CHAPTER 141
CHAPTER 141
Senior–junior relationship among assassins.
“So. You conducted the investigation? It’s been revealed that Count Karl did not attempt to assault the instructor but that it was an accident, correct?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“Then don’t you think the punishment of publicly shaming an innocent student—one who, even if guilty, would only be guilty of negligence—was excessive?”
“We didn’t intend to publicly shame him, we simply tried to avoid the eyes of the auditing students….”
“Then it would have been even more reasonable to simply place him in the punishment room. Could it be that the professor handled this independently without informing the headmaster?”
“…Hmm.”
Magram showed a troubled smile in response to Idnia’s sharp questioning.
“This is difficult, Student Idnia. Your intuition is more than a little sharp… Very well. I will offer compensation.”
Magram said this and waved his magic wand.
In response, a bundle of documents appeared in front of Karl.
“This is….”
“A dungeon entry pass.”
“…Pardon?”
Idnia was startled. Offering a dungeon entry pass at a time like this?
“Are you telling us to endure humiliation with something material?”
“As a rule, across all times and places, tangible items are the best way to show sincerity. And this is more than just something material. Its meaning….”
Magram said, turning to look at Idnia, who could not hide her surprised expression.
“It seems the young lady of House Betelgeuse understands its value. Quite unlike a freshman.”
“…….”
“Well, for now, accept it first and decide later whether to forgive me. Think of this as simply my token of sincerity.”
From the stack of documents, Magram pulled out a single dungeon entry pass and sent it toward Karl.
Karl accepted it and let out a small laugh.
“I thought you were giving them all, but you’re only giving one?”
“It’s something precious. Try it out, and if you like it, come find me later.”
Magram said that and snapped his fingers.
With a burst of flame, his figure vanished without a trace.
“So that’s how it is. In the end, it got passed off to me. Still, I appreciate everyone coming out to worry about me.”
“It’s because this is no ordinary matter. More importantly, you didn’t hit the instructor, correct?”
Lorenzo asked with some doubt.
“I told you, I didn’t. It’s true.”
“People can sometimes deceive themselves. It’s possible to lash out in the moment, then alter one’s own memory to convince oneself it didn’t happen.”
“Th-that… I didn’t.”
Even Karl, at that moment, could not be certain whether his memory was accurate, and his voice trailed off.
The night in Blackcow Village was bustling with people.
“I can’t believe I have to pay this much for food.”
Farinelli, an agent of the Scarlet Pimpernel, grumbled while looking at the increasingly shabby meals at the village inn.
The cost of meals kept rising.
They said it was due to the influx of outsiders driving up prices, but he felt pathetic for having to endure such gouging despite knowing full well it was a rip-off.
At that moment, someone opened the door and entered the establishment.
“Hey, such rudeness… In my day, one would not even step on the shadow of one’s master!”
A drunken man staggered into the shop.
Even Farinelli, who had studied at the academy, recognized him at a glance.
“Gibbs… no, Nibbles, was it. Still looks like a balding weasel.”
It was Instructor Nibbles, muttering as he entered.
“Oh dear, you’re quite drunk.”
“Do I look like someone who wouldn’t drink?! Damn it. When will a professorship open up? It’s bad enough that monsters who live forever are swarming above me, but now even students ignore me. What, is it all about noble status? Bring me alcohol! Alcohol!”
Even while already heavily intoxicated, Nibbles was lashing out at the staff.
“…You’re very drunk. Are you alright?”
“You think I don’t have money? I’m Nibbles of Diamond! Even the noble sons of the Sacred Eldar Empire bow and scrape before me, you hear?!”
Watching this, Farinelli could not help but smirk.
“So he’s at it again, bullying noble kids at the start of the term to intimidate them. But this term even the crown prince is here… and he still pulled that stunt? Good grief….”
Whether to call it obliviousness or consistency, he seemed to treat heirs of ducal houses and even the crown prince the same as always.
Perhaps, after drawing backlash, he came out here to drink in frustration.
“Come now, Lord Nibbles. Don’t be like that… Please head inside today. And where have you been drinking? Not even at our place? You already drank at those southern folks’ establishment, didn’t you?”
“When I’m clear-headed, I want good snacks and fine liquor, but once I lose it, it all tastes the same whether it’s water or anything else, so I came here!”
“Couldn’t you just say you came because you like it here as usual? Must you phrase it like that…?”
Even though Nibbles was disparaging their establishment, the staff treated him with a good-natured smile.
“I said bring me alcohol! Oh, right. You there, hand over your drink. I’ll pay for it! How about that?”
“…Honestly.”
Others seated at nearby tables looked uncomfortable at his drunken antics, but their expressions changed when Nibbles pulled out money from his pocket.
However, the staff intervened.
“Please don’t. Go home instead. Didn’t you say you needed to look after your cat?”
“Damn it! Stop interfering… Vizel can manage just fine without me.”
Nibbles continued his drunken antics but was effectively escorted out by the staff.
And then…
‘Hmm?’
Farinelli sensed a shadow following Nibbles.
‘What is that?’
Farinelli quickly placed a silver coin on the table and stood up as well.
In a back alley of Blackcow Village, Nibbles was vomiting with a retch.
“Ugh, damn it. This is what happens when you drink halfway… You throw up. In times like this, you should drink more… hmm?”
A shadow fell over the back of Nibbles’ head.
“Hello, teacher. It’s been a while.”
“Huh? What? An academy student? Hmm?”
A woman wearing a carnival mask stood looking at Nibbles.
In her hand was a book—Nibbles’ own work, titled “Nibbles’ Ten Great Insights on the Methodology of Detection Magic.”
“What’s this. You’ve got my book. Ah, I see. You want an autograph?”
“No.”
She threw Nibbles’ book onto the vomit.
“What?! What are you doing?!”
Instinctively, Nibbles reached for his magic wand, trying to retrieve his book from the mess.
But at that moment, sharp, long needles pierced his arm and chest.
“What?!”
The carnival-masked woman held a magic wand.
“Please die comfortably of acute alcohol poisoning. ‘Injection!’”
At that moment, a transparent liquid flew out and was absorbed into the needles embedded in Nibbles’ body.
In other words, the liquid was forcibly injected into his body through the needles.
“Ghk?!”
Feeling the cold foreign substance entering his body, Nibbles immediately tried to raise his wand in defense, but his body would not respond properly, and the wand slipped from his hand.
“Tsk tsk. You’re good enough to be an instructor, so you must have decent magical skill, but it seems you’ve been out of real combat for quite some time. And drinking this much as well.”
“Ugh… a detox spell….”
But with a light wave of her wand, Nibbles’ wand was pulled through the air into her hand.
Nibbles trembled and collapsed where he stood.
“…Now then.”
“What are you doing.”
At the entrance to the alley stood Farinelli, who had followed the shadow.
“Is this my territory, Griselda. Why are you here?”
“Ah, senior. I received a contract from above.”
“In that case, you should have contacted me.”
“There are many who want Instructor Nibbles dead. I won this through a dice game to come here.”
She was saying that there were many Scarlet Pimpernel agents who wished to kill Nibbles.
“…….”
“By the way, did you deliver the funds for the illicit goods properly? I heard there was someone you had recruited inside the academy, and that you took operational funds….”
“That was handled personally. Do I need to report even that to you as my junior?”
“Oh, it’s not like that. It’s just personal curiosity. And I heard from above that something strange is happening at the academy… I was sent as reinforcement, so let’s get along well from now on, senior. Now then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Did you secure separate lodging?”
“Yes. Hehe. I’m working together with my employer.”
“…Employer?”
“That’s a secret even to you, senior. Just like you have many secrets of your own.”
The Scarlet Pimpernel member called Griselda waved her wand, summoning a mist of night and tossing Nibbles’ wand back onto his corpse.
“Well then….”
Farinelli silently watched Griselda disappear.
“Tsk… leaving the body behind… what should I do? I can’t report the corpse. I was the last one to leave after Nibbles at the shop, so I’ll be suspected….”
“This seems troublesome.”
At that moment, a strange voice came from behind Farinelli.
“What?!”
“Don’t turn around. Make any strange move and you die.”
A cold blade pressed against the back of Farinelli’s head.
Black Wolf had arrived behind him.
“I returned early after finishing my master’s errand, and I’m shown something quite interesting.”
“W-wait. Black Wolf, I can explain!”
“He still seems salvageable. Save him.”
“Ah, but….”
Farinelli panicked.
This was an unauthorized act carried out by a troublesome junior who had come into his territory without informing him, but this was still an officially contracted assassination by the Scarlet Pimpernel. If left alone, the man would soon die. If Farinelli saved him, wouldn’t that disgrace the Scarlet Pimpernel?
“Judging by your reaction, he can be saved. Hurry up. If he’s been injected with that much alcohol and left on the street, he won’t be in good condition.”
“Unbelievable….”
Farinelli had no choice but to grip his wand while watching Black Wolf carefully.
“Want to try something else? Want to see something interesting?”
Black Wolf’s body blurred for a moment.
In that instant, a portion of Farinelli’s clothing was torn away.
Black Wolf had sliced off the buttons and ties on his clothes and taken them in an instant.
“…….”
A chill ran down Farinelli’s spine.
‘I thought he was just a kid, but at this distance, I wouldn’t stand a chance. What kind of person is this? As expected of Lady Betelgeuse’s attendant….’
“I’ll cast a detox spell.”
Farinelli carefully began the incantation.
“Haidokhara!”
“Kuek… cough!”
Nibbles writhed, coughing up everything through his nose and mouth.
“For now, the emergency is over. But….”
“…His breathing is weakening?”
Indeed, Nibbles was breathing faintly, as though on the verge of stopping.
“Damn it.”
Farinelli brought a water container, rinsed Nibbles’ mouth, and looked at Black Wolf.
“Do it.”
“My goodness.”
Farinelli had no choice but to perform artificial respiration on Nibbles while continuously casting detox spells.