetly and tilted her head slightly. Her silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
‘Oh, should I have pretended not to know?’
I wondered if I’d made a mistake and glanced at Nifra’s expression, but she seemed unbothered. I cleared my throat and asked.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m the gatekeeper. I guard that door.”
“Why? Isn’t this Khalid’s dream? Where is Khalid, and why is his younger sister here as a gatekeeper?”
“There’s a deep story behind that…”
Nifra tilted her head slightly.
“But that’s not something I should tell an intruder. More importantly, why are you here?”
“I was curious what sort of dream Khalid was having, so I came in. But is this really a ‘good’ dream? I gave him an elixir to ensure pleasant dreams, yet all I see is an empty void with nothing but a door.”
“A good dream?”
Nifra suddenly burst into laughter. Though I couldn’t fathom why, I decided to ignore her.
“Move aside for a moment. Let me try opening this door.”
I waved my hand dismissively at Nifra, but she simply descended gracefully from atop the door and shook her head.
“This isn’t something just anyone can open.”
“Whether anyone can or can’t open it hardly matters. I’m just asking to take a look—what’s the harm in that?”
But Nifra shook her head firmly.
“No.”
“Then…”
I pondered for a moment before gesturing with my hand. A staff materialized in my grip.
‘Though I’m inside Khalid’s Dream, it’s connected to Pongko outside, so I can use magic.’
I pointed the staff at Nifra and spoke.
“I’m about to resort to force. Would you have any objections?”
“Ah, I see.”
Nifra nodded briefly before conjuring a large cleaver in her hand.
“Then I can’t simply stand idle.”
‘Even if I can use magic, since I’m in Khalid’s Dream, how much influence I can exert over his spiritual form remains uncertain.’
Thinking this to myself, I assumed a ready stance as Nifra crouched slightly.
I moved first. Crackling sparks erupted from the tip of my staff, tearing through space as they flew toward Nifra.
Nifra twisted her body to evade, but my magic pursued her relentlessly. Left with no choice, she conjured a barrier spell.
Boom!
With the sound of thunder, the sparks vanished in a brilliant flash.
While Nifra squinted against the light, I burst from her blind spot.
Countless silver arrowheads materialized at the tip of my staff, rushing toward Nifra. She deployed another barrier spell.
In that instant, my staff transformed into a sword.
The moment I spotted an opening in Nifra’s defense, I lunged into her space. Both her arms were severed in a single stroke of my blade. Though she lost her cleaver, Nifra remained composed and retreated calmly—but I didn’t miss the opportunity.
“Pedicasios!”
From the tip of my staff, now restored to its original form, thousands of threads erupted forth. They densely filled the space, binding Nifra immobile.
‘Now I’ll cut her down in this state!’
I pulled my staff back, tightening the threads that held Nifra captive.
“Wait.”
At Nifra’s word, I halted my moving hand.

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