One week had passed since the entrance ceremony.

Despite the short period of one week, numerous rumors were already circulating within the academy, and the vast majority of them werent of praise.

Especially the recent hottest issue, a bizarre man with a twisted body appearing on the right staircase of the third floor.

Although the professors had explicitly mentioned danger and blocked access to the path, curious students still went there and ended up getting hurt.

Furthermore, there were stories about various spirits such as a woman walking around with a wet body, a grandmother who gave out candies, a monstrous creature with its skin torn off, a man crawling with only his arms since he had no legs, and so on and so forth.

There were plenty of reports about these countless spirits, and there were also many who claimed to have actually seen them.

For instance, the second floor of the women's dormitory access was completely restricted, and there were rumors going around that it was because some students fell into a coma due to encountering evil spirits.

As the trust in Loberne Academy plummeted, the number of students who were already considering quitting or requesting a leave of absence only increased with each passing day.

Amidst this, another rumor broke out within the academy.

"No way, really?"

"Yeah. I saw it; a maid."

That's right, it was about a maid who wore revealing attire.

"Hmm?"

Erica Bright, who was already feeling frustrated and unwell from the term break, wondered what nonsense she was hearing this time.

She disregarded it as mere baseless rumors, or perhaps maybe another strange spirit that had appeared?

Hyaa! You work in such a nice place.

Rudely, the door to Erica's research lab swung open, and the moment she saw the maid with white hair, she couldn't help but open her mouth in astonishment.

What she was wearing was definitely not appropriate for work. The short skirt seemed like it would reveal underwear even with a slight lift and her cleavage was clearly visible.

The students who were following behind Findenai peeked their heads out of the lab door, looking and gossiping. But Erica waved her hand and the door slammed shut with a bang!

"Who are you?"

Erica didn't hide her displeasure at the sudden intruder. The assistant professors who were with her also stood up in disbelief.

"Deus, my Master, sent me."

At the mention of that name, the entire research lab froze as if paralyzed.

The name Deus was nothing short of taboo in front of Erica.

Erasing her previous discomfort, Erica glanced at the assistant professors and spoke,

"Tell the students outside to disperse."

"Understood!"

"I will leave immediately!"

The assistant professors, realizing that they shouldn't be present in this situation, quickly opened the door and went outside. They made the students, who were still gathered to see Findenai, leave.

Bang.

The door closed.

Findenai, seemingly unfazed by everything, continued speaking,

"Well, he didn't tell me to go and find you. He said to seek help from any professor."

"Help? Did... did he accept his reinstatement as a professor?"

"Well, I heard he did. He also told me to come and prepare things in advance."

"...."

Erica felt a sense of helplessness hearing this. In the end, she was unable to grasp a single lead; she had let the opportunity to find clues about the spirit attempting to kill Deus slip away.

Taking a deep, calm breath, Erica asked Findenai.

"So, what can I do to help?"

"Well, first things first, where can I find the most troublesome spirit here."

"The spirit?"

"Yes, I want to go and check it out."

Erica hesitated for a moment but then proceeded to talk about the corridor on the third floor.

"There is a corridor where a man with a twisted body can be found. Because of the rumors, many students gather there and they often end up getting hurt."

"A twisted man? Perfect! Let's go there right away."

Findenai turned around, forcefully opened the door, and exited. Thanks to the efforts of the assistant professors, all the students had already retreated.

Erica followed behind her, putting on the coat she hung beforehand.

"I'll be back soon. Please finish what you were doing."

"Understood."

Even at this moment, Erica's head was already hurting. She imagined how the assistant professors would be panicking in her absence. After all, her fianc's maid had arrived in such grand attire.

She was also a little annoyed.

"Um, why are you dressed like that?"

As Erica asked discreetly, Findenai casually replied,

Isnt it Masters preference?

"...Yes?"

In the whole year, no, perhaps in her entire life, Erica could count the number of times on one hand when her head froze due to shocking information. And now, this seemingly normal sentence was added to the list.

"That that? He prefers that? This is the same Deus I know, right?"

"Yeah, Norsewedens Margraves younger brother, the second son of the Verdi Household, Deus Verdi. He was quite infamous as a troublemaker in Norseweden. He even sexually harassed his younger sister.

"Ah! That's nonsense! How can you say such ridiculous things? Do you know how noble and cool he is?! Are you really his maid? Isn't that just a lie?"

"You'll find out later; I'm just delivering the facts. Although, I can't say the Master looks like he would do such things, but I heard he was just like that just six months ago."

"No that can't be..."

Erica suffered from a headache and dizziness. Findenai playfully smiled as she glanced at her.

"But I heard you broke off the engagement. I also heard that you personally kicked him out. Is it really okay to say that he's cool?"

"...Please keep it a secret."

To him, she was nothing but a traitora person who had grown tired of her fianc, who betrayed him to attach herself to another man, like trash.

She didn't want to say how she was also a victim to Deus.

Anyway, it wouldn't change the fact that she caused him pain.

"Fine, then should I tell you a secret too?"

"...What?"

Erica wondered if there could be anything more surprising than what she had just heard.

But the words that Findenai uttered next were truly shocking.

"Theres someone among the maids who went as far as licking Master's asshole. Of course, Master also reciprocated her efforts. Haha, doesnt that sound amazing?"

"W-what this! This! This! Stop lying! You're just a liar, aren't you? I absolutely don't believe it!"

The Deus she knew was always noble, composed, and rational. How could such a man engage in perverted acts?

Erica's face turned crimson, and she wished she could wash her head with cold water.

She had a reputation within the academy as a composed and direct woman, but the amount of information she was receiving now was overwhelming, leaving her speechless.

"Well, if you don't want to believe it, then don't."

Findenai enjoyed Erica's reaction while chuckling.

They soon arrived on the third-floor corridor. They removed the barricade set up by the academy and entered the pathway.

"Oh."

At that moment, the very air seemed to change. It became sticky, oppressive, and ominous.

[K-Kkiekkieek! Kkikkikkieek!]

And a distorted figure started walking towards them. It had strange footsteps, almost like the sound of something breaking.

"What do you plan to do?"

As Erica regained her composure, she looked at Findenai and asked. The latter pulled out a rod about a hand's length from her maid uniform pocket.

Clack!

Soon, it unfolded into the shape of an axe, and Findenai answered while placing it on her shoulder.

"Exorcism. Hehe, in my own way."

"Exorcism?"

Findenai smirked and continued to respond,

"Well, Master said that all spirits hide their grudges and resentment."

[Kkikieek! Kkikikieek!]

"But some of them hope that someone will recognize their pain. Especially those whose bodies are twisted or broken, they tend to seek attention."

Since Findenai witnessed what Deus did to Emily from behind, she thought she would be capable of replicating it.

[Kkikikieek! Kkikieek! Kkikikikieek!]

Yes, I see.

[Kkikikikikieek!]

Mm.

[Kkikeukikieek! Kkikakaak!]

"You son of a bitch! Say something I can understand!"

Bang!

The twisted spirit was struck by the axe and flew, crashing into the wall. The creature writhed on the ground like a bug in agony.

"Tsk. Tsk. Even when someone politely asks it to speak clearly."

With the axe on her shoulder, Findenai exhaled a gust of air.

Observing it from behind, Ericas mouth was agape, she asked in bewilderment,

"Wasn't it about understanding it?"

"Ah? How could I understand all that? What kind of conversation can I have with someone who only makes noises that sound like knives are being sharpened? Those kinds of guys need to be taught a lesson."

No, more importantly...

"How did you hit it? No matter how hard we tried, our attacks wouldnt work."

In response to that, FindenaI confidently pointed to her own axe and replied,

"Master did something to this axe. I don't know the details either, he told me not to tell anyone else."

A faint purple aura was embedded in the axe.

As a mage, Erica recognized it as a type of Black Magic, but she tightly sealed her lips.

That man

Ericas hopes that Deus may not be a necromancer were disappearing like bubbles.

However, whether she knew what Erica was thinking or not, Findenai loosened her body and shifted her gaze to the spirit.

Thud!

"And while doing this, Master said, Use it only in the direst situation. Don't casually provoke the spirits."

"...Wait. Didnt you come directly to me?"

Thud!

Thud!

"Well, I'm a cute maid who doesn't listen to her Master."

Thud!

Thud!

Erica already knew what these thudding sounds were from her previous encounter.

It was the sound of footsteps.

The sound of footsteps from the lower floor merged with the screams of students, reaching the third floor.

"Why did he say not to provoke them? Tell me the reason."

Although Erica seemed to guess the reason, she asked just to make sure.

Findenai shrugged her shoulders and assumed a combat stance.

"A fearsome Bushi who protects the spirits will come looking for me if I provoke them, that's what he said."

Thud!!!

A one-armed Bushi finally appeared in the corridor, emerging abruptly from the central staircase on the third floor.

[KEUAAAAAAAAH!]

He let out a sinister scream and rushed towards Findenai.

"Oh."

Findenai raised the axe, wearing a sly smile as she assumed a fighting stance.

"So, it's you?"