Given the nature of Index, it was impossible for new players to even escape the perception of the guards.
Moreover, the fortress had a strict rule.
Utter even two syllables of an incantation, and they’d be immediately disarmed.
But Vanitas, having received advance notice before his visit, had prepared as thoroughly as he could for the act.
If he failed, then it would be quite unfortunate.
Numen’s Azure Shard was an amazing reward.
——Hm? Who’s that pretty boy, with you? Another piece of shit?
“Just ignore him, Professor. Don’t let him provoke you,” Alaric said.
“Understood,” Vanitas nodded his head.
——Professor? Like those shitty know it alls? Oh! We’ve got a bitch boy over here!
“….”
Despite being castrated off his mana core, his stigmata still remained. There was no way to forcibly extract someone’s stigmata, after all.
———「Name: Mikhail Aubert」———
◆ Age: 54
◆ Stigmata: Carna’s Blessing
◆ Essence Discovered:
—Pyro: Grandmaster
—Umbra: Sovereign
—Aqua: Grandmaster
—Gaia: Grandmaster
—Zephyr: Grandmaster
————————————
‘Crazy….’
Now that Mikhail himself was right in front of him, Vanitas couldn’t help but be taken aback.
If he still had his mana core, Mikhail alone could massacre the entire fortress.
Vanitas, as insignificant as a speck of dust compared to the worst criminals confined here, wouldn’t stand a chance.
Even Alaric, with his skills and expertise, who could effortlessly slice off Vanitas’s head, was nothing in comparison.
Next to Mikhail, they were all utterly insignificant.
The mastery of Sovereign-tier magic spoke for itself.
In this world, only the Great Powers possessed the understanding, the attunement, and the capability to wield spells of such magnitude.
“So,” Alaric began. “Any impressions?”
“Quite a character.”
“Haha~ Indeed! Indeed!”
Mikhail suddenly stood, and approached the barrier that separated him from the others. His red eyes glowed faintly under the dim light of the chamber, locking onto Vanitas.
——So, what brings you here, Mister Professor? Pfft….
“….”
“He’s come to ask a question, Mikhail,” Alaric said.
Mikhail’s expression suddenly shifted, and his eyes lit up.
——Oh…. Oh! You should’ve said so…!
The words seemed to stroke his ego.
Stripped of his status as a Great Power, Mikhail had clearly learned to savor moments where he was treated with even a shred of the respect he once had.
Moments like these fed his delusions, if only just enough.
Vanitas turned to Alaric, and said, “Apologies, Warden, but this matter is personal, is it fine if you step outside again?”
“Personal? To what extent?”
“It’s not a security issue, I assure you. Just something I’d rather not share openly.”
Alaric studied him for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.
“Very well. But I’ll be just outside. Call if you need anything.”
Thud!
Once the heavy door closed behind him, and the sound suppression system activated, Vanitas turned his attention back to Mikhail.
——Personal, is it? You’re full of surprises, Professor. So, what is it?
Vanitas remained silent for a moment, pondering on the proper question to ask.
Finally, he spoke.
“The Archives of Haven. Do you know where it is?”
——Pfft…. Hahaha!
Mikhail froze for a second before bursting into laughter.
—Haha! You fucking brat! Don’t tell me you believe in those fairy tales? Haha!
“….Forget it.”
——No, no! Haha!
Mikhail covered his mouth, amused.
——No, no!
Mikhail said, still chuckling. But then, noticing the serious expression on Vanitas’s face, his laughter subsided.
——No way…. You’re serious?
Vanitas met his gaze. “Was I ever joking?”
Mikhail grinned, leaning closer to the barrier.
——Hypothetically, if I did have information, it’s not the kind of thing that comes cheap.
“I came knowing that.”
——Oh? Then tell me, Professor, what do you have to offer?
Vanitas didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted slightly, glancing toward the door behind him.
He had explicitly requested privacy, and as a university professor, the Warden was obligated to respect that.
The barrier between the room and the outside ensured no sound could escape.
After a moment of silence, Vanitas turned back to Mikhail.
“I’ll help you escape.”
——You’re a fucking a joke.
Mikhail spat, his eyes narrowing. There was no way a mere professor could orchestrate an escape from Index.
The fortress was renowned for being impenetrable, both from the outside and within.
——Do you even hear yourself? You think someone like you could pull off something like that?”
But as he studied Vanitas, his laughter abruptly stopped, and the grin slipped from his face.
——….You’re serious.
“Completely.”
Mikhail leaned back slightly, though his sharp gaze remained fixed on Vanitas.
——Alright, Professor. Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re not insane. Why would you risk breaking me out of here? What’s in it for you?
“You already know the answer,” Vanitas said. “The Archives of Haven.”
Mikhail let out a low chuckle and leaned forward again. His grin returned..
——You really believe it exists, don’t you? You’d gamble everything—your career, your life—on a story?
Vanitas met his gaze without flinching. “You can think what you like. The question is, do you have the information or not?”
Mikhail tapped his fingers against the barrier, grinning.
——Oh, I have it, alright. But helping me escape? That’s no small thing. You’re going to need a lot more than confidence to pull this off, Professor.
“Then let’s have it this way,” Vanitas began. “I’ll help you escape first, then you’ll tell me.”
Mikhail’s eyes narrowed.
——You place too much faith in me. You think I’d even uphold my end of the bargain?
“You don’t have magic. If you won’t cooperate after I help you, I can just kill you. Plain and simple.”
——You threaten a member of the Great Powers?”
Mikhail’s eyes narrowed further, his gaze as sharp as a blade pointed at Vanitas’s neck.
“Former,” Vanitas corrected, his expression remaining blank. “Now? A mental asylum patient.”
——….
Mikhail froze, his mouth slightly open as if to respond.
Then suddenly, he threw his head back and burst into laughter.
——Haha…! You’ve got guts! Fucking arrogant brat. I like you!”
His laughter echoed through the chamber before his eyes locked back onto Vanitas.
——Alright, Professor. You’ve convinced me. Tell me what I need to do.
Vanitas didn’t miss a beat.
“Here’s what’ll happen….”
***
The northern climate was feared, not only for its natural temperature, but also for its occasional natural disasters.
Mana storms.
A rare but devastating phenomenon. It was a particular threat in this region.
Given that the north was locked in perpetual winter, naturally, these storms manifested as horrific blizzards,
That was exactly what was happening now. The winds howled, and blinding snow forced the guards to retreat into the safety of the fortress.
Patrols were halted, and those stationed outside worked tirelessly to clear the accumulating snow and reinforce vulnerable sections of the fortress.
Inside, others scrambled to ensure supplies were secure, while making sure the doors were sealed.
“Another one, huh?” one guard muttered.
“Yeah, and this one’s worse than the last,” his companion replied.
“Better to deal with this than the monsters that come after. You know they always show up when the storm clears,” another added.
“….”
Silence fell over the group. The storms were dangerous enough, but what followed them was often far worse.
The blizzard only heightened the difficulty of the Special Act.
But it wasn’t just the calamity itself—it was the chaos it created.
Every guard was stationed inside. They were constantly on edge as they dealt with the occasional monster breakouts triggered by the storm.
In fact, it was already happening.
Swoosh—!
The sound of a blade slicing through flesh rang out, followed by a growl and the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground.
“Sigh, here it comes.”
“Contact!” a guard shouted from further down the corridor. “We’ve got a breach!”
SHIIING—
Immediately, swords were drawn, and the sound of boots echoed as guards rushed in various hallways.
In the dim light of the fortress, silhouettes began to move.
A snarling beast lunged out of the darkness, only to be intercepted by a Crusader’s sword.
“Hold the line!” the guard captain exclaimed. “Don’t let them through!”
Though the guards acted quickly, none of them seemed surprised by the attack.
It was a nuisance they had grown used to. At least three mana storms occurred every week in the north.
Such was the nature of Index.
Even if an inmate managed to escape the fortress walls, they would find themselves in a vast, snow-covered forest, where all sorts of monsters roamed freely.
A guard swung his sword at another beast that had slipped through a crack in the wall.
“Another breach sealed!” a guard exclaimed.
As the remaining monsters were swiftly dealt with, the guards began to relax.
“Haaa…. H-haaa….”
They slumped against the walls as their breaths were visible in the freezing air.
“Haaa…. Fucking hell….” one muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow despite the cold.
“Always during the storms,” another grumbled, leaning against his sword. “These damn things just don’t know when to quit.”
“Could’ve been worse,” said an older guard, adjusting his gloves.
———!
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the hallway.
The guards froze. Their eyes darted toward the fallen monsters.
One by one, the corpses began to twitch as their limbs jerked.
“What the…?” a guard stepped back, an incredulous expression on his face.
The lifeless eyes of a nearby beast snapped open. Its body twisted and contorted as it rose to its feet while blood still dripped from its wounds.
“Impossible… They’re already dead!”
———!
More growls filled the air as the other fallen monsters began to rise.
“Everyone, weapons up!” the captain barked. “Stay in formation!”
As if the monsters springing back to life weren’t enough….
“Captain!” A guard ran in from the hallway. “A prisoner has escaped!”
A sudden chill ran down the captain’s spine as he turned to face him.
“What? Who!?”
“Edmund Velgrind. He broke out during the chaos in the west wing!”
The captain’s expression darkened immediately, his grip tightening on his sword.
“Damn it. Of all the times—”
“Orders, sir?” another guard asked.
The captain wasted no time.
“Secure this area and keep the monsters contained. No one leaves this corridor without my direct order!”
He turned to the messenger.
“You, find the Warden. Inform him of Velgrind’s escape and the breach. Go now!”
“Yes, sir!”
***
Vanitas and Alaric quickly rushed to the scene, finding several cells open.
“Fuck…. How could this happen!?” Alaric exclaimed.
Vanitas glanced at him briefly, his expression serious. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the entire fortress shook.
Rumble…! Rumble…!
The floor beneath them trembled, and debris began falling from the ceiling.
They exchanged a tense look before Alaric spoke first.
“Professor, this isn’t within your jurisdiction. The blizzard might be a nuisance, but I’ll ensure you make it to the warp hole safely.”
“No, I’ll help as best I can.”
Alaric frowned. “You don’t understand. This isn’t your responsibility. The situation is—”
“Out of control. Exactly why you need every hand you can get,” Vanitas interrupted. “I didn’t come here to run when things get dangerous.”
Alaric hesitated for a moment, then sighed.
“Fine. But if you’re staying, you follow my orders. Understood?”
Vanitas gave a small nod.
“Understood.”