Bomb Terror Plot (Part 3)
Peter, was it?
In the interview room, a short, gloomy student stepped in.
I heard he was a first-year freshman from a commoner family.
Yes... Peter, who applied to the lab...
His eyes kept avoiding mine, fixed downward, the typical look of a listless young man.
His answers dragged on and on.
Overall, he came across as quite irritating.
It was time to move on to the next applicant.
But his eyes suddenly sparkled.
I'm interested in industrial explosives used to demolish buildings.
He explained the limits of explosives for construction work with perfect fluency.
Currently available explosives can't bring down a large building. It also creates problems for redevelopment.
If I join the lab, I want to create high-performance industrial explosives.
His dead eyes from before the interview were now burning with passion.
I asked him a few more questions, and he answered them all brilliantly.
Alright, you can go now.
Thank you, sir.
Wait a moment.
Elenora stopped Peter as he tried to leave.
There's news that the old academy dormitory is being demolished and a new one will be built.
Elenora flipped through the documents and asked.
If Peter were the applicant, what would you do?
Peter thought for a moment.
For the safety of the students, the construction zone must be strictly controlled.
A neutral answer.
And?
Elenora asked.
I need to analyze the internal structure of the building.
Why is that?
Peter's eyes brightened a little.
So I know exactly how it will collapse.
For a moment, silence filled the conference room.
Collapse?
Yes.
Peter's words sped up.
Demolition is ultimately a process of designing a collapse.
I need to calculate where the load will be transferred and which wall, when removed, will cause the building to fall in which direction.
Before long, he was drawing diagrams on the desk with his fingers.
If the central support is removed first...
Peter.
Elenora interrupted.
But Peter didn't seem to hear and continued.
Or it might be better to collapse the northeast wall first.
Considering the building height and materials, the range of flying debris would be...
A faint light of madness flashed in Peter’s pupils.
It will collapse so beautifully.
I stared at Peter’s face.
Only then did Peter flinch.
You may enter now.
Elenora waved him off.
***
Third-year Lin senior.
A perfect answerer for any question in the interview.
The other applicants were all trying to impress themselves.
But she only recited textbook knowledge in a steady stream.
Yet her eyes sparkled with a strange light.
It looked as if she would pour it all out if given the slightest provocation.
I glanced at Elenora.
She gave a tiny nod.
I said without mercy to Lin senior.
You keep giving textbook answers. We have no reason to pick you.
I leafed through her documents and added.
Alchemy and herbology are both at average levels.
I’ll give you one last chance to speak. Go ahead.
Only then did she start to reveal her true self.
You think so too, right? I’m tired of acting polite.
Elenora narrowed her eyes and looked at Lin.
I’m interested in bombs as weapons.
Weapons?
Weapons?
Both Elenora and I spoke at the same time.
On a battlefield full of mages and knights, ordinary soldiers are nothing but helpless.
She clenched her fists.
I heard Lin senior comes from a commoner family too.
Her voice turned extremely heavy.
My parents were all killed during a battle.
...
Soon, an era where guns and cannons rule, not mana or aura monopolized by bloodlines and families.
Her words matched the reality.
Mana and aura were often monopolized as the vision of bloodlines and families.
Her voice trembled with excitement.
Her tightly clenched fists were turning red as if they would bleed.
By then, you will hear the name of a researcher who lights up the lives of commoners.
What does that mean?
In a completely natural tone, she replied.
The revolution will come, and nobles who side with the commoners can survive.
Unable to say anything more, I waved her off.
You may enter now.
She actually left with a satisfied smile.
***
Which one do you think is the Black Star Society?
I asked Elenora.
It’s not certain, but... probably Peter.
Why do you think that?
Sophia asked.
That’s right!
Elenora pulled out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses from somewhere and cleared her throat.
Ahem.
...
Everyone stayed silent.
It was me trying to show off my intelligence.
Elenora fell silent.
I don’t really know... no, that’s not it...
Elenora. If you do that, your eyes will get worse.
Sophia snatched the glasses away.
I’m smart without doing that. Can you tell me at least the reasoning?
As expected, Sophia is so kind!
Elenora hugged Sophia.
Sophia looked a little startled but didn’t push her away.
Instead, she held her tightly.
It felt like Sophia was the one being comforted.
Now I have to point out one of our students as the Black Star Society member.
I know it’s quite guilt-inducing.
That’s how it is...
Sophia said softly.
You don’t have to bear that alone. We’ll do it together.
She turned to me.
Do you want empathy?
I won’t cooperate either.
Elenora’s eyes widened.
Oh.
...
Just now Winter said it so gently.
It’s a misunderstanding.
Really?
...
***
Elenora’s explanation went like this.
Peter was suspected from the beginning because his mind was already set on the academy.
When Elenora mentioned the old dormitory demolition...
Peter outwardly talked about exploding the old dormitory, but inside he was picturing the current academy building being blown up.
And at some point, something changed in him.
Something changed in him?
Yes, like me.
Elenora pointed at me.
For a moment, my chest felt like it was sinking.
At first it was just a timid heart, but then suddenly he became like someone unable to hold back because their throat was itching.
She spoke with a serious expression.
I think that is the personality created to act as the Black Star Society.
Personality?
Sophia asked.
Yes. People don’t usually change suddenly or create a new personality overnight.
She tapped her own chest lightly.
That usually comes from mental illness caused by brainwashing or hypnosis.
If that’s the case...
Sophia continued.
Peter was brainwashed by another Black Star Society member.
I was briefly tempted to mention the Evil God.
But I stopped myself.
If they started thinking of me as someone possessed by an Evil God like the academy’s board members, cooperation might become difficult.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Elenora’s question made me turn it around.
I agree with your reasoning.
Wow.
This is the second time you’ve said something gentle today.
A strange sense of guilt rose in me.
Then what about Lin?
Elenora’s expression turned serious again.
For Lin, her mind was set on outside the academy from the beginning.
Complaints about nobles and the imperial family?
Exactly.
Elenora nodded.
It’s madness, but after hearing the details, it’s not incomprehensible.
Teardrops gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Personally, I want to cheer for her.
Teardrops gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Elenora.
Sophia said quietly.
Revolution is not okay.
......
It’s no different from war. Many people will die.
Elenora thought for a moment and nodded.
That’s right. Our family might get hurt too. Sophia is probably right.
Sophia gave a bitter smile.
Sorry. I was in the same situation as Lin.
No.
Elenora shook her head.
I apologize.
A silence fell.
But I had to do what needed to be done.
Let’s accept both Peter and Lin as research team members and begin close monitoring.
I looked at the two of them.
Any objections?
Both shook their heads silently.
***
On the way back to the dormitory after leaving the lab.
Elenora’s words kept spinning in my head.
Someone changes suddenly one day.
A new personality is born.
She interpreted it as brainwashing by the Black Star Society.
But I knew something.
Perhaps the person most similar to Peter was me.
That was why I couldn’t say anything more.
It was an overthinking.
Whoa! Watch your step!
A beautiful woman with deer-like horns and large eyes.
I recognized her face.
She carefully picked herbs at my feet and spoke.
What serious thoughts are you having?
It was Professor Prin.
There’s a herb that calms the mind.
She smiled brightly and shook the herb in her hand.
Would you like a cup of tea in my office?
I nodded.
Perfect timing since I also had something to discuss about explosives.