Chapter 70 - Remember
"Professor Isolet, what on earth are you scheming?"
While chaos erupted at Frey's mansion, Clana glared silently at Isolet from within a darkened room and posed her question.
"...I'm merely observing the exam."
Isolet responded to Clana with a composed expression before resuming her rigid stance.
"Fine, let's say that's true. Then why are you only surveilling our team?"
"Which team to focus on during the exam falls entirely under the professor's discretion."
"In that case, could you tell me the reason for exercising that discretion?"
"Is that a question as a student? Or a command from the Third Imperial Princess?"
Thoroughly exhausted by Isolet's relentless grilling, Clana squeezed her eyes shut and replied.
"Let's call it both."
Isolet, who had been quietly looking down at Clana, soon hardened her expression and spoke.
"To cut to the chase, I suspect you, Princess."
"Suspect me?"
"I suspect you've inserted some 'ulterior motive' into this special exam."
Clana fell silent and lifted her cup of black tea from the desk. Watching her, Isolet continued.
"While there was plenty of corruption in this final exam, the imperial decision is highly irregular. I'm sure you're well aware, Princess."
"...Yes."
"Curious about who proposed such an irregular and peculiar order, I looked into it personally... and found some intriguing results."
With that, Isolet pointed to the moon hanging in the sky outside the window.
"Is the Moonlight family behind this?"
"Princess, do you know why the moon shines?"
As Clana stared blankly in confusion, Isolet smirked and turned the question back on her.
"...The moon shines because it reflects the light sent by the sun."
When Clana didn't answer, Isolet provided the response herself, then sat across from her and whispered in a low voice.
"It's been a while since the Moonlight family received light from the imperial family, but considering various circumstances..."
"So what are you getting at?"
Clana cut her off, glaring quietly. Isolet, tapping the desk with her finger, asked in a calm tone.
"...What are you planning to do to Frey?"
"Ha."
Clana let out a disbelieving scoff.
"Was all of it—risking danger to investigate the imperial decision behind the scenes, arbitrarily changing the commander, surveilling me under the guise of exam observation—for that?"
"...'That'?"
Isolet shrugged with feigned ignorance. Clana asked again in a cold voice.
"Did you orchestrate all this to protect Frey, that vile, wicked, cruel, ugly... tumor on the empire?"
"Who knows..."
Isolet replied to Clana with a placid expression.
"...He's my student, after all."
"Unbelievable."
Clana stared at Isolet in disbelief, frowning as she pressed.
"Don't you hate him?"
"I'd love to kill him."
"Then why!"
But as Isolet answered with unflappable calm, Clana shot to her feet and shouted.
"Why are you interfering?!"
"I don't know either."
"What?"
Clana blinked in stunned confusion at Isolet's response.
"What do you...?"
Gazing quietly at her, Isolet asked in a soft voice.
"Do you know why I chose Sunrise Academy over the Imperial Knights?"
"...Weren't you fed up with the imperial corruption?"
Clana barely caught the whisper and answered. Isolet shook her head gently.
"Teaching my first disciple—that little silver-haired kid—was the happiest, most joyful time of my life."
"........"
"So I don't know how to treat the boy who taught me the joy of teaching. How to redeem him. Or if I even have the right."
Isolet sighed deeply, then rose and returned to her post.
"But one thing I am certain of."
"...What's that?"
"Your method is wrong."
With that, Isolet crossed her arms and resumed her watch.
"Hoo..."
Clana stared blankly at her, sighed, and bowed her head—until an owl suddenly flew in through the window, making her jump in alarm.
"Gugu!"
"N-Now?! I specifically told you..."
"Gugu!! Gugugu!!"
"Ow, ow ow!"
Panicking, Clana tried to shoo the owl away, but it pecked her forehead insistently and offered a letter. With no choice, she took it and glanced nervously at Isolet.
".....!!!"
Clana tore open the letter awkwardly, her face twisting in shock before she bolted for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Out of my way! No time!!"
Shoving past a puzzled Isolet, Clana sprinted off, her face ashen. It was the moment a crack formed in what she'd thought was a flawless plan.
......
— Mission update.
Repeating: Mission update.
"Cough! Cough!!"
As I opened the front door, a toxic wave of lunar mana poured out.
Forcing my way in, I staggered back, hacking violently.
"Damn it..."
This level of toxicity wouldn't kill me, thankfully. But ordinary folk wouldn't last long before passing out.
The ones already in the courtyard were proof—unconscious. I needed to move fast.
"Hup...!"
I took a deep breath, radiating star mana.
Strain on my body? Irrelevant. I just wrapped myself in as much star mana as possible to endure inside as long as I could.
"Phew... haa..."
After layering it thick, time running out, I stepped forward.
Crackle, zap!
The lunar mana filling the mansion surged toward me.
"Hup!"
But as I flared my star mana outward, it pushed back the invading lunar mana.
"Looks like they're down everywhere."
Commoner students lay unconscious all around.
Bzzzzt!
"Gah!!"
Assassins prowling the mansion, too.
'Good—they haven't touched the students.'
I drew my sword from my robes, bisecting the assassins who spotted me, then checked the commoner students they'd been inspecting. Safe. I sighed in relief.
"No sign of the target! What now?"
"He's here. Tonight, we pluck the empire's darkest star."
Focusing star mana in my ears, I eavesdropped on the upstairs chatter, scowling.
"...Damn, the plan leaked."
Over the past six days, I'd rooted out the spy in my home: Aris, the commoner rep always giving me attitude.
Serena's letter confirmed more spies among the students, so I devised a ploy: spike dinner with strong sedatives, inspect rooms and students on impulse.
Perloché's high mental fortitude resisted the drugs, so Kania backed her with black magic.
Perloché's divine power clashed with black magic—it must've been tough. But no reaction next day? Kania's thorough, as expected.
With all spies/assassins exposed, I'd planned to neutralize them with Kania and Irina.
Yet the day after, this ambush. What rotten luck.
"Sounds from below."
"I'll check."
Lost in thought, footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Thud!
An assassin landed on the first floor, scanning around before heading deeper.
"Guhk? Ugh..."
I shadowed him silently, snapped his neck, and stripped his assassin's garb.
"False alarm. Still no one on the first floor."
"...Wasted time."
Donning the clothes, I climbed to the second floor, mimicking his voice with star mana. The leader-sounding one muttered coldly.
'Perfect, it worked.'
I smirked inwardly. The mansion choked with lunar mana fog—even pros would struggle to see clearly.
Similar build to me? They wouldn't spot the switch.
"Wait. Halt. Something's off."
Just as I infiltrated successfully, the leader raised a hand, scanning warily.
'Damn, the star mana?'
Thought it'd blend in the lunar haze, but the boss was sharp.
No choice—drop star mana, rely on mental strength alone.
"Hold position. Something's wrong."
Ceasing star mana, I watched as he tilted his head, scrutinizing his men one by one.
"Ugh..."
Meanwhile, I gritted my teeth against the lunar mana assault.
Wanted to draw my sword and slaughter them, but with commoners scattered everywhere? They'd become hostages.
And I needed their backers' identity... Painful, but endure a bit longer.
"Move slowly. No slacking. Even against trash like Frey, we give our all."
After agonizing endurance, the leader ordered dispersal.
Released from stance, I eyed the spreading assassins and headed for the dining hall—heavy movement there.
Creeeak...
Peering in, clearer air greeted me.
"Hoo..."
I slumped briefly, catching my breath—then faint breathing.
Too soft for normal ears, but amplified by star mana? Crystal clear.
"...Hoh."
Checking under tables cautiously, girls huddled there.
They'd pooled mana to repel the lunar mana. Felt similar mana pockets throughout—Class A students resisted well.
"...Hup!"
The terrified girls under the table, spotting my assassin's garb, trembled in horror.
"Shh...!"
Finger to lips to avoid alerting others, I beckoned them out.
"Wh-who are you...?"
They stared blankly, then whispered as I gestured desperately.
"You there—find something?"
But an assassin entered from the opposite door, approaching.
"Y-yes! Come see what I found!"
"Found some passed-out brats? Then..."
"Secret passage! Secret passage!"
"...Secret passage?"
The skeptical man widened his eyes at my urgent fib.
"Yes! Huge discovery! Gotta report to the boss!"
"Hmph..."
He glared piercingly at my fussing, then turned.
"Investigate it. I'll report di—"
Bzzzzt!
"—rectly..."
Silver laser to his nape. To the pale-faced girls watching, I whispered.
"Let's get out. Follow me."
First, rescue the mobile students.
......
— Mission update.
Repeating: Mission update.
Killing lone assassins, smuggling resisting students out—I tilted my head at the voice from the stolen radio artifact.
— Several of ours missing. Movements inside besides us detected. Conclusion: Students resisting.
"...Gotta hurry."
Overhearing as I helped a trembling girl out the window, I quickened my pace.
— Emergency from HQ. Urgent, details unclear, but elders attacked.
"Ha, serves 'em right."
The prelude to my Demon King's army elder raid—days of scheming. I grinned.
— Abort mission. Proceed to sub-plan... guk!
Smile fading as the radio cut, I frowned.
'What? Students get 'em?'
Kids putting up a fight? Plausible—then noise from above.
"This way! Hurry!"
"Cough! Cough!!"
Irina and Ariane herding students past subdued assassins toward the exit.
"You! Grab those fleeing brats!"
Watching their efforts, I turned elsewhere—but an assassin beside me yelled, exposing me.
"Irina, get ready! Enemy...!"
Slash!
"...Huh?"
Hating to fight them, I drew without hesitation, severing the nearby assassin's throat.
"Who... are you?"
Ariane, shielding with protective magic, scowled questioningly.
"...None of your business."
Voice altered via star mana, I drew a dagger from the corpse and hurled it.
"Gahk!"
Ariane panicked, barrier up—but it pierced past her into a sneaking assassin behind.
"But not your enemy."
I brushed past Irina and Ariane casually.
"Follow him, Irina."
"Eh? But saving the kids first?"
"Right."
Irina, sensing my star mana via heightened sensitivity, dragged Ariane away. Finally, I sighed, scanning.
'Injured, but no deaths. Most commoners out. Just rescue the few left on the second floor.'
Decision made, I crept upstairs cautiously.
"I saw him! Slaughtering our guys in our clothes... guk!"
Dispatching a warning assassin, I headed toward life signs.
"M-my fault... my fault...!"
"Hey."
"Eek...! Sorry! I won't seek love from anyone again! Forgive me!"
"Haa..."
I knocked out panicking Lulu in the corner, hoisted her, and walked the hall.
"Y-you! Who are you!"
Ariane blocked me suddenly.
"Behind!!"
"...Ngh!"
Warning her of the approaching assassin on her cry—I anticipated her barrier delay, tackled her down.
Bzzzzt!
Star mana snipe on the assassin. To dazed Ariane, I offered Lulu.
"...Take her and get out."
"B-but people still... and you're bleeding..."
"I'll handle the two next door. Now go."
"...Don't know who you are, but thank you."
Hesitant under my urging, she bowed, took Lulu, and fled.
"You're our savior."
Mulling her words amid throbbing pain, I headed next door.
"Oh no."
"S-save me! I'm sorry!"
A terrified commoner girl cried out.
"Don't know you, but spare me? Please."
Sighing, I knocked her out to evac—Aris shoved in desperately.
"Kill me. I deserve it."
"Haa..."
"If you won't kill, leave me. Just save this girl."
Aris prostrated flat.
"...Please."
Staring briefly, I sighed, pulled her up.
"I'm here to save you."
"Huh?"
"No time. Let's go."
Grabbing Aris and the girl, I rushed out.
"Cough! Cough!!"
"...Hold your breath. Almost at the entrance."
Repelling gas with star mana toward the door—a dagger flew from the side.
"Kyaa!?"
"Run straight ahead. Don't look back."
Recognizing the thrower as the leader, I shoved them forward and blocked the hall.
"You... the mission-ruiner?"
"...Whose solo act is this?"
The scowling leader approached; I questioned. He replied coldly.
"Just following orders."
"...Tch."
Feeling intensifying lunar mana, pain searing, I charged—praying desperately for the Demon King's victory tonight.
......
"Haa... haaa..."
Leaning against the wall, ragged breaths.
"Cough! Cough!!"
Overdid it. Remaining assassins piled on mid-boss fight—drained me.
"Sigh... these damn assassins."
Surveying my bloodied body, I sighed.
"...Frey!! Frey!!"
"Irina."
Eyes shut against more blood, breathing hard—Irina beside me hugged and shook me.
"Don't die! Frey!! My fault—please!"
"...Not dying, idiot."
Gently pushing away her hysterics over the trial's truth, grateful she'd charged in eyes blazing at the crisis, I stood.
"Frey... I'll support you. Hurry..."
"...Wait."
Something wrong. Thought all kids safe—life sign lingers.
"Someone in the basement storeroom."
"Basement?"
Stumbling there, guilt-ridden Irina supported me.
"Frey, no way to give you life force?"
"Nope. Hero's power only for that fantasy."
"Then... my organs..."
"Irina, whatever's eating you... it'll be irrelevant soon, you know."
Smirking at her excessive worry, she drooped limply.
"Wonder which smart kids hid here."
Patting her head, I opened the storeroom door—an unexpected figure sprawled inside.
"...Perloché?"
Perloché limp on the floor. Rushing over, relieved—just fainted.
"Lots of kids here too. All hidden by Perloché?"
"Seems so..."
Guarding the group by her, I spotted her dropped diary nearby.
"...Classic Perloché."
Skimming, I chuckled at her typical contents—then went to set it down.
Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember Remember...
"...Huh?"
The final page crammed with words—I frowned, examining.
First letters of each date
"What? This is..."
Reading the note at the page's edge, I carefully checked each date's first sentence...
"Nice to meet you, it's Perloché. As much as people unaware of shame, now it doesn't matter anyway... Wait."
I recoiled in shock.
"Did a demon curse it...? God, why this trial..."
Looks like I need to talk to Perloché.