Ch.143Hangover (1)

We returned home.

To none other than the academy.

There wasn’t much cleanup needed regarding the cult.

Selena’s side had already handled most of it, and the remaining minor details would be taken care of by the members.

Thanks to that, we were able to return without delay.

Of course.

‘It’s not completely over yet.’

Various problems remained within the academy.

The cold atmosphere among the faculty members.

Perhaps because they were aware of the traitor’s existence, a chilly air lingered around.

Since everyone had sharpness in their eyes, we needed to cover up the incident for now.

It was a matter that would be troublesome if exposed.

Fortunately.

The problem was resolved more simply than expected.

With the help of none other than the headmaster.

He conveyed that the matter had been handled and that they could set aside any further concerns.

Despite their lukewarm response to the sudden news, the faculty obeyed the old man’s words.

They must trust their superior who had led the academy all this time.

Thanks to that, the topic subsided.

‘All things considered… I guess the headmaster is the headmaster after all.’

Additionally.

Among the problems we needed to handle, there remained the disposal of various traces.

The disposal of evidence proving Selena was the traitor.

We had to erase related letters, materials, and records from that time.

This issue also received help from someone.

“I’ve organized the documents as requested. This should prevent any further talk.”

“Thank you for your help, Professor Cadel.”

That someone was none other than Professor Cadel.

A person who had a rival relationship with Selena.

He helped me erase traces of the betrayal and cooperated in diverting the faculty’s attention.

After all, Cadel had known from the beginning that Selena was the traitor.

-Student Judas.

-I have something serious to discuss with you.

That was the first time we had an open conversation.

After the faculty meeting.

Cadel quietly requested to talk.

It was to ask about my opinion on the traitor.

He was already convinced that Selena was the academy’s informant.

To summarize what I heard there:

-I’ve been suspicious of her for some time.

-I merely remained vigilant because I lacked certainty, but through this attack, I was able to confirm it.

-That the identity of the informant I’d been pondering about… was none other than Professor Selena.

-The evidence I’ve gathered also adds strength to this hypothesis.

It wasn’t particularly strange.

In the original story, he was the one who revealed Selena’s betrayal.

Although he was a step late in gaining certainty, which meant he couldn’t prevent the revival of the four dragons and the collapse of the academy, thanks to him, the truth about the betrayal could surface.

It seems it was the same this time as well.

-What will you do, Student Judas?

The voice asking calmly.

Professor Cadel handed over the choice to me.

How to handle Selena.

He meant he would grant a brief reprieve before revealing the content at the faculty meeting.

It also meant he wanted me to confirm the drunkard’s true intentions during that time.

I nodded.

-Then… I’ll believe you understand.

-Please choose wisely. I’m showing mercy to a student, after all.

Thanks to that.

I was able to save Selena who was standing on the edge of a cliff.

And return together to the academy, our home.

Cadel saw us return and nodded.

-You did it.

Afterwards.

He helped with organizing documents and cooperated with various cleanup tasks.

In truth, I couldn’t fully understand Cadel’s inner thoughts.

For a character who appeared prominently in the original story, he was always described as someone whose intentions were hard to read.

It was so bad that even when betrayal rumors were circulating, most players suspected Cadel of being the traitor.

I was the same.

‘The most unexpected point…’

Was that Cadel didn’t report Selena’s betrayal.

Not only that, but he even helped with the cleanup.

I clearly thought they had a bad relationship, but was I mistaken?

No… even if that were the case, I wondered if there was any reason for him to cooperate.

Strictly speaking, Selena was in the position of being the academy’s traitor.

It was a part I couldn’t comprehend.

In the end, I decided to ask directly.

“Honestly, I’m curious.”

“Hmm?”

“About why you’re helping. I thought the relationship between you two wasn’t very good.”

“You observed correctly. I dislike Professor Selena.”

“That’s why I’m asking for the reason.”

“Well…”

Cadel moved his hand while giving a vague answer.

The elegant pen tip was inscribing ink onto the paper, one letter at a time.

Unlike his words, his hand was diligent.

I gently asked.

“Could it be that you like her?”

“…Excuse me?”

It was a reasonable question.

If it were a typical bad relationship, he wouldn’t have cared this much.

Here, the cliché would be that Cadel was pretending to dislike her.

Selena had a pretty face and a voluptuous figure, so it wouldn’t be strange to fall in love with her.

Moreover, since they were of similar age, there was plenty of room for attraction…

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

…Judging by his expression, that wasn’t the case.

An expression showing pure disgust.

As if it was physiologically impossible, his brow was furrowed.

Cadel glared at my outrageous statement with cold eyes.

“That was an extremely rude remark.”

“It seems I misspoke.”

“I am already married to someone I love. Please don’t associate me with that old maid.”

“……”

Is thirty really an age to be called an old maid?

I thought so but swallowed my words.

The gaze piercing my cheeks was uncomfortable.

By this world’s standards, it was indeed a late age.

Moreover, since he himself showed such a disgusted reaction, I had to bow my head with a sincere apology.

It was somewhat bewildering.

“I apologize.”

“……”

Cadel didn’t respond for a while.

Soon, he sighed and said.

“Although we always growl at each other, Professor Selena is one of the few geniuses I acknowledge.”

Gallimar, where only the continent’s best educators gathered.

Among those faculty members, there were few who could match Cadel.

Perhaps “rival” would be the right expression.

In that sense, Selena was a good competitor for Cadel.

Even if not in combat-related fields, there were few mages of equal caliber to him.

He added.

“Since joining the academy, I’ve worked alongside her for seven years. Though she may appear to be just an alcoholic on the surface… she’s a decent person when dealing with students. Because of that, I’ve learned various things from Professor Selena. At least I knew she wasn’t someone who took the academy’s weight lightly. Therefore.”

Whether he disliked her or liked her.

A colleague who had walked the same path since their trainee days.

It would be a lie to say there was no affection despite the dislike.

“I simply concluded that Professor Selena is still a necessary figure for Gallimar.”

Perhaps the two were closer than I thought.

As people who considered the same place their home.

‘Cadel Avens.’

In the original story, he was the homeroom professor of Class A.

He was also in the position of being the protagonists’ helper.

Although he might be somewhat lacking in manners and have eccentric aspects, he too was a good person with warmth.

To the extent that he wholeheartedly supported the academy and students until he was killed by the cult.

I smiled softly.

“In other words… you two are friends.”

“Let me correct you. We’re bad friends.”

“Isn’t that similar?”

Bad friends.

A term referring to a bad companion.

But, on the other hand, it was also a term acknowledging that the other person was still a friend despite everything.

I didn’t press on that point.

I simply received the documents with a faint smile.

I joked lightly.

“Thank you for your hard work today. This concludes the cleanup of the incident.”

“Thanks to this, I’ve been working overnight for three days straight. That terrible woman should be grateful to me. For having such an extremely competent colleague by her side.”

“Hehe… I’ll make sure to convey that to my teacher.”

“Tell her to recover well. I heard she’s still bedridden.”

“She’ll probably be discharged within this week. If you wish, Professor Cadel, you could visit her…”

“No. Never.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

A sharp, cutting response.

I burst into light laughter as I stood up.

“I’ll be going now.”

Just then, the dark scenery outside the window was beginning to brighten.

Morning gradually approaching.

Sunlight removing the veil of night.

I step forward toward the tomorrow that has already arrived.

I exit the research room and stride down the long corridor.

“What remains is…”

The finale to decorate the episode.

The drunkard who’s still in dreamland but will soon wake up.

I crossed the dawn to welcome her.

May.

From today onwards.

Your yesterday be peaceful.

Praying for a faded tomorrow.