Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Suspicious Circumstances of the Experiment (1)
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We kept our mouths firmly shut the entire way back, only exchanging an awkward “Well, then” when it was time to part ways.
Dillon said he’d bury the incident as if it never happened, but I knew he wouldn’t.
‘If he were the type to look the other way, he never would’ve grabbed that medicine and gone all the way there in the first place.’
Who was Dillon, anyway?
He was the guy who’d braved a winter storm to check on rations for the starving cadets, only to get himself in hot water for it.
‘I’d better help him out before he goes charging into the academy all by himself.’
According to Isaiah, Dillon—afflicted with a deep distrust of both the student council and Aegis Academy—was sure to try gathering decisive evidence on his own.
What could count as decisive evidence, though?
As I mulled over our earlier conversation, one possible approach came to mind.
Not that I wanted something like that to happen.
***
“I thought you’d been out for club activities, but you got tangled up in another incident?”
“It was club activities... but why am I the one getting scolded by you?”
“I’m not scolding you. I’m just asking what happened.”
“I’m not in a state where I can give a logical explanation...”
Theodore had been quietly waiting for me in our dorm room.
Perhaps sensing I’d need to eat before diving into the story, he’d even set out a wrapped dinner portion for me on the desk.
My stomach was empty, so I was grateful.
I sated my hunger with the white bread and lemon-butter inside the paper bag, then filled Theodore in on what had happened that day.
‘He’d follow me anyway even if I didn’t tell him.’
The writing club incident had taught me that Theodore was sharper than he let on, and once he latched onto something, he never let go.
Better to be upfront from the start, get his help, and avoid having him tail me in secret—god knows what could happen next time.
“...I find it hard to believe something like that is happening at the academy.”
“I don’t want to get involved either, but it feels off. You saw Adam Peacock with us.”
“That’s true.”
Theodore, ready to go, was dressed quite sloppily.
Unlike usual, he wasn’t wearing his eyepatch or tying back his hair.
On top of that, planning an early bedtime, he was in thick, high-thread-count silk pajamas topped with a gray knit cardigan.
“...In that case, the academy won’t be cooperative, naturally.”
“Yeah. The student council won’t step in without some decisive evidence.”
“Machina, the cadet council president, is in an unprecedentedly weak position right now...”
“That’s what I think too. Hey, Theodore—are you sleepy?”
“Ah... Sorry. I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
To be precise, he hadn’t slept the night before that either.
Even at this early evening hour, I could sense something off in Theodore’s bleary eyes.
‘Is this the start of his sleepwalking episodes?’
He’d been fine so far, but it seemed like the nights he crashed hard were when the symptoms got worse.
If Theodore’s sleepwalking were just pacing around the room, I wouldn’t worry.
But his recently worsening condition involved him unconsciously releasing mana while reliving a past he shouldn’t recall—a dangerous symptom.
“You must be tired, but can I ask one more favor? I need to loop in Judith and Shirley too, so it might get noisy while you’re sleeping.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Thanks.”
With his permission, I roused the dozing Theodore, told him I’d be right back, and asked him not to fall asleep until then.
He nodded, his eyelids heavy with sleep.
‘Perfect timing to fill in Judith and Shirley anyway. I’ll stand watch tonight while they’re here.’
Arthur would find out soon enough, so as long as I just brought those two, it shouldn’t be a problem.
I asked the staff on duty at the dorm annex to summon Judith and Shirley, then headed back to the room.
“Huh, already asleep?”
Theodore had dozed off leaning against the parlor table where we’d been talking.
Fortunately, nothing worrisome had happened.
I supported the half-asleep Theodore back to his room—now the dressing room—and shut the door.
A little later, Judith and Shirley knocked.
“Come in. Theodore’s sleeping, so keep it down.”
“Jeez, Senior, do you think we’re gorillas or something?”
‘How’d she know?’
Shirley froze at my unintended pause.
To keep her from getting worked up, I gently escorted her inside.
Missing her chance to snap back, she let me guide her to a seat.
“How’s Theodore doing?”
“No major issues so far.”
“Hmm...”
Judith crossed her legs, tapping her foot as she glanced toward Theodore’s room—formerly the dressing room.
Both she and Shirley had readily promised to help manage Theodore’s sleepwalking if it started.
They’d surely noticed it was tied to things I hadn’t told them.
“Anyway, sorry to keep dragging you into this—”
“Ugh, I get scared every time you apologize now. What’s it this time? A mad wizard’s human experimentation lab under the island?”
“You already know without me saying.”
“Whaaat?!”
I couldn’t confirm if it was exactly a basement or full-on human experimentation—yet.
I gave them a quick rundown of tailing Dillon and what was currently going down at the academy.
“So, no hard evidence yet, but it’s a safe bet Dillon’s going to make a move soon.”
“All those incidents in a row, and it turns out the academy’s been running on the cadets’ pure sacrificial spirit.”
The string of events had utterly shattered trust in the academy’s system.
Even knowing graduation was just around the corner offered no comfort.
It felt like we were just deciding who’d kill us.
“...If it’s a plague, isn’t that serious? And we’re supposed to sit on our hands?”
“That’s exactly why it’s a problem. It’s the perfect trigger to send cadets into a panic, so the academy will want to cover it up even more.”
“Honestly, it sounds totally absurd.”
I agreed with Shirley.
But from my perspective—having endured the most ridiculous thing of all—this incident actually seemed plausible.
At least the culprits here were clear-cut.
“As strange as it is to say, with classes on hold, we can snoop around under the guise of investigating without raising eyebrows.”
“Swordsmanship majors are a mess too?”
“Don’t ask. You get treated like an idiot just for showing up.”
“Barely any cadets even bother attending. They just submit a week’s worth of excuses to the TA in advance for approval.”
The academy was riddled with loopholes, but no one was to blame.
We decided to start investigating tomorrow and split into teams.
“Me and Arma, then Shirley and Theodore.”
“Got it.”
“Works for me. Any reason for the pairings? Usually you’d group by dorm proximity.”
“Theodore’s been avoiding me, hasn’t he?”
“...H-Has he?”
I hadn’t noticed, but if she said so, it must be true.
Anyway, we hashed out plans until nearly dawn, then took turns catching some shut-eye.
Theodore slept soundly, snoring away, while Judith sat comfortably on the sofa, gazing out the window.
Four hours later, at nine in the morning.
Judith headed out for dawn training, and I had a major lecture first period, so we left Theodore in Shirley’s care and went to the cafeteria.
“Oh, Arma. After hearing your story, something’s been bothering me.”
“What’s that?”
“The hospital wing staff. You said over half ran off, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I saw one of the missing ones running away once. And they all had something in common.”
Judith’s voice dropped.
She waved off the staff offering water and leaned in to whisper.
“They all lived in the same dorm. Grace House, behind the west annex by the ravine—the old hunter’s quarters.”
“That’s—”
“Smells like a lead, right?”
All the staff from one dorm vanishing.
They’d clearly noticed something.
We agreed to attend our lectures, then regroup, and parted ways.
“Come to think of it, the number of masked staff hasn’t gone down.”
“You’re right. Surprisingly loyal, maybe?”
“Loyalty, huh...”
Every time I saw them, I couldn’t help thinking how tightly knit the staff group was, despite lacking an obvious leader.
Large groups always have a central figure who stands out.
At Aegis Academy, Machina filled that role for the student council.
Among the professors, it was Sir Reynolds; even in the tiny four-member classical culture club, Dillon took charge.
But the staff?
I never sensed any reverence or affection toward Sir Reynolds in their demeanor.
“Paying them that well?”
“I’ve considered it, but even then, it’s weird. Arma, would you want a job where you’re stripped of all personal freedoms—like showing your face, speaking freely, or enjoying free time—just to wait on spoiled noble kids?”
Of course not.
Was Aegis Academy your average school?
Excluding direct royals, it was practically overrun with the offspring of every major power.
And were these kids average?
They were all budding elite mages, great or small in talent.
“Even with hazard pay, I’d pass.”
“Right?”
Judith and I glanced at the staff busily trimming garden trees and tidying the training grounds since morning, then split off to our schedules.
