Chapter 214: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (7)
Chapter 214: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (7)
The grand conference hall fell into a heavy silence immediately after Neris voiced her question.
The Newspaper Club members reacted in their own ways—some averted their eyes, others swallowed hard, and some squeezed their eyes shut as if in pain.
Everyone knew exactly what would follow.
The man’s burning golden eyes turned toward Neris with indifference.
She shed tears, offering a pitiful, trembling smile.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Her voice shook. Those words, laced with a faint sob, possessed a power that could move a person's heart.
“I-It was a mistake… I n-never! I never doubted you. The words just… they just came out….”
Neris pleaded desperately.
“P-Please… Ugh, kh. KYAAAAAAAH!”
Of course, it was a futile effort.
Ian, having thrown a hand axe to crush Neris’s remaining shoulder, silently raised his hand to retrieve the weapon.
Neris was now curled on the floor. Only the sobs and groans leaking from her lips gave any indication of the agony and terror she was enduring.
After watching her miserable state for a brief moment, Ian scanned the rest of the Newspaper Club members and asked, “Does anyone else have a question?”
Naturally, no one spoke up.
Only then did Ian nod and begin to walk away. Before leaving, he left one final instruction.
“Have the information I requested investigated by tomorrow. And take Branch Manager Neris to the temple.”
Even after Ian departed, silence lingered in the grand conference hall for a long time.
The only sound within the room was the groaning of Neris as she writhed on the floor.
It had been a short encounter, but the interns of the Academy branch had already learned one absolute rule.
Never doubt.
They were to follow without even harboring a question.
Because now, they knew exactly what happened to those who didn't.
Cold sweat trickled down the back of an anonymous intern.
“Uh, well… I see.”
That was the only reaction I could muster after hearing Senior Neris’s long explanation.
I wasn't entirely sure of the details, but I supposed it was a relief that I had been officially appointed to the Academy branch with the recognition of the Imperial Household.
Even if I had committed something quite brutal in the process.
Normally, if I asked what I had done, the logical response would be a counter-question asking why I was asking that. Instead, Senior Neris just kept her head bowed, her body trembling violently.
She kept adding a phrase like a nervous habit.
“I-I didn’t doubt you. I n-never! I never doubted you….”
It seemed that after nearly being burned to death last time, having violence inflicted upon her again had doubled her terror.
Furthermore, to Senior Neris, I was a superior she couldn't defy.
If I hit her with my fists, she had to take it; if I struck her with an axe, she had to be struck. I could only guess that this sense of helplessness was fueling her fear.
This was troublesome.
My future self seemed to have a purpose, but I was the one who actually had to spend the entire break with Senior Neris. How was I supposed to spend time with her in such an uncomfortable relationship?
I wanted to complain, but there was no way that psycho would listen to me.
When a sigh escaped my lips out of frustration, Senior Neris flinched.
“I-I’m sorry! I-I will correct my mistake immediately….”
“……What did you do wrong?”
At my follow-up question, Senior Neris’s face went pale, and she even seemed to forget to breathe. Her tearful, dark green eyes turned toward me.
I had spoken without thinking, but reflecting on it, it sounded like verbal abuse.
In the end, I shook my head weakly.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, so don’t shake so much. More importantly, what’s this about a disappearance incident in Percus Territory?”
This was the information my future self had requested.
It surely wasn't unrelated to the events that were about to unfold.
Senior Neris still seemed wary of me, but she soon began to faithfully recite the information she had gathered, albeit with a stutter.
“W-Well, you see….”
The summary of her story was as follows:
For some time now, disappearances had been occurring frequently in and around Percus Territory.
The exact starting point was about a month ago, right after I had visited the orphanage.
Of course, this was a continent teeming with demonic beasts and all sorts of incidents. One or two villagers going missing was usually considered a common accident.
That was why neither Percus Territory nor any other nearby areas had shown signs of taking action yet.
However, as Senior Neris continued her investigation, she found several commonalities in the disappearances.
First, it was as if the victims were targeted; they were all residents living on the outskirts.
The further one moved from the center, the worse the security became. No one would pay much mind if one or two lives vanished there.
Furthermore, among those living on the outskirts, it was suspicious that only those who had ventured far from home were disappearing one by one.
The analysis suggested it looked like the work of people intentionally targeting 'those who wouldn't be missed.'
However, due to the lack of time for the investigation, she hadn't been able to find any decisive physical evidence. Senior Neris explained that she also couldn't identify who was behind it.
That was only natural, considering she’d had only a single day.
Nevertheless, throughout her report, Senior Neris kept glancing at me with anxious eyes. She seemed terrified that I might be dissatisfied.
Just by observing that series of actions, I could tell what she thought of me.
Ultimately, I had to squeeze out some praise to put her at ease.
“You did a good job investigating in such a short time. It couldn't have been easy since it's a rural estate, but this is enough. We'll start a more detailed investigation once we reach Percus Territory, so for now, focus on recovering.”
At my instruction, Senior Neris hesitantly stood up.
However, her eyes still betrayed a sense of disbelief, causing a groan to escape my throat.
Should I apologize now?
I couldn't. A superior whose attitude flipped back and forth in a single day was worse than one who was consistently bad. It was impossible to know which tune to dance to.
I didn't have many options.
Still, unable to shake the guilt, I rummaged through my coat. The spatial expansion pouch the Princess had gifted me was a high-quality item, allowing me to store many things.
One of those items was an ointment.
I strode toward Senior Neris. I had to witness her dark green eyes fill with terror in real-time, but that moment was fleeting.
Thud. I pressed the ointment into Senior Neris’s hand.
To the dazed Senior Neris, I said with a sigh, “……Take care of yourself.”
Of course, since Senior Neris dealt with poisons, she likely had better medicine than I did.
This was nothing more than a formality to ease my own conscience. Nevertheless, Senior Neris looked as if she couldn't believe this kindness, her lips parting and closing several times.
I figured staying any longer would only trigger her fear further. It was right after reaching that conclusion that I spoke my farewell.
“Well then, see you next time.”
Only then did Senior Neris snap out of it and bow respectfully. I simply waved my hand and walked away.
Only a few questions remained in my heart.
What connection did the disappearances in Percus Territory have with the Dark Cult?
Whatever they were plotting, it certainly wouldn't be a plan born of goodwill.
As images of the Flesh Nest and the head maid who had been modified by Mitram flashed through my mind, I felt a sense of urgency.
It was time to begin the journey home.
The person who caught me just as I was about to finish my preparations for Percus Territory was someone I hadn't seen in quite a while.
It was Senior Elsie.
As lovely as ever, she was hovering restlessly in front of my room. Since it had been a few days since I’d seen her, I couldn't help but be glad.
“Senior Elsie!”
Just as I was about to tell her there had been a misunderstanding last time—
I couldn't help but pause.
Senior Elsie’s attire was unusual. She was someone who always wore her pointed hat and Academy uniform, but today, she was wearing quite bright, cheerful clothes.
Anyone could see they were clothes for going out.
While I hesitated in my confusion, Senior Elsie and I made eye contact. She also seemed just as surprised to see me.
Fidgeting with her fingers and averting her gaze, Senior Elsie squeezed her eyes shut.
Then, as if she had made up her mind, she shouted at me.
“D-Date!”
Using informal speech for the first time in a long while, Senior Elsie’s proposal followed.
“Just the two of us… d-do you want to go somewhere……?”
With a beet-red face, Senior Elsie hung her head low.
Dressed up to the nines, Senior Elsie was incredibly lovely.
Even I, who had seen her many times, felt my heart flutter involuntarily.
So, for a while, I couldn't bring myself to speak.
The answer I finally managed to squeeze out was just one sentence.
“I think it’ll be difficult today because I’m busy.”
Senior Elsie looked as if her entire world had come crashing down.