I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 447: Border Intruder (1)

Vierano realized that Rudger's firm answer meant there was no room for discussion.

He tried to ask the others to persuade Rudger but he immediately realized that was impossible.

Hans, Alex, and Bellaruna naturally stood up, as if accepting this absurd high-altitude drop.

'Are they really planning to jump?'

He wasn't worried about the risk of falling.

The biggest problem was the decision to enter the 'forest' without any preparation.

The moment they enter, the forest will immediately detect the presence of outsiders.

The vegetation spread all around doesn't miss any presence that enters its territory.

Though Bellaruna was skilled enough to hack the World Tree, even that ability required contact with the surrounding area.

But it would take at least 1 minute from falling from the sky until making contact with nearby vegetation.

That was enough time for the data flowing in to be transmitted to the [Crown] family who manages the information.

'Even though they must have heard enough explanation, if they're forcing such an action, is it because of their urgency to rescue Sedina quickly?'

Or was it because they had another way?

For someone in a hurry, Rudger's expression was too calm so Vierano finally decided to trust Rudger's judgment.

At least it was because of him that these people could gather.

"Let's go."

With those words, Rudger jumped out of the airship.

Bellaruna gulped and jumped after him with her eyes tightly shut.

Hans unconsciously stepped back as if scared to jump, but then Alex grabbed him and jumped out.

"I'm not mentally prepared yet..."

"Never mind that, just go."

Finally, even Vierano jumped.

The wind that hit them during the high-altitude fall blurred their vision.

Even from this height, now that they started free falling, it wouldn't even take 10 seconds to reach the ground but it was enough time to activate magic.

Vierano called upon his wind spirit.

The strong gusts died down to less than a breeze and their rapidly falling bodies slowed as if time had stopped.

When he checked on the others, Rudger was protecting everyone with flight magic but they couldn't just marvel at that sight.

The slowly approaching forest indicated that there wasn't much time left until they were detected.

That's when Rudger activated his next spell.

-Swoosh.

The thinly spread magical power gradually changed to black like ink-stained water.

The pitch-black magical power covered all the companions including Rudger himself like a curtain.

"Dark attribute magic?"

Vierano was surprised.

He knew Rudger handled light attribute magic.

Using the light attribute magic was already an incredibly remarkable thing since it was one of the very rare cases among elemental attributes.

But the dark attribute?

This didn't make sense.

Especially since he uses light attribute magic.

Weren't the two attributes complete opposites?

But regardless of Vierano's surprise, the other companions accepted it naturally.

They already knew that Rudger could use such magic.

'Professor Rudger. Just who are you...'

The five under the protection of darkness landed safely in the forest and the quiet forest didn't notice the presence of the intruders at all.

"Bellaruna. Start."

"Yes."

Bellaruna immediately approached a nearby tree and placed her hand on it.

As she closed her eyes and concentrated, a green light swirled and seeped into the tree.

It didn't take very long, only about 3 seconds.

Opening her eyes, Bellaruna spoke with a confident voice.

"I've blocked all information in this area. Now no one will be able to see us."

As soon as she finished speaking, Rudger dispelled the dark magic.

Vierano was surprised again at Bellaruna's words.

He knew she was capable of connecting to nearby vegetation and blocking information but finishing it in 3 seconds was another matter entirely.

'Even the observers from the Crown family wouldn't be able to connect this quickly.'

Forest observers was the term for those who could handle data by making contact with trees.

Most elf families had their own forest observers, but among them, the most excellent was the [Crown] family who oversees the entire forest network.

The forest observers belonging to the Crown family were far more skilled practitioners than other families.

Even such forest observers would take at least 10 minutes for this kind of random hacking but Bellaruna finished everything in just 3 seconds.

'I noticed from the fact that she secretly connected to the World Tree, but this really is an overwhelming talent.'

With such ability, she could live receiving incredible treatment if she belonged to any family.

Nevertheless, Bellaruna lived in the human world after leaving the forest.

Vierano looked at Rudger and the companions again.

Rudger who uses both light and dark attributes, Bellaruna the elf who hacks the World Tree.

And Alex the swordsman who even took down a druid in one strike.

Then it was certain that Hans, who stayed with them, must also have some hidden skill.

"Let's move. We don't have much time."

At Rudger's words, Vierano came to his senses and nodded.

"Yes. I'll guide you to our family first."

* * *

Robert closed the wide open door of the airship.

He clicked his tongue looking at the interior where a gust of wind had swept through.

"No way. I thought they were just saying it, but they really jumped."

He vaguely felt something from their impressive behavior, but it seemed they were no ordinary people after all.

Well. That must be why Walter Roschen hired them.

Despite trying not to show it, he who deeply cherished his daughter hired just 5 people.

In other words, the skill of these 5 people far surpassed ordinary people.

Walter Roschen's eye for people could be considered the best.

"Ah ah. This is the Captain. Vice Captain, we can increase altitude now."

[Understood.]

"Now begins the hellish two-shift system. Can you handle the overtime?"

[Will there be overtime pay?]

"Since this isn't official work, that won't be possible. Instead, I'll grant you the blessing of being able to exchange jokes with me all day long."

[I'd rather die.]

But the Vice Captain was also someone who worked for Walter like himself, so this was something he was fully prepared for.

"We need to stay sharp. Even though this is the outskirts, this is elven territory. If we're discovered, it could become an international issue. One wrong move at the helm and we're in trouble. Got it?"

[What encouraging words. Captain, you just do well yourself.]

"I always do well. I'll just check the cargo hold and come back, so wait a bit."

After ending the communication, Robert headed to the cargo hold at the very back of the airship.

When they departed, they had filled the entire cargo hold with artifacts.

Of course, they were all stored in artifact storage cases.

The number alone was not an amount that just 5 people could carry.

Moreover, since they hadn't opened the cargo hold, there was a need to check if they had left anything behind.

However, Robert's concern turned to shock the moment he saw the cargo hold.

"What? Why is there nothing?"

The cargo hold that had been completely full was now empty without even a speck of dust.

"...No way, they really took everything? How?"

Is this also possible for mages?

Robert couldn't close his gaping mouth, as if he had seen a ghost.

* * *

Vierano led the group walking in front.

In the dense forest with no paths, it was hard to tell if they were heading in the right direction but Vierano's movements showed no hesitation.

He lightly jumped over roots that had risen above ground and easily climbed high rocks.

"It's incredibly rough terrain."

Hans muttered while following behind.

Even a fairly trained person would quickly tire walking these forest paths.

The reason Hans and the companions were fine was all thanks to the power of artifacts.

Hans muttered while looking down at the bracelet on his right arm.

"No wonder extreme explorers heavily rely on this."

Subtle magical power flowing from the bracelet on his right hand spread throughout his body, giving him strength.

The performance was similar to the physical enhancement through magical power that mages could basically use.

Though it was actually less efficient than that, its characteristic was that it lasted much longer.

There was nothing better than this item when walking on rough forest paths like now.

Even just this one artifact was quite expensive, but this wasn't the only artifact they received as support.

'So this is what it feels like to be loaded with money.'

Hans thought this while secretly observing Rudger.

Though it wasn't visible in the dark night, Hans with his particularly good night vision could see the pitch-black shadows dispersing like heat haze outside Rudger's clothing.

It was [Aether Nocturnus], the familiar that Rudger frequently used.

The fact that he maintained that from the moment they entered the forest meant Rudger was also being that cautious.

Just as he was thinking this, Vierano, who was leading at the front, spoke.

"From here on is Dentis family territory. This area is managed by our family's forest observers, so you don't need to worry about being discovered."

The tense atmosphere among the companions eased somewhat.

If Vierano spoke with such confidence, it was sufficiently trustworthy.

That's when Rudger narrowed his eyes and stared at one side.

"Professor Vierano. Let me ask one thing."

"Yes, what is it, Professor Rudger?"

"Did you separately contact the Dentis family elves about our arrival at this time?"

"No, I didn't. As you know, didn't we arrive earlier than expected? But why do you ask?"

"It seems we have visitors."

"Visitors?"

Vierano looked into the darkness that Rudger was staring at.

The forest that had entered deep night was so dark that nothing could be seen.

The only elements that could be relied on for visibility were the starlight in the sky and the light naturally emitted by some insects but Rudger saw something.

Vierano called upon the wind spirit to scout just in case.

The wind spirit that moved stealthily eventually transmitted what it saw to Vierano through the breeze.

"What...!"

Vierano was shocked.

Unknown elves were positioned near the boundary line adjacent to Dentis family territory.

’They had noticed our presence and were secretly building an encirclement.’

"From that reaction, it seems this is a situation that Professor Vierano didn't expect either."

They realized that we had noticed them and their stealthy movements became blatant.

-Whoosh!

Aether Nocturnus surrounding Rudger's body swelled up like a balloon and created a barrier of shadows as if protecting the companions.

Arrows that flew through the darkness struck it in droves.

Vierano let out a sigh looking at the arrowheads that fell powerlessly to the ground.

"These are Shade Warden's."

"Even at a territory boundary, is it common for elves from other families to stay so blatantly?"

"Of course not."

"Then that means your home isn't in a very good situation either, Professor Vierano."

"...It seems so."

The fortunate thing was that the opponents hadn't properly identified who we were yet.

If they knew who we were they wouldn't have approached so openly.

"Alex."

"Yeah."

"Can you handle it?"

"In this dark night, in the dense forest that's their home ground, against elves? Just me alone?"

Rudger nodded.

Alex laughed as if dumbfounded and drew his sword.

"This will be the best revenge match."

* * *

Sedina got up.

She reflexively looked around, but everything was dark as if shrouded in darkness.

'Where is this?'

Her skull throbbed and her mind was still hazy as if in a dream.

It felt like her memories were cut off in the middle.

'Did I faint? But why?'

Sedina recalled what she had seen before collapsing.

Right. There was definitely someone tailing her.

So as Alex instructed, she planned to stay at a crowded restaurant to induce carelessness.

'But then, suddenly there was a familiar scent from somewhere.'

Sedina checked her body's condition.

Her body still felt languid like water-soaked cotton and her mind felt foggy.

'Familiar smell. Body condition like falling asleep. Could they have used sleep fragrance?'

Sedina's expression hardened.

She fainted and woke up in an unfamiliar place so she had to accept the fact that she had been kidnapped.

'This isn't Leathervelk. Where is this?'

Sedina realized she was lying on a soft bed.

After kidnapping her, not an underground prison but a place like this?

'Moreover, the air is somehow clean. Why does this atmosphere feel so familiar?'

It felt like being in her teaching assistant room decorated with all sorts of plants.

No, the air around was even more pure than that.

"You've finally opened your eyes."

Just then, pale eyes sparkled like stars in the darkness.

Sedina belatedly realized it wasn't a jewel but someone's eyes.

That's how secretly the other person was erasing their presence.

"Welcome, child of Plante."

The presence in the darkness slowly rose from their seat and approached Sedina.

As the distance shortened, Sedina, now accustomed to the darkness, could see the other person's face.

She had a beautiful appearance and brilliant hair color, along with noble features and pointed ears.

"How does it feel to return to your bloodline's homeland?"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.