Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: 10. Hide and Seek
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Kiel unfolded the paper with trembling hands.
The very first page gouged at his heart.
[Infant Soul Transplantation Experiment – Analysis of Soul Extraction from Newborns Within 7 Days Post-Birth and Fusion Rates with Adult Bodies...]
Every single detail sent chills down his spine.
Forbidden human experimentation banned by academia, records of experiments conducted on infants that far crossed the line of humanity.
Statistical data, experimental methodologies, even procurement methods for subjects. It was all too specific, too brutally cruel.
No one could fabricate something this polished.
This was the real deal—something actually attempted and documented.
'This isn't a joke. Edward is serious.'
The handwriting matched Edward's usual script perfectly.
Which made it impossible to dismiss as some frame job by another party.
But if this was truly Edward's doing, questions piled up one after another.
'Why the hell...?'
How could that weak-willed junior, always leaning on him for support, even conceive of such an extreme path?
A surge of disgust mingled with pity and sympathy.
Kiel's gaze locked onto the margins crammed with notes.
"What... what the hell is this...?"
[To never fall behind you, Senior, I must seek ways to surpass the limits of the flesh.]
[Break free from the confines of traditional manipulation magic, delve into something more fundamental...]
[But what's fundamental, anyway? Isn't 'fundamental' just what the winners decided?]
[No genius like you, Senior Kiel, so I have to overcome it some other way...]
Unlike the neat script of the paper itself, these were scrawled in frantic cursive.
Was it Kiel's imagination, or did these words carry raw emotion?
"Is this... my fault?"
His lips trembled. He'd known about Edward's inferiority complex, but not to this extent.
He'd just thought of him as a stressed-out junior struggling with research.
'...No. Get a grip. Save the sentiment for later.'
Kiel coldly assessed the situation.
His junior returns from vacation and suddenly starts scheming this.
The timing and psychology both fit too perfectly.
But the problem was...
'That bastard.'
The possibility of that bastard's involvement.
The scene was too blatant. Like a kid desperate to show off grades to his parents.
Thinking rationally, did Edward even have the chops to produce a document like this?
He scanned the room again.
Human experimentation, brutal acts on infants.
For a researcher committing such madness, it was far too exposed.
'Definitely. It fits too neatly.'
Edward's breakdown, his inferiority complex, this extreme choice.
Everything connected logically.
Borrowing that bastard's words—
'The perfect setup. A served platter.'
You crazy fuck.
That guy's voice echoed in his ears again.
[So you're the professor. You.]
If this was all his handiwork? Then Edward was already...
"Fuck!"
Disgust twisted into pity and guilt.
This scenario meant his junior died because of him.
Because he'd dealt with that monster, drawn its attention!
'Edward. I have to find Edward.'
Kiel activated his ability.
The power to project his consciousness into golems or avatars he'd created.
His mind stretched out, surveilling the entire academy.
Edward was spotted soon after.
As if up to some shady secret, he kept glancing around nervously, clutching something to his chest.
"Fuck, no, no...!"
Kiel bolted from Edward's lab.
Edward came rushing in with a pale face.
"Edward!"
What he held was just an ordinary bundle of research notes.
But his behavior was suspicious as hell.
Spotting Kiel late, Edward jumped in fright.
"S-Senior?! Why are you all the way out here..."
"Edward, what the hell are you up to?"
Kiel's voice dropped cold.
"Explain what's in your lab."
"W-What are you talking about? I'm just doing normal research..."
"Normal research? Infant soul transplantation experiments are 'normal'?"
Edward's face noticeably paled.
"No... th-that's..."
"The handwriting was yours, Edward. The banned materials behind the vent, the magic circle sketches on the wall—all your handwriting."
Kiel pressed Edward, but his real intent was elsewhere.
To figure out if that bastard was wearing Edward's skin.
The key point here was one thing.
'Expose his identity without revealing mine.'
Why?
Because that bastard might not yet be certain Kiel was Broker.
Reveal Broker carelessly, and he'd be done for.
'Wish I could toss out a past question to test...'
Impossible.
That psycho would instantly deduce 'Kiel = Broker' from it.
"Senior, believe me... Th-this is a frame job. A setup. I-I'd never do research like that!"
Edward's voice shook.
He glanced around again, as if terrified someone was watching.
'Damn it. Can't tell.'
Right now, Kiel didn't care if Edward had done human experiments or not.
What mattered was if this was the real Edward.
'Please, just respond. Edward. Be you for real.'
Cold sweat trickled down Kiel's back.
"Who put you up to this?"
"N-No one! I-I don't know anything!"
Kiel scrutinized Edward's face.
Pupils dilated, breathing ragged. Clear signs of stress. But...
'Fuck, no clue...'
Edward's reactions seemed genuine.
But the chance of body hijacking made trust impossible.
What the hell should he do?
That was when it happened.
"Eek!"
Edward bolted away.
"W-Wait, Edward! Where are you going?!"
Whether Kiel is really Broker or not is none of my business.
As I said before, lucky guess makes him Broker; bad luck, just some guy.
But I structured Kiel's countermeasures assuming he is Broker.
'If he's Broker, he'll be on guard against me.'
He probably suspects Edward's change is my doing.
So high chance he'll conclude 'Edward = body I hijacked.'
But that kills the real fun.
This is supposed to be the junior resenting his star senior and falling to corruption play.
The junior has to stay a junior.
So I decided to twist it: make it seem like I egged Edward on for his research.
That's why he kept nervously checking surroundings, acting aware of outside eyes.
To show Edward's experiments weren't his own idea.
I sprinted through the academy, quickly scanning the terrain.
'Need to stage a flight from external pressure.'
Key is, during this escape, Kiel senses third-party involvement.
And expose Edward's mental isolation and limits.
For the record, my reason for fleeing is simple.
Edward's always been that kind of guy.
A lump of inferiority, psychologically immature, selfishly prioritizing his own shit.
This punk would totally rabbit when threats and grilling hit at once.
"Wait, Edward!"
I shook Kiel and burst into Edward's lab.
The paper lay spread on the desk.
I burned it, swiftly "collected" evidence scattered around.
More like pretended to—left a few on purpose.
Then slipped out and dashed down the hall again.
'Where to hide? Closet? Storage?'
After agonizing, picked the nearest storage room.
Dodged the faint sound of Kiel's voice and dove in.
Even bit my nails for effect.
'Tasteless and stinging.'
Spit.
Stopped when blood trickled from all ten fingertips.
Then just gnawed the thumbnail. Sign of psychological distress.
Raised body temp with magic to sweat, then cooled the sweat with more magic.
Didn't take long to look like a total wreck.
Calculated Kiel's position and plotted specifics.
'About now. Time to mutter.'
"No, no, no... I don't wanna die. Don't wanna die. Don't wanna die..."
Tried thinking sad thoughts for tears.
Gave up after five minutes.
'Nope. Not happening.'
Smeared sweat around my eyes.
How much time passed? The storage door creaked open, light spilling in.
"Edwar..."
Kiel spotted me and froze mid-word.
Emotions flickered across her face—appearing, vanishing.
She looked down at me with pity.
"...Edward."