Chapter 56: Evan’s Death
Evan Lafard was dead.
The death of someone who seemed invincible.
It struck the Academy like a thunderbolt.
The Executor training often saw casualties during its course.
This wasn’t the first time a cadet had died.
But this was different—a noble death, sacrificing oneself for others, was unprecedented.
Thus, when they returned from the Hellscape to the Academy, everyone wore a somber expression.
“Sob…”
“…….”
Only Jack wept openly.
The rest felt they had no right to cry and suppressed their tears.
The Dean, meeting them and learning of the situation, silently embraced each one.
For a week, the Academy held a period of mourning.
But with no direct kin left in the Lafard Family, no one came to pay respects.
Only a letter, sent with a heavy heart by Duke Theron amidst war, arrived.
The melancholic atmosphere lingered, yet no one dared speak.
Except for some of the noble faction who had clashed with Evan in life.
Take Dale and Branco, for instance.
After being thoroughly humbled by the changed Evan and Jack, they’d lived quietly.
“The mood’s grim. All this over that Evan guy’s death…”
“Tell me about it.”
They whispered as they passed Evan’s memorial space.
Elliott, overhearing, approached them.
“Hey, you bastards—”
But Jaina stepped forward first, her expression cold.
“…….”
Her hollow eyes, devoid of emotion, terrified them into apologizing unprompted.
“S-Sorry.”
“We just…”
Jaina spoke a single sentence.
“If Evan’s name comes out of your mouths again, you and your families will be erased from the kingdom. So shut up and live quietly.”
“Got it…”
“Sorry…”
Thanks to Jaina and the cadets who trained with Evan, his name became untouchable, even to his adversaries.
After a week of silence, the Academy returned to normal.
For most cadets, it was merely a tragic event, so perhaps this was natural.
But what about the prospective Executor cadets?
After the Hellscape incident, the Executor training was temporarily suspended.
Yet, at the request of some, it resumed—because the cadets united and approached the Dean.
“Hmm, you want to restart the training?”
“Yes.”
Jaina stepped forward as their representative.
“Evan’s sacrifice saved us all. If we remain idle, he’d surely curse us out.”
“Is this solely because of Evan?”
“Yes. We want to honor his life by living ours to the fullest.”
Everyone nodded.
The Dean gave a bittersweet smile at their resolute determination.
“I planned to discuss this when the Head Instructor returned, but seeing your resolve… Fine. We’ll resume training soon.”
The nine cadets saved by Evan’s sacrifice.
They would become the only cohort in Executor history to graduate without a single dropout.
But that’s a story for much later.
***
The capital of the Lisen Kingdom, Kaien.
The Kor Palace.
―Clank clank.
Everhart, arriving from the Academy, strode through the palace.
Knights and vassals eyed him warily.
“Everhart…”
“That Hellscape…”
Murmurs reached his ears, but he ignored them.
His purpose was to confront someone.
He reached the palace gardens.
Spotting a noble leisurely strolling among the flowerbeds, Everhart approached briskly.
“Advisor!”
Grabbing the man’s shoulder, he forcibly turned him around.
Gardeners nearby froze, stopping their work to watch.
“What’s this commotion in His Majesty’s palace? Lower your voice. My ears still work.”
The elderly, white-haired man brushed off Everhart’s hand and adjusted his attire.
With a gesture, he dismissed the gardeners.
“Our Head Instructor is quite agitated. To threaten one of His Majesty’s advisors.”
“I’m capable of more! So you’d better answer my questions. Why didn’t you tell us about the secrets of the Hellscape!”
“I heard the news. But I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Lanton!”
Everhart frowned at the advisor’s inscrutable expression.
“Why didn’t you mention the vampire! Or that dangerous magic on the island! Because of that, a cadet who didn’t have to die is dead!”
He looked ready to knock the advisor down.
“Calm yourself. The former is true, but I knew nothing of the latter.”
“You knew about the vampire? Then why ignore it?”
“I had no choice. That fact was erased from records.”
“…Who would dare do such a thing?”
Even traitors or heinous criminals had their deeds recorded.
To ensure their shameful history reached future generations.
The kingdom’s ethos ensured “record erasure” wasn’t in their vocabulary.
At least, not until Advisor Lanton spoke.
“The fifth king, Eivan Kaien, did it.”
“What…”
“What I’m about to say is top secret. It must never leave this place. Only the archivists preserving the palace’s history know this.”
Lanton clapped, and a hemispherical barrier enveloped them.
“So watch your tongue. The vampire’s existence is a stain on the kingdom.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you studied history, you’d know. The invasion by Bakan, the northern barbarian king, nearly destroyed the kingdom.”
“I know. The only time the kingdom almost fell to barbarians.”
The humiliating event where half the kingdom, including the capital, was overrun.
Everhart couldn’t fathom how this tied to the vampire on the Hellscape.
“The kingdom’s militia rose against Bakan’s forces, right?”
“Yes, the valiant heroes who saved the nation.”
“Think about it. A barbarian army even the regular forces struggled against—defeated by a militia? Doesn’t that seem off?”
The heroic militia that triumphed over Bakan’s barbarians.
A legendary feat no one dared question.
Doubting their deeds would’ve earned a stoning.
“No way…”
“Exactly. The militia story isn’t entirely false, but something’s missing. Another entity fought Bakan—a vampire called the Red Count.”
“A monster saved the kingdom? That’s blasphemous enough for execution…”
“It’s true, so no issue there. But the truth itself was problematic back then. After the war, King Eivan ensured it wouldn’t reach future generations.”
“So they sealed the vampire on Benner Island?”
Lanton nodded.
“The Executors of that era combined forces to kill him temporarily. Ernst sealed him and brought the Hydra and monsters as guardians. They spread rumors of the Hellscape to keep outsiders away.”
Finally hearing the truth, Everhart’s loyalty to the kingdom wavered.
A monster saved the kingdom, only to be betrayed.
“What about the black curtain?”
“That, I don’t know. Likely something Ernst devised… Perhaps to prevent an enraged vampire or Hydra from rampaging.”
“To think we trained there, oblivious…”
Everhart berated himself for his ignorance.
“I’m sorry. This concerns the kingdom’s honor. I couldn’t speak freely.”
“We lost a talent more important than that honor.”
“The Lafard heir? Was he that remarkable?”
Everhart answered without hesitation.
“Yes.”
“Then it’s truly regrettable.”
Knowing Everhart wasn’t prone to exaggeration, Lanton was genuinely curious.
But with no chance to meet the boy, he felt only regret.
Meanwhile, another advisor was meeting the princess.
His name was Great Mage Jorzan, head of the archivists and Princess Anna’s mentor.
He was speaking with Princess Anna Kaien in the reception room.
“So, did you investigate what I asked?”
Today, they met not as mentor and student but as princess and advisor.
She used her status to seek answers.
Evan’s death shocked her, and the events on the Hellscape raised questions.
“Based on testimonies and my disciples’ field research, the magic is indeed called Blackfield. It’s a top-tier spell beyond my ability to cast.”
Top-tier spells, 9th circle or higher, were known to cause massive damage or influence.
“Why was such a spell on Benner Island?”
“This is a failure on the part of us mages. We were unaware of such a dangerous spell on kingdom soil. I’ll accept any punishment.”
Jorzan bowed.
But Anna hadn’t summoned him to assign blame.
“I didn’t call you to punish. I want answers. Blackfield—you can’t cast it, but you know how it’s implemented, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Tell me.”
“Is this about the Lafard heir who died on the island?”
“Don’t say he’s dead. We don’t know that yet.”
Anna’s expression turned sorrowful.
“Maybe he’s alive…”
“He’s likely dead. Regrettably.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Blackfield is akin to an annihilation spell. It erases its target without a trace.”
Anna knew what annihilation meant.
Yet, her lingering hope drove her to seek answers from her mentor.
“But I heard annihilation spells have recoil, especially large-scale ones. Even Ernst, a legendary mage, would’ve left flaws in such a massive spell.”
“You’re correct. That’s why I said it’s akin to an annihilation spell. And…”
Jorzan paused before continuing.
“A typical Blackfield would have clear results, but Ernst likely modified it. Analysis of the spell’s remnants showed traits similar to large-scale teleportation magic.”
Anna’s eyes wavered.
“Doesn’t that mean it’s more likely he wasn’t annihilated?”
“Yes. I’d venture it was used as a mass spatial teleportation spell to banish somewhere.”
A glimmer of hope emerged.
If Evan wasn’t annihilated but teleported, he could be alive.
“Then why say he’s dead? If we investigate where he went…”
“I’ve already completed that investigation.”
Anna felt uneasy as Jorzan cut her off, claiming the investigation was done.
If Evan might be alive, why did Jorzan look at her with such sad eyes?
“No unusual activity was found in any kingdom or nation. An island of that size appearing would’ve caused a stir.”
Contrary to her hopes, Jorzan offered only despairing news.
“Teleportation magic usually leaves mana traces to track destinations. But my disciples found no spatial connection beyond the spell’s direction.”
Anna’s spirits sank.
“So it vanished into thin air or sank into the earth?”
Seeing her, Jorzan hesitated before speaking.
“Perhaps it went to another dimension. A 9th-circle spell could do that. But we can’t know which dimension. That’s why I’m certain he’s dead. You should let go, Princess.”
But Anna didn’t give up.
Not until she saw his death with her own eyes.