Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 22
>Chapter Title: Am I Crazy?
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The Imperial Knights swiftly cleaned up the scene.
They gathered the details from Parun and Pola, then hauled the surviving Troubleshooters back to headquarters.
The main gist was an assault and attempted plunder led by Karahen and the Decullan Family.
Since a prestigious house like the Decullans was involved, they couldn't just take one side's word for it—but the knights trusted Professor Parun's testimony.
Karahen's sprawled corpse was evidence enough, no words needed.
By the time the situation was roughly wrapped up and the Imperial Knights had departed...
"Come on out."
Professor Parun's voice called me out.
With the knights all gone and Pola off accompanying them for further statements, it was just me and the professor left.
"Not bad. You found me quick."
"You weren't exactly hiding your presence."
When I stepped back into view, the professor's demeanor had warmed considerably.
Before, he'd treated me with the same wariness as the Decullans. Now, it was more like mild suspicion.
"Did Henji send you?"
"Something like that."
"Then you must have a rough idea of what's going on. That damn bastard—why the hell did he send me a fake paper and leak info to the Decullans?"
I shrugged once.
"Unfortunately, I didn't hear that part. But it was fake after all, huh."
Professor Parun nodded faintly.
Just earlier, while explaining things to the knights...
In front of the lead officer, we'd opened the envelope from Henji—the root cause of this mess.
Even Imperial Knights couldn't judge a magic research paper, so Professor Parun had given it a preliminary look...
"It was a paper on healing magic. Utter garbage, worthless."
Just as I'd figured.
I didn't know the details, but I'd guessed it wasn't anything impressive.
Anyway, the offending paper had been carted off to the knights as evidence along with Pola.
Looking at the professor's somewhat hollow gaze, I said,
"Like I said, I didn't hear anything. I'm just guessing."
"Guessing, huh... What?"
Henji's a madman.
Reading his thoughts is tough unless I'm crazy too—but after watching that fight, a hunch hit me.
"He wants to curb the Decullans' influence in Hazen, at least."
"Hmm."
"Never mind how he fooled the meticulous Decullans—Henji wanted them to go on this rampage. Because..."
"To draw in the Imperial Knights?"
"Yeah, something like that. In your position, Professor, it's not easy to call them in outright, right? You can't exactly mention your research."
Jenion Academy professors were key personnel in the Empire.
In most cases, they'd dispatch a few knights at a professor's request.
The knights being in Hazen at all was part of that—but the situation was too murky to justify pulling in the Imperials.
No good pretext for you to make the call.
"This way, the knights have to protect you, and Hazen's defenses get beefed up. A pure win for everyone but the Decullans."
"So the Decullans handed them the perfect excuse... Hmm. Fine. Whatever scheme that lunatic's cooking up is his business."
There were things I didn't say.
'Parun's estate is on the city outskirts, but the knights showing up this late doesn't add up.'
The Decullans must've pulled strings with the knights.
Bribed some mid-rank officer to delay deployment, or something.
Even if not, tweaking response times was child's play for them. That was probably it.
And Pola...
'Henji didn't predict this far.'
- Have you figured it out? Haha, it felt like a waste to give real Light of Healing incantations to disposable trash.
You could tell from what he'd blabbed at our first meeting.
Why care about a mere courier when the paper was bait, not the real deal?
"So, are you the courier?"
I nodded readily at the professor's question.
"Here's the paper."
I pulled out a copy and handed it over.
Professor Parun scanned it.
He skimmed the contents in silence—it didn't take long, just grasping the overall context.
Then, suddenly, his eyes sharpened.
"You... know what's in it?"
"Know it? I've got it memorized."
"I see..."
Murderous intent flickered in Professor Parun's eyes.
Kill to silence.
That's what he was thinking—his aura was off the charts.
That's why I burst out laughing.
"Not stopping you, but you sure? I don't want to lose a solid ally."
I meant it.
Head-on, beating him right now would be tough.
But we were both worn out. If we pushed further, he'd tire faster than me.
Still, odds were fifty-fifty...
"Hmm. You don't seem to think you might die."
"Nope."
That was when Professor Parun's lip curled up slightly.
"...?"
It vanished so fast I wondered if I'd imagined it.
"Eh, fine. I'll take the paper. I don't want to lose a future ally either, so let's call it even."
He tucked the paper away as he spoke.
Then added,
"Anything you want in return?"
"...?"
I tilted my head at the sudden question.
"I know Henji well. He only trusts one type: those with clear desires that align with his—or at least interact usefully."
"..."
"Working with him, you must want something. To build trust, separate from Henji, I should offer something too."
"Hm."
I pondered briefly.
Truth was, I didn't need much.
What I wanted from them was one thing: the research product, New Heavenly Origin Art.
The Light of Healing manual from Henji was just a trust token—not really payment.
But then it hit me.
"Books."
"Books?"
"Yeah, books would be great. Books to learn your magical perspective, Professor. That kind."
This tied into vague plans for a library I'd mulled since meeting Henji.
"One won't cut it. At least... yeah, about a hundred books. And without my guidance, even those could be useless."
Professor Parun's eyes turned scholarly, unlike before.
This time, as tower lord, I calmly laid out my intent.
"I'm just providing opportunity. If they're capable and fated, they'll learn from your selected books on their own."
"Not for you to read? Mind if I ask your goal?"
I nodded.
"I'm building a tower. A big, tall one. The shape doesn't matter much. Just fill it with books anyone can access. That's the point."
"But why a tower?"
I corrected myself right away.
"Ah, the shape matters too."
"So, why?"
"Just... tall is good."
"..."
Anyway, the silly banter ended there.
Professor Parun gathered his thoughts, then nodded.
"Fine. But it might take a while. Hell, writing one myself might fit your vision better."
"That'd be even better."
"A tower, huh... no, a library? Sounds fun."
I hadn't spilled detailed plans, but he seemed to get it from 'library' and 'anyone.'
I didn't elaborate, and soon he spoke.
"Wait ten years."
"Am I crazy?"
"..."
He didn't reply.
Even he knew ten years was ridiculous.
"...You got preparations to build that tower in ten years?"
"..."
My turn to stay silent.
Was ten years enough for my tower? Hell, probably not even close.
Forget filling it with books—materials for the building, and I didn't even have land yet.
A brief silence fell.
"I should head out."
"Wait. How do we stay in touch?"
"Stay in touch..."
"You'll need to deliver papers."
My deal with Henji was one-and-done.
But with things like this, being a go-between wasn't bad.
As Parun said, beyond the manuscript's value, better keep New Heavenly Origin Art from Decullan eyes until completion.
"Use this."
I pulled a small bundle of crystal orbs from my subspace.
"This is..."
"Exchanging comm crystals in our position is suicide. These are linked in pairs. Break one, the other shatters too."
"Simple."
"Easier to dodge tracking. Break one to call. Two or more for emergencies. I won't come otherwise."
He nodded.
"If you need to reach me?"
I shrugged.
"That happen?"
"Overconfident. If you're about to die someday, break it. I'll help once, no strings."
"If you can find me."
"Your luck then."
I chuckled.
"Good thing. Not as crazy as Henji."
Overall, not a bad vibe.
We clicked throughout the talk.
Unlike Henji, sharing goals with a somewhat normal guy felt pretty good.
No, great.
But.
"Hm, that's... well. Seems our thinking differs a bit."
"...?"
"Nah. I'm off."
The end felt off.
"..."
I watched Professor Parun a moment, then turned toward the academy.
Good is good.
Yeah, sure.
I didn't pry into his thoughts.