After a very awkward and silent breakfast, our group was left with a difficult choice.
What exactly do we do?
Besides the requirements of completing the tasks and staying in your groups, the school basically gave us complete freedom over what to do.
After being ignored by Irene and I for so long, Zach seemed to lose his confidence as he cautiously asked.
"so... w-where should we go today?"
Watching the two girls stare at their smartwatches in silence in response to Zach's questions, I pretended to think for a second before replying.
"Let's just go to the areas recommended by the school."
The main reason this trip was so popular was that students were given entire freedom over what to do, yet here we were, following the school's instructions and recommendations like a bunch of sheep.
Pulling out the pamphlet given to us on the bus, I opened it to the first page and held it open for my groupmates.
The History of Magical Artifacts Museum, or better known as the HMAM.
"Sounds good. Does anyone have any objections?"
"Fine with me!"
" *tsk* whatever."
Clapping his hands, Zach got up from the bench and headed to the hotel exit, with us following behind.
Since the city was so large, we had to take mana trains, which were basically bullet trains from Earth, to get around everywhere.
After scanning our student IDs, the four of us got onto the mana train and sat down. Admiring the fleeting scenery of the city through the window, I began to formulate my plan for the day.
In preparation for their raid on the cruise ship, the djinns and demons would attack this museum to steal some powerful magic artifacts.
Unfortunately for them, I quite liked one of the magical artifacts they were planning to steal. As for the plothole caused by my interference in this event, I already had a solution.
Getting off the train, I followed Zach's lead as we walked towards the looming museum building ahead.
Why do you always have to walk up at least 10 stairs to enter a museum?
Passing by the normal queue, we headed into the VIP line and displayed our student IDs before being immediately allowed in. The Celestial Academy was just that revered by people in the human realm.
Pausing in the museum lobby, Zach turned around and asked,
"Any specific exhibit you guys want to go to?"
With Zach now being a spy for Lily, it would be far too suspicious if I conveniently suggested the specific exhibit from which the djinns would steal, as I had already led us to choose the museum as our destination.
Taking out the school's pamphlet once again, I pretended to fan myself with it while its open pages advertised the special exhibit on stealth-related magical artifacts.
After subconsciously seeing it on the pamphlet, it would be Zach's first choice as it was already on his mind, and nobody else suggested anything.
Also, the bench we were all sitting on was conveniently only a couple of feet away from the entrance to the special exhibit.
Breaking the silence, I immediately let out a sigh as Ruby's cheerful voice spoke out.
"Why don't we check out the exhibit on the creation of magical artifacts?"
Isn't she a high member of the gemstone order? Why the hell would she care about creating them when she could have countless of them by her doorstep by just giving an order?
Well, I'm already suspicious in Lily's eyes, so who cares if I become more? At least, I can say I tried when Lily eventually figured out that I'm not actually Ren!
Standing up, I responded.
"I'm going to the stealth artifact exhibit."
Why would I have to ask them for permission to go anywhere?
Blocking my path to the exhibit, Zach stepped in front of me and responded.
"wait, wait, Ren. Let's all decide on one exhibit."
Turning around, I looked at Irene, who had put down her smartwatch and asked.
"You're fine with going to the stealth exhibit, right?"
It wasn't necessarily an order, so she didn't have to agree, but it was quite obvious that if she disagreed, I would command her to agree.
"I don't even care; let's just go somewhere already."
With that, Zach stepped out of my way and bowed down to Ruby.
"Sorry, Scarlett, we can go there another day... it seems Ren and Irene want to go to a different exhibit."
"It's fine; I just wanted us to go somewhere instead of just sitting around, so I randomly recommended an exhibit. Don't worry about it."
As soon as we entered the exhibit, a short film was played, teaching people how to make their footsteps quieter, how to classify monsters using clues such as the size of their footsteps or the range of food they eat, and how to control their heart or breathing rate.
This information would be quite useful for a magician, swordsman, or any other class, but as an assassin, I innately have most of these skills, so it was pretty much useless for me.
Just as a swordsman has an easier time learning how to use a sword than other classes, I have a much easier time learning stealth and tracking techniques as an assassin.
Heading out of the film room, I saw countless full-black cloaks, throwing knives, and masks displayed, each with a description of their effect.
Since they were displayed in the museum, most of them had decently non-combat-related effects, such as a cloak that could never get dirty or a dagger that cut through wood specifically easier than other materials.
Of course, the item I was looking for today wasn't displayed here; rather, it was put in the special area as its ability was combat-related.
Lingering around the mask area, I paced back and forth, waiting for my groupmates to catch up to me.
The artifacts that the djinns and I were aiming to take were far too powerful and rare to be displayed in the museum's open space.
One of the djinns infiltrated the museum as an employee and gained information, revealing that the true location of combat-related artifacts was a subspace connected to the museum.
Checking the time on my smartwatch, I closed my eyes.
The flashing lights of the alarm and the chaos that would ensue would overwhelm my eyesight and give me another headache.
I was already almost out of medicine from the train ride alone.
The next moment, a high-pitched ring sound began to echo throughout the museum, silencing all the hundreds of footsteps and chatters.
*RING*
"EMERGENCY ALERT! EMERGENCY ALERT! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! EVACUATE TO YOUR NEAREST EXIT!"
*RING*
Though I hadn't yet opened my eyes, I could hear the panicked footsteps all running towards what I assumed to be the exit.
Interestingly enough, no one screamed or made any calls, showcasing the trust they had in awakened heroes, as they all just rushed towards the fire exit without making much noise.
They all assumed that the heroes would arrive and save them, so they ran toward the exit without asking any questions. It's crazy how people can entrust their lives to others without any fight or resistance.
Then again, they don't have a choice; such is the fate of those who do not become awakened.
Proving the rushing bystanders right, three sets of footsteps stepped in the opposite direction of the emergency exit and towards me.
Just as expected.
"Let's help out guys."
" *tsk* Better than looking at this stupid exhibit."
"Sounds good, Zach."
Ruby and Irene, two of the book's main antagonists, were now helping save people with a main cast member. Is this what people call the butterfly effect?
Opening my eyes, a grin spread across my face as I did what any self-respecting third-rate villain character would do.
Run.
"I'm good on that; you guys have fun, though."
Running past my groupmates, who all looked stunned, I sprinted towards the emergency exit without waiting for a response.
Which third-rate villain wouldn't run when any form of danger showed up? What did they expect me to do? Help out the richest people in the realm by protecting their museum property for them?
Blending into the crowd of people who were pushing and shoving to get into the exit, I took out my daggers and stabbed my hands, causing droplets of blood to fall, not onto the floor, but onto my shoe.
If my blood was found on the floor by the investigation team after the incident, there could be massive problems.
Finding my way to the right wall of the emergency exit, I stood still, using my awakened strength to avoid being pushed and shoved by the rushing citizens, and stared ahead.
Very interesting spot to put a painting, isn't it?