Chapter 94
Chapter 94
Episode 94
EP23 - Hand (4)
The place where I met the Hidden Dragon Society was an abandoned parking lot near the academy building. Elise had called me there, saying she wanted to show me the hideout (which she referred to as a doghouse).
As I headed there, Maid Lucy and, for some reason, Kendrake were also present.
Lucy was cleaning, and Kendrake was moving abandoned tractors and the like under Lucy's direction. They said they couldn't communicate, but it seemed they had made progress.
Anyway.
"Elise."
"Yes!"
"From now on, you will enter into a contract with me. I am the leader of the Assassination Squad, and as your supervising professor, I intend to make you a member of my Assassination Squad."
"Yes!"
Ah, this isn't right…
Recruiting an assassin is usually a very serious event that sets a solemn atmosphere.
But Elise's expression was so bright, she looked like someone being given a guide to an amusement park.
"...I will explain it simply, as you won't understand a detailed explanation."
"Yes."
"A member is a tool of the leader. Therefore, from now on, you will be my tool. Even though this is an Assassination Squad for educational purposes, its essence is no different. You must go where I tell you to go. You must die if I tell you to die. Do you understand?"
"Yes!!"
"...Yes."
Then Elise smiled brightly and tilted her head.
"But you won't tell me to die, will you?"
"Why do you think that?"
"Because, Professor, you are on my side?"
"One can never be sure."
"Huh? That's so mean…."
"It's not mean. It's inhuman. That's what an assassin is. So, I'm telling you to be cautious before signing the contract. When you graduate from the Academy and go out into the continent, you will have to make contracts with people who are not on your side… Elise."
Elise had already bitten her fingertip, drawn blood, and made a blood seal.
"Mmm-hmm♪ Yes? Ah, I'm done."
"…."
"Please take good care of me…!"
After looking at her face for a moment, I gave an order.
"Elise Ksikos."
"Yes?"
"I will give you an order as the leader."
"Ah, yes!"
"Die."
At those words, Lucy, who was beside us, flinched in surprise. Then she looked back and forth between me and Elise.
Elise, with a dazed expression, asked again.
"...Is this a mission?"
"It is a mission."
"…."
Her hesitation was not long. Elise drew an invisible sword from her waist. I could tell by the 'shiiing-' sound.
In a flash, after a certain amount of time had passed.
I said in a low voice.
"Stop."
Elise replied.
With a slightly distorted expression.
"...Yes."
Her hand, lowering the sword, was trembling.
And so, we fell into silence for a moment.
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『 World Fabrication: Time Forgery [10 seconds / 60 frames] 』
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There was something I had to confirm clearly.
Something that could not be understood through thoughts or words.
It's fine if she's playful in front of me. Her bright, innocent smile is also pleasant to see. I like Elise as a person, person to person.
However, I know the stubbornness of a retriever, a hunting dog. And its in-game settings.
If she were to disobey my orders even after joining the Assassination Squad, I would have to remove Elise from the Assassination Squad right then and there.
Let me make an extreme and unpleasant assumption.
If.
In a possibility that absolutely cannot exist, what if.
If a time comes when everyone can only live if Elise has to die alone, I will order Elise to die.
And Elise must die.
Of course, such a thing will not happen. I will not let it happen in the first place. But the person in charge must always consider the worst of the worst.
And so, I tested Elise just now, and I felt quite displeased.
…Why does she obey so well?
"Hoo…."
Elise, sheathing her sword, took a shaky breath. She raised her head and closed her eyes.
Thanks to that, I gained certainty. The certainty that I could place Elise in my toolbox.
When I briefly explained the circumstances, He blinked and asked again.
"Um, then I have something I'm curious about too."
"Ask."
"What if you had to die for everyone to live?"
It was a very good question.
I had similar thoughts myself.
I had made my decision.
"I will die."
If I die, this world will probably end.
Let me think carefully… I couldn't find a reason for the world to exist by sacrificing those close to me to save myself.
Wouldn't it be better for such a world not to exist? If it does, wouldn't it be better if I wasn't in it?
To act this good, one must be strong. It was a very strong reason why I had to become strong.
I'm not truly good; it's just that my personality leans towards the pure white route in games. Though I didn't take the pure white route.
"Um, you've been cursed, Professor."
"I haven't been cursed."
"No, it's a hypothetical situation. Are you stupid, Professor?"
"…."
You're saying that?
"Um, if you were cursed and ordered me to kill you, would I have to kill you?"
It seemed like a question assuming I didn't know.
If placed under something like the "Curse of Domination," such a thing might happen.
My answer is the same.
"Kill me."
Elise fell silent.
"…."
She wiped the smile from her face and looked at me. With those round pink eyes.
I know this answer won't resonate with Elise. This is separate from her treating assassination like a game of tug-of-war.
"Um…."
Elise pondered.
Within a relationship where "Command" works. A dog can die for a human, but it cannot kill a human even if it dies. Elise's family, 'Ksikos,' received a count's title from the royal family based on that loyalty. The reason is simple.
"Um, what should I do…."
Elise said with an awkward smile.
In a voice filled with a melancholy I had never heard before.
"What if I can't do it…?"
This is the reason.
That dogs are friends to humans.
"It's fine. You don't have to."
There was no need to push her further.
"Yes…?"
"I will die myself."
"Really? Phew~"
…Phew?
Why are you relieved? I'm going to die.
Meanwhile, Maid Lucy was also letting out a deep sigh, and for some reason, Kendrake was also sighing, 'Ugh…'.
No, why are they even here in the first place?
Are they reaction robots or something?
Anyway, that's all for now.
The contract for the Assassination Squad with Elise was successful.
'All that's left are Gray and Balmung.'
Gray is busy, so I'll deal with him later.
"Where is Balmung?"
"Balmung?"
Elise looked at Lucy. Lucy shook her head. Kendrake also shook his head.
When I tried calling, he didn't answer.
Then Lucy said, 'Ah.'
"Lately, Balmung has been wandering outside a lot."
"Why?"
"Well, I don't know about that. Maybe he's in a bad mood? Balmung tends to wander when he's in a bad mood."
Unexpectedly, I heard news about Balmung from the Discipline Department.
Kang Kang from the Discipline Department called me urgently.
-
Professor, could you please come to the Administration Bureau right now?
What is this now?
* * *
From the moment I decided to mentor the Hidden Dragon Society, I had made a few arrangements.
One of them was telling Kang Kang, a handsome young member of the Discipline Department, to call me immediately if anything related to the Hidden Dragon Society happened, whether it involved me or not.
Listening to Kang Kang's story, it seemed Balmung had attacked the Nibelung Family.
But it wasn't just a simple punch; there were reports of broken arms and being stabbed with a knife.
I had seen before that Balmung possessed inherent aggression within him.
Still, Kang Kang's words were a bit strange.
If they were old family enemies, he would have killed them. If he had killed them, it would not have been easy for Balmung, an assassin of professor-level skill, to have his murder exposed.
Conversely, if they weren't enemies, it was strange that he attacked them so emotionally.
In any case, when I went to the Discipline Department Administration Bureau with that thought, there were quite a few people there.
"Please calm down for now. We would appreciate it if you followed the Discipline Department's control."
"No, Professor. What kind of Discipline Department? The face of our organization's member is currently mangled."
A high-ranking official from the Discipline Department and several executive members of the Nibelung side were lined up, exchanging arguments.
"I apologize. However, within the scope of the incident, the Discipline Department must handle matters within the Academy."
"That's your business, Professor. The victim is not an Academy person, so what is the Discipline Department doing? You have children, don't you? Then think about it. If someone stabs my child with a knife, is it okay to only scold the other parents?"
"Where are the injured individuals now? Aren't they at the Academy's medical unit? You are accepting welfare benefits, but are you refusing public authority?"
"Ah—!"
The Nibelung executive, letting out a burst of irritation, waved his hand.
"-Ah. Forget it, forget it. I don't need any of that. Just bring out that bastard Balmung. We're talking here."
"What cannot be done cannot be done. Please calm down and wait, or leave."
However, the Discipline Department's stance was firm.
It made sense.
The Discipline Department is fundamentally an organization of the White Path.
The Nibelung Family is the Black Path.
Basically, if they meet on the street, they are in a relationship where they are holding knives in their pockets.
"Ha, you really are making me lose my temper."
Meanwhile, I examined Balmung, who was confined in a cage.
He was a mess. His hands were bandaged, and his head was chained to the floor and pressed down.
This was done by someone who knew how to handle Nibelung. A dog whose neck is controlled becomes powerless.
Balmung also had thick restraints on his hands, and blood was seeping from the joints. He must have been rampaging.
He didn't seem to know I had arrived.
'Hmm.'
What should I do… For now, I need to find grounds for judgment.
If I'm going to overturn it, I need a reason to overturn it.
If I'm going to endure it, I need a reason to endure it.
Both sides were considerable figures in their own right.
The Discipline Department official was the director of the Academy's main administration bureau.
The Nibelung official was the head of the personnel team at the Cartel headquarters.
Both were seasoned warriors of the "Master" class.
At that moment, the Nibelung executive shouted.
"Hey, you damn Balmung! Aren't you coming out!?"
The Director of the Discipline Department stepped forward.
"Professor. If you don't stop, you and your associates could also be detained."
"Try it, you damn bastard. Do you think Nibelung is playing house because you're playing with kids at school? Try it. Huh? Try it!"
Thump, thump.
As he struck the Director of the Discipline Department's chin with his forehead.
Thwack-
The Director pushed the thug back.
The Nibelung Personnel Team Leader stumbled back several steps.
Shhhk- clack- clack!!
Simultaneously, both sides drew their weapons. All of them were genuine killing weapons, shining with a cold, sharp light.
Onlookers began to hastily retreat.
It was a moment of extreme tension.
"You must stop here, Professors. Any further could escalate into conflict between the Academy and Nibelung. Please calm your tempers. I implore you."
However, the Director of the Discipline Department was wise and tried to control the conflict by bowing his head politely.
"...Team Leader. Don't you have instructions from the Grandmother?"
The Nibelung side also tried to stop the conflict for the moment.
Indeed, in my opinion, there was no other way. Even if I forcibly stopped them now, it would only be lighting the fuse for a larger fight.
"...I will come back in two hours."
Just as the thug was turning to leave.
I was standing at the door.
And because I am tall and well-built, I must have looked like a wall.
"Hey, Professor."
"…."
"Don't you have any sense? Move!"
His subordinate gestured as if annoyed.
At this moment, I was reading their "Script" logs thoroughly, so my reaction was delayed.
I was reading it to decide my stance.
For now, I'm just watching, but what about the future?
This was "Hell Difficulty," and it was a difficult problem.
As a basis for this, a sub-quest appeared.
┃ Sub-Quest [Nibelung Family]
First, I was undeniably a party involved in this situation. I was the Cain they were looking for, and Balmung, who had conflicted with them, and Gray, whom they wanted to obtain, were essentially mine.
Currently, Nibelung is an organization that significantly sponsors the Academy. A single professor cannot decide whether to cut ties or maintain them.
However, I am different. If I decide, I can exert a strong influence on the decision.
Instead, if I decide, I must also bear the responsibility.
Therefore, I am troubled.
What should I choose?
Should I keep the Nibelung Family, who will continue to poke around and try to get involved?
Or should I make an enemy of the Hiaka Kingdom's largest Black Path organization and the world's 9th ranked "Dark Star Constellation"?
'…This is difficult.'
This, too, is part of the "Betting Table."
This world, designed to kill me, is forcing me to make difficult choices.
"Hey. Drag him out."
"Yes…! Hey, Professor!"
"…."
"Can't you hear me? Move aside. Or do you not understand when I speak politely?"
And so, while reviewing the "Script," I found a thought in the logs of the Personnel Team Leader in front of me, and
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【 Nibelung Family Personnel Team Leader Hitahil: 'These Hiaka Academy bastards are having fun now that the floodgates have opened. Running something like an orphanage.' 】
【 'I need to put them in their place once and for all so it's easier in the long run. Since there's a plausible scenario, I should tell the Grandmother.' 】
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Just now, my mind, which had no particular thoughts even when an organization member tapped me on the cheek—
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【 'This is a good opportunity to kill Balmung.' 】
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—in an instant, it shifts.
I checked their name tags one by one.
"…."
I have to kill them all.