Bomb Terror (4)

In Professor Prin's office, we sat across from each other at the table with teacups placed before us.

Her office was filled with all kinds of fresh-looking herbs.

"Have a sip of tea."

I lifted the cup to my mouth.

The minty aroma rose, refreshing my mind.

Only after some time did certain things become noticeable.

They were out-of-place objects.

Mysteriously concealed dragon bones.

In other words, they were fossils from a dragon.

Collecting dragon bones was strictly prohibited.

Yet she seemed to be showing them to me on purpose.

I asked bluntly.

"Why are you showing me dragon bones?"

"As expected, you're quick to catch on."

She continued speaking with her usual kind expression.

"Those are dragon fossils. They were unearthed while exploring ancient ruins."

"Aren't they prohibited for collection?"

"Of course they are, but I'm storing them for research purposes."

She smiled brightly and pulled out a book.

The title Alternative Herbology was written on its cover.

"In Alternative Herbology, they grind up dragon or other fossils, mix them with herbs, and derive new research outcomes."

Professor Prin drew closer to me as she spoke.

"Recent studies show that this mixture allows us to recreate the distinctive magic those creatures once used, in the form of potions."

She bent at the waist, meeting my eyes while I remained seated, and smiled.

Her palm-sized deer horns were so close they nearly brushed my head.

"Winter, what do you believe is the most characteristic magic of dragons?"

The word polymorph flashed through my mind in that instant.

Was she guessing my true identity?

I rose from my seat and spoke in a heavy voice.

"What are you scheming?"

At the same time, my hand moved to my sword.

"Did you receive orders from the Black Star Society?"

"The Black Star Society? That's absolutely not it!"

She vehemently denied it.

"No, to jump straight to the Black Star Society over something like this... The real matter hasn't even begun..."

"Do you want to die?"

"There! See? Now can you trust me a little?"

With those words, she placed her weapons on the table.

I removed my hand from the hilt but kept my guard up.

"Ahem. Let's continue the conversation."

Prin met my eyes once more.

"The tea you just drank contains components derived from dragon fossils."

My head suddenly felt foggy.

"It carries the effect of dispelling polymorph."

She continued with a smile I couldn't quite decipher.

"Doesn't something feel off? The younger brother enrolling right after the older brother dies. It's far too contrived, isn't it?"

"What?"

"Don't repeat the question. Doing so leaves very few possibilities."

She stared directly at me.

"I believe you are Eid."

She glanced at the clock.

"Three minutes remain until the truth is revealed."

"Why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are you doing this?"

"Think of it as an experiment to verify my hypothesis."

I needed to think carefully.

If Professor Prin discovered I was Eid here, it would cause countless problems.

But my case differed from ordinary polymorph magic.

With Winter's soul at the forefront, I had applied permanent engraving polymorph to Eid's body to alter its appearance.

I felt certain my identity would not be exposed.

"And if I am not Eid?"

I kept my voice perfectly calm.

"Then nothing will happen, right?"

She answered as if it were nothing.

Professor Prin could only feel shock.

At first, light rose from Winter's body.

Is the magic unraveling? Of course it is. Reveal yourself obediently, Eid!

But the light soon faded.

And Winter's form reappeared.

"How is this possible!"

All composure vanished from Professor Prin's face.

The light drawn out by the potion disappeared, only for a new light to bloom as Winter revealed himself.

He still wore that cold expression.

This makes no sense...!

Research passages began flipping rapidly through Prin's mind.

Professor Prin's legs gave out and she collapsed on the spot.

Winter approached her.

"Now do you understand my identity?"

"Hic!"

Prin wore an expression like she might wet herself.

"Actions like what you did today are enough to warrant suspicion of being with the Black Star Society."

"Hic!"

"Repeat after me."

"..."

"Winter Rain is Winter Rain."

"Hic!"

"Say it."

Winter's voice was ice-cold.

"Winter... hic... Rain is... Win... hic... ter Rain... hic... is."

Winter Rain wore a satisfied expression and gently stroked Professor Prin's head.

"Good. Now cooperate with me."

Terrified and on the verge of tears, Prin began nodding frantically.

"Hic! I will... cooperate. Hic!"

It had already been a week since I met Prin.

During that time we had been monitoring Peter and Lynn's movements.

Thanks to Prin's enthusiastic cooperation, we had secured copies of Peter and Lynn's student records.

They contained the pair's academy entry logs and behavioral reports.

As I had expected, Peter had numerous off-campus records.

The items he brought in were things difficult to obtain inside the academy—snacks, cosmetics, and the like.

Recently he had been caught smuggling alcohol and received a three-day suspension.

Between the pages of the student file was a memo from Prin.

It seemed their plan was to detonate the academy and intensify the resulting blaze with the herbs.

That aside...

Prin had become frighteningly efficient at handling tasks.

She had even produced the item I requested a short while ago.

She had only confirmed my identity, yet she seemed excessively frightened.

I didn't know the reason, but since she was cooperative I decided to let it pass.

Just then the laboratory door opened.

"You've come...?"

"Yeah..."

An awkward silence lingered for a moment.

"Have you eaten?"

She asked me.

The weather was nice today.

Back then I used to eat packed lunches with Sophia in the clearing.

"You don't need to worry about that. Have you found anything?"

I studied her face.

"Is that all you wanted to say?"

"What do you mean?"

She continued with a slightly disappointed expression.

"Peter has been trading the items he brings from outside with students from the Herbology and Alchemy departments."

"As expected."

"But there are also many research tools and things meant to deceive our eyes, so the situation is rather troublesome."

Conducting large-scale personal transactions inside the academy could result in penalty points.

His student record was filled with such demerits.

With this, the cross-verification was complete.

"What about Lynn?"

"Lynn? You already know, don't you?"

Not long ago, under the pretext of testing a military bomb, Lynn had blown up an old shed the academy used.

"Thanks to that, our own research has been delayed."

"Lynn received a ten-day suspension. It's fortunate she had obtained research permission first. Otherwise..."

"It would have been expulsion."

I shifted my gaze from the student records to Sophia.

"Right. Since Lynn won't be at school, I'm asking you to monitor the dormitory."

"Understood..."

Normally she would have left immediately, but she remained in her seat.

"Do you have something else to say?"

"No. It's not that."

She sat down in one of the laboratory chairs.

"I don't have any work today. I thought I'd help make explosives..."

So that was it.

"Then do as you like."

She set her bag on the adjacent table and began focusing on the research.

I concentrated on my own work as well.

Some time later I heard Sophia moving.

"I'll be going now..."

"Yes, go ahead."

By then it was well past lunchtime.

Since taking this body I had never been one to eat regularly.

I could eat if I wanted to.

But after the permanent polymorph engraving, my biological activity had decreased, reducing the need for meals.

Sophia stepped outside.

Yet even after leaving, I could sense her presence lingering just beyond the door.

"Is something wrong?"

"Ah!"

Sophia opened the door in a fluster and came back in.

"It's not... anything else..."

She handed me an insulated food container.

"You don't seem to be eating properly."

It was surprising that she had even thought of such a thing.

"In the nearly month I've been with you, I haven't once seen you eat."

Her tone grew cold again.

"I just didn't want you collapsing."

She continued while stepping backward.

"You're our..."

She looked like she would fall at this rate.

"Greatest fighting power, you idiot!"

I caught her before she could tumble.

"Be careful."

"...!"

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slowly helped her back to her feet.

Her face flushed red as she fled outside.

I stared down at the insulated container for a moment.

The soup and sandwich inside were still warm.

Just like the heart of the person who had prepared them.

Then a voice came from outside once more.

"Hello! Did you guard the spot well again today?"

It was Elenora.

"Oh, there's a lunchbox today?"

Her expression turned slightly strange.

"Who made that for you?"