Chapter 89 – Good News and Even Better News

A snake in the underground of the capital.

Those words stopped me in my tracks.

“This is the information you need right now, isn’t it?”

I narrowed my eyes and turned to look at Silina.

The information I needed right now.

She knew what I was looking for.

Just yesterday, Silina and I discussed the branch families of Eustetia. Even then, we spent more time talking about Silina’s informant within the Cartel.

Yet, Silina knew exactly what I was searching for.

Who could have told her?

There was only one possibility.

“The head of the Information Guild… seems to have a loose tongue.”

Ophelia Blumin.

But why tell Silina?

To screw me over?

That couldn’t be.

After the beating I gave her subordinates, and the hefty sum I paid, she wouldn’t dare.

Though I couldn’t be entirely certain, the Ophelia I’d met didn’t have the guts for that.

Then why tell Silina?

Or rather… was she forced to?

“Or did you make her talk?”

“I don’t resort to such barbaric methods.”

“Then she’s the problem.”

Silina flinched at my low growl.

“My apologies to Fabiana, but it seems she’ll need a new informant.”

“…Eliaernes.”

“What.”

“I didn’t force her, and the informant didn’t just blurt it out, either. Didn’t you ask for the information today?”

“Let’s get one thing straight. It’s a problem that you knew about the timeframe. Does the Information Guild operate so carelessly these days? Even if someone came with a direct order from the Emperor, a proper Information Guild wouldn’t reveal a client’s request. At least, that’s how it was back in my day.”

Silina muttered, “‘Back in my day?’ You’re seventeen,” and glanced around before speaking in a lower voice.

“This isn’t the place to talk about this. Let’s move somewhere quieter.”

Following her gaze, I also scanned the area. The entire cafeteria was staring at us, their expressions far from casual. Pina, clinging to my side, was trembling, her tail wrapped tightly around her. The tension between Silina and me was making the situation even more awkward.

“Don’t you think there will be another post about ‘that first-year’ on the community forum if we keep talking here?”

“I swear, I’m about to gouge out their eyes.”

“Heeek…!”

Pina let out a whimper as if about to faint. I patted her back gently and nodded.

“It might be too late already, but let’s go to the private training hall.”

“Good idea.”

***

As soon as we arrived at the training hall, Silina began pulling things from a small handbag she’d been carrying.

A coffee pot, ridiculously expensive-looking teacups, five different kinds of tea bags, jet-black espresso, milk, and even some small snacks. Basically, everything you’d need for a full-blown tea party.

I’d wondered what that small bag was for, but apparently, it was an artifact enchanted with space-expansion magic. Not just any enchantment, either; this was high-grade.

A priceless artifact, used for… tea sets.

Even for a princess, this level of extravagance was ridiculous.

“Why are you setting up camp here?”

“It’s not ‘camp.’ I’m simply adding a touch of elegance to your trashy training hall.”

“There’s no trash here.”

“Except for what you’re holding right now.”

“Did you just call my mint chocolate milk trash?”

“Yes.”

Silina nodded without hesitation.

“Ha.”

My brow twitched at her bold declaration.

Was there really no one in this world who liked mint chocolate? There’s no way. There were even dessert shops specializing in mint chocolate in the capital.

Turning to Pina, whose eyes were sparkling as she stared at Silina’s tea set, I asked, “Hey, Pina, do you also hate mint chocolate?”

“Eek!”

Startled, Pina cautiously glanced at me.

“Don’t tell me… You, my friend, hate mint chocolate? Do you?”

Shaking her head vigorously, Pina snatched the mint chocolate milk from my hand with surprising enthusiasm.

“Right? You like mint chocolate, don’t you?”

Nod nod.

With a vigorous nod, Pina immediately started chugging the milk.

“So you’re trash who enjoys trashy mint chocolate. Figures.”

Silina looked at me and Pina as though we were pathetic. I stared right back at her, equally unimpressed.

“How am I trash?”

“You’re so confident despite being so oblivious.”

“I’m confident because I am flawless.”

I genuinely believed that. I hadn’t poisoned Pina or forced her to drink anything. I’d simply asked about her preferences, like any friend would.

“You’re a delinquent by nature.”

Silina chuckled, poured the now-boiling water into a teacup with elegant movements, and pulled out the stack of papers, placing them on the table.

I sat across from her, ready to read them, but Silina quickly pulled them back.

“…If you weren’t a princess, I’d have slapped you silly.”

“If this weren’t the academy, your head would be rolling on the floor right now.”

Casually deflecting my threat, Silina took a refined sip of her tea before turning to look at me.

“I’m not teasing you.”

“Then what?”

“I’m worried.”

“Worried?”

Silina took another sip of tea and nibbled a cookie before speaking in a low voice.

“The information here isn’t entirely accurate. I can’t be certain of its authenticity… and neither could Ophe… or the informant who provided it.”

“Just get to the point.”

“Don’t get angry when you see it. Take your time to process it before deciding what to do.”

“That’s my prerogative.”

“And I’m showing this to you before Fabiana, so if you overreact, she really might replace the informant.”

In other words, there was a very real possibility of Fabiana slaughtering Ophelia, or even the entire Uranos Information Guild.

Just what kind of information warranted such a serious warning? I could only hope it wasn’t what I suspected. I nodded slowly.

“…But…”

“Damn it, are you going to show me or not?! Are you waiting until I’m on my deathbed?”

“Watch your language.”

Silina glared at me.

Then, her gaze softened slightly as she turned to look at Pina, who was sitting beside me, happily munching on cookies.

“By the way… is it okay for her to hear this?”

I also looked at Pina.

“Hic.”

The moment our gazes landed on her, Pina started hiccuping.

Was it really okay for Pina to be here?

“Hmm…”

Honestly, it’d be better if she didn’t know.

But with the possibility of someone in the academy, a demon’s pawn, targeting Pina… leaving her in the dark seemed too dangerous.

I might be overprotective, but I had no choice.

Besides, though this might sound ridiculous… if I couldn’t open that door for some reason, I might need Pina’s help.

Still… telling her made me uneasy.

“Pina.”

She tilted her head inquisitively.

“Are you curious about what we’re talking about?”

Pina hesitated for a moment before typing a response on her terminal.

[While I am curious, it’s alright. Should I excuse myself?]

“No, you don’t have to leave.”

I tapped my fingers on the table lightly, thinking.

“Just sit and eat your cookies. But everything you hear and see here is a secret. Understand?”

[Yes, I understand.]

“If you ever tell anyone, we won’t be friends anymore. We’ll be worse than strangers.”

“Hic…”

A small, fearful gasp escaped Pina as she vigorously nodded.

[I won’t tell anyone.]

“Good. Even if Vice-Headmaster Leona asks, you know nothing. Got it?”

[I’ll keep that in mind.]

Satisfied with Pina’s firm response, I shrugged and turned to Silina.

Though suspicion still lingered in her eyes, she seemed to accept my decision and finally handed over the documents.

“Again, don’t get mad after reading this. Even Fabiana would laugh at how unreliable this information is.”

Ignoring her constant warnings, I turned to the first page.

“…Huh.”

And then I doubted my own eyes.

“Eliaernes.”

“I get it, so just… shut up for a second.”

I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the storm brewing inside. Carefully, I set the papers down so as not to tear them, and suppressed the murderous intent seeping from my very pores.

“This… isn’t confirmed yet, right?”

“No, it’s not. Honestly, it’s practically a delusion. It’s that unreliable.”

“But you still brought it to me, which means you don’t have solid proof, but the circumstantial evidence is more than enough to make you suspicious.”

Silina didn’t respond.

After taking a few more deep breaths to compose myself, I opened my eyes again, and slowly scanned the information Silina had brought.

[Confirmed sighting of a woman with pink hair contacting Black Magicians in the underground of the capital.]

[The individual entered the underground through the Mirinae sewer system on January 2nd, Imperial Year 954, at approximately 21:48.]

[The informant, codenamed ‘Dream,’ attempted to track the individual but deemed pursuit impossible due to the underground labyrinth.]

[At approximately 13:12 on January 4th, the individual emerged from Mirinae and attempted to contact the Black Tower.]

[Judging from the items they acquired, it is presumed a transaction of some kind took place with the Black Magicians.]

[At approximately 13:17 on the same day, the individual disappeared through the Black Tower’s entrance gate.]

[‘Dream’ later confirmed that the individual was a member of the Eustetia Ducal Family.]

[However, due to the impurity of their mana signature, it is suspected they belong to a branch family, not a direct descendant.]

[On February 17th, Imperial Year 954, ‘Dream’ identified the individual.]

[Confirmed to be Hesilia Eustetia, eldest daughter of a branch of the Eustetia family operating iron mines in the Beruna region.]

[Father: Paedra Eustetia.]
[Mother: Miriul Eustetia.]
[Eldest Daughter: Hesilia Eustetia.]

“…Ha.”

[Second Daughter: Shibria Eustetia.]

“That fucking bitch…”