Chapter 172: The Beginning of a Hidden Plan
Chapter 172: The Beginning of a Hidden Plan
Andras returned to Room Three after lunch with Seraphina.
The cafeteria had been crowded, filled with the usual conversations and the clatter of trays. Their own exchange had remained brief and ordinary, requiring little attention. Once they parted, he returned to his room without stopping elsewhere.
He changed into more comfortable clothes, settled cross-legged on the floor, and closed his eyes.
Mana circulated through his body in a steady rhythm. He made no attempt to force his cultivation forward. Consistency mattered more than speed, and rushing the process would only create instability that he would have to correct later.
When his meditation was complete, he ate a simple dinner.
Only then did he turn his attention to magic.
He selected the diagram of an unfamiliar Third Circle spell and studied its structure carefully before raising his hand to form the initial pathways.
The first stages proceeded smoothly. But as the outer structure began to take shape, a slight fluctuation passed through the mana circulation. It was a minor deviation, yet if left unchecked, it could destabilize the entire formation.
Andras adjusted the flow.
The forming circle trembled.
But it held.
He maintained the incomplete formation for several seconds, observing how the mana settled after his correction. Satisfied with the result, he released the circulation and allowed the structure to dissolve.
It was not a completed spell, but that had never been the purpose of the exercise. He had deliberately introduced a disturbance, observed its effects, and corrected it before the formation could collapse.
A small step forward.
For now, that was enough.
He put his notes away, extinguished the lamp, and prepared for bed.
---
Morning arrived beneath a pale sky.
Andras completed his usual routine without lingering and made his way to class. The academy corridors were already filled with students moving between buildings, their conversations blending with the steady rhythm of footsteps.
He reached Class A without rushing.
Seraphina was seated beside the window, her notes arranged neatly on the desk. Her silver-blonde hair fell over her shoulders as she looked up at his arrival.
"Good morning, Andras."
"Good morning."
He took the seat beside her and placed his materials on the desk.
A few moments later, Professor Marissa Everhart entered, carrying several documents and a thick book. She placed them on the lectern and waited until the remaining conversations faded.
"Today, we’ll discuss a subject that has become considerably more important since the appearance of the dungeons."
Turning to the blackboard, she wrote two phrases in clear script.
Ordinary Monsters
Dungeon Monsters
Several students straightened in their seats.
"In previous lessons, we’ve examined anatomy, instincts, territorial behavior, and hunting patterns. Those principles remain useful. However, recent investigations have revealed several distinctions between the creatures found in dungeons and those that inhabit the world beyond them."
She lifted the documents from the lectern.
"These are summaries of confirmed reports. Investigations are still ongoing, and many questions remain unanswered. Nevertheless, we now have enough information to begin examining the differences."
Her gaze swept across the class.
"Who can tell me what distinguishes the two?"
A student near the front raised his hand.
"Is it their strength? Dungeon monsters are usually more dangerous, aren’t they?"
"Sometimes," Marissa replied. "But strength alone is not a reliable distinction. Ordinary monsters vary considerably in power. Some are more dangerous than creatures found in relatively shallow dungeons."
She tapped the first phrase on the blackboard.
"Ordinary monsters inhabit the world beyond dungeons. They occupy territories, hunt prey, compete for resources, and adapt to their surroundings. By observing their behavior and the conditions in which they live, we can often identify patterns and make reasonable predictions about how they’ll act."
She pointed to the second phrase.
"Dungeon monsters are more difficult to classify."
The class grew quieter.
"Consider their environment."
Marissa drew a simple diagram of a dungeon entrance, marking several layers beneath it.
"Ordinary monsters live in environments that are part of the world we already understand—forests, mountains, caves, and plains. Their habits are shaped by the resources available to them and the dangers they encounter. Dungeons, however, contain concentrated mana and environments that may have no natural counterpart outside them. Creatures found within these spaces must therefore be studied in relation to conditions unique to those environments."
A student raised his hand.
"Does that mean the dungeons create their own monsters?"
Marissa considered the question before answering.
"That is one possibility, but it has not been conclusively established. The presence of these creatures suggests a connection between them and the dungeons, yet their presence alone doesn’t tell us what that connection is. We don’t know whether dungeons create them, attract them, or influence existing creatures in ways we don’t yet understand."
She closed the book.
"Until we have sufficient evidence, we must distinguish between what we’ve observed and what we merely suspect."
Andras listened without changing his expression.
The reasoning was sound. An observation could support a hypothesis, but it could not automatically establish one. Assuming too much too early only created false certainty.
Marissa continued.
"The second distinction concerns behavior. Ordinary monsters possess instincts that can be studied over time. Once we understand their patterns, we can often anticipate their movements and reactions."
She paused briefly.
"Dungeon monsters may display similar instincts, but expedition reports describe behaviors that differ from those of comparable species found outside. A creature that resembles a familiar species may not respond in the way you expect. Never assume that familiar instincts will produce familiar results."
She let the warning settle before continuing.
"Even when a creature’s behavior is unfamiliar, its movements, attacks, and reactions can provide valuable information. Careful observation remains essential. The difference is that you must be prepared for your assumptions to fail."
Finally, she turned to the third distinction.
"Several reports describe creatures disappearing into particles of light after being killed inside a dungeon. This differs from the physical remains ordinarily recovered from monsters outside those environments."
A low murmur spread through the classroom.
"Does that happen to every dungeon monster?" another student asked.
"We don’t have enough evidence to make that claim," Marissa replied. "The reports are consistent enough to warrant serious attention, but we cannot assume that every dungeon follows identical rules."
She placed one of the documents on the lectern.
"More importantly, the disappearance of a creature doesn’t mean it was an illusion. These monsters can inflict real injuries and kill. Whatever happens to their bodies afterward does nothing to diminish the danger they present while alive."
She underlined both phrases on the blackboard.
"Do not assume that knowledge of ordinary monsters is useless inside a dungeon. Anatomy still matters. Instincts still matter. A creature must still move to attack, and its abilities must still obey whatever rules govern them."
Her gaze moved across the room.
"But neither should you assume that a strategy that works against an ordinary monster will work against its dungeon counterpart."
Her voice grew more serious.
"If you encounter an unfamiliar creature, observe it. Test your assumptions when circumstances allow. Identify its abilities before committing to a strategy. And above all, never mistake an incomplete understanding for a safe situation."
For a moment, the classroom fell silent.
Then a student asked, "Have the investigations revealed any common weaknesses among dungeon monsters?"
"Not enough to establish a universal rule. Their individual characteristics must be examined separately. That is precisely why we study them. If every monster could be defeated by following a single set of instructions, there would be little need for this subject."
Marissa gathered her documents and dismissed the class.
The room quickly filled with conversation. Some students debated the reports of disappearing corpses, while others speculated about whether dungeons created the creatures found within them.
Andras closed his notebook.
Beside him, Seraphina finished arranging her notes before turning toward him.
"What do you think? Do you believe the dungeons create their own monsters?"
"There’s insufficient evidence to reach that conclusion."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"That sounds like something Professor Everhart would say."
"She isn’t wrong."
Seraphina gave a quiet laugh, and they left the classroom together.
They went to the cafeteria for lunch. The hall was as crowded as ever, but neither felt compelled to fill the silence with unnecessary conversation. They ate at an unhurried pace before returning to their respective routines.
---
Far away, on the continent of Daemonia, a meeting was already underway.
Crimson crystals embedded in the dark stone walls cast a dim red glow across the chamber. Maps and documents covered a long table at its center.
Two high-ranking demons stood on opposite sides.
"The decision to send her to Ambrose Academy was sound," one remarked.
The other inclined his head.
"She can observe the Hero without drawing unnecessary attention. If an opportunity presents itself, she can eliminate him before he becomes a greater threat."
"Provided she doesn’t compromise her mission in the process."
"She understands the conditions."
The first demon studied the documents spread across the table.
"Regardless, we need to know how quickly the Hero is developing. If we allow him too much time, dealing with him later may become considerably more difficult."
"Even if she succeeds, however, killing the Hero won’t resolve the larger problem."
The second demon’s gaze shifted toward the map.
𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
"It may prevent history from repeating itself, but it won’t change the circumstances that made it possible. If we intend to alter the situation rather than merely delay its consequences, the other plan must proceed as well."
The first demon gave a slow nod.
"Have you learned anything useful?"
"I’ve received information that a meeting will soon take place within the Empire. The academy’s headmistress will attend, along with the dukes and the heads of the other noble houses."
The first demon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"All of them?"
"That is what the information indicates."
Silence settled over the chamber as the two considered the implications.
Then the first demon smiled, though there was no warmth in the expression.
"Then the timing is perfect."
They had been waiting for an opportunity.
Now one had presented itself.
---
By the time Andras returned to Room Three, the day had passed without anything particularly noteworthy.
He changed out of his academy uniform and set his belongings aside.
For a moment, he considered meditating or attempting the Third Circle spell again. Both would be useful. Yet he had already trained the previous evening, and the day’s classes had occupied much of his time. There was little reason to force another session merely because he could.
Progress required consistency, not needless repetition.
He stretched once before walking toward his bed.
Andras had never regarded sleep as wasted time. If anything, it was one of the few activities he could enjoy without needing to justify its usefulness.
He lay down, pulled the covers over himself, and closed his eyes.