Ludwig’s mind was immediately set aflame thinking of what he should do.
“First things first, you, fuck off, go up to the upper floor, if they see you here with me we’re both dead,” Ludwig said. He had to remove all and any association he has with Hoyo, they’ll both become suspects.
So far nothing is concrete and it all depends on how Ludwig acts from here onwards.
Hoyo agreed wholeheartedly, especially since the loud shouts and threats to exterminate Ludwig’s entire family were getting closer to his floor.
Hoyo dipped out to the upper floor leaving Ludwig by himself. He left the door open and walked out to the hallway, thinking up what to say or do.
Suddenly a young man, took a step onto the floor where Ludwig’s room was at, the few students that came out to see what was going on immediately closed their doors after seeing who it was.
A man of great height stood forward, green of eyes and blond of hair, and with a muscular yet not overly inflated build, he fitted perfectly in an almost military like set of clothes, but they all had the symbols and patterns of the Black Tower Academy.
He had a sword drawn and he was out for blood, “You fucker!” the man said and simply flew right at Ludwig in a single step. Grabbing Ludwig by the scruff of his robes and pinning him to the wall, both feet several dozen centimeters higher than the wooden floor.
[You entered Battle!]
[You cannot survive this fight!]
“Hold on man! What the fuck is going on?” Ludwig cursed feigning ignorance.
Thanks to his calmer presence of mind for being an undead, he wasn’t flustered in faking his panic, and due to that, he earned a few seconds before the man in front of him outright killed him.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT’S GOING ON!” the young man roared as he threw Ludwig against the floor making him tumble several times until he smashed into a nearby wall.
[-26Hp!]
Ludwig groaned and fake coughs, but the pain was real. That blow broke some of his ribs.
“What the hell are you doing! Who the hell are you? Why are you doing this!” Ludwig shouted, hoping that anyone could interfere, or at least if a teacher were to come here things would change.
“I’ll end your life right here! THIS IS FOR MY YOUNGER BROTHER YOU MURDERUR!” he said as mana began gathering around his body and a strange force that isn’t mana seemed to gather around his drawn sword.
Ludwig read about that, that’s Aura, something that only warriors and knights can learn. This guy was a Swordmaster…
Ludwig knew well by the time any teacher were to intervene he’ll be a cold dead corpse… well he’s an undead so that’s already something that’s actual, but he can’t be dying right here right now…
Ludwig immediately rolled aside and bolted down the stairs.
He wasn’t going to outrun a Swordmaster, not with his shitty stats, but thanks to the stairs, and the panic ridden actions of Ludwig, he managed to stumble and fall right as a sword swing flew where his head was a moment ago.
Ludwig continued rushing down the stairs, being followed by a fumingly enraged man with a sword.
He thought about what he could do, using Exhaust on that person is basically asking to die. Not only is he not in a situation where Ludwig can ambush him to use it and cause it to deplete a lot of his stamina. But even if Ludwig managed to do so, at 10% that young man can still kill Ludwig ten times over. And using Exhaust would simply just piss him off further confirming that it was Ludwig who killed his brother.
As for other spells and abilities, none of them were of any use. The Imperial Swordsmanship was too crude and too novice to deal with that person, not to mention the difference in understanding, Ludwig would basically be a toddler swinging a toothpick for a sword compared to the man running after him.
So, the only option he had was to simply run and buy as much time for himself as possible.
He went down several flights of stairs before he bolted out of the dorm, only then did the youngman catch up to Ludwig kicking him in the back
[-40hp!]
[You are in critical condition!]
‘I fucking know that!’ and Ludwig wasn’t talking about his low hp.
Though the sky had no moon in sight, the dorm had several magic operated lanterns outside showing the two of them in the opening outside it. Several students peered out of their windows to see what was going on.
‘Damn these bastards, they’d rather watch than help… reminds me of the people from my world who used to film and record everything instead of calling help! Also, why the hell am I thinking of this when this sword maniac is about to kill me… shit’
Ludwig cursed more and more as he turned his body and backed away by pushing himself using his hands backward on the ground.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Ludwig shouted. “Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?!”
Ludwig needed to keep his act together, and if worse come to worst, Ludwig still has one soul that will bring him back one day earlier.
The young man didn’t speak as he swung down on Ludwig’s face.
‘Shit… here we go again…’
[Fakery of Death is Strengthened!]
Yet, the death notification didn’t rise up, instead a man drabbed in black robes and had a wide smile on his face appeared right in front of the two. His mana coated hand simply grabbed the sword by two fingers as he fixed his sunglasses “What is going on in here?”
It was Van Dijk… a ray of hope.
Though Ludwig wanted to comment on why Van Dijk was wearing sunglasses when it was night time, he refrained from doing so.
“WHY ARE YOU STOPPING ME! TEACHER!” the Swordmaster shouted.
“Well, you’re trying to kill a pupil of mine, should I not stop you?”
That response from Van Dijk made it clear that he had both identified Ludwig as a pupil, and as someone who was not going to die tonight. Or so Ludwig hoped.
Regardless, Ludwig took on the hint and shouted, “Master, this psychopath is trying to kill me…”
The moment Ludwig confirmed the Disciple-Master Relationship, the young man’s face turned red in rage. He knew his goal for the night would be foiled.
“All things must have a reason, why is he trying to kill you?” Van Dijk asked.
“I have no idea!” I said.
“HE KILLED MY BROTHER!” the young man shouted.
Without skipping a beat, Van Dijk tilted his head saying, “You’re Thomas Vondel’s brother… he died earlier today, but that is strange… how did you come to the assumption that it was my disciple?” Van Dijk asked.
“Because the teacher who did the autopsy on my brother’s burning corpse said that he was afflicted with Exhaust before he died! And I have witnesses saying that this guy used exhausted yesterday on my brother!”
“Are you really serious? You think that that is enough proof to try and commit broad day murder?” Van Dijk’s tone became more serious.
‘It’s night time master… not that I’ll say that out-loud.’
“But…”
Immediately several teachers appeared right next to us, among them was the Swordmaster teacher, professor Oda’Roh and even the old man from my first class who taught Magic Theory. They all came rushing in, some even still in their sleeping clothes.
“What’s going on in here?” they asked.
But Van Dijk paid them no mind as he continued his conversation with the young man, “Not to mention, that despite having no concrete evidence, Not to mention he was with me most of the afternoon.”
Ludwig cursed inwardly, though that would be a great cover… but teacher Joana was here and she already spoke to Van Dijk this morning meaning that it’s impossible for what he said to be true… since he was in a far away location.
Joana had caught on immediately, and it was visible from her eyes.
“Before you say anything,” Van Dijk said to Joana, “I have mastery of teleportation remember? I believe I returned Ludwig around three in the afternoon, if I’m correct that was exactly the time there was a fire going on… he even asked me if I could snuff it out, but seeing Oda’Roh going to the forest was enough for me to ignore it after placing Ludwig back in the academy’s garden and me heading back to my tower.”
His words were final, it was all bullshit, lie upon lie. But mixed in with a few truths. Since I was actually in the garden among the students when the fire was aflame, and professor Oda’Roh was there to shut down the flames… But how did he see all that? I’m sure he was far away… unless he had eyes here…
“Suspicious,” Oda’Roh said. “He did exit my class pretty early. So he should have had enough time…”
Which caused my heart to skip a beat, -Although I’m undead without a heart-
“You see! Even teacher Oda’Roh agrees! He’s a murderer!”
“I didn’t say I agree,” the teacher scowled, “It’s just that he doesn’t have an alibi between the time of death and him leaving my room.
“No, he did,” Teacher Joana said, “I was personally training him, not to mention several other students saw it.” Joana said.
Just like that everything seemed to be working out in Ludwig’s favor, and the best thing he could do was stay quiet.
“A mage training in sword arts? C’mon teacher just say you are covering for him!” the Young Man said.
“Child, I’ll only forgive it once because you lost your brother, and I understand your feelings,” she said, “If you dare insinuate that I’m being unjust or trying to cover up someone else. Forget being a valedictorian, you’d be lucky to walk out of here with all your limbs.”
Her words were a threat imbued with an incredible amount of pressure, far greater than what the young man had on him.
“But…”
“No buts, the kid is innocent, as a matter of fact you’re the aggressor in this situation. Though it is for a great sadness that your brother had died, you must remember, this is the Black Tower Academy, Deaths happen all the time…” Van Dijk said, “I’ll be speaking with Vondel later, after all you dared harm one of mine… I’ll see to it that he pays me back for you breaking my property!”
And just like that, the young man’s rage was immediately deflated and more confusion seemed to cloud his head.
If Ludwig didn’t kill his brother, then who had the balls to do it?
“Ludwig… follow me, you’ll spend the night in the Black Tower.”
For others this might sound like a move to protect Ludwig in case the young man were to have second thoughts… but Ludwig knew well that these words were not for his protection… he was about to get killed, or worse scolded by Van Dijk…