Everyone Except Me I Chapter 93 : Suspicion Begets Ghosts (1)

Chapter 93: Suspicion Begets Ghosts (1)

“Then, let us once again review what has been said so far.”

A woman with a cold impression opened her mouth in an extrely businesslike tone.

On her chest hung an insignia proving that she was a regular employee of the Academy, specifically a Watchman in charge of defense and security.

An Academy Watchman.

So people scoffed at them, saying that no matter how much one dressed it up, they were nothing more than security guards of the Academy, but well…

One only knew what kind of people they truly were after experiencing them firsthand.

And I was, unintentionally, one of those who had experienced it firsthand.

Perhaps that was why.

Even though she had co here for the purpose of listening to , the obvious victim, and confirming the facts, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

“It is simply fact-checking, so you need not worry too much.”

In truth, she only looked and sounded businesslike and cold; she displayed neither hostility nor wariness toward .

Rather, I could sense her occasionally sneaking glances to check my condition.

“Sir Lian Gwendil, from here on I shall address you as ‘the victim.’ You testified that the assailant who attacked the victim took on the appearance of Lady Cecilia Everglenn. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct. Not only her appearance but even her voice was identical.”

I nodded and answered calmly.

“However, you realized she was a fake and stayed on guard, which allowed you to avoid the ambush and counterattack. Is that correct?”

“Yes. That is also correct.”

“How did you recognize her as a fake?”

“The situation was strange, and I felt a subtle sense of wrongness.”

“As you stated earlier, I must ask you once more to explain.”

“Well…”

My throat parched, I reached for the cup of water on the table.

Seated a little distance away, she simply watched my action in silence, waiting.

“Because of a previous incident, we had beco sowhat personally acquainted. In other words… you could call us friends.”

“Yes.”

“At that ti, we had made a promise to have tea together and talk. But circumstances arose, and I left for the eting place earlier than scheduled. That was when Cecilia—no, the criminal disguised as her—approached

as if waiting.”

“Could she not have simply arrived early as well, just like the victim?”

The Watchman asked

in the sa businesslike tone.

Since it was simply a continuation of what I had already testified, I repeated it without hesitation.

“She had said she had a dinner appointnt. The ti was far too short for her to finish a al at a restaurant and return. So I already found it strange, and on top of that, I sensed an unfamiliar wrongness.”

“Could you explain more about that?”

“……”

The spider that had warned

of danger.

That peculiar sense only Spirit Sorcerers possessed.

But I could not state this outright.

There was no need to spread the fact that she was a Spirit Sorcerer.

“As I said before, it just felt strange. I can’t explain it well, but I had a sense of wrongness. That’s all I can say. I’m sorry.”

“Understood. Then let us proceed to the next question.”

The Watchman nodded.

She scanned down the report in her hand as if skimming through it.

“During the fight, you testified that the opponent’s face seed to lt, that she used a chanism hiding daggers and knives, and that poison was involved. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct. The poison could be neutralized with the Miracle of Purification. While expelling it, I felt slight numbness in my tongue. So I assud it was a paralysis toxin known on the market.”

“We have already sought consultation on that matter.”

She nodded, glancing at the old professor who was glaring at us from a distance with clear disapproval.

It was the very sa old professor who had treated

during the Dungeon Field Class incident.

“The victim’s injuries include a superficial laceration on the cheek, a puncture wound on the back of the hand, and, additionally, infection and mild poisoning….”

She muttered quietly as her eyes flicked toward my bandaged cheek and hand.

“This is rely my personal opinion, but the fact that the victim was able to use the Miracles of Purification and Healing is truly fortunate. The poison was an instant-acting toxin causing paralysis, hallucinations, and disorientation. While it was not life-threatening in itself, becoming paralyzed in such a situation could have been….”

“Enough already, hurry it up.”

The old professor, who had been listening in silence, showed his discomfort.

“Did you not say so yourself? It was an instant-acting toxin. Even with miracles, there may be aftereffects. And while the cheek wound is minor, a puncture wound is no light injury. Having heard enough, shouldn’t you stop for the patient’s sake?”

“…My apologies. Then I shall only confirm a few last points before withdrawing.”

With a polite bow to the old professor, she resud.

Seeing that, the professor closed his mouth, signaling he would not interfere further.

“Let us continue. You ntioned two peculiar points. The first was general sensory confusion. Furthermore, you judged that it was neither magic nor sorcery, correct?”

“Yes, that is accurate. When I used the Miracle of Purification, unlike with the poison earlier, I felt no change at all.”

“And, additionally, you testified that it is highly likely the assailant was not working alone but had accomplices.”

“Yes.”

I replied with firm conviction.

“While I was fighting the assailant, just as it seed I was gaining the upper hand, knives suddenly flew at

from a blind spot. At the end, even a dagger that triggered an explosion was hurled.”

“Yes, we confird the scene as well.”

She nodded slowly.

A faint crease appeared near her left eye.

“Thanks to the explosion you ntioned, the scene was such a ss that no usable evidence or clues could be found. If it was deliberate, then it was truly ticulous.”

“……”

I simply nodded silently in response.

Indeed, the mont I saw the wreckage caused by the explosion, my first thought was that any pursuit or detection would be impossible.

As she said, these were not careless criminals who left behind trails or loose ends.

“There appears to be nothing more to confirm.”

The woman rose from her seat, satisfied.

Then, looking at

half-lying in the bed, she gave a small bow.

“Thank you for your cooperation. I also wish you a good recovery, Sir Lian Gwendil.”

With those words, she silently left the ward.

The old professor, who had been staring blankly at her departing figure, strode over to .

“Now lie down and get so rest.”

“Um, professor.”

“What is it?”

“Were there… any others injured besides ?”

The one who had attacked

had said that others were being ambushed simultaneously.

I first needed to determine whether that was true or a lie.

If it was true, it would be proof that their scale and coordination were far larger and sharper than I had imagined.

I had tried asking the Watchman about it earlier as well, but she had firmly refused, citing regulations, and had said nothing about details of the incident.

“Ha.”

The old professor snorted, looking at

as if he found it absurd.

“Now then, Gwendil lad. What did the investigator say to you earlier?”

“…That she couldn’t tell

because of regulations.”

“Then I can only give you the sa answer. Information unnecessary for your recovery is not sothing I can share.”

Saying so, he forced

back down onto the bed.

Other than the punctured back of my hand, I had no real injuries, but because of possible aftereffects from the poison and explosion, I had no choice but to remain bedridden for a full day.

“I… I have an appointnt today, so I need to go.”

“And why should I care? If you’ll lose your head or soone else will be hard if you don’t go, then I’ll gladly let you leave.”

“……”

At his resolute tone, I closed my mouth.

He was so firm that I felt if I said the wrong thing, I really would be detained without exception for the entire day.

“…When is this appointnt of yours?”

“Three hours from now.”

“Then lie down for at least two hours before going.”

The old professor muttered as if unwilling but yielding.

“If you promise to return afterward, I’ll allow it.”

“Thank you, professor.”

“Thank ? Hmph…”

Muttering sothing under his breath, he moved as if to change my bandages.

At that mont—

Knock, knock.

A light rapping ca from the door, followed by soone’s voice from the other side.

“…Lian, it’s .”

The owner of that voice was none other than Allen Amiel.

It was him.

“May I co in?”

At his request, I glanced toward the old professor.

With a reluctant nod, he gave permission.

“Co in.”

“My apologies for intruding.”

The door opened with a click.

At the sa ti, the old professor rolled up his sleeves, ready for any possible incident.

It seed he hadn’t dismissed the earlier ntion of “imitating others’ faces and voices.”

But his worries were unnecessary.

The person who stepped through the door was indeed the Allen Amiel I knew.

“…Are you all right?”

“Uh…”

Seeing him like that, I was at a loss for words.

The old professor, who hadn’t let down his guard, was equally stunned.

Staring blankly, I finally ca to my senses and spoke.

“…I think that’s my line. Allen, are you sure you’re all right?”

Standing at the door, his appearance was nothing short of battered.

Most striking of all was the bruise blotching across his cheek.

The very spot where, last night, I had driven my fist squarely into the assailant’s face.

“I see.”

Walking along a deserted street, Cecilia nodded quietly.

A blue bird perched on her shoulder bowed its head, as if humbled by her words.

“……”

She continued walking in silence.

Though she had always been reserved, this was the first ti she appeared so withdrawn. Even the usually chatty spirits that filled her surroundings were now following behind her quietly, as if escorting her.

‘…For such a thing to happen again.’

The Dungeon Field Class incident.

That disaster, brought about by Archbishop Rahma, had nearly turned into a catastrophe, but thanks to Lian, it had barely been contained.

Yet in the process, Lian had been exposed to mortal danger.

And Cecilia had not forgotten that she had been the cause.

Thus, though she had never expressed it, she wanted to repay that debt.

‘But now…’

That very benefactor had been attacked just last night.

While she had been idly chatting over dinner.

Cecilia could not forgive herself for that.

So the way she chose to atone was by unmasking the criminal.

And also by making an example, so that it would never happen again.

“……”

Though she hadn’t been at the scene when Lian was attacked, she had grasped much of the situation.

Thanks to the spirits scattered around the area.

They had even retrieved the half-dissipated spider and carried it to safety.

It had been a miracle the creature’s life was spared… but it had said it would not be able to respond to summons for a while.

That was how grievous the wound had been.

And Lian himself had nearly suffered such a wound.

“……”

Clench.

Her hand tightened into a fist.

She pressed forward in silence until finally she arrived at the place the spirits had guided her to.

The spot where the criminal had last fled.

“This is the place?”

In answer to her question, the spirits of nature said yes.

They added that they could not enter beyond this point, and that this was all they knew.

“……”

Cecilia gazed silently ahead.

The Forest of Secrets.

Also called the Forbidden Forest, the vast land spread out before her eyes.