Vanitas was certain Luca had pinned the blame on him. Between the words of a right-hand man and a partner, who would Vincenzo trust more?
Of course, it would be the right-hand man. Convincing Vincenzo was out of the question.
But was Luca an idiot?
The Astreas were an important partner to the Gambino Family. To risk that partnership for the love of a woman ten years younger than him—it was foolish.
Loyalty to the Gambinos should come first.
Now that he thought about it, this didn’t feel like something Luca would do.
Was someone trying to sow discord?
“Ah.”
Vanitas looked up. Maybe he was overthinking it. Years of experiences as Chae Eun-woo had taught him to overanalyze situations, seeing conspiracies where there might be none.
But still….
“I think I get it.”
***
Furious but still open to negotiation, Vincenzo Gambino stared out the window.
An information leak. Luca had suggested who the culprit might be—Vanitas Astrea.
In response, Vincenzo had sent a black hand letter—a clear warning—and demanded Vanitas show up within the week to defend himself.
Typically, such a threat would compel immediate action. But Vanitas had done the opposite.
He hadn’t shown up at all.
Instead, he remained holed up in the University Tower, as if distancing himself from the accusation entirely.
To Vincenzo, that silence was as good as an admission of guilt.
“Orders, Boss?” Luca asked, anger evident in his tone.
He hadn’t expected betrayal from someone the family had treated like their own.
Vincenzo turned slowly. “That matter is secondary right now.”
Luca blinked, caught off guard. “Boss?”
“My daughter’s life is the priority,” Vincenzo said. “Split the search. Have one crew track Astrea. Put our best chasers on it.”
The Gambino Crime Family, like most powerful families on the continent, had their own elite chasers.
“And the other? Luca asked.
“Devote the other to finding Anastasia. I want eyes in every corner of this city. Call in the Capos. I want every lieutenant and soldier on this. Sweep the streets, grease the palms, do what it takes. Understand?”
“Yes, Boss.”
“But Luca, if Astrea is truly guilty, I want him alive. For now.”
Luca nodded reluctantly. “Understood.”
“Dismissed,”
***
Five hours inside the Fractal Veil.
“Haah….”
“I’m so tired….”
The wave had just ended, and the remaining students retreated to the hotel, catching their breaths.
They had started taking turns to fight in hopes of conserving stamina for the long. Yet, despite their efforts, some had already fallen.
If they were dead…
‘They couldn’t be, right?’ Astrid thought.
There was no way the professor would let that happen. He knew their current abilities and wouldn’t design a test beyond their capabilities.
At first, the waves came one after another, giving them no time to rest.
But now, the intervals between waves had grown longer. By Astrid’s calculations, the next wave wouldn’t arrive for another hour.
She stood at the center of the lobby and raised her voice to gather everyone’s attention.
“The next wave won’t appear for another hour. Everyone, take shelter inside the hotel and replenish your energy. Eat, drink, and tend to any injuries. The hotel has all the resources we need. But remember, we must manage them wisely!”
——….Yes
The students exchanged uncertain glances but nodded.
Astrid’s authority as the princess made it hard to argue with her. However, doubt was creeping in, especially after witnessing their classmates’ deaths before their eyes.
——It feels too real….
——What if they’re really gone?
The tension in the room grew heavy with unease.
Sensing the growing doubt, Charlotte stepped forward, standing right next to Astrid.
“The professor wouldn’t allow such a thing. Think about it. They must have been deleted from the Veil and sent back to the real world. There’s no way Professor Vanitas would let anyone die here.”
Her words seemed to have gotten through, and the students relaxed slightly, though a few still wore skeptical expressions.
Astrid nodded in agreement. “Charlotte’s right. The professor has designed this test for us to grow, not to kill us. Trust in that and focus on what we can do now.”
The students murmured among themselves but began dispersing to follow Astrid’s instructions.
Some headed to the dining hall, others to the infirmary. Slowly, order was restored for the time being.
Astrid sighed, glancing at Charlotte. “Thanks. That helped.”
“Of course.”
The two exchanged a brief smile before heading to the cafeteria. Inside, a few students with culinary skills had stepped up, heating stoves and preparing pots.
“Need a hand?” Astrid asked as she approached a group chopping vegetables.
One of the students shook their head. “We’ve got this, Princess. You should rest.”
Astrid hesitated but nodded. “Alright. Let me know if you need anything.”
She and Charlotte found a corner to sit, watching as the students worked together.
Moments later, Sophia Clementine, Astrid’s friend, stumbled over and plopped down next to them.
“This is insane,” she muttered dramatically.
Her disheveled appearance matched the apocalyptic–esque situation.
Her uniforms were slightly torn. Her hair stuck out in all directions, and a smudge of dirt streaked across her cheek like an accidental war paint.
She slumped against the wall, groaning.
“How long are we supposed to keep this up? A week? A year? Are they expecting us to repopulate or something? Because I’m not signing up for that!”
“Kh…!”
“Pftt….”
Astrid choked on her water, and Charlote slapped a hand over her face, suppressing a laugh.
“Sophia, no one’s asking you to repopulate anything,” Astrid said, shaking her head.
“You sure? Because this whole setup screams ‘start civilization over.’ I mean, look at this place. A hotel in the middle of nowhere, endless waves of monsters…. what’s next? Farm plots and wedding proposals?” Sophia flailed her arms for emphasis.
“You’re unbelievable,” Astrid muttered.
Sophia pointed at her dirt-streaked face. “Unbelievable? This is what survival looks like, Astrid. I’m a mess, my hair has turned against me, and I’m emotionally scarred from watching Jeffrey try to fight a monster with a chair. A chair, Astrid!”
Whoever the hell Jeffrey was.
“Pfft….!”
Charlotte finally lost it and laughed, covering her mouth.
“Okay, okay,” Astrid said, holding up her hands. “Just eat something and calm down.”
Indeed, the students’ mental states were clearly starting to crack. Astrid and Charlotte were probably the odd ones out, staying so calm despite such a situation.
“Huukh….”
A loud snore broke their thoughts. The three turned to the source of the sound.
“….”
“….”
“….”
Ezra was sprawled out on the floor, sound asleep, with a bubble of saliva forming at the corner of his mouth.
***
“Ah, much better.”
Anastasia stepped out of the shower, changed into fresh clothes, and flopped onto the bed with a sigh.
After dealing with her traitorous escorts and the hired assassins sent by some unknown family, she had endured a grueling eight-hour walk to Ophelia City, far from Valenora, the capital of the Aetherion Empire.
Once she arrived, she checked into a hotel to lay low. She decided to give herself a month to wait for the situation to calm down.
Hopefully, she had covered her tracks well. She avoided using her cards entirely to ensure her father wouldn’t find out she had survived.
Still.
“What am I supposed to do now?”
She wasn’t used to handling physical Rend over cards. Managing her finances carefully was going to be a challenge.
“I’m hungry….”
Putting on a simple disguise—a trendy cap and a pair of sunglasses—Anastasia stepped out of the hotel and into the lively streets of Ophelia.
The city was nothing compared to the grandiose of the Theocracy or Valenora, but it had its charm.
Anastasia wandered for a while, taking in the sights before approaching a small group gathered near a street musician.
“Excuse me,” she asked. “Do you know where I can find the cheapest place for a meal?”
The group exchanged glances before one of them, an older man, pointed down the street.
“Try Della’s. It’s a small place near the market square. Good food, dirt cheap.”
“Thank you,” Anastasia nodded and followed the directions.
Anasta walked and arrived at the market square.
When she reached the market square, she scanned the area.
“Della…. Della…. Where is it?”
There was no visible sign, which made her wonder just how affordable this place really was. Still, she didn’t have the luxury to be picky. If it was cheap, it would have to do.
Resigned, Anastasia approached another passerby—a woman, holding a basket of fruits.
“Excuse me. Do you know where Della’s is?”
The woman paused, adjusting the basket of fruit on her hip.
“Della’s? It’s the small red door next to the butcher’s stall, over there.” She pointed toward a corner of the square.
“Thank you,” Anastasia replied, heading in the direction indicated.
She scanned the area, spotting the red door nestled between a butcher’s stall and a cobbler’s shop.
There was no signage or anything fancy. Just a simple entrance.
“This must be it….”
Pushing the door open, Anastasia was greeted by the warm aroma of freshly cooked food.
Inside, a handful of patrons were eating or sipping ale. The place was small and a bit rough around the edges.
“Ah, it’s that kind of place….”
Still, she didn’t have the luxury to be picky.
If anything, this worked in her favor. A scruffy spot like this was the last place anyone would expect to find the daughter of a powerful crime family.
Maybe?
Her thoughts trailed off as her hunger took over. Right now, food was all she could think about.
A waiter approached as Anastasia sat down. Without much thought, she placed her order.
“Understood.”
The waiter nodded and left. Anastasia hunched over the table, exhausted.
Moments later, a plate of steaming stew and a hunk of bread were set before her. The aroma made her drool.
“Here’s your order, Miss,” the waiter said with a friendly smile.
“Thanks,” she muttered, picking up the spoon.
As she took her first bite, the warmth of the food seemed to melt away her worries, if only for a moment.
“….It’s good.”
Surprisingly, it tasted better than she expected. Maybe being a regular here for a month wouldn’t be so bad after all.
When she finished, she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her stomach in contentment.
After paying, she stood to leave and enjoyed her solo sight–seeing tour.
Her routine repeated on the following days. On a certain day, however, something unexpected happened.
“The food was good as always.”
After paying for her food, she stood to leave. But just as she turned, a figure slid into the seat across from her.
The person wore a hooded cloak. Anastasia couldn’t make out their face.
Alarm bells went off in Anastasia’s mind. Had the opposing family already found her?
“…!”
How?
“You….”
“Sit back down.” The hooded figure raised a finger to their lips, silencing her.
“….”
Anastasia’s blood ran cold. Swallowing hard, she obeyed and lowered herself back into her seat.
“….What do you want?” she asked, her hand instinctively hovering over the gun at her waist.
“You think I don’t see that?” the figure said. “Put your hands on the table.”
“….”
Slowly, Anastasia complied, placing her hands flat on the table.
“Now, tell me. What do you want?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Compensation.”
“What?”
“Compensation,” the figure repeated.
“….”
Of course, she was familiar with that kind of deal. A ransom. This man must’ve been a local who had managed to uncover her identity.
If that was the case, the underworld must’ve stirred in Valenora.
Her name must be out there by now.
“And you won’t tell anyone you saw me here, right?” she asked.
“Not like I have any choice.”
“Okay,” Anastasia said. “But… I don’t have much on me right now.”
Anastasia bit her lip. Money was a huge issue right now.
“Then I’ll change the compensation,” the figure said. “Take me to the hotel you’re staying at.”
“What?!” Anastasia stiffened.
Anastasia’s jaw tightened at the absurd demand. She had already booked her hotel for the entire month and couldn’t afford to move to another one.
However, she saw the opportunity.
“Okay, fine.”
The figure nodded, motioning for her to lead the way. Anastasia stood and exited the restaurant.
She walked through the streets, as if heading toward her hotel. But as they neared a dark alleyway, she veered into it.
“Don’t be alarmed. It’s a shortcut,” she said.
The figure followed her into the alley without a word.
Once they were deep enough, Anastasia spun around and pulled out her gun.
“….”
But before she could aim, the hooded figure already had their gun drawn, pointed directly at her.
“Drop it,” the figure ordered.
“Tsk.”
Anastasia clicked her tongue in frustration and reluctantly let the gun fall from her grip.
The figure glanced around, as if scanning the alley for any onlookers. Once satisfied, they gave a small nod.
“This works for me.”
“….?”
Slowly, the figure pulled back their hood, revealing a face that was both strikingly handsome and strangely familiar.
“….”
Anastasia’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You’re….”
“It’s your fault I’m in this mess, Anastasia,” he said flatly.
“P–Professor Vanitas?!”