Chapter 131: Lance Successfully Conceals Hyperions Race

Chapter 131: Lance Successfully Conceals Hyperion's Race

At noon, eleven people gathered around a large writing desk inside the library, quiet and focused. Any faint sounds in the room were absorbed by the bookshelves and the walls that were packed tight with tomes. Judging by the expressions on the challengers' faces, the matter at hand was of critical importance.

Their gazes were intent. Everyone was deep in thought. After a moment of silence, the young master from Cambella looked around and asked a question, noting that the noble mage girl from the Krati Empire had already closed the book, "Does anyone here understand how to decipher demonic runes?"

The three clergy from the Northern Continent were the first to shake their heads. Clergy members were forbidden from studying the magical runes of other races, let alone demonic runes, which was considered highly taboo for humans.

The Geographer knew that while his bodyguard siblings were clever and strong, they had absolutely no knowledge of demonic runes. Since the noble girl, the most magically proficient of the Kratian trio, didn't know it either, there was no point even considering the knight or the junior cleric.

That left only the black-haired, green-eyed Lawyer and the silver-haired girl who was always by his side as their last sources of hope. As for the missing Detective, even if he did know it, he wouldn't be back for another two days.

In the worst-case scenario, they would have to rely on other reference books in the library to look up the meanings of the demonic runes and attempt to decipher the sealed grimoire through deduction. However, there was no telling how long that would take, how much crucial information could be gleaned, or if the book might be snatched away by the Traitors during the long process of deciphering it at night.

Hyperion looked up at Lance and spoke softly, sounding somewhat apologetic for not being more useful, "I only know a little bit about demonic runes."

Logically, she should have been the person capable of reading demonic runes, given her mixed demon heritage, but her mother had left the Kingdom of Hutton before she could even form memories, so there had been no one to teach her demonic magic.

If a lack of ability on her part caused a bottleneck in the crucial information-gathering process, then she would feel that she was holding the group back once again. However, Hyperion recalled Lance mentioning that he had studied demonic runes, so she could still pin a sliver of hope on him.

"It's fine. I know a thing or two about it."

Sure enough, Lance nodded with a smile, projecting his usual composure, just as he had back in the art classroom at Purgatory Corridor Academy. That familiar sense of reassurance made her feel confident that this Shadow Realm challenge was well in hand. He truly was capable of anything.

"Alright." Hyperion nodded immediately, stepped forward to retrieve the book from the young mage girl of the Krati Empire, and handed it to Lance. She knew it wasn't safe for Lance to get too close to others. Given her array of survival abilities, tasks involving potential danger were best handled by her.

Lance took the book from Hyperion, offering a word of thanks just as he would during their shared classes, and then began flipping through the pages in silence. Unlike the young master from the Petras Trading Company or the mage girl from the empire, Lance remained completely at ease. He looked as relaxed as if he were casually reading a storybook during a leisurely afternoon.

Under normal circumstances, it was impossible to read such an obscure and complex magical tome with that kind of ease. Most likely, one would have to be completely unable to understand a single word to flip through the pages so rapidly and casually.

The psychological pressure on the group began to mount once more. The glimmer of hope they had been on the verge of seeing was now abruptly blocked by a heavy stone slab.

Even if the Detective returned and successfully identified the two Traitors, completing [Mission Objective 1: Identify the Traitors. (0/2)], the true core challenge of this Shadow Realm dimension had always been Mission Objective 2.

Large-scale Shadow Realm challenges always operated with a primary, visible storyline running parallel to multiple hidden plot threads.

While all the challengers were advancing the mission along the visible, overt storyline, a hidden, unknown plot thread was quietly unfolding in the background, undergoing changes unbeknownst to them.

Mission Objective 2 was most likely linked to this hidden storyline. If they failed to grasp the details and latest developments of this hidden plot and seize the initiative, they risked pushing the Shadow Realm challenge into an irreversible chaotic rampage state just as they completed Mission Objective 1 and finished the initial puzzles.

Just as everyone felt at a loss, Lance, who had been looking down at the book, suddenly spoke up, causing everyone to turn toward him in surprise. "This ancient tome doesn't explicitly define what 'the power of the sun' refers to, but the implication is that the sealing ritual must be performed during the day, while the sun is out."

Could he actually read it? Or was he just making things up to reassure everyone? That was everyone's immediate reaction.

"The 'power of the moon' refers to the werewolves. However, the werewolves are a rare breed and were all but extinct by this era," Lance continued calmly. "Werewolves aren't weakened during the day, but they are empowered by moonlight. Combined with their immense regenerative abilities, they wouldn't necessarily lose in a one-on-one fight against the vampires, even if it lasted all night."

He then added, "But 'regeneration' ultimately couldn't compete with 'immortality.' Over time, the werewolves were slaughtered into extinction, leaving the vampires as the sole rulers of the night."

The werewolves Lance mentioned were a race completely extinct in the real world. In fact, they were rarely even found in Shadow Realms dating back a millennia, so their existence was entirely unfamiliar to the challengers.

Of note, it was the vampires who had driven that race to extinction. That meant that this Shadow Realm dungeon, which still held records of the werewolves, must date back to an incredibly ancient era.

Successfully clearing such an ultra-ancient Shadow Realm challenge would likely send shockwaves through academic circles, and the copyright value of the intelligence stored in their Shadow Realm Recording Programs would be incalculable.

"The 'stars' refer to the witches, the origin of human magic. The text seems to imply they are part-demon and part-human. I skimmed through it and realized the book's author was likely a witch herself."

With that, Lance closed the book. Having long studied a hybrid of both demonic and human runes, he found, to his own surprise, that he could decipher this grimoire. It was written in a script that was a transitional stage between modern demonic and human runes.

He had not yet examined the specific magical techniques contained within. For now, he had merely deciphered the information it held. Meanwhile, the other challengers in the library glanced around in bewilderment, finding Lance's interpretation unfathomably obscure and even questioning its authenticity.

Suddenly, everyone’s dungeon interface was updated.

[Mission Objective 2: Investigate the secrets and dangers hidden within the castle. Hidden information has been revealed. Challengers are instructed to protect the Werewolf and the Witch.]

***

At Gela Memorial Plaza, the hands of the ancient clock tower had just swept past twelve o'clock. Amid the lingering echoes of the twelve chimes that still resonated across the campus, the massive open-air screen, surrounded by distant academic buildings, was displaying the Shadow Realm dungeon featured in today's challenge.

The atmosphere was far livelier than usual. Not only were the steps packed with seated students, but the surrounding walkways were also crowded with passersby who had stopped to watch.

One student asked curiously, "He isn't just making this up, is he?"

Another shouted raucously, "Verify his human citizenship immediately!!"

Many students had assumed Lance was merely playing mind games or spouting fabricated intel. Little did they expect him to actually know his stuff. The information regarding Mission Objective 2 had changed, signaling a successful deduction.

While many students at Ikreite University had heard that Lance was skilled in Sealing arts—after all, he had exclusively crafted Sealing-type cards during his card maker exam—how was the guy so proficient in demonic runes as well? He was practically indistinguishable from a demon spy!

***

Within the Shadow Realm challenge, the ancient library seemed to hold its breath for a fleeting moment. The group gathered around the central writing desk froze. Their gazes were locked on the spine of the magic tome held by Lance near the window. Their expressions shifted, from confusion to understanding, and then to shock, as if they could sense the quickening heartbeats of those around them.

The challengers exchanged glances, their eyes meeting. The corners of some mouths twitched as if they wanted to speak but didn't know how to begin.

"Brother, you aren't a half-demon, are you?" The young master broke the silence, looking at Lance with a mix of surprise and amazement.

This prompted his male guard, who was standing behind him, to quickly clear his throat. His tactless young master wasn't the least bit worried about offending the Lawyer.

However, in the Southern Continent, asking someone if they had demon blood was generally considered a remark likely to cause offense. This made Hyperion, standing nearby, feel particularly awkward. She was the one who was actually a half-demon. Yet, ever since she had begun hanging out with Lance, no one had ever questioned her lineage.

Hyperion had never experienced something like this before. It was as if, shielded by Lance's own "demonic aura," she had completely transformed into a genuine human being.

Lance smiled and replied, unbothered by the question, "There is absolutely no issue with my human lineage. The priest here can verify it for you."

The innocent had nothing to hide. Lance had always firmly believed in this principle. He offered no further explanation as to how he knew these things. To the others, it simply seemed that he was capable of anything, no explanation required. Coupled with his distinctive aura, it actually made perfect sense.

The priest spoke first, offering a respectful bow to Lance. "We trust you."

The group didn't press Lance for more details. They simply felt that, in addition to the Detective, this Lawyer was clearly an expert in his own right. He was not only skilled at mediating and soothing everyone's emotions, but he was also a veritable fount of information.

His ability to decipher the clues far ahead of schedule placed an immense psychological burden on the Traitors.

The young master asked Lance, still quite puzzled, "So, what is the connection between the Werewolf and the Witch? And why must we protect them?"

"The Werewolf and the Witch are clearly our allies as they hold the key to either sealing away the vampires or breaking the seal upon them. The true objective of those two Traitors in trapping us here was likely to ferret out the Werewolf and the Witch from among our ranks. As for why they didn't summon their vampire lords... Well, there is likely more to the story than meets the eye."

While holding the important grimoire, Lance had answered the question much like a headmaster patiently instructing a student.

"As expected of the Lawyer!" The young master had an epiphany and began showering Lance with praise. He was now thoroughly convinced of Lance's prowess as a grand scholar. That air of composure was exactly the quality he, who was often dismissed as a foolish, young fop, had always craved but never possessed.

By this point, all the challengers had grasped the situation. Based on the information revealed by Mission Objective 2, it wasn't difficult to deduce one of the Traitors' objectives.

The challengers had to identify the Traitors, the vampire thralls, hiding in their midst. Meanwhile, the Traitors had to identify the Werewolf and the Witch hiding among the non-traitors!

The stakes of this mental game had escalated for both sides. Just as everyone was preparing to leave and return to the sanctuary on the ground level, Lance gazed at Hyperion beside him, sensing her unease. He was bathed in the midday sunlight streaming past the library curtains

"Lance...”

Hyperion met Lance's calm gaze, seemingly on the verge of saying something. He nodded slightly. It was a signal that he understood everything, and that there was no need for her to worry.

Even without seeing her status panel, he had already guessed the truth. She was the Witch and, without a doubt, the person in the most perilous position within this Shadow Realm challenge.

It stemmed from a passage in the grimoire, one Lance hadn't read aloud, where the author, a witch, described herself: "I am neither demon nor human, yet I help and protect the kind-hearted. So please, do not fear me."

In that era known as the Blood Moon Apocalypse, the term "witch" actually referred to innate half-demons. They were mages capable of wielding magic without suffering from backlash, even when using imperfect human runes.