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We followed the White Wolf Knights through several cities over the course of a few weeks.

Unfortunately, we never found Lucas.

Even though we had searched nearly every nearby city, there was no news of him.

That truth pained Isabel, but she remained quiet.

Rather, her face now seemed filled with a sense of duty to stop the Vampire Relic.

Spring was nearing the time of the Demon Dungeon.

We could no longer afford to spend more time.

"Isabel, let’s come back after the Demon Dungeon event is over."

That didn’t mean we had given up on finding Lucas.

Isabel nodded at my words.

Finding Lucas was important, but so was the Demon Dungeon—our duty.

On our way back to Zerion Academy.

Isabel leaned against me, lost in thought.

Where could Lucas be?

Could the person who used the Vampire Relic have taken him?

So many thoughts crossed my mind.

Still, the White Wolf Knights and Duke of Whitewood were personally tracking him.

Anyone abusing the Vampire Relic would definitely leave a trail.

If we put in the time, we would surely find him.

And so, Isabel and I safely returned to Zerion Academy.

With spring in full bloom, the academy was lively with the arrival of new first-year students.

New students always shine the brightest, no matter where you go.

Both Isabel and I were now treated like worn-out third-years at the academy.

"Feels like it’s been a while."

"It has been a while, actually."

I responded to Isabel’s words, and she smiled faintly.

"Go unpack in the dorm first. I’ll let Professor Vega know we’re back."

"Okay, got it. And be sure to visit your lady."

So she noticed.

Ever since the Remnant of the Ancient Dragon implanted an egg in my right eye, its influence had been growing stronger.

The most notable effect was appetite.

It wasn’t bad around others, but for some reason, it was especially difficult to endure when I was near Isabel.

‘Now I understand why people of old considered the dragon's remnants a curse.’

You begin to feel hunger for those closest to you.

I realized just how disturbing and horrifying that truly is.

From the dragon’s perspective, it’s simply a gift to become one of their kind.

But to a human, it’s a terrible curse—devouring your family and friends and losing your humanity.

"Alright, I’ll visit after I see the professor."

"I don’t dislike your yearning gaze, but I do hate seeing you suffer."

Isabel said with a teasing tone and walked off ahead.

After seeing her off, I headed straight for the professor’s office.

I had to report to Vega that we had returned, to formally close this mission.

Having traveled through many cities, I quickened my pace, eager to rest.

But then, I heard an unexpected conversation.

"Professor Arcadium is such a great teacher."

"I guess being the Royal Court Archmage really does make a difference."

Royal Court Archmage—Arcadium.

The moment I heard that name, I turned my head.

There stood some first-years wearing yellow name tags.

Why were they suddenly mentioning the Archmage of the Royal Court?

I had a bad feeling.

Not long ago, the Blue Tower Master warned me about the Archmage.

That he was acting suspiciously.

He had also recently gained access to a new type of ancient dragon magic, making him the most likely suspect.

I had even asked Duke of Whitewood to investigate him.

And now his name was being mentioned here?

"Hey kids, could you tell me more about that?"

I quickly stopped the first-year students.

They looked startled by my call, but kindly responded.

My face was famous enough now that they immediately recognized me.

Thanks to them, I learned something unexpected.

Arcadium, the Royal Court Archmage, had come to Zerion Academy as a first-year magic studies professor.

The previous professor had resigned due to urgent family matters, and Arcadium had been invited as a replacement.

In the original timeline, this never happened.

In the original history, Arcadium was barely mentioned at all.

And now he was a first-year professor?

My mind raced.

‘Why?’

What was he trying to accomplish by becoming a professor at Zerion Academy?

My steps quickened.

Before I knew it, I had reached the hallway where the professors’ offices were.

I moved to see Arcadium with my own eyes.

At that moment—

"Miss Xenia truly has talent. I find myself envious."

"Thank you for your kind words, Professor."

Two voices reached my ears.

Looking ahead, I saw Xenia walking alongside a man.

Dark clothing adorned with metallic accessories, short and messy purple hair.

White metal glasses and a short beard.

A man of common birth who had risen to the title of Royal Court Archmage at a young age—and still held the position.

Arcadium.

He was walking with Xenia.

I froze for a moment.

I believed Arcadium was using magc of the ancient dragon.

If he had conversed with a dragon, he would have remnants of one.

He must have been influenced by the draconic essence.

Yet, I felt nothing from him.

According to Midra, those with draconic essence feel an intense hunger toward one another.

But I felt no such hunger looking at Arcadium.

I had spent time with Isabel, resisting the constant hunger.

So I knew what that hunger felt like.

‘Was I mistaken?’

Maybe what the Blue Tower Master said referred to something else.

"Oh, Senior Hannon!"

Then, Xenia spotted me and beamed brightly.

"Xenia, how have you been?"

"I’ve been studying really hard. You’ll be impressed, Senior."

She smiled as if greeting her older brother after a long time.

Then, realizing she was standing next to Arcadium, she cleared her throat and tried to act more reserved.

"I’m glad to see you’re safe."

I smiled fondly at her and then turned my gaze to the side.

Arcadium stared at me briefly through his glasses, then smiled.

"You must be Hannon Irey. I’ve heard that Lord Emperadion is very fond of you."

Arcadium had the appearance of a genuinely kind man.

It was hard to believe someone like him held the political role of Royal Court Archmage.

But appearances can’t be trusted.

As I remained cautious inside, Arcadium turned and walked away.

“Well then, I have something to attend to, so I’ll be going now.”

It was still early in the semester for the first-years—

a time when professors were at their busiest.

As he said his farewells and walked away, Xenia turned to me.

She glanced around quickly and parted her lips to speak.

“Um, well…”

“You can call me oppa.”

Xenia’s face brightened.

“Oppa, are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine, except for having a ravenous appetite.”

For now, at least.

“My magic is almost at the right stage. Senior Nikita is helping me, so I’m not falling behind. But I still need a bit more time.”

Xenia spoke with a hint of regret on her face.

It looked like she’d been researching day and night, and I could only be grateful for her dedication.

“If it’s at that level, that’s more than enough. Thank you.”

“Oppa saved my life, after all. It’s only natural I do this.”

There was a deep sense of responsibility in Xenia’s eyes.

I could entrust this to her.

“Xenia, when did Professor Arcadium arrive?”

It was an important question.

Xenia tilted her head and explained.

Arcadium had arrived just a few days after we had left.

With his sincere demeanor and upright personality, he quickly became friendly with the students and was well-regarded even among the teaching assistants.

“Even students who weren’t interested in becoming court mages started changing their minds after meeting him. Some people are even saying that Professor Arcadium came to fill in as a court mage.”

So that’s how others see it.

Still, I felt an odd sense of unease.

Probably because of what the Blue Tower Master had told me.

‘Judging from Xenia’s reaction, it doesn’t look like he’s done anything suspicious yet.’

But there were still too many uncertainties about Arcadium.

He could very well be innocent.

“Xenia, I don’t know how this might sound to you, but… could you keep an eye on Professor Arcadium for me?”

It never hurts to have a safety net in place.

Xenia blinked.

She looked surprised that I was asking her to monitor a professor.

“Is there something wrong with him?”

“I’m not certain yet, but the Blue Tower Master told me something. I know this might not be pleasant for you.”

“No, since it’s your request, oppa… I’ll look into it as best I can.”

“Just be careful, okay?”

Xenia is a perfectionist.

She’d take those words to heart.

To ask more about Arcadium, I entered the faculty office.

When I walked in, a few professors looked up at me and quietly informed me,

“Hannon, Professor Vega has stepped out for a bit.”

How did they know I was here to see Professor Vega?

Ah, right—Hannon had confessed in public.

That crazy stunt made me a bit of a celebrity among the professors.

“Thank you. I have something to report, so I’ll wait for her inside.”

“Go ahead.”

Thankfully, they didn’t turn me away.

If anything, they looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

Did I look like a pathetic student in love?

It was… embarrassing.

Eventually, Vega arrived.

“Hannon, you’re back.”

“Yes.”

“From the look on your face, still no progress?”

She could tell that we hadn’t found Lucas yet.

“Follow me.”

She led me to her private office.

As always, she pulled out a beer can from her drawer and took a swig.

“Phew.”

She looked like she finally felt alive after drinking.

“Something feels off at the Academy.”

I brought up the tense atmosphere, and she nodded.

“Things have been busy on our end too, due to the recent incident at Aquilin Academy. And since you all stopped the Apostle’s Ascension, everyone’s been on edge.”

Vega subtly explained the situation.

It was a bit of a vent on her part.

“One of the first-year professors resigned. Said it was better to suffer at the Magic Tower than here.”

“Was that the first-year magic theory professor?”

“Looks like you’ve already met him. Arcadium, the Court Mage, volunteered to fill in.”

So that’s what happened.

The timing felt strangely coincidental.

“He visited the Academy once before, and it seems he had a talk with the Headmaster at the time. For us, it worked out well.”

The moment I heard that, I slowly lifted my head.

Vega didn’t notice my expression as she finished off her beer.

“Do you happen to know when Professor Arcadium visited the Academy?”

“Hmm?”

Vega slowly stroked her chin.

“I believe it was a month or two ago. Not long after you left for the Blue Tower.”

She had known I was heading to the Tower.

And hearing that, my face froze.

What if—

I didn’t have solid proof yet, but the timing felt far too suspicious.

When did Lucas’s body go missing again?

It was around the time I returned from the Blue Tower.

And at that time, Arcadium had reportedly been at the Academy.

Moreover, Zerion Academy is near the Dragon Ridge Mountains.

It’s possible he stopped by the mountains and then deliberately visited the Academy to create an alibi.

It was all still conjecture—

But there was enough cause for suspicion.

More than anything, the fact that Sharin’s mother had been resurrected gnawed at me.

It felt like someone was trying to test the waters—

And who would want to test the waters?

‘The Blue Tower Master.’

Arcadium dislikes the Blue Tower Master.

I still don’t know exactly why, but the fact that he visited the Tower bothers me.

“From the look on your face, something’s up again.”

Vega had caught on to my change in expression.

“Don’t go too far.”

And she offered me a subtle warning.

“Though knowing you, that probably doesn’t mean much.”

She knows me far too well.

“If it gets too risky, I’ll share the burden with you. So let me know if you need help.”

“What if I’m planning something bad?”

“Yeah, right.”

Maybe I’ve been too much of a model student until now.

Might be time to show her my rebellious side.

“I’ll ask when I’m more certain.”

Thanking Professor Vega, I got up to leave.

Sharin’s mother, Lucas, the vampire incidents across cities, and even the ancient dragon…

I need to find out if Arcadium is truly one of Celestial Grace’s followers.