episode_0095
by fnovelpiaIn contrast to the loud explosion, the area around the main academy building is strangely quiet.
I slowed my pace a little. I would be lying if I said the guys who did this weren’t armed.
“Is this the main building?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
In the meantime, I heard voices of people having an unrealistic conversation. I glanced behind me to see where the sound was coming from.
“Listen, Captain Kerbain. Cesar Lee… . Do we really have to capture him?”
“Capture should be prioritized when circumstances permit.”
As soon as I left the auditorium, I ran into Duke Adelheid and Chief Kerbane. The two men, who appeared with about ten agents, immediately followed me as soon as they realized that I was heading to the main building to rescue Laura.
What I learned from joining them was that this incident was indeed the work of Cesar Lee. That alone made me feel bad.
“If you touched Laura’s body even a little bit, I don’t think I could stand it.”
“To prevent that from happening, I will secure Ms. Adelheid’s identity as quickly as possible.”
As I continued to walk, ignoring the conversation between Chief Curvein and Duke Adelheid, Chief Curvein quietly approached me.
“Professor Antonelli. Thank you for your guidance.”
“… You just followed along without permission.”
“Don’t we all have a common goal? I know that the relationship between the Professor and His Excellency Duke Adelheid is not good, but it is better for us to cooperate for now.”
“… … .”
“More than that, Professor Antonelli. If you enter the main building, you may encounter a dangerous situation.”
Chief Curvein whispered softly. I turned my head to follow her gaze as it naturally returned.
“Wouldn’t it be better to evacuate the group that followed the professor to a separate, safe place?”
That was right. Sophia and Chloe looked at me blankly with expressions of confusion.
It would be too risky to go inside the main building together, as we might face a dangerous situation. I nodded toward Chief Kerbein.
“I agree, but Professor Esther is needed. Illusion magic will be helpful in many ways in finding Adelheid.”
“Um… . Then, I will invite the remaining two to the auditorium.”
After finishing speaking, Chief Curvein selected several of the agents who had been following her and gave them instructions.
“Get these people into the auditorium as quickly as possible.”
The four agents silently nodded and began escorting Deputy Sophia, following the instructions of Chief Curbane. I could only nod heavily at Deputy Sophia and Chloe, who were looking at me with anxiety.
“Deacon Sophia. First, please take refuge in the auditorium. Chloe, too. ”
“… Your Majesty, be careful.”
“Professor… .”
It was extremely unsettling to be out of my sight, but there was nothing I could do. It would be wise to send it somewhere less dangerous.
As I watched Deacon Sophia and Chloe moving further and further away, I opened my mouth to Professor Esther, who was standing next to me with a determined expression.
“Professor Esther. We need to find student Adelheid.”
“Don’t worry.”
Professor Esther’s illusion magic was also of great help during the finger incident a while ago.
In the morning, even Professor Esther’s magic couldn’t find Laura, but now that the location has been identified as the main building, it will be different. I looked at Professor Esther slowly conjure up a magic circle, and put my hand in my bosom.
The cold metal touched my hand. The tingling cold seeped into my bones, and I flinched without realizing it.
‘…shit.’
Honestly, it was nauseating. It was a feeling I never wanted to experience again.
“Ouroboros (ουροβóρος).”
I hesitated with my hand in my bosom, but as soon as Professor Esther’s magic was complete, I grabbed the gun. I felt a heavy weight in my hand.
Thanks to Professor Esther’s magic, my vision was able to see through walls about 5 meters ahead of me, just like during the finger incident earlier.
“Whew… . It’s a little difficult.”
“Thank you, Professor Esther.”
“Now let’s go in.”
It was an amazing magic that I always saw, but I didn’t have time to be amazed. We stepped into the main building’s hallway, which was filled with a chilly atmosphere, led by agents armed with swords and pistols.
The overhead lights flicker anxiously, and the fire alarm lights blink so brightly that it hurts your eyes, bathing the hallways in a bright red light.
I checked that the magazine of the pistol was full and then lifted the pistol that I had dug up. There was no wobble in the muzzle of the pistol aimed forward.
The look in the eyes of Chief Curvein as she looked at me like that changed completely. She approached me and asked.
“Professor, the safety device is not released.”
“I know.”
“… Yes?”
At that moment, Chief Curvein looked at me with a blank expression. I spoke to her.
“I know that you didn’t release the safety device.”
“Then why… .”
“… These are people I would rather not shoot with my own hands.”
After my answer, Chief Kerbein kept his mouth shut. I did the same. We moved forward in silence.
“Front right corner, two people raising their hands. They are wearing maintenance uniforms. ”
“Confirm.”
When reports come in from agents who have gained clairvoyance through Professor Esther’s magic, wait for them to subdue Cesar’s colleagues.
– Bang! Ta-tang!
When a shootout broke out between Cesar’s colleagues and the agents, Professor Esther hid behind a wall and waited for the situation to end.
“… Ugh.”
The sound of gunfire, which I had not heard in such a long time, still lingered in my ears and was painful.
“Professor Lucio…! Are you okay?”
“… Okay, it’s okay.”
I held back my nausea and desperately moved forward.
Because I knew that even though I knew who I had to lose, the pain of losing it would be even greater.
So, after searching the entire main building and Professor Esther’s magic had run out of effect, we were left with only the rooftop left.
“Now, it’s the rooftop.”
“Go straight into it.”
– Crunch! Crunch!
As we opened the rooftop door, what greeted us was the sky filled with dark clouds. The humid air made it seem like rain might come at any moment.
“Laura! Are you okay!”
Laura von Adelheid is kneeling on the floor, her limbs bound… .
“Put your gun down!!”
A man is pointing a gun at Laura’s head.
My old relationship, which is now almost gone.
A man who once wanted to share the same goals.
And now… someone is trying to take away what I shouldn’t lose.
I saw it, I… .
– Crunch.
He raised the heavy pistol and aimed straight at Cesar’s head.
“Cesar… . Cesar Lee—!!”
Even with the damp wind blowing from the rooftop, the muzzle did not waver.
The safety device is still not released.
* * * * *
Laura stared blankly at Professor Antonelli, who appeared through the open rooftop door.
Seeing Laura with a gun pointed at her head, everyone following her lowered their weapons.
“Cesar… . Cesar Lee—!!”
Only the pistol in Professor Antonelli’s hand did not go down. The cool muzzle gleamed as it aimed at Cesar.
Seeing Professor Antonelli like that, Laura felt like she had been hit in the head with a hammer. Her eyes turned white.
‘Ah, Professor Antonelli… .’
Professor Antonelli’s cry was evidence that what Cesar had been trying to deny was true.
Laura thought that if Cesar’s words were false, there was no way Professor Antonelli could recognize him.
No, even if he knew Cesar’s name, Professor Antonelli would not be able to look at Cesar with such eyes.
Professor Antonelli’s gaze towards Cesar was fierce. It was as if he had been betrayed by someone he had known for a long time.
His eyes were bloodshot. His eyes, which usually looked gloomy, were filled with a desperate look, and he looked as if he was going to kill Cesar.
Seeing Professor Antonelli like that, Laura muttered blankly.
“That, then… . Really… .”
I didn’t want to believe it. It was something I absolutely didn’t want to believe.
I had no doubt that Cesar’s words were false. Common sense tells me that if Cesar’s words were true, it would be unreasonable for Professor Antonelli to show such an attitude toward his enemy’s child.
And then, that belief began to crack.
“Really, Professor… .”
Did he really lose everything, as Cesar said?
And that too, because of Laura’s father, Maximilian von Adelheid?
While Laura was blankly staring at Professor Antonelli, Cesar brought the gun closer to her head. Duke Adelheid saw this and went wild.
“I, I…! That damned bastard! Who dares…!”
“… … .”
Cesar looked at him with cold eyes, as if he were looking at an insect.
“You! Put that gun away right now! If Laura gets even the slightest scratch—.”
“Shut up, you piece of shit.”
– Click.
As soon as Cesar’s fingers moved, a crisp sound rang out. It was the sound of the pistol’s safety being released.
Duke Adelheid naturally shut his mouth after hearing that. His face, which had been flushed red with anxiety and anger, had turned completely pale.
Cesar, who had taken his gaze away from Duke Adelheid, smiled at Professor Antonelli, who was soon pointing a pistol at him.
“We meet again. Lucio.”
“Cesar…! Your comrades are all subdued! Now give up and put down that gun! Now! ”
“Um… I didn’t want to meet you like this. You too? If we ever meet again, maybe we can have a drink at a quiet bar… .”
“Damn it, Cesar! Put that gun down!”
Eventually, even the polite speech that Professor Antonelli had insisted on was dropped. His face was filled with anxiety and impatience.
Cesar looked sad. His melted face was hard to read, but Professor Antonelli could tell.
Slightly hazy brown eyes. Slightly drooping eye corners and mouth corners. Slightly trembling lips. Cesar, who was looking at Professor Antonelli like that, soon opened his mouth.
“If you don’t like it?”
“What…?”
Professor Antonelli’s expression became strange. It was as if he had heard some ridiculous joke.
Towards him, Cesar continued speaking.
“Lucio. I don’t understand.”
“That, what does that mean… .”
“Look at you. The opportunity for revenge is right in front of you, but you joined hands with your enemy instead?”
“… Cesar. I, absolutely did not join hands with Duke Adelheid… .”
“Then why are you standing there—!!”
Scream? Yell? Or, scream?
No. It was more like a last resort. Professor Antonelli would know that last resort all too well.
Because it was the last words of a person. It was also the last words of Professor Antonelli, who had once said it.
Cesar’s eyes changed. His eyes, which had been drooping sadly, were now filled with hard, sharp hatred.
“If you weren’t holding hands with that kid, then why are you standing there… .”
“That’s….”
“Aren’t you angry?”
And then, it happened.
Professor Antonelli’s mouth, which was desperately trying to make excuses, was tightly shut. Cesar continued speaking.
“Because of that bastard… . Maximilian von Adelheid, because of that bastard… ! You know very well how many people died! You know very well how that bastard treated us who barely survived! You know very well!!”
“three, cut… . I… .”
“When you were dying, trapped in a house that seemed like it would collapse at any moment… . When you gave up on life after losing a person named Helena… .”
Something hot dripped down onto Laura’s shoulders.
“And, when I became like this… . You know best how much it hurt… .”
“… … .”
“And yet, the reason why you are standing next to Adelheid… . What on earth are you talking about… .”
Professor Antonelli made no answer. His gun, which had never wavered, was shaking without mercy.
“Teacher, teacher…?”
Laura stared blankly at him.
– Gulp… .
It looked like it was going to rain.
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