Invisible Cloak: A High-Grade Artifact

The invisible cloak wasn’t just a piece of fabric enchanted with invisibility magic. Once worn, it concealed not only the wearer’s appearance but also their scent, presence, and mana—a top-tier magical artifact.

Morine lent it to Yeomyeong willingly. She asked only one thing in return: to bring it back together with her daughter.

For Yeomyeong, it was a rather unreasonable request. But he didn’t have the luxury of negotiating with her.

"I’ll be sure to return it."

With that short assurance, Yeomyeong accepted the cloak and immediately made his way toward the girls’ dormitory. Avoiding the main roads where he could be recognized, he sprinted through the foliage.

In no time, he reached the back wall of the girls’ dormitory. Not the main entrance, but the secluded backyard wall.

Without hesitation, he took a deep breath, braced himself, and leaped over the wall.

Tap.

His landing was so quiet, not even the wind seemed to notice. He found himself in the dormitory’s backyard.

Thanks to the shadows of the night, no one had spotted him. Surveying his surroundings cautiously, Yeomyeong retrieved the invisible cloak and took a deep breath.

"So much for Seti telling me not to come here."
She had told him not to set foot in the girls’ dormitory just half a day ago, and here he was about to enter.

He set aside his thoughts and donned the cloak. Contrary to his expectations, it didn’t obscure his vision completely. It was like looking through a translucent veil, just slightly blurred.

The cloak clung securely to him with mana, so there was no fear of it slipping off.
It’s no wonder the Saintess could ride a motorcycle wearing it.

Quickly acclimating to the cloak, Yeomyeong climbed through an open window into the dormitory.

The first-year girls’ dormitory looked nearly identical to the boys’. The spacious lobby, central staircase, the placement of the lights, even the smell—all were strikingly similar.

The faintly sweet, oily scent of snacks hung in the air.
It was nothing like the austere and noble image of a girls’ dormitory often depicted in dramas, but Yeomyeong didn’t have the luxury of feeling disappointed.

More accurately, he didn’t have time to.

As he ascended the staircase, avoiding the girls in the lobby, a critical realization struck him.
Where is Seti’s room?

He instinctively tried to extend his mana to locate her presence but stopped himself just in time.

No matter how exceptional the invisible cloak was, it wouldn’t conceal mana that he actively emitted.

Facing an unexpected obstacle, Yeomyeong frowned. Should he wait in the lobby? Or perhaps…?

His hesitation was brief, though his sigh was long.

Deciding to wander the dormitory, he figured he might find some clue about her whereabouts.

Sure enough, as he climbed the central staircase, he found a hint leading to Seti’s room.

A blonde girl sat in a hallway chair, engrossed in a book titled What Is to Be Done?
Midiris. An elven princess hiding in the academy and Seti’s roommate.

Yeomyeong approached her silently, tapping lightly on the chair she sat on.

Knock knock.

As Midiris lifted her head, Yeomyeong softly called her name to avoid startling her.

"Midiris."

"This voice… Yeomyeong?"

Midiris reached out in the direction of his voice. When her hand found Yeomyeong’s arm through the cloak, her eyes widened.

"You… you know invisibility magic?"

"It’s not magic; it’s a magical tool. But that’s not important. Can you do me a favor?"

"A favor?" Midiris glanced around to ensure no one was listening before lowering her voice.

"What kind of favor?"

"Can I… go to your dorm room?"

Before Yeomyeong could finish, Midiris pulled back sharply. Her face flushed, and she stammered.

"W-what are you saying?! The reason you’re here in the girls’ dorm isn’t…!"

Before her misunderstanding could spiral, Yeomyeong placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

"I’m here to see Seti."

"…What?"

"My reason for being in the dorm is to see your roommate, Hong Seti."

"…."

"There’s something urgent I need to tell her. So… could you take me to your room? Please?"

Realizing her mistake, Midiris closed her mouth.

"Ahem… You should’ve said so from the start!"

With an awkward cough, she stood up.

"…Follow me."

Turning quickly, Midiris led the way. Her face was redder than before.

 

Seti’s Restless Day

When Seti felt uneasy, she often turned to martial arts training. Swinging her heavy warhammer and sweating it out usually cleared her mind of any lingering emotions.

But unfortunately, there were no vacant training rooms today.

With no place to clear her thoughts, Seti decided to try something different—meditation.

Sitting cross-legged on her bed, she closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. Yet, it didn’t work.

The more she tried to organize her thoughts, the more the Saintess's earlier expression came to mind.

"I… I think of Yeom… specially…"
The trembling voice, the long tear stains, the flushed cheeks, and the overwhelming emotion that spilled over it all.

The Saintess probably didn’t even realize what that emotion was.

Having spent her entire life in the sterile confines of a temple, it made sense that she wouldn’t recognize her feelings.

If she had read even one romance novel, she might’ve understood what she had said…
Ugh.

Seti stopped meditating.

She already knew that Yeomyeong and the Saintess had grown close during their time in Manju.

Considering they were peers, attractive and surrounded by countless trials, it was only natural such a thing might happen…

But knowing something and accepting it were two entirely different matters.

"Get a grip, Seti. You’re wasting your time here."

Despite her efforts to read or stretch to clear her mind, nothing worked.

The book’s words refused to sink in, and stretching only made her feel more stifled.

As the sky darkened, she finally realized she had wasted the entire day.

"Ugh, seriously."

Sighing in frustration, Seti suddenly remembered her promise to Yeomyeong.

To introduce him to her sisters and remove their bindings.

"I’m such an idiot."

How could she forget something so important? All because of the Saintess?

Frantically, Seti pulled out her phone.

"Who should I call first? Siri? Yeomyeong?"

Unfortunately, her deliberation was pointless.

Her phone was shattered—its screen completely smashed. It must’ve been damaged during her earlier scuffle with Yeomyeong.

"Nothing is going right today."

With a resigned sigh, Seti decided to borrow her sisters’ phones to contact Yeomyeong.

Just as she reached for the door—

Creak.

The door opened, and her blonde roommate entered.

"Midiris! Can I borrow your phone?"

Midiris hesitated, holding the door open.

"Uh… sorry. I don’t use a phone."

Strange for a modern person, but Midiris had always been unusual. Seti brushed it off and turned to leave the room to find her sisters.

She tried to leave.

As she approached the door, something invisible blocked her path.

…?

Frowning, Seti stepped back and summoned her mana, grabbing hold of the unseen force in front of her.

Her intention was to toss it out of the room, but what she grasped didn’t feel like the Saintess’s soft skin. It was hard and solid.

"Could it be…?"

Seti released her grip and pulled back the invisible cloak, revealing a pair of golden eyes staring back at her.

She groaned and pinched her forehead.

"Where did you get an invisible cloak—never mind that! Didn’t I tell you earlier? If you get caught, it’s more than just expulsion!"

"I had something urgent."

How urgent could it be?!
If he got expelled, what would happen to their plans? Seti swallowed her rising frustration.

She knew Yeomyeong wasn’t the type to act recklessly.

"…What’s wrong?"

"Korea."

One short word.
But it carried a weight heavier than a thousand explanations.

"What…? When?"

"Could be tomorrow. Could be today. I’m not sure."

"Then…?"

"The bindings have to be removed. Tonight."

Seti knew her face must resemble the Saintess's earlier expression. The difference was that Seti understood just how embarrassing that look was.

Lowering her head, she whispered,
"…Thank you."

"You can thank me later. First, we find your sisters."

"…Okay."

As the conversation ended, everyone began moving.

Yeomyeong donned the cloak again, Seti grabbed her warhammer, and Midiris—surprisingly—picked up a wand adorned with a large green gem.

"Wait, Midiris?" Seti blinked at her roommate.
"Yes?"
"Why are you coming with us?"

Midiris tilted her head, confused by the question.

"Isn’t Scarab fighting the Korean government? Of course, I have to help."

She heard our conversation? But we were speaking so quietly! Is she an elf or something… no, that’s not the point.

"…Yeomyeong, care to explain?"