Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Hunted Names
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“Chief, here.”
Doran Slade, section chief of the 1st Special Division, took the document folder offered by his subordinate mage, Lunnen.
It was a damage report and list of the deceased. The results of the recent murder spree at the Alliance’s border branch were recorded there.
Skimming the victim list, Doran quickly grasped what the documents implied.
“Hm, it looks like they disguised it as a retaliatory attack, but the real goal was gathering information. With some misdirection thrown in.”
“That’s right. And take a look at the names of the missing or deceased.”
The victims had no obvious connections. Different origins, ages, and activity areas that were worlds apart.
Only one thing in common: every single one was named Rain.
The crows are hunting Rain Ludwig… Doran’s eyes narrowed slightly, revealing cold irises.
“I wonder what went down at <Ledacable> to get the Black Church this fired up and searching everywhere.”
“Shouldn’t we take protective measures? There are only two adventurers named Rain left now, including the fake Rain.”
“No, if we step in here, they’ll go to ground immediately. Let’s wait until they bite.”
If my guess is right… Tureina’s lackey is already inside <Delaiten>. They’re hunting Rain so openly now, so that guy should be moving soon.
“But if we wait longer, won’t the fake Rain be in too much danger?”
“Who knows. We’ll see, but he probably won’t die or anything.”
Rain Ludwig was a freak of nature, strong beyond his young age. Whether due to the magical talent inherited from his parents… if he grew smoothly, he’d surely become a leader of the magic world.
So the one to worry about now was the other Rain.
“I’ll handle this one. You stand by near the school with Ms. Tyrintid. Intervene the moment black magic is detected.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, and capture them alive if possible. We need to figure out exactly how they plan to resurrect Lin.”
He knew the goal. The problem was the process and methods to achieve it.
The enemy was a shrine maiden who’d accomplished legendary feats. Even assuming the worst of the worst wasn’t enough.
He smiled faintly, but his thoughts were grim.
‘To stop a monster like that, we might actually need to resurrect Lin instead.’
* * *
“This is outrageous!”
The auditorium assembly had barely ended when he rushed to the chancellor’s office.
Ever since tutoring Kasena, visiting the chancellor’s office had become routine. The secretary no longer tried to stop him, simply announcing Rain’s arrival and ushering him in.
“I have no idea what you mean.”
Madelia Page feigned ignorance with shameless ease.
“Enrolling Kasena in school. And making me her tutor…?”
“I merely followed long-standing tradition. It just happened that you were the top cadet after enrolling her.”
Was this really coincidence? Would Madelia have pulled this stunt if someone else were top cadet?
Reading the mix of emotions on his face, Madelia sighed with a wry smile.
“Truth be told, your presence is exactly why I could make this call. Kasena wanted it too.”
“Even so…”
“My daughter, so her aptitude is guaranteed. All I ask is that you keep her from embarrassing herself in the upcoming finals.”
Was it that simple?
Kasena had inherited the finest magical bloodline, but in her current state, competing with other cadets was questionable.
His head throbbed, and he squeezed his eyes shut. Madelia finally spoke in a soothing tone.
“Of course, I’m not shameless enough to just take without giving. How about a second deal?”
“Pardon?”
“Kenis, bring the gold pass.”
Her secretary Kenis fetched a curtain made of purple silk, embroidered with the Page family crest of intertwined golden roses in luxurious detail.
“This is a pass for free access to the central library’s forbidden collection. Third class—Hum level only, of course.”
“???!!!”
“You’re cut from the same cloth as me… with an endless thirst for knowledge. Well? Don’t you want it?”
She dangled the pass before him like a fish before a cat, and drool nearly formed.
With terms this good, there was no reason to refuse. Could things really fall into place this easily?
Think about it. How much had he groveled for that one book from Tureina…? And now, free access to those kinds of tomes?
‘Hold on, this is the devil’s temptation.’
The devil’s temptation.
Devil’s temptation, but… ugh, he couldn’t resist.
His trembling hand stretched toward the pass of its own accord.
“Honestly, I’d love to teach the young lady more myself? I can’t pass up a chance like this.”
Madelia blinked in disbelief.
“I was worried she’d inherited her father’s stubborn streak, but this? I like it.”
She soon flashed a sly smile. The deal was sealed.
“Of course, I used you as bait, but this is just a fraction of the reward you deserve.”
“Reward? What reward?”
“Trying to play humble now? Heh, we’ll talk after finals. You and I will both be too busy until then.”
He didn’t ponder her words deeply. The texture of the pass in his hand was far more captivating.
“Heh heh.”
Without hiding his grin, he stroked the pass repeatedly as he left the office and closed the door.
“What’re you grinning like an idiot for?”
A voice from beside him made him blink in surprise. Kasena Page stood there in her uniform.
‘Hm, it suits her better than expected.’
One difference: she wasn’t wearing the pure white cape.
Whether because it got in the way of her crutches or just annoying, who knew.
He scanned her blouse-only outfit up and down, and Kasena made no effort to hide her excitement.
“Today’s school tour! You’re my guide, Rain, so show me every nook and cranny!”
She chattered loud enough to hurt his ears, drawing an involuntary sigh.
“What! Why sigh?!”
“Miss, do you even grasp your situation?”
“Wh… what?”
“Finals are in two weeks. I was asked to keep you from embarrassing yourself. School tour? Do you have 72 hours in a day?”
Mocking others’ mistakes had been his specialty since his Lin days.
‘Though I’ve held back since becoming Rain.’
Kasena flinched, mumbling, then pouted primly.
“Uh, I know! Just messing with you!”
Sure, sure.
Real prank, huh?
Then why the wilted expression?
“So, where to now?”
“To class. We skipped it for the orientation today, but it’s first period now.”
“Ah, got it!”
She wilted again, but as the first-year faculty building, Dragon Slumber Hall, came into view, her eyes sparkled.
Watching cadets enter from afar, she fussily adjusted her uniform.
She’d probably thought she’d never set foot in <Delaiten> her whole life… new emotions stirring, huh. He just smirked without comment.
“Wait, hold on!”
As he reached for the classroom door, Kasena stopped him quick, hand on chest, taking a quiet breath.
The young lady still carried the honesty and shyness of a six-year-old girl.
So thinking, she finally nodded that she was ready.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The classroom, buzzing with talk of Kasena, fell into sharp silence the moment they appeared.
These two showing up so chummy proved the rumors that had spread across the city were true.
Christa Warden was among those staring blankly, and Gertrude chattered beside her, amused.
“Oh my! Does that mean the elopement rumor was real?”
Rain usually ignored gossip, but he worried a bit for Kasena, who minded others’ stares. No need, though.
“Wowww…!”
She gasped in awe, hushed. The classroom, the classroom. The one from her dreams, and she was here… Kasena pointed to a window seat.
“Classroom means window seat! I’ll take that one! Come on, Rain!”
Her innocent adventure soon slammed into a massive mountain: Christa, arms crossed arrogantly.
“Rain, talk to me.”
Kasena instinctively bristled at Christa calling his name so casually. Her eyes narrowed.
“Rain’s talking to me.”
Blocking Rain, Kasena stood firm, and Christa’s brows shot up. Their gazes clashed, sparks flying.
“Just a moment… miss?”
Even Christa added honorifics late. Only the five great electors outranked the Page family.
“You got 72 hours in a day?! ‘Just a moment’ my foot! Finals are soon!”
Rain stared at Kasena’s head in disbelief. That’s my line from earlier. You calling her out on it?
“Th-that’s true, but…”
Christa went mute at the unexpected straight talk.
‘They’re clashing…!’
‘Warden vs. Page…!’
‘All over a guy’s personality…!’
Cadets held their breath. Weiber from Rohwinen Academy furrowed his brow in disbelief, and Gertrude stifled laughter behind her hand.
Seizing the momentum, Kasena eyed Christa suspiciously, then turned to Rain.
“Rain, who’s this villain-lookalike?! You hang with types like her?”
“Villain? Keep talking trash without knowing me, and you’re the villain!”
They had met once, actually.
But back then, Christa was unremarkable in skill and looks, while Kasena’s hair alone stuck in memories.
“‘You’? No class, spouting that! So, what’s your deal with Rain?”
“De, deal…? I’m his rival! Arch-nemesis competing for top graduation! And you, what’re you to him?”
“Funny! You, Rain’s rival? I’m his employer. He’s my tutor! If anything, call me mistress!”
Rain, ignoring their bickering until it involved him, cut in firmly.
“No, that’s not it.”
“Same-age tutor?” No one stayed calm at that, but Christa Warden, whose life was learned from novels, took the biggest hit.
Tutor? Tutor?!
To Christa, a male tutor was the perfect greenhouse for love to bloom. Staple trope in countless stories.
“Now I get it. You worked our lady to the bone for 40 days, while Rain here was two-timing elsewhere?”
Gertrude nodded sagely, twisting the point bizarrely.
“Wh-what bullshit, you again!”
Christa raised a fist, and Gertrude bolted.
But not wrong. Watching Rain doze in class, Christa had gritted her teeth, skimping sleep to study…
Now the center of stares thanks to Gertrude’s scheme, Christa’s face burned beet red.
“I, I, I…”
“You?”
Rain, uninterested in the scionesses’ spat (he cared little for others anyway), yawned lazily, sat, and pulled out his textbook.
“Men and women shouldn’t sit together past seven!!!”
Christa grabbed Rain’s collar tight and shook him wildly.
“You punk! Skipping study for what, huh?! What about our showdown, huh?!”
“No, see, this was… an act of God, kinda…”
“Act of God my ass! Don’t know ‘men and women apart past seven’?!