Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Saint in the Storm (1)
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How should I have acted to make the wisest decision?
It was too late for regrets now. What was done was done.
The news in William's extra edition spread much faster than expected, becoming the biggest gossip since the "Cale Ace murder case."
"Arma. Brought your meal."
"Thanks."
Judith opened the door to the empty民家 and set down the basket of food tucked under her arm.
Right now, with Dylan's help, I was hiding out in this vacant民家.
A few coats small enough for a child to wear, a chipped teacup, small worn wooden utensils...
I didn't ask whose house this was. It was obvious enough without saying.
"The academy?"
"It's a total mess. I just kicked out some guys trying to catch me and Shirley. One really strong hired thug came at me, so I shook him off."
"Sorry for dragging you into this."
"Don't worry about it."
After the extra editions went out, Chancellor Sir Reynolds had gone mad trying to meet with me.
It wasn't hard to predict the chancellor would react that way.
Just before William distributed them, like the other cadets, I'd submitted a week's leave request, gotten it approved, and left.
In other words, for the next week, no matter where I was, the chancellor couldn't interfere with me.
'Even if we met, he'd just try to shut me up.'
So I'd taken the artificial soul—the magic device in question—and left the academy grounds.
With the actual evidence already secured, there was no point arguing back and forth with Sir Reynolds.
Besides, the point of this incident was public exposure.
If the attention didn't die down easily, Sir Reynolds would naturally cut off loose ends.
Still, I'd chosen this timing because I knew how people rationalize things to themselves over time.
"You think people will follow your lead, like you said?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Who knows."
"Reckless."
Judith sat across from me, legs crossed, staring steadily.
Her gaze made me self-conscious, so I fussed with my clothes.
'Surely she hasn't figured it out?'
A chill ran through me, and I checked the buttons on my tightly fastened cuffs.
Unable to read her intent in that look, I tilted my head. Judith nodded at the basket she'd just brought.
"Oh."
"You're making a habit of skipping meals."
"Not quite yet..."
Judith shook her head at my mumbling excuse.
"You're definitely slacking off. A few years ago, you were so diligent about taking your meds."
"I've just had more things to worry about. Don't worry. I'll eat."
Part of why Judith fussed over me now was concern for my health, but it was also fallout from when the guardian angel possessed my body.
I figured setting a routine would be good for me and everyone around me.
"Oh, and I brought what you asked for. Theodor restored it, but he said it's not perfect."
"Ah, that's fine. Thanks."
I stuffed a white bread roll with cheese and a seasonal veggie sandwich from the basket into my mouth, then took the other package Judith handed me.
Unwrapping the navy silk revealed a single shroud that brought back horrific memories.
"How'd you know it would still be around? I thought it'd been disposed of after the Full Moon Festival."
"Sir Reynolds probably wanted to trash it, but I didn't think Machina would jump the gun on that. And..."
"And?"
"Even if disposal was ordered, the person who changed my clothes wouldn't have just let it go like that."
Collette, who had treated "Executioner" with such reverence, wouldn't carelessly discard the executioner's garb.
Whether Machina's preservation order or Collette's judgment came first, I didn't know, but having the shroud intact was a huge stroke of luck for me.
I held up the Full Moon Festival shroud, with its silver skull-like embroidery, against my body.
"This'll do. Actually, the burn marks might work in my favor."
The current "me" was Aegis's executioner and a pitiful victim of forbidden experiments.
In other words, despite my past desire for a normal life, I was now the academy's hottest topic.
It was absurd that I was willingly stepping back into the executioner's role I'd fought to escape—
'But I have to use everything I can.'
It was faster to leverage what already existed than start from scratch.
I tidied the shroud's hem so no ashes would fall, then focused on finishing my sandwich.
That way, Judith could return to the academy with peace of mind, knowing I was safe.
"Oh—by the way, one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"...Arthur? Master's class exam is this week."
I'd grown somewhat close to Arthur these past months, and I worried this incident might shake him mentally.
Even if he wasn't directly involved, the revelation of forbidden experiments in the academy would rattle anyone.
No matter how sharply Arthur separated the academy from himself, some unease was inevitable.
"He's shockingly unshaken. Probably forcing it, though."
"Yeah, can't show weakness before a big exam."
It was unfortunate timing for Arthur.
Judith waited until I finished eating, then stood, saying she'd come back that afternoon.
"Wait, Judith. One favor."
"What?"
"Deliver this note for me."
Judith took the neatly folded paper from me, checked the front, and gave a puzzled look.
"How do you know them?"
"Very well."
"...Really?"
She still looked skeptical, but it wasn't exactly a lie.
They knew me very well.
Unlike me.
I lay down on the narrow, cold bed in this now-masterless home.
Thinking about what I was about to do made my stomach turn.
'Dylan just needs to come back now...'
I waited anxiously for Dylan.
The stage was set. All that remained was patience.
***
But Dylan didn't return until Wednesday evening, when the indictment was announced.
He'd clearly failed to convince Collette.
***
-Murmurs.
The chapel, large enough for the entire academy, was packed with an unprecedented crowd.
Naturally, the reason for the turnout was me.
I was in the waiting room—usually for Black Lily House cadets before services—dressed in the Full Moon Festival shroud, practically my vestments.
"Are you sure you want me to dress you exactly like before? I mean, is Johanna's makeover from that day okay?"
Just like then, Eugene Scale was helping me into the clothes.
'More than okay.'
Anything else would be a problem.
I needed to be that Arma Cruise from before: leaping from the platform in a burning shroud, clutching the Star Cross, in front of the whole school.
My goal was to appear exactly as in that most memorable moment—to draw every eye and, if possible, stir emotions.
"All set. What about the holster?"
"My companion will come. Give it to them."
"Ah, got it. I'll hold onto it until then."
"Please do."
Eugene smiled brightly at my words and tucked the holster into her bag.
She'd kindly brought her accessory collection from that day for me.
After confirming the holster went in with it, I slowly stood.
"Um, by the way."
"Yes?"
"Not that I'm suspicious or anything—but that device."
"Yeah."
"Was Cale Ace a victim of it?"
"Probably not."
Too many oddities for Cale Ace to have died from that device.
For one, he was a cadet at magic-savvy Aegis Academy.
No fool would face a life threat without casting defensive spells.
Yet the scene showed no such traces.
And why connect someone to a delicate needle device to kill them?
Unless the killer had some bizarre fetish.
Eugene's face darkened at my answer, and she nodded.
"I hope it gets solved soon. It's terrifying. To think this happened at my academy..."
Her words were exactly what I wanted to say.
How did this even happen?
There had to be more buried behind the incident.
"We have to make sure it never happens again."
Hearing the bell toll the hour, I left the waiting room in my shroud.
-She came out!
-Executioner...
-Was she really an experiment victim?
Moonlight poured through the windows shaped like the Creation God Aegis's symbol.
Unlike usual, the massive chandelier was lit.
No need for darkness today, since we weren't here for worship.
The stares focused on me were piercing.
Of course, amid them were still those who hated or despised me, but the temperature was worlds apart from the student trial.
"Cadet Arma Cruise. Come forward."
At the altar stood Machina Christie, dressed near-perfectly in vestments, waiting just like that day.
A true saint, backlighted by the pouring moonlight.
Which side hid beneath that gentle smile?
But now wasn't the time for my personal feelings.
I needed to lean on Machina's authority again.
"Very well—"
-Clap clap clap clap clap...
As Machina began proceedings like always, scattered applause from somewhere swelled into thunderous cheers.
I'd half-expected this.
Now all the cadets were standing, applauding wildly; impossible to pinpoint the source.
'In the end, it comes to this.'
From murderer to plague-bringer to Aegis executioner—that was me.
Whether life was inherently tumultuous, or I'd brought it all on myself, I didn't know. But here I stood, riding the false prestige of executioner.
"I am—"
My voice cut through, and the roaring applause died instantly.
Just then, clouds parted, and moonlight flooded in—brighter than the dazzling chandelier, shining down on me in the shape of the Star Cross.
"—Arma Cruise, free major of Wooden Cross Class—or rather, marksmanship major. What I say now is based entirely on my real experiences, and I swear there are no lies in this testimony."
As I raised my hand in oath, Machina smiled with her eyes and nodded.
At that moment, the chapel's last-closed door burst open.
"Hold on!! What do you think you're doing?!"
Sir Reynolds, entering, would first see the saint in her burn-marked shroud, looking afflicted, backed by fervent supporters.
That was the Arma Cruise I was about to play.