Resolution (1)

In the special research wing located in the basement of the academy’s main building, there are accommodations prepared for researchers who continuously work overnight, immersed in their studies.

Normally a space for researchers, the accommodations are currently empty as the research wing has been temporarily closed for the investigation of the Cornelio incident.

“Conveniently, there are four rooms.”

“Ominously, one is empty…”

Qingying muttered in an anxious voice.

“Maybe a ghost is sleeping in the other rooms…”

“I told you undead-type monsters can’t enter because of the barrier.”

“I-I’m just saying that’s how it feels!”

At Oscar’s rebuke, Qingying shouted in a tearful voice.

Then, going in and out of the rooms lined up in a row, she muttered,

“I, I’ll take the innermost… no, the outermost room… no, definitely the innermost…”

“The Prince and I will take the two middle rooms, so choose whichever you prefer.”

“T-then I’ll definitely take the innermost one…”

“Good. Then for the night watch…”

Eric glanced at Qingying and said,

“…Let’s not set one.”

“Phewww.”

Leaving Qingying behind as she let out a sigh of relief, Eric continued,

“As you said, thanks to the barrier, there’s hardly any chance of undead-type monsters being drawn to the corpse’s energy and invading, and with the strict security outside, we should be able to sleep soundly.”

“…I see.”

Oscar nodded and entered the room.

“Hmm, it’s cleaner inside than I expected. Fortunately, it’s well-maintained.”

“Why are you saying such ominous things…”

Leaving behind the whimpering Qingying, Oscar closed the door and said,

“You both get some rest too. It’s late.”

-Click.

Three hours later, 2 AM.

‘2 AM… the universal time when people fall into their deepest sleep.’

Reciting a memorable line from a detective novel he once read, Oscar slowly walked toward the special wing where Cornelio’s corpse was stored.

The ominous intuition he felt in the research wing that afternoon.

Following that intuition, Oscar had secretly drawn a formula in a corner of the special research wing floor.

A detection barrier encompassing the entire special research wing.

As Qingying had mentioned, Oscar wasn’t the type to trust such unscientific things, but he wasn’t the type to completely disbelieve and reject them either.

And indeed, had his intuition proved correct?

The detection barrier had caught someone’s movement.

One person. No hostility detected. The subject was very likely human.

The researchers from the three countries studying Cornelio’s corpse had agreed to temporarily suspend research for three days after repeatedly making no progress.

Of course, with a preservation formula cast on Cornelio’s remains.

That’s why there were no other people in this research wing besides Oscar’s group at present.

Oscar agreed that there was nothing more foolish than continuing to hold onto something that wasn’t working.

In relation to that, the “someone” caught in Oscar’s detection barrier was likely one of the researchers who, unable to get the research out of their head, had unconsciously made their way to the research wing.

‘If that’s really the case… I just need to say hello.’

Oscar thought this as he stood in front of the door to the special research wing.

‘…It’s open.’

As if someone had carefully opened the door to avoid being noticed.

‘Maybe they simply forgot to close the door… No, that probability is low.’

Researchers are the type of people who, once they enter the special wing, basically sit for at least three hours.

There’s no reason to leave the door open, and due to habit, they would likely close it unconsciously.

Above all, if they had entered confidently, they wouldn’t have left the door half-open with the lights off.

‘Or maybe they were just afraid of the creaking sound the iron door makes when closing at night.’

Oscar jokingly muttered this to himself as he inscribed a round formula in the air with blue light.

Four sentences inscribed within the circle:

Perception impediment, Noise cancellation, Magical protection, Physical protection.

Oscar’s entire body was enveloped in blue light for a moment, then disappeared.

Slowly, but a bit more boldly, Oscar stepped inside.

“Don’t move.”

And simultaneously, a sharp blade touched Oscar’s nape.

“Slowly, walk forward.”

“…”

Oscar silently followed those instructions.

“There. Stop right there.”

Oscar obeyed that order too.

However, he was prepared to summon lightning from his fingertips at any moment.

“…Don’t try anything foolish.”

-Step.

Along with the words that pierced sharply, footsteps echoed quietly.

‘….’

Oscar narrowed his eyes. Though it was dark and difficult to see clearly, he could tell that this “someone” threatening him was dressed in pure white.

The pure white figure thrust their face toward Oscar.

Their face was covered with a pure white cloth, making their features barely discernible through minimal shadows.

“…!”

At the eerie visual that seemed straight out of a horror movie, Oscar swallowed hard.

“Shouting won’t help.”

The white figure said.

‘A woman’s voice? No, it could be voice modulation.’

“This special research wing is now under the control of a four-stage noise cancellation formula.”

Oscar’s brow furrowed reflexively.

“Unless you bring a magical ultrasonic drill and destroy this entire special research wing, any noise from inside won’t reach the outside.”

“…How kind of you.”

Oscar sneered, glaring back at the white face.

Unknowingly, a bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

“You’re putting on a brave front. How cute. Despite being nervous.”

The white woman said with a grin. As her facial expression changed, the white cloth covering her face moved bulkily, creating a quite grotesque sight.

“…What were you doing here?”

“Why should I tell you that?”

The white woman retorted glibly. Oscar clicked his tongue and said,

“You’re up to no good. You’re probably the ‘backer’ behind that Cornelio fellow here?”

“My goodness.”

The white woman tilted her head grotesquely.

“Why do you think that?”

“Is there any other reason for you to be here?”

Oscar continued with a sardonic smile.

“But too bad. It won’t go according to your plans.”

“…”

“Cornelio’s corpse has not only preservation formulas but also high-level protection formulas inscribed on it. If you tamper with it recklessly, the entire academy will start wailing.”

“My goodness.”

The white woman asked in a surprised voice.

“Is that true?”

“If you want to know whether it’s true, why don’t you check for yourself?”

“I see, that’s a good idea… but.”

Looking at Oscar, the white woman shook her head.

“Unfortunately, my target isn’t that piece of meat.”

“…What are you saying?”

“My target is you, Prince Oscar.”

Oscar’s expression changed from confusion to shock. Like watercolor paint spreading across water with a time delay.

“What nonsense are you…”

“You still don’t understand? That I manipulated your intuition by distorting my presence, deliberately got caught in the detection barrier you laid out, all to lure you here.”

“…You’re talking nonsense.”

“I know you have good intuition. If you know how to control your presence, it’s a piece of cake to exploit your sharp but unrefined intuition.”

The white woman said with a smile.

“Now, Prince Oscar. Would you look into my eyes?”

“You crazy…!”

Oscar swung his hand forcefully.

“Foolish…!”

The white woman, her body greatly shaken, reflexively thrust the dagger aimed at Oscar’s neck.

-Clang!!

But far from penetrating, the dagger bounced back with a strong repulsive force.

“Physical protection…!”

“Did you think I wouldn’t have prepared even that much?”

Oscar said with a grin. The white woman trembled, her hand holding the dagger, then lowered her head deeply.

“……Of course I expected that much.”

“What…!”

Something strongly grabbed both of Oscar’s arms as he was about to shout at her.

“…A golem?!”

“Correct.”

A stone golem precisely carved like a person. It felt slightly soft, perhaps due to synthetic skin overlaid on it, but the cold temperature of stone could be felt from inside.

“How on earth…!”

“Didn’t I tell you? That I deliberately got caught.”

“…Damn it.”

Oscar clicked his tongue. Approaching him slowly again, the white woman continued.

“Rest assured. I don’t particularly intend to kill you.”

“After coming this far, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“Oh my, it’s true? You, being the imperial lineage, should know better than anyone what an incredible backlash there would be if I were to harm you.”

“…Then what?”

“Not only will I not kill you, I won’t inflict even the smallest wound. Just… placing a very weak ‘suggestion,’ that’s all.”

The white woman smiled.

“As a bonus, I’ll manipulate your memory a bit, but I won’t touch anything unnecessary, so you can put your mind at ease.”

She whispered quietly, facing Oscar, and stretched both hands toward him.

“It will be over soon. Just relax and take a deep breath.”

“…A deep breath, huh.”

With his head bowed low, Oscar muttered.

“That sounds good.”

“…?”

-Hush.

Simultaneously, a strange breathing sound echoed in the quiet special wing.

It was a strange breathing sound that seemed neither inhaling nor exhaling.

-Crack.

A sound like stone cracking was heard.

-Crash!!!!!

The arms of the golem that had grabbed Oscar from behind shattered, and the stone body slowly fell backward.

“What…”

-Thwack!!

Oscar’s fist slammed into the face of the white woman who was muttering blankly.

Without even making an “ugh” sound, the white woman rolled ignominiously on the floor, and Oscar, who had fallen as if thrown to the ground, got up.

“…My head is killing me.”

Oscar muttered quietly.

“Too bad, it seems you couldn’t brainwash me.”

“…H-how.”

The white woman muttered as she unsteadily got up.

“You resisted the suggestion? That’s impossible.”

The center of the white cloth covering her face was slowly turning red.

“That’s impossible. That, that distinctive breathing… the knights’ circulation breathing method… how could you, a magician, know that breathing technique which even first-class knights train their whole lives to master…!”

The white woman shouted in a voice that seemed to deny reality.

“You mean this?”

Toward her shouting, Oscar quietly answered.

“It’s to stand side by side with the woman I love.”