Chapter 90: Chapter 90

C90: First Order Esmeralda (2)

This chapter was sponsored by Misheru Hoshizora, Envy, Chrisoun and Punten. Thank you for your generosity.

Rudger pondered inside. Did Esmeralda just ask this question without thinking?

No. This is obviously a questionable remark about him.

If it’s not an illusion, it feels like the temperature has risen a few degrees around him. No, it was actually going up.

[Tell me. What made you do that?]

The question was simple, but the hidden meaning was not simple.

The scorching heat surged, and then it began to take shape. At first, it was as big as a fist, but it was already encroaching on his surroundings, overflowing with tentacles made of flames.

Ordinary people would have stuttered in embarrassment, or felt that their life was in danger and reflexively counterattacked because it was more important to live somehow than to die.

That’s a natural response.

‘But not like that.’

Rudger suppressed his body, which was about to react on its own.

Even though the rising heat bothered him, he stared silently at the flames without changing his breath.

“You talk as if you know me very well.”

[What?]

Provocative remarks are nothing short of crazy in this situation. If anyone had watched this scene, they might have asked why but Rudger did not hesitate.

There was no need to do that.

“You asked for help first, and then made your own conclusions. Do I seem weak because I stayed still after infiltrating Theon?”

Esmeralda took a step back at his remark.

[What? You did something you won’t usually do in the first place]]

“I always do my best depending on my identity and now I’m a new teacher of Theon, Rudger Chelici. What would it look like if such a teacher didn’t have an assistant?”

[…So you choose a Third Order?]

“I just decided that this is better than having a guy who doesn’t know anything. I don’t know why I’m trying to convince you.”

Rudger was blatantly annoyed and said flatly that there was no need for explanation. Rather, if he tried to persuade her about why he acted like this in this situation, he could have raised doubts from the other party.

The First Orders all had great skills but at the same time, they were all out of their minds. John Doe, Victor Dreadful, whom he just indirectly encountered, and Esmeralda in front of him were all the same.

‘Being calm and rational with them would backfire.’

It was better to act annoyed to clear the other party’s doubts and he made the right decision because the tentacles of the flame quickly melted into the air.

[Just kidding. I was just joking, but aren’t you overreacting?]

“Esmeralda, no matter what, it’s clear that you’re suspicious of my loyalty.”

[Okay, I’m sorry. You’re right. You didn’t talk to anyone but Zero Order. Don’t be angry, instead, I’ll tell you a piece of good news.]

“What’s going on?”

[Zero’s order will visit to check our condition soon. I’m serious.]

When the name Zero Order came out, Rudger calmed down.

“……I’ll let it slide this time. However, keep this in mind. If you do something like this again…”

Rudger opened his eyes sharply and glared at the flames. No, the “Esmeralda” hidden in them.

“Then one of us will have to die.”

[Yes, yes. All right.]

She took him lightly as if she was not listening, but if Esmeralda was talking like that, it was clear that the threat worked.

[All right. Anyway, I’m done with the message, so I’m leaving. It’s annoying to have a setback in the plan, but it can’t be helped.]

“…….”

Rudger didn’t respond to the monologue and left immediately.

Esmeralda stared at the back of Rudger for some time but she lost interest quickly and the flame disappeared.

At the entrance of the Fantasy Forest, darkness fell again.

* * *

‘I almost got in trouble.’

After leaving the Fantasy Forest, I wiped the cold sweat running down my forehead. My body was still tense because I barely escaped the situation with desperate acting a while ago.

‘I’m glad the other person stepped down, after pretending to be strong.’

That’s how people in secret organizations in the underworld are. When you look weak or try to solve something with words, it looks ridiculous, especially in the eyes of executives.

In such a situation, it is more effective to be aggressive. In fact, Esmeralda rolled up her tail and stepped back.

‘Even so, it was dangerous. If I had any strange reaction there, she would have tried to kill me right away.’

At least until I got angry, Esmeralda’s reaction was genuine, she was really going to kill me but it’s good that we didn’t fight otherwise it would’ve been dangerous.

The president is looking for suspicious people and has her eyes on him. What would’ve happened if he would’ve fought at the entrance of the Fantasy Forest in the middle of the night?

Considering Esmeralda’s level, she’s not someone that could be defeated easily. The flames she deals with, seemed enough to burn the forest in an instant.

‘Fortunately, nothing happened.’

It was fortunate that he knew John Doe character in advance.

Although he has a filthy personality and is unbending against the other First Orders, he swore allegiance to the Zero Order, the leader of the Black Dawn.

Even after killing the lower orders of the Black Dawn, the reason he remained in place was perhaps because he was favored by Zero Order.

’I’m glad I didn’t get caught. And I got a clue about the first order, Esmeralda.’

First order Esmeralda.

Gender is female. Age is still difficult to guess, but for now, it was clear that she was young.

But the most important thing is her ability. The flame she used a while ago and the heat that quickly expanded.

I noticed it from the moment I first felt her presence in the Fantasy Forest, but Esmeralda was a spirit warrior, a powerful elementalist who wields a spirit of flame that is at least at the advanced level.

‘The fact that she can send her voice through her spirit means the spirit is very capable.’

In that case the number of suspects is reduced greatly. I can suspect people who specialize in spirits in the whole of Theon.

‘The first thing I should suspect is the Elemental Studies teachers.’

From 1st grade to 5th grade, there are a total of five teachers. However, as far as their skills are concerned, they are all first-class without any doubt.

Considering that she’s a First Order it was very likely that she infiltrated Theon as a teacher.

‘But that doesn’t exclude the students.’

Rather, if you hide your identity, hiding among students it’s much more likely to go unnoticed.

Even if it was limited to female students among the students who were in the spirit studies class, the number would be quite high.

However, if I look around for fire spirits, the range will narrow enough to count them on my hand.

She contacted me when I came to see the test in the Fantasy Forest. That means that someone who can move freely at that time or someone who was on the scene must likely be the First Order.’

The scope has been narrowed further.

In the case of teachers, he can focus on those who did not give tests or did not go to work. However, he can’t go to them one by one and ask them where and what they did that day.

‘But it’s not like there’s no way out.’

The first test is over.

Although there are four tests in a semester, the first test is of course meaningful. Theon gives small gifts to those who took the test for the first time, saying that they worked hard.

Students are given a total of three days off and the same is true of teachers.

A welcoming party for new teachers, which should have been held at the entrance ceremony, will be held after the first test.

‘Only after giving the first test and evaluating the students could one say that he took the first step as a teacher.’

The welcoming party held at the beginning of each year will be attended by all teachers of Theon, and outsiders who donate a huge amount of money to Theon will also come.

It’s kind of a banquet that’s held in a large city near Theon and since there’s only one city near Theon.

‘A banquet in Leathervelk.’

He was going to attend and find the First Order.

‘And what Esmeralda said at the end.’

Zero Order, founder of the Black Dawn Society will visit soon. Will Rudger be able to fool him?

* * *

Whoo.

In a dark room the black shadow let out a small sigh. It was Esmeralda, who ended her meeting John Doe.

“Great job.”

A small spark came to her side when she said so. It was small enough and looked cute, but with the power it contained and the true identity of the embers, no one would call it cute.

The embers flickered a little, and then disappeared as if they were extinguished. Esmeralda got up and looked out her window.

She is standing in a small research building and beyond the window, Fantasy Forest, one of the three major forests of Theon could be seen.

It’s a forest so huge that it’s hard to see it at a glance, even inside Theon and it’s not completely clear what’s inside.

As she gazed carefully at the entrance to the forest, she saw someone slowly walking out.

Esmeralda narrowed her eyes. Even with the mana-enhanced vision, only the shape could be vaguely recognized.

“John Doe.”

The man disappeared through the darkness with leisurely steps. It seems that he is just walking normally, but he is assimilated with the surrounding landscape and cannot be seen properly. Indeed, he deserved to be called a First Order like her.

“You came here and did your best as a teacher without doing anything, so I wondered what you were thinking.’

She was anxious that he might have betrayed the organization, but she soon shook her head and shook off the idea. John Doe has the highest loyalty to the organization.

Still, the reason she deliberately tested him is because he has drawn attention and his recent behavior has been excessive.

‘I thought you’d be very quiet because you said you’d sneak in as a teacher, but it was unexpected.’

Esmeralda doesn’t know exactly how John Doe handles things. She knew he’s specialized in disguise and infiltration, but everything else is a secret. However, considering that he has not failed in his duties so far, his skills must have been verified.

He tested him to find out his skills, because the existence of John Doe is different compared to the other First Orders.

‘Those eyes. Even with my flame right in front of his nose, he didn’t feel scared at all.’

John Doe shot back rather strongly, even in a situation where he might’ve been burned to death by the Fire Spirit she was controlling.

He didn’t have any fear at all.

It wasn’t a bluff because he had enough power to respond to her attack. His attitude in the Fantasy Forest, as well as his new form of magic that Rudger Chelici showed were new to her.

‘John Doe is a wizard of considerable ability. Maybe he’s stronger than I vaguely guessed.’

He said he was wary of the president, but she didn’t know if that was true or he just wanted his acting to be perfect.

She thought it was the latter. Indeed, she could see why Zero’s Order supported this man. He is loyal without forming factions, and has outstanding skills.

It is understandable that John Doe infiltration played a major role.

‘Tsk. I tested him, but I couldn’t find anything.’

She had to take care of herself before she cared about John Doe.

‘Come to think of it, I heard there’s a banquet this time.’

She thought that she had to attend and was annoyed.

Esmeralda was not very fond of such formalities.

‘I should still go.’

The main role will be played by someone other than her anyway.