Shade nodded.
"That's the point. People can hide information, falsify records, or erase documents. But completely removing someone's existence from every accessible source... that's another matter."
Lazarus frowned.
"You're suggesting someone deliberately erased him?"
"Perhaps," Shade replied. "Or... his background was never recorded in the first place."
Merlin rubbed his chin.
"But that still doesn't prove anything."
"No," Shade agreed with a small smile. "It doesn't."
The three looked at one another, each considering the possibility. Eventually, almost simultaneously, they reached the same conclusion.
"It would be impossible."
Merlin exhaled.
"Exactly. The Sandrian Family is one of the oldest bloodlines in existence. If Dante really belonged to them, someone would know."
Lazarus nodded.
"Besides, people from those Ancient Families are supposed to possess an entirely different level of upbringing. Dignity. Discipline. Status."
He remembered the battlefield, and his expression twitched.
"Not... whatever the hell that man was doing."
Merlin coughed.
"You're referring to the way he was touching his woman."
"Yes. Quite openly."
Merlin rubbed the back of his neck.
"I see your point."
Shade remained silent for a moment before finally responding.
"That doesn't disprove anything."
Both men looked at her.
She shrugged.
"We don't know enough about the Sandrians to know how they behave privately."
Merlin sighed.
"Fine. Still impossible."
Shade smiled.
"That's what I thought you'd say."
Lazarus suddenly frowned, bringing the conversation back to something considerably more important.
"None of this explains how Dante resisted Dimensional Lock."
He looked toward Merlin, whose expression immediately became serious.
"That... is a much better question."
Merlin snapped his fingers.
"An artifact. It could be an artifact."
Lazarus's eyes widened slightly.
"...I forgot about that."
Shade smiled.
"Don't beat yourself up. Mythical-tier artifacts aren't exactly something you find lying around, especially artifacts capable of resisting a spatial restriction skill."
Merlin nodded.
"Exactly. So for now, we stop digging. The Provisional Examination is more important. We can investigate Dante afterward."
He turned toward Shade.
"Will you continue monitoring him?"
Shade nodded.
"You, Dante, Luna, Vespar, the Son of Light... anyone else who falls into the category of..."
She smiled faintly.
"...people we'd rather see fail early."
Merlin gave her a wry smile.
"I could kill you right now, you know."
Shade laughed softly.
"Sure. Just make sure you don't lose the points."
Her voice faded, but not gradually. It stopped instantly.
The mana around her disappeared, along with her presence, her scent, and even the subtle distortion her body created within the surrounding mana. She hadn't teleported or entered some hidden space. She simply wasn't there anymore.
Xeres stared at the empty spot where she had been sitting, his expression filled with genuine confusion.
How does someone simply disappear like that?
Merlin noticed his expression and casually waved a hand.
"Don't bother trying to understand her."
Xeres looked toward him.
"Who exactly is she?"
Merlin shrugged.
"Someone I consider just as problematic as the Nameless One, the Son of Light, Luna, and a few others."
He glanced toward Xeres before adding, "Trying to understand her as though she's merely another Legendary Being... isn't going to work."
Lazarus chuckled.
"He's right."
Xeres lowered his head, suddenly feeling very small.
Lazarus turned toward him.
"Be careful. You'll have to start again. Fortunately, you died early enough that you still have time to recover during Phase One."
Xeres nodded.
"I understand."
Merlin smiled.
"See? Everything is fine."
However, his expression changed the moment he looked away.
Dante.
The Nameless One.
Luna.
Vespar.
Jurian.
Shade.
Bullshar.
The list continued growing, and Merlin couldn't help chuckling to himself.
"Problematic..."
His eyes sharpened.
"...but interesting."
Elsewhere...
Qwarian took another bite of his meal while Shade reappeared in the seat across from him. She crossed one leg over the other, settling comfortably into her chair.
Qwarian's eyes briefly drifted downward.
Shade noticed immediately.
"Choose. Eat, ogle, or listen. Don't try doing all three."
Qwarian coughed before reaching for his water. A faint smile appeared on his face as he took a drink.
"You really do notice everything."
He leaned back before continuing.
"Anyway... that makes sense. I already told them Dante isn't a small problem, but to think he could actually take on Lazarus that easily..."
Shade nodded.
"Same. I knew the names on the list were dangerous, but I didn't expect Dante to become problematic this quickly."
Qwarian quietly stirred his drink, a faint smile appearing as his thoughts returned to the young man sitting beside him in the lecture hall.
The strange pressure, the impossible skill, and the way Dante had attacked without hesitation had already made him suspicious. Now, Lazarus had confirmed something even more interesting.
Qwarian's eyes narrowed.
"Perhaps... Dante is far more dangerous than I originally thought."