Chapter 288
Chapter 288
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 288
Chapter Title: Investigation at Division 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
While a strange, emotional atmosphere flowed in the infirmary.
A chilling atmosphere permeated a corner of the academy's inner grounds.
—The office of Academy Division 3.
Division 3 was primarily responsible for the academy's security, tasked with protecting key figures and preparing for unexpected situations. Its main purpose was typically to coordinate and deploy various knights and mages.
Therefore, academy students generally had no reason, nor were they permitted, to visit Division 3.
And it was much the same for the other instructors. Without a significant reason, it wasn't a place one would normally visit.
But now.
Instructors were frequently entering the Division 3 office, where a series of questions and answers were taking place.
….
“Instructor Müller can vouch for your identity. Yes, the testimonies match, and there's nothing unusual about the manifestation of your power. You may go.”
“Yes... Thank you for your hard work.”
The cold voice of an old man met the tense voice of an instructor.
The old man asking the questions was the head of Division 3, an elderly man with a long scar etched across his left cheek.
—Isaac Feliat.
A veteran who had served long on the front lines, his short hair had faded to a stark white with the passage of time. His calm, heavy gaze created an intimidating atmosphere, making it difficult even for other instructors to meet his eyes.
Click.
The door closed as the instructor left. Isaac, organizing the paperwork for that instructor, gently rubbed his eyes.
Then, with a faint sigh, he glanced to his side.
“Kalli.”
“Yes, Isaac.”
“...You still haven't changed your mind about suspecting every instructor?”
“I have not. In my view, there is a collaborator among the instructors. A series of crises that should not have been possible have occurred one after another, unfolding as if orchestrated. I suspect there is a collaborator at least at the instructor level.”
Kalli, who had been observing each instructor visiting Division 3 with her own eyes from beside Isaac, replied grimly.
Her voice was filled with such conviction that Isaac had to accept it.
“Is that so. Someone of instructor rank... collaborating with an Apostle. Of course, it's not without precedent, but I'd rather not believe it.”
“Nevertheless, I believe we must consider the possibility.”
“Alright, I'll trust your judgment. Let's call in the next instructor. Let's proceed.”
At Isaac's solemn words, his subordinate waiting nearby began to call out the instructors' names. One by one, they entered and began to answer various questions.
The questions were mainly about their alibis during yesterday's incident, along with various identity checks and manifestations of their power to check for any trace of an Apostle.
Isaac and Kalli were trying virtually every method they could think of to find a connection to the Apostle, to find the collaborator, but…….
Even so, the instructors facing them showed little hesitation. The vast majority of them had clear consciences.
“...Next.”
….
“Next.”
The calls and the procession of instructors coming and going continued.
During what seemed like a sluggish passage of time, Kalli did not let her guard down for a moment.
Just yesterday, she had faced an Apostle, and because she had failed to dispose of it completely, she felt the responsibility rested on her.
And she believed she could confirm the collaborator's presence by facing them directly.
With that thought, she was spending her time here in Division 3.
Click.
Another instructor entered.
“Vermian Setilpian.”
As the instructor's full name was spoken, a man with short, silver hair cautiously stepped forward and stood before them.
“I have answered your summons.”
“Yes. You are the instructor in charge of Class C3 and were at the scene of the incident. Is there anyone who can verify your whereabouts?”
At the time of the incident, each instructor was spread out, busy subjugating monsters, so they had rarely encountered one another.
Thus, a simple confirmatory question followed.
“My whereabouts can be verified by all the students in Class C3. During the disaster, I was rescuing students who hadn't made it to the shelter and subjugating monsters.”
“Is that so. Then it should be easy to confirm. Next, please briefly manifest your power.”
As the solemn voice continued.
Vermian manifested his attribute without hesitation.
—!
Darkness erupted from his hand.
It shimmered strangely, settling around his hand like a flame.
“……”
And at that moment, Kalli stared intently at his power.
The darkness flickering strangely from the hand of the instructor called Vermian. Its properties seemed different from the darkness within the Apostle's unique domain she had encountered yesterday.
The darkness manifested by an Apostle is usually more sinister and possesses a distinct, strange aura.
A sticky, unpleasant feeling...
But the darkness she saw from Vermian was merely power manifested by his attribute. There was nothing unusual about it.
“Do you feel anything?”
Isaac asked for confirmation. Kalli cautiously shook her head.
“...No, nothing.”
Even as she answered, Kalli couldn't shake a very strange feeling.
She knew the power of darkness was different. Moreover, even in Instructor Vermian's file, there were no notable characteristics or history.
He was clean—in fact, among the instructors, he was completely pristine.
She knew his name because he was an instructor who maintained his dignity as a noble and had a fairly good reputation among the students.
‘If he were collaborating with an Apostle…’
He would surely have been granted power by the Apostle, and traces of that power would inevitably be revealed, knowingly or not. But there was nothing.
Even as light questions and answers followed, Vermian showed no hesitation.
Calmly, and just as the other instructors had done, he simply demonstrated his innocence.
“Vermian Setilpian. You may go as well.”
At Isaac's low words, Vermian gave a slight bow and a nod.
His eyes met Kalli's as she stood beside Isaac.
...As Kalli was staring back intently.
He soon turned nonchalantly and left the Division 3 office.
Click.
“Next.”
At the sound of the door closing... Isaac was about to call the next instructor as before.
“...Isaac, wait a moment. There's something more I need to check with Instructor Vermian, who just left.”
“Is that so. Then go check, Kalli, and come back.”
At his words, Kalli immediately rose and left the office.
Opening the door, she saw Vermian's back as he walked away slowly.
“Instructor Vermian. Stop for a moment.”
At her cold call, Vermian stopped and turned around naturally.
“Is there still something you need to confirm with me?”
“...No. There's nothing specific to confirm. I was hoping to ask for your advice. Since you deal with darkness, you might understand it better than I do.”
As Kalli calmly replied and closed the distance, Vermian met her gaze.
Tap.
“...”
“...”
Just a few steps apart, they faced each other. Kalli asked deliberately.
“The Apostle seemed to wield darkness. That darkness was of a very different nature from the Apostles I've seen countless times before. A power that endlessly regenerates... restores itself, and resists. It felt incredibly sinister.”
Kalli explained what she had experienced in a calm voice.
Her eyes were fixed on Vermian's, and he received her words without wavering.
Even as she asked various questions about the types of darkness and the properties of its power, Vermian answered with a gentle smile.
“...I see. Your answers have been very helpful. I'm sorry for taking up your time unexpectedly.”
“No, it's quite all right, Instructor Kalli. Is there anything else you're curious about? I, too, believe that an impossible accident occurred... I would like to help more if I can.”
As Vermian appealed with sincere eyes, Kalli looked at him with a hint of curiosity before shaking her head.
“For now, your answers are sufficient. If I have more questions about darkness in the future... I hope you'll cooperate then as well.”
“...Understood. Then I'll be on my way. I want to check on the condition of the injured students one more time.”
“Yes…”
Their conversation ended, and Vermian walked away.
Watching his retreating back, Kalli silently hesitated, her lips parting slightly.
A sinister feeling.
‘Something... feels strange.’
Even now, as he disappeared from view, there was nothing special about Instructor Vermian's silver-haired figure.
She had stopped him to ask about his knowledge of darkness, but the more they talked, the stranger the sense of dissonance grew.
No, perhaps it was déjà vu.
She had never spent any significant time with Instructor Vermian. If anything, they had only passed by each other or exchanged greetings.
...And yet, he felt strangely familiar.
As if she had seen him somewhere before... It couldn't be, but the feeling was there.
Despite that, there was nothing suspicious. His concern for the students was the very model of an ideal instructor.
In fact, she had vaguely heard that Instructor Vermian had played a significant role in subjugating the monsters yesterday.
“Hah.”
She let out a short breath and gently shook her head.
...Are my nerves on edge? She could feel herself starting to rely on emotions to make judgments as time went on.
There was no reason to suspect Instructor Vermian, no matter how she looked at it.
“......I'll just keep it in mind.”
A person to watch.
Among the instructors she had met today, there were a few who gave off a strange feeling. Depending on their unique attributes, some of them had peculiar auras.
And she decided to remember Vermian as one of them.
The collaborator was an enormous threat, so she couldn't jump to any conclusions about anyone.
***
Thud.
After parting with Kalli, Vermian turned a corner and came to a sudden halt.
“……”
A very shallow breath escaped his lips and nose.
He then unknowingly touched his own face. Even as he noticed his hand was trembling ever so slightly, he felt like he was about to lose his mind.
It was like an instinct.
The indelible power carved into his body all of yesterday. And the fear born from that pain.
A primal fear enveloped his entire being, making it difficult to even stand straight.
“Hah... Hah...”
Breathing raggedly, Vermian blankly narrowed his eyes.
His survival from Kalli's attack yesterday was nothing short of a miracle. The unprecedented power Leteia had shown after seizing control of his body.
It was not a use of power he was familiar with.
A manifestation of power on a completely different level.
That was why he had been able to hide himself from Kalli for that brief moment, ultimately recovering and surviving.
And just moments ago, during their conversation, every second had been like hell for Vermian.
The excruciating pain from the countless vibrations etched into his body—his body reacted as if remembering it all just from the touch of her voice, her gaze.
And if Kalli had held him just a little longer... he would never have been able to hide it.
‘...I have to kill her.’
Repeating it inwardly... Vermian amended his objective.
This wasn't the time to be thinking about Han Cheon-seong or doing something about him.
What he had to do now was...
—To kill Kalli, no matter what.
He felt it instantly—if he didn't kill her, he wouldn't be able to live.
Simply breathing the same air and speaking with her pushed his sanity to its breaking point.
More than anything, Vermian felt this keenly.
That just by standing before her, he was being crushed by an imprinted fear.