Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Black Cat Assassin
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Philip headed toward the boys' dormitory. As he strode up confidently, Neria asked,
"Master. Aren't you going to disguise yourself or anything?"
"Why would I disguise myself?"
"Well, obviously if you're investigating something like this secretly..."
"Secretly? Who said anything about investigating secretly? I can just go in and check."
"...You're no fun."
The instructors' authority at the academy was greater than one might think. Searching the dormitories under the pretext of looking for contraband was well within their purview.
Though he hadn't obtained permission, Philip planned to deal with the aftermath later.
His first investigation target was first-year male student Killian Valbion.
Long black hair and a slender build.
He was quiet and timid, but he diligently kept up with class material.
'Sorry for suspecting you, but it can't be helped.'
Rather than dithering due to a guilty conscience, it was far better for both Killian and Philip to quickly prove his innocence.
Killian's room was 506.
Standing in front of the door, Philip sensed movement inside and quietly opened it without a sound.
"Eek... Uh-heuk... Olivia..."
There sat a boy at his desk, clutching his head and sobbing. It was unmistakably Killian Valbion.
The startled Philip asked,
"...Hey, what are you doing?"
"Eek! Who's there?"
Killian Valbion finally noticed Philip and jumped to his feet in surprise.
"I-Instructor? How did you get here...?"
"...It's only natural for an instructor to periodically check if the students' living spaces are safe. More importantly, why were you crying? Is there anything I can help with?"
At Philip's question, Killian hurriedly shook his head.
"No... *Sniff*... There's not."
"I see. Glad to hear it. Then I'll be off."
"Wait, Instructor! Actually, there is!"
As Philip turned to leave, Killian clung to him desperately. Philip gently pushed him away with an awkward smile.
"Alright. What do you need help with?"
Killian opened his mouth with a resolute expression, as if he'd made a grave decision.
"Instructor... The truth is, I confessed to Miss Nuees yesterday."
"Nuees? Olivia Nuees?"
Philip recalled the girl Killian mentioned.
The baron family's young lady with her hair in twin tails.
She was pretty enough to win the boys' affections, but it was far too early for this.
'The semester's only been going for a little over a month, and he's already confessing?'
The impulsiveness of young students sometimes defied adult common sense. Philip looked at Killian with admiring eyes.
He'd thought the boy was just timid, but he had some fire in him after all.
"...Yes, that Miss Nuees. You said during the observation class that you're an expert in love advice."
'That was just something I said offhand.'
Philip thought that, but he couldn't deny it now, so he nodded.
"I did say that. And it's true. But it looks like you already failed."
"H-How did you know? Is it already rumors?"
"If you'd succeeded, you wouldn't need my help."
"You're right."
Killian sniffled, his face darkening.
"...I didn't even get to say everything I prepared. She cut me off like she already knew what I was going to do and said, 'Sorry, I'm not interested in dating yet,' before just walking away."
Philip nodded. Olivia Nuees was sharp and straightforward beyond her years, so her response wasn't surprising.
"Why did you come to find an assassin and end up doing love counseling?"
Neria asked. Philip flicked the hilt of her blade to silence her.
"Ow! That's mean!"
"First off, have you ever had a one-on-one conversation with Olivia Nuees?"
At Philip's question, Killian shook his head.
"No."
"From what I've seen, you two don't seem close. Was it love at first sight?"
Killian gasped in surprise but confirmed it.
"Then it's only natural you got rejected. Think about it. Why would she date you when she doesn't even know who you are?"
"...Why?"
"Why do you like her?"
"During last week's humanities class..."
Killian launched into a long, rambling story.
To sum it up, the humanities professor was scolding students who hadn't done their homework due to illness, and Olivia Nuees had stepped in to defend them.
"...She looked so bold and clever. It was beautiful."
"So you confessed?"
"Yes. I thought if I gathered my courage and confessed, she'd recognize it."
Having heard the full explanation, Philip nodded thoughtfully.
'This kid's definitely not the assassin.'
It was too stupid for a disguised assassin student trying to avoid suspicion.
"That wasn't showing courage; it showed you were reckless. But it's not too late. If you start showing your good sides from now on, she'll realize she judged you wrong. What do you think your strengths are?"
Philip tried to counsel him sincerely anyway. Killian pondered for a moment before mumbling,
"My strengths...? I can't think of any."
"Just give up."
"Pardon?"
"No, I mean... How about we find your strengths first? So Olivia Nuees can see them and like you."
At Philip's final words, Killian's face lit up as if a great realization dawned on him.
"...You're right, Instructor. I was too hasty."
"Exactly. You've got plenty of academy life left, so work hard."
With that, Philip left the room.
"Is it okay to clear him of suspicion so easily?"
Neria asked curiously.
"If he had acting skills like that, he'd be dispatched to the imperial palace, not the academy. And I didn't sense anything off. His mana felt average too. If the others check out, I might need to double-check him, but otherwise."
"Kids these days are really something. They come to the academy and think about dating instead of studying. No wonder the continent's in this state."
"Yeah, sure."
Philip replied vaguely as he headed to the next location.
To check the second candidate, Collins Chamber.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ However, Philip entered room 504 and came out empty-handed.
Collins Chamber was the picture of an ordinary, diligent student.
"All he had was books and clothes? How does that kid even enjoy life?"
Listening to Neria's impression, Philip headed to the next spot.
'Something feels off.'
This assassin event changed based on the game's difficulty.
On easy to hard, traces of the assassin were easy to find, and the assassin was weak. But on the true expert difficulty 'Reality,' an assassin appeared that the protagonist couldn't beat at that power level.
'No way... Probably not.'
But after checking the girls' dormitory too, Philip was soon convinced.
"This is getting complicated."
"...What now? There is no assassin?"
"No. There definitely is one. It'll just take some time."
Philip immediately headed outside the academy to the shopping district. He'd need black clothes to execute his new plan.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As the sun began to set, Philip grabbed Neria and headed to the tall clock tower in the academy's central plaza.
The clock tower was six stories high relative to the dormitories and as wide as a decent farm.
'If I remember right, this has to be the hideout.'
This was originally a restricted area for students. The world's clocks were ultra-expensive items packed with advanced magic; mishandling one could cost thousands of gold.
If playing as the protagonist, you'd need tons of prep work and distract the patrolling guards to enter. But for Instructor Philip, it was a breeze.
"Um, Instructor. Do you really have to go into the clock tower...?"
Soron, the guard responsible for the academy's night watch, looked at Philip anxiously.
'Why would a swordsmanship instructor want to go in there?'
Having worked at the academy for three years, it was his first time encountering a sword instructor demanding entry to the clock tower.
"I'll take full responsibility if anything goes wrong. If letting me in causes you trouble, I'll recommend you to the Yusuf Merchant Guild as compensation. Oh, and don't worry if I don't come out."
"...If you put it that way, I have no choice."
Convinced by Philip's assurance, Soron reluctantly opened the clock tower entrance. He lacked the authority to bar faculty anyway.
Inside, Philip surveyed the interior.
It was filled with incomprehensible machinery and magical devices.
Such clock towers were rare even in major magic towers, but Previa Academy's deans had always been archmages, making it possible.
"So now we just wait here for that assassin to show up?"
"Yeah. Though there's no guarantee it's even a person."
Philip slowly climbed the stairs to the top of the clock tower.
It was packed with instruments and devices only mages would understand.
'Need a place to hide.'
Searching for a quiet, secluded spot to minimize presence, Philip soon found a pillar fully shrouded in shadow.
"This'll do."
He moved behind it and tore the silence magic scroll he'd prepared.
It was one he'd gotten from visiting Instructor Perek.
"But Master, what if the assassin doesn't show today?"
To Neria's question, Philip replied with a sour face.
"...What else? I'll spend all night here tomorrow too."
"Is that right?"
"That's stakeout duty for you. You endure until they show. Pray they appear soon too."
He said that, but Philip was certain Crescent's assassin would appear tonight.
They'd likely learned by now that Lizriel had requested academy protection. The odds of them coming to this hideout were high.
But since the timing was unknown, he had to stay alert.
He couldn't sit, and even if his nose itched, he couldn't sneeze freely.
After a few hours, someone appeared at the top of the clock tower, which not even flies visited.
"Meow~"
It was a black cat. No idea how it got in, but it stretched languidly right near Philip, swishing its tail.
"Meow! Master, look. It's a kitty. So cute."
Neria giggled happily, but Philip slowly swallowed, silently.
That cat was the assassin he'd been waiting for.