"Boom..."
With a dull thud, the towering body of the Academy Headmaster collapsed in front of Astrid Seth, smoke curling from his form as if he had been corroded.
"I didn't expect him to go down without any resistance. I thought it was a trap."
Astrid looked at the scene with a mix of delight and boredom, withdrawing her hand as the surrounding miasma receded.
At the same time, several magus wearing rose cloaks arrived, accompanied by panther-shaped Automaton Dolls, escorting the professors one by one into the room.
Upon closer inspection, these professors were the deans of each department—the true high-level authorities of the Walpurgis Royal Academy of Machinart. Among them were even figures like the Commander of the Guard—truly, the Academy's core leadership had been completely captured.
Olga Saladin, Dorothy McGuffin, and the Zekaros Brothers also appeared.
"We've brought the Professor Representative," said Olga, entering the room with Dorothy and Thor, while the Zekaros Brothers dragged the severely wounded Percival and threw him beside the fallen Director.
"Student Representative…"
The near-dead Director weakly raised his head, looking at Olga with a dazed expression.
Seeing this, Olga smiled sweetly and said:
"Apologies, Headmaster. I'm with the Association. I must have disappointed you. I'm truly sorry."
She admitted this without hesitation.
"I see." The Headmaster seemed to understand and muttered, "The Association is also coveting the Machine Doll. In that case, infiltrating the Night Party was only to be expected."
It was for that very reason Olga entered the Academy, became a Ranked Four student, and rose to Student Representative. Even Dorothy, and the Zekaros Brothers were members of the so-called Association.
Olga's plan had originally been to win the Night Party fair and square as a student and earn the Machine Doll that the Father had foreseen would appear by the Wiseman's side.
But when Rozen appeared, Olga realized that claiming the Machine Doll through those means would be extremely difficult. Moreover, Astrid had learned the Headmaster had lost Lemegeton, and coveted Rozen's power.
So Astrid unilaterally decided to change tactics—assault the Academy and seize the prize through force.
"You're a cunning man. You must have suspected the Association had infiltrated the Night Party."
Olga continued.
"Of course I suspected. I had most of the glove bearers under surveillance, keeping up my doubts. When I lost Lemegeton, I thought Lady Astrid wouldn't pass up the chance. But I still believed that having someone in this Academy who could defeat me. Even with Lemegeton in his hand, I thought the Association wouldn't dare act recklessly. I was wrong."
The Headmaster expressed this not with regret, but merely as fact.
What he got in return wasn't Olga's reply—but Astrid's mocking laughter.
"The Association did consider staying passive—only contacting the Akabane boy in secret and trying to control him. But unfortunately, you know I have no patience. I also knew you'd assume we wouldn't make a move. So, despite the other Roses' opposition, I launched the attack on my own to take you by surprise—and it worked, didn't it?"
Astrid laughed smugly, while the Headmaster sighed and swallowed the bitter fruit of defeat.
As if savoring the Headmaster's anguish, Astrid turned toward Olga.
"The professors are secured. What about the students?"
She was confirming this matter.
Olga lowered her eyes and reported:
"Most of the students have been subdued. Only a small portion is still resisting or in hiding—especially those ranked near the top."
For instance, Asura Owen completely vanished after the incident. Sonechka Snitkina also disappeared without a trace. Even Hazel Heimdall was nowhere to be found.
Charl, Loki, and Frey were still fiercely resisting.
Magnus had also gone missing.
And most importantly...
"Rorelai Arneet has also gone missing. The rose buds has already searched the entire campus several times, but found no trace of him or his Automaton Doll."
Olga reported.
"If I had to guess, Rorelai Arneet may not even be in the Academy anymore."
Upon hearing that, Astrid furrowed her brows for the first time.
"Not in the Academy?"
The witch grew visibly displeased.
After all, capturing Rozen was a crucial objective in this operation.
Not just because he held Lemegeton, or because he could summon tens of thousands of magical creatures—but because of his uniqueness.
"On the Night of Sevens, in the time of Six Buds, mankind shall become the agents of gods."
"Like flawless jewels."
"Authority shall be overthrown first, gathering those from foreign lands."
"Then unshackling the bonds of dominion, the city will be filled with purification."
"Thus, stars shall shower down, a prelude to the opening of the heavens and the earth."
"The youth arrives, reigning upon the throne of heaven."
"Behold, the one by their side is 'Machine doll.'"
That was the prophecy of the Mage's Association's Father.
Many believed it meant that the victor of the 49th Night Party would receive the Machine Doll.
"Night of Sevens" referred to the forty-ninth Night Party.
"Throne of Heaven" referred to the Wiseman title.
But the prophecy also included: "Those from foreign lands."
This meant that to acquire the Machine Doll, one must have a foreigner present.
For that reason, the Headmaster had placed great importance on Rozen and Magnus—both were true foreigners from the Far East.
Astrid placed the same importance on that point and believed Rozen to be the foreigner in the prophecy.
Thus, she concluded that "Those from foreign land" meant subjugating such a person.
Hence, capturing Rozen was a top priority in this operation.
"Find him," Astrid ordered without hesitation.
"Turn the entire Academy upside down if you must—search the whole City of Machinart if necessary—but bring him to me."
Everyone responded at once—some continued the search within the Academy, while others began gathering intelligence to confirm if Rozen had truly left.
None of them knew, however—
Rozen had not left the Academy.
But he was no longer within it either.
Because Rozen had descended into the underground.
Just half an hour ago.
And the reason was simple—Karyuusai Shouko had called him.
"You know about the Sanctuary of Fools under the Academy, right?"
That was the first thing she said when she called.
"Get down there. Those two Akabane brats are going to fight to the death."
That was the message Shouko brought to Rozen.