CHAPTER 99: MORE THAN ONE VARIABLE

"What in the world...?" Victoria muttered, brows furrowing as she flicked her arm outward, a ripple of divine energy tracing her fingertips.

"Goddess’ Divine Light," she chanted, her voice like silk dipped in authority.

In an instant, a warm golden glow engulfed Aveline’s battered form. The wounds carved by the earlier crimson blast mended rapidly, flesh knitting and torn fabric sealing as if time itself had rewound around her body.

"That should do it," Victoria said with a satisfied smile, her eyes gleaming as she turned to glance back at Marcus and Cynthia. The once-ominous necrotic wall had already disintegrated, its sickly flicker gone without a trace.

"Eh...?" she blinked, visibly taken aback.

Her crimson gaze landed on Cynthia—and froze.

Confusion flickered across her face, giving way to disbelief. Cynthia’s attire wasn’t just new—it was endgame-tier gear, glowing faintly with dormant enchantments. The kind of equipment that only manifested after a long, arduous story arc.

’Isn’t that supposed to happen like... a few months later...?’ Victoria thought, stunned.

But then her memory clicked into place. Her eyes drifted to Marcus.

Right. Him.

Another transmigrator—like her.

’I completely forgot about that,’ she admitted internally, biting the inside of her cheek.

Victoria stepped forward, her boots crunching over fractured stone as she walked toward Marcus. Her eyes scanned the battlefield around them—charred pavement, collapsed walls, lingering arcs of leftover magic still hissing in the air.

"How in the world did you finish the test that quickly...?" she asked, her tone more curious than accusatory. Her head tilted slightly, hair catching the dim glow of the lingering spellfire.

Marcus crossed his arms, giving her a dry look.

"Is that really the question you should ask right now...?" he shot back, eyebrow raised.

Then, with a half-laugh, he shook his head. "Also, holy crap—you’re an actual beast."

There was no bitterness in his voice—just awe. He hadn’t expected her to repel the enemy so effortlessly.

’Should be expected... she’s the main character after all...’ he mused, mentally exhaling.

Victoria’s smirk widened slightly, but she didn’t press the praise.

"Anyways, enough of that," she said, brushing her bangs aside. "You’re here for the myth as well, right?"

But before Marcus could reply, Aveline—now standing tall despite her tattered cloak—cut in sharply.

"Care to explain?" she asked, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

Cynthia, still catching her breath, raised a valid concern before things could escalate.

"We should talk about this tomorrow," she said, glancing toward the horizon. "We don’t know when more might come."

Victoria tapped her finger against her chin, humming in thought. "Well... I guess you’re right."

Marcus blinked. That was fast. Too fast.

"You agreed pretty quickly," he said, skeptical.

Victoria shrugged, one hand on her hip. "They already know where everyone lives at this point," she explained casually. "But that doesn’t mean they’re brave enough to actually ambush someone inside their homes."

Her tone was firm, almost dismissive.

Aveline narrowed her eyes. "How can you be so sure about that?"

"They would have done so sooner," Victoria replied, her voice steady, her stance confident as she stood framed by the crumbled ruins around her.

Marcus sighed, still trying to wrap his head around the sheer presence she exuded. More than anything, he couldn’t stop thinking about the way she fought—the absolute mastery she displayed.

And then, a realization clicked in his head like a puzzle piece snapping into place.

’I forgot... if she’s the same as me... she should have her own system...’ he thought, eyes narrowing.

’I should ask about that.’

Nearby, Aveline finally sheathed her blade, her sharp gaze drifting upward toward the fading moon, now slipping behind the morning clouds.

"It’s well past midnight," she muttered. "Guess we should head home for now, brother."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked off, leaving only the soft sound of her footsteps behind.

Marcus tilted his head. "She sure is gutsy to just leave like that after we were ambushed..."

"She’ll be fine," Cynthia added, adjusting her now-radiant armor. "With Victoria herself showing up, there shouldn’t be any more attacks tonight."

Marcus nodded slowly, the logic finally sinking in.

The fear in the overseer’s eyes had been real.

The Phoenix family’s name alone was enough to make enemies hesitate, but with someone like Victoria—a living cheat code—intervening on behalf of someone else?

Yeah. No one was suicidal enough to follow that up.

Unless they wanted the Phoenix family to flatten them in retaliation.

"Makes sense," Marcus said, exhaling. "See you tomorrow then."

"Stay safe!" Cynthia waved cheerfully as she turned to leave, but paused mid-step.

Her expression twisted into confusion. "Wait—where’s Cecil...?"

Marcus’s head snapped toward the spot where they’d last seen him—and sure enough, just like she said, he was gone.

"...But how?" Marcus muttered. "He was clearly too injured to even walk..."

"He teleported," Victoria chimed in, her tone calm and confident.

She pointed to the scorched ground near where Cecil had been lying. "I can sense the rune’s residual signature. I’m guessing he’s back at his estate by now."

Cynthia blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in Victoria’s demeanor. Just a while ago, she’d seemed like a somewhat sarcastic girl with a sharp tongue at the academy.

Now, she was casually analyzing teleportation runes like a battle-hardened veteran mage.

Cynthia let out a soft laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Guess I’m not the only one with new surprises..." she said, eyeing the glow still flickering from her own newly awakened gear.

"But I’ll trust you for now. I’m off." She waved, then disappeared into the night, following Aveline’s path.

Only Marcus and Victoria remained.

With the others gone—and despite the chaos, blood, and lingering tension—the early morning air had grown still. The destruction around them loomed like forgotten remnants of a battlefield. Buildings groaned. A streetlamp flickered.

And silence settled in like ash.

"I’m guessing we need to talk," Marcus said, turning to face her fully.

Victoria grinned, her expression sly and knowing.

"You caught on quick, Mr. Assassin."