Chapter 45
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Suspicion (1)
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After the dungeon mission ended.
Roin's mood was downright gloomy.
Mitchell, the healer working in the infirmary at the Loud Swordsmanship Academy, examined the scratch on his cheek and said,
This looks like a simple disinfection will do it...
It was just a tiny graze.
But Roin furrowed his brow and replied,
What if it scars later? That would be a disaster.
To Roin, this was no minor incident.
He'd taken such meticulous care of his appearance all this time.
And now, a sudden wound?
Worse, it was bleeding?
It hit him like the sky falling.
But to Mitchell, it seemed like an overreaction.
Just leave it be for a few days.
Even when she said that, Roin refused to accept it.
Alright. Hold on a sec.
In the end, after disinfecting, she agreed to extra measures.
Mana began to gather at her fingertips.
A warm light formed.
Cure.
A basic healing spell.
Normally, there was no need to waste Cure on such a light scratch.
But Roin was so fixated on it.
Mitchell had no choice but to cast the spell.
Disinfection plus Cure magic.
If you just looked at the treatment, you might think it was for a patient mauled by a monster.
There. All good now?
......
But Roin still wasn't satisfied.
Mitchell let out a small sigh at his reaction.
Roin. You're overthinking it. A scratch like this will heal without a scar, so don't worry too much.
......
Staying longer would just mean hearing the same thing.
Roin pretended to agree and left the infirmary.
Back in his dorm room, Roin.
He stood in front of the mirror for a full 30 minutes, staring at the small wound on his face.
This won't do. On my day off, I'll contact Helond and have Iroa and Belb come visit. Yeah, that's what I'll do.
He couldn't relax.
If it were his face from the Rodri days, he wouldn't have cared, but now that he'd been reborn handsome, he had to be vigilant about even the tiniest mark.
Nothing's more precious than my face.
Just as he moved to contact Helond.
He ran into Remina Whisli and Luem.
Remina spoke first.
Roin. Perfect timing. Got a minute?
A minute? What's up all of a sudden.
About what happened during the dungeon mission. There's something bothering me.
She wanted his thoughts.
Dungeon mission.
Recalling the tactical golem again, Roin's expression hardened once more.
Honestly, he wanted to storm Nut right now and threaten, Get the meister who developed this tactical golem out here!
But healing his wound came first over revenge.
Wait a sec. Let me contact an acquaintance first.
Contact who?
Someone to come visit.
To Roin, nothing was more important.
Remina nodded.
Got it. Luem and I'll wait in the lounge then. Meet us there.
Roin agreed right away.
His steps quickened.
The Loud Swordsmanship Academy had crystal orbs for external communication.
But using them required two conditions.
First. The other party must have the same type of crystal orb.
Second. Communication cost a lot, so you needed the money to pay.
Until now, Roin had lived as the poor youngest son of the Leyden family, so he'd never dared use one.
If he had that money, better to buy pricier, higher-quality skincare productshe'd thought that using an orb was a waste.
But after reuniting with Dian and Helond, he stopped fussing over money.
He had plenty anyway.
He handed his academy cadet ID to the orb manager to prove his status.
Then headed to a partitioned area.
Before that, Roin double-checked with the manager.
The soundproofing's solid, right?
Yes. No worries there.
He didn't want the manager seeing him talk to Helond.
If caught, it might raise suspicions about what connection the young Roin had to the butler who'd served Rodri his whole life.
Confirming the magic circle on the partition blocked sound from leaking.
Roin placed his right hand on the crystal orb.
Visualize the person's face, name, and rough location.
That would activate the other side's orb.
After about a minute.
Helond's voice echoed in Roin's mind.
-What is it, Young Master Roin.
I'm heading out this week, so call Iroa and Belb ahead of time.
-What's the occasion?
Roin clicked his tongue briefly, his voice still edged with irritation.
Got a scratch on my face.
-Ah...
He knew how obsessive Roin was about his looks.
Helond knew well.
The healers here treat it like it's nothing and did a half-assed job. I don't trust it, so I'm handing it over to Iroa and Belb entirely.
-Understood. I'll prepare them.
Yeah. One more thing.
Now for something else.
There's this company called Nut that makes tactical golems. Look into them separately.
Revenge mattered.
But why did Nut's tactical golems always go berserk around him?
Coincidence, or inevitable?
He wanted to investigate.
Helond agreed without question.
Communication ended, Roin stepped out.
The manager mentioned the fee.
10 grand.
A third of a commoner's monthly wage.
A total rip-off.
It showed how inefficient orb communication was.
Only the rich could afford it.
But Roin just said, Yeah? flatly.
No change in expression.
Here.
Thank you, Young Master Roin. Your ID.
He took his ID back from the manager.
As he headed to his dorm.
Oh, right. Remina wanted to talk.
He remembered the prior engagement late.
Remina shared her thoughts on the tactical golem incident with Roin.
No matter how I think about it, the tactical golems going berserk wasn't a coincidence.
That was her conclusion.
Not just one. Multiple units malfunctioning at once? In my book, that's impossible. Someone clearly tampered with them to attack us.
Luem, listening, voiced doubt at her words.
Who would that someone be?
The answer came from Roin.
Nut, obviously.
First suspect: the manufacturer.
Only Nut's meisters could legally tamper with tactical golems undetected.
Academy instructors didn't know how they worked or their principles.
Only the meisters would.
Suspecting Nut was natural.
The question was why?
I can't figure out why Nut would do this.
Remina hadn't cracked that yet.
Then Luem spoke up again.
Maybe targeting you, Young Master Roin?
Me?
Yes. I hate to say it, but... a lot of cadets here seem to envy and resent you quietly.
Actually, not quietlyopenly.
He'd even been threatened by Jerka's gang recently.
Roin was too outstanding.
So plenty hated him.
Same in his past life.
No one envied Rodri's face.
But many knights felt inferior to his skills.
One was Jerka's father, Kern Tayla.
Kern had suffered as eternal runner-up because of Rodri.
So enemies popped up without him lifting a finger.
Maybe this time too.
Fair point. If I were gone, at least one mid knight spot opens up.
Real gain there.
Roin, anyone come to mind?
Remina asked if he had suspects.
Arms crossed, thinking, Roin shook his head.
Nah, no one.
Not even a vague suspicion?
Hmm...
There was one.
Mard.
Jerka's loyal lackey, who'd openly threatened him.
No, couldn't be him.
With Jerka leashed tight, no more overt hostility toward Roin.
So who?
Fail to catch the culprit, and life-or-death risks like today could continue.
Asked a reliable contact to investigate. Should turn up something soon.
Reliable contact?
Who?
Curious Remina and Luem.
But Roin kept it close.
No need to know.
He was a man of many secrets.
Two days after the tactical golem rampage.
Oval met Aker again and spoke cautiously.
Deploying more tactical golems might be tough for a while.
Why, Headmaster? Was the money I gave last time not enough?
No, it's not that...
Oval gave a wry smile, lowering his voice further.
The instructors suspect something between us. Thinking of holding off for now.
......
Bear with me.
If the corruption leaked, Oval would lose his hard-won headmaster position.
Aker sighed lightly, said he'd understand, and left the office.
Moments later.
Aker gripped a portable mini crystal orb.
Can't count on the headmaster's cooperation for a bit. Yes. But no worries.
A nasty smile crept across Aker's lips.
I know some skilled assassins. Bring them along, and it'll be handled easily.
The crisis wasn't over yet.