Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Questioning the Professors
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Our school.
It was a good thing, but the pressure was immense.
These were people I’d spent every day with. Even though I’d altered my voice, masked my mana with divine power, and covered my scent, I couldn’t help but worry that some subtle hint of Lucas Ascanien might slip through in my mannerisms.
‘At least there’s no one around.’
I’d come through the back gate on purpose to avoid drawing attention.
Imperial carriages coming and going from our foundation’s academy weren’t exactly rare, but today I couldn’t afford a crowd gathering before we’d even finished.
The moment I stepped out of the carriage, I spotted the president of the Imperial Second Academy and Leo.
I started to greet them, then closed my mouth upon seeing the other person standing beside them.
Adelbert was staring at me with sparkling eyes.
“…….”
It wasn’t supposed to be an interview with a respected figure, but every time I saw that guy, that’s all that came to mind.
Just then, the president approached and doffed his hat.
“Pleased to meet you, Excellency Ernst. I’m Helena Falkenhain.”
“Likewise. I’ve heard from His Majesty that you’ve been most cooperative in this matter.”
“It was only natural. For the safety of our school—and at His Majesty’s behest—I stand ready to do whatever is required.”
I replied with a smile.
In truth, this man was just the acting president.
I had no idea where the real one had gone, but he hadn’t shown his face since enrollment.
The students just called the proxy the president anyway.
Before he could launch into a lengthy speech, I turned to Leo.
“Your Highness, it feels strange seeing you here at school.”
Leo twitched one corner of his mouth, then nodded.
“I feel the same.”
“Yes. And… Your Highness, I’m relieved to see you’ve recovered well.”
“Ah, so you’ve heard everything.”
If I hadn’t heard about the runaway incident, there’d have been no need to mention recovery.
Anyway, I’d handled it myself—how could he not know?
I swallowed the words rising in my throat and asked something else.
“You’ll have to report every detail of today’s events to His Majesty. Won’t that be exhausting?”
Adelbert wasn’t here for fun.
He was stepping in to play the role of the imperial divine magic user who’d shadowed me at the police bureau.
Of course, there was already an imperial mage accompanying me now.
At my question, Adelbert flinched, then raised his voice.
“Not at all! I consider it the greatest honor. I’m grateful that His Majesty—no, that you, Excellency, accepted my request.”
‘That enthusiastic?’
Leo, standing beside him, wore a puzzled expression—clearly thinking the same.
It felt like we were already in the interview room, so I just smiled.
“I’m grateful for your enthusiasm. That said, lingering here any longer risks drawing a crowd on campus. Shall we head inside?”
The president, who’d been watching with a smile, led me into the nearest building.
“Lord Ernst, we’ve recorded today’s visit as data collection on Phleroma. If any issues arise, you can handle it that way.”
“Yes, understood.”
I had no intention of jumping straight to divine power.
A school was different from the police bureau.
The professors had been investigating the runaway attempt for two weeks, zeroing in on a suspect student—me—with what they considered solid evidence.
To avoid raising doubts about the results, it wasn’t enough to just erase today’s memories; I’d have to wipe all related memories and records. So divine power only when absolutely necessary—better to guide conversations and persuade.
After a few more words with the president, we descended to the basement.
A seminar room appeared—one I’d never entered even as a student.
The president stopped at the door and turned.
“You can go in. You’ll need to use magic on me too, so I’ll join you.”
“Yes, understood.”
Inside, the professors I’d seen yesterday sat in their formal robes.
My gaze naturally went to those in red robes.
The knight faculty. My eyes briefly met Professor Trout’s.
I stepped to the podium and addressed the room.
“Pleased to meet you all.”
The room was large enough that my voice echoed.
I cast an amplification spell and continued.
“I trust you all know why I’m here today. To compare the school’s investigation into the recent runaway attempt with my own findings, I’ve come before you. Thank you to the entire faculty of the Imperial Second Academy for your willing cooperation.”
They probably hadn’t cooperated willingly, but that wasn’t my concern.
Sure enough, someone opened their mouth with a dissatisfied look.
[Are you planning to use confession magic? Are you assuming one of us is the culprit and trying to flush them out?]
“I’m sorry you see it that way. My involvement in the Imperial Second Academy’s investigation is at His Majesty’s command.”
[…….]
As expected, they grumbled about only investigating professors. They were asking, ‘What about the students?’
No students.
‘Do you want a situation where Nikolaus interrogates Lucas?’
Absolutely not.
To use Phleroma’s term, if we divided things into ‘political circles,’ the Imperial Second Academy didn’t really fit.
Only about 50% of the professors were politicians, and per the initial contract, the school wasn’t under my purview. Ignoring the ‘political circles’ to probe this far would be a waste.
But the emperor wasn’t the type to back down over something like that.
Of the two letters Leo brought from Bayern, one was an addendum the emperor had sent to the Bayern royals.
Handing the contract to the royals first meant, in this context, ensuring no legal review would harm Nikolaus or Bayern.
‘Smart move.’
No one in this political game signs a contract on the spot without legal review. The emperor had cleared the board for me to move immediately.
And proving it, he hadn’t included ‘student interrogations’ in the addendum.
Why? Half the faculty were politicians, and with the foundation structurally under the imperial family, there was leverage to secure my consent. But political students were rare, and they weren’t school employees—they were paying customers.
He’d clearly anticipated lengthy legal debates.
‘Of course, if nothing turns up among the professors, I’ll quietly extend to the students.’
Thanks to the emperor’s urgency right after the incident, we’d dodged one risk.
The nightmare of Nikolaus interrogating Lucas. Just thinking about it gave me chills.
I cleared my mind and focused on them.
“And I know forcing a resolution isn’t the best approach. We can talk things through until you’re convinced, then act. No rush. Let’s calmly compare what we know. That’s the help I can offer you—and what His Majesty desires.”
[…….]
“First, I reviewed the campus investigation log this morning. The magic department handled it. Impressive thoroughness using every method except divine power.”
At that, the knight faculty professors furrowed their brows slightly and glanced at the magic professors.
[So that’s why they demanded statements down to the minute? We only heard about the runaway attempt today and thought it couldn’t be…]
“It was for the investigation, no doubt. And the result stands out: no one with a suspicious gap in their schedule for preparing the crime.”
The moment I said it, a magic professor spoke up as if waiting.
[That’s right, Excellency Ernst. We understand your presence under imperial order, but as you’ve read, not a single faculty member has any suspicion.]
It was Professor Winter.
Seeing him again in a new light. Anyway, he clearly had no idea I was that student.
Our homeroom professor seemed oblivious too.
I nodded for him to continue.
[If you think ‘Phleroma must be among the faculty,’ we’ve already checked. It’s not. So the crime was commissioned by Phleroma or an associate, with someone inside the school as the conduit. Right?]
“We’re in agreement.”
I smiled lightly and went on.
“To warp into a room and commit the crime, you need precise coordinates. So the one who provided them is the campus culprit. And precise coordinates are accessible only to faculty, correct?]
[Students often figure out room warp coordinates and share them with friends. So we must consider students as possible conduits too.]
Precise warp coordinates here meant directly inside the room, not the hallway. That’s why I’d had to break down Adelbert’s door.
Anyway, I had to suppress a laugh.
He still suspected a student.
Well, if we had to pick a prime suspect among students, it’d be Haike Ainsidel over me… He still seemed to suspect me.
[Anyway, that’s not the point. If a professor was acting on Phleroma’s orders, there’d be a gap. Time to go out, meet the contact, plot the crime!]
“Hm.”
I nodded briefly.
He rattled on like a machine gun.
[Or artifacts for communication? Direct letters? Anticipating that, we searched faculty dorms and family homes unannounced. Even ransacked the home of a professor who’d been holed up on campus for three months.]
“…….”
[Not a single trace.]
I listened with rare interest.
When I just stared without responding, he defended the faculty even more fervently.
[To prepare the crime, you need potions. Warp out to fetch them, meet Phleroma, or have them warped in or sent via school mail. Right?]
“Go on.”
[The second is impossible. Inanimate warping’s been banned this year, and all campus mail is inspected and purified. So the first case: warping out themselves… Fetching potions takes under a minute, so maybe that’s excusable.]
Other professors began nodding.
[But Imperial Second Academy professors aren’t like students. Not the happiest phrasing, but faculty are foundation property. Paid millions of pels in research funds, they can be deployed anywhere. Students get warp privileges for freedom, but professors, as guardians, must stay on campus 24/7. Walking out or warping—every exit needs detailed justification, and no long absences.]
That rule was recent.
After last year’s Bayern mage attack and Phleroma doping the river, regulations tightened.
The school was no longer a safe zone; it needed professor protection.
I opened the justification reports in the investigation log.
‘They really haven’t gone out.’
Nearly a month’s worth across all departments barely filled a page.
I nodded.
“Indeed. Especially if the runaway culprit and this Ascanien incident are the same… Conflicts arise.”
Supplementing Professor Winter’s logic a bit…
Someone could leave a letter at a storage or shop for delivery to our school with orders.
How long to slip out, grab a letter, and return? No gap needed.
But there was more to consider.
The runaway prep took time, but this warp incident didn’t allow it.
Unaware I’d bolster his side, Professor Winter exchanged glances with colleagues and asked.
[Conflicts—what do you mean?]
“First, let’s address this. Primrose Pass is backed by Phleroma. And this warp led to Primrose Pass, correct?”
[Yes. But they’re tied to Phleroma…?]
No need to answer every question.
I continued right away.
“They targeted Ascanien student after prosecutorial investigations resumed post my meeting with His Majesty. With Duke Elias and I seen as partners, attacking his friend pressures the duke sufficiently.”
I felt Leo frown beside me.
That wasn’t the whole reason I was dragged in, but no need to say.
This was all Leo needed to know. For his future involvement, he needed this much—but more was risky.
[…….]
The professor nodded as if to say, speak.
Primrose Pass picked me as retaliation after hearing Nikolaus visited the palace.
I sent my letter at 6:30 PM—dinner time—and got an immediate reply to meet within 30 minutes. Prep from 7 PM arrival of reply to palace entry around 7:30.
Even direct, no-delay leak to Primrose Pass: 7:30.
But here’s the issue. The emperor ordered the Primrose Pass probe resumption not at 7:30.
“Prosecutorial pressure hit at 8:30 PM, end of my talk with His Majesty. If Primrose Pass or Phleroma wanted to attack a school student, someone would’ve gone out from then to receive orders and plot….”
I scanned the log slowly.
“None did.”
[…Heh, exactly. You acknowledge it, Excellency. No time to warp out or walk to meet Phleroma, exchange letters, or artifact comms. Where’s the plotting window? No ‘gaps’ for any professor, as you said.]
I smiled at that.
Similar to words from that vanished timeline.
I’d asked the last pureblood at Primrose Pass: ‘How were you notified?’
No direct meet, no paper, no artifact, no intermediary—human or animal.
Only one thing came to mind after.
“You can commit the crime without gaps.”
Leo and Adelbert’s gazes turned to me.
“If you already know what to do, no need for plotting time.”
[Excellency Ernst.]
The professor’s face said, that makes no sense.
It couldn’t. Knowing ahead meant Phleroma was on campus.
“I’ll reveal this here first. Phleroma bestows ‘missions’ via revelations to the reborn.”
I’d learned it from Asman.
No one told him, but from rebirth, he instinctively felt the mission: ‘guide many to Phleroma’s path.’
From that, my final question to the Primrose pureblood: Received instructions mentally? If so, could they control thoughts or actions too?
He nodded.
“You’ve grasped it—revelations. Phleroma transmits info directly to the mind. Barely any time needed for plotting. And from what I’ve learned, even non-Phleroma can receive them without issue.”
[…….]
Professor Winter stood frozen, speechless.
Anyway, professors could access any dorm’s precise warp coordinates if inclined—perfect tools.
If they could receive revelations.
“Does that answer the gap question? Shall we begin?”
I spun the new wand from Bayern royals between my fingers.
Then slammed the staff end into the floor.
Boom—!
—Enter through the narrow gate.
White light surged. Behind me, the imperial mage cast protective spells over Leo and Adelbert.
‘The issue is whether they knew they did it.’
From this dawn’s meeting, I’d bet on ‘they didn’t know.’
“From 8:30 PM yesterday to midnight, someone’s memory will blank briefly.”
I gazed at them and spoke slowly.
“If it applies to you, answer.”