Miss Bramble strode boldly toward the shattered wall. Since there was no longer a door to walk through, she saw no reason to hesitate.
Just before stepping outside, she came to a halt.
"Oh, and before I forget," Miss Bramble said with her back still turned toward Sai, "the people who tried to abduct you today are called the Death Stalkers. They're dangerous, and it seems you're a key factor in whatever plan they're trying to carry out."
Her tone lowered slightly.
"So there's a high chance you'll undergo trial… and may even face execution in order to stop their plans from succeeding."
Sai's eyes narrowed.
"However," she continued, "the principal is doing everything in her power to make sure you stay alive. So don't even dream about running away."
Miss Bramble paused dramatically before speaking once more.
"There's a shirt beside your bed. Put it on and head to class."
With that, she exited the infirmary.
"Execution…?" Sai muttered in disbelief as the room slowly faded into silence.
. . .
Meanwhile, deep within the heart of an abandoned church cloaked in darkness and eerie stillness, Von emerged from the shadows.
His cloak was scorched and torn, while a faint yellow glow outlined the ruined remains of his right arm… or rather, where it used to be.
Miss Bramble's spell had completely disintegrated it.
The attack had been so devastating that it pierced through the slash barriers Von had cast around himself as a precaution against surprise attacks. Somehow, the witch's spell had effortlessly overwhelmed his defenses.
Von staggered forward before collapsing onto a broken pew.
Wraith entered shortly after him, seemingly unharmed—which made sense, considering Von had been the spell's true target.
"There's no need to be stubborn, Von," Wraith offered calmly. "Allow me to heal you while you rest."
"Shut the hell up, you useless brat," Von snarled through clenched teeth. "That damned witch actually used forbidden magic on me."
His gaze remained fixed on the grotesque wound as the damaged flesh slowly began to stabilize.
Von let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"It's healing…"
The forbidden magic known as Incursio was designed to place a fatal curse upon its victim—even if the initial strike failed to kill them instantly.
But Von had endured it.
Using his own magic, he forcefully sealed the cursed wound. The process was agonizing and painfully slow, but he eventually managed to stop the curse from spreading throughout his body.
Unfortunately, the curse still prevented regeneration.
His arm would never return.
Even so, surviving Incursio alone was a monstrous feat.
Normally, victims died within seconds of being struck by the spell, yet Von had not only survived it—he had suppressed it entirely.
A feat unseen for centuries.
"That woman has no idea what she's gotten herself into," Von muttered, murderous rage swelling within him.
Wraith stared silently.
He survived and suppressed Incursio…? Wraith thought in disbelief. Von truly is a renowned sorcerer. I'm not even certain I could survive such damage myself.
Even while critically injured, Von had prevented the curse from consuming him entirely—a feat most sorcerers could never hope to achieve.
Suddenly—
A chilling pressure swept across the ruined church.
Both Wraith and Von fell silent instantly.
The air thickened.
Darkness swallowed the surroundings whole.
Von clicked his tongue in annoyance while gripping his wounded arm.
A flickering blue flame materialized out of thin air, surrounded by swirling black smoke that rapidly engulfed the room.
Wraith immediately dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead against the cold brick floor.
Von sighed heavily, rolling his eyes before reluctantly kneeling as well.
The blue flame suddenly vanished.
The black smoke recoiled as though time itself had reversed.
Then, from the darkness…
A hooded figure emerged.
His eyes and face remained hidden beneath his cloak as dark fabric swayed around him with unnatural elegance.
The figure stopped only inches away from the two.
"Welcome, Lord Varn," Wraith said respectfully, keeping his head lowered.
Von, however, clenched his teeth in frustration.
"W-Welcome… Big Brother."
"Big Brother?" Varn repeated coldly.
Von flinched.
"Ugh… I mean, my Lord."
"Your manners still need work," Varn said calmly. "But that is not why I am here."
A suffocating silence followed.
"So… you have failed my orders once again, Von."
Von's jaw tightened.
"It wasn't my fault! Another sorcerer interfered—"
"SILENCE!"
Varn's voice exploded through the church like thunder.
Lightning erupted around him while violent winds roared through the ruined building.
"YOU FAILED TO CAPTURE THE BOY…"
"AND YOU LOST TO A MERE GRADE ONE SORCERER."
"How disappointing."
"She caught me off guard, broth—"
Von immediately stopped himself.
"…My Lord."
"AND YET YOU DARE CALL YOURSELF A DEATH STALKER."
"What a disgrace."
"I'LL FIX THIS!" Von shouted desperately, rage burning in his veins. "I SWEAR I'LL MAKE IT RIGHT!"
"VON."
Varn's voice dropped low.
So dark and terrifying that even the ruined church trembled beneath it.
"DO NOT FAIL ME… AGAIN."
"Y-Yes… my Lord," Von answered, momentarily overcome by fear.
The rivalry between the two brothers was impossible to ignore.
Von had always despised Varn for his arrogance and superiority.
Yet the truth remained undeniable.
Varn was stronger.
Far stronger.
And in the world of the Death Stalkers, only the strong stood at the top.
Within moments, dark smoke engulfed Varn's body before his figure slowly faded into nothingness.
Gone.
Wraith slowly rose to his feet, not daring to imagine the expression on Von's face.
The tension in the room was suffocating enough already.
He knew better than to interfere.
Von's teeth remained tightly clenched as he gripped the remains of his arm.
His entire body trembled with fury.
"I swear on every last drop of my blood…" Von growled.
"I will kill that pathetic excuse for a Grade One Sorcerer."
"HER HEAD…"
"…WILL BE MINE!"
. . .
Crack.
Sai stretched his back while resting both hands behind his head.
It was already 4 PM.
Classes had ended for the day, and Sai decided to head home alone.
The warm glow of the evening sun illuminated the academy gates as he stepped outside.
Sai walked through the bustling marketplace, ignoring the loud traders and rattling carriages surrounding him.
Eventually, he took a shortcut into a narrow rain-soaked alleyway.
Above him, flickering magic orbs cast eerie shadows across the walls like modern streetlamps, while the city's nocturnal heartbeat echoed through the darkness.
Sai walked silently, lost in thought.
It had been less than a month since he reincarnated into this world.
A world where technology and infrastructure felt primitive… yet everything functioned through magic.
Ironically, despite their outdated civilization, the people's fashion sense felt strangely modern—almost identical to Earth's.
To Sai, the contrast was ridiculous.
And now?
He had somehow ended up on the hit list of the most feared criminal organization in the magical world…
While simultaneously facing possible execution from the very people meant to protect him.
What a joke.
His footsteps echoed repeatedly through the alleyway.
Then suddenly—
A crimson-blue holographic display flickered into existence before his eyes, illuminating his face with an ethereal glow.
[SYSTEM OVERLAY]
Name: Sai Takka
Level: 7
Health: 82/100
Strength: 85/100
Speed: 83/100
Durability: 79/100
Mana: 0
Status: Condemned
Sai's gaze slowly drifted toward the Mana section.
"Mana Level…?"
His brows furrowed.
"But the system never showed me mana before…"
A realization suddenly struck him.
Sai's lips curled into a faint grin.
"So the system's developed a sense of humor now, huh?"
"It must've picked that up from me after reincarnating into Zorel."
"Nice one, System. You're mocking me now."
A cold, emotionless voice echoed within his mind.
"It is not a joke. The host possesses no mana."
Sai blinked.
"Oh, great. It comes with an attitude."
His usual carefree expression returned as he stared at the holographic screen once more.
Then his eyes stopped at the final word.
Condemned.
Sai's expression darkened slightly.
"…Condemned!?"