Chap 95-Victory

 

News of the gate opening during the mid-term practical exam sent the academy professors rushing to the ‘Farm’ without delay.

Fortunately, thanks to the being known as the ‘Crimson Monster,’ there were no fatalities, but the injured were countless.

Lea, having been rescued and relatively unscathed, busily moved among the injured who were pouring in from all directions.

Assisting the students and professors who could use healing magic, she bandaged wounds, handed out potions, and checked on the patients’ conditions.

“Here, someone needs to stop the bleeding!”

“Anyone who can use calming magic, over here!”

Even amidst the chaos of mingled screams and groans, Lea calmly fulfilled her role.

It was then, while she was busy tending to the injured, that Clara came running up, asking in a hurried voice.

“Lea! Have you heard any news about Lady Camilla?”

Lea’s expression darkened as she shook her head.

“Not yet. I reported it to Professor Merlin, and… the professors said they’re looking for her, but…”

“Hngh…”

At that moment, tears suddenly burst from Clara’s eyes.

“Oh my! Lady Clara! Are you alright?”

“Look at this… What are we going to do about our Lady…”

Clara sobbed, handing Lea a wet newspaper article.

“What’s this…?”

[Breaking News] Academy Midterm Disaster, Was the Culprit the ‘Villainess’ Yeon Bennet?!

“I knew it… It seems like Yeon Bennet is behind this…”

Clara said, choking back tears.

“Lady Camilla must be safe… Dragged away by that woman, I wonder what she’s going through…”

“What is…”

With trembling hands, Lea took the newspaper and read through the evidence presented in the article, one by one.

The evidence was perfect.

A copy of a letter communicating with Contamination Worshippers, precisely specifying the date and location of the midterm practical exam and ordering an attack.

A photograph of a magical artifact with Yeon’s Mana residue, found near the point where the gate opened.

Even an anonymous interview testifying that she was the culprit.

It was strangely… perfect.

How long had it been since the attack occurred?

To gather, organize, and publish an article with this much evidence so quickly?

It didn’t make sense.

Except for one possibility.

“Isn’t this article… strange?”

Lea asked Clara.

“What do you mean?”

“This evidence, it’s too perfect! And how long has it been since the attack that they’re already writing articles? At this rate, wouldn’t it mean they knew Yeon Bennet was going to attack in advance?”

“Sigh… Lea, look at the name of the newspaper.”

Clara said, looking exasperated.

At her words, Lea checked the newspaper.

And there, she saw a name that was very familiar to her.

Mirage Times.

The place where she had obtained the most information about Yeon Bennet and her photos.

The very newspaper that had uniquely exposed her misdeeds when no one dared to speak ill of the villainess Yeon Bennet, suppressed by the Bennet family’s power.

That’s right!

If it was them, who had been constantly monitoring Yeon Bennet’s movements, it would be possible for them to publish an article this quickly.

“…….”

No.

It’s strange.

If they were able to write such a detailed and quick article, they must have known about the attack plan in advance.

Then why didn’t they try to prevent this tragedy or reduce the damage?

Moreover, Lea knew one truth that others did not.

She raised her head and looked around at the students receiving treatment inside the camp.

Almost all the students here.

They all said they had been saved by the help of an unidentified being called the ‘Crimson Monster.’

And she was the only one here who knew its identity.

Yeon Bennet.

The woman called a villainess had been saving so many students.

With her body covered in terrible and severe wounds, enough to be called a Crimson Monster.

Moreover, the Yeon she had directly observed during group projects…

Wasn’t the trashy villainess that was known to the world.

She was just a timid, somewhat clumsy, and gullible ordinary woman.

That kind of person…

Could that kind of person really have committed such a terrible act?

“What? Yeon Bennet, that crazy bitch, is the culprit?!”

“I knew she was a Contamination Worshiper! She was trying to kill us all!”

“We have to find that bitch and kill her right now!”

Loud shouts erupted one after another from one side of the camp.

Someone began reading the newspaper article aloud, and students who were nearby quickly gathered around.

“My friend was injured because of that woman back then!”

“Don’t you remember her doing strange things during vacation last time? I thought she would be properly punished then, but she just got away with it… In the end!”

The emotions of the group were amplifying.

Hatred for someone who wasn’t there lingered in the air.

“We have to catch her before she escapes.”

“We have to make sure she can never set foot in the academy again.”

Someone clenched their fists and gritted their teeth.

Someone tore the newspaper and threw it on the ground.

And someone else looked around, clenching their jaw as if they were about to go out and find her right away.

The camp was filled with the light of healing magic and the scent of potions, but within it, an increasingly darker hatred was blooming.

‘This is… something is wrong.’

Lea clenched her fists tightly.

No matter how she thought about it, the probability of her being the culprit was low.

But can I step forward here, right now?

She didn’t even need to think about what kind of words she would hear.

But the sight of her silently saving students, even with terrible wounds from the magical beasts…

Lingered before her eyes.

In the end.

“Wait a minute! Something’s… strange!”

Lea shouted courageously.

All eyes turned to her at once.

“This article is too perfect. The evidence, the content, even the timing of the announcement… It’s as if someone was preparing for it in advance…”

“What?”

“Don’t say such nonsense!”

“Are you… defending Yeon Bennet right now?”

A stir arose among the students.

Lea clenched her hands and took a step forward.

“It’s not certain yet. At least, until we confirm it ourselves—”

“That woman might have tried to kill us!”

“You’re defending Yeon Bennet? You’re with her, aren’t you?”

Someone’s shout quickly turned the atmosphere among the students hostile.

Some clenched their fists and stepped forward, while others grabbed nearby objects.

No one seemed to agree with Lea’s words.

“…Please stop.”

Lea’s voice trembled slightly.

At that moment—

“The Saintess has awakened!”

A cry that sounded like a scream echoed.

Someone pointed towards the tent in the center of the camp and shouted.

All the commotion stopped in an instant.

Dozens of gazes, filled with conflict and hatred, turned towards the tent at once.

A silence as if the wind had stopped.

And soon—

The curtains of the tent were carefully drawn back, and a girl appeared.

Her pink hair was a little disheveled, but otherwise, Lina was unharmed.

“L, Lady Lina…?”

“Lady Lina has really woken up!”

“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?!”

Students crowded around the edge of the tent.

They looked at her with faces filled with emotion, and some, with reddened eyes, looked as if they would burst into tears at any moment.

Lea watched the scene and quietly bit her lip.

‘Lady Lina… you’re safe. I’m glad.’

Lea sighed in relief.

‘That’s right! If it’s Lady Lina, maybe…’

The Lea she knew, Lina always seemed to have a strange fondness for Yeon Bennet.

If it was her.

She might believe that the ‘Crimson Monster’ who fought so hard for the students was Yeon Bennet…

Drawn by that hope, Lea approached Lina with trembling steps.

“Lady Lina!”

Lea called out to her.

But—

‘Huh? Why isn’t my voice…’

The next words didn’t come out.

As if her lips had frozen.

Her throat was blocked, and she couldn’t continue speaking.

When Lea didn’t say anything, Lina looked at her with questioning eyes.

‘I have to… speak…’

‘Yeon Bennet… Yeon Bennet… Yeon…’

“Are you alright, Lea?”

Lina approached her with a worried tone.

At those words, Lea snapped back to her senses.

“No… that’s not it… Huh?”

Her voice was back.

‘…What was that? I’m fine. Why was I like that earlier?’

But…

What was I trying to say?

The memory…

She couldn’t remember.

It felt like it was a very important thing to say…

“Here! Professor Bella is here!!!”

Another shout erupted from the entrance of the camp.

Everyone’s gaze turned to where Camilla was carrying a blood-soaked Bella on her back, running breathlessly.

“Lady Camilla!”

Clara saw the sight and rushed over urgently.

The students bustled and made way, and the professors also hurried towards them.

All the attention in the camp was instantly focused on the blood-soaked Bella and Camilla, who had appeared carrying her.

But Lea didn’t move.

She stared blankly at Clara’s back as she ran towards Camilla, desperately rummaging through her mind.

‘What was it? What was I trying to say to Lady Lina?’

The one word that had been lingering in her mouth, the one that had been so important.

It was as hazy as if fog had settled in her mind, and it was frustrating, as if blocked by a thick wall.

A void as if something that had been clear until just now had been completely cut out.

Really.

It was strange.

Author’s Note

I’m sorry for being late…

I wanted to come quickly, but my younger sibling keeps staying in my room because they don’t have an air conditioner in their room…