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Chapter 77: Return
The tumultuous banquet ca to an end, and I returned to the academy, only to be summoned to the principal’s office.
Did he perhaps desire so intimate ti alone with ?
As soon as the door to the principal’s office closed, a barrier went up to ensure no one could enter.
Anyone witnessing this might mistake it for an interrogation rather than a conversation.
“I’ll ask you straightforwardly,”
Looking at the principal’s firm eyes, I thought that this might really be the case.
“Did you know in advance that this incident would occur?”
“If I had known, such a thing wouldn’t have happened in the first place.”
The story of the infamous blood banquet had spread not only throughout the empire but across the continent, so it wasn’t unreasonable for the principal to be in such turmoil.
Considering the attendees at this banquet, including Silica and several academy affiliates, the aftermath was surprisingly simple despite the magnitude of the event.
However, there would inevitably be questions, especially considering that a mber of the prominent Empress’s family had died, yet there was no significant aftermath.
Among the wild rumors that circulated, so even suggested involvent from the Quazel family, trying to undermine the Nepelis family to elevate themselves.
I could only laugh at such nonsense.
While the dead may tell no tales, there were plenty of tales to be told about the deceased.
Moreover, although this incident may not be entirely unrelated to Quazel, our principal must feel quite unjustly treated while not knowing anything.
Well, now that I think about it, I feel unjust too.
It’s not like I could speak, but I was definitely the target of an assassination.
Not only did I handle all the marionettes and summons in the palace, but I also ran around tirelessly to save the other two, and yet, they suspect like this?
As if understanding my intentions, the chief chuckled and said.
“I heard you saved the granddaughter of the Regens, Magic Society’s head.”
“I did save her and got injured in the process.”
Though it had been healed for a while now.
“Aren’t you the kind who wouldn’t care if others died? I found it remarkable that you risked your life to save her. I was curious, that’s all. It’s better if you didn’t know.”
“How much of a despicable scum do you see as?”
I couldn’t find words to argue with him; it was beyond absurd.
While I almost let slip a remark about the principal needing to manage his household properly, I managed to swallow it down.
Instead, I retrieved a piece of paper from my pocket.
“I’ll give you this while you’re here. Just one favor, please.”
“A favor?”
The principal’s eyebrows furrowed slightly downward.
He seed quite surprised that I, of all people, would ask for a favor.
What I handed him was a docunt containing soone’s personal information.
“Isn’t this… a Guardian Knight registration?”
“Yes. It could have been sent to the administration, but I thought it would be better if you, the principal, handled it directly.”
As I’ve explained before, according to academy regulations, only Guardian Knights are allowed entry as escorts.
Most students disguise their escorts as Guardian Knights to enter the academy.
If additional personnel are required, related registration docunts need to be submitted to the administration.
However, if the principal handles it, it will likely be expedited without any hassle.
The principal looked at the ID I handed him with a puzzled expression.
“You hired a female knight?”
It seed he thought so because of the na written on the docunt.
I shook my head and replied.
“It’s just a formality to list her as a knight. In reality, she’s just a personal attendant.”
“A personal attendant? Don’t you know it’s against academy rules for students to have personal attendants?”
“Bringing up the law at this point seems a bit hypocritical, doesn’t it? Anyway, you’re well aware of the loopholes, aren’t you?”
“Your audacity knows no bounds. I understand your intentions. I’ll take care of it, so you can leave now.”
With his approval, he flicked his fingers lightly, and the barrier that had surrounded the room just monts ago disappeared instantly.
“Just out of curiosity, is there anyone else besides the maid you’re bringing in?”
Although I felt a bit sheepish inwardly, I maintained my composure and said.
“There isn’t, but… why do you ask?”
“I’m asking because your food expenses have been abnormally high. After all, you only have one guardian knight, right? I don’t know if it’s because of your tastes, but it’s strange that a room for two people receives enough food for four every day. The supply departnt has ntioned this more than once.”
I couldn’t help but squirm uncomfortably and avert my gaze.
Having a roommate with a healthy appetite was sothing I couldn’t complain about.
“Well, my knight happens to have a good appetite. Isn’t it normal for knights to have good appetites?”
Brian was the easy scapegoat.
After clumsily explaining, I promptly made my escape from the principal’s office.
* * *
– Thud!
The forceful slam on the desk emanated with intense anger.
Despite the restrained expression, such deanor only heightened the tension in the room.
“What were you all doing while this debacle unfolded like a dam bursting?!”
Regens Rainriver, the head of the Garam Kingdom’s Magic Society.
As soone involved with the society, hearing the account of this incident would likely incite anyone’s wrath.
The crucial evidence, the Daze Stone, was unequivocally the property of the Garam Magic Society.
Moreover, the person who delivered it disguised as jewelry to Princess Arin and Luna was affiliated with the Garam Magic Society.
But even what has been uncovered marks just the beginning.
The individual who delivered the stone bit their tongue and committed suicide, leaving behind questions about whether they were a spy, a defector, or what motivated their actions.
“We hurriedly investigated the individual involved, but there was no apparent connection. Their background, relationships, they had no ties to the Ushif Empire, and their lifestyle and movents showed no signs of irregularity! We’re left with nothing but the explanation that they suddenly defected…”
As the bearer of the report, they felt as if they were losing their mind.
It’s a frustrating situation where you can’t co up with an answer even if you try to infer the process.
This was truly sothing that calculating wizards would be reluctant to do.
“It’s incomprehensible. Not only that, but the Emperor ended the matter without any repercussions from the Empire?!”
“Yes, the Imperial Family doesn’t want to disturb the peace with uncertain matters…”
“Sothing fishy must be going on over there too. There’s a possibility that the Imperial side was involved in this incident.”
Flicking his finger against the report, Regens’ gaze suddenly drifted elsewhere.
“Where is Luna?”
“She just finished her regular inspection and returned to her room.”
As soon as her whereabouts were confird, Regens rose from his seat and left the room.
Passing through the lengthy corridors, he headed towards the room of a young girl filled with countless books.
Calling it a girl’s room felt slightly off.
The room’s inhabitant was deeply engrossed in reading.
“You’re here, Grandfather?”
There was no response to her listless greeting.
Approaching her, Regens skipped the pleasantries and cut to the chase.
“During your interrogation in the Empire, did you notice anything suspicious from them?”
Her gaze remained fixed on her book.
“At first, they probed aggressively, but soon they changed their attitude. After that, they let go quickly.”
“I didn’t ask for a recount of known facts. I’m asking if there were any movents that even the Empire is reluctant to disclose, sothing they were trying to keep hidden!”
Regens’ tone grew slightly harsher.
The girl, with unwavering eyes, closed her book and replied.
“There was nothing.”
Her voice was both honest and firm.
For a brief mont, Regens stared at her with suspicion.
“Understood. Then let ask sothing else. What about that boy? Have you found out anything about him?”
“…..”
The slight tremble in her hand holding the book went unnoticed as she maintained her composure and spoke with an unwavering gaze.
“Contrary to what I expected, he seed to possess a great deal of kindness.”
“Kindness?”
“Yes. It’s not easy for a noble to sit at a table with a knight and a maid for a al, right? To him, it seed like a natural, everyday occurrence. There was no awkwardness…”
“Was there anything else?”
Interrupting her response, he asked again, perhaps not satisfied with her initial answer.
“He seed more considerate than I thought. Despite risking himself to save , he didn’t ask for anything in return and even escorted back despite being sowhat impulsive when he first arrived. It seems he isn’t entirely indifferent…”
“That’s not what I’m asking!”
A thunderous voice filled the room with a gust of wind.
“What kind of mana did you sense from him? Perhaps hidden abilities? Who are the people around him? I’m asking about those important details!”
“…”
Books tumbled, and despite the dizzying whirlwind, the girl’s gaze remained unwavering.
After a brief silence, she spoke first.
“Why are you so fixated on him?”
With his excitent subdued, Regens replied in a calm tone.
“I’ve told you, haven’t I? Everything I ask of you is for the advancent of our magic society. As my granddaughter, you must fulfill this duty. Luna…”
Without reason, simply obey the given instructions.
It was a life imposed upon her as a Rainriver.
With a small sigh, Luna finally provided the answer he sought.
“His attribute score is 93%, slightly higher than what you ntioned. While he may not have achieved the highest magical grade, he surpasses the 3rd-grade rank in the academy’s official records by far. I’m not sure if he’s intentionally hiding any power, but I sensed sothing concealed. I’m not sure what it is…”
“Are you certain?”
“I am. I felt it when I embraced him myself.”
“Understood.”
Seemingly done with the matter, Regens turned and left the room without a word of thanks or acknowledgnt.
Left alone, the girl tried to resu reading but soon closed the book again.
“It’s not interesting.”
With a sudden outburst, she tossed the book aside and flopped onto her bed.
Could each day be so dull?
It was already dull to begin with, but since returning from the Empire, her unrelenting boredom seed to worsen with each passing day.
She absentmindedly turned her head to look out the window.
The view outside lacked any freshness, a gloomy scene mirroring her mundane life.
It felt as if she was gazing at her own monotonous existence.
For quite so ti, she stared out the window.
Ironically, the direction she looked was none other than where the Royal Academy stood.
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