Who Is the Most Suspicious One?
Joshua's sharp, gleaming sword pressed lightly against Rai's throat, yet the man remained utterly relaxed, flashing a carefree smile.
The one threatening him was Leila, and strangely, it was she who felt the pressure.
Rai's overwhelming strength difference with Leila aside, Abigail was also targeting her.
Whether the full situation was clear or not, if forced to choose between Leila and Rai, Abigail—who would never hesitate to grab her sword and leap—had already placed her hand on the hilt.
The slightest opening would be enough for her to pounce.
Leila found the current state deeply frustrating. Abigail posed no real danger, yet with her present, she could never bring up anything involving the Devil of All Nations.
"No need to worry. I’m perfectly satisfied with this situation right now."
Rai’s teasing comment, aimed at easing her nerves, landed right on point.
"Why is a satisfied man even trying to analyze the miracle? How much do you think I look down on you?"
"I guess I can’t blame you for having no trust left. But tell me… who here is actually the most suspicious one?"
His mocking grin only tightened Leila’s expression further.
While keeping an eye on them both, Abigail stomped her foot and closed the distance in an instant.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
She had spotted the tiniest opening, yet Leila’s sword never moved from Rai’s throat. Instead, she swiftly swatted Abigail’s blade aside with a casual sweep of her free hand.
Abigail’s eyes sparkled with excitement as the swing crossed her own blade, prompting her to switch grips mid-motion and thrust forward.
Joue en Lucette.
Her body blurred forward, smashing Leila’s extended arm with a vicious kick before bringing her heel down like a hammer.
Though startled, Rai calmly dodged the descending foot.
His sword stayed pressed firmly against his own throat, yet Abigail’s blade slipped through the narrow gap and blocked it.
Just as if protecting her neck, the flat of Abigail’s sword now pressed against Rai’s throat.
In the meantime, Rai simply watched the two of them with a faint, detached smile, as if this had nothing to do with him at all.
"Why aren’t you moving?!"
Even in a full fight with Rai, she could have escaped at any moment. Yet Rai stood frozen, and Abigail’s fury boiled over.
"I’m not here to fight. You should drop it too."
"… … Are you serious?"
Abigail narrowed her eyes, glaring back and forth between Rai and Leila.
"If you’re serious, then release the Rushasso. Drink the neutralizer."
"If I take the neutralizer, I won’t be able to use it for a while. You already know that."
"I wasn’t that bad off that you had to help me, was I?"
Annoyed by his cocky tone even after receiving aid, Abigail’s temper eased as she knocked Leila’s sword away.
Leila lowered her blade without any intention of pressing it against Rai’s throat again, staying perfectly still. Abigail quickly pulled a neutralizer ampoule from her pocket and gulped it down in one go.
"Did you finish the whole thing?"
"I saw it all. It wasn’t even possible to… damn it…!"
Abigail cursed at Rai and collapsed to the floor.
Rai brought his palm down on her neck with a sharp chop, then glanced at Leila with a grin.
"Much better now, isn’t it? Go ahead."
Leila glanced at the sprawled Abigail for a moment before returning her gaze to Rai.
"What’s your goal?"
"To analyze the miracle and dismantle the contract."
"Hah… I’m genuinely shocked. You actually expect me to just let that happen?"
Rai’s bold declaration to remove the slave contract made Leila let out a dry laugh.
"How about this then? Dion, transmit the answer only to Leila."
"Understood."
"And after that, you plan to steal it from Dion later?"
"That would hurt, right? We’ve spent so much time together… it’s about time trust started building."
"Trust or not, the fact that you’re a dangerous individual doesn’t change."
Rai simply nodded, shoulders shrugging in acceptance of her stance.
"Can Dion change what I said?"
"Yes, it can be changed."
"It must not be. Then how about this? When I leave, erase my guest privileges. Permanently."
"Registered as Rai, you received guest authority through the system. Leaving here will make it vanish."
"Even if I come back, make sure I can never receive it again."
"Understood."
After finishing the conversation with Dion, Rai looked at Leila with that same satisfied expression.
Though she still eyed him suspiciously, she had no grounds to keep up the haughty act after he had gone this far.
His words somehow managed to drag her in, and Leila found it deeply unpleasant. Still, she sheathed her sword without a word and spoke.
"Speak."
"You’re finally trusting me a little. You’re an incredibly difficult woman, aren’t you, Dion?"
"Yes, that’s correct. Given the current state of excitement, normal judgment ability is likely impaired."
Leila’s face twisted in irritation as she listened. She had to fight the urge to draw her sword again but kept staring daggers at Rai instead.
"Sit. We even have Soltane’s delicious tea for you. Ah, the seasonal special is on me."
"A remarkably high-rated beverage, 9.2 out of 10."
"Ten is the highest possible score?"
Leila shot Rai a glare, only to sigh heavily once she saw him casually chatting with Dion. She plopped down in front of him and gulped down one of the remaining sweet drinks in quick, aggressive sips.
Feeling the liquid coat her tongue, Leila exhaled deeply and glared at him.
"Don’t you think something feels off?"
"What?"
"The headmistress."
Leila had already been suspicious of Celenas, so Rai’s words barely surprised her.
Rai lowered his cup, understanding her silent question.
"Your mind is sharp enough to have already figured it out. Do you want me to tell you what I predicted?"
"You’re not controlling her. You sent her to the academy’s most important location… while sending me along. What exactly did you plan with the headmistress? Trying to seduce her?"
Rai blinked slowly at her words and studied her for a moment.
"You could think that way. No, actually, that might be the correct judgment. Yeah, you’re right. But let’s take it one step further."
"If you’re wrong, stop beating around the bush and just say it properly. I’m not playing twenty questions with you."
Leila tossed the empty cup aside and downed Abigail’s share too. Amused by her reaction, Rai chuckled quietly and answered.
"The root cause starts with Princess Emilia’s assassination attempt."
"The 2nd Prince’s assassination attempt?"
Even high-ranking officials knew that the 2nd Prince had tried to assassinate Emilia. For an outsider like Rai, he didn’t need to spell it out, but Leila answered without hesitation.
"That’s right. The 2nd Prince doesn’t matter much. What matters is that an assassin successfully infiltrated the academy—an impenetrable fortress."
"The 2nd Prince is royalty. He can enter the academy at will. The assassin must have been sent by him."
"Really? So royalty holds the power to grant guest authority? Dion, who received guest privileges in the past two years?"
"Registered names: CelenasA, Rai, Leila, and Abigail. Four people in total."
Leila fell silent.
Since she hadn’t known about Dion, she had assumed the 2nd Prince could freely send assassins. But only those with guest authority could actually do so.
And among the current holders, only the headmistress Celenas could make it happen.
"The headmistress sent an assassin to the 6th Princess?"
"Dion says so."
"…Why…?"
Leila’s face twisted in confusion as her mind spun.
"There should have been other ways. The 2nd Prince would have known about it."
"Dion, any successful infiltrations in the past two years?"
"Forty-two days ago, a unicorn object succeeded in infiltrating and forced adjustments to spatial movement defenses. That’s the only record."
Leila’s denial was cut short as Rai cruelly used Dion to reveal the truth.
Only one infiltrator succeeded in the past month—Tora, the unicorn Agnes mentioned. No others.
"Who has granted academy access until now?"
"Only CelenasA with guest authority. No one else."
After explaining everything so kindly, Leila’s delicate eyebrows furrowed.
Dion’s entire response pointed straight at Celenas targeting Emilia.
Rai noticed the hand resting on the sword hilt filled with rage and spoke calmly to calm her.
"Before we continue, I need to say this: I never spoke a word to the headmistress. I wandered the ruins on my own, and she didn’t stop me. Did she think I was too naive to reach the Core? Or did she want me to go there?"
"… … The latter, I suppose."
Celenas trusted Rai more than anyone.
Leila, who missed the Era of Strife by mere days, had only read about his legendary strength in books.
Knowing her own limits, she had never understood why Celenas placed such unwavering faith in him.
But seeing his monstrous power firsthand with Celenas had shattered that doubt. If anyone could do it, it was definitely Rai.
"Meeting Dion and me will put the headmistress at a huge disadvantage. This place is filled with endless secrets. She’ll find evidence of Emilia’s assassination attempt or clues to analyzing the miracle. But why send me?"
"There must be a reason behind sending me."
Celenas favored Rai.
Even on their first meeting, she had been so thrilled she forgot her dignity. Despite holding a heavily restricted slave contract, she had freed him without hesitation.
The phrasing “supporting him” fit better than “slave.”
Yet even so, Celenas wouldn’t have sent him to the Core on a whim. She was far too capable herself—she had become headmistress at a young age.
"And you’re sharing that benefit with me. Why? You could have simply gone there alone and let me know later."
"… …"
Leila fell quiet, unable to answer his question.
Even now, she still couldn’t understand why she was here.
If Celenas hadn’t told her, she wouldn’t have known Rai was searching for the Core at all.
If she had been behind the scenes, she could have kept it secret forever. Yet Celenas had kindly told her what Rai was doing and even offered to follow him almost to the Core.
"… … I wanted to know too."
"Exactly. I wanted you to know as well."
"Why?"
"I don’t know. How would I understand that cunning mind of yours? Figure it out for yourself from here."
Rai shrugged as he answered.
Leila kept glaring, convinced he was dodging the truth. He simply smiled and added another point.
"The answer Dion gave is in your hands. You choose based on the situation."
Leila had no reply.
Rai had handed her the key to removing the contract.
This meant the two of them now held the leash around each other’s necks.
Celenas, who possessed the contract. And Rai, who could release it whenever he wished.
Rai had told Leila to choose whether to use the key based on her own judgment.
If Celenas betrayed her, she could unleash the key as a last resort. But it was also unknown whether Rai would become an ally or not.
The worst outcome would be having him free in the heart of the Empire, roaming freely.
Should he join the remaining resistance, the North Norden Kingdom would happily invade.
Only ten years after the Era of Strife, they would fall back into war once more.
Leila could not easily accept the idea of trading one danger for an even greater one to avoid the current risk.
"Why give it to me?"
"I already told you. I’m enjoying this life."
"Do you have no desire to seek revenge against the Empire?"
"Revenge? Not a chance. I’d even pat you on the back and say well done. The treatment I receive at the academy is a hundred times better than when I was in the Caelen Kingdom."
Leila half-listened, amazed beyond words at his words.
Instead, she began to seriously consider what choice she should make with the one she held in her hand.
Since it was no quick decision, the three of them decided to return to the academy.
The journey home was smooth. Dion simply marked the coordinates and teleported them.
When they returned to Rai’s residence courtyard, it was already pitch black outside.
The Black Horse, who had suddenly appeared, trotted straight up to Rai and pressed his head against him.
Leila watched silently as Rai scratched the horse’s head with a tired expression, then turned and walked away without a word.
Her destination was the headmistress’s office.
Celenas was still working late, so she could find her there right now.
"The headmistress left for Belloc after the equestrian tournament."
The headmistress’s secretary’s words made Leila frown.
Belloc was a city along the road to the capital.
There was no academy-related business in Belloc, yet Leila did not ask the secretary again. She simply turned and left.
If she had asked, the answer would have been the same anyway.
* * *
"I am Endo Shane Bernies, the 2nd Prince of the Empire."
Celenas greeted him with a seductive smile, her voice smooth and graceful.
Endo, seated with legs crossed, looked down at her.
His empty blue eyes scanned her once before he lost interest and flicked his chin toward the table.
Celenas sat across from him and began sipping the tea before her.
"How is my cunning little brother doing?"
"The same as always. To expand his influence, he’s been acting spoiled toward the students and instructors."
"Still doing pathetic things. If he’s as clever as he is, he should know his actions are pointless."
"He’s fighting for survival. I’ve been investigating for any other motives, but nothing has surfaced yet."
While speaking of Emilia’s movements, Celenas spoke without hesitation, her tone dripping with contempt.
Endo clicked his tongue and leaned back against the chair.
"I thought you’d at least give me something fun to listen to. How disappointing."
"Then may this humble servant offer you an interesting story?"
"What is it?"
His lazy gaze swept over Celenas.
"It’s a story about the Vice-Minister of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, Joshua Dmo Parianesa."
"The arrogant bastard’s story? That sounds entertaining."
As Endo’s interest piqued, Celenas set her cup down and smiled.
"I have something interesting to share about the Vice-Minister of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, Joshua Dmo Parianesa."