<h4>Chapter 9: Escape</h4>


    <strong>CW: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Gore </strong>


    <strong> —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</strong>


    Pdin dashed to his room and began packing his belongings. He decisively took a glove from the cab and wore it on his right hand to hide the dim golden light emitted by his hand. After packing some dry food, he packed the short knife.


    His footsteps came to a halt just when he was about to open the door. A small silver-ted cross ne that was casually ced on the table caught his attention. This cross was Pdin''s most valuable possession. The only thing that had apanied him since he was abandoned at the door of the Freemasons’ Association. It was also the reason why the most humiliating name was bestowed upon him by the organization. It was more fitting to say that it was the only token from his parents, who never bothered to hide their faces.


    Pdin expressionlessly picked up the cross and put it in his bag. He opened the Ripley Scroll. He was resolved to perfectly memorize the magic circle. After memorizing it, a fire was lit and the scroll was burned. If an alchemist saw this scene, they would definitely bite off the Pdin''s flesh. After all, the Ripley Scroll was the highest masterpiece of alchemy, a legendary and fantastic scroll. Even if it was no longer needed, no one would have the heart to set it on fire.


    However, Pdin only nced silently at its ashes before turning around and leaving. In his opinion, the role of this legendary scroll was to bestow great power onto people. As for Pdin, he naturally didn''t want the scroll to get snatched someday in the future. Other people shoulde out and snatch the Philosopher''s Stone directly from him in order to gain its power.


    "Power, It’s enough for me alone to have it…." Pdin muttered. He quietly left afterpletely destroying the magic circle he had previously carved on the ground beyond recognition.


    On the way, Pdin deftly avoided the guards who were patrolling back and forth. When he passed the dormitory area and reached the side gate, two figures emerged from the dormitory area while clinging to each other.


    "Onix~ Where did everyone go? Why is there no one?"


    When Pdin heard her voice, an evil smile bloomed on his face. He quickly hid behind the wall and removed the glove. His fingers became five thunderbolt-like light des once again. The two were sticking close to each other, with disheveled clothes that were the same as yesterday afternoon. The identity of the two were Onix, the student who teased Pdin, and his charming lover!


    The smile on Pdin''s face widened. He was worried about how he could escape now that the castle was full of guards. Just in time, these two idiots fell right into hisp. It was much easier to trick the guards into opening the side gate if he put on a student uniform.


    At this moment, Onix and his girlfriend had already exited the corridor. Onix was about to say something to her when he noticed Pdin, the pitiful ve, squatting in the corner. Heughed sarcastically.


    "You idiot, here–" Before he could finish his words, Pdin gave a sinister smile and ran towards him. His right hand, which had transformed into des of light, stabbed the woman in front of Onix, who was about to sneer. There was a loud bang—possibly because the attack was fueled by Pdin’s hatred—and there was a gaping hole in the woman’s entire left chest. Blood and internal organs immediately sttered all over the floor.


    "Eh..." Onix saw this and was stunned for a while before he showed some reaction. But, how could Pdin wait for him to regain his senses? Pdin turned to face him, leapt forward, and tackled Onix in one swift motion. The light des in his hand dissipated to cover Onix’s mouth and nose. His other hand grabbed Onix''s throat tightly.


    "Wwmmghh!" Onix let out a series of terrified whimpers, iling his hands weakly and frantically. Since he didn''t have any fighting experience, his movements were predictable and too weak. Pdin sat on top of Onix''s body, happy and refreshed after rubbing his victory on Onix’s face. Pdin gradually increased the strength of his grip.


    Looking at Onix''s terrified bloodshot eyes that flicked from side to side, Pdin''s eerie smile gradually faded as heughed out loud.


    "You’re lucky to die this way. Don''t dirty my clothes. Hahahaha!"


    Crunch. Pdin strengthened his grip more, directly crushing Onix’s throat. Then he stripped the corpse of its clothes and wore the student uniform. He looked like a regr student after changing his clothes.


    Pdin picked up his bag. Not far away, four or five guards stood guard at the side gate. He then moved his feet quickly out of the corridor, leaving the two corpses there. Lying on the ground miserably as their bodies gradually went ice cold….


    "Which department do you belong to? Don’t you know that the dean had just ordered all of the students to gather in the hall?" said one of the five guards guarding the side gate when he saw Pdin walking silently towards them with his head down. Although they couldn’t see his face, the student uniform still made the guards more or less rx their vignce. After asking politely, the guard stood up and waved his chain-sickle.


    "Ah…. Is this the side gate? Oh, yeah…. I went to the wrong location." Pdin said with trepidation. While slowly advancing towards the guards, he secretly stretched his right hand behind his back, ready to take off the glove. Pdin, who still hung his head low, showed a nervous look on his face as if this was his first time being lost. At that moment, a voice suddenly came from behind Pdin.


    "A student? Why is a student still loitering here?! Didn''t I order all of you to gather in the hall?!" Pdin''s eyes instantly widened and his body trembled uncontrobly. He then lifted his head. With a silly smile stered on his face, he turned to look at the person behind him.


    A frail young man. This was the man’s first impression in Pdin''s eyes. But then, Pdin suddenly realized that, despite his skinny stature, the man''s firm eyes made Pdin afraid to look at him directly. The long coral-blue hair hanging over his shoulders and his silver-white pupils cemented the fact that Pdin had never seen this person before in the more than 20 years he had worked here.


    Although Pdin''s status was humble, he had taken care of the entire castle’s inhabitants’ sundries. That was why he had even met the dean, Ryan, several times before. This man’s appearance was so distinct that it was impossible not to leave the slightest impression! Furthermore, he hadn''t heard of a new mentoring to the branch, so the identity of this person was worth pondering over.


    Moreover, what made Pdin raise his guard the most was the presence of 1,200 blue orbs—which were water magic elements—jumping up and down jubntly around this tutor! Pdin had obviously never seen an alchemist with such powerful magical power, as the magic elements surrounding the man floated around like a stream of water.


    The man with magical power formed by two thousand magic elements had to be a famous alchemist. Considering that Pdin himself had only the power of fifty magic elements, and was already easily overpowering ordinary people. This only made Pdin be more alert.


    Keeping that in mind, Pdin pretended to be stupid, and dazedly inquired, "Excuse me, teacher, why haven''t I ever seen you in the school?"


    Even though it was subtle, Pdin noticed a slight agitation in the eyes of the frail tutor in front of him.


    ‘This person is really not a tutor here! He is an outsider who has snuck in!’


    The skinny man frowned, pinched Pdin''s ear as if they were close, and reprimanded him angrily, “Kid, I''m a botanical tutor! I asked you because your back is familiar to me. Why are you running around by yourself again?! Come back with me! The dean is already very angry!"


    Pdin was taken aback. He couldn''t help butugh inwardly when he saw the guard''s puzzled expression.


    ‘You brought this to yourself, outsider. Don''t me me.’


    So, Pdin innocently tilted his head and sucked his thumb. He then asked, "Who are you? I don''t know you."


    As soon as he said that, the guards noticed that something was wrong. They’d never seen this mentor before! Coupled with the student''s questions, their vignce had been increased to the extreme! The leading guard pressed forward, waving his chain-sickle. He scowled and yelled, "Please, Sir, do not move. Show us your armband and ID. Otherwise...."


    The man who called himself Nasura shook his head helplessly. He took out his identification and armband from his bag. Nonchntly, he said, "Why are you guards so nervous? I’m a newly transferred tutor from the headquarters. Take a look at this if you don''t believe me."


    The guard hadn''t noticed the contradiction in the man''s words in that short frame of time. If he was a newly transferred tutor, how could he recognize a student from here? The guard subconsciously walked forward and gradually lowered his chain-sickle.