Chapter 71 - The Second Trial
"Perloché! Get up!"
"......."
"Perloché!"
I shook her for a good long while, but there was no sign of her waking. Thanks to that, after sweating bullets for ages, I suddenly heard the ragged breathing of the kids collapsed beside her and muttered with a worried frown.
"Hmm... Should I move the kids first?"
"You stay put! I'll handle moving them myself!"
Then Irina, who was next to me, hurriedly shoved me toward the wall and started lifting the unconscious children.
"...Perloché, answer me. What the hell does this mean?"
I watched her for a moment before turning back to Perloché and asking in a low voice.
But all that came back wasn't Perloché's clear voice—just her steady breathing.
"This is weird... She looks like she's just sleeping."
I checked with the hero's power in case her life force was low, but no, that wasn't it.
So why the hell was Perloché sleeping so soundly?
That said, there's definitely something about Perloché. That's for sure.
Unable to make any further judgments without proper medical knowledge, I shifted my thoughts to the message she'd left.
Looking at the word "Remember" scrawled densely on the last page of her diary, it was clear she'd intentionally left the message "Half the Demon God."
So how had Perloché managed to leave such a message?
This is strange. Back in the past loops, maybe, but right now she's... a total airhead, isn't she?
I briefly considered if all her actions were an act, but there were too many natural moments for that, so I shook my head.
I've been acting for so long myself—I'd spot someone else's performance. There has to be another reason.
As I pondered deeper, a similar situation flashed through my mind.
Come to think of it... She mentioned the Demon God at the orphanage too.
At this point, it was certain. Perloché knew something definite about the Demon God.
And she was subtly revealing it.
I couldn't infer much more without additional info, but grasping a clue to this world's secrets lifted my spirits.
"...Up we go."
After flipping through Perloché's diary for a bit and realizing there was nothing more to glean, I stood up.
"Frey? I told you to sit!"
Irina, who had already carried several kids outside and returned to the basement, tried to stop me.
"You're hurt pretty bad too, Irina."
I gave her a short reply, scooped up Perloché, and headed out of the basement.
"...Ugh."
As I slowly made my way out of the mansion, emitting star mana, a faint groan came from my feet.
"What, you weren't dead?"
Thinking maybe we'd missed a student, I looked down—and there was the assassin leader, collapsed on the floor, groaning.
"Who... the hell are you..."
As I stared down at him coldly, he rasped the question.
"Whose orders were these?"
"Grrgh...!"
I crushed his finger and fired back, and he started gurgling blood.
"...Suicide, huh."
Suddenly, he vomited blood and went limp. Looked like he'd bitten into a hidden poison pill.
"Foolish bastards."
The assassins under the Moonlight family nowadays didn't serve out of justice or duty—just blind obedience to "orders."
That's why they turned more brutal than anyone once a mission started.
I don't know what that sub-plan was, but if it'd gone off... we'd have been in deep shit.
Those who knew the Moonlight family's true nature as assassins over a millennium were limited to a few marquess houses, the three dukes, and the imperial family.
Not just tight info control, but mainly their rule: leave no witnesses to an assassination.
For all their fearsome ruthlessness, the Moonlights had been a fairly upright group until recently.
Over ages, they'd only targeted corrupt officials or threats to the empire, honing skills to minimize needless kills.
Thus, their "witness elimination" rule had rarely come into play—they'd overwhelm targets before eyes could witness, or bluff and spin info wars if spotted.
But the imperial family's fall changed everything. Without their cover for hiding info and cleanup, the Moonlights hit limits on solo info ops.
They trudged on alone somehow, until the current "secret shadow lord" seized power, enforced the witness rule fully, and they spiraled.
Idealists and duty-bound killers were purged. Now the Moonlights were the shadow lord's personal thugs—left with power-hungry execs, bloodthirsty psychos, and order-worshipping zombies.
The biggest issue: this mad pack would soon serve the shadow lord's selfish greed and power lust.
For now, the elder council gave pretext, targeting corrupt folks... like me.
But in a few years, the shadow lord would dominate even them, wielding the family assassins at whim.
But that's ending today.
Serena's handpicked aides, assassins, and remaining conscionable folk were all in hiding with her now.
So if the op against the Demon King's army succeeded today...
"Th-there he is!"
"Perloché!!"
Lost in Moonlight thoughts as I exited the gate, the kids rushed toward me frantically.
"...Whoops."
Fearing my identity slip, I hastily set Perloché down and slipped into the shadows.
"Who's that guy...?"
"That black outfit—it's what the attackers wore, right?"
Whispers caught my ear; I focused star mana and eavesdropped—quite the entertaining chatter.
"Nah, he saved us. He pulled us out from under the table earlier."
"Yeah... We were chased by two thugs, but he blocked them and sent us to the exit."
"He's covered in blood... Wasn't like that before. Hope he's okay?"
I paused to listen, relieved no one clocked me, then sighed in relief and headed inside.
"Hah... huff..."
"...Irina, you okay?"
"Y-yeah, still good... This much is..."
Spotting Irina supporting two kids, I smirked and asked.
"Aren't you outta shape?"
"N-no... This is... nothing..."
"...You, get outside. I'll take over here."
As I chuckled at her sweating response, someone called from behind.
"It's dangerous here—you should—"
"I can use protection magic, no problem. And I'm stronger than him anyway."
Whirling in surprise, I saw stern-faced Ariane and tried sending her out, but she wouldn't budge.
"You look seriously hurt—you need treatment. Go on."
"No need. This wound's—"
My injuries were bad, as she said, but carrying kids one by one? Easy.
So...
Barrier erected.
"Get treated. You'll die like that."
Ariane blocked my path with a shield, face full of worry, so I finally nodded and left the mansion.
"Who are you?"
"Are your wounds okay?"
Collapsing in the yard, students gathered around me one by one.
"Thank you for helping us."
""Thank you!""
I stayed silent as they bowed in thanks.
...I don't deserve thanks.
No matter how I spun it, I didn't deserve it. Hadn't I dragged them into this mess?
"Cough! Cough!!"
With that thought, I slowly rose, staggering away.
"W-wait!"
Some students called, but I didn't stop.
"Haa..."
After walking far, I reached the playground where Serena and I had lain stargazing, sat on the swing, and sighed.
"...This has to count as the second trial, right?"
Muttering as I gazed at the starry, moonlit sky, I sensed footsteps behind me.
"Frey."
"Whoa!"
I jolted up from the swing, spotting stern-faced Irina, and smirked.
"What're you doing here?"
"Well... um..."
She hesitated, then cautiously sat beside me.
"...The princess and professor arrived."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. The princess is pale, checking the kids... Professor's staring at the mansion, stone-faced."
"Imperial guards'll come soon, then."
I sighed, starting to swing gently.
"Hold still. Moving's dangerous now."
"...Ah."
Irina grabbed the swing urgently, voice worried.
I wondered why, then saw it blood-soaked—yeah, no straining it.
"...Frey, when do you think the second trial hits?"
As I mulled, Irina asked in a trembling voice.
"Mm... After this mess wraps fully."
"I... see."
I replied calmly; her eyes quivered.
"Eh, this trial's no big deal anyway..."
"...How's that no big deal?"
To ease her over-worrying— she'd fretted about trials forever—I put on a relaxed face, but she cut in, raising her voice.
"You're gonna relive something you never wanted to! And that's no big deal?"
Her hands shook as she spoke.
"It's just showing the fork. Not real—didn't happen since we stopped it. No issue."
I took her hand gently; head bowed, she slowly looked up.
"Frey, one favor."
"What?"
"Let me go through the trial with you."
She gripped my hand tight.
"It's my fault you get these trials anyway. So..."
"Nonsense, Irina. Not your fault."
"...Frey."
She started to speak haltingly, but I cut her firm; tears welled in her eyes.
"Sorry... I'm so sorry..."
"Jeez, why're you like this..."
Even with black magic in her, mana exhaustion made casting a strain.
Yet she'd given her all protecting the kids today.
This mess was the rogue assassins' mad raid—not her doing.
But she felt too responsible. My morning "keep the kids safe" plea? Or just her kind heart?
Either way, time to soothe her.
"Irina, you're really..."
"Frey, I have a confession."
As I gently patted her back, she buried her face in my chest, sobbing—then stopped abruptly, murmuring low.
"Confession?"
"...Yeah, something I have to tell you."
She lifted her head, face streaked with tears and guilt, and began.
"Honestly, I was too scared to tell you. That's why... I haven't said it till now."
"...Yeah?"
"Yeah. Once you hear, you'll probably hate me."
Hearing that, baffled at what she'd done to say such a thing, I started persuading her.
"Wh... Irina? Whatever you did to me, it was justified. Back then, I deserved death. No need for guilt."
"But... but Frey..."
Despite my words, she bit her lip, face ashen, and haltingly confessed.
"...The one who cursed you with the Curse of Twelve O'Clock... was me."
Finished, she pulled away slightly, peeking at me with fear-filled eyes.
"Pfft!"
"F-Frey?"
She looked so damn cute, I burst out laughing unwittingly.
She panicked, gauging my reaction.
"I already knew that. Thought I wouldn't?"
"Wh-what do you mean...!?"
Her ashen face trembled as she stammered back.
"You used it on me at the freshman welcome."
"Ah, ahh..."
I teased with a mock frown; she shivered violently.
"F-Frey... I... that was..."
"That all you had to confess?"
"...Huh?"
As she fumbled words, I cut in casually; she went blank.
"I get murder attempts daily—what's one curse."
"But! That curse..."
"Sure, 100% fatality rate. But I blocked it fine, and you're mana-exhausted from the backlash? We're even."
"Frey, but..."
"Drop it. No more pointless guilt. Thought it was something big."
Still soothing her, I spotted a familiar being flying from the distant sky, ended the talk firmly, and extended my hand.
"Gugu!"
The white owl landed naturally on my hand, tilted its head, then glared at Irina beside me.
"Ow! Ouch! Oww!"
"Lemme see... What letter this time..."
I watched the owl hunt Irina briefly, then eyed the letter it dropped before me.
Please reply that you're alive. Please.
"...She was really worried."
Messy handwriting unlike Serena, paper unfolded—no envelope. She must've fretted hard.
"...Hey, gimme a pen."
"Gugu! Gu!"
"Quit tormenting her and hand over the pen."
Smiling at the letter, I grabbed the owl pecking Irina, plucked the pen from its leg.
Safe. Escaped safely.
Love you.
I wrote on the back, pondered, added briefly.
Smirking at my addition, I offered the paper to the owl now perched on my head, staring holes through it.
"Gugu!"
It looked satisfied—like it'd read it—patted my head with a wing, snatched the paper, and soared far into the sky.
The system's second trial has begun!
"...Damn."
A system window popped up. Guess my letter was the trigger closing this incident.
"Frey? What's wrong?"
"...Second trial's here."
".....!"
Irina paled in fear.
I patted her shoulder gently.
"It's fine—like I said, not real. Just experiencing a 'what if' we already averted."
"Frey! Let me come with—!"
She reached desperately, but...
"...It's starting."
She withdrew her hand, pouted, then shut up.
From that instant, everything reversed.
The owl flying afar looped back, landed on my head, attacked Irina.
Irina, pouting, stood and backed away.
I too rose, reverse-stepped toward the distant mansion.
Kept backing: coughing, stumbling, blood on ground re-sucking into my body—weird as hell—till I reached the yard.
"Speeding up, huh?"
Then it accelerated wildly.
Students bowing then straightening flashed by; suddenly in basement.
Gazing at fallen Perloché, dead assassin leader blocks me outta nowhere.
Kept rewinding—past, past—till the scene halted.
"Ha, so this was the fork."
The radio that cut off mid-earlier kept playing; I hardened my face, scanning around.
I scowled, clicking my tongue.
Good thing I killed 'em all.
Time to watch this world's bad ending.