episode_0027

The academy museum at night felt ancient.

Knowing that a murder had taken place there made it seem even more so. It was closed, with no torches or lanterns to dispel the darkness. Only darkness.

Less than half a day after the incident, it remained unknown outside the academy. This was possible because the academy itself sought to understand the situation internally rather than through external investigation. In other words, aside from the minimal staff preserving the scene, there were no obstacles preventing us from moving around.

People presumed to be faculty made way for David when they saw him. Even as a student, one could see the influence he held within the academy. He always claimed that the power of the student council was insignificant, but his mere presence was power. It made one curious about the life he had lived before becoming the student council president.

“Is this your first time in the museum? Since it’s quite a distance to get here, feel free to ask if you have any questions.”

“Would there be anything to ask about on my first visit? Just give me a brief explanation.”

“You’re consistently bold. Well, alright. I’ll guide you so that the walk isn’t too eerie.”

David took out a portable magic tool from his pocket. It was the same map-equipped magic tool he had thrown to me when we first met.

Zing-

As mana was infused, light spread out. It shone brightly enough that no torch was needed. He used the magic tool like a flashlight, navigating through the darkness. I also took out my magic tool and illuminated the darkness in the same way.

“The museum may appear grand on the surface, but its true essence lies underground.”

“Why make it that way?”

“Shameful things, impure things, dangerous things, and so on… There are too many things that are embarrassing to reveal openly.”

“Couldn’t they just get rid of them?”

Walking alongside David, we continued our conversation. Our footsteps and voices echoed through the vast space. Despite not being loud, the sound waves reverberated and amplified. Thanks to this, the somber atmosphere became even more intense.

“Useful things, necessary things, impossible things, etc… they all have stories. They are used as research materials for magical engineering, used in wars, and sometimes they are too powerful to be eliminated.”

“What kind of horn was Eligos’s?”

“…It included all three types.”

It’s quite a frightening thing.

It means that a dangerous item has disappeared.

However, David seemed to treat it as if it were nothing, speaking with an extraordinary calmness, as if dealing with an ordinary matter at a student council meeting.

“The Academy… the Empire tried not to forget the scars of the Great War. It was a cautionary measure to prepare for the possible threat of demons and monsters, even if everyone in the world is absorbed in peace.”

“So that’s why the museum is this big…”

“Yeah, it’s the wisdom of our ancestors. There aren’t many people who remember its meaning now.”

A shadow fell over David’s calm face. He looked somewhat lonely for some reason. It seemed that he had accepted his identity as a descendant of the Academy, which guarded the continent, rather than as a foreign exchange student. He had inherited the spirit of the Academy, which protected humanity.

“What does the culprit intend to do with Eligos’s horn…?”

“…Huh?”

He muttered to himself. No, it was a question directed at me. Considering his personality, he wouldn’t speak out loud about something he was thinking about alone.

“Well… I don’t know…?”

He said quietly as he gazed into the darkness before us.

“He seems to speak as if he’s not very interested.”

In fact, I know very well. What the culprit intends to do, who the culprit is. Despite knowing the ending, like someone who doesn’t want to spoil it, I constantly made an effort not to show it to David.

Our conversation paused for a moment, and we continued on, making footsteps towards deeper places.

*

I couldn’t tell how many floors underground we had descended. Every floor was also spread out horizontally. We reached the floor where Eligos’s horn was, but because it was so vast, we walked endlessly.

How long did we walk?

A gloomy energy was felt. It was an ominous mana. The scene was getting closer.

What is this mana?

Is it a trace of mana from Eligos’s horn?

Or is it the mana left by the culprit?

We’ll know when we arrive.

“Beatrice, stop for a moment.”

David stopped walking.

In front of us, a huge door appeared. Various eerie patterns were carved on the thick door. At a glance, it was clear that beyond the door lay Eligos’s horn.

Originally, a seal would have been created through the patterns carved on the door. But traces of it being released were visible. Perhaps the employee who was killed at the scene released it. Foolish guy. Blinded by money, he probably guided the culprit there.

“We’re almost there, why stop now?”

“I never said we were there….”

“There’s ominous mana seeping out from beyond that door. Are you trying to scare me?”

David chuckled softly and turned his body. Indeed, he was testing whether I could sense it.

“Yeah, your mana sensitivity is good. Doubtful if you’re really a Second Class.”

“….”

“Relax your expression, I didn’t stop just to scare you for no reason.”

He resonated the mana more with the magical tool he held. The wavelength of light emanating from the magical tool increased, dispelling the darkness.

Sparsely scattered artifacts were visible in the vast space. They were all inside glass walls like aquariums. There were no particular stands, but they floated in mid-air within the glass. It seemed like some kind of magic had been applied to them.

“There are many artifacts here that are managed as special grades besides Eligos’s horn.”

Listening to David’s words, I absentmindedly examined the artifacts. Moving my gaze slowly.

My wandering gaze came to a halt when I saw a certain helmet behind the glass. Other artifacts didn’t catch my eye. I know that helmet.

However, that was not all. The gaze wasn’t fixed just because I knew. There was a different energy flowing from the helmet. An instinctive attraction. I wanted to reach out without even realizing it.

“Do you know? It’s amazing. Even the nobles of the distant Primera Kingdom recognize the Emperor’s helmet.”

It was more like a mask than a helmet. Except for the eyes, everything was covered. If someone wore it, no one could tell who was inside until it was removed.

“People from the continent would know. It’s in fairy tales too.”

“Most forget as they grow up, old stories.”

“Forgetting doesn’t make it disappear. The Empire and the Academy prove that.”

Beyond the glasses, sharp eyes stared at me. As if intrigued.

“I always have questions when I come here.”

“You come often, suspiciously. Aren’t you abusing the power of the student council?”

“The Green Emperor is a hero of humanity. He was a great emperor who even developed this country into an empire.”

David casually ignored my words and approached the helmet. He placed his hand on the installation that resembled an aquarium, which held the relic.

“Why are these ominous relics stored underground? Even if they were placed in the highest place, it wouldn’t be enough.”

“People can’t see them, deep down. It’s as if they hope they won’t be found.”

David infused mana into the installation with his hand. The installation detected David’s mana and absorbed it.

Humming-

Light flashed within the glass, and the helmet began to shake.

“The Green Emperor’s helmet is a recorded historical relic and a powerful artifact. I thought it was natural to keep it alongside the sacred relics of the Papal Temple.”

The flashing light faded.

No, the helmet absorbed the light.

The helmet, bathed in light, soon emitted a sinister energy. It exuded a dark light that looked like black mist. It was completely different from the bright light made from David’s mana just a moment ago.

Gugugugugung-

The glass case was filled with darkness. A moment where no light could be found. The eye area of the helmet shone brightly. A turquoise light flashed from the open area. It was the same turquoise light as my eyes when using the power of the royal family.

“Seeing this, I understand. It’s such an unpleasant energy to be enshrined in a temple, isn’t it? An artifact that emits darkness. It doesn’t fit at all with the savior of humanity.”

“…”

I silently listened to his words.

David removed his hand that had been placed on it. When the mana he had been infusing disappeared, the trembling helmet also stopped. The inside of the glass case returned to its original state as if nothing had happened.

“Shocking, isn’t it? If you recognize the Green Emperor’s helmet, you must have admired him when you were young.”

“…”

“Still, the fact that he protected the continent with the heroes remains unchanged. There’s no need to live under people’s misunderstandings because of such artifacts.”

David turned back towards the huge door.

“This is what a museum is like. Upstairs, only amazing things that everyone will admire remain… difficult or embarrassing things are piled up underground like odds and ends.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah, but I like these odds and ends. I come here occasionally to appreciate them. Even if everyone turns away, their value doesn’t change.”

“What about the horn of Eligos…?”

“I’ll say it to avoid misunderstanding, I’m not the culprit. I wasn’t particularly interested in the horn of Eligos.”

Of course, I knew David wasn’t the culprit. But seeing him awkwardly explaining made me want to see it. Even though it was futile.

“The position of student council president is useful in many ways, isn’t it?”

“I won’t deny it. I often came and went with the power of the student council.”

“Not abusing your authority?”

“Just a minor transgression.”

He was still doing it his way. I thought I would never see this man in a state of confusion.

“If you’re relaxed, let’s end the small talk.”

“You weren’t nervous?”

“Get ready, Beatrice, because what we were looking for is beyond that door.”

“…”

We approached the door.

But contrary to David’s expectations, my tension wasn’t due to what lay beyond the door. My focus was solely on the Green Emperor’s helmet. The abnormal presence it exuded and my memories.

In the original work, the Green Emperor’s helmet was an artifact used by the leader of the rebel forces, “Unknown.” It was briefly mentioned as being stolen from a museum without further details. Seeing it here triggered memories of reading the original work.

The combination of memories soon brought forth one possibility. A very plausible possibility.

Unknown.

Leader of the rebel forces.

Main villain.

The enigmatic sorcerer who repeatedly clashed with Cal Mayner.

Perhaps the vanished nobility.

Perhaps my future.