“Liakade, didn’t you think there might be clues about Darkness in the Underground Chamber?”
While everyone was at a loss, Field, deep in thought, suddenly spoke.
She remembered that at the beginning, it was Liakade who suggested they explore the Underground Chamber together.
When Liakade and the others first reached the basement level, Darkness appeared before them disguised as the Grade Director.
Looking back now, it seemed Darkness wanted to stop them from entering the chamber.
She hadn’t expected to be caught directly by Alice and Liakade, forcing a desperate confrontation.
This proved that the Underground Chamber definitely hid secrets about Darkness unknown to others.
Now that they’d dealt with Darkness, the threat preventing them from entering the chamber was gone.
Though the group still didn’t fully understand Darkness’s motives or information, Field believed that as long as they could investigate the chamber, all the mysteries surrounding Darkness would be solved.
“The chamber… The Director always said there were forbidden things inside, so it had to be sealed.”
Fianna recalled what the Grade Director had said earlier.
He had indeed placed an Enchantment on the chamber and guarded it strictly, claiming it contained forbidden objects and forbidding any teachers or students from approaching.
“If she never let anyone near, doesn’t that mean she was hiding something? Teacher, think about it. Even if we don’t know when she became the Grade Director, if such a chamber existed, she would definitely use it as her base.”
Field continued analyzing the logic to Fianna.
Beside her, Liakade was already convinced Darkness had hidden something in the chamber.
Because in the original work, the protagonist had awakened her Bloodline in that chamber.
Either she encountered life-threatening danger inside, or another high-ranking Demon Race triggered her bloodline.
“…Alright, Your Highness Field.”
Faced with Field’s reasoning, Fianna finally decided to allow Liakade and the others to explore the Underground Chamber.
At the same time, she planned to go with them—she also wanted to know where the real Grade Director had gone and whether he was still alive in this world.
How could such a living, kind old man be replaced by another person without anyone noticing?
“Then let’s go together and investigate.”
Having decided on their next move, Liakade and the others left the Back Mountain and returned to the Academy.
However, just as they reached the foot of the mountain, Liakade suddenly shivered.
At this point, she realized they had overlooked something extremely important.
“W-wait!”
Liakade, panicked, stretched out her hand from a few meters behind, calling out to the three walking ahead.
Her small face showed inexplicable anxiety.
“Um…I think…actually, Darkness probably didn’t leave any clues in the chamber, right?”
“Eh?”
Field and Alice turned at Liakade’s sudden words, both looking at her in confusion.
“But didn’t you say earlier that Darkness might be hiding in the chamber?”
Alice asked doubtfully.
“Yeah, and she even tried to stop us, which made it more likely.”
Field continued to insist on her earlier analysis.
“Hiss…”
Liakade couldn’t help but take a sharp breath.
All the signs did point to something suspicious in the chamber, but they couldn’t just go over there now.
Because in the Plaza, the two wings that had been cut off earlier still lay in front of the Teaching Building.
If they went together now, Fianna would definitely see the remains.
Shadow Demons didn’t have wings, and if there were broken wings in the Plaza, it would mean there were other Demon Race members in the Academy.
Moreover, a piece of Liakade’s jade finger had been sliced off earlier.
If someone found flesh fragments belonging to Liakade, they would realize they came from her.
Alice’s current abilities couldn’t restore missing flesh—only heal ordinary wounds.
But now, Liakade’s jade hand was perfectly intact.
Fianna would definitely notice this and deduce that Liakade was the other Demon Race member.
She wouldn’t hold back out of affection for Field like Sistem did—if she discovered Liakade, she would do everything to capture her.
“Ahem…”
Liakade coughed awkwardly, made a few hand gestures, and subtly pinched her jade finger.
She glanced behind her, hoping to use these hints to signal Field and Alice.
“Hm? Liakade, what are you looking at?”
Field obviously didn’t get it, staring in confusion at Liakade’s one-person performance.
“Ah! Darkness really might not be in the chamber!”
But on the other side, Alice understood Liakade’s meaning.
She scratched her small face and quickly changed her tune in an excited voice.
“W-what?”
Field was startled again when Alice changed her stance.
“What are you all discussing? Is that Shadow Demon in the chamber or not?”
Fianna frowned at their disagreement.
“Uh…Let Liakade explain.”
Alice stammered and glanced at Liakade.
She only understood that Liakade meant not to pass through the Plaza, but couldn’t think of a reason herself.
She looked at Liakade awkwardly, waiting for a reasonable explanation.
“Actually…actually, the Darkness-tamed monster was found in the Back Mountain, Teacher Fianna. Let’s split up. You and I can check the Back Mountain, and let Alice and Field investigate the chamber. It’ll be more efficient that way.”
Liakade’s crimson eyes spun in her sockets as she finally came up with a somewhat reasonable explanation, also proposing they split up.
She and Teacher Fianna would go to the Back Mountain first, stalling for time, while Alice explained everything to Field.
Meanwhile, using the Light Element to clean the Plaza of magical traces and remains, they’d regroup later to investigate the chamber without being discovered.
“That won’t do.”
Fianna frowned in disapproval.
“There’s more than one Underground Chamber. Some store student records and various items. If you’re going down, I must go with you.”
“Besides, splitting up isn’t necessarily safer. Even though we killed the Shadow Demon, what if there are more traps or tamed monsters left behind?”
“You should all act with the teacher. Let me protect you.”
Fianna’s analysis made perfect sense, but it left Liakade troubled.
“Uh…”
Liakade tried to think of another excuse.
Just then, another familiar female voice called out.
“No need to go to the Back Mountain. Just head straight to the chamber.”
Everyone turned toward the voice.
It was Sistem.
She slowly walked over from the Plaza.
Her fair face looked even paler than usual, clearly a sign of excessive magic use.
“Big sis! You’re back!”
Field’s voice was a bit emotional.
Seeing Sistem safe, though a bit drained, made Field feel a trace of admiration for her strength.
“Mm-hmm, told you—trust your sister a little.”
Sistem shrugged helplessly, then winked at Liakade as if hinting at something.
“Whew—”
Seeing Sistem’s gaze, Liakade let out a long breath.
It seemed Sistem had already cleaned up the magical traces in the Plaza.
“Good, then let’s head straight to the chamber!”