Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Frenzy of Derailment - 1
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Leaving yesterday's commotion behind, Leonardo stepped out of his room with a refreshed expression.
He had gotten a good night's sleep for the first time in ages, his fatigue was gone, and he still had vacation days left to enjoy.
[Gonna go have some fun?]
Coming to this mysterious city only to hole up in his room doing magic research felt like a waste.
He needed some entertainment like this too.
[Then take Ariasfil along?]
<Of course. The young lady needs rest days too.>
Ariasfil had quickly mastered spirit arts, so taking a break as a reward wasn't a bad idea.
[Then, one favor after. It'll kill the mood, but it has to be done.]
<You always kill the mood.>
[That's true, but this one's heavier, kid.]
The Sage asked with a serious expression.
[What happened in your previous life?]
<...>
It was a question he knew would come someday.
He had just been dodging it, and the Sage had tactfully gone along.
It was a question he had to face eventually.
[No need to answer now. Do it tonight. You need time to sort your thoughts.]
<...Yes, I will answer.>
With that promise, Leo headed outside.
[But do you even know where Ariasfil is?]
<She'll be somewhere appropriate.>
[That's your explanation?]
Ignoring the nitpicking, Leo calmly pointed to a distant building. It was the mage tower's restaurant with its wide windows.
<There she is.>
[What are you, a bloodhound? How do you pinpoint Ariasfil like that?]
<What's a bloodhound?>
Bloodhound? It made him sound like Ariasfil's pet dog. He was her knight, thank you very much.
"We can grab a meal on the way."
It was late morning, and he hadn't eaten breakfast, so handling it at the cafeteria wasn't bad.
[Is the mage tower food decent?]
<Cheap prices, big portions.>
If they didn't provide proper food, the graduate students would riot. Soldiers shot officers over bad rations—what made students different?
"Ah, Leonardo."
A weary grad student waved at Leo with a healthy smile. Without that ring, the orange juice he was drinking would probably be caffeine concentrate or a recovery potion.
"Good morning. Young lady."
Ariasfil was eating a breakfast set of sausages and scrambled eggs.
"Oh? Oh...! Good morning!"
Ariasfil turned with a flustered look, then focused back on her meal. But seeing the thick, long sausage made her even more flustered.
<What's her deal? Bad taste? >
[Too big and thick to fit in one bite, probably.]
It sounded plausible, but the tone and expression were suspicious. Still, doubting it felt pathetic, so he kept quiet.
"Guess I'll have the cafeteria food too."
"Today's special is good. Want that?"
Looking at the menu, a special with heaps of bacon and sausage stood out.
"Oh, sounds good. I'll go order."
With that, Leo stood and headed to the counter. The cafeteria took cash besides vouchers, convenient for him.
"Here..."
"Over here...!"
As he reached the counter, a girl approached. With a trembling voice and face, she said,
"Ex...! If it's okay, would you... eat with me...? Maybe tea too...!"
The bustling cafeteria fell silent. Everyone who saw the library incident knew, and rumors had spread far.
Leo and Ariasfil being lovers was established fact.
Such reckless behavior was shocking.
"...Um... Miss Ariasfil...?"
The one who established that fact gripped her knife, staring at the unpleasant scene.
Ameri trembled like a small animal in fear at those venomous eyes and bloodthirsty knife.
'...He'll refuse anyway. He didn't fall for that ugly female mage last time either...!'
After a brief silence, Leonardo looked at the trembling girl and replied.
"Perfect timing, just before ordering. Sure. I'll tell my companion. Okay?"
Stab, stab stab!
Ariasfil brutally stabbed the sausages on her plate for some reason. The long, thick casings burst, meat scattering around.
Leonardo returned to the table.
"Miss Ariasfil, sorry, mind if I step away briefly?"
"Y-Yeah...! Of course...!"
Fork crushing sausage, juices burst out. It was barely recognizable as meat now.
"Leonardo, if you really want to...! I won't interfere...! Of course...!"
Anyone could see she was about to explode. The juice on her knife and fork looked like blood.
"Thanks for understanding. Back soon."
"R...Right...?"
Ariasfil couldn't grab Leo, biting her lip until it turned blue.
Leo left the cafeteria anyway.
[You okay with this? Really, she might...]
<Didn't you see her face?>
At an outdoor cafe table, Leo and the girl sat after ordering food and drinks.
She was so tense her legs shook carelessly, fingers twitching. Her face was deathly pale, eyes unsteady like she was ill.
[...What's her deal? That into you?]
<...If only it were that.>
Leonardo looked around with a complicated expression.
<...Two... no, three?>
Persistent gazes directed here.
He had a hunch on two, but the third was the problem.
[What? What's up?]
<Quiet now. Can't respond from here.>
With that Aura message, Leonardo focused on the girl.
"I forgot to ask your name. What is it?"
The girl opened her mouth nervously.
"Irina Ritei..."
"You're shivering. Irina, cold?"
With typical words, Leo lightly touched her hand. A rude act he'd normally avoid, but necessary.
<Who ordered you?>
Physical contact was needed to transmit Aura sound without leaking.
"...That woman...! Leo...!!"
"Leonardo...?!"
Ariasfil and Ameri watching from afar could only misunderstand, but that was for later.
"Yes...!?"
<Calm down. This is like telepathy—no one hears. No magic circle, so undetectable.>
The Sage inwardly admired. Leo spotted immediately she wasn't shaking from shyness.
'...Too obviously suspicious.'
Meal invites were understandable—people like people without logic. But her behavior screamed suspicion.
Normally, private meets are in quiet spots, but she approached rigidly, like following orders.
Even ignoring that, genuine interest means focus despite embarrassment.
'But she's terrified. Not shy. Her reaction confirms the worst.'
Irina Ritei didn't deny his deduction.
<They're watching us now. Answer verbally or in writing, instant kill? Scratch left cheek yes, right no.>
She hesitated, then scratched her left cheek.
[Ordered? A date...?]
The culprit's goal was clear, identity roughly known.
Her demeanor suggested victim, not accomplice.
<They want you dead? Drop napkin yes, just pull no.>
She slowly pulled and dropped a napkin.
"Oops, I'll get it."
Leo naturally released her hand, picked it up, and placed his outer coat on her shoulder.
"Cover up? Your hands are cold."
<Only you hostage? More? Yes or no.>
Irina trembled, then spoke.
"Yes..."
"Got it."
Worst avoided. More hostages would've been impossible alone.
Relieved, Leo draped the coat on her back.
'Black Rock as thin thread...'
He thinned a Black Rock bracelet fragment into thread, attaching it to the coat. Enemy watching from range wouldn't notice.
<Don't remove coat. Thread acts like a phone.>
Simple sounds might not transmit, but Black Rock's high Aura conductivity allowed secret talk with his skill.
<One orderer? Multiple? Pull left shoulder one, right multiple.>
She tugged left. Best-case for now—multiples with hostages would've been dire.
<Next order? Lured me out, so more instructions.>
Date was just one method—not key.
She had other ways from the tower.
Problem was next steps—to save them both, uncover orders.
<Answer with drink. No sipping till food arrives. Sip if matches what I say.>
Food and tea arrived. Leo ate breakfast casually, questioning.
<Hidden spot, you choose location?>
Irina ate stoically without drinking, like chewing rocks. No time to care.
<Designated alley or room?>
She sipped tea with effort.
<Understood. Follow orders, lead me there.>
She looked at Leo in panic, food held unnaturally.
"Great food. Nice cafe. Thanks."
<Don't lead now, you die. Take me to spot, I'll handle enemy. Seek guards or bystanders then.>
Best plan from info so far.
If it worked, both survived.
"Shall we go quick?"
"...Pardon?"
<Too slow raises suspicion. Attack expected, counter easy.>
Leo offered his hand. Holding prevented her death on attack.
"Let's go."
Irina and Leonardo ran like lovers in a play.
Ariasfil's group missed spying; pursuer got better assassination chance.
Entering the alley revealed a dead-end dark path.
<Tempt me naturally. Kiss pose best.>
That'd trigger ambush.
"Here..."
Irina leaned Leo against the wall, eyes closed, lips out. Romantic if unaware.
Clang!
Hooded figure swung sword at Leo's neck, aiming to take Irina too.
Without Black Rock dagger block, both heads would've rolled together.
"You? The one behind this mess."
Leo shoved Irina out, roundhouse-kicking the hood. Crunch—skull and spine shattered.
"Argh!"
"Go as told, Irina!"
Following orders, Irina fled in terror.
Convenient—Leo extended dagger to longsword.
"Train incident before, missing persons now—you're involved. Knew you survived. Talk at tower guards slowly."
"...Commoner still playing petty tricks."
Leo sensed deviation. Even dark mage, broken spine paralyzes speech, causes breathing issues.
[...That guy's no dark mage.]
As Sage said, not a dark mage. Curse or emission spell would've been easier.
"Forgot me? I never forgot your face in two years."
Hood off revealed familiar face.
Neck scar new, but confirmed identity.
"...Fuck... you..."
[...Not assassinated. That bastard...]
Ariasfil's former Escort Knight glared calmly with reverse eyes.
[Became a fiend. Sold his soul.]
Fiend Jehard laughed maniacally.
"Nothing better, sold family to devil?"
That laugh matched two years ago, shown to family and fiancée sacrificed in ritual.