I'm a hidden boss

Later, Amelia handed her glasses back. Bishop, her hair still in a high ponytail, put them on. The glasses, which had previously made her look insignificant, now, with the ponytail, gave her an academic elegance that made Amelia's heart race. Together, they left the campus and headed to the bus stop. The destination: Evernot, a border town with the Kingdom of Temer, six hours away by bus.

Bishop was currently in Adea Academy City, attending the Adea Imperial Academy in the Xion Empire. The next day was Saturday; a perfect weekend for a getaway to Evernot.

Evernot, a remote and isolated city, lacked a connection to the star train. The quickest route to it was through the Duchy of Valor, but that was not the chosen route. Six long hours on the bus had passed, during which time Amelia insisted on knowing why they were not taking the most efficient route. The answer, kept to herself, was simple: her brother, Tower, would notice her absence from Adea Academy and send someone after her.

To obtain the Demonic Grimoire, however, she needed no escorts… or pursuers. Unless she registered to ride the star train, her departure from Adea Academy would go unnoticed by her brother. That explanation, however, fell silent. As they stepped off the bus, the small town of Evernot revealed itself before them.

Its narrow, winding streets stretched out before their eyes, inviting them to explore. Walking along the cobblestone streets, they reached their final goal: the Valtasar Bookstore. Within its dusty shelves, hidden among ancient tomes and wrinkled scrolls, were the objects of their quest: the Grimoire of the Sword King and the Stellar Sword Art. The latter, a martial art she planned to master before tackling the complex Sword Art [The Chronicles of the End of the World], was crucial to her plan.

With a silent sigh, Bishop and Amelia crossed the threshold of the shop, entering the labyrinth of books.

The jingle of the entrance bell barely resonated in the silent interior of Valtasar's Bookstore. An old man, his face furrowed by deep wrinkles and a look that expressed surprise rather than kindness, observed them from behind the counter. His expression seemed to say that the visit was as unexpected as a snowfall in the middle of summer. Bishop, with a barely perceptible gesture, dismissed him with a simple nod and entered the labyrinth of shelves, completely ignoring the possibility of a conversation. Amelia, at his side, remained silent, cautiously observing the dust that rose with each step.

The scent of old paper and leather permeated the air, a perfume of history that mingled with the subtle smell of dampness and dust. Bishop walked through the aisles, his fingers brushing the covers of old books, searching with an almost supernatural precision. Among the dusty tomes, he found what he was looking for: a book bound in worn leather, with the title “Stellar Sword Art” emblazoned in gold letters. It was a three-star martial art, just as he remembered it from his 122 matches. Mastering it would mean at least two levels of improvement in his Swordsmanship skill. With a smooth movement, Bishop removed the book from the shelf. He felt the latent power of the martial art, a distant echo of the mastery he needed to achieve.

Just as he was about to search for the Sword King's Grimoire, something caught his attention. Two figures, a man and a woman, were quietly conversing in a secluded corner. Bishop detected a subtle but effective soundproof barrier and sensed rank D auras emanating from both of them, something unusual for ordinary civilians. The Concealment skill (Lv 5) was automatically activated. With stealthy steps, he approached until he was just a few meters away. The barrier, although effective against the eyes, was not effective against the subtle sound that reached his ears.

“…Prince Sigfrid will be able to enter the Academy after the second year exhibition…” the woman heard, her voice a barely audible whisper. Bishop felt a chill run down his spine. He knew the name, having seen it in the game logs. Sigfrid’s name instantly triggered a deeper recognition, “…they belong to the Kingdom of Fear… they want to help Sigfrid assassinate CeliusTrue Xion, the crown prince…”

The information he had just heard echoed in Bishop's mind. Celius' murder, a key event in the game that set off Arnold's spiral of villainy. He remembered Episode 2: Sigfrid, infiltrating the Academy as a teacher, using black magic to control Celius' assassins, and subsequently plotting to mind-control Arnold in order to take over the Empire. Celius' death, Arnold's manipulation, it's about to begin.

Bishop stepped out of the barrier and searched for the Sword King's Grimoire that was hidden in a bookcase and then with uncharacteristic speed, she picked up the book and left Valtasar's Bookstore. The cool air hit her in the face, the accelerated pace of her escape contrasting with the stillness of the old bookstore. As she turned to flee, a strong hand stopped her. She turned around, meeting the piercing gaze of an exceptionally handsome man. Hair as golden as the sun, eyes as red as glowing embers.

An imposing presence, resonating with an intimidating force. It was Sigfrid. Dressed in elegant attire, but with a hint of casualness, his smile was cold, calculating. “That is the Academy uniform,” Sigfrid observed, his voice a soft melody with an underlying note of menace. The seemingly innocent comment carried the weight of knowledge, a knowledge that Bishop shared, and it foreshadowed an inevitable confrontation.