Chapter 21
-Miss Lunaris, surely you still haven't even met the princess yet?
“...Ah, well... the timing just never lined up somehow.”
I forced a smile, but the deputy commander’s expression had already stiffened completely.
-I suppose if you’ve been causing that much trouble, it would be hard to make time for that.
“Well... nothing happened, did it? It’s not like there were any signs or anything.”
The reason I could act so confidently and shamelessly like this was simple.
There was still a year left before the original story even began.
Kyle, the protagonist, hadn’t even enrolled yet, so there was no way a dramatic incident would happen this early.
...Or so I thought.
-This is not the time to be so relaxed, Miss Lunaris.
The deputy commander’s words neatly overturned my expectations.
-Dark mages have recently begun to reveal their presence little by little.
“Dark mages?”
I couldn’t help but frown.
There they were.
The classic villains that always show up in academy stories.
More familiar than unfamiliar—almost endearing, even.
The Team Rocket-level little scene-stealers I’d almost miss if they didn’t show up.
Right. I’d always thought I’d run into them someday; after all, they appeared in the original story as a core villain organization.
But I never imagined I’d get tangled up with them before the main story even started.
Even the professors who rush through the material on the very first day of class would be shaking their heads at this.
As I frowned and grumbled to myself, the deputy commander said with a pleased expression,
-That instinctive refusal of dark magic, very admirable. You learned well from the former commander.
...It’s not like I particularly hate dark mages or anything.
Since there was no need to correct the misunderstanding, I let it slide.
-To finish what I was saying, traces of dark magic have been found all across the Empire.
The deputy commander went straight back to the main point.
-It seems the attack by the wyvern pack on the village where Miss Lunaris lived was also their doing.
“...What?”
So the wyverns attacked because of dark mages?
-Didn’t you notice?
“Well, I did think it was strange that they suddenly came at us so blatantly, but...”
I never imagined it had anything to do with dark magic.
It wasn’t a matter of how.
It was a matter of why.
What benefit was there in attacking a rural village on the border of the Empire—not exactly a prosperous city?
And secretly experimenting with dark magic made no sense either.
A strange phenomenon like a wyvern pack acting in unison would be far too conspicuous.
-For one thing, there is no such thing as a wyvern with black skin. They were all contaminated by dark-element mana.
“...Did you expect me to have time to think about that?”
Back then I was so angry that all I could think about was wiping out every last wyvern.
Pouting, I grumbled and went on.
“Did you catch the culprit who attacked our village, by any chance?”
-No. Instead, we captured a dark mage operating in another region and are interrogating the captive now. However... the captive won’t say a word no matter what, and it’s been giving us trouble.
The deputy commander scratched his head, looking troubled.
From where I stood, it seemed like the interrogation methods were the problem.
If we were a little cruel—just bend his fingers and toes, and if he still won’t talk, maybe twist his wrists and ankles a bit—wouldn’t he spill everything?
No, before that.
In the first place, if their goal was obvious, was there even any need to interrogate them?
-So, if you have time, Miss Lunaris, please look into it separately as well. If you happen to discover anything, I’d appreciate it if you shared the information.
“Well, it’s obvious. They’re probably planning to revive some primordial spirit of darkness or something.”
I tossed it out in a blasé tone, letting out a yawn as if it were nothing.
But actually, this was quite decisive information.
Toward the latter half of the original story, the dark mages conduct a ritual to revive a spirit of darkness using the academy as an altar.
Come to think of it, I seem to have quite a hard time in that episode too... Ugh. Just thinking about it makes my stomach twist.
-It certainly isn’t impossible that such a thing is happening...
The deputy commander paused for a moment, then added in a careful tone,
-If you do investigate, please look into the words “sin” and “witch” rather than spirits.
At that sudden keyword, my head tilted to the side along with my heavy hair.
“Witch?”
-Didn't I just say that I'm interrogating a dark mage? That captive muttered those words in a voice full of madness.
To my puzzled expression, the deputy commander added an explanation.
-‘The moment the witches who bear humanity’s sins awaken, this world will be swallowed by darkness,’ he said.
For an instant, a chill ran down my spine.
This is the first I’m hearing of it.
I’ve never seen this line in the original.
Did I miss it?
A discarded setting?
Or... a foreshadowing thread related to the original story’s unseen backstory?
Lost in thought, I let out a serious “Hmm—” and the deputy commander laughed lightly.
-Haha. Don’t take it too seriously. He might have just been spouting nonsense.
“Still, I can’t help being curious.”
-More importantly, please focus on making sure the princess can live safely at the academy.
“Yes—got it.”
Right, I should at least meet the princess next week.
Even I thought it was a bit much that I hadn’t managed to see her face even once until now.
-If you have time, look into the dark magic matter. Really, only if you have the leisure. It would be troublesome if you got fixated on it and caused another accident.
“Ahaha... Understood. I’ll be careful.”
By the way, speaking of dark magic and dark-element mana, something suddenly came to mind.
“Oh, Deputy Commander. Come to think of it, there was a ghost handling dark-element mana inside the academy.”
-W-what did you say?!
As soon as I finished speaking, a boom—the sound of a desk being slammed rang out through the crystal orb.
My casually tossed remark had earned a dramatic reaction.
-A ghost that uses dark magic? Is that true?
“J-just calm down...”
-Explain in detail. When, where, and how did you discover it?
I hadn’t expected such an intense reaction.
Deciding I should calm the excited deputy commander first, I said in a calm, subdued voice,
“It’s nothing major. I joined a club called the Ghost Story Research Club this time, and while I was active there, I ran into a ghost handling dark-element mana.”
Soon, a long, deep sigh escaped.
-...I thought you’d spent the last two weeks doing nothing but causing trouble, but it turned out you were doing your job after all.
Come on, Deputy Commander. That’s a little harsh.
-In any case, I’m relieved you found it before things escalated. So what happened to the ghost? Did you handle it properly?
“Well, for now, I—”
In that instant, a bolt of lightning struck my mind.
I’d already sent the senior ghost on its way, after all.
But for some reason, telling the truth felt a little too wasteful.
Another bolt of lightning struck my mind.
The corner of my mouth slowly rose as I thought I might be able to use this situation to my advantage.
“...I tried to send it off, but in the end I failed.”
I sighed in deliberate disappointment and said,
-Failed?
Our deputy commander’s voice rose again.
-Was it that strong? Strong enough that even Miss Lunaris, an advanced mage, couldn’t handle it properly?
“It’s not that. The club members happened to be with me at the time, so I had to put the students first, and it got away from me.”
-...If that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done.
“Don’t worry. I’m planning to go deal with it alone sometime soon.”
In the brief silence, only the faint tap-tap of fingers on the desk echoed softly.
Soon, the deputy commander spoke in a serious voice.
-We need to handle it as quickly as possible. If possible, go tomorrow.
Now comes the key part.
As if I’d been waiting for it, I pulled out the line I’d prepared.
“But Deputy Commander, I’m still a student, so I can’t just skip class, can I?”
-...Huh?
“If I’m going to make proper time, it’ll probably have to be Friday, when I don’t have class.”
-No, since when were you such a diligent student...? More importantly, classes are the important thing right now...
“Then, should I skip class?”
If you keep painting me as a delinquent student like that, I might just end up taking an ‘unauthorized absence’?
I’ll really become a delinquent student, you know? Got it?
-I’m not saying you should neglect your academy life, but... Haah.
In the end, the deputy commander took his seat at the negotiation table I’d prepared.
-...Fine. One day should be enough to deal with a ghost, right? I’ll submit an off-campus activity application to the academy right away so your absence will be officially excused.
“Hmm, one day is a little tight.”
I deliberately let the silence stretch before speaking.
“I think two days should be enough.”
In my heart, I wanted to reserve a full week if I could, but asking for too much would just make him shut me down.
-Understood. Two days. Just make sure you handle it neatly.
The deputy commander said in a resigned voice.
-Submit a detailed report including the incident’s circumstances, your investigation, and the battle itself.
“Yes. Understood.”
-Haah. What a mess this is, right before my promotion to commander, honestly.
No wonder. Our deputy commander was on edge because promotion was right around the corner.
-Then do your best. At the next regular report, I’ll hear more about that ghost at my leisure.
With the words that he would look into it himself, the crystal orb’s light slowly faded away.
“You can go now, Deputy Commander.”
...Already gone?
After confirming that the mana reaction had completely disappeared, I clenched both fists and threw an uppercut into the air.
“Yes—two-day official leave secured.”
This is why you have to use your head, right?
The report is a bit of a snag, but that’s fine—I can just take the club activity report written by Club President Sylvia and adapt it appropriately.
“All right, then for the next two days...”
I turned my head and looked out the window.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d looked forward to sunrise this much.
“I might as well update my report on the best daytime nap spots.”
Come to think of it, the princess is...
...Well, there’s no need to meet her exactly next week, is there?
*
Monday morning.
Princess Celestina was already circling in front of Linea Hall for the fifth time.
The princess was planning a chance encounter disguised as coincidence.
The very moment Lunaris was dragged out by the maids!
‘I’ll walk up naturally, strike up a conversation, and head to the lecture hall with her.’
Then we’ll sit side by side and attend class together.
And after that, go straight to the cafeteria and have lunch together, bringing us closer together.
This should feel natural enough, right?
The princess, pleased with her own perfect operation plan, glanced toward the entrance of Linea Hall.
But for some reason, there was no sign of anyone there.
Class time was getting close, so why wasn’t Lunaris coming out?
At this rate, she’d be late.
“Is she struggling...?”
That was entirely possible.
Forcing an advanced mage to come out is no easy task.
Just as she decided she’d better support the maids even if it meant paying out of pocket, the head maid walked out of Linea Hall.
For a moment, Princess Celestina’s face brightened, but seeing the head maid come out alone, her smile soon faded.
“Odette, where is Lunaris?”
“...I’m sorry, Your Highness. I wasn’t able to wake Miss Lunaris today.”
Princess Celestina’s eyebrows twitched.
“What happened? Did Lunaris beat you?”
The head maid swallowed a sigh and said in a low, subdued voice,
“Miss Lunaris has been scheduled for off-campus activities today and tomorrow, so she’ll be missing all of her classes.”
“What, what did you say?”
“When I went to her room this morning, an off-campus activity permit bearing the academy chairman’s seal was posted on her door.”
Hearing that there wasn’t even room to negotiate, the princess blinked blankly.
“Just what kind of off-campus activity...”
“According to the documents we obtained, it’s work related to the Imperial Mage Corps. The deputy commander’s seal was on it as well.”
“There definitely wasn’t any talk of that as of yesterday, was there?”
“No. After asking around, it seems it was urgently issued at dawn today.”
Princess Celestina’s expression froze in an instant.
It felt as if her heart had dropped straight to the floor.
Could it be that, on the only day of the week when she could make contact with Lunaris, an unexpected off-campus assignment was suddenly scheduled?
And not only that, but the deputy commander of the Imperial Mage Corps was involved too?
Princess Celestina parted her lips, her face stiff.
She couldn’t easily shake off the ominous feeling.