novelraw Chapter 48 : Chapter 48
Chapter 48 : Chapter 48
Chapter 48
I explained the same thing to Zephyros, who arrived late, as I had to Lucian.
Zephyros’s reaction, after hearing all of it while tapping his foot, was─
“You crazy sunbae son of a X!”
‘Crazy’ and ‘sunbae’ and ‘son of a X’—what a unique combination of curses. Zephyros spat them out as he hit the back of Lerwon, who had arrived late.
Lucian and I cheered on Zephyros from the side.
He had to endure a little beating.
Sunbae Lerwon, whose back was throbbing, lay prostrate on the floor, his body trembling.
“You know, you could have at least given me a heads-up.”
“I’m on the same page as Zephi about you being crazy, sunbae.”
“Hey, you’re not in a position to speak so casually either, you know? Be grateful for your frail body. If not for that, I would have already shattered your back.”
Seeing Zephyros’s clenched fist, I obediently shut my mouth.
I should just erase the following words from my memory.
“He’s surprisingly violent for someone who doesn’t look it.”
“Hahaha.”
Seeing Lucian laugh as if even that was enjoyable made me feel inexplicably frustrated.
Humanly speaking, if a person who threatens to shatter another’s back isn’t violent, then who is!
All the violence in this world must have died!
“If I had really acted according to my personality! Phew.”
At Zephyros’s sigh, Lerwon seemed to be cautiously watching his expression.
Who could look at that and think this was a person who had wished to become a monster that would swallow the world.
“Sunbae, how did you come to know how to become a monster.”
“An old woman sold a bookstore to Golden, and it was in one of those books.”
“What about the book?”
“It burned up on its own after I finished reading it. Strangely, just by reading it once, it was clearly engraved in my memory, and I couldn’t forget it.”
At Lerwon’s words, it was a natural progression for Albedo to come to mind.
I hadn’t read the book myself either, but just as Lerwon explained, it was clearly engraved in my memory and I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to.
Could another ancient demon, besides Albedo, or a being of similar stature, have intervened in Lerwon’s problem?
I had a ominous premonition that this would be much more complicated than I thought.
“Do you think someone intentionally made me read that book?”
Lerwon asked me, who was lost in thought.
“Because it’s ancient knowledge.”
The human race of this world had once been destroyed.
The era before the destruction was named the ‘Ancient Era’, and the records were once erased.
And, seeing Albedo’s reaction, the erasure of the records was intentional. Perhaps even an erasure by an absolute being like a god.
A bookstore run by a mere old woman and a book containing ancient knowledge—what a terrible mismatch.
“Should we investigate?”
“As long as it’s not dangerous.”
Was it Iris’s intention? No, in the original storyline, Iris was flustered by Lerwon’s change and ultimately regretted it. So it probably wasn't the master of Golden’s intention.
“Then who could it be?”
This wasn’t even mentioned in the game.
Should I grab Albedo by the torso and shake him, asking if there’s anyone else who knows ancient knowledge?
“A hidden mastermind, that’s not a very welcome story.”
I had no choice but to agree with Lucian’s words.
“Somehow… I feel sorry. It seems like I’ve gotten you all involved in something quite complicated.”
“Well, it’s just this much.”
It’s not a very complicated problem.
I glanced at Zephyros and Lucian.
Lucian was a walking accident generator, and Zephyros was in a state where problems were hidden everywhere like landmines.
In the first place, how did an extra NPC like me get involved with the protagonist, a protagonist-level supporting character, and the final boss of part 1.
“I’m starting to reach a state of enlightenment.”
It was to the point where it was difficult to even make a fuss about every little thing anymore.
I gave Lerwon a thumbs-up.
The three of them had strange expressions, but I decided not to mind that.
* * *
While making the talisman to turn Lerwon back into a human, the weekend flew by.
And Ignatz Schreiden’s disciplinary hearing was held.
The result of the disciplinary hearing, held early in the morning, was Ignatz’s expulsion.
Considering the intentional assault and abusive language towards a fellow student, and the act of questioning the fairness of the exam without reason, it was a pretty strong punishment.
“They say he was a troublemaker in the Schreiden Marquisate too.”
“They even say he started a gambling den in Riedenfeld. And in his Academy uniform, no less!!”
Listening to the passing students gossip about Ignatz, I broke up some beef jerky for Albedo.
《Were you the one who reported him?》
“Well, yeah.”
My jaw dropped at the fact that he had started a gambling den in his uniform in a town closest to the Academy, of all places.
No, even if he was from a marquis family and had no problem with the cleanup, that was going too far.
《Among humans, being a noble should be a license to be pardoned, but the punishment is surprisingly strong.》
“Because Lapis Academy is the pride of the Empire.”
It was an Academy founded by the Hero himself, who had created an empire named after himself.
The honor of Lapis Academy is the honor of the Empire.
But to tarnish the Academy’s honor even before enrolling, and on top of that, to insult the Academy’s faculty—the punishment could only be severe.
Most of the students passing through the garden were busy gossiping about Ignatz’s affair.
《Are you not worried that he will take out his anger on you, now that he has been expelled?》
At Albedo’s question, I gave him the last piece of beef jerky.
He might take his anger out on me again. He was the kind of guy who shattered my shoulder just because my score was better than his, and now he’s even been expelled.
“I am worried. But that X-X suspected my father.”
That father, who hates even using shortcuts!
Shared the exam questions with me in advance? And with Professor Beatrice, no less? It would be more plausible for Iris to suddenly donate her entire fortune to all the victims of domestic violence in the Empire.
My father is a corpse if you take away his fairness! Grumbling, I dusted off my hands and put Albedo in my pocket.
It was a relief that public opinion wasn’t that bad. Well, since he was a guy who lorded his nobility over others, were there more students who felt it served him right?
“Ah, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
As I was about to leave, someone spoke to me and held out their hand.
Their face was hard to see because of the backlight.
Noticing my frown, they took a slight step and sat next to me.
He was a person with impressive blackish-blue hair and grey eyes that were close to white. Seeing that he was wearing a uniform, he seemed to be a student of the Academy.
A face I’ve never seen before, who could it be? I didn’t know all the Academy students, but he seemed vaguely familiar, like a character who had a significant role in the original storyline.
Who could it be?
“Ah, my name is Fel. I transferred today.”
The moment I heard that name, my body froze.
What? Did I mishear something?
“Your name… is Fel?”
It was a name I couldn’t forget even if I tried.
There was no way I could forget that moment while playing the game when my head was not just throbbing but aching from the shock.
“Did you hit your head somewhere when you fell?”
Cold sweat ran down my spine at the other person’s expressionless face.
“No, I did not.”
To the point where if I hadn't known anything, I probably would have just let it go too.
‘Why is a Heretic Inquisitor here!!!’
Why is the Church’s Sword of Doctrine here!!!
“Ha, hahaha.”
I’m screwed.
It was the first time that the presence of the lizard in my pocket felt so heavy.
* * *
Sword of Doctrine.
Literally a sword named ‘Doctrine’, it was the Church’s sword that cut down heretics.
During the time when heretic inquisitions were severe, they held power comparable to the Pope, and even now, the position of Sword of Doctrine is right below the Pope.
And, two years ago, he went missing as soon as he became the youngest Sword of Doctrine.
“Your expression is quite stiff for someone who says nothing happened.”
Why on earth is the Sword of Doctrine, who had caused a stir throughout the continent with his sudden disappearance, at the Academy.
Surely he didn’t overhear me talking to Albedo?
I couldn't be sure, and the corner of my mouth trembled.
“Are you sure you’re not hurt somewhere?”
If I’m accused of being a heretic, my father will be in trouble too, right? No, what if it spreads to sunbae’s affair? That would be a huge incident.
What if Lucian and Zephyros get involved too? Was it a mistake to tell them? If I hadn't told them, they wouldn't have gotten involved.
“Theo!”
At the voice calling me in that moment, the train of thought that had been going on and on was finally broken.
“Cian.”
Right, if he had solid evidence, he wouldn't have approached me by transferring to the Academy under a false name.
“I’m sorry. I don’t feel well, so I need to go to the nurse’s office.”
“Ah, it seems I held you up for no reason. I’m sorry, please go ahead.”
I bowed my head to the gently smiling Fel and quickly left the place.
This is really driving me crazy. Why is a character who only appears in part 2 showing up already.
I could clearly feel my insides burning up.
“Are you okay?”
“I think we need to hurry up with making the talisman.”
Even ‘Fel’ wouldn’t be able to easily figure out a taboo intertwined with ancient knowledge, but it would be better for my peace of mind to eliminate any unstable elements as quickly as possible.
It seems that even though the exams are over, I’ll have to cut down on sleep a lot for the time being.
* * *
Fel followed the back of Theo, who was leaving as if running away, with his eyes.
Could he have noticed something?
“There’s no way.”
Unlike the previous Swords of Doctrine who had been famous figures, Ferdiel Levian’s name itself was not well known.
And yet, he seemed to know him. His body’s reaction was also clearly strange.
“Is it really right to just watch.”
Ferdiel swept the spot Theo had left behind.
A faint mana, like a lingering scent, faintly gathered at the tips of his fingers.
“Well, it’s a job I have to do anyway.”
It was a request made directly by the emperor, who usually never asks for anything.
Ferdiel, who had gone into hiding as soon as he took the position, had no need to respond to his request, but he had impulsively decided to move himself.
“He’s certainly suspicious.”
Theo Lisitoel had survived even after facing an ancient demon. This alone was surprising enough to be called an extraordinary feat, but he had escaped from the clutches of the master of Golden. He had even taken away the adopted son that the master of Golden was said to cherish.
No matter if he was the son of Count Lisitoel, this was too much. That’s why Ferdiel had decided to move himself.
‘I don’t know where you are, but please don’t cause any trouble!’
The astonishment and wailing of his old friend was clear in his ears.
Haha, Ferdiel let out a pleasant laugh.
For now, as a Heretic Inquisitor, he would have to move with suspicion towards everything.
He turned his body with a leisurely stride.