Chapter 15:
‘Pupils dilated. Heart rate increased too.’
Ered observed Joffrey's reaction.
The boy's eyes darted around. He seed to be trying to hide his flustered expression in his own way, but it was obvious.
One might deceive a ghost, but not the eyes of a Prominence.
“Why are you asking that?”
Joffrey asked subtly.
“I asked the question.”
Ered cut him off flatly.
He had no intention of handing over the initiative.
“…I don't really know.”
“What? You want your wrist crushed?”
“Why, why are you asking that? On what grounds!”
“Because I know for sure that you’re lying, at least.”
“I have nothing to do with those guys! I loathe them, if anything. If you're caught taking an interest in the Republic’s magic, your whole family will be ruined. Do you think I’m crazy enough to do that?”
This ti, it was the truth.
There were no signs of deception.
Which ant….
‘Joffrey knows sothing about the magic research group. However, he isn't directly involved with them.’
That was the conclusion.
“…Fine. I’ll tell you what I know.”
Joffrey looked around and lowered his voice secretly.
“I don't know about anything else, but it's certain that Stiny is connected to magic.”
“Are you picking on Stiny again? He's a herbivore. He just prays every day to adapt to reality and not get eaten by predators.”
“Do you think I’m nitpicking him for no reason?”
Does he have practical evidence?
If so, the story changed.
“Keep talking.”
“That guy has a gloomy side. He’s always carrying around and reading suspicious books. And he hides them in a hurry whenever soone approaches.”
“Just because of that….”
“That’s not all. There are tis when he mutters strange words that are hard to understand. I heard those Republic bastards chant incantations when they use magic, right? Maybe he’s practicing incantations.”
Pumping himself up, Joffrey’s veins bulged in his neck.
“There are even eyewitness accounts of him roaming the campus alone in the middle of the night. He must be slinking around under the cover of darkness because he’s doing sothing dishonorable. Don't you think?”
Hearing this much, it did sll fishy.
Provided that Joffrey’s tip-off was true.
“How about it? Sounds plausible, right? I don't bully him for no reason.”
“You probably just bully him because it’s fun. Cut the pathetic rationalization.”
“…Tch. Anyway, are we done? I’ve told you everything I know.”
When Ered nodded silently, Joffrey glanced at him and quickly ran away.
Even while doing so, the boy kept looking back toward him.
He continued to mumble sothing to himself.
‘…He’s bringing up my non-existent parents.’
Even though the distance had increased quite a bit, Ered could easily understand just by the shape of his mouth.
Joffrey probably hadn't dreamt he could be understood.
Before long, Joffrey was out of sight.
Suddenly, there was no one around Ered.
It was likely because the break ti was coming to an end.
He quietly took the communicator from his chest.
“What do you think?”
He had kept the communicator on the entire ti he was interrogating Joffrey.
-It seems worth investigating.
A business-like voice with almost no variation in pitch.
It was Isel.
“Stiny was bullied continuously within the school. Being weak and of humble origin, he probably had no ans of retaliation. Perhaps he beca interested in magic because of that.”
The problem was Stiny’s weak personality, which made him unable to stand up against injustice.
-He might act like he isn't on the outside, but he might be sharpening a knife on the inside.
Isel’s words were also quite logical.
It was impossible to grasp the essence of a human just by seeing them once or twice.
“Then, as of this mont, I will focus on Stiny.”
I should get closer to the boy.
If I had known it would co to this, I shouldn't have criticized Stiny.
My mouth was the problem.
Was it because they were both from the slums?
Unintentionally, I had empathized and raised my voice.
-And about Joffrey.
Isel spoke again.
-He is a mber of the ‘Wiga’ family.
Wiga?
It felt like a familiar na for so reason.
-Ered, you probably have an acquaintance with his father. Since you were once stationed on the sa front.
“Ah.”
Only then did Ered realize.
Sailo Wiga.
A company commander belonging to the Agard Division stationed on the Eastern Outskirts Front.
Joffrey was his son.
‘No wonder his face looked familiar.’
The world is truly small.
Sailo was a man of a fairly decent personality.
He knew how to treasure his subordinates too.
‘He failed at raising his child.’
Unlike his father, Joffrey was a piece of trash.
Well, since Sailo spent most of his ti on the front lines rolling around with the Republic bastards, he wouldn't have had ti to discipline his child.
‘…Wait.’
Sailo was quite old.
For him to remain a re company commander at that age.
Even considering he wasn't a Prominence, his promotions were on the slow side.
It ant that while his personality might be okay, he wasn't a capable soldier.
He beca curious as to why Joffrey was so high-and-mighty within the academy despite having such a father.
-The famous one is Joffrey's grandfather's side. Yvard Wiga. He is a Justice of the Empire.
It was a powerful position.
The rank imdiately following ministers and vice-ministers.
There wouldn't be many nobles who could treat the grandson of a Justice carelessly.
-The Wiga family is also a family that contributed greatly to the founding of Neustadt Academy. Records remain that they took charge of everything from the design to the construction of the academy.
So that was why Joffrey could run wild here to his heart's content.
Ered finally understood.
“I’ll hang up now. I’ll contact you again later.”
After cutting the communication with Isel, he hurried back to the main building.
***
Stiny has no friends.
There wasn't a single student he hung out with even for a mont.
The students' attitude toward the boy was one of two: treating him like a plague and shunning him, or bullying him.
Right now, it was the latter.
“Wash your hair soti. Or is it just a ss by nature?”
A group of students surrounded Stiny and pointed out his shaggy hair.
Stiny’s attitude in facing the bullying was consistent.
He did not resist.
He rely endured the pouring mockery in silence while huddling his body as much as possible.
Like a hedgehog.
This was already the third ti today.
That he was being bullied.
Ered observed the students bullying Stiny.
Their bags, shoes, other accessories, and so on.
‘This ti it’s the commoner faction.’
Estimating the price range of the items the students possessed, he could roughly tell.
He had watched Stiny for the past few days, but he hadn't witnessed any suspicious behavior as Joffrey had said.
‘That bastard Joffrey, he didn't just blather whatever ca to mind, did he?’
Anyway, he couldn't spend day after day without results forever.
If Stiny didn't make a move, he had no choice but to move himself.
Ered strode toward Stiny and the group of students.
“Move. You’re in the way.”
When he abruptly picked a fight, the students’ faces distorted.
“Why don't you just keep going on your way?”
“You guys are blocking the path.”
At Ered’s words, they wore absurd expressions.
The path was wide enough.
Wide enough for three or four carriages to pass simultaneously.
“Are you joking right now?”
“It's not a joke, it's a fight.”
“…What?”
“Are you deaf? I’m picking a fight. You guys are doing it to him too. An unreasonable fight.”
As he shot back while pointing at Stiny, the students’ faces turned red and blue.
They had no words to refute, but they were angry—was it sothing like that?
“Why, you little…!”
Unable to contain his anger, one guy rolled up his sleeves.
‘This is perfect.’
Ered lightly loosened his wrist joints.
The days here were beyond tedious.
‘At Redstone, I could spar with my classmates if I was bored, or at least do virtual combat training.’
He couldn't do that here.
Although there was PE class, it was at the level of child's play.
He had been feeling restless, so he thought it was a stroke of luck that they were picking a fight on their own.
Of course, even so, it wouldn't even be at the level of a warm-up.
‘At least it’ll be a bit of fun.’
How should he cook them up nicely while making sure they don't get hurt?
While he was having pleasant imaginations.
“He-hey. Stop it.”
Other students stopped the guy who had rolled up his sleeves and whispered in his ear.
“Don't you know him? He's the new exchange student who ca this ti.”
“So what?”
“Joffrey supposedly got beaten by him.”
I'm sorry, but I can hear everything.
“What? Joffrey?”
“They say his wrist was almost broken.”
It seed Joffrey had gone around blabbing everywhere.
“Let's just go.”
“If you hang out with that dirty shaggy-head, you'll be ostracized in no ti too.”
The guys moved away while pouring curses at Ered.
“Th-thank you.”
Stiny expressed his gratitude hesitantly.
“To be honest, I thought you didn't like either….”
Yes.
I don't.
Ered barely suppressed the words trying to burst out of his throat.
A weak guy is out of the question.
Knowing that, a guy who doesn't even have room for improvent is even more distasteful.
‘However, it can't be helped in order to get close to Stiny.’
He intended to improve his relationship with the boy.
Although he didn't feel like it, he decided to hang out with him for a bit.
Only then would it be easier to look into Stiny’s inner thoughts.
Ered’s reason for picking a fight with the students bullying Stiny was also a part of that.
“I was too harsh with my words last ti. You must have your own reasons.”
“I-it's not your fault! So you don't have to apologize…!”
When he apologized, Stiny seed flustered and waved his hands frantically in the air.
Well.
It must be an unfamiliar thing for him.
To receive an apology from soone.
***
Ered hung out with Stiny for a while.
The effect was incredible.
When he first ca here, there were several students who spoke to Ered first.
But now, such things had completely disappeared.
It was the so-called Stiny effect.
Perhaps because of the incident with Joffrey, there were no guys picking a fight with Ered.
He was simply treated as a non-person along with Stiny.
“Um, Ered….”
Stiny spoke timidly.
He had an uncomfortable expression like a puppy that needed to poop.
“I’m sorry….”
“You sure have a lot of things to be sorry for. What are you sorry for this ti?”
“I feel like you’re being ostracized by the kids because of ….”
“Let them.”
As for Ered, he didn't care whether he was ostracized or not.
He hadn't co here to leisurely build friendships.
“Um….”
Stiny still seed to have more to say.
“If being with is uncomfortable, even now….”
“It isn't. Am I uncomfortable to you?”
“N-no! Not at all!”
Stiny shook his head violently.
His neck is going to break at that rate.
“Ered. You’re the first friend I’ve ever made.”
Having finished speaking up to that point, he subtly checked Ered’s reaction.
“We’re… friends, right?”
“Well, I guess it depends on how you look at it.”
“Really?”
Stiny smiled brightly.
Seeing that smile which felt full of sincerity, Ered also felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart.
Because he wasn't being sincere.
“Ered.”
It was around that ti.
That Stiny’s voice, which was already small, beca even smaller and more cautious.
“Actually, I belong to a certain gathering.”
“And?”
“I want to introduce you to those people.”
That's unusual.
For a loner with zero sociability to even have a gathering.
It was a fact Ered hadn't known until now either.
“Would that be okay?”
“If you want.”
“There is a minor problem, though….”
Stiny nibbled his lip.
He seed to be hesitating.
“Actually, it’s a secret gathering. Due to unavoidable circumstances, we have no choice but to break the school curfew, so would you still be okay with it…?”
Ered’s mind snapped to attention in an instant.
Joffrey’s tip-off that Stiny secretly road the campus in the middle of the night ca to mind.
‘Have I finally caught a clue?’
***
Desolate air flowed.
The academy was silent.
A ti close to midnight.
The ti he had promised Stiny was not far off.
The main gate of the academy was firmly locked.
A barred gate made of steel.
Its height reached roughly 3 ters.
Tap.
Ered leaped over the main gate lightly.
A height of this much didn't even require a run-up.
Creak.
Creak.
He saw security marionettes on patrol while lighting the way.
Looking closely, there wasn't just one or two.
As expected of a prestigious academy, the security was quite thorough.
Of course, that was not a problem.
He headed toward the eting place while hiding himself in the darkness.
A three-story building stretching long horizontally.
It was the dormitory.
As he lingered in front of it for a mont, he soon heard a presence.
Ered raised his head.
He could find Stiny slipping out of the dormitory while tiptoeing.
“Sorry I’m late…! Did you wait long?”
“You aren't late and I didn't wait long, so don't worry.”
“Really? That’s a relief….”
Stiny is a model student.
Since his pockets weren't deep, he must have studied to death to aim for a full scholarship.
He must have put in tireless efforts not to be disliked by the professors.
For such a guy to take the risk of breaking the curfew.
‘I’m looking forward to this.’
What exactly is Stiny’s secret?
“Co this way.”
Stiny gestured as he led the way.
Ered followed him, walking close to the exterior wall of the building.
Although patrolling marionettes popped out occasionally, they were not discovered by them.
Unexpectedly, Stiny was not flustered.
He escaped from their sight calmly without fumbling as he usually did.
‘He knows the movent patterns of the marionettes inside out.’
Ered narrowed his eyes.
‘This guy is used to going out in the middle of the night.’
In the anti, they passed the dormitory and went through the main building.
By the ti they reached a garden where green shrubs and flowers were in full bloom.
“…….”
Ered’s nerves stood on end in an instant.
‘Soone is nearby.’
Thinking about it, it wasn't a particularly alarming thing.
It was highly likely they were a mber of the secret gathering Stiny had ntioned.
Even so, he couldn't lower his guard.
Ered’s well-trained senses were warning him.
That it was dangerous.
“Wait.”
He stopped Stiny by grabbing his shoulder.
“Huh? Why all of a sudden…?”
He signaled Stiny to be quiet by bringing his index finger to his lips.
‘Where are you?’
While he was expanding his senses to identify the location of the unidentified third party.
He felt it.
The flow of air changed subtly.
Swoosh—
The sound of sharply cutting through the wind.
It was faint, but he heard it clearly.
‘The direction the sound is heading—’
Ered threw his body reflexively before he could even finish his thought.
He blocked the front of Stiny and raised his right arm.
Slice—
A blade made of intangible wind flew in.
The hem of Ered’s school uniform sleeve, which had been cut cleanly, fluttered and fell to the ground.
The blade of wind did not stop at making a ss of the school uniform.
Scratch!
Skin that was fiercely clawed.
If it hadn't been for his reinforced skin, he would have lost his entire arm.
‘A wizard?’
The appearance of a wizard itself was not surprising.
Information that a group following magic existed within the school had simply been confird as a fact.
A more questionable point was….
‘Why?’
The wizard targeted Stiny.
‘It wasn't for the purpose of simply injuring him. They intended to kill him altogether.’
The wind cutter aid for Stiny’s left chest.
That is, the heart.
If Ered hadn't stepped in the middle to block it, Stiny would not have escaped death.
Rustle.
The sound of bushes being trampled.
The wizard turned around and began to run away.
The guy's presence was rapidly distancing.
I must catch them.
Definitely.
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