episode_0143

We returned home. To the academy, no less. There was no need for any special cleanup regarding the cultists. Selena had already handled most of it, and the remaining minor details were to be taken care of by the squad members. Thanks to that, we were able to return without delay.

Of course. ‘It wasn’t entirely over yet.’ Various problems remained within the academy. The atmosphere among the faculty remained a cold war. Perhaps because the existence of a traitor was known, a chilly air hung around them. Since everyone’s eyes were sharp, it was necessary to cover up the incident for now. It was an issue that would be problematic if exposed.

Fortunately. The problem was resolved more simply than expected. It was thanks to the Dean’s help, none other. He conveyed that the matter had been dealt with and that they could let go of any further apprehension. At the sudden news, the faculty members, while still lukewarm, obeyed the old man’s words. Having been the leader of the academy all this time, they must have trusted their superior. Thanks to that, the topic subsided.

‘No matter what, the Dean is still the Dean after all, I suppose.’ In addition. If there were any other problems we needed to handle, it was the disposal of various traces. The disposal of traces that proved Selena was a traitor. Letters, data, and records related to that time had to be erased. For this problem, too, there was a helping hand.

“I’ve arranged the documents as requested. This should prevent any further talk.” “Thank you for your help, Professor Cadell.”

That helping hand was none other than Professor Cadell. A rival figure to Selena. He helped me erase the traces of her secret dealings and cooperated in diverting the faculty’s attention. Cadell had known from the beginning that Selena was a traitor.

–Yuda Student. –I have something serious to discuss. It was then that we first spoke openly. After the faculty meeting ended. Cadell quietly requested a conversation. It was to ask for my opinion on the traitor. He was already certain that Selena was the academy’s internal informant. To summarize what I heard there, it was roughly like this:

–I had suspected her for a long time. –I merely remained cautious because I lacked certainty, but through this attack, I gained certainty. –The identity of the internal informant I had been pondering all this time… was none other than Professor Selena. –The data I had accumulated over time also strengthened this hypothesis.

It wasn’t particularly strange. In the original story, he was the one who uncovered Selena’s betrayal. Although his certainty came a step too late, preventing the resurrection of the Dragon and the collapse of the academy, the truth about the internal dealings was able to surface. It seemed to be the same this time.

–Yuda Student, what will you do? His voice was calm as he questioned me. Professor Cadell handed the choice over to me. How to deal with Selena. It meant he would grant a brief reprieve before revealing the contents to the faculty meeting. It also meant he wanted me to confirm the drunkard’s true feelings during that time. I nodded.

–Then… I trust you understand. –Please choose wisely. For my part, I am showing mercy to a student, after all.

Thanks to that. I was able to catch Selena, who was standing at the edge of a cliff. And return with her to our home, the academy. Cadell saw our return and nodded.

–You did it. Afterward. He even helped with document organization and cooperated with various clean-up tasks. Honestly, even I couldn’t see through Cadell’s true intentions. For a character who appeared significantly in the original story, he was always depicted as someone whose true thoughts were unfathomable. It was to the extent that when the traitor plot thread was developing, most players often suspected Cadell as the traitor. I was no different.

‘The most unexpected thing was…’ The fact that Cadell didn’t reveal Selena’s betrayal. Not only that, he even helped with the clean-up. I had certainly thought the two of them had a bad relationship, so had I seen it wrong? No… Even so, I wondered if there was any reason for him to cooperate. Strictly speaking, Selena was in the position of being the academy’s traitor. This part was utterly incomprehensible. Ultimately, I decided to ask him directly.

“Honestly, I have a question.” “Hm?” “It’s about why Professor-nim is helping. I thought your relationship wasn’t very good.” “You observed correctly. I dislike Professor Selena.” “That’s precisely why I’m asking for the reason.” “Well now.”

Cadell replied vaguely, yet his hand kept moving. The elegantly moving pen nib inscribed ink letter by letter onto the paper. Despite his words, his hand was diligent. I subtly questioned him.

“Could it be that you actually like her?” “……Pardon?”

It was a reasonable question. If it were merely a typical bad relationship, he wouldn’t have bothered so much. Here, the cliché would be that Cadell was only pretending to dislike her. Selena was beautiful and had a ‘violent’ figure, so it wouldn’t be strange for someone to fall in love with her. Moreover, since they were of similar age, there was ample room for them to be attracted to each other…

“What did you hear me say?” ……Judging by his expression, that wasn’t the case. A look of sheer disgust. As if it were physically impossible, his brow was furrowed. Cadell glared at my blunder with icy eyes. “That was a very rude remark.” “It seems I misspoke.” “I am already married to someone I love. Please don’t associate me with such an old maid.” “……”

Isn’t thirty not exactly the age to be called an old maid? That thought crossed my mind, but I swallowed it down. The gaze that poked at my cheek was stinging. It was also true that it was considered a late age by this world’s standards. Furthermore, he himself reacted with such intense dislike that I had to bow my head with a simple apology. Though I was a bit bewildered.

“I apologize.” “……” Cadell was silent for a moment. He then sighed and spoke. “Even though we always bicker, Professor Selena is one of the few geniuses I acknowledge.”

Gallimard, where only the continent’s finest educators gathered. Among such faculty members, those who could rival Cadell were few. Perhaps ‘rival’ would be a more apt description. In that sense, Selena was a good competitor for Cadell. Even if it wasn’t in battle-related fields, mages of equal caliber to him must have been rare. He added.

“Since I was assigned to the academy. I’ve served on the faculty with her for a good seven years. Though she might appear to be nothing more than an alcoholic… when it came to students, she was a decent person. Because of that, I even learned various things from Professor Selena. At least I knew she wasn’t someone who took the academy’s importance lightly. That’s why.”

Whether he disliked her or liked her. A colleague with whom he had walked the same path since their days as probationary teachers. Even if he claimed to hate her, it would be a lie to say there was no affection.

“I simply concluded that Professor Selena is still a necessary person for Gallimard.” Perhaps the two were closer than I thought. As individuals who considered the same place home.

‘Cadell Evans.’ In the original story, he was the homeroom professor of Class A. He was also in the position of an assistant to the protagonists. Although he was somewhat lacking in manners and had eccentric tendencies, he was still a kind-hearted person who harbored warmth. To the extent that he entirely dedicated himself to the academy and its students until he was murdered by the cultists. I chuckled softly.

“In short… you two were close friends.” “Please correct that. We are ‘bad friends’.” “Isn’t that similar?”

‘Bad friend’. A term referring to a bad companion. However, it also, in a way, acknowledged the other person as a friend despite that. I didn’t press the point further. I merely received the documents with a faint smile. I bantered lightly.

“You worked hard today. The clean-up of the incident is complete with this.” “Thanks to that, I pulled all-nighters for three days and nights. That pathetic woman needs to be grateful to me. For having such an exceptionally capable colleague by her side.” “Haha… I’ll be sure to tell Teacher-nim.” “Tell her to recover well. I hear she’s still bedridden.” “She’ll probably be discharged within this week. If you’d like, Professor Cadell, you could visit her…” “No. Never.” “I thought as much.”

A crisp, decisive answer. I chuckled lightly and rose from my seat. “I’ll be going now.” Just then, the dark scenery outside the window was brightening. Morning was slowly arriving. The sunlight drawing back the night’s curtain. I stepped forward, heading towards the coming tomorrow. Exiting the laboratory, I strode down the long corridor. “Now, what remains is…”

The climax that would adorn the episode. The drunkard, still in dreamland, but soon to awaken. I crossed through the dawn to greet her.

Please. From today onwards. Hoping your yesterday finds peace. And praying for a faded tomorrow.