Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: The Squishy Healer
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“All possibilities need to be kept open.”
“She might not be a noble—could be a commoner or even a teacher.”
“Or maybe someone right here in this group.”
The female student fanning herself while covering her mouth as she laughed. The stone-faced male student and the fox-eyed academy staff member. And the handful of others gathered there as well.
They eyed each other warily and spoke up.
“It wasn’t an accident—it was murder. And not a spur-of-the-moment killing, but a premeditated one.”
“Since it happened inside the academy, it’s unlikely to be just for the thrill of murder. If that were the case, it would’ve been less risky to do it outside the academy.”
“In other words, Violet was killed because someone stood to gain from her death.”
Why had that pitiful woman been killed?
She was someone who had nothing but kindness to her name.
As someone voiced the question, a moment of silence fell over the group before another spoke up cautiously.
“Jealousy?”
“Or maybe possessiveness.”
“It definitely wasn’t some casual game.”
They’d said as much earlier, but if it had been a murder for mere amusement, there’d have been no need to do it inside the Royal Academy.
Even if it was just a commoner who died, no one could predict how the investigation would unfold—and murders for pleasure rarely stopped at one, so whoever did it wouldn’t want to draw attention like this.
So, what about jealousy?
“Jealousy’s honestly a short list, so it’s hard to bring it up lightly.”
“Yeah.”
Someone who could bring in enough oil to burn down an entire warehouse—without any record in the ledgers—had to be a noble, most likely.
Otherwise, the investigation would’ve traced the oil’s source and pinned it down easily by now.
But if it was a noble who killed the universally beloved Violet out of jealousy...
‘Not many candidates.’
Everyone thought of someone but held their tongue, and the conversation resumed.
“What about possessiveness, then?”
Violet had been kind to everyone, loved everyone, and was loved by all.
So one of them might’ve wanted her kindness and love all to themselves.
Still, it couldn’t be dismissed as a simple lovers’ quarrel. Love alone doesn’t drive people to such obsession.
Possessiveness isn’t the same as love. It could be over a friend, family, or even a pet dog that greets other family members more warmly.
“But if it was possessiveness strong enough to kill over, there would’ve been signs beforehand.”
“This is a crime at the Royal Academy, yet the investigators backed off quicker than expected.”
“Whoever did it is definitely tied to nobility.”
These people wouldn’t normally gather like this to discuss a single topic. Heirs from different families, academy staff, and even servants who hadn’t spoken up.
In the midst of the group, an unremarkable woman in the corner raised her hand.
“Investigators may have dropped it, but it’ll be hard for us to dig deeper on our own. We can’t exactly bring noble informants inside.”
“Well, they might overlook one or two from the academy.”
“One or two from each family—but most would gather the same info, so it’s inefficient.”
Vague features. An appearance so ordinary that you’d forget her face the moment you parted ways, with no scent whatsoever.
Yet something about her drew everyone’s attention to her words.
“There’s this organization that’s been gaining fame lately... What if we used them?”
Asking each family to pull informants for a commoner girl’s death would be a burden, but outsourcing with money might work better.
Someone pondered briefly before asking,
“What’s the group called?”
“Lapis.”
The vague, scentless woman smiled slowly.
* * *
Anyone who’s read novels, watched a lot of anime, or played games knows.
Something cute and round.
A mascot or pet. Or a friendly creature with a look that appeals to all ages, pushed as the face of the story.
In novels, you feed it snacks, watch it act cute, cuddle it, and boom—a chapter’s done. In games, it charms in trailers; in anime, it’s like an incubator... no, something that captivates with its appearance.
‘But it wasn’t in the original story or Innocent Saga.’
Even in that arc where the kids were breaking down and someone spotted a stray rabbit, the comments begging to heal them with it got crushed, and it ended up as rabbit stew next chapter.
And now...
Our healer.
“...I’m not going outside.”
A round, pudgy tadpole? Goldfish? Something like that.
I’d thought she’d just curled up as tight as possible.
Uparupa. Tadpole hands and feet like mochi. Or maybe cute eyes like an otter—I hadn’t expected that.
‘The illustration was elegant. Elegant... it was...’
Is this what delisting means?
Parts of her shimmered with rainbow iridescence, rippling like her form wasn’t fixed.
“Let her go right now! Take that child and leave!”
I looked at Levi wriggling in Cain’s grip.
Somehow... my enthusiasm deflated a bit.
Sure, Levi was our vital healer and former big sis character—now a precious future comrade.
But one glance at Levi, then Cain, and the Cain-Levi couple stock wasn’t just hitting the limit up—it was facing forced liquidation and certain delisting.
Look at those oblivious golden eyes and those wary aqua ones.
‘It’s not even humanoid to begin with.’
This time, even I had no way to sugarcoat it. I raised both hands and let out a soft sigh.
“If you stay here, you’ll end up dragged away eventually?”
At my words, the round Levi’s eyes trembled, then narrowed into a slight glare.
“Hmph, weren’t you the one trying to drag me off? I don’t know what you plan to sell me for, but it won’t be easy!”
I watched Levi flop around with her soft, smooth, jelly-like body—cute enough to rival Luna—then opened my sub-space.
The gaudy accessory set I’d bought at that auction house back when I’d stopped in Ravens while fetching Cain. No practical options, just flashy.
It was something the noblewoman Levi would’ve loved.
“This is a gift.”
Not a crow, but she loved shiny, ornate things—her innocent round eyes sparkled like gems, same as ever.
“For me?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re a good person? But... there are no good people...”
Maybe from using the Storm Orb so long, hiding on this island.
At her childlike side—her speech even shifting—I just laughed.
‘The kid who sometimes looked low on mana? That was her real personality.’
The elegant, gentle, quiet noblewoman was the forced version after capture.
I placed a ornate tiara on her water-drop-mochi head and pulled something else from sub-space.
“Levina. This is a God’s Contract. You know what that is?”
“I do! But how do you know my name?”
I bent down to meet the eyes of Levi, who fiddled with the tiara using her squishy hand... paw?
Cain helpfully lifted the hand holding Levi to match my standing eye level.
Why didn’t you do that sooner, man.
“I know everything. I have the Eye of Prophecy. Levi, you can’t stay here.”
Eventually, your brothers will drag you off by force and marry you to someone.
Her eyes welled up at my words.
I eyed the ring I’d bought—too short and chubby for her paw-like fingers—put it neatly back in sub-space, and slipped a flashy bracelet up to her shoulder instead.
“But... I... I...”
“I promise. When the Mermaid King awakens, I’ll send you back. Just tend to the hurt and injured by our side. That’s all.”
The God’s Contract will guarantee it.
I waved the contract, and Levi hesitated.
“Of course, I’m not saying sign now. Take a few days to think it over.”
Just not in this cramped, dark cave.
Exhausted from it all, Levi nodded.
“Let’s head to the ship first.”
As I said we’d go to the ship, Cain moved to carry me and Levi like luggage, so I quickly scooped her up like a small animal.
Don’t treat our healer like baggage!
Feels like a soft, warm water pouch filled with tepid liquid.
“Then let’s go to our ship, rest, and think it over.”
After taking Levi from Cain, I walked out of the cave, hearing muffled grunts from the entrance.
The merfolk man I’d bound earlier.
Leaving him alive could spell trouble later, but killing him in front of Levi? No.
I glanced at Cain, who gave a faint nod.
Outside, the sun was setting, the sky awash in red sunset.
“...It’s been ages since I watched a sunset this peacefully.”
“You’ll get to do it all the time now, Levi.”
“I still don’t trust you...”
“Then trust the contract, not me.”
Still unsigned, Levi began rereading the God’s Contract at my words.
Cain silently dealt with the merfolk man, then scooped me up.
As Cain dashed over the water, the glare made me pause reading. I whispered to Levi, who covered her soft hands over her eyes.
“Any favorite foods?”
“...Back then, fresh fish or big shellfish... But on that island, just moss... almost nothing else...”
Makes sense—the storm kept fish away, and constant Storm Orb use meant no beach scavenging for clams.
‘Zero’s probably handled something.’
Trusting Zero, we reached the ship; solid deck underfoot.
“Welcome back, Young Master? And this little one...”
“Huh, what? Isn’t it a merfolk? That’s an immature form?”
“Aren’t merfolk a demi-human race? Why isn’t it a child form?”
―It looks like a completely different species. Manager.
Cain hadn’t hidden his presence, so the crew—who’d come to greet us on deck—commented on Levi.
She shyly burrowed her face into my chest, and I gave an awkward smile.
“Our healer.”
“I haven’t said I’m going yet!”
“Our potential healer. Might be, might not.”
They chuckled cutely at her squeaky protests.
“Zero, got any food?”
“We do. Even if not, I can whip something up quick—no worries, Lady Adelrian.”
I nodded, patted Levi—who was decked in the flashy accessories I’d given her—and headed to the mess.
Patting her was like tapping a water pouch; it made a taut sound.
Luna eyed her, fingers twitching to touch, but held back, not wanting to grope without permission.
Grab—
“Eek! Hands off!”
“Ooh, squishy.”
Rachel, of course, had no such restraint. Levi’s squishy paw... hand? slapped onto Rachel’s face and peeled off.
Rachel grinned, calling it squishy, and I sighed inwardly.