I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 444: Rescue Operation (1)

Vierano's joining was a big advantage for Rudger.

He knew both the geography of the Elven Forest and the structure of the kingdom.

That information would be an immense help to Rudger, who was heading to an unfamiliar place.

Moreover, Vierano said he would fight alongside them.

"If you step forward, sir, the elves of the Dentis family might get hurt."

"Yes, that's right. That's why I plan to ask the opinions of my family members. Of course, excluding the story about Mr. Rudger and Miss Sedina, in preparation for any information leaks."

"Isn't that something they could refuse?"

"That would be their choice. I don't intend to blame them for that. Even if they say they won’t fight, I'll accept it."

"What's your reason for voluntarily putting yourself at risk?"

"Because if we don't stop it, a greater danger will come."

Having lived for a long time, Vierano could roughly understand how the current situation would unfold.

"If war breaks out, our Dentis family will be forcibly mobilized and placed at the frontlines anyway. The Lifrey family won't leave us alone."

"So rather than being helplessly pushed around, you want to resist as much as possible?"

"Is that not allowed?"

At Vierano's playful question, Rudger also smiled and answered.

"Of course not."

Vierano's attitude seemed light on the surface, but it was more like a mask.

If he didn't force himself to take it lightly, he felt he might suffocate under the pressure, so he was deliberately trying to control his feelings this way.

"Um..."

At that moment, Bellaruna cautiously raised her hand.

"So, am I going too?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

At Rudger's casual response, Bellaruna's expression sank like someone who had fallen into mud.

"Why, why?"

"Why what?"

"I mean, why do I have to go?"

"Aren't you an elf?"

"I'm not just any elf, and I...I got kicked out for hacking the World Tree, remember?"

"That's exactly why you should go. Professor Vierano is willing to endure treason to join us, so what does it mean if you back out?"

‘I'm not as strong as him!’

Bellaruna wanted to shout that, but no words of excuse could escape her mumbling lips.

She barely managed to squeeze out an excuse.

"I, I might not be much help."

"No. You will be helpful. I'm certain of it."

The one who answered in her place was Vierano.

"You're Bellaruna, right?"

"Huh? Yes."

"Bellaruna, you say you hacked the World Tree, but do you realize how remarkable that is?"

"That's..."

"It's not as easy as it sounds. But you managed to do it. In some ways, you might have the most important role."

"The most important role?"

"We need to deceive the eyes of the forest."

The eyes of the forest?

When Rudger, Alex, and Walter, who didn't know much about it, looked at him with puzzled expressions, Vierano kindly continued his explanation.

"The forest of the Elven Kingdom is a vast primordial forest. To other races, it might just look like a big, dense forest, but the massive root network created by the tree colony stores a lot of information in real-time."

"That means, the moment we step into the forest..."

Vierano nodded heavily.

"Yes. The kingdom will notice our entry. Of course, if they don't pay much attention, they might just let it slide. But would the Lifrey family handle things so lightly? They've kidnapped the last survivor of the Plante family so they're probably fully prepared."

If Vierano went back to the kingdom alone, it wouldn't be much of a problem.

The problem was Rudger and Alex.

It was impossible for humans to enter the Elven Kingdom.

Half-hearted disguises wouldn't work either.

The information being stored in real-time would catch even the slightest irregularity.

Once suspicion arose, their identities would be exposed instantly.

"That would be quite a problem."

He didn't think they could avoid fighting but starting with a fight from the beginning was clearly different.

At the very least, they should only reveal their strength after infiltrating the kingdom.

Even then, it should be when they were close to the World Tree at the kingdom's center.

'We can't recklessly move through space since we don't know how wide the kingdom is and the spatial coordinates of this first-time destination would be inaccurate.'

Can they move through the forest while avoiding the trees?

The answer to that question was 'no'.

It was like telling someone to run while avoiding the rain in a wasteland during a downpour.

"If it's Bellaruna, who can hack the World Tree, she should be perfectly capable of deceiving the forest's eyes."

Vierano was confident.

Even noble elves with access rights found it difficult to enter the World Tree.

The mental load was significant due to the vast amount of information, yet Bellaruna not only secretly accessed the World Tree but even viewed restricted information.

Whether she naturally had a large capacity for information, or one side of her brain was already broken, he wasn't sure but that talent was absolutely necessary for this mission.

"But, but if I go back, I'll definitely be killed?"

"It would be equally dangerous if the Lifrey family gains full authority over the World Tree."

"That's..."

"I know this is very burdensome for you. But without you, we won't even be able to approach the World Tree."

Bellaruna hesitated.

She knew there was something she could do but knowing something in your head and actually doing it are clearly different.

An execution order must have already been issued, and she's going to brazenly return to the kingdom?

Isn't that like voluntarily sticking your neck under the guillotine?

Deceive the forest's eyes?

Easy to say. But is it really that simple?

If asked whether she could do it, it would be worth trying but she couldn't afford to let her guard down for even a fraction of a second.

The moment there was even a slight gap, her identity would be exposed.

They would stay for at least a few days, and during those days, she would have to work to the point of nervous breakdown.

That's too much.

These emotions were clearly visible on Bellaruna's face.

Is it not possible?

As Vierano was feeling discouraged, that's when Rudger, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward.

"Bellaruna. If you succeed in this mission, you will become a hero who saved the Elven Kingdom from war."

"He-hero? I don't really want such a cumbersome title."

"Think about it the other way around. If you become a hero, wouldn't you be able to proudly gain access rights to the World Tree?"

"...!"

"Not the dead World Tree in the capital's underground. The real, living World Tree. If you do well, you might even be able to get samples for research. Who would say anything against it? You'd be a hero."

"Hero..."

Bellaruna's eyes glazed over at Rudger's sweet talk.

"It's a sample of an ancient species with unknown origins. What if you could use it freely whenever you want? Would you throw away that opportunity?"

"That, that...!"

Regret showed on Bellaruna's face.

Vierano, watching this scene, was so shocked he couldn't speak properly.

He silently looked at Alex.

At that gaze, Alex smiled and shrugged his shoulders as if used to it.

Meanwhile, Rudger's persuasion disguised as temptation came to an end.

"I'll do it!"

Bellaruna answered energetically.

Of course, in about three days, she would be pulling her hair out wondering why she had agreed to this but words once spoken couldn't be taken back.

"Good. Now that everyone has agreed to participate. The next step is to gather as many artifacts as possible from here."

Rudger briefly surveyed the interior of the exhibition hall.

Magical power flows through every item.

They would be used differently depending on their purpose, but there was no harm in taking as many as possible.

"First, there are things we need to collect."

Rudger spoke to Walter.

"First. We need the elixirs manufactured by the Roschen family. One of each type."

Roschen handles magical items and artifacts.

Naturally, they were also involved in pharmaceuticals, potions, and elixir business.

Expensive and rare, Roschen company's elixirs were hard to obtain so Rudger planned to acquire all of them on this occasion since it was more important to increase his own magical power than to receive artifact support.

The Elven Kingdom was practically enemy territory.

Since they didn't know what would happen there, they needed to prepare as much as possible.

"Understood."

Walter readily agreed to Rudger's words.

"And we need all sorts of ingredients needed for pharmaceuticals."

Elixirs alone weren't enough.

He needed recovery potions and doping agents that could recharge depleted magical power in real-time.

It would be taxing on the body for others, but Rudger didn't suffer from such side effects.

"Second. We need to modify some artifacts."

"Modify, you say?"

Rudger picked up a nearby artifact at random.

It was a bracelet-type item worn on the wrist, with defensive magic built into the inside.

"An artifact that blocks three attacks limited to tier 3 magic. Correct?"

"Yes."

"We'll modify this to increase its output. In exchange for reducing the number of uses. Make it so it can only be used once, but will definitely block at least tier 4 or higher."

"...The artifact won't withstand that."

"That's the point."

Rudger's words were simple.

He was saying he would modify most of the artifacts they would take, making them all one-time use.

Using an artifact worth a house for just one use and then throwing it away?

It was nothing short of money madness but that was what Roschen's financial power made possible.

"But if we tell the researchers to modify it like that, they'll resist. Even for me, ordering them to freely adjust the output of items they carefully tested for stability..."

"There's no need for that."

Rudger immediately dismissed Walter's concerns.

"We have an expert right here."

* * *

"So."

Seridan, who had been suddenly called over, pondered Rudger's words with his arms crossed.

"You want me to modify the artifacts lying around here?"

"Yes."

"Not just modify, but maximize their output?"

"You understand well."

"With user safety thrown to the dogs, making them explode with just a little force?"

"Not quite that extreme."

Seridan smiled brightly.

"This is amazing!"

"Good to see you're positive about it."

"You know, my lord, I have one dream. Want to know what it is? It's to modify these artifacts that magicians use to my heart's content. And in the exact way I've always wanted!"

"Can you do it?"

"Can I do it? Of course! These artifacts aren't purely magical products to begin with. Well, some might be. But most have 'engineering' in them. Magical engineering, that is. And I'm confident I won't fail when it comes to the engineering part."

Seridan's eyes gleamed dangerously at the treasures overflowing everywhere.

"An enormous explosion for the ages! How could I pass up this chance that will be the beginning of my grand plan!"

"You said you had one dream."

"All explosions are one and the same!"

An enormous explosion.

Seridan might really try to make a nuclear bomb if she had enough time and capital.

'Perhaps it's fortunate that such information doesn't exist in this era.'

Though maybe Seridan would find a way to make it herself.

"Anyway, which items am I going to modify? Since I'm going to work on them, I should put my heart into it."

"All of them."

Rudger pointed at all the displayed artifacts as he spoke.

Seridan unconsciously repeated the words in a daze.

"All...of them? Really?"

"Yes. All of them."

"Kyaaaah!"

Seridan let out a happy scream.

* * *

Rudger left the excited Seridan behind and walked out of the warehouse.

Waiting for him was Walter Roschen.

"Here are the elixirs you mentioned."

Was he waiting personally just to give these?

Though thinking this, Rudger didn't refuse the elixirs Walter handed over.

Regardless of whether he liked the person or not, he intended to definitely receive the support.

"First elves, now dwarves. It seems you associate with quite remarkable individuals."

"Didn't we already investigate each other thoroughly? Why pretend now?"

At Rudger's direct words, Walter readily nodded.

"Yes. I know enough to know you're not an ordinary teacher. That's why I trust you and provide full support without hesitation. Because your skills are certain."

"If you investigated that much, you must know this too. What organization Sedina belongs to."

"..."

Walter didn't answer but that action alone was enough of an answer.

"You must also know why Sedina does such dangerous things."

"...I know. To her, I'm a human trash who abandoned her mother and coldly threw away his daughter. Surely she must be doing it because she hates me."

"You understand well."

"It's probably laughable for someone like me who has no right to say this. Still, this is all I can do."

Saying this, Walter bowed.

"Please, save that child."

"Sedina hates you."

"I know."

Walter answered without raising his head.

"She won't know that you asked for help like this."

"That's fine."

"Even if she returns safely, that child probably won't look back at you."

"I'm prepared for that."

"Yet you still ask me to save her? While bowing your head to me?"

"Because she's my daughter."

Rudger stared at the back of Walter's head before turning around.

"If you're going to bow your head, do it directly to Sedina when she returns safely."

"Those words..."

Walter slightly raised his bowed head.

Without looking back at Walter, Rudger answered.

"I will definitely save her. This is also a promise I'm making to myself."

‘That's why I accepted this request.’

Rudger's eyes gleamed dangerously.