[At that moment, in a towering magic tower somewhere on the continent.]
At the top floor of a magic tower that pierced the sky, a blond woman lay on a bed, staring at the ceiling.
“…I see. So, it’s come to this.”
The woman muttered briefly, wearing only a thin shirt, her gaze fixed toward the ceiling.
“Living beings truly can’t be trusted.”
She extended her hand to the side.
There, a skeletal dog wagged its tail—
Clatter.
Correction: it wagged its tailbone while performing a playful gesture.
It mimicked the behavior it had exhibited during its living days.
“Cerbel, why do you think they betrayed us?”
The woman gestured toward the ceiling, where the scene of a resort was displayed.
In the resort, numerous women wielded magical rifles, launching a barrage of fire in a single direction.
Their target: a massive magical beast, while the curvaceous women stood behind them.
“It’s because they still hold onto hope. The hope that pregnancy might make their chests bigger or something.”
At the woman’s blunt words, the skeletal dog paused mid-wag.
“Even if they raise a child, in the end, their chest returns to normal. No, perhaps even worse than before. All that remains is a body more ruined than before.”
Whoosh.
When the woman waved her hand, the skeletal dog instantly turned into bone dust and vanished.
The dust flowed down beside the bed and dissipated, as the woman slowly sat up.
“That’s why those who are still fertile are useless. Their bodies become ones that think only about bearing children every month, leading to such delusions.”
The blonde woman brushed her hand across her abdomen.
“If they could seal themselves off like me forever… or completely close that door, they wouldn’t suffer the monthly pain or entertain futile hopes. Heh.”
Between the slightly parted edges of her shirt, a pink symbol was etched on her abdomen.
It resembled a heart shape, though with wings extending outward from either side.
“And when they die, they’ll realize. That once dead, all those meaningless flesh parts rot away, leaving nothing but bones.”
As the woman reached back and snapped her fingers, the dust scattered across the room began to form shapes.
“Should I step forward, after all?”
Dozens of skeletal figures emerged, their entire bodies composed of bones.
Their identities were unclear, but anyone from Esdinas Academy who saw the inscriptions on their skulls would be left speechless in horror.
Infamous criminals.
What stood out most was that every one of them was female.
Some had killed dozens of people, others had sacrificed virgins in rituals, and there were even women who had murdered children.
Most of their skeletal remains bore signs of damage, but those sections had been replaced with magic stones.
“…No, it’s too bothersome.”
The woman lay back on the bed.
“All I need to do is act when the Apocalypse approaches. After the children die, I’ll clean up the mess.”
She sighed deeply, closing her eyes once more.
“I can collect it all after they die. Let them suffer in their futile hopes while they’re alive.”
The woman was resolute.
“And no, their chests won’t grow bigger because of it.”
A conviction forged over 500 years.
“That’s just how the world works.”
A truth proven by the enduring history of humanity, spanning over 500 years or more.
The leader of Vinyudan, known to the world as “Vinyu”.
Vinyuel.
She was a witch.
* * *
The organization opposing Vinyudan, the Blue Flame Squad.
Once members of Vinyudan, they abandoned it to pursue new, reformed lives. Now, they are a combat organization dedicated to protecting humanity from threats.
Normally, they live their own lives within the Marquisate of Ludvecia, but when needed, they become a specialized raid group for hunting magical beasts.
It all began with their conquest of the S-rank magical beast, [Gerrquan Wiperus].
Many more hunts lay ahead.
But only “when needed”.
‘There’s no need to mobilize all of Blue Flame Squad for this raid.’
Following the declaration of Blue Flame Squad’s founding, former Vinyudan members spent a day in their rooms contemplating their choices.
Just like in a battle royale, where life and money are on the line, they had to decide whether to continue.
Each individual’s choice determined their path, not a majority vote.
Thus, a day passed, and a new morning dawned.
“Does this mean everyone here at the table has decided to stay?”
“That’s right, Phoenix.”
Yurha handed me a list.
“Everyone has signed the contract. From now on, they’re not only employees of this resort but also residents of the Marquisate of Ludvecia.”
“108, huh.”
Through this incident, it was decided that the Marquisate of Ludvecia would accept 108 members of Blue Flame Squad.
“The two rankings written next to the names on the list are…”
“The first is their cup size. The second is their mana rank. The average is AA and F.”
Existences with AA-cup sizes and F-rank mana.
“What’s their average age?”
“Their age? If you take the average, it’s about 22. As for their years of service in Vinyudan, it’s roughly 2.3 years.”
Most of them were ordinary members of Vinyudan.
“For reference, the higher-ups and squad leaders have typically served in Vinyudan for over five years. Some have spent time in prison or detention centers, and their ages are mostly in their late twenties.”
“Are those people not here now?”
“No. They’ve all left.”
When we first raided Gerrquan Wiperus, 130 people enjoyed themselves freely at the resort, borrowing swimsuits and staying in the accommodations.
“What should we do about those who rejected the lifeline Phoenix offered them and returned to the darkness of Vinyudan? Should we put them on a blacklist?”
“Since the Blue Flame Squad plans to wear nun-like attire and lean into a religious image, they probably won’t go that far.”
“Offering complete mercy?”
“There’s no need to beg those who’ve already made up their minds and left to come back clinging to us.”
About 22 people chose to return to Vinyudan instead of joining the Blue Flame Squad.
Some may have pursued the higher ranks in Vinyudan, but most were addicted to the so-called “freedom” of Vinyudan, which was actually just irresponsibility.
Trying to bring such people back to the Blue Flame Squad would be futile.
“They probably think Vinyudan has better prospects than the Blue Flame Squad. But when that illusion shatters, won’t they sneak back over to our side?”
“Are you saying the influence of the Silverstar Trading Company and the Marquisate of Ludvecia isn’t enough?”
“No, it’s the fear of Vinyudan. Even with such powerful backing, they’re afraid the hammer of betrayal might strike them. Unlike ordinary members, the higher-ups are aware of the extent of Vinyudan’s retribution.”
When they feel truly safe from such retaliation, they might consider joining the Blue Flame Squad.
Though late, realizing the truth and acting at the last possible moment is often the swiftest course.
One day, when they truly grasp the reality of Vinyudan, there may be room for mercy.
But to reveal everything now?
‘It’s not the time yet.’
The truth about Vinyudan.
In the main storyline of Esdinas Academy, it’s something revealed around the midpoint of the second semester in the second year—near the end of the story.
When all the Vinyudan higher-ups are defeated, and they realize even their leaders can’t hold things together, a boss appears, exposing the true nature of Vinyudan.
‘The chaos brought by the return of the dead.’
This will inevitably cause great social upheaval.
Most people associated with Esdinas Academy are nobles of long-standing heritage.
If their ancestors suddenly appear as Vinyudan’s undead minions, it will shock them to their core.
“Forget the ones who left. Let’s focus on how to arm those who joined us. The Blue Flame Squad may sound like an independent organization, but externally, they’re essentially the Marquisate of Ludvecia’s private military force, aren’t they?”
“Or, more accurately, a reformed combat unit funded by Silverstar’s private assets?”
“Something like that. People may criticize it now, but their evaluation will change depending on their future actions. To hunt magical beasts and such, the Blue Flame Squad needs power.”
Thus, they must be armed—not just against the undead, but against angels descending from the heavens as well.
“While we’re at Esdinas Academy during the semester, they need to hunt magical beasts and grow stronger in the Marquisate.”
For those with insufficient internal mana, they’ll need to be equipped with magical artifacts, just like the Vinyudan higher-ups.
Like a corporate tycoon developing nanotech suits to combat superhumans injected with enhancement serums, we’ll need to create powerful magical tools to protect the Blue Flame Squad.
For that, we’ll obviously need magic stones.
To secure them in large quantities, we must find a yet-undiscovered “honey pot” of resources.
“For that, we’ll need a suitable hunting ground.”
I unfolded the map and pointed to a specific location.
“Right next to the Marquisate of Ludvecia, in the Barony of Balzac. It’s where ‘ancient secrets’ are buried.”
“I’ll ask for formality’s sake, but what are those?”
“A sealed honey pot left behind by the Four Founders 500 years ago for their descendants.”
“……?”
“Simply put.”
The Four Founders, who wiped out countless magical beasts to remove threats for their descendants, left behind a sealed dungeon.
“An underground lair they didn’t fully clear, thinking, ‘This should be enough for future generations to farm for experience.’”
The second floor of the Sealed Tower of the Forbidden Lands—the same location Instructor Esta conquered solo.
“A nest of ants with magic stone veins.”
“…You’re joking, right?”
Yurha’s instinctive rebuttal trailed off as her thoughts spiraled.
“There’s no way an undiscovered vein of magic stones could have existed for 500 years…”
As if something was going crazy, the obvious words she was about to say began to fade.
“…Could there be?”
“Exactly, the Four Founders.”
A sealed dungeon.
A dungeon intentionally left behind by the Four Founders for their descendants as a so-called “experience farming dungeon”.
As of 500 years ago, it housed one S-rank magical beast, hundreds of A-rank beasts, and countless lower-ranked ones.
Did the Four Founders foresee the near-apocalyptic disaster that would unfold if the seal was broken?
‘They probably couldn’t imagine that their descendants wouldn’t be able to handle it.’
They believed their descendants would be capable.
But the Four Founders had far too much faith in their heirs.
