Chapter 39: Capina (3)

‘So this is how it was.’

The people here seemed to have a rough idea of what was going to happen.

As soon as Bucena called them to the second floor, their faces lit up with unmistakable joy.

“Looks like…”

“Yes. It seems this is how they’re carrying out the operation.”

The atmosphere of the party was relaxed, lifting spirits and getting everyone drunk.

And in that state, when offered Capina, most would think it’s fine to try it just once.

‘And then they end up like that.’

“Kuhuhu, ahhhhh, I’m so happy. Ahhh, this is the best.”

A voice filled with ecstasy could be heard from the other room.

Along with other noises that made my head spin, but one thing was clear—this wasn’t a normal situation.

“…They’ve blocked the communication crystals.”

“Right. They could’ve just attacked us directly.”

Bucena was meticulous.

As soon as she called everyone to the second floor, she cut off all communication using the crystals.

“The walls are tougher than expected.”

“I could break them with my magic, but…”

“That would hurt the people outside.”

It was a dilemma.

The walls were too thick for my sword to cut through.

Rozennia could probably break them, but her magic isn’t precise enough for that.

“Let’s get out first.”

With Capina in hand, we stepped back into the hallway to find a way out.

‘Everyone’s enjoying their happy time.’

The hallway was filled with strange noises, moans, and other sounds.

It seemed like everyone had taken Capina and entered their own little worlds.

‘Some of them probably didn’t want to, but were forced.’

But the fact that they took it doesn’t change.

No matter the circumstances, they’ll face punishment.

We moved slowly from the far end of the hallway, making our way through the long second-floor corridor until we reached the stairs leading down to the first floor.

Since there was no resistance as we descended, I thought we could escape easily.

“…Oh my, where are you going, Lady Rose?”

That was until I saw Bucena blocking the entrance to the first floor.

“I suddenly feel unwell. I’m going back.”

Rozennia replied as calmly as possible, hiding her panic.

“Hoho, I’m afraid you can’t leave here.”

“…Why not?”

“Because you haven’t yet experienced the joy.”

Snap!

As Bucena snapped her fingers, figures in robes appeared around us.

“Don’t be afraid. Just drink the wine I offer, and I’ll let you go.”

Bucena smiled slyly as she handed over a glass of wine, from which a sweet and sour aroma wafted.

‘So this is how they’ve been forcing it on people.’

Capina, once taken, causes severe addiction.

Whether you’re a knight imbued with magic or a mage, it doesn’t matter.

So, by forcing it on them and keeping them under her control, she must have planned to keep them from escaping.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can drink it. I’m not feeling well.”

“…Ah, what a pity. To miss out on this joy. Well, I guess there’s no helping it.”

As Roszenia continued to refuse, Bucena’s expression drooped with disappointment.

“Force it down their throats.”

She ordered the robed figures.

“Bow your head!”

“Ugh.”

At the same time, I drew the sword hidden inside my jacket and swung it at them.

They didn’t expect a counterattack, so a few of them fell.

“Grab them! Grab them and share the joy with them!”

Bucena, who always wore a calm smile, now looked like a demon as she screamed.

‘Ten of them are too much.’

If it were a guerrilla fight, we could buy some time, but we were trapped indoors.

If we didn’t break through somewhere, it was only a matter of time before we were surrounded.

As I was trying to figure out what to do,

[Frozen Pector]

A low incantation echoed from beside me.

Crash!

Like an ice bomb exploding, countless ice spears shot out around her.

I was out of range, so I wasn’t badly hurt, but the others weren’t so lucky.

“Junior! Take care of the rest!”

In an instant, the situation was resolved, and I nodded slowly, still dazed.

‘Right, Rozennia’s no joke either.’

Sometimes, moments like this remind me.

That they are people with talents rivaling the protagonists of this world.

While I was racking my brain, worrying and overthinking,

She just cast one spell, and the situation was resolved.

‘Well, it’s easier for me this way.’

I knocked out the ones who were still trying to get up after Rozennia’s spell and tied them up with some fabric I found.

Since it was a party venue, finding something to use as rope wasn’t difficult.

“Bucena, why did you do this?”

“Ah, I did what I had to do. So please, grant me the overflowing talent and power…”

After subduing Bucena, I asked her why she did all this, but she kept repeating the same sentence, clearly out of her mind.

“The power to take revenge on those who ignored me… the power you promised me…”

“…Can’t you see us? Answer me!”

Bucena remained unresponsive, so we decided to ignore her and call for backup.

“Should we call the guards?”

“Yeah, I’ll handle that.”

We had prepared for combat and injuries, but the infiltration ended much easier than expected.

Looking closely at the people Rozennia had subdued, they seemed like third-rate thugs with little magical power.

‘This shouldn’t have been the end…’

What did they want to achieve by doing this?

What was the purpose of Capina, and who spread it?

***

Bucena was the public face, but neither Rozennia nor I believed she acted alone.

After capturing Bucena, things ended rather anticlimactically.

A large amount of Capina was found in her dorm, so the Empire considered her one of the main culprits and began an investigation.

The problem was that she showed no intention of talking.

“You’re back?”

“Yeah, it seems like it’s over.”

“For now, at least. It doesn’t seem to be spreading further.”

The aftermath was messy, but all the Capina that had been exposed was recovered.

Moreover, since the incident had become widely known in the Empire, people would think twice before messing with it.

Those already showing signs of addiction were recovering.

Some were suffering from delirium and other mental illnesses, but there were also those with strong wills who were overcoming it.

‘Some were forced into it, after all.’

With Bucena captured, the priority now was to find the person who manufactured it.

Until then, we couldn’t be sure we had completely eradicated it.

‘What was their goal…’

Those spreading Capina seemed to be aiming to cause chaos in the Empire.

If it were for money, it wouldn’t have spread like this.

“Let’s see, the list…”

Through this incident, it was revealed that around 200 people in Arcane had taken Capina.

A larger number than expected.

‘Not many lowerclassmen. Mostly upperclassmen… Huh?’

Most of those who took Capina were third and fourth years.

There were some first and second years, but they were a minority.

Since Bucena was a third year, it made sense she targeted those easier to approach, but there were still unnatural aspects.

‘Rozennia said she only knew her by face and had barely spoken to her.’

As the list of those who had taken it grew, there was no need to worry…

‘Wait a minute.’

Weren’t most third years currently at the border regions because of the Black Field?

“…Damn, were these bastards aiming for that?”

Among the list of names, those who hadn’t given statements yet were all at the border regions, hunting demonic beasts.

Which meant…

“They must have taken a lot of Capina with them.”

The border regions are places where death is a daily occurrence.

Demonic beasts invade every day, and casualties are high.

Naturally, the atmosphere there is far from pleasant.

Every moment is filled with tension—whether you’ll survive tomorrow, how many beasts will attack.

In such an environment, if something like Capina, which relaxes and uplifts, were to spread…

‘…The defense line could collapse.’

Capina would spread through them, reaching not just Arcane students but even the soldiers.

If that happened, those who should be fighting the demonic beasts would all lose their minds.

“This… damn it, Senior Rose! Grab this and follow me!”

We needed to inform the headmaster and the Empire immediately.

Before a greater disaster struck.