It's All That Bastard's Fault
The three of them walked down the corridor. A commotion echoed from beyond the passage. As they rounded the corner, someone appeared and blocked their path.
"Headmaster."
"Alain? What brings you here so suddenly?"
The man's name was Alain. He spoke to the group again.
"My apologies for interrupting. If I may, are you on your way to meet the nobles?"
"Indeed, but why?"
"In that case, I recommend postponing the meeting for now."
Alain offered the advice subtly. It was an abrupt suggestion. Enoch decided to observe the situation for the moment.
The headmaster questioned him as if he were spouting nonsense.
"Postpone the meeting? You want me to just let them run wild like that?"
"That's not it. It's simply that meeting them now would yield no benefit."
"Benefit?"
"The other party is furious to the point of boiling over. It would be better to avoid the meeting now and negotiate separately later."
Alain explained calmly.
Valtro pondered for a moment before asking,
"I understand what you mean. But then, what about the current rampage?"
"I'll go and stop it. The principal is there as well, so it should work out somehow."
Alain patted his chest confidently, as if to say to leave it to him.
Valtro tilted his head and turned to Enoch.
"Enoch, what do you think?"
"It doesn't matter to me. It'll just end with them throwing their weight around, so there's no need to waste time on it."
"Very well. If that's what you think."
Valtro looked back at Alain.
"I'll leave it to you. Make sure to smooth things over without any issues."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
Alain bowed to Valtro, then offered a polite greeting to Enoch as well. Finally, he glanced briefly at Lakrina before departing.
-Tap tap
"Headmaster."
"What is it?"
"Who exactly is that Alain fellow?"
Enoch asked belatedly.
Valtro replied with a puzzled expression.
"Just an ordinary teacher. His subject is counseling. His rank is Scroll-level."
"He was a mage?"
"For now, yes. Though his magic isn't for offense but recovery. The kind that restores the mind. Thanks to that, his reputation is reasonably good."
"Does he often get involved in situations like this?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure about that. Why? Is there a problem?"
"It's a bit out of the blue. Suddenly showing up and claiming he'll handle it, as if he'd been waiting for this."
The timing was suspicious in many ways. Enoch didn't hide his suspicion.
Valtro reacted belatedly with an "Ah!"
"Come to think of it, there is one peculiar detail."
"Peculiar detail?"
"That Alain fellow once received disciplinary action for accepting bribes. Was it three million kros? It wasn't a large sum, so it ended with just a pay cut."
"..."
"He seems to have a bit of a greed for money. Be careful. Seeing that you arrived via airship, he might latch on thinking you're wealthy."
Valtro laughed as if joking. Enoch was at a loss for words. He simply had nothing to say.
"...Understood for now. It seems the situation has resolved itself, so I'll be on my way."
"Good thinking. No need to get tangled up in unnecessary troubles."
Valtro looked visibly pleased. He even drew a holy sign with his fingers. The gesture signified gratitude for salvation.
Enoch felt a strange doubt. Had he done something wrong?
"...Anyway, you heard everything, right?"
Enoch said to Lakrina beside him.
"I'm off now. Be a bit more careful from now on."
"Ah... You're leaving already?"
"Even like this, I'm quite busy. There are many things to take care of here and there."
"Yes. Next time, I'll come find you myself."
"Alright. Come anytime. If anything happens, contact me agai-"
Enoch paused. He belatedly realized that Lakrina didn't have a communication device.
Even if I give her allowance, she didn't buy one. We'll need some means of contact no matter what.
"Lakrina, take this."
"Huh? Isn't this a communication device?"
"It's one I was using. Keep it from now on. You never know what might happen."
Enoch said nonchalantly, as if he'd just picked it up somewhere. Then he left.
Lakrina stared blankly at the spot where Enoch had disappeared, the communication device clutched tightly in her hand.
Valtro spoke up belatedly.
"Ahem, ahem. Lakrina? It's time to head back to the dormitory."
"......"
"...Lakrina?"
For some reason, there was no response. Wondering what was wrong, Valtro quickly checked on her.
"......"
He was at a loss for words once more.
Lakrina stood silently, gripping the communication device tightly in her hand. She looked like a nun in prayer.
The problem was the device's position. It was far too close to her mouth. If no one was watching, she seemed ready to shove it straight into her mouth.
What is she doing? Trying to swallow it?
"...Lakrina? Don't hold the communication device so close to your mouth. It's bad for your body."
"I don't mind if it's something the teacher gave me."
"What kind of nonsense is tha- ...No, forget it. Do as you like."
Valtro gave up on persuading her. A wave of self-loathing washed over him belatedly. Still, he was the headmaster. What exactly was he teaching right now?
I might as well just keep praying too.
Valtro clasped his hands beside Lakrina and drew a holy sign requesting salvation.
O Almighty Sun, my prayers seem a bit weak.
@
Enoch returned to Magnusra via airship. The next place he headed to was the security force headquarters.
That damn bastard. Finally, I can see his face.
His archenemy. The vehicle bomber. He would never let this one off easily.
Enoch made this resolve as he submitted his identification. The guard at the entrance let him through.
-Confirmed. Have a good day.
-Tap tap
Enoch crossed the corridor of the headquarters.
This is it.
He soon arrived at his destination. Enoch opened the door without hesitation.
-Creak
"I've come after receiving the contact. Regarding the previous vehicle explosion-"
"...Huh?"
"...?"
His actions halted midway. An unexpected person stood before him.
None other than the Water Tower Lord, Jane Alura.
"...What are you doing here?"
"What? Why am I here? Well-"
"Don't tell me you were the culprit?"
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
@
The commotion subsided shortly after. A nearby guard explained the details. Enoch listened to the story first. Then he let out a deep sigh.
"...Why did you ask the security force about me of all things? It makes me look like a criminal."
"No, everyone does that, so I did too."
Jane's reason for being here was simple. After the communication cut off earlier, she had come to Magnusra in a fit of anger to find Enoch. However, there was a problem. She didn't actually know where he was staying. So she had been inquiring through her connections in the security force. That was the whole story.
"In the first place, I would've explained the situation beforehand. At the very least, you could've contacted me via the communication device first."
"Want to die? I already tried several times. You weren't answering, so I came in person."
Jane thrust her fist forward threateningly.
Come to think of it, Enoch's communication device was currently with Lakrina. He'd fallen asleep on the airship and completely forgotten.
"I see. Sorry."
"Save your empty apologies."
Jane continued to huff, her anger still not subsided. Despite that, the conversation continued.
"Anyway, so what are you doing here? What exactly happened that you ignored my calls with the excuse of being busy?"
"Ignored... Get a grip, Jane. Have some sense of responsibility for your position."
"What are you saying? Just answer."
Jane furrowed her brows.
Enoch spoke weakly.
"Well, you see. Actually-"
-Rustle
"You were both gathered here."
At that moment, someone appeared. The Ice Tower Lord, Nordila.
"...Lord Nordila?"
"Old man Nordila?"
"Why are you both staring like that? As if you'd seen a ghost?"
Nordila smiled at the two of them. Then he chuckled with interest. It was a sly laugh.
"I sensed magic power and wondered, but it really was you, Jane."
"Ah... Well, yes?"
"I came to find Enoch and ended up meeting Jane. This is... The last time I saw you two, you were fighting. Have you gotten close again already?"
"What? Absolutely not-"
"Yes. Somehow, it turned out that way."
Enoch cut in midway. It was obvious he was looking for something to tease them about. He shouldn't have given them an opening in the first place. Unfortunately, it was no use.
"Hey, I told you not to cut me off-"
"Please be quiet. Don't you have any tact?"
Jane hadn't noticed Enoch's efforts. She only grew visibly more agitated. Seeing this, Nordila burst into hearty laughter as if he understood everything.
"Haha. It's fine. I understand it all. If it's between young people, that can happen. Indeed!"
"That's not it- ...Fine. I'll just let it be."
"Why? What is it? What's going on?"
"You just stay quiet. No, stay put. I'm begging you."
"What? You ignore me and now you have the nerve to say that to your noona-"
The commotion continued for a while. Enoch felt dizzy for no reason. Nordila aside, why was Jane here? Did she not have a job?
Being a Tower Lord isn't such a leisurely position...
Enoch shook his head. Jane was still huffing. Nordila asked belatedly,
"By the way, Enoch. Why did you postpone my contact today?"
"That's right. I was asking about that too."
The arrows came flying belatedly. Enoch tried to answer but hesitated. Thinking about it again, it was a bit awkward.
- I ignored the Tower Lords' contacts and came to catch the vehicle thief instead.
- Enoch! Have you lost your mind?!
...This won't do. My carefully built image might crumble.
The reason didn't matter. These were people who had come to find him in person. He couldn't tell them the truth. Especially since it was an inconvenient truth.
"...Actually, the circumstances are a bit complicated."
"Circumstances? You?"
"Do you have some serious matter?"
Both were greatly surprised. Jane and Nordila. In their minds, Enoch was an existence on the level of a continental powerhouse like themselves. For such an Enoch to trail off... It was something they couldn't even imagine.
"Come to think of it, you even came to the security force. Don't do that and confide in your noona. Don't tell me you got beaten up somewhere?"
"Right, I'm curious too. Go on, tell us."
"......"
Questions came one after another. Enoch pondered for a moment. In the end, he moistened his lips.
"...It's all the fault of the Golden Mage, Orban."
"What?"
"He touched you?"
Both were greatly flustered. Orban wasn't the kind of person who would do that. Enoch pressed on without giving them an opening.
"Yes. He sent someone to tell me to come find him. Even the messenger he sent attacked me."
"Insane. Orban that bastard did that?"
"Haha..."
"That's why it took some time. I postponed the contact because I was worried it might cause trouble. In the midst of that, even the vehicle was bombed. I was just about to have the security force investigate in case the bomber was connected to Orban."
He hadn't lied. The Golden Mage had a bad reputation anyway. Adding one or two more infamies wouldn't make much difference.
Interesting. I don't feel the slightest bit of guilt.
Originally, whenever something strange happened in Eoin, blaming Orban would roughly hit the mark. As expected, this story also started from the root of all evil. He was someone he'd have to beat up someday anyway. It wasn't bad to build up a pretext in advance.