NOVEL NEXT Chapter 73
“Alright, don’t be scared, just tell me what’s going on.”
Renny asked Elisa in a gentle voice, like she was soothing a child. It seemed that Elisa felt relieved knowing I was intentionally keeping my distance and slowly started to share her purpose.
“Um, um, I found this…”
Elisa pulled out a small box from her bosom and handed it to Renny. Renny carefully took the box from Elisa and opened the lid. I couldn’t see the contents due to the lid blocking the view, but judging by Renny’s expression, it looked like a dangerous item. With a snap, Renny closed the lid and glanced at Elisa.
“Where did you get this? No, how did you find it?”
“Well, I found it in the classroom near the cafeteria…”
The Magic Department? Did she just say the Magic Department?
“Renny, show me that!”
“What?”
“Quickly!”
There’s no time to wait. I walked straight up to Renny and checked the contents of the box. A curved dagger… it looked like a model knife. The blade was about the size of a keychain, radiating ominous vibes at first glance. Not very subtle, was it?
Hah. But, this isn’t completely heartless, is it?
Giving hints like this…
Whoever brought me here had no intention of leaving me in the lurch, it seems. What Elisa brought was a tiny model knife found at the last location of missing persons during the Demon Summoning Incident. According to the veterans who analyzed every piece of text in the game, it was some sort of bragging tool.
It was a way of showing off that no matter what I do, they couldn’t catch me.
But really, in the game’s story, they couldn’t stop it. So I felt pretty uneasy about it. In the end, the witch that the player caught was pretty much just the cleanup after everything was over.
Could we resolve what couldn’t be fixed in the game here? Without the save and load option?
“Where did you find this?”
What was the first discovery location again? If my memory serves right, the first missing person was from the Magic Department—
“I felt a sinister aura in the classroom near the cafeteria, so I went over and found it in the corner… Heh… heh…”
“Are you alright? Take a deep breath. One, two, one, two…”
…Wait a second? No, the cafeteria is definitely not right. That was a classroom used by the Liberal Arts Department. Cancel my heartless remark. Whoever made the true ending seemed to have thrown their morality out the window.
Kinda revving my hopes up, only to take them away. Is this hope torture?
Damn it.
“Johann. Why are you acting so strange? Elisa is scared, so stay ten meters away again.”
“I got it.”
“Johann seems like he’s being punished!”
Don’t say such sad things. I casually turned Millia’s head as she leaned against me, listening to their conversation.
“I get that you found this ominous object, but why did you bring it to us? You could have reported it to the Academy Security Force, right?”
Renny’s point was valid. The Kalon Academy security, as well as the city of Kalon, has elite security forces known throughout the continent. Why did she come to us? They could have easily handled it.
…Wait.
In the original story, whether due to neglect of duty or sheer incompetence, the security couldn’t catch the person who summoned the witch.
“Well, um, I talked to the Security Force, but there’s been an incident on the outskirts of Kalon, and it seems like they’re short on personnel for investigation… I also asked a professor, and they suggested I talk to Renny…”
An incident happened on the city outskirts? Did something happen at this timing? My memory is hazy. Just remembering this much is nothing short of a miracle, so I probably won’t recall the minor details. But if it were a big incident, I would have at least a vague memory.
Perhaps the Hell Hound incident caused a butterfly effect to alter the events.
“So you came to us…”
Renny drummed her fingers on the desk, seeming lost in thought. She was likely pondering how to deal with this situation. It felt awkward to outright reject it, and accepting it felt tricky since it wasn’t primarily our concern, so she seemed conflicted. But I had to get involved somehow.
I have to get closer to the witch.
I don’t know why I need to, but is it to dig out the mastermind without killing them, saying, “Is it too late?” like in the original? That mastermind must be related to the true ending, right?
No, let’s put that thought aside for now. It’s more important to convince Renny.
“Renny, let’s resolve this incident ourselves.”
“Us? Suddenly? We need to look after Lady Karina. We’re her bodyguards.”
“She’s still unconscious, so we have some time to spare. Besides, I think it’s odd that something like this happened right at this moment.”
Upon hearing my words, Renny crossed her arms and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and nodding in agreement.
“You’re right. It is strange that such a sinister object just happens to fall into our laps while the Security Force is away from the Academy.”
“So I thought it was odd too…”
“Then you and Elisa can investigate this together. I’ll just let the Security Force know and handle my work.”
Fortunately, it seemed Renny was convinced by my words. If Renny hadn’t agreed, things could have turned complex. Millia, who’d been quietly listening, suddenly shouted out as if she couldn’t stand by.
“I’ll help too!”
“…How will you help?”
“Um… I’m good at finding things!”
“It could be dangerous.”
“I’m fine! If it gets dangerous, I’ll just run away!”
You can run away… right? With Millia being loosely connected to combat, who knows if she can escape in an emergency? Did I have a doubtful expression?
“I won’t cause you any trouble. I want to help…”
Millia grabbed my sleeve and looked up at me with tearful eyes.
Ah, don’t look at me like that. You’re making my heart melt.
“…If I tell you to run, you run immediately.”
“Okay! I got it! Thank you! Johann, you’re the best!”
I said don’t cling to me.
———————————
“I’ll head to the Security Force office and inform them, so you two investigate where the dagger was found.”
“Got it.”
I saw off Renny at the huge door of Yeomyeong-gwan and moved toward the direction of the classrooms. Naturally, Millia, who was plastered to my side, and Elisa, who trailed behind at a distance that could only be described as suspicious, followed me.
Wait, is it really correct to call that “together”?
She’s nearly ten meters away. Passersby are looking at Elisa like she’s suspicious. Is she going to get us all reported to the Security Force at this rate?
…But if I approach, she flips out, so that’s a dilemma.
Hah. What on earth is she doing to me? I should ask her why once we’re a bit closer. If this is just because of my look, I might seriously cry. It’s not like I’m completely unpopular with girls… well, okay, maybe I am, but it’s not like I’m hideous either.
“Johann, is she getting arrested?”
“N-no! I’m with them, we’re, um, a party!”
“Why are you walking ten meters apart from your party?”
The Security Force member questioned me, and Elisa fumbled for words, glancing at me and repeatedly looking away in shock.
Anyone would think she’s secretly stalking me and desperately seeking my help, but is too shy to say it. Because of the gloomy atmosphere, it more so appears that way.
“That person is indeed part of my party…”
Damn, I really can’t get used to polite language.
“Is that true?”
“Absolutely.”
“Really! We were just on our way to the classroom together!”
With Millia’s backup, the Security Guard looked uncertain, let out a sigh, and responded.
“Since it doesn’t seem like you’re lying, I’ll take that as it is. But since I’ve never seen you before… which organization are you with?”
“Yeomyeong-gwan. I’m a bodyguard of Lady Karina.”
What the hell. Why are they looking at me with distrustful eyes? Do they want me to split their heads open with a shovel? Why is everyone staring at me like that? It’s frustrating.
“Do you have an identification badge?”
I pulled out my badge and showed it to the guard. After examining the badge, he apologized with a face full of regret.
“Oh… you’re the newly appointed knight. I’m sorry for not recognizing you.”
“It’s… it’s fine.”
After the two working professionals exchanged apologies, the guard went back to patrolling.
What in the world?
“Elisa, get closer when walking.”
“Uh, w-well…”
“Isn’t it enough if you don’t look at my face?”
“Uh, it’s not my face…”
Not her face? In response to that, I looked at Elisa. If not her face, then what is making her shy?
I really don’t get it.
I sent a questioning look, but Elisa didn’t meet my gaze and stayed silent. Or should I say couldn’t?
…Hah. Let’s just start investigating already.
We hurriedly made our way to the classroom, only to be greeted by a door with a sign saying “No Entry.”
“Entry prohibited?”
Did something happen in the meantime?
“Are we not allowed in?”
“It should be fine since it’s for investigation.”
“Not allowed.”
A sudden, interjecting voice startled me, and I turned to find the source.
…A member of the Security Force?
A middle-aged man with a muscular build and a cynical expression, dressed in security uniforms, glared at me as if I were a criminal, barking out orders.
“Leave. No one but the Security Force is allowed in. Not even if you’re a knight sworn to the Saint. This is… our domain.”
…What the hell is this guy?