Chapter 47 – Conspiracy (4)

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As I followed the inquisitors out into the plaza, it was also packed with numerous students who had gathered from all directions.

Perhaps they had been rummaging through the academy all day, and another strange rumor had spread.

The inquisitors surrounding me dispersed in all directions, pushing the students aside, and I could finally see the faces of the students surrounding me. Among them, a few seemed familiar.

The first thing that caught my eye was the handsome blond boy, Eugene. I didn't particularly want to see him, but his conspicuously striking hair involuntarily drew my gaze.

In the meantime, as I saw him again, I felt a sense of discomfort rising up in my chest.

Next to Eugene were his companions, the silver-haired Patricia and the red-haired… I think it was Claudia. And a little further away… was Iris.

I felt like my insides were all twisted up when I faced these people in this kind of situation.

Although the faces I had seen so far were enough to make my stomach turn enough, the truly repulsive faces were waiting for me behind them.

Walter.

That contemptible and vulgar commoner, not far from Eugene, was staring at me.

Wearing his characteristic unlucky and malicious smile. And right beside him was a brown-haired female student who seemed oddly familiar.

Although her face wasn't clearly visible, the brown hair triggered a memory. A few days ago, the person I collided with in the corridor; the female student who was feeling my body definitely had brown hair.

And as I watched her and Walter together, I suddenly began to form a hypothesis in my mind – a hypothesis that had no evidence and was already in the past, but it was one theory that I couldn't just dismiss.

Walter. The commoner who despises nobles. Conspiring. Holding a grudge against me.

The brown-haired female student. Colliding with me. Falling. Stroking my upper body.

Handkerchief. Pocket. A demon. Summoning circle.

Walter. Conspiracy. Woman. A demon. Handkerchief.

Dozens of words flashed through my mind in an instant, and now only one conclusion remained etched in my thoughts.

That Walter, that lowly bastard, had plotted once again.

* * * * *

'That damn bastard…'

The despicable smirk on his face showed no signs of fading; instead, it seemed to intensify without a care in the world. His expression only served as further evidence, strengthening the hypothesis I had formulated.

Once again, I felt my anger rising, but by turning my gaze to the other side, I was able to calm my emotions to some extent. I'm glad that the distance between us was quite far.

If it hadn't been, I would have rushed over and beaten him up right away.

I shouldn't have let that bastard go.

I let it go as a warning last time because I didn't want to cause any more trouble, but now it was different.

The investigators are not blind.

No matter how my handkerchief was found near the summoning circle, with a bit of thorough investigation, it would quickly be proven that I had no connection to this incident. Whether he did this to get back at me for his pathetic revenge or if he simply wanted to witness me facing real consequences due to his stupidity remained uncertain.

But this had clearly crossed a line.

Whether he orchestrated this for his petty revenge or out of sheer stupidity, he had needlessly entangled me in a story that had nothing to do with me.

He is genuinely serious about plotting a conspiracy over such a foolish matter. And there's no law that says Walter wouldn't do this again. In fact, if I manage to escape unscathed, he'll likely come at me even more aggressively.

It's obvious, even if I don't say it, because he did such a thing, ignoring the warning I made by mentioning his family.

If I leave him alone at the academy, he will harm me for a long time.

I've decided that, by any means necessary, I will eliminate Walter after this incident is resolved.

Even if harm comes to me, I can't let him linger around.

* * * * *

The investigators brought me to their quarters, initiating some preliminary procedures before the impending interrogation.

I recited a prayer according to their instructions, and they injected a large amount of holy power into my body after I finished reciting the prayer.

According to the investigator's explanation, someone possessed by a demon would show extreme resistance even to a small amount of holy power.

And of course, I had nothing to do with that side, so I was able to pass the verification process without any problems.

The interrogation began soon after, but the conversation continued in a rather light atmosphere, even though it was an interrogation.

I strongly asserted to them that I had no involvement in this incident, and the investigators, accepting my opinion, meticulously re-examined the scene again.

After going through various procedures, it was finally revealed that my handkerchief fell there much later than the time the seal was created, and the footprints that were said to be imprinted around it also did not match any of my shoes.

In addition, I had a perfect alibi, as I was always accompanied by Ellie when I was at the academy.

"...So, the current situation is that Walter, that student, is definitely trying to frame you?"

"That's right." 

In the final stages of the interrogation, in the modest quarters of the subtly decorated interrogators, I sat face to face with Lazarus, exchanging thoughts.

"He has a history of putting me in trouble in the past, and even when I was brought here, he looked at me, mocked me, and insulted me. If you focus on his actions, you will definitely be able to obtain evidence related to this case."

"Huh, really."

Lazarus, who heard my words, clicked his tongue and made a dragging sound.

"If what you say is true, this is a very serious matter. How can one plot a conspiracy by involving their personal feelings in such an important matter? I understand now. I will look into that separately."

"How is the search for the central summoning circle going?"

"…I'm sorry, but that's not something I can inform a witness about. Well, it's getting late, so let's conclude our conversation here. You'll stay here for the night, and after noon tomorrow, you'll be allowed to leave. I would like to send you back immediately, but there are procedures on our end. Please understand."

"…Fine, I understand."

The door closed with a thud, leaving me alone in the small room. I lay on the hard wooden bed, gazing at the ceiling, lost in thought.

While the investigators didn't directly confirm, the nuance suggested they hadn't found the central summoning circle yet, just as in the original work. Naturally, I knew exactly where it was, but confessing it verbally would be equivalent to admitting guilt.

Since Eugene will catch the demon worshiper in the morning tomorrow, if I just kill time here, everything will be over by then.

I tossed and turned all night because I couldn't get used to the hard wooden bed, and it wasn't until the early morning, when the sun was rising faintly, that I was finally able to fall asleep.

—BANG! BANG! BANG!

Suddenly, I woke up to the sound of someone banging on the door.

In the warm sunlight streaming into the room, I furrowed my brow and rose from my seat. Judging by the position of the sun directly in the middle of the sky, it seemed to be around noon, and I must have overslept.

By now, Eugene should have already caught the demon worshiper. I can go back to my normal life. I need to think about how to deal with Walter and what to demand from Lazarus as compensation for defaming my reputation…

—BAM!

Just as I got up from the bed to straighten my appearance when the door, which had been locked, suddenly burst open and a man rushed in.

His face seemed vaguely familiar. But upon closer inspection, he looked like the young priest who had been following Lazarus around yesterday.

"Young master! You were sleeping. This is no time to rest. Quickly, follow the evacuation order! Time is of the essence!"

"What in the world is…"

Before I could utter a word to respond to his impolite behavior, the priest unexpectedly approached, grabbed my arm, and forcefully pulled me up.

"You must get up now! Hurry!"

"Look at this! If you suddenly tell people to evacuate without any explanation, who would follow that order? You should at least provide some basic information!"

Attempting to question him and reject his actions, I managed to break free from his grip. However, the priest forcefully pulled me outside and continued shouting.

"There's no time for that! The great demon's arrival is imminent!"

… what?

"From one of the auxiliary summoning circles we were managing, blood has been flowing uncontrollably in all directions for the past 15 minutes! There's not much time left! An evacuation order has been issued to everyone in the academy, including you. Do you understand? Now move! Hurry!"

I couldn't help but curse at his words.

No, this can't be right.

In the original work, when Eugene found the central summoning circle, it was still in the middle of the ritual, so it wasn't stained red, let alone blood.

But now that it was, it means that the ritual had been completed.

Now, even if we found the summoning circle, it would be too late to stop it.

Eugene. 

Where are you now and what are you doing right now?

—— End of chapter —–

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