"Now that the deal is struck and I've agreed to your condition, I'll be blunt about the other matter."
Olivia seemed fairly satisfied with Greg's response and sat back down in her high-backed chair. Her posture returned to its former laziness, but her eyes grew a touch more serious.
"I went to inspect the scene at the catacombs myself. Though others might not realize it, I know very well."
Leaning forward slightly, her eyes fixed intently on Greg:
"The fatal wound on the Undead Knight's chest... wasn't caused by you at all, was it?"
She paused, her tone confident:
"You didn't slay the Undead Knight alone. Besides you, there must have been another person at the scene—or rather, another entity—that landed the killing blow on it."
Olivia's gaze burned sharp: "Tell me, who was that person?"
Greg locked eyes with her for a few seconds.
Since she had witnessed him using dark-attribute magic with her own eyes, Greg saw no reason to hide it now that she asked:
"It was a cadre from the Demon King Cult, a High-tier Undead, though I don't know her name."
Greg answered calmly, "She awakened and tried to control the Undead Knight, so we had a fight."
"Oh? And then?"
Olivia pressed, "Where did she go? Why didn't anyone see a trace of her?"
Greg fell silent for a moment before offering the simplest and most direct explanation possible:
"I killed her. As for why no one saw her, and why there were no remains..."
He raised his hand. A strand of profoundly deep dark mana silently surfaced at his fingertips, flowing slowly like living ink.
"Because she was... eaten by me."
Regarding why the Undead Knight had suddenly submitted upon seeing the 【Dark-Erosion Armament】, and why his dark-attribute mana had exhibited such near-rampant greed and efficiency when devouring Huang Quan, Greg had asked Nightmare after returning from the dungeon.
And the answer he received was:
"The Soul Cores condensed by undead creatures were once quite delectable snacks to Me, sharing a partial origin with My power. There was a time when I favored them and inadvertently partook a bit too much. Perhaps because of this, when those undead perceive My aura, they instinctively feel terror and submit. As for the efficiency of the devouring... when presented with fine food, it is only natural to have a heartier appetite."
"Ah, by the way, since I hold the sublime status of a goddess, no matter how much I consume, My figure will never bloat like that of mortal beings. This is a divine prerogative."
Although Greg was rendered speechless by Nightmare's final addition—which sounded suspiciously like bragging about never gaining weight no matter how much she ate—at least he had figured out the cause.
It was all because Nightmare, the Goddess of Night, used to eat the undead like snacks and built a terrifying reputation, instilling an instinctual terror and submission toward her power in all undead.
As for the efficiency during the devouring, it stemmed from the shadow power's instinctual craving for its kindred sustenance.
That was why that situation had unfolded back then.
"..."
Upon hearing Greg's words, Olivia froze for a moment.
Then, immediately after—
"Pfft—hahahahahaha!!!"
She suddenly erupted into a completely unrefined burst of wild laughter!
Slapping one hand hard against the solid mahogany desk in front of her with heavy thuds, she clutched her stomach with the other, rocking back and forth with tears spurting from the corners of her eyes. Her exaggerated movements nearly sent her cowboy hat flying off.
"Ha... hahaha... E-Eaten... This guy... actually said... eaten?! Hahahahaha!!!"
Laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath, she falteringly repeated the word as if it were the funniest joke of the year—no, of the century.
Greg stood on the spot, expressionless.
He didn't understand at all what about his words had struck her funny bone.
It took quite a while before Olivia's laughter gradually subsided into uncontrollable chuckles and gasps.
Wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, she sat back down in her chair, her shoulders still quivering slightly from residual chuckles.
Looking at Greg, her eyes sparkled with novelty, amusement, and a glint of having discovered an incredibly fascinating toy.
"Interesting... How interesting..."
She muttered as if to herself, then flashed Greg a smile so brilliant it was almost dazzling:
"Greg Sass, it seems you're far more interesting than I previously anticipated!"
She didn't seem inclined to pry further. Perhaps she felt it wasn't important, or perhaps she already had a hunch that she preferred to leave unsaid.
She simply waved a hand, returning to her usual relaxed demeanor:
"Alright, I've got a general idea of what I wanted to know. I'll have someone look into that Demon King Cult cadre's identity. As for what you ate and how you ate it, those are your own skills and secrets. As long as it doesn't harm the academy or cause a major headache for me, I don't care."
Picking up a half-empty wine bottle from her desk, she took a swig straight from the bottle, let out a satisfied "Ah," and pointed toward the office door:
"Now, you can leave."
Having no desire to linger, Greg nodded, turned, and walked toward the door.
However, right as his fingers were about to touch the cold doorknob, Olivia's slightly tipsy and lazy voice floated over from behind once more:
"Oh right, I almost forgot to remind you. According to the regulations, instructors also accompany the students to the exchange. And your instructor... is that young Professor Alice, right?"
Greg paused his movements and turned his head back.
Swirling her wine bottle, Olivia looked at him with a half-smile:
"I heard that since you haven't shown up at the lab for so long, she's already gone to participate in the mentor selection for this year's freshmen. So I suggest you go greet her as soon as possible, or her affection might get split into two."
"..."
Greg remained silent for a few seconds before responding calmly, "Alright, I understand."
With that, he lingered no longer. Turning the doorknob, he walked out of the Headmistress's office, which was heavy with the scent of alcohol.
The heavy oak door closed silently behind him, shutting away everything inside.
Standing in the empty corridor, Greg finally let out a long breath, feeling a lingering chill on his back.
"Dealing with these women really doesn't allow a single moment of lowering one's guard..."
Raising a hand to rub his aching temples, he recalled Olivia's final reminder.
"Still, that is indeed something that needs to be taken care of."
In fact, ever since he obtained the material 'Golden Glow Spider Silk' in Lady Eight-Legs' Boss room, Greg had been looking for an opportunity to check in with his instructor, Alice.
But whether it was due to his bad luck kicking in or something else, every time he went to the lab, Alice wasn't there, so it had been delayed until now.
"I really didn't expect her to participate in the mentor selection for this year's freshmen..."
Although this differed from the original game's plot, it presented Greg with an opportunity. He could take advantage of it to 'chance upon' Alice, ensuring he wouldn't miss her again.
As for whether Alice might recruit a Junior Brother or Junior Sister for him during the selection, he didn't care in the slightest.
After all, no matter who it was, once they joined this group, they were destined to become his workhorse, hehehe!
Mind made up, his gaze passed through the stained-glass window at the end of the corridor, turning toward the distant Student Council office.
"However, before that..."
Greg's eyes settled into a calm focus.
"There are other, more important things to do first."
Rate on N.U.
