The loud explosion contrasted sharply with the strangely quiet surroundings of the Academy Main Building.
I slowed my walking pace a bit. It would be a lie to say that those who did such things were unarmed.
“Is this the main building?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Amidst this, I heard the sound of a conversation that seemed unreal. I glanced back at the source of the voices.
“Say, Chief Curbin. Do we really have to capture that guy, Cesar Li?”
“We must prioritize capturing him as long as the situation permits.”
I had just run into the Adelheid Duke and Chief Curbin as I left the auditorium. With about ten agents accompanying them, the two quickly followed me once they realized I was heading to the main building to save Laura.
One fact I learned after joining them was that this incident was indeed caused by Cesar Li. Just that alone did not sit well with me.
“If even a single hair on Laura is harmed, I won’t be able to hold back.”
“We’ll secure Adelheid’s identity as quickly as possible to prevent such an incident.”
Ignoring the exchange between Chief Curbin and the Adelheid Duke, I continued moving forward when Chief Curbin cautiously approached me.
“Professor Antorelli, thank you for your guidance.”
“…You only tagged along without permission, didn’t you?”
“Don’t we all have a common goal? I know that your relationship with the Adelheid Duke is not smooth, but for now, it’s best to cooperate.”
“……”
“More importantly, Professor Antorelli. Once we enter the main building, we may face dangerous situations.”
Chief Curbin whispered. I naturally turned my head to follow her gaze.
“Wouldn’t it be better to evacuate your entourage to a safe place?”
She was right. Sofia sub-priest and Student Chloe were looking at us with blank expressions.
Considering we might face dangerous situations, the risk of having them accompany us inside the main building was too high. I nodded toward Chief Curbin.
“I agree, but we need Professor Esther. The illusion magic will be greatly helpful in finding the Adelheid student.”
“Hmm… then I’ll just take the other two to the auditorium.”
Having finished her sentence, Chief Curbin designated several agents from those following her and instructed them.
“Escort these two to the auditorium. Do it as quickly as possible.”
Four agents silently nodded, and under Chief Curbin’s direction, they began to escort Sofia sub-priest as the focus of their protection. I could only nod heavily to Sofia and Chloe, who looked at me anxiously.
“Sofia sub-priest. For now, please take refuge in the auditorium. The same goes for you, Student Chloe.”
“…Head Priest, please be careful.”
“Professor….”
The mere fact of them being out of my sight was incredibly unsettling, but there was no choice. It was wiser to send them to the lesser risk.
Watching Sofia and Chloe grow distant, I turned to Professor Esther standing resolutely beside me and spoke.
“Professor Esther, we must find the Adelheid student.”
“Don’t worry.”
Professor Esther’s illusion magic had been vital during the previous incident with the finger.
Although I couldn’t find Laura earlier that morning using Professor Esther’s magic, it would be different now that we knew the location was specified as the main building. I watched Professor Esther slowly conjuring the magic circle and slid my hand into my pocket.
The cold metal touched my hand. The chilling sensation seeped into my bones, causing me to involuntarily flinch.
‘…Damn it.’
Honestly, I was on the verge of nausea. It was a sensation I never wanted to experience again.
“Uroboros (ουροβóρος).”
As I hesitated with my hand in my pocket, I gripped the pistol simultaneously as Professor Esther’s magic was completed. I could feel the heavy weight in my hand.
Thanks to Professor Esther’s magic, my vision was enhanced to see through the walls up to about five meters ahead, just like during the previous incident.
“Phew… this is a bit tough.”
“Thank you, Professor Esther.”
“Now, let’s enter.”
It was always astounding magic, but there was no time for admiration. Armed with swords and pistols, we stepped into the cold atmosphere of the main building’s corridor.
The lights hanging from the ceiling flickered uneasily, and the blindingly bright fire alarm lights wrapped the corridor in a harsh red glow.
I confirmed that my pistol’s magazine was fully loaded, raising the firearm. The muzzle of the gun remained steady, aimed forward.
Seeing my demeanor, Chief Curbin’s expression changed significantly. She approached me and asked.
“Professor, the safety is still on.”
“I know.”
“…What?”
For a moment, Chief Curbin stared at me in disbelief. I replied to her.
“I’m aware that the safety was not removed.”
“Then why…?”
“I’d rather not shoot people unless necessary.”
With my response, Chief Curbin fell silent. I, too, said nothing. We moved on in silence.
“Two hostiles around the right corner, wearing maintenance uniforms.”
“Confirmed.”
As agents reported after receiving the ability to see through walls from Professor Esther’s magic, we waited for them to subdue Cesar’s comrades.
– Bang! Bang!
As the gunfight erupted between Cesar’s allies and the agents, we hid Professor Esther behind the wall and waited for the situation to resolve.
“…Ugh.”
Hearing the gunfire after such a long time still echoed painfully in my ears.
“Professor Lucio…! Are you okay?”
“…Y-yes, I’m fine.”
I endured the urge to vomit and desperately moved forward.
I knew who I was going to lose, and still, the immense pain of that loss approached even greater.
Thus, after thoroughly searching the main building and when Professor Esther’s magic was nearing its expiration, we found ourselves with only the rooftop left.
“Now, to the rooftop.”
“We’ll charge in immediately.”
– Bang! Crash!
As we opened the rooftop door, we were greeted by a sky filled with dark clouds. The humid air suggested it might rain at any moment.
“Laura! Are you okay?!”
Tied up and kneeling on the floor was Laura von Adelheit…
“Lower your gun!!”
…with a man aiming a pistol at her head.
An old acquaintance of mine, now not much time left before something was taken from me.
A man I once wished to share my ideals with.
And now, he was someone who intended to take away what I must not lose.
Seeing that, I took…
– Click.
I raised the heavy pistol and accurately aimed at Cesar’s head.
“Cesar… Cesar Li—!!”
Even in the humid wind blowing from the rooftop, my gun remained steady.
The safety was still on.
*
Laura stared blankly at Professor Antorelli, who burst through the rooftop door.
Seeing Laura with a gun pointed at her head, the others who followed lowered their weapons.
“Cesar… Cesar Li—!!”
Only the pistol in Professor Antorelli’s hand did not lower. The cold muzzle gleamed as it aimed at Cesar.
Seeing Professor Antorelli like that, Laura felt as if she had been struck on the head with a hammer. Her vision turned white.
‘Ah, Professor Antorelli….’
Professor Antorelli’s shout was proof that Cesar’s claims, which she desperately wanted to deny, were true.
Laura thought. If Cesar’s words were lies, Professor Antorelli wouldn’t be able to recognize him.
Or, even if he knew Cesar’s name, there was no way Professor Antorelli could look at him with such fierce eyes.
The gaze that Professor Antorelli directed at Cesar was piercing. Like someone who had been betrayed by someone they had known for a long time.
Eyes filled with blood. Even in his usually grim appearance, a sense of despair filled his eyes, as if he would kill Cesar.
Seeing Professor Antorelli like that, Laura murmured blankly.
“Th-then… really….”
She didn’t want to believe it. It was something she absolutely did not want to believe.
She did not doubt that Cesar’s words were lies. Logically, if Cesar’s claims were true, then it didn’t make sense for Professor Antorelli to show such an attitude toward the child of his enemy.
And then, cracks began to form in that belief.
“Really, Professor….”
Had he truly lost everything, as Cesar said?
Also, because of Laura’s father, Maximilian von Adelheit?
While Laura stared blankly at Professor Antorelli, Cesar brought the muzzle of his gun even closer to her head. The Adelheid Duke erupted in rage.
“Y-you…! How dare you…!”
“…….”
Cesar gazed at him coldly, as if looking at an insect.
“You! Put that gun down immediately! If even a scratch touches Laura—.”
“Shut your mouth.”
– Click.
At the moment his finger moved, a crisp sound echoed. The safety was released from the pistol.
Upon hearing that, the Adelheid Duke naturally closed his mouth. His face, once flushed with anxiety and anger, turned pale.
Cesar, having taken his gaze off the Adelheid Duke, smiled at Professor Antorelli, who aimed a pistol at him.
“We meet again, Lucio.”
“Cesar…! All your comrades have been subdued! Now give it up and lower that gun! Immediately!”
“Well… I didn’t want to meet like this. You feel the same, right? If we meet again, let’s have some drinks in a quiet tavern….”
“Damn it, Cesar! Put down that gun first!”
In the end, even the honorifics that Professor Antorelli had maintained broke down. His face was filled with anxiety and impatience.
Cesar showed a sad expression. His melted face was difficult to read, but Professor Antorelli knew.
His slightly hazy brown eyes, the corners of his eyes drooping, the edges of his lips slightly trembling. As he looked at Professor Antorelli, Cesar finally spoke.
“What if I don’t want to?”
“W-what…?”
Professor Antorelli’s expression turned strange. It looked as if he had just heard the most absurd joke.
Continuing to look at him, Cesar went on.
“Lucio. I cannot understand.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Look at yourself. The chance for revenge has finally come, yet you’re siding with the enemy?”
“…Cesar, I’m absolutely not siding with the Adelheid Duke….”
“Then, why are you standing over there—!!”
A scream? A shout? Or perhaps a wail?
No. It was closer to a death throe. Professor Antorelli would know that cry well.
It was the death throe of a personality. Professor Antorelli must have experienced a similar death throe at some point.
Cesar’s gaze changed. The sad look in his eyes became filled with sharp, hardened hatred.
“If you’re not siding with that bastard, then why are you standing over there?”
“That’s….”
“Don’t you feel even a bit resentful?”
And then it happened.
As Professor Antorelli desperately tried to explain, his mouth clamped shut. Cesar continued speaking.
“Because of that bastard… Maximilian von Adelheit, that bastard…! How many people have died, you know well! After barely surviving, you know what kind of attitude he showed us! You know that well too!!”
“Cesar…. I….”
“When you were hiding in a house that seemed about to collapse, when you were dying after losing someone named Helena….”
Something hot dripped from Laura’s shoulder.
“And when I ended up like this…. How painful it was, you know that best….”
“…….”
“Why, despite that, are you standing next to the Adelheid?”
Professor Antorelli could not answer. The muzzle of his gun, once steady, trembled mercilessly.
“Professor…?”
Laura stared blankly at him.
– Rumble…
It seemed like it was going to rain.
