episode_0092

To attend morning classes, Laura von Adelheid walked silently from the annex.

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The quiet hallway of the annex feels particularly strange. Has it always been this quiet?

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Laura looked at her antique engraved wristwatch. 9:10 AM.

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‘…what?’

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Since the first class starts at 9:30 AM, it is normal for students to head to the classroom from the annex building as usual.

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However, the hallway is strangely quiet. The only sound that echoes through the hallway is the sound of Laura’s shoes.

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Occasionally, people could be heard talking, but they were too faint to be heard. Laura realized that all these changes had started after she had heard something that sounded like an explosion just a moment ago.

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Today, I was studying in a well-soundproof library from early in the morning, so I don’t know exactly what the explosion sounded like… .

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‘Is there a fire…?’

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Laura looked out the window across the hallway. In the distance, she saw two plumes of black smoke rising into the sky.

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‘… It won’t be a big deal.’

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She felt a little uneasy, but after stopping for a moment, she continued walking. It was not uncommon for fires to break out in the system, and nothing had happened at the Academy. She didn’t think much of it.

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“Terrorism?”

“Yeah. I overheard it, but the professors who were running by said that. Who committed terrorism against the system? ”

“What’s wrong with your head? Terrorism in the middle of the system… .”

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The corridor leading from the annex to the main building. As she turned the corner, students talking appeared in front of Laura. Laura felt a slight sense of relief without realizing it.

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She was secretly anxious about the academy’s unusual atmosphere. She approached the students cautiously.

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“Over there.”

“… Huh?”

“What is it, it’s Miss Adelheid.”

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Since the last grade-level match, more and more students have recognized her face. Realizing that they are also first-year students, Laura asked.

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“Terrorism, what do you mean?”

“Ah… Didn’t you know? There was a terrorist attack in the system.”

“We heard the sound a little while ago and ran out, and we only heard it in passing. So we can’t be sure.”

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The students’ rumors were the same. Laura nodded with a faint sigh.

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“Thank you. Then… .”

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Laura continued walking, her steps as calm as ever.

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When Laura reached the hallway leading to the main building, she stopped for a moment when she saw someone approaching from the other side.

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He was wearing a navy blue maintenance uniform. For some reason, he had his hat pulled down low, but he looked like a maintenance man I had occasionally seen in the academy. Laura didn’t think much of it and continued walking, passing the maintenance man.

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“…Delheid student! Adel—!”

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It was then that, out of the blue, a familiar voice was heard.

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“Shall we spread out and look for it?”

“It’s more dangerous if we’re scattered.”

“Oh, really… .”

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The owner of the voice was Professor Antonelli. Normally, his tone would have been a bit colder, but for some reason, he was calling Laura’s name in an urgent voice.

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Professor Antonelli’s voice was heard from around the corner of the corridor leading to the main building. Laura, who was about to turn the corner, flinched involuntarily.

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“Professor. Who are you looking for?”

“Ah, Chloe student.”

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Chloe. Because she appeared in front of Professor Antonelli. Laura’s steps, which were about to approach Professor Antonelli, suddenly stopped.

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A match between grades. Memories of that day came to mind.

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The humiliation of winning the duel with Chloe, but not achieving an overwhelming victory. The gaze of her father, who looks at Chloe with interest.

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Laura didn’t like any of it. But what she couldn’t stand was this.

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‘Professor Antonelli, you are… .’

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Even though Laura was clearly the winner, Professor Antonelli’s gaze was focused solely on Chloe.

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A man who did not only see himself as a genius, but also ‘recognized’ him as a student. The moment that person’s recognition turned elsewhere.

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“… … .”

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Thinking about it, Laura’s mind became complicated. Not only was things awkward between her and Professor Antonelli, but she didn’t want to see him right now.

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Later. After morning classes, let’s meet then. Laura thought.

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At that moment, Laura was about to turn around to use another hallway connected to the main building.

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– Crunch.

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A hard, cold sensation was felt on Laura’s temple. Laura’s body froze reflexively as she felt it.

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A cold and heavy feeling. A hard lump of iron, yet full of life. The shape of it appeared in Laura’s mind.

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‘gun…?’

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A pistol filled with cold air. The cold barrel was pointed at Laura’s temple without wavering. The action was so secretive and unadorned that she didn’t even have time to take out her cane.

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Although she admitted that she was distracted by Professor Antonelli, she never imagined that she would not even feel a presence. Laura slowly raised both her hands.

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A low, unpleasant voice, as if phlegm was seething, was heard, as if satisfied with Laura’s appearance.

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“How smart. If you had just screamed, I would have put a hole in your head right away.”

“… Do you think you can get away with this?”

“Puhhhh… . Do you think I’ll be okay? Of course not.”

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Because of the sudden surprise attack, Laura didn’t even see the face of the man who had taken her hostage. The gun in the man’s hand stabbed Laura in the head.

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“But I have nothing left to lose. On the other hand, your father has a lot to lose.”

“My father…?”

“I intend to take everything away from your father. Just like your father did to me.”

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The laughter of the stranger was unpleasant. Laura felt like subduing him with magic, but the way the stranger aimed the gun was as precise as that of a trained man. It felt like he had not let go of his hand for years.

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“And… . To parents, there is nothing more precious than their children.”

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Moreover, the anger in the strange man’s voice. The hatred that can be felt keenly.

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Laura instinctively knew that if she showed even the slightest hint of using magic, this monster would mercilessly blow her head off. To this monster, patience was almost non-existent.

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“The small talk was long. Follow me.”

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Following the stranger’s gesture, Laura slowly turned around. It was best to follow his words for now.

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– I heard there was a terrorist attack in the system.

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Suddenly, the words of the students I had met before came to mind. Laura’s face turned pale.

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‘Surely this guy is the terrorist… .’

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The explosion that occurred in the system. Because the culprit of the explosion was right behind them.

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“Student Adelheid! Where are you!”

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Laura started walking as she heard Professor Antonelli’s cries for help, desperately looking for her.

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Hearing Professor Antonelli’s voice, the stranger flinched for a moment, not realizing it.

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* * * * *

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“Fuck… .”

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I leaned my back against the hallway wall, clutching my messy hair.

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No, nowhere. Laura von Adelheid, she has disappeared without a trace.

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Following the testimony of students who said they saw him coming out of the library, I also went to the library.

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I thoroughly searched the annex where the library was located, and I also walked all the hallways leading from the annex to the main building.

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Laura was nowhere to be seen.

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“Chief Priest, there’s none here either!”

“This, this side isn’t there either… !”

“Professor. Just spread out and look for it… .”

“… … .”

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Chloe muttered with an anxious expression. I thought about her words seriously, then shook my head.

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The opponents were those who had committed a serious crime, a bombing attack. With the safety of the Academy at stake, tearing people apart was not a good option.

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Whether it was because he had received a call from Vice President Curbane or because President Damian was quickly taking steps to evacuate the students to a safe place, Chaldea Imperial Academy was too large.

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This means that professors cannot evacuate all students. They tried to help evacuate as much as possible through school announcements, but it was unclear how effective it would be.

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When I think about the fact that the mastermind behind this incident was Cesar, my anxiety increases even more. Cesar was burning with a desire for revenge. It means that he is likely to lose his sense of reason.

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Surely, you might think that Cesar would harm innocent students… but you never know. Cesar’s deep hatred had no limits.

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Moreover, it was not even certain whether it was Cesar’s doing. I ran around the academy frantically, telling every student I met in the hallways where to evacuate.

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And Laura was nowhere to be seen. There were only a few eyewitness accounts of seeing her, and even when I went to the places where those accounts were told, Laura was nowhere to be found.

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And, if Laura is captured by Cesar… things will get out of control.

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“Fuck… .”

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My legs gave out. I slid down against the wall, covered my face with both hands, and washed my face dry.

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It’s just so frustrating. If I can’t find Laura like this, I’ll… .

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‘…I promised.’

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These are my students. They are the children I must protect, and no one can harm them. That was my way of atonement.

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And Laura is my student. It’s a separate matter that her father is the Duke of Adelheid.

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In the past, I tried hard to think that way, but I had an ambiguous attitude.

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When the situation actually arose, it became even more certain. I had to protect the students, I had to protect Laura.

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“… Professor. First, I think it would be a good idea to go to the shelter.”

“Yes, yes, my lord. He may already be in the shelter.”

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Professor Esther and Deacon Sophia offered words of comfort to me with anxious expressions. I felt a lump in my throat as they tried to comfort me in my despair, even though they couldn’t hide their anxious expressions.

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I slowly got up. They were right. Maybe we had passed by where we left off.

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We hurried to the shelter. It was the auditorium where the first-year students’ entrance ceremony was held.

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‘Please, it should be there… Please… .’

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My breath was ragged. As we ran without thinking, a lecture hall surrounded by a translucent curtain appeared in front of us.

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It seemed as if the academy professors had used magic. I walked toward the lecture hall, which was securely protected by several layers of walls, without hesitation.

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Inside the auditorium, there were many students gathered. Some looked around anxiously, while others were heartbroken and burst into tears in the arms of their friends.

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I pushed my way through the crowd, hoping Laura would be there, and not forgetting to shout her name out loud.

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“Laura von Adelheid! Are you here? Answer me!”

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I wandered around like that for a while.

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No matter how many times I called Laura’s name, there was no answer. Laura’s pure white hair was nowhere to be seen.

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After walking around the auditorium three times, I had to admit it.

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Laura von Adelheid, the fact that she was gone. The body that had been moving through the crowd of students without hesitation stopped moving.

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And at the same time that I realized that fact, I felt it.

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A tingling sensation. A strong sense of murder. And an ominous feeling that is so familiar that it could easily become tiresome. I felt it… .

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“Oh, no… .”

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It was as if my heart had stopped.

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And then, it happened.

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– Kwaaang—!!

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Outside the auditorium, not too far away, a deafening roar was heard.

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* * * * *

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Unbelievable news from the other end of the phone.

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Maximilian von Adelheid heard that and suddenly realized that he was sitting on the floor. Maximilian picked up the receiver and asked hurriedly.

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“Can you say that again…?”

[ … Your Majesty. A terrorist attack occurred within the system a little while ago. Our agents have quickly gathered information and it appears that it was carried out with Your Majesty in mind. The evidence left at the scene is too artificial, but… ]

“… … .”

[Your Majesty, Miss Laura von Adelheid is expected to be in danger.]

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The moment I heard those words from the Director of Federal Intelligence, Grace Kirk Kerbain.

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“Ah… … .”

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Maximilian thought the sky was turning yellow.

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