Inside the Astrea Estate’s office, Vanitas sat at his desk, speaking to Vincenzo Gambino through a communication crystal.
——That agreement will have to be put on hold for now, Astrea.
“Is that so? May I ask why?” Vanitas asked.
——My daughter has been kidnapped.
“….”
Vanitas paused for a moment before clearing his throat.
“What happened? Were they ambushed at the passageway?”
——Unfortunately, yes. We don’t know how the information leaked, but when we inspected the scene, all the men I entrusted to escort her were dead. And there was no sign of my daughter.
“I see.”
——Astrea, I’m not accusing you, but do you have any idea how the information could’ve leaked?
Vanitas chose his words carefully. If he said the wrong thing, the suspicion might fall on him.
The news of Anastasia Gambino’s return to Aetherion had only been shared with a select few; himself, Vincenzo, Luca, and the men assigned to escort her.
He immediately ruled out the two. It wasn’t him, after all.
Vincenzo, as a doting father, would never stage his own daughter’s kidnapping, either.
But Luca….
In the game’s narrative, Luca was in love with Anastasia Gambino and served as Vincenzo’s right-hand man.
That love and loyalty likely still held true in this reality.
Could it have been a ploy? Something dramatic, like rescuing her to win her heart? A knight in shining armor kind of act?
“Sounds cheesy.”
——What?
“Nothing, Sir Gambino.”
For now, he had no proof. Everything was merely speculation on his part.
With those thoughts in mind, he redirected the conversation.
“The escorts,” he said.
——The escorts?
“Think about it,” Vanitas continued. “They knew the route, the timing, and exactly who they’d be ambushing. Someone gave them that information.”
——You’re suggesting there’s a traitor in my Family?
“It’s a possibility. If not, then how else would they know where and when to strike?”
——….
The other end of the line went quiet for a moment.
——This is serious. If what you’re saying is true, Astrea, this could be devastating. I’ll investigate every single escort and trace this leak. If there’s a mole in my Family, I’ll deal with it.
“Understood. Keep me informed. I’ll do what I can to help from my end.”
——Thank you. If you learn anything, let me know immediately. My daughter’s life is at stake.
“Yes.”
The communication cut off from there.
Luca was undeniably loyal to the Gambino Family. Yet, when love was brought to the table, even the most steadfast of men could falter.
An unreachable flower like Anastasia could drive anyone to the brink.
Despite that, in the game’s narrative, the Gambino Family always had a happy ending.
There was no need for him to meddle.
“I just need to get that deal done.”
***
“Are you expecting someone, Miss Roselyn?” one of her assistants asked suddenly.
“Ah,” Roselyn blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. “W–Why do you think so?”
“Well, you usually don’t come to the workshop dressed like this….”
Roselyn glanced down at her attire; a neatly pressed blue blouse, a sleek white skirt, and polished shoes. It was quite the contrast to her usual practical and slightly messy work clothes.
“….I just felt like dressing up today.”
“Hmm~” the assistant replied, seemingly unconvinced. “If you say so~”
Roselyn pouted but turned her attention back to the prototype gauntlet on the table. Today, she had invited Professor Vanitas to test the gauntlet he had requested.
To— Tok.
Moments later, a knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts, and her heart leaped unexpectedly.
“Hoo… Calm down, Roselyn,” she muttered, fanning her face in an attempt to steady herself.
One of the assistants started toward the door, but Roselyn quickly rushed forward. “Ah, I’ll do it!” she said, cutting them off.
“Oh~?”
The assistant raised a teasing eyebrow and stepped back.
Roselyn hesitated for a moment, fixing her hair and adjusting her blouse before opening the door.
Standing there was Professor Vanitas, wearing his signature black blazer as always.
“Professor,” she greeted, trying to maintain her professionalism. “Please, come in.”
“Roselyn, thanks for having me,” Vanitas said with a nod and stepped inside.
His gaze swept over the room before landing on the gauntlet on the table.
“I assume that’s the prototype?”
“Yes!” Roselyn said, closing the door behind him. “It’s ready for testing.”
“Alright.” Vanitas walked over to the table, examining the gauntlet. “May I?”
“By all means, Professor.”
“Oh~” one of the assistants teased from the corner.
“….!”
Roselyn shot them a glare, and they quickly turned back to their work, pretending to be busy.
Vanitas, seemingly unbothered, picked up the gauntlet. His fingers traced the complex carvings and adjustments Roselyn had made.
“You’ve done excellent work here. I didn’t expect the attention to detail.”
Roselyn’s heart swelled at the compliment.
“Thank you, Professor. I incorporated the adjustments you suggested, but I also added a stabilizer to improve its performance under high mana output.”
Vanitas raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? That’s amazing.”
He slid his hand into the gauntlet and flexed his fingers, testing its fit and movement.
“Smooth response,” he commented. “The mana flow is seamless. Did you modify the base?”
“Yes, I reinforced it with a mana crystal to enhance durability,” Roselyn said, stepping closer.
Turning to her, he asked. “Do you have a testing ground?”
“Yes, just through that door,” Roselyn said, pointing to the chamber adjacent to the workshop.
Vanitas walked toward the door. Roselyn followed closely behind.
Her assistants exchanged knowing looks as they watched the two leave.
——They’re quite the pair, huh?
Roselyn paused at the doorway, turning back with a glare. “Focus on your work.”
The assistants stifled their laughter and went back to their tasks as Roselyn and Vanitas disappeared into the testing chamber.
Inside the chamber, Roselyn clasped her hands behind her back, watching intently as Vanitas adjusted the gauntlet on his hand.
He raised his arm and flexed his fingers experimentally, as if testing the gauntlet’s responsiveness. Then, with a swift motion, he pointed forward like a finger pistol.
He began to mutter a chant under his breath. Purple sparks coiled around his form, crawling along his arm and concentrating on the gauntlet.
The air in the room grew heavy, and Roselyn felt goosebumps crawl all over her skin.
Now that she thought about it, she had never seen the Professor’s magic even once.
“Hollow Purple.”
Crackle——!
Purple lightning jagged outward, twisting and coalescing as it condensed into a glowing ball of purple plasma.
Boom———!
The ball of energy slammed into the reinforced wall at the end of the chamber with a thunderous roar. The impact left a smoldering mark on the wall.
“Wow….” Roselyn’s eyes widened in shock.
Vanitas lowered his hand and turned to her. “It’s great. There’s still a bit of strain in the arm, though.”
He flexed his fingers before nodding in satisfaction.
Pouring mana into his spectacles, he scanned the gauntlet.
———「Unnamed」———
◆ Description: A sleek, black-steel gauntlet embedded with the Ethereal Fragment and Numen’s Azure Shard, serving as a powerful medium for spellcasting.
◆ Effects:
◆ Enhances mana detection within 500 meters.
◆ Slowly restores mana when held.
◆ Significantly enhances the potency and efficiency of spells.
◆ Harmonizes with the wielder’s mana, granting improved control in spellcasting.
——————
‘Crazy….’
Though he remembered wielding even better equipment during his time as a player, this gauntlet was impressive.
It was a near-perfect medium and an ideal match for the character, Vanitas Astrea.
“Thank you, Roselyn.”
Roselyn blinked in surprise. “….You’re welcome, Professor. I’m glad it meets your expectations.”
“It exceeds them,” he replied, inspecting the gauntlet one last time before removing it and handing it back to her. “You’ve done excellent work.”
Roselyn’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she took the gauntlet with both hands. “It’s still a prototype. There’s still room for improvement.”
Vanitas nodded. “Then keep refining it. Once you’re satisfied, let me know. I’ll support your work if you need more resources.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Talent like yours shouldn’t be limited. Keep up the good work.”
When they returned to the workshop, Vanitas glanced around.
Realizing what he was looking for, Roselyn spoke up.
“Ah, about the coin, Professor. It’s still dormant, unfortunately. Reactivating it has proven…. difficult.”
“Is that so? It’s fine. Since you’re giving me the gauntlet for free, it’s only right I pay for the coin. Name your price.”
Roselyn waved her hands quickly, flustered. “No, no. It’s fine. You’ve helped me so much, Professor. I’d like to dedicate my first two official works to my savior—”
“Don’t do this. Your work is exceptional,” Vanitas insisted.
“Then….”
“8,000,000 Rend,” a voice interrupted.
Both turned to see Sienna entering the workshop.
“Miss Sienna?” Roselyn blinked in surprise.
“Nice to see you again, Roselyn. You too, Professor Astrea,” Sienna greeted with a nod.
“Miss Sienna,” Vanitas replied, acknowledging her with a nod.
“At least, that’s what it would take….”
Sienna walked further into the room.
“But I’ve heard from Roselyn. You were the one who saved us during the incident at the Alchemy Tower.”
“It was nothing.”
“Nothing?” Sienna raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t call stepping into a hostage situation and stopping a demon-fueled rampage ‘nothing.'”
Roselyn looked between them nervously. “Miss Sienna, about the coin—”
“It’s worth every bit of 8,000,000 Rend,” Sienna cut in, crossing her arms. “But considering the circumstances, and the fact that you saved my life, I think we can negotiate.”
“Negotiate how?” Vanitas tilted his head.
“How about this? You take the coin for free, on the condition that you continue to invest in Roselyn’s work. Her potential is too great to be stifled by a lack of resources or opportunities.”
Vanitas considered her offer for a moment before nodding. “Fair enough. I was planning on supporting her work anyway.”
“Good,” Sienna said with a smile. “Then it’s settled.”
Roselyn’s face lit up, but she quickly lowered her gaze, trying to contain her excitement.
“Thank you, Miss Sienna. And thank you, Professor.”
Vanitas waved it off. “Just keep working hard.”
“I will!”
***
“Hmm….”
The rain poured steadily outside for days with no signs of stopping. Inside the Drama Club room, Silas sat deep in thought, staring at the script he was working on.
Specifically, he was writing lines for the lead role, a part he planned for Charlotte.
“Are you done yet, Silas?” the club president asked.
Most of the other members had already submitted their drafts for the play’s script. Silas was the only one left.
“Not yet, President,” he replied.
“Alright, but don’t forget, the deadline is tomorrow.”
“I know.”
It wasn’t entirely his fault. He had been preoccupied with solving Professor Vanitas’s test, which had consumed most of his time. Thankfully, he managed to finish it in six days.
“I’m here!”
The door slid open, and a woman, with jet–black hair and pitch–black eyes stepped inside.
“Sorry I’m late!”
It was Charlotte.
“It’s okay, Charlotte. Sit down,” the club president said.
Charlotte nodded, walking over and taking a seat beside Silas. She glanced at his desk, noticing the mess of crumpled papers and scattered notes.
“Stuck?” she asked.
“Yes,” Silas nodded. “Do you have any suggestions?”
“Let me see.”
Charlotte leaned over and scanned the script Silas had been struggling with.
The two had been working on it together for days. At first, Charlotte thought the story’s theme was a bit questionable.
But as she delved deeper into its nuances, she realized it was bold, daring, and controversial enough to grab significant attention.
“This part,” Charlotte said, pointing at a line. “It feels too forced. Maybe if you toned it down, it would flow better.”
“You think so?”
“Yes.”
Silas nodded and scribbled down each of Charlotte’s suggestions into the margins.
“Okay. What about this scene? The confrontation. Does it feel dramatic enough?”
Charlotte leaned closer, reading the lines carefully. “It’s good, but the lead’s response here doesn’t match the tension. Maybe add a pause or some hesitation to show the internal conflict.”
Silas glanced at her for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”
Unlike her brother, Charlotte was nothing like he expected. She was smart, dedicated, dependable, and her visuals were no joke. Despite everything, he felt a tinge of regret for choosing her as the lead role.
But at this point, it couldn’t be helped.
It had to be done.
Time passed, and with Charlotte’s help, Silas finally overcame the part he’d been stuck on.
Once that was finished, the rest of the script flowed smoothly. Together, they worked for hours, polishing and editing every line.
After about three hours, the two exchanged a glance and chuckled.
“Good work,” Silas said, stretching his arms.
“You too,” Charlotte replied with a nod.
Silas stood up, holding the completed script in hand, and approached the club president.
“Here’s my submission…. No,” he paused, glancing at Charlotte before continuing, “our submission.”
The president took the script and flipped through the pages.
“Alright, I’ll give it a read later. Tomorrow, we’ll finalize which script to choose for the festival’s play.”
She skimmed the first page, pausing at the title. Looking up, she raised an eyebrow.
“Für Elise?”