Our mission was to draw as much attention from the soldiers as possible by heading to the back gate located in the west of the academy, as the branch leader had previously mentioned.
Now, that was merely our external mission, but to maintain security, the branch leader and Daniel diligently outlined the individual tasks for each team.
While it made sense for the branch leader to be so involved, it was surprising for Daniel. Had they known each other for a long time?
And in Adella’s room, the branch leader revealed a completely different operation than the one discussed in the lobby earlier.
“Forest Keeper of Arseria. Earlier, there were too many eyes around to speak freely, but in this operation, NoName, you are the key. If you hadn’t participated, this operation wouldn’t have even taken place. So, Adella, focus this time.”
When I asked for the reason, the branch leader let out a weary sigh.
“There must be a spy hidden even within the ‘Abyss.'”
Well, it’s not like they could swear by mana like the emperor’s royal guard, and there would naturally be gaps in a hastily assembled organization.
But the branch leader wasn’t foolish either.
“The only trustworthy people in District 15 are Daniel, Alperion, Ciciela, and you.”
“What about me?”
“Yeah… you too, Adella.”
“Hmph. Beee—”
On the surface, Alperion and Ciciela were supposed to steal the laurel, merge with Daniel, and then pass it on to him, but the branch leader had once again twisted the plan.
“If the diversion operation is successful, NoName and Adella will immediately circle around the outskirts of the academy and wait at the north gate. Alperion and Ciciela will hand over the laurel to NoName there, and then they can escape through the same exit.”
The ones who had extracted the information would be so focused on capturing Alperion’s group that the real laurel would be slipped away from the less-guarded north gate.
While it wouldn’t be as dangerous as them, it still felt like the difficulty of the mission had doubled in an instant.
If it turned out that Alperion’s laurel was fake midway, we would immediately attract their pursuit.
“Pfft, no problem! You can count on me, Gestalt!”
Adella slammed her desk and stood up.
“Be more polite when addressing the branch leader, Adella.”
Even Daniel’s rebuke couldn’t dampen Adella’s excitement as she made a satisfied purr sound.
“They won’t be unaware of our diversion operation either. But to crush such suspicions, the Forest Keeper’s contribution is crucial.”
Daniel unfolded a map.
“Make the Holy City a complete mess so they can’t even suspect a diversion operation. That was Daniel’s order.”
“While it seems like there’s only one Remnant Academy in the central capital, there are actually several buildings outside. To the south is the observatory, to the east is the guard post, and to the west are the materials warehouse and the admissions office.”
All of these had close communication lines with the academy.
“Among these, you must raid the three places in the south and west properly.”
Channel all troops towards the southwest.
At that point, Alperion and Ciciela would infiltrate the academy to retrieve the laurel while we focused on making our escape.
And if the academy realized it was a diversion operation late, we would regroup at the north gate, blocked by a massive mountain range, hand over the laurel, and flee to the outskirts of the castle.
“It would have been a big problem if I had called the bald guy ignorant.”
“…”
Yes, if this operation goes as planned, it would work perfectly. This much could fool even the past life Kaizen Central Academy.
Gestalt, the branch leader, was someone who had traded his intelligence for hair.
*
“Hmm. How long are we supposed to wait, meow?”
Adella began to scratch her ear after her nose.
Because of the stealth mission, she couldn’t even stretch freely.
The first target was undoubtedly the observatory.
At night, it was the place with the fewest personnel, perfect for summoning an adequate force.
The motivated Adella was long gone; now, a bored kitty was yawning.
“Are you bored too, meow?”
“Not particularly.”
“Share some stories from the past. It’s not often you get a chance to meet an elf.”
“I don’t know much about my kind.”
After all, she’s a player.
She didn’t even know what sort of being she was.
“How cheeky.”
Adella abruptly turned her head.
But perhaps feeling awkward, she opened her mouth again.
“Do you know why I entered the Abyss?”
It was a story I’d never heard before.
She hadn’t attained any elevated status, and in the Abyss, she was constantly looked down upon.
I wondered why the branch leader trusted her.
“I hate the academy. I hate everyone in that academy so much that I could call it a hatred.”
“That’s a sudden revelation. What’s it got to do with anything?”
“It does matter. I was the last to fail the entrance exam for the academy.”
“Entrance exam?”
“Hah, you really know nothing, do you?”
If I had gone through the regular route of the Remnant Academy entrance exam, it would have been common knowledge, but I lacked that information.
Adella didn’t mind and began explaining.
“The last exam of the academy entrance exam is a score elimination method. As long as you maintain a position within the top 100 by the time limit, you pass.”
And Adella barely managed to scrape through to the top 100 in the entrance exam two years ago.
Though she didn’t possess any talent bestowed by the heavens, her experience surviving countless life-threatening situations in the gutter pushed her through the competitive odds.
“I grew up without a house, money, or parents, and somehow I got into the academy, which only admits the best talents on the continent. Back then, I thought I’d finally earn my worthless father’s recognition.”
“Your father?”
“He’s a famous professor at the academy.”
Adella’s origins were humble.
She was merely the product of a night’s entertainment.
Her father would never recognize her as his child, and she was ruthlessly abandoned even by her mother from the establishment.
In the empire’s darkest and filthiest corners, she dreamed of the brightest and most noble future, just like her name, ‘Adella.’
To survive, she stole valuable goods from passersby.
To survive, she nabbed the sparkling jewels belonging to merchants.
Though her life hadn’t been honorably lived, she was determined that if she could just pass the academy, she would lead a different life from before.
“But that bastard manipulated the rankings. He surely didn’t want me to pass.”
Right at the peak of her joy over acceptance, she received notice of rejection the day before the entrance ceremony.
“Special entry for the Hero Candidate.”
She was robbed of her place by someone who had just rolled in, and naturally, Adella, who was 100th, was expelled from the academy dormitory.
It took less than a day to go from a warm and cozy bed to sitting cold on a stone floor.
Adella gritted her teeth.
Although it was an event from two years ago, she could hardly suppress the anger as if it had happened just yesterday.
“One spot should have been allowed! Why grant it and take it back? What kind of nonsense is that?”
A bird that has fallen from the highest perch can never fly again.
“I’ve been waiting two years for a chance at revenge. I’ll kill them all.”
If Adella couldn’t soar in the sky, she decided to break others’ wings instead.
Her bloodshot eyes looked anything but normal.
The time for the operation had come.
Just in time, thick clouds covered the bright full moon, dimming the visibility enough.
“This is the first time I’ve had a proper mission from old man Gestalt. I can’t disappoint him this time; I need to repay the favor.”
“Was it the branch leader who accepted you into the Abyss?”
“…”
In the distance, the bells of the royal clock tower rang.
Among the group, Adella’s body shot out first.
“Don’t die trying to keep up! I won’t wait for you!”
In an instant, she vanished down the narrow path.
I chuckled in disbelief.
Who was warning whom to be careful?
Thank goodness it wasn’t butterfly soup.
*
“Are you talking about that student council president if it’s a hero candidate?”
“Feeling suddenly really bad for her.”
“Take good care of our Della!”
“She kinda looks pretty when you see her again, right?”
“I just want to lavish affection on this wounded little kitty.”
“Why do they call her Amdella? What’s up with Wagal kids?”
“Seems like she’s been cleaned up enough.”
New players experiencing Nightmare Difficulty said.
People like Adella could at least be seen as heroines with some backstory.
She was a unique character not found in regular difficulty.
With a stunning appearance and a past that tugged at people’s hearts.
They were already smitten by her pouty face, twinkling cat eyes, and her occasionally thwack tail when her mood shifted.
But Dae-sal, the deputy master of the ‘Korea’ clan who knew all the ins and outs of the story, sneered at her.
[‘Daehagwonsaengsalryeo’ donated 1,000 won!]
– The hate stack towards Amdella is just beginning now.
“Waaaaaaaah! Forest Keeper, save me!”
Adella screeched an utterly unmentionable shriek as she raced back down the path.
Suddenly, a pop-up quest appeared for Na-me.
[Remnant Observatory Guard (0/20)]
The difficulty of Nightmare was not forgiving.
When you encounter thieves in the mountain, it’s like being blindsided and killed without any explanation.
It doesn’t tell you what to do or how to do it.
There’s no information about the enemies, no weaknesses.
They were only fixated on killing players.
In the dark, narrow path.
The ominous caw of the crows.
The clank of the armored guards echoed.
Just as the steady footsteps descended the mountain, they all drew their weapons in unison.
“Terminate the intruders.”
– 20 people?????????
– Wasn’t it originally 2?
– Nope, I had 1!
– Look at those eyes; they look like they’ll kill someone.
– Well, they’re here to kill, right? laughs
– Nightmare has the highest infamy score, so it’s a struggle from the first battle!
– If there are 20, that’s manageable, right? They come in battalion numbers later.
– Just look at their physique.
“Please, NoName…! I don’t want to die here!”
The soldier in front grabbed Adella’s ankle as she stumbled over a root, hoisting her upside down.
Her short skirt slid down, revealing her black garter belt underwear.
– Wow, they’re huge!
– They must all be at least 2m, right?
– Look how buff they are; their armor is about to burst!
– Is this world filled with alpha males with Nightmare Infamy 10?
– I’m 160cm, and this height disparity is woeful! cries
– For real, these guys look more fit to be elite guards than just standing at the observatory.
– Oh wait?
– No way????
– This is it..!!!
– Hahaa so great!
– Dang… I really trusted these guard brothers!!!
– It’s totally possible to nosebleed all the way.
– Black body armor… it’s definitely armor… right?
– Aren’t you all concentrating on the game? laughs
