I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes - Chapter 64: Dalleye (1)

Dalleye is a legendary being handed down in tales from the southern continent.

Dalleye generally takes on a human form, but crucially lacks eyes, ears, and a mouth.

Therefore, they do not communicate or compromise with any other beings.

They are malevolent spirits that act solely on their desire and will.

Far from the southern reaches in the midlands of the continent lies Arienne.

The revelation of a Dalleye, a fiend from legend, in the Back Alleys of Arienne’s deepest parts was due to a Southerner’s doing.

The woman, with the distinctive bronze skin of the south, was a member of the One-Eyed Serpent, a criminal syndicate dominating the Back Alleys.

One day, she betrayed the One-Eyed Serpent and took over the organization.

In the process, she purged without exception those who were an obstacle or could become one in the future.

And those who opposed her met the same fate—purged without exception.

When the blood-soaked purges ended,

That Southern woman, Lauwen, was being called by the name Dalleye.

The new ruler of the Back Alleys.

The rumor of the ruthless Southerner spread rapidly, not just through the Back Alleys but through all the underworld, soon becoming a name even vicious criminals shunned and feared.

The city nobles dealing with Dalleye, even when standing before her, would be overwhelmed by her infamy and could not muster their spirits.

Dalleye was an object of terror and awe.

Even the city nobles had to show her due respect.

And she, in turn, took it for granted as she flaunted her ill repute.

“…For someone so distinguished, what brings you to such a sordid place?”

That was Dalleye.

Now fidgeting uncomfortably, unable to act freely under a man’s watch.

What would those who revered her think if they saw Dalleye now?

They would surely be a bit disappointed but ultimately have no choice but to accept it.

“The Omniscient Eye…”

After all, the man she faced was indeed the Omniscient Eye.

Dalleye and the city council members were rulers reigning supreme above others.

It was extremely rare for them to bow their heads.

Now, that rare exception unfolded.

The true ruler above all rulers, the great families.

Redar Lebringer, considered the most likely successor to the Lebringer family, one of the pillars of the eight great families that dominate the world, sat opposite Lauwen in a guest room within the Dalleye’s lair.

If Redar Lebringer wished it, the owner of this insignificant Back Alley could be easily replaced.

He had the power to do so.

The only thing he lacked was a pretext.

But now, Redar proclaimed he had been given just that.

“Our people have meddled with your acquaintance… What do you mean by this?”

Redar’s gaze settled on Lauwen with those piercing milky-white eyes.

“…”

Lauwen was always the one towering over others.

Whether it was the most heinous criminal or the most noble aristocrats, they were subdued by her presence and couldn’t hold up against her.

Yet, now Lauwen awkwardly avoided Redar’s gaze and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“Last time I was here, I met a man named Doan.”

Redar brought up an unrelated issue, a sensitive topic for Lauwen.

“He wasn’t a bad person. If anyone had to manage the Back Alleys that Arienne blatantly neglects, I thought it should be someone like him.”

His words were essentially an indictment against Lauwen—who had killed Doan and taken over the One-Eyed Serpent lair—for assuming leadership of Dalleye.

I would snap back at you.

The usual Lauwen would have cut off the tongue of her adversary and spat out such words.

“Such things are commonplace in the back streets where lowly lives like ours gather.”

But now, Lauwen was only trying to deflect the conversation to avoid the topic.

“Commonplace, you say… So the attack on my people in Sector 2 by a Back Alleys criminal organization is also a ‘common’ occurrence?”

Finally, Redar broached the main topic.

Sector 2.

He was likely referring to the Dalleye-controlled establishments gripping the outskirts of Sector 2.

‘Did these fools really attack people there?’

A criminal organization from the underworld attacking civilians not in some alley but in broad daylight – a massive issue beyond the control of even those councillors who’d discretely favored Dalleye.

That’s why.

Lauwen always made sure to prevent such incidents—

To avoid being caught.

Lauwen left no tangible evidence that the criminal groups controlling the outskirts of Sector 2 were part of Dalleye.

She also implemented measures to ensure that the members operating there could never speak of Dalleye.

Dark magic.

With the help of a dark wizard operating in the underworld, she had placed constraints on them using dark curses.

Curses from a 6-star wizard were involved.

Should the thugs attempt to speak of Dalleye, they would bite their own tongues and end their lives.

Lauwen was confident.

Not out of innocence, but because she had something to depend on.

“First, I express my deepest regret regarding the unfortunate incident that befell Sir Redar’s acquaintance. However—”

“That matter has nothing to do with Dalleye, correct?”

“…Correct. Dalleye strictly respects the laws and regulations of Arienne. We would not presume to step outside these shabby back streets into the so-called civilized world. The rogues who assaulted Sir Redar’s acquaintance are not our organization’s members.”

“Interesting. So the criminals who’ve taken over the outskirts of Sector 2 adjacent to the Back Alleys and have been engaging in all manner of criminal activities aren’t from the Back Alleys? Then what are they exactly?”

“As Sir Redar would undoubtedly be aware, there are various possibilities. For instance, even if we only consider other criminal organizations hostile to Dalleye, there’s ample reason for them to engage in such a deed.”

Lauwen effortlessly lied, having considered such scenarios numerous times.

Redar scrutinized her with his milky-white eyes as she did so.

Thump.

Thump.

It felt as if he was reading her very thoughts.

‘Remain calm.’

Redar had no way to prove Dalleye’s guilt.

Lauwen reminded herself of that over and over to calm down.

‘Good.’

She decided to take a firm stance.

“By any chance, do you have another reason for suspecting that Dalleye was behind the attack on Sir Redar’s acquaintance?”

“Hm. Maybe we should also hear from one of my injured associates, shall we? Ceylon?”

That nonsense?

Lauwen nearly blurted that out without thinking.

The man who stood behind Redar, with a daft grin as though he belonged among the ignorant and frail, had been deemed nothing more than a servant or lackey. And yet, here was Redar unexpectedly introducing him as his associate.

‘Could it be he brought some jester from the alleys victimized by pickpockets, trying to fabricate a pretext to press Dalleye?’

That thought crossed her mind.

After all.

This very Omniscient Eye was a person whom Redar defended as his associate in the presence of others.

If someone could have that kind of relationship with Redar?

Even high-ranking nobles would drool at the prospect, eager to do anything willingly.

Lauwen felt no different.

If only she could become Redar’s ‘associate,’ she would willingly pay any price.

That was how significant—and challenging—it was to establish a close connection with Redar.

Despite Lauwen’s willingness to do anything to grow close to Redar, she felt certain he wouldn’t notice her.

‘How could such a creep… catch the eye of Redar?’

Lauwen barely managed to suppress that question from spilling out of her mouth.

“Greetings. I am Ceylon, who participated in this year’s Academy entrance exams.”

Ceylon bowed respectfully.

“Ha.”

Ultimately, Lauwen couldn’t help but snort in disbelief.

‘He’s even a commoner?’

She wondered if this foolish-looking man might turn out to be an astoundingly high-ranking noble with the connections to engage with Redar.

But he was not.

And now, amidst the current situation, he was babbling unnecessary anecdotes about participating in the Academy exams as a form of self-introduction.

‘Someone like him has a close relationship with the Omniscient Eye…?’

No.

That’s absurd.

This man must be exactly that.

A fabricated pretext, an actor prepared by Redar to exert influence over Dalleye.

Just as Lauwen was thoroughly denying any connection between this witless man and Redar and was about to probe further into that matter.

“Ha-ha-ha, our friend Ceylon here is so humble, don’t you think? To say he participated in the Academy entrance exams. One might assume, huh? That he’s just one of the many ordinary participants.”

Lauwen couldn’t believe her ears.

Redar was ridiculously putting a shine on the face of a man named Ceylon.

“Why not say it proudly? Securing the top spot through the second and third rounds of exams, you’re pretty much guaranteed to be this year’s champion in swordsmanship at the Academy.”

After a round of heaping praise on Ceylon, Redar turned his gaze back to Lauwen.

The inert expression he had while staring at her before was gone, replaced by a mischievous face.

“My dear sister’s friend.”

Now what?

Lauwen just barely kept those words from escaping her lips.