"Fuck!" I exclaimed, my voice echoing in the empty hotel room.
I couldn't bear to lie in bed anymore.
Continuously staring at the ceiling seemed to have tired out my eyes, but sleep had still managed to elude me all night long.
That crazy old elven woman's words kept replaying in my head like a broken record.
Her predictions about my death were haunting me, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had consumed me.
I should have known better than to believe in such nonsense, but I couldn't shake off the unease I felt.
Was she insane, or was there some truth to her words?
I tried to dismiss it as the ramblings of an old woman, but my racing heart and shallow breaths told me otherwise.
What am I supposed to make of her fortune-telling anyway? Will I die that many deaths? Impossible. I just have one life– okay, maybe two. But that's it.
So she really was insane, huh? Or maybe it was a business stunt? Maybe scaring the customers gets them to go back to her.
I don't know.
And it's not only just her. That Vampire King, Reina, also mentioned something about the prophecy.
Although I'm fairly certain she got the wrong guy. Nothing that she said was mentioned in the novel.
Now I know I can't trust the novel's information after discovering so many variables in this world, but I can at least use it as a reference.
For example, Lucas' character was that of a minor villain in the story. Unlike what Reina said, he wasn't supposed to be some destined hero or something like that.
He wasn't fated to save the world. He wasn't even there to participate in the final war! He was behind the bars when the war started!
"Fuuu," I took a deep breath to calm myself down before getting up from my bed. "Damn it."
I don't have time for all this right now.
So much stuff is going to start happening soon, and I'll have to be ready for it all, starting with the bloodbath that'll happen today.
Yeah, I should think about all of this after getting back to the academy. Right now, I'll focus on the massacre.
One step at a time.
With that, I walked into the bathroom, splashed some cold water on my face, and got out.
Sitting on the sofa, I took out the mythical beast egg from my backpack and put it on the center table.
Yeah, I am storing it in my backpack, not the dimensional storage of my smart bracelet.
Why?
Well, because last night after coming back from that little night market excursion, I took out the egg and poured my mana in it again.
After a long session, I tried to store it in my smart bracelet's pocket space, but I couldn't. The runes on the device just won't glow.
The same thing happened when I tried to put it in the dimensional ring's pocket space. It just wouldn't go in.
Then it clicked.
In this world, every living being has a mana core.
Actually, it's the opposite. They are classified as living beings when they develop a mana core.
But while some people are born with the potential to defy the heavens, some don't even have the potential to use that mana core to use mana.
Those who have the potential below [Iron 1] – the lowest mana core potential – are called duds.
Their mana cores aren't strong enough to even store and use mana.
Anyhow, these pocket space storage devices that are given to us can't store a living organism – i.e., anyone with a mana core.
It's bluntly obvious where I am getting with this, isn't it?
The mythical beast in this egg had formed a mana core already. In just a matter of a few days, or maybe weeks at most, the egg will hatch.
And once that happens, my average potential ranking will increase from Gold to the Mythical stage, the highest attainable potential in this world.
Ahh, I can't wait for that to happen. At least I would be able to solve one of my problems then.
But for that to happen, I would need to pour all of my mana into this egg daily.
So that's what I did.
After sitting down and circulating the mana from my mana core throughout my whole body, I channeled it into the egg.
†
"Haaa! Haaa!"
After around forty minutes, I was done. My mana core was on the verge of being empty, so I decided to call it quits for now.
I should get ready and head down for brunch later.
There isn't anything in particular planned in today's schedule.
The cadets are supposed to spend the day however they want and then arrive at the banquet hall down the 3rd street by 5:00 PM sharp.
A masquerade party will be held there, and many influential people, along with their successors, will be present.
In truth, the party was really only necessary for Drake and Emma, as they had some military matters to discuss with certain attendees.
The rest of us had to be there because it was their job to look after us and we were supposed to return home after the party.
Originally, this trip was meant only for them.
However, when Nero requested the trip to this location as a reward for his class, Yelena tasked Drake and Emma with supervising the class of first-year cadets.
It made more sense to entrust this responsibility to individuals who were already planning to be in the city during the trip rather than appointing someone new to oversee the first years.
Drake and Emma were clearly displeased with being stuck with babysitting duties, but they had no option but to comply with the orders of the Queen.
"Haaa," sighing again, I got up from the sofa and began to freshen up. Today will be tiring.
So many people will die, and so much blood will be shed. I wish I could've done something for them.
However, since I was busy getting my hands on this mythical beast egg, I didn't have enough time to devise a plan to avoid this situation.
I wonder, the blood of the people who'll die today… is it on my hands?
I was the one who asked Nero to come to this city in the first place despite knowing what would happen.
So, am I to blame for what will happen?
Haaa. I don't know. What I do know is I can't stop now. The main story is already set in motion, and it will be much more gruesome.
I will have to get through today.
†
Amidst a crowded cafe with its sleek silver interior, two individuals – a man and a woman – sat perched upon a modest coffee table.
As they sat, a palpable tension hung in the air around them. For these two weren't mortals but powerful creatures of the night, their true identities hidden behind a facade of human disguise.
Yes, these two individuals were vampires.
"This coffee is great," the male vampire, with jet black hair, bright red eyes, and a sharp jawline, said. "How come elves, who are said to be the oldest intelligent race of the universe, didn't discover coffee before humans?"
"I don't know how you drink this stuff," the female vampire, with flowing blonde hair, light red eyes, and an alluring figure, replied. "It's so bitter. I'd rather drink blood… orange cocktail."
"Haha!" the black-haired man chuckled. "How long has it been since you haven't had a 'drink,' Mercy?"
"Since I was posted here," the blonde woman replied. "I had some reserves, but right now, I'm ready to kill for a fresh drink, Magnus."
"Yeah," Magnus flashed a sympathetic smile before speaking in a whispering tone. "If it makes you feel better, the information you are providing us is very important. You are, by far, the best spy."
Yes, this blonde vampire was sent across the border to act as a spy. She was tasked with breaching any important information regarding the Central Government and the United Military.
"Of course, I am," Mercy flicked her back her hair. "Anyway, I don't think you called me here to flatter me, did you?"
"Haha!" Magnus let out a chuckle again. "Indeed, you are right. But you must have already guessed why I called you here, right?"
Mercy sighed, knowing where this conversation was headed. "Is this about Reina? Have they sent you to kill her?"
"I'm the best assassin," Magnus boasted, his voice always inaudible as Mercy read his lips to understand him. "For who else do you think the higher-ups would dispatch me in the enemy's territory?"
"True," Mercy acknowledged.
Magnus was indeed one of their best assassins, not 'the' best as he likes to boast.
Still, he's too valuable for Vampire forces to dispatch him in the heart of enemy territory if not to kill someone of Reina's caliber.
"Let me guess," Mercy leaned back on her chair. "You need me to find out Reina's location."
"Yes," Magnus nodded. "Can you help me?"
"Well, you did save my life during the Battle Of Khalos," Mercy touched her chin, her eyes closed as several thoughts raced in her mind. "Fine, I know someone who can help. But we'll have to attend a ballroom."
