Ch.196196. Invisible Mask (2)

I questioned whether I had truly said nothing, and from that moment on, Professor Dalia’s gaze changed in a peculiar way.

After that, a barrage of questions followed, claiming she needed to confirm something.

Some questions felt rather out of place, but most seemed related to life at the Academy.

Professor Dalia tilted her head repeatedly in confusion.

It was strange—the questioning should have resolved her doubts, but instead, the questioner’s confusion only seemed to intensify.

“Renias approaches very few people with such friendliness. I thought you might have heard something about that… are you sure you haven’t?”

Reflecting on Professor Dalia’s words, it sounded like Renias had specific people she responded to this way.

As if I were someone special.

‘That can’t be right.’

I sighed and rejected the assumption.

It might sound a bit cold to say this, but I believe she only sees me as a senior student.

Just someone who was once her evaluation partner, someone she helped and who helped her in return—not significantly different from others.

I don’t think I possess any particularly outstanding qualities in the eyes of a Lebrant Academy student.

Besides, Renias is simply a kind soul who spreads happiness to everyone she meets.

She’s a gem of a person who smiles at everyone.

It would be a lie to say I don’t see her as someone of the opposite sex at all, but I never thought I would appear as a proper man in her eyes.

That’s why I can state with certainty:

“I’ve heard nothing of the sort. And I don’t think I’m special to Renias.”

That was merely my wishful thinking anyway.

“She’s naturally bright, with a good character and proper values. She approaches everyone with exceptional friendliness, which is why she started talking to me too. Being assigned as evaluation partners by chance might be the only reason worth mentioning.”

I believed this was just Professor Dalia’s unfounded speculation.

“Wait. So Renias…!”

Professor Dalia was about to continue with some rebuttal but hesitated and withdrew her words.

“I see, so that’s what it was. That’s what it was.”

She muttered the same phrase several times, then spent a long while sipping her coffee and staring into space. As silence fell between us, I found myself asking impulsively:

“Between the Grand Duchess of Ardelion and now you—does Renias have some kind of story I should know about?”

“…She does. A very deep one.”

But Professor Dalia concluded the conversation by saying it wasn’t her place to tell me.

“Let’s move on to the main topic. We’ve spent too much time already.”

“Ah, right…”

After asking me to wait a moment, she cast a barrier around the room.

“It’s a soundproofing barrier. This conversation shouldn’t reach other ears.”

“There’s another person right here, though,” I said, pointing at Renias who was resting her head on my lap.

Given the context that Professor Muniher was directly conveying something to me, I was concerned that someone pretending to be asleep might overhear.

“I guarantee she’s sleeping soundly. Probably swimming deep in dreamland. Want to try removing that teddy bear as an experiment?”

…If she says so. I’ll have to believe her since she speaks as if it’s not even worth mentioning.

It’s definitely not because I’m recalling how I nearly suffocated earlier…!

“Sorry for dampening the mood. But I felt I needed to make things clear, so I hope you understand.”

“This is…”

What Professor Dalia handed me was data analyzing and quantifying certain components.

I didn’t need an explanation to guess what it was.

‘The ampule Demian was holding.’

The item that had been puzzling me all along.

“What are you trying to tell me?”

“He asked me to tell you it wasn’t your fault. And honestly, I think so too. But I need to know.”

She then took out a lab rat and injected the ampule’s contents right before my eyes.

Before long, the rat’s entire body became paralyzed and began to twitch, slowly dying as its mana was forcibly concentrated in its heart—the largest mana circuit.

“The Dubevan Shelter. Can you tell me everything you saw there?”

***

There were countless suspicious elements in my battle with Demian.

I had thought it might just be an unusual case, but reality proved otherwise.

Everything fell into place at once.

Demian’s abnormally increased mana capacity.

The various types of mana mixed within him, as if stolen from others.

The unstable foreign mana circuits functioning continuously throughout his body.

The fact that Miki and Leon, who usually moved as a trio with him, were nowhere to be seen.

Demian’s sticky mana, which kept trying to devour something, was power usurped from others in some way.

Of course, I wasn’t certain. I’d never learned about such things, and theoretically, it made no sense.

But this ampule could make it possible—if there was a method for usurpation.

Adel’s mana circuits, torn apart and burst by her own choice.

The reason her circuits were damaged beyond repair was self-harm caused by her unique magic.

Why would she attempt such self-harm?

The clue was finally within reach.

Adel’s self-destroyed mana circuits, Demian stealing others’ mana.

And the ampule.

Adel, who had been taken hostage, knew the effects of that ampule and burst her own circuits before her mana could be stolen.

That was the only conclusion I could draw.

“So that was the reason…”

My testimony was complete. Now that the context of all events was connected, Dalia needed to quickly remove the heavy burden from a student’s shoulders.

“The Grand Duchy and the Academy will handle the explanation. Go back and rest now.”

The Academy infirmary, which should have been filled with severely injured patients, now only had people receiving minor treatments.

Such an outcome was nothing short of a miracle achieved by one person, but it would take time for the public to learn the truth.

She was determined to completely clear Junon’s name.

“No, Professor. Just leave it be.”

“Leave it be…? Junon, what on earth are you saying?”

Among humans, rumors spread endlessly without foundation. It’s painfully obvious that when rumors become distorted, exaggerated, and enormously inflated, the subject suffers the most.

“Are you planning to announce to the Grand Duchy that I tried to stop someone who steals others’ mana but failed to protect Adel?”

“That’s…”

Of course not.

If such news spread, people would inevitably try to investigate, and the area would become lawless.

But that doesn’t mean one person should bear the brunt of those harsh gazes. And they certainly shouldn’t have to take on that responsibility.

In situations like this, one should take a step back.

“Just having evidence is enough to divert attention. During that time, we can root out the problem, solve it with a spell-sealing object, and then make an announcement. By then, the misunderstandings will be cleared up.”

“And in the meantime, you’ll assign someone from the disciplinary department or your staff to watch over me. Is that it? Because I might get hurt?”

“…Yes. Muniher is already tracking down those behind this.”

Dalia dejectedly confirmed what Junon had preemptively stated.

Just from this, it was clear that Junon wasn’t someone who deserved criticism for making the right decision.

“You’re going to such troublesome lengths. And wasting already scarce personnel.”

“What…?”

Junon stood up at the mention of troublesome efforts. Coincidentally, Renias seemed to have escaped her nightmare and fallen into a comfortable sleep, not holding onto him.

“I’m not the type to go around getting beaten up. And I know how to filter out criticism.”

“But…!”

“That kind of attention makes me more uncomfortable. Just let people criticize me.”

“Wait, hey! Junon!”

With those final words, he rejected Dalia’s goodwill and left.

‘I really need to root out the problem directly.’

To Dalia, the back of the boy returning alone to the dormitory might have looked terribly lonely, but the boy, already accustomed to criticism, was focused on anticipating what lay ahead.

“…Would it have been better to tell you about the ritual of sacrificial offering instead?”

If he was that intelligent, perhaps he could help clear his own name.

His assessment of the situation was hardly that of a mere student, which made her all the more uneasy.

“But why do I see him in you, Junon?”

The image of a man known as Lord Alcaide in the Empire, hailed as a legendary hero, flashed through Dalia’s mind.

For reasons unknown, she shook her head in denial, thinking it couldn’t be.

Yes. That absolutely must not be the case.

***

Meanwhile, at the same time, Chirr and Nella were having a dispute.

-Chirr.

“I said no, Chirr. We still don’t know how humans will react to us.”

-Chirrrrr…!

“What’s the matter, Nella?”

“Ah, Grandfather. Chirr is causing trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“He wants to go to the Grand Duchy. He’s making a fuss about it. He never used to be like this, but suddenly he’s become so stubborn.”

-Chirr!

“Being stubborn again. I said no, didn’t I?”

Nella added that Chirr had been persistently asking not just since this morning but for some time now.

“Hmm… that’s strange. Is it because of Senia?”

“I’m not sure. He’s been eating well without being picky even without Sister Senia’s mana since that day.”

If it wasn’t because of Senia, whom he particularly liked, then what could it be?

The elder stroked his beard, deep in thought.

The reason Chirr desperately wanted to go to the Grand Duchy. The image of a black-haired boy came to mind.

‘Ah, is it because of Junon?’

It wasn’t strange that he would follow Junon, who was a benefactor to the Sirens, not just to Senia.

“Does Chirr want to see Junon?”

At that, Chirr jumped up and wagged his tail in front of the elder.

-Chirr!

“That seems to be the case…”

“Then I’ll go.”

“You, Grandfather?”

“As it happens, I have news to deliver to him. I could send it through Senia by letter, but there are also matters I need to discuss with him personally.”

Two birds with one stone.

That would settle it.