# Enhanced Translation
Once upon a time, as I've previously reflected, each nation in the Allied Kingdoms diligently cultivates their own intelligence organizations.
Among the 12 countries that make up the Allied Kingdoms, the four major powers—Droan, Kalion, Tilles, and Krasilov—have somewhat more professional operations than the others.
For instance, Droan's intelligence organization consists of devotees of the four elements.
Water, which always knows the answer.
Magical fire, which makes one spill the truth when burned.
Mysterious wind, which makes one confess the past when tied to a pole.
The silent earth, which conceals all truths when buried.
Combine the love of these four elements and you have the Droan-style intelligence organization. In reality, it simply meant bringing people in and beating them up.
In contrast, the elves of the Kalion Archipelago preferred a much more sophisticated approach.
As pioneers of Mind Sorcery, their espionage methods are incredibly refined and considerate.
Their specialty was friendly information gathering through "befriending" (brainwashing) and "playing around" (memory manipulation).
Tilles, the kingdom of knights. When they want to know something, they ask straightforwardly. A truly righteous approach—except for the fact that they consider it an insult if you don't answer and initiate trial by combat.
Meanwhile, the Annihilation Squad that Ivan belonged to and its predecessor, "Enrique's Children," along with its successor, the Krasilov Counterintelligence Command, prefer surprisingly modern espionage activities.
'Observation,' 'evidence collection,' 'signals intelligence,' 'technical information acquisition,' 'terrain analysis,' 'human intelligence network establishment'...
In other words, they conduct orthodox intelligence activities that other powers describe as "stubborn."
-Today ate a sandwich for lunch again. Ingredients: chicken breast. Sauce appears to be mustard. Nutritional imbalance concerning. Absence of vegetables except tomato. Will recommend a more vegetable-based diet.
Ivan, responsible for the safety and health of the Hero Party members, removed his hand from the telescope after noting this critical intelligence in his notebook.
ep10. Stalker vs. Stalker
The unprecedented incident of all Knight Department freshmen being confined to the infirmary brought unexpected consequences.
"This isn't reaaaaal!"
The exam period was extended by one week.
If only one or two test-takers had been absent, they would have been failed or given a makeup exam.
But when almost all department students became seriously injured, the department declared a one-week school closure.
While practical exams wouldn't have been an issue, written exams were a different matter. Physical education students experiencing academic studying for the first time in their lives gritted their teeth in frustration.
Their targets were mainly Theology, Magic, Fine Arts, and Music departments...
Among them, particularly the Music students.
"Why you guuuuys!"
"We're both arts departments!! Why are you the only ones so happy?!"
"Ican'tbelievethisitcan'tberealthiscan'tberealhowcanitberealwhyshouldastudentstudywrittenexams?"
For reference, Music students also study written material: music history, form analysis, counterpoint, harmony. They actually have more written subjects than the Knight Department.
Of course, such facts are irrelevant to armed brutes.
Those Music Department bastards.
They either suddenly burst into a cappella singing in their club rooms (vocal majors practicing),
Or randomly play instruments while walking across campus (orchestral majors rehearsing).
While honest, hardworking citizens struggle to make ends meet day by day, these guys just sit in marketplaces singing and make money! (Busking is actually extremely difficult.)
"Ugh, look at that sweat. Mister, before entering a restaurant, you need to shower. That means pouring water on your body, lathering up with soap, scrubbing every part of your body, and rinsing off with water again."
"These crazy bitches...!!"
Such scenes could be easily found across the university campus during this period.
Knights Department students filled with rage and Music Department students mocking them.
It's unclear who decided to group the Knights Department and Music Department under the same Arts College, but may they be cursed.
Asidis was singing a song of sorrow in these chaotic times.
"Next."
"Crazy bitch... crazy bitch..."
At the outdoor gymnasium in the Arts College campus.
Asidis stared eerily at the twisted fingerboard while holding her violin bow upside down.
Behind her were her department classmates.
In front of her were Knight Department students who had lost their fighting spirit.
At her feet lay five corpses (not really) with one corner of their heads cracked.
This was all the result of the strongest Music student in history rising up valiantly for justice.
Violin #1 had sacrificed itself for its friend,
Violin #2 had met an untimely demise,
And now, Violin #3 was fighting to the death for her honor.
As previously noted, an instrument is a musician's life.
Asidis was punishing these insolent intruders who had stepped on the Music Department's front gate, wielding her life force.
"That's five Knights Department students beaten by a Music Department freshman!"
"Ahahahaha!"
"Behold, you ignorant fools. Extremely advanced 'music' is indistinguishable from 'force'..."
"Go back. And tell everyone... that the Music Department now 'reigns' over all departments in the Arts College..."
Upper-class students wouldn't participate in freshmen games.
The Knight Department seniors were watching their freshmen getting beaten and whimpering while eating popcorn, and the Music Department seniors didn't have the confidence to beat Knight Department freshmen in the first place.
So naturally, this "duel" had transformed into a festival for Arts College freshmen. (Note: The Knight Department is still in exam period.)
Traitors from the top of their classes like Yuri, Isabelle, and Oskar were shamefully ignoring this secret affair and focusing on their exam studies, so the students had only one option left.
The Heavenly Demon... who could make the entire department kneel with practical skills alone without ever studying!
"Bring... bring the boss!"
"The boss. Yes... if the boss appears, you're all finished!"
One freshman ran off somewhere, shouting like a third-rate street villain.
Soon, a burly middle-aged man appeared from somewhere. The strongest Knight Department freshman in history, Mord.
"No, I need to prepare for the next exam..."
"Don't lie, boss!! And what does an exam matter when the department's honor is being dragged through the mud!"
"What the hell are these kids saying?"
Weren't they angry because only they had exams? But now they're saying exams don't matter, so what were they angry about in the first place?
This wise Droan Huskarl instantly realized the truth. Ah, they just want to escape from exams and have fun.
When he came to his senses and looked ahead, he saw Asidis firmly gripping a half-broken violin.
"How many months did you use this one, Essie?"
"One month, uncle..."
"Well done. You lasted over three weeks at least."
Mord nodded readily and turned around.
"I forfeit. I lose. Ah, the Music Department is too strong. As expected of Einar's daughter."
"My goodness... is blood relation more important than school ties, boss...? What about the Knight Department's honor!?"
"For your information, Essie and I aren't blood relations. We're from the same hometown."
"Droan... I won't forget this...!!"
"Stop talking nonsense and go study for your exams, you fools."
"From today, you're no longer my boss!"
The commotion finally ended when a Tilles noble's son ran crying toward the department's main building.
Ivan quietly observed the scene from behind a tree and picked up his pen to revise his notes.
-Asidis. More suited to percussion than string instruments.
"Oh no! This isn't the time for this!!"
Asidis was startled. She had become so immersed in this commotion that she'd forgotten her true purpose.
Of course, her primary role was as a student. However, Asidis Einarsdottir, freshman in the Orchestral Department, needed to be a completely different person from "Isabelle's friend" Asidis.
What was needed now was not an ordinary music student, but a warrior armed with righteousness and cooperation.
Fortunately, her violin had consumed enough blood.
Asidis steeled her resolve and moved forward. To find the vicious villain hiding somewhere on this campus.
To understand his intentions and punish his crimes.
Her father would surely support her righteous use of force.
To emphasize once more, Ivan is a completely harmless and ordinary-looking staff member.
Originally, he was a master of concealment, infiltration, and special operations. If he wanted to appear ordinary, he could be more ordinary than anyone else.
However, such advanced infiltration techniques weren't necessary. Fundamentally, he had an unremarkable appearance that was easily forgotten when passed by.
"Eek!"
A Magic Department student ran away from Ivan's line of sight, having a seizure.
Ivan was currently hanging from a treetop with one hand, concealed behind shadows, so the student's keen eye for spotting him should be commended.
Of course, Ivan had memorized the personal details of everyone on campus, so he recognized the young man who had just fled as someone who had once improperly disposed of a cigarette butt. He had given that student a "smoking cessation clinic."
What a shy student.
How youthfully collegiate. Ivan nodded expressionlessly and shifted his gaze.
Elfihera.
Daughter of Beolgreen.
Magic Department freshman valedictorian, a genius who broke the department's all-time high score in the entrance practical evaluation.
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Elfihera and picked up his notebook.
-Poor social relationships except for a few followers. Takes after her father.
As he continued writing the profile with complete sincerity and no malice...
"Hmm."
Ivan sensed someone watching and turned his head.
"...It wasn't just Bella..."
It occurred to Asidis that Isabelle, and perhaps even Enrique, might not be this man's only "prey."
The terror of this predator "observing" someone from a distance and looking for "weaknesses" weighed heavily on her.
The protagonist of the rumor who sent all 50 Knight Department freshmen to the Theology Department's intensive care unit, the crazy cigarette collector, the nightmare behind the tree, the bearded monster... the handsome-eyed mister (this is Isabelle's opinion)...
Asidis, who was getting closer to the terrible truth each time she collected rumors about the "gardener," was hiding in the bushes observing Ivan.
She watched the monster hanging from a tree, taking notes while looking at someone from the Magic Department.
"Stalker..."
She had become a stalker stalking the academy stalker.