Chapter 90: Ownership of the staff of Estelle 11

In a spacious white room, a large round table dominated the center, surrounded by twelve chairs, their occupants facing each other. Ten individuals, each bearing a distinct expression, occupied the seats, their attention converging on the impending meeting.

The door swung open abruptly, introducing a blonde-haired woman sporting particularly large round glasses. She entered the room with an apologetic expression, breathless from her hurried arrival.

"S-sorry I'm late!" she stammered, seeking understanding from the assembly.

"Don't mind, the principal's not here yet either, huhu," chuckled a mature-looking lady, adorned with a brooch on her left chest—a clear indicator of her role as the head of the faculty for the magic department.

"Y-yes, thank you, Miss Camiel," the blonde-haired lady replied, her nervousness apparent. Having recently been promoted to the same ranks as the top heads of the academy, she felt a palpable tension at being tardy for the first meeting where all heads were summoned.

Despite the initial worry, a sense of relief washed over her as she realized she had at least arrived before the principal. The pile of papers awaiting her attention back at her office had momentarily detained her, and she silently thanked her lucky stars for making it in time.

"Tsk... This is why the newcomers are so complacent. Hey, newbie, don't listen to that hag and come faster next time. You dared to come here later than us?" grumbled a bulky old man, an unlit cigar dangling from his mouth. The brooch on his chest revealed his role as the head of the combat department.

"Y-yes, I'll come faster next time, Mr. Gunther," the blonde lady replied, flustered by the admonishment.

Gunther just scoffed dismissively. "Hmph."

"Hey, who are you calling a hag, you Baldy old man? And stop scaring the newcomers! This is why you're so unpopular with everyone," retorted Camiel, her gaze sharp as she glared at the old man.

The exchange ignited a verbal skirmish between the two, each firing pointed remarks at the other. Sparks of electricity seemed to crackle in their eyes as they faced off, injecting a charged atmosphere into the room.

"Quiet down! And please take a seat, Miss Sasha," Vice Principal Edward interjected with a sigh, shaking his head wearily as he observed the bickering between the heads of the magic and combat departments. Not only were their departments at odds with each other, but even the faculty heads struggled to get along.

"Y-yes, Vice Principal," Sasha stammered as she took her seat, casting a nervous glance around the room. The intimidating presence of those gathered weighed heavily on her.

To her right, she couldn't help but gulp as her eyes settled on a figure with a massive build, surpassing even the already imposing Combat Department Head, Gunther Rikini.

Seated calmly, Klaus Heinrich held a position that rivaled the faculty heads, serving as the head of security and defense in the school.

Although Klaus appeared calm, Sasha and everyone in the room sensed an undercurrent of simmering anger within him.

The recent incident in the commercial district, marked by a massive explosion, had claimed the lives of several students and some of his knights stationed in the area. The weight of this tragedy undoubtedly gnawed at Klaus, whose pride had always centered on boasting about the academy's safety under his vigilant watch.

The tension in the room heightened, magnified not only by the strained relationships among the faculty heads but also by the lingering repercussions of the recent catastrophe.

Meanwhile, Peter seized the opportunity, summoning a blood spear to strike at me from behind. With limited time to react, my heightened senses warned me of the imminent danger. Simultaneously, I sensed a surge of intense mana gathering above me. Instinctively, I knew it was Charlotte preparing to unleash another blood bomb.

With threats closing in from all directions—Peter and his blood wolf from the front, a blood spear approaching from the rear, and a looming blood bomb from above—I had no escape. Faced with imminent danger, I activated my White Veil authority.

A protective white veil enveloped me, shielding me from all sides. The blood spear, the wolf's jaws, and the incoming blood bomb were all thwarted by the barrier. Although the rebound pain equivalent to the damage absorbed was intense, the effectiveness of this authority in preserving my safety was undeniable.

The shock on Peter and Charlotte's faces was evident; their attacks had virtually no impact. Even Peter's hands were visibly trembling, as if he had just struck a solid metal surface.

The blood wolf, its face melting upon contact with the white veil, presented a comical sight despite its near-instant regeneration.

Seizing the opportunity, I launched another attack. The blood wolf, quick to respond, pursued me as I aimed straight for Peter. Although Peter was slow to react, I managed a successful hit on his chest.

In a desperate move, he transformed into a swarm of bats, reappearing above a nearby tree. Coughing up blood, his chest torn open and sizzling from the intense heat of the sword, Peter seemed to be struggling to maintain his form.

Despite the relentless attempts of the blood wolf, the White Veil consistently blocked its attacks. Each time its face came into contact with the barrier, it burned and melted away, causing the creature to step back, its form disintegrating into a pool of blood. It appeared that the harm inflicted upon its master had halted its regeneration.

Glancing at Peter, who was barely holding on to the tree branches, I marveled at the effectiveness of the Sword of Light against creatures of darkness.

The temptation to end him then and there was strong, but a sense of caution lingered. I could sense a trap set by Charlotte, its nature unclear but undoubtedly dangerous.

The explosion echoed through the air, scattering droplets of blood and leaving behind a crimson mist. As the dust settled, Peter emerged, his regenerative powers rapidly healing the wounds inflicted by the previous attack. Fueled by irritation, he rose into the air with a swift motion.

"Tsk! Back from the start, huh? Fucking annoying" The relentless resilience of high-ranking vampires made them formidable adversaries, and despite the setbacks, and the damage he took Peter and Charlotte seemed determined to resume the battle.

As I pondered my next move, an acute awareness of powerful mana signatures surged through the air. The intensity of the magical auras hinted at a formidable group approaching rapidly.

My focus sharpened as I counted the signatures – seven, eight, nine, eleven – but the count continued, reaching a total of fourteen distinct sources.

Amidst them, one signature stood out, radiating strength and familiarity. It didn't take long for me to identify the formidable force; it was someone I had encountered before.

Sensing the imminent threat, I decided to act swiftly. Without hesitation, I invoked the Cloak of the Night, a magical veil that cloaked me in shadows, rendering my presence virtually undetectable.

As I vanished from sight, Charlotte, who was looking at me, expressed astonishment at my sudden disappearance. But quickly looked to the distance as she noticed the approaching danger, Peter, too, reacted to the subtle disturbance in the magical currents, realizing that danger was approaching.

Hidden within the shadows, I observed the unfolding scene with a sense of intrigue. The approaching group, led by the powerful individual whose mana signature I recognized, drew closer. Charlotte's expression shifted from shock to vigilance as she assessed the situation. Peter, though visibly fatigued from our recent encounter, braced himself for the impending confrontation.

"Now then I wonder how this will play out?"