A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 46: Shadow

"Hey, I said come with me."

"......."

"Seriously, you little...."

But as the three, the ones responsible for the strange atmosphere, remained silent and rooted in place even when addressed by the instructor, the whispering among students died down, and they began to quietly observe the situation.

‘What the hell is going on now?’

Standing beside Meredia with an awkward smile, I also held my breath and watched the situation unfold while muttering inwardly.

‘Why of all people are those three dropping out?’

Robin—who dominated all kinds of martial skills like swordsmanship, archery, and firearms. Charlie—with overwhelming intelligence and magical talent. And Hayden—a perfectly balanced type who could perform above average in any skill.

Choosing them in Blacktail Fantasy 3 gave you a higher clear rate than all other characters combined.

That’s why, if even one of them became the Hero, I could confidently leave the Saintess in their care and focus on my own goals.

‘Should I be the one to stop them?’

For the sake of my future convenience, I was seriously considering grabbing onto their pants legs and begging, when—

"If it’s not an imposition... I’d like to speak with Lord Whitney."

"What?"

Even in front of the instructor with a scowling face, Hayden—who had kept silent—suddenly blurted out my name.

"I’d like to speak with him too."

"Me as well."

And in the next moment, Robin and Charlie, who had been standing beside him, raised their hands and echoed Hayden’s request.

‘...Is this some kind of prank?’

Lost in that dumb thought for a moment, I suddenly realized every gaze had turned to me. Feeling awkward, I shrank back and forced a sheepish smile.

I’d lived my whole life apart from people’s attention, so I had absolutely no tolerance for being in the spotlight like this.

"Why Lord Whitney, specifically?"

"......."

"...You’re killing me. Why do you all keep stopping mid-sentence?"

Still, I couldn’t exactly continue acting like a wallflower in a situation like this.

"Please calm down, sir."

"Ah, Lord Whitney."

"I’ll speak with the students. Haha..."

Well, the fate of the world was kind of riding on all this. I had to grit my teeth and endure the squirmy feeling of being everyone’s center of attention.

"...Very well, then please, go ahead."

"I’d like a private audience with Lord Whitney."

"Me too."

"As do I."

Even though I’d resolved myself and stepped forward, when all three students turned their gazes to me and spoke in unison, I started feeling a bit self-conscious.

"...Is this part of your plan too?"

"How could it be?"

Lady Meredia looked at me suspiciously from the side, but I swear, I have no clue why those students are suddenly doing this.

"Lord Whitney, I hope our students aren’t troubling you..."

"No, not at all. I’d like to hear what this is about."

"...Then I leave it to you."

Still, seeing the look of earnest concern on the instructor’s face, I figured I’d better do my best to talk to them—whatever the reason might be.

"All three of you, please come with me."

"......."

"Haha, I’ll take that silence as agreement, then?"

With that, I gestured for them to follow me and stepped out of the waiting room. The three of them, who had been silently watching me, trailed along obediently.

"I bet this is part of some plan too...."

"If you're cold to Lord Whitney now, you’re definitely going to regret it someday."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Haaah... There are things you just don’t understand yet, Cecil."

"Hey, I’m the same first-year as Lady Adel."

As I passed by Cecil and Adel, I overheard a strange exchange that tickled my curiosity, but I had no time to dwell on it, so I ignored it.

"...Alright then."

Anyway, having escaped that chaotic atmosphere, I finally stood face to face with the three troublemaking students, ready to give them a good scolding—

"Shhh."

"Huh?"

—when suddenly, Hayden, who was right behind me, urgently put a finger to his lips, his face pale. I instinctively closed my mouth.

‘...You want me to follow?’

Then, as he quietly gestured and walked off with the other two, I tilted my head for a moment—then reversed course and began following them instead.

***

How far had we walked?

"...This place?"

We had arrived at a storage room on the outskirts of the main academy building, not too far from the waiting area.

"Are we going inside...?"

Nod...

"...Hmm."

The three students standing in front of the door stared silently at me, and after a moment, each gave a slow nod. I tilted my head again and cautiously stepped forward.

Creak...

And just as I reached out and turned the rusted doorknob—

‘...Huh?’

A chill ran down the back of my neck, and then that deeply unpleasant sensation I could never get used to washed over me.

‘This... Black Mana?’

The energy flooding out from inside the room was nearly identical to what I’d felt in the midterm dungeon.

"What is this...?"

Startled, I froze for a moment and tried to summon White Mana—

Wham...

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"Ugh!"

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

But someone suddenly shoved me from behind, and before I could react, I stumbled straight into the open doorway.

"......."

Then came a terrifying, eerie silence.

"...Heh."

Looking around the dim room in confusion, I let out a breathless, dazed chuckle as I caught sight of something.

"I didn’t see this coming..."

Robin, Charlie, and Hayden—who had been behind me just moments ago—were inside the storage room, tied to pillars and unconscious.

"...Then who were the ones who brought me here?"

As I stared, breath held, at their miserable state, that question suddenly crept into my head—and with it, a cold shiver ran down my spine.

"Mm! Mmph!"

And then, from the floor at my feet where my gaze had been fixed forward, came the sound of someone choking back a muffled voice.

"Mmmph!"

"......!"

The sound made goosebumps rise across my entire body. I lowered my eyes and instinctively took a step back—

And there she was.

A female instructor, gagged and writhing weakly on the ground.

"Rebecca...?"

"Mmmph..."

The woman I had recently turned into an informant to uncover the black mages’ plans was staring up at ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ me, her eyes filled with fear.

"Why are you... here...?"

"...Mmph! Mmmmmm!"

As I was reeling from the cascade of unexpected events, her pupils—already wide—suddenly dilated even further.

Fssssssss...

Then, in an instant, her eyes bloodshot, a thick black smoke began to rise from her mouth.

"This is..."

It was almost identical to the symptoms I’d seen from the black mage who cursed my teacup the day I regained my memories from my previous life.

‘I have to get out of here.’

An overwhelming instinct told me I shouldn’t stay in this place any longer. I turned to flee.

"...Tch, I guess that won’t work."

But the three students—or rather, whatever was imitating them—were already standing in front of the door, blocking the way. It was clear that I wasn’t getting out of here without a fight.

"Those children are doppelgängers I crafted myself."

"......?"

"Not just them. I’ve scattered things like them all across the world."

Then came a voice from behind me, laced with amusement.

"And to think, this is our first time meeting face-to-face."

Rebecca, who had been bound just moments ago, was now standing upright as if none of it had ever happened, casually speaking like an entirely different person.

"...Hold on."

I stood there stunned for a moment, until I noticed what had changed about her.

"Your eyes... they’ve turned black."

"Hmm?"

Black mages often have their pupils turn black when using black magic. But in her case, even the whites of her eyes had darkened—almost like some kind of cursed inverse.

Her usual red eyes were now dim and lifeless, which triggered a memory in the back of my mind.

‘They look just like Meredia’s eyes when she became the final boss.’

Back then, both I and the players just assumed it was a symbol of her corruption.

But seeing that exact same visual right in front of me now... it didn’t feel like a coincidence anymore.

"Who are you?"

"...I thought you might have figured it out already."

Even as I tried to steady my pounding heart, I managed to voice the question.

"I am the Great Shadow."

"......."

"I trust that’s explanation enough?"

Her answer made me nearly groan out loud.

‘The game’s biggest MacGuffin just pops up in front of me like this? That’s cheating.’

I wanted to deny it, but doing so would just be escapism at this point.

"You’re a white mage. I don’t need any further proof."

"...Haha..."

The black mana surging in this dark storage room was on a level beyond any black mage or monster I had encountered so far.

"I don’t know how you managed to fool the black mages or impersonate me, but I was impressed."

"......."

"But you should’ve known. My eyes and ears are on every black mage in existence."

The murderous energy seeping from her aura made it clear—this woman intended to kill me here.

"Well then, enough small talk. Let’s get to the point."

Just as I braced myself and clenched my jaw in silence, she smiled and asked something completely unexpected.

"How would you like to become one of my shadow warriors?"

"What?"

At first, I thought she was toying with her prey—playing with me before the kill. But that wasn’t it.

"I mean it literally. I want you to be my stand-in."

"Uh......"

"I can turn your lie... into reality."

She had approached so silently that I didn’t even realize how close she was until she reached out and took my hand. Her fingers gently tapped at the edge of my soul—almost like she was knocking.

"...So? What do you say?"

In other words, she was asking me to enter into a pact not unlike the one Lunelle made.

"Uh, excuse me..."

Naturally, with my plans now completely in ruins, I could only stare at her in shock and ask the obvious question.

"Why me, of all people?"

That’s when she leaned in close, her face practically brushing against mine, black energy radiating from her body. Her smile widened, twisted and monstrous, as she whispered:

"...You’re exactly my type."

"Ha...ha..."

If I live through this, I swear I’m getting plastic surgery.

***

‘Good thing I got involved ahead of time.’

While Whitney stood there drenched in cold sweat, seriously contemplating the curse that was his face—

‘Can’t believe I almost let such a perfect gem slip through my fingers...’

The self-proclaimed "Great Shadow" who stood across from him let out a delightedly sinister smile, her excitement clearly visible as she continued to prod at Whitney’s soul.

‘...I must make him mine and devour him.’

To be precise, it wasn’t Whitney himself she was fixated on—but the strange, grayish aura clinging to his soul.