The Suspicious Sewer Request
After practically being chased out of Adrian's office, I trudged down the hallway.
"Get out! Disappear from my sight right now!"
The shrill voice echoing behind me was still ringing fresh in my ears.
Adrian's face, flushed beet red and huffing with rage. Considering her usual arrogant demeanor, it was a expression I could hardly even imagine.
Thinking back on it made me snort with laughter.
"She's kinda cute, though."
The crown prince getting embarrassed over something like that. Anyway, thanks to her, I finished today's work way earlier than expected. I figured I'd be stuck there all afternoon, but she let me go just after lunch. Pretty lucky, if you ask me.
Now I can head back to the dorm and hang out with Aria to unwind.
I was mapping out that plan in my head when I rounded the corner of the hallway.
"There you are."
I'd barely taken a few steps from closing the office door when a familiar, calm voice stopped me in my tracks. It was Esilla, leaning against one of the corridor pillars. Her posture was as impeccable as ever.
"Oh. Yeah, it wrapped up sooner than I thought."
"And His Highness?"
"Said she's tired and needs a break. Told me to head out first."
"I see."
Esilla's gaze flicked toward the closed office door, then back to me. Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was demanding a confession about whatever had just gone down inside.
"Did something happen?"
"What would happen? I just did the work and left."
"His Highness's voice was quite loud. It carried all the way down the hall."
"Oh, that?"
I brushed it off casually.
"Guess she was just so impressed by how well I handled the work."
"..."
Esilla's brow furrowed faintly at my shameless response. She clearly didn't buy it, but she didn't press further. It wasn't her place as a bodyguard. Besides, she'd probably realized by now that with Lady Bellaph involved, anything could happen and it wouldn't be surprising.
Yeah. Better for you that way.
How was I supposed to explain that the crown prince yelled because she was too grateful to say thanks properly?
Esilla peeled herself off the wall and approached me.
"Shall we go? I'll escort you back to the dorm."
"Nah, it's fine. I can get there on my own."
I waved her off, but she didn't stop.
"I must insist. Ensuring you return to the dorm safely is part of my duty."
"I'm not a kid."
"You're more trouble than a child. Can't take my eyes off you for a second without you causing some incident."
Esilla was firm.
"That's a bit harsh."
"It's the truth."
She fell naturally into step beside me, matching my stride. Knowing resistance was futile, I quietly walked alongside her.
On the way back to C Dorm with Esilla, the academy grounds were peaceful. Lunchtime had passed, and classes were in session, so there weren't many students milling about.
Warm sunlight, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves.
It's so serene.
Compared to the constant chaos in the game, this was astonishingly calm.
But as we headed to the dorm, my steps grew heavier and heavier.
What's this?
This vague unease gnawing at me. It wasn't because of all the back-and-forth with the crown prince. It felt like I'd overlooked something crucial, like skipping past an important clue without a second thought. That nagging feeling tugged at my ankles.
I racked my brain as I walked, retracing the day's events.
Woke up in the morning, had Aria help me get dressed like usual, ate together, came to the office. Sorted documents there, Adrian collapsed...
Documents.
The stacks of papers I'd handled earlier flashed through my mind.
I'd sorted them without much thought at the time.
Cafeteria menu improvements, extended library hours, dorm repairs, fencing club equipment replacement...
All routine stuff. Budget proposals, activity reports, facility maintenance requests...
Facility maintenance.
My steps slowed just a fraction.
Facility Maintenance Request: Underground Drainage System Cleanup and Expansion
That phrase zipped through my head. The one I'd personally reviewed and rejected.
I turned it down because who needs that many magic stones for sewer work?
At the time, I figured it was just the architect skimming or inflating the estimate, like they always do.
But the more I thought about it, the numbers didn't add up. For sewer maintenance, the magic stone requirement was absurdly high.
Not just high in quantity.
Requested Materials: 50 High-Purity Grade-A Magic Stones, 20 Bottles of Mercury...
Why would sewer pipes need high-purity mana conductivity? Do you line underground drains with Grade-A stones? Fifty of them?
No way.
My mind raced, cross-referencing game lore with the current situation.
Academy Invasion
Mid-game in the original story: the peaceful academy turns into a sea of flames from demon invasion.
The academy's barriers are specialized against aerial, ground, and external threats. But the long-neglected underground sewers and drainage were blind spots.
In the game, you'd fight endless demon spawns, eventually find the underground summoning circle, and destroy it to clear the scenario route. By the time you hunted down the culprit behind it, they'd already be dead or fled.
But now...
Someone requested materials for "underground tunnel maintenance." Enough for a massive magic circle.
There's an inside job.
I was certain.
Which department submitted that? Facilities management, right?
My memory was fuzzy. I'd processed so many docs, I hadn't noted the department closely.
But one thing was clear: I'd definitely rejected it.
"Ha..."
I rubbed my forehead. At least rejecting it was a stroke of luck. No materials, no construction.
Wait. No.
If they'd give up that easily, they wouldn't have started. If the official channel was blocked, they'd source materials off the books. Construction could be underway—or nearly complete.
Imagining the worst sent chills down my spine.
"...Lady?"
"..."
"Lady Bellaph?"
Lost in thought, I snapped to at the voice in my ear. I turned to see Esilla standing still, staring right at me. My reflection shone in her eyes.
"Are you listening, Lady Bellaph?"
"Huh? Oh? What's up?"
"What were you thinking about so deeply? I called you several times with no response."
"Ah... sorry. Got lost in my head for a sec."
I gave an awkward smile, but her eyes sharpened further.
"Uh... what'd you say?"
"I said we've arrived at the dorm."
"Oh, already?"
Looking around, we were right in front of familiar C Dorm. I'd been so deep in thought, I barely remembered the walk.
"There was something, wasn't there?"
"No, really, nothing happened."
I brushed it off again. I couldn't spill this suspicion to Esilla now. No solid proof, and claiming a budget request meant an underground magic circle? She'd think I was nuts.
Plus, with my track record...
Speaking up rashly might just get me suspected.
"Thanks for walking me. I'm heading in now."
"Very well. And..."
Esilla grabbed my shoulder.
"Don't do anything foolish. I'm watching."
Her warning carried a hint of genuine concern for me. I nodded without turning back.
"Got it. I won't."
Three lies in one day. Nice going.
With that, I bolted inside the dorm like I was escaping.
Click.
Opening the door revealed the familiar sight. Aria, who had been at the desk, jumped up with a bright smile to greet me.
"Welcome back, Lady Bellaph!"
But noticing my grim expression, her smile faded.
"L-Lady Bellaph...? Is something wrong?"
I locked the door first before answering.
Clunk.
Sealed space. I plopped onto the bed and called to her.
"Hey, Aria."
"Y-Yes?"
She clasped her hands nervously. I stared her down.
The one person with deep magic knowledge who could verify my hunch.
"You know about magic stones, right?"
"Magic stones? Um... yeah, we learn about them in class."
"Okay, so what could you do with about fifty high-purity Grade-A ones?"
Aria tilted her head at my question.
"Grade-A? Hmm... Usually high-level magic experiments, barriers, or destabilize them for an explosion... Ah."
She trailed off casually at first, but her face hardened as realization hit.
"L-Lady Bellaph."
"Yeah?"
"You wouldn't... right?"
"Wouldn't what?"
"This time... you're not planning to blow up the academy with magic stones... right?"
"Ha."
I couldn't help but laugh dryly at that.
What the hell does she think I am?