Seventy Seventh Seven

Inside the Vice Headmaster's office, Seven sat on a chair, legs crossed, his face impassive as Jun paced back and forth, recounting every detail of the earlier events.

"Like I said, this applicant right here is an accomplice."

He spoke of the howlers, their unnatural presence on the Seventh Continent, and of the Lycanthrope. An anomaly.

Cylinth, the Vice Headmaster, listened in silence, her gaze flicking between Jun and the boy in question.

Tak. Tak.

Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the wooden desk as if weighing each word carefully.

Tak. Tak. Tak.

Not only had Seven been absent from the recent tests, but he had returned bringing something far more troublesome.

At the far end of the room, the captured Lycanthrope sat motionless, bound tightly in ropes with wrists shackled by the Cuffs of Heaven. Its red eyes glowed faintly under the dim light.

Cylinth exhaled, rubbing her temple.

"Fifth test proctor, Jun Kerian."

Tak. Tak.

"You're saying this applicant... might be an accomplice?"

"Again, like I said—"

"Jun Kerian."

Jun paused, sweat beading his temple. Throughout the conversation, he realized he had not once addressed Cylinth with any honorifics and his ignorance cost the Vice Headmaster's impatience.

If it continues like this, the case won't progress.

"...Yes, Vice Headmaster."

He shifted his gaze at Seven.

"This applicant appeared out of nowhere and knew that howlers would appear."

"Is that right...?

Tak.

Still rhythmically tapping the desk, Cylinth turned her attention to Seven.

"...Seven Hart?"

"No."

The mention of his last name made Jun pause mid-step and turned sharply with furrowed brows.

"Seven Hart?! That infamous runt of—"

"Yes."

The interruption was quick, almost dismissive. Seven had anticipated this reaction. The original Seven Hart had been infamous and an outcast among his own household.

That infamy had somehow spread beyond the manor walls when it's supposed to not to happen as he had never been allowed to step outside.

But rumors were always able to find their way out.

Despite hearing the rumors, Jun had no way of knowing that the boy before him was the seventh child of the Archduke as he had not seen him before.

"I am that infamous runt of Hart Duchy."

"..."

A silence stretched between them. It wasn't a good title, but for someone who had a goal not to get attached to anyone, it didn't sound as bad.

For a brief moment, Jun considered bowing. Not out of respect for Seven, but for the Hart name itself.

He had once held great admiration for the Archduke, Elias Hart, and especially for Eden Hart—one of the most gifted students he had ever taught.

Even the so-called 'golden applicant' from earlier couldn't compare to her raw talent.

But those days were gone.

'The Archduke is dead.'

'The Hart Duchy has fallen.'

'Eden Hart has vanished, leaving behind only records of her departure from the continent.'

'So why should I bow to a mere remnant of a shattered house?'

Jun clenched his jaw, his respect buried beneath cold pragmatism.

"I'll keep my eye on you."

Seven merely met his gaze, unreadable.

Jun turned on his heel, striding toward the door. There was no point in staying here as the Vice Headmaster did not show any intention to believe that Seven was an accomplice.

Step.

But before he could leave, Cylinth's voice rang out.

"Take the Lycanthrope to the faculty. They'll handle the rest."

Jun hesitated for half a second before nodding. He grabbed the restrained creature and yanked it up to its feet. The Lycanthrope did not resist as he barely had any strength left because of the Cuffs of Heaven.

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Step.

The wooden floor creaked under Jun's weight as he walked out, the door closing behind him with a quiet thud.

Silence settled over the room.

Cylinth studied Seven for a long moment before speaking again.

"You've been absent, Seven Hart."

"I know."

"And yet, you returned... bringing this."

She gestured vaguely in the direction of the door.

"An unusual coincidence, don't you think?"

Seven tilted his head slightly, considering her words if either he should ask her about someone skilled at illusions. After all, a Vice Headmaster of the Academy should have a large network of information.

But seconds passed, he dismissed the idea. The girl of illusions knew that he is a reader, but when he looked at her back then, no system window popped up before him like the one popping out now.

Ding!

[Name: Cylinth dei Silverio]

[Main Talent: Space Magician]

[Characteristics: A woman of multiple dimensions.]

'...The fudge?'

It was far way too different from what he had expected. Cylinth wasn't described as a space magician back in the novel, but as someone who could manipulate basic magic affinities.

'Anomaly?'

'No. That can't be the case.

Seven frowned at another strange phenomenon. Back then, the system overloaded him with a bunch of anomalies, yet none appeared recently... nor did the Progression Bar and the Narrative Points.

Still the same.

He shifted his attention back to reality, and saw Cylinth munching a green colored Sevyaki—Matsa-a flavor.

'No.'

Don't trust her. That's what his instinct screamed at his ears. Well, not like he trusted anyone in the first place.

"I... just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Is that so? Munch~"

Cylinth leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk as she continued to munch the Sevyaki on her mouth.

"Harts have always been hard to read, but today, you're especially... enigmatic."

Munch.

Silence.

There was no sound to be heard except the constant munching, chewing, and gulping the Sevyaki down her throat until she finished it and reached for the water bottle.

Tak. Tak.

She tapped her fingers again—once, twice—before finally sighing.

"Very well. You're dismissed."

Seven stood, giving a small nod before making his way toward the door.

Step.

Just as he reached for the handle, Cylinth spoke once more.

"Seven Hart."

He stopped but didn't turn around.

"The Hart name still carries weight. Whether you acknowledge it or not, others will."

In response, he only let out a quiet chuckle.

"People carry ghosts more than names."

With that, he stepped out, leaving Cylinth alone in her office.

The Vice Headmaster exhaled, leaning back in her chair. A part of her wanted to pry deeper, to unravel whatever secrets Seven was hiding. But she knew better than to push too hard.

After all, some ghosts preferred to stay buried.

Creak.

She pulled open the drawer.

Without hesitation, her fingers found the familiar shape of a Matsa-a Sevyaki.

Munch.

Then another.

And another.

Soon, crumpled wrappers littered the floor, a quiet testament to her indulgence. But with a lazy flick of her fingers, a void spiraled open beneath her, swallowing the mess in an instant...

...Along with an entire stack of documents.

"Ah. Crap. Not that."

She snapped her fingers, pretending to stop the magic as if she didn't do it on purpose, but it was already too late. The paperwork was gone and were devoured into nothingness.

For a moment, she stared at the now-empty desk.

"Well, it was an accident."

Then, with a small, mischievous giggle, she stretched and strolled toward the door.

"Now it's time to meet the crappy faculty."