Surviving the Magic Academy With Just Intelligence Stats-Chapter 58: Empire Spies

The dense forest canopy filtered the afternoon sunlight, casting dappled shadows across three figures making their way through the underbrush. Their movements were careful and deliberate, each step calculated to minimize noise despite their casual conversation.

Wei Ruohan’s flowing white robes with their intricate silver embroidery of clouds and wind patterns caught what little light penetrated the forest ceiling, making her appear almost ethereal. The traditional mage’s attire had been subtly modified to blend with Avaloria Kingdom’s fashion, its wide sleeves perfect for concealing both spell components and weapons. Her high-collared, multi-layered design offered surprising protection without sacrificing elegance, while her hair was partially secured with a jade hairpin that served as more than mere decoration – it was a focus for her magical abilities.

"Are you sure that you saw it right?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of tension that belied her composed exterior.

Beside her, Shin Akira adjusted his wire-rimmed spectacles – a habitual gesture that cleverly drew attention away from his sharp, analytical gaze. His deliberately unremarkable attire – a well-made but plain dark blue tunic over black pants, complemented by a leather vest riddled with hidden pockets – was chosen specifically to be forgettable. "Of course I saw it right, I’m an observer! Are you doubting my eyesight?" he retorted, clearly offended by the implication.

Park Min-jae’s massive frame moved between them with surprising grace, his mercenary’s gear barely making a sound despite its robust construction. The thick leather armor, reinforced with metal plates, bore the subtle hallmarks of Xia craftsmanship, while his heavy fur-lined cloak made his already impressive stature seem even more imposing. Unknown to casual observers, the cloak’s lining concealed several defensive talismans, their power waiting to be awakened.

"Now now, let’s calm down. I’m sure Akira wouldn’t mistake a dungeon," Min-jae intervened, his diplomatic tone at odds with his warrior’s appearance.

Ruohan turned away with a dismissive "Hmph! If we get late because of you, just know that I won’t be taking the blame for it." Akira mirrored her action, creating a moment of childish tension that made Min-jae smile nervously as he wondered, "Are we really going to be fine?"

The levity of their interaction masked a far more serious reality. As spies from the Xia Empire, their mission seemed simple enough – reconnaissance to assess the kingdom’s vulnerability following the battle involving the Mad Star. Yet each of them carried the heavy knowledge that this assignment was essentially a death sentence. Whether they succeeded in gathering intelligence or not, their chances of leaving the kingdom alive were virtually nonexistent.

Despite the disappearance of the Mad Star, they couldn’t afford to underestimate Avaloria’s ten great families. The possibility that this whole situation was an elaborate trap – drawing in attackers only to crush them when they least expected it – couldn’t be ignored. Their task was to observe and report any suspicious activities immediately.

However, Akira’s discovery of an unexplored C-rank dungeon had introduced an unexpected variable into their mission. If they could successfully explore it and secure its resources for the empire, such a contribution might be enough to change their fate.

The dense foliage finally gave way to a clearing, and all three gasped in unison. There, shimmering with ethereal energy, stood the unmistakable form of a dungeon portal.

"Do you believe me now?" Akira’s smug satisfaction was evident in his voice.

Min-jae laughed warmly, ruffling both his companions’ hair with casual affection. "Of course we believed you. Ruohan was just nervous because it’s her first mission outside the empire."

Ruohan remained silent, her eyes fixed on the portal as she contemplated what lay beyond. Without further discussion, the three approached the entrance, each step carrying them closer to what they hoped might be their salvation rather than their doom. The portal’s surface rippled invitingly as they stepped through, leaving the peaceful forest clearing behind.

…

In the dimly lit cavern, Xiao Yue, the fox princess, sat with her head clutched between her hands, her entire frame trembling with shock. The weight of Marcus’s revelations crashed over her like a tidal wave – not just the passage of a millennium, but the devastating truth about her clan’s fate. Her fox ears lay flat against her head, quivering with each ragged breath she took.

"This can’t be..." she whispered, her voice breaking. The fox clan she had proudly led into battle, the warriors who had followed her without question – all of them, gone. Their deaths weren’t just casualties of war; they were the direct result of her impetuous leadership. If she had only shown more patience, waited just a little longer, her people might have lived to see the peace treaty signed.

"Hey! Are you okay?" Marcus’s concerned voice barely penetrated her spiral of self-recrimination.

Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, Xiao Yue sprang to her feet. Her small hands shot out, grabbing Marcus’s collar with surprising strength, her claws digging into the fabric. "Please help me!" she pleaded, shaking him with desperate energy. "Please..." Tears streamed down her face, catching the dim light of the cavern.

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"Hey, it’s alright. I didn’t say I won’t help," Marcus tried to gentle disengage her grip, but her claws remained firmly embedded in his clothing.

With trembling hands, Xiao Yue reached into her dress and withdrew an ancient scroll, its surface weathered by time. "T-there are still members of the fox clan left," she announced, her voice steadying slightly.

Marcus stared at her in confusion. In all his knowledge of the future, he had never encountered even a whisper of surviving fox clan members. Their extinction was considered absolute historical fact.

"Yes, they exist!" she insisted, noting his skeptical expression. "Although people said that I was never the smart type, I wasn’t stupid enough to also take the elderly and children to battle." Her words carried a hint of pride beneath the desperation.

Understanding dawned on Marcus’s face as she continued, "Although they are still alive, they’re still in hiding. We hid them and told them that if we don’t come back, they should assume that we have lost the war and never come out." Her voice cracked as she added, "Now that we’ve been gone for so long, I can’t imagine how they feel."

Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as she made her final plea, "Please! Will you let my people also enjoy the peace?"

Marcus regarded her thoughtfully before asking, "Why are you telling me this? What if I am a bad person?" The ease with which she revealed such a monumental secret surprised him.

But Xiao Yue’s response was immediate and filled with absolute conviction: "How could the bearer of light be a bad person?" Her eyes fixed on him with complete trust, reflecting the faith she placed in the divine power she sensed within him.