Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Lover
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"Here you go."
Pinden A handed me the black tea with her usual half-respectful informal tone. I took one sip and pushed the cup away.
Before I could say anything, she grumbled first.
"You're picky about your food too, Master?"
"Pinden A, that's my first order."
She was being brazen as ever. I kept my eyes fixed on the book I was reading and said,
"Don't ever brew tea again. Tea is precious in Northsweden, but you make it like pig piss."
"You little...!"
She started to curse, but I ignored her and kept reading intently.
If you asked whether I liked books, it's a bit ambiguous. I often read novels to kill time, but I preferred games and videos.
For someone who lived in the 21st century, that's natural, but my reasons were a little different.
Phones and computers had too many grudges attached, so only powerful ghosts could touch them recklessly, which naturally shifted my hobbies that way.
Even when I borrowed books from bookstores that I liked, ghosts would interfere and tear them, forcing me to pay compensation often.
I digress a bit.
Anyway, the reason I was reading now was simply to build knowledge.
Having suddenly fallen into this world, even basic knowledge felt insufficient no matter how much I gathered.
I started reading out of necessity, not desire, and especially for magic, I had biased my studies for the professor position.
But a strange smell began wafting into the room.
Despite wanting to keep reading, the pungent odor forced me to close the book.
"Sigh. Scrall."
[Yes, Master.]
Scrall appeared in the previously empty space at my call. Pinden A glanced around suspiciously, wondering what the voice was, but of course she couldn't see him.
"What's this smell?"
"Smell? What are you talking about?"
Pinden A butted in. I ordered her to shut up, and she immediately crossed her arms and pouted.
[Every Wednesday, a smell leaks from the mansion's basement.]
"Wednesday?"
[Yes. I tried to check, but fierce evil spirits block the basement, so I couldn't.]
"......"
I rubbed my chin and glanced at Pinden A.
"Pinden A, you're not smelling anything, right?"
"Yeah, my senses are sharper than a normal person's, so I wouldn't miss it."
"Got it."
The moment I decided to check the basement, a knock came from outside.
I nodded toward the door, and Pinden A strode over in her un-maid-like gait and flung it open.
"Hmm, Miss Deia?"
"I distinctly taught you to use proper respect, didn't I?"
"I remember. I just choose not to."
"That's even worse."
Deia and Pinden A glared at each other. Pinden A, the maid, should have bowed her head, but her neck stiffened even more.
Knowing it was pointless, Deia brushed past her and said,
"Five minutes."
I'd thought she'd forgotten after not coming for a while, but here she was today.
She must have been busy with the scrap merchants lately, and things had finally settled.
"Pinden A, get out."
"Yeees."
Pinden A dragged out her response as she left. Scrall had already vanished before I could say anything.
Deia entered with the distinctive click of her low-heeled shoes.
She held a pocket watch in her hand.
Click.
"Start."
Deia began timing like a wooden doll, blunt and expressionless. I just silently watched her.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
Time kept passing.
At first, Deia stood with arms crossed and lips pressed tight. After one minute.
Two minutes.
By the time five full minutes passed with me just staring at her without a word, she frowned.
Her mouth twitched like she wanted to ask something, but she abruptly turned and left.
Pinden A came back in naturally and shrugged, saying it was boring.
"I wondered what you'd talk about, but it was so quiet. Did you pass notes or something?"
"No need to worry about it. And from now on, don't eavesdrop on my time with Deia."
"Hah, so many demands. My ears are as good as my nose, so I hear even if I don't want to."
She tapped her ear mockingly. Thinking her attitude needed fixing, I stood up.
"When I spend time with Deia from now on, go outside the mansion."
"...Just for five minutes, you want me to go out?"
"You can smoke a cigarette or something."
"Ah."
Pinden A grinned widely and nodded. Smoking was banned in front of me, so she'd been suffering.
"Then let's go."
"...Where to?"
She hadn't heard my talk with Scrall, but I had no intention of explaining.
She'd follow me anyway, even without being told.
I headed out silently, and Pinden A's grumbling footsteps trailed behind like a shadow.
*
Professor Karen of the Relief Corps, in the midst of investigating the bizarre incidents at Robern Academy, entered Professor Peril's lab.
Professor Peril, the unrivaled authority in body-related magic, had fainted on her first day as a full-time professor and hadn't set foot in the lab since.
"This mirror, huh?"
Standing before the full-length mirror in the lab based on Peril's testimony.
A beauty in a white coat.
A prominent scar crossed her nose, striking on her face.
Her drab gray hair was tied in a ponytail, and her dull eyes seemed to judge the world with cynical skepticism.
"Doesn't look like anything's wrong."
She'd said that even turning, the reflection matched her direction. Karen spun around once, but the mirror image did the same.
"Huh."
Karen stroked her chin, drew the sword from her waist, and swung it.
"You turned the same way as me, huh."
Crash!
The mirror shattered into pieces.
It should have mirrored left-right, but it turned with her.
Among the shards, Karen saw her own image cackling and laughing.
"Something's definitely here."
Professor Peril's current lab.
But originally, it had been the lab of the dismissed professor, Deus Verdi.
"So this place was the first."
Chronologically, this lab had the earliest anomaly.
Professor Peril had reported screams, grudges, and seeing a long-haired girl.
But,
"She ain't coming out."
No matter how long she waited, no girl appeared.
Thinking it a shame it ended with just a mirror, she began searching the lab.
Former Professor Deus had used a lot of academy supplies and left most items behind, so there was plenty to rummage through.
"First..."
As she moved toward the professor's desk, the door burst open.
Another anomaly? No.
"What are you doing here?"
A beauty with blonde hair braided and draped over her shoulder—Deus Verdi's former fiancée.
Erika Bright.
"Oh, Professor Erika. Perfect timing. Has your fiancé said anything about this incident?"
Karen went straight for it, and Erika openly grimaced.
"He hasn't contacted me once since his dismissal. And he's got nothing to do with this incident."
"...Nothing to do with it?"
"Yes, nothing."
Her firm denial made Karen suspicious of her instead.
"Why do you think that?"
Erika bristled at the interrogative tone.
"You're treating this as some kind of terrorism, right, Professor Karen? He doesn't have that level of ability. He was barely a professor; as my resentful ex, he could only get the title of visiting professor."
"Hmm."
Indeed, the materials left by Professor Deus were only extremely basic magic books.
So basic it was baffling.
"So don't waste time poking at an incompetent man and find the real culprit."
"Well, I'll do my best. As you know, the dean gave me full authority over this investigation."
"......"
Erika had already been informed, so she clamped her mouth shut.
Thud thud thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. Both knew it wasn't another anomaly.
Because those earth-shaking steps were quite famous at Robern Academy.
"Huh? All our academy's beautiful professors gathered here."
Tall stature, statue-like harmonious muscles. A dashing face that naturally evoked "handsome," with passionate red hair.
Gideon Zeronia.
A sword master of exceptional skill, second son of the influential Zeronia family in the kingdom.
The professor most popular with female students.
He flashed a refreshing smile, and Karen replied indifferently.
"Are you investigating this incident too, Professor Gideon?"
"Huh? No, I'm here to pick up Professor Erika. Got something to discuss briefly."
Professor Erika said okay and headed out of the lab.
"Don't waste time rummaging through useless places."
She tossed a jab at Karen.
Clunk.
The door closed as they left. But in that instant, Karen's eyes twitched.
"Hmm?"
Just before the door shut,
Gideon's hand seemed wrapped around Erika's waist?
Even if she'd broken off the engagement with Deus, it was too soon for a new lover.
Karen cautiously cracked the door and peeked out to follow them.
"Stop, not that far."
Erika pushed away Gideon's hand from her waist.
"Aw, you're too conservative. For a couple."
Gideon grinned slyly and reached again, but Erika swatted his hand.
'Are they dating?'
But Erika didn't seem to have any affection for Gideon.
'Not my business anyway.'
Karen quietly closed the door, ignored Erika's advice, and began searching the lab.