# Episode 56. The Informant
The faculty of the Academy was thrown into an uproar early in the morning.
Not only was Keru, the assistant who had been missing for a few days, found dead as a cold corpse in a deserted area of the campus, but evidence also surfaced indicating that he was part of the Black Mage group, triggering an urgent security alert throughout the Academy.
The guard who discovered the body noticed it was strange for Keru, who hadn’t been seen around for a few days, to be alone in such a secluded place. On approaching, and upon realizing there was no response to his calls, he found out Keru was already deceased.
Fortunately, it was still before dawn, so there were no passerby. If the body had been discovered in the afternoon, the situation would have undoubtedly been much more serious.
As a result, the faculty, who were summoned at the break of dawn, initially groggy and disoriented, came to their senses as the gravity of the situation was explained to them.
“Does this even make any sense? A murder case in the sacred Academy! And to top it off, the victim was part of the Black Mages!? Is this even plausible!”
In the main conference room where all the professors had gathered,
given the severity of the matter, their expressions were grave.
One professor loudly insisted they must immediately commence an investigation, calling it a disgrace to the Academy.
“There must definitely be someone within the Academy in collaboration! We should expedite our investigation without delay-!”
“Calm down, Professor Harun.”
At the sound of the low voice calling out to him, the middle-aged professor named Harun had no choice but to hold his tongue.
Although he appeared calm on the surface, the emotional turmoil hidden within him was strong enough to stir a mana fluctuation, causing the professors around him to shiver.
“For now, what about the students?”
“None of the students saw anything, due to it being late at night. The area is usually deserted, and since there were no mentions of any unusual events until now, it’s likely the body was placed there in the early hours of this morning. You don’t need to worry about this.”
“Hmm. It’s fortunate that the students weren’t exposed to it.”
The principal let out a sigh of relief upon hearing the head guard’s report.
The students are young sprouts who should only encounter good things.
It’s unnecessary for them to be confronted with misfortune and peculiarities at this age.
“Was the evidence proving he was indeed a Black Mage verified?”
“Yes. Unbelievable as it is… all the evidence points to it being true. Additionally, there was a recording device which, upon review, seemed to have captured an interrogation session, corroborating the evidence. Moreover…”
“Is there something else?”
As the investigator prolonged his words, the principal prompted him, and he hesitantly spoke.
“It’s said he also introduced the mutated monsters into the Academy previously, as part of his work. It seems a curse activated during the interrogation, which is why we couldn’t learn more details, but he seemed to be aiding a particular group.”
“…Ah. To think the culprit was found so easily. Not sure if this is something to be happy about.”
A few days ago, an incident occurred at the Academy,
wherein Lab Netoire, the top student, due to a mistake by the Academy, was transported deep into the night’s forest. There, he encountered a mutated monster, putting his life in danger.
At the time, evidence or suspicion of third-party involvement wasn’t revealed, so it was concluded as merely the Academy’s fault. But now, the realization that the event was part of a master plan left the principal with a heavy sigh.
And even the involvement of the Black Mages.
The thought that these despicable individuals, who carelessly harm lives for their own desires and pleasures, dared to trespass into his Academy filled the principal with deep anger within.
“Hmm… So, the one who placed his body and the evidence together could not be identified?”
“Apologies. The methods were extremely professional. We could not find any traces. None of the entry logs showed anyone coming in or out tonight and the boundary wards for detecting intrusions didn’t activate. The perpetrator is likely still within the Academy, but…”
“Director! Shouldn’t we investigate all the possible suspects among the staff? If anyone’s guilty, they would likely refuse an investigation!”
“That might work if it weren’t for the fact that we’d have to start with the guards and the professors. That’s sure to cause quite a commotion. Even if we tell the students it’s a secret, a large-scale investigation would definitely catch their attention and rumors will spread.”
In an academy where even the slightest incident spreads quickly, professors gathering to verify each other’s alibis would be a spectacle.
It would create a ripple effect the likes of which would have unforeseen consequences. Not only would it spark simple doubts but also raise serious concerns about the academy’s reliability.
“For now, let’s tell the students that Assistant Keru, or rather, that Black Mage, left for his hometown due to family matters. As far as I understand, he was popular among the students…”
“Yes. With his handsome appearance and gift of gab, he garnered significant favor among the female students. There were also rumors that he was too familiar with the students, leading me to believe he intended some harm to the Academy’s young members.”
“Troublesome…”
Truly befitting a fiend who lures people with charm.
Seeing as his influence within the Academy grew so rapidly, this is undoubtedly another sinister strategy orchestrated by the Black Mages.
“There might also be other collaborators hidden within the Academy, aside from that Black Mage who is now dead. However, suspicion breeds more suspicion, and that could lead to self-destruction, exactly what they want. For now, safeguarding the students’ safety takes precedence over suspecting each other.”
“…That’s a reasonable judgment.”
The other professors nodded at the principal who set a perfect example as an educator.
Regardless of the situation, their concern for the growth of the Academy’s young individuals surpassed all else.
“By the way, the guard who discovered the body has submitted his resignation. Judging by his condition, the shock was considerable.”
“Ah, what a pity loss. Handle it appropriately, but make sure there is strict confidentiality about the matter.”
“Understood.”
Regrettably, no one at the meeting suspected the guard who initially found the body.
Though the guard reportedly left the Academy due to mental stress, he vanished without a trace afterward. There was no way for them to realize this yet.
*
“Hey, did you hear? Due to family issues, Assistant Keru had to urgently return to his hometown!”
“Huh~ Really?! What am I going to do~ I came to the Academy just to see Assistant Keru!”
Upon overhearing the chatter of female students while passing through the hallway, my ears unconsciously perked up.
‘That guy went back to his hometown? What does that even mean?’
Keru, the man with a name reminiscent of a fickle cat, was, in fact, one of the followers of the Evil God stealthily infiltrating the Academy.
Holding a relatively high rank among them, the guy was serious enough to undergo a process that extracted his dark magical power for their grand plan.
Since he was the only one in the Academy capable of bringing in a Black Mage, identifying the criminal wasn’t difficult. However, attempting to accuse such a popular figure among the students would only invite disdain and contempt. So, I decided it would be wise to wait for the right moment.
I knew he’d create trouble again in the next event, and I was already devising a countermeasure. But now…
‘Is he really stepping aside this easily? Did they change their plan?’
He had already undergone the extraction of his dark magical power, which left him powerless. Moreover, as the only one with connections to the followers of the Evil God, his value was immeasurable.
Yet, they let him go so easily.
Officially, they claimed he had returned home, but it’s likely he was called back to their main base.
Faced with this unexpected development, I was reconsidering my strategies when a familiar voice called out behind me.
“Young Master~ What are you contemplating so deeply?”
“Ah, it’s you, Ria. It’s nothing.”
…Perhaps it’s just my impression, but Ria’s expression seems brighter today than yesterday. Did something good happen perhaps?
“If it’s fine, tell me what’s troubling you~ Who knows, I might be able to solve Young Master’s doubts for you.”
“Hmm…”
Though a little apprehensive, I decided to share my concerns with Ria. After all, if I explain it vaguely, she probably wouldn’t understand the subtlety of the situation. And there’s no way Ria would have knowledge about the intricate details behind this case anyway.
“To put it simply, I was preparing for something that could harm me, but it suddenly vanished. While it’s something to be happy about, I’m concerned about what changes it might bring in the future.”
“Hmm… It’s complicated.”
True, even I am confused by what I’ve said.
“But continuing to worry about something that’s already gone might only burden Young Master unnecessarily. I don’t know exactly what you’re worried about, but I hope you won’t carry everything by yourself.”
Her words of counsel, simple though they were, provided a soothing clarity that relaxed my tense demeanor.
“Y…Yes. With so many things on my mind, it seems I’ve worried a bit too much.”
“If you’re facing tough times, please let me know. It’s easier to tackle things with two people than one, isn’t it?”
“I understand. I’ll definitely tell you.”
That’s right. He’s already left the stage.
With the only contact person within the Academy gone, we can only speculate how this butterfly effect might unfold, but the immediate threat has been removed.
Even without him, the harm that the followers of the Evil God will cause to the Academy is undeniable.
If I don’t drown in the changes right in front of me and start preparing now, I can probably counter them more effectively.
‘No, Young Master, you don’t need to worry about it anymore. I’ll make sure to deal with everything that threatens you.’
