Chapter 48

10 o’clock at night.

The grandiose fireworks of the Summer Turge Festival, created by fire-specialized professors every year… … .

“Wow, did you see the last fireworks?”

“It was literally a flower.”

“How did you deal?”

Well, it’s over.

It’s not too bad. Because I’m not the main character, I don’t have time to leisurely enjoy the festival.

Baeller should have been out of school by now, and now I have to start acting smart.

I still have my blanket and pillow in the security storage, so it’s most natural for me to be the first to discover that the mana core is disappearing.

“Rockstrin? What are you doing at this hour?”

“Fortunately you were there. professor.”

“The fireworks must have just ended. Aren’t you enjoying the festival?”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

At this time, Kanin is the only person left alone in the Professor Research Building until late on duty.

Kanin, who belatedly read my desperate expression, closed the book he was reading.

“What is it?”

“The magic core has disappeared.”

“What… … ?”

Kanin’s complexion suddenly hardened.

“There is no magic core in the security warehouse. Did another professor take it, or was there something planned?”

“No way. If so, I would have told you right away.”

It’s not just a security warehouse.

The reason why I can come in and out at will is because of the justification of being an emeritus professor. Kanin allowed it, so no one would throw up.

“It’s true that it’s gone.”

“Have you checked the list?”

“That’s why I asked. Because I wasn’t the type to do that.”

“Let’s go right now. Who was the last person to enter the security warehouse?”

“… … .”

“Why but? Even if it’s your name, I won’t doubt you.”

“no. That would be better.”

“Who are you?”

I hesitated for a moment and said.

“… … This is Baeller Rongrd.”

“her.”

* * *

[Reason for access]

: Regular status reports.

[note]

: Since the court wizard in charge was called to the emergency meeting of the 3rd library of the Sorcery Society, Baeller Rongrte confirmed in advance on behalf of the court.

“Is it groundless?”

“yes. It’s true that an emergency meeting was held in the 3rd library, but the court wizard Derek was never summoned. You say you’re supposed to arrive tomorrow morning, why are you doing that?”

“No, it’s nothing. Sorry for the late hour.”

“no. I just came to see the fireworks. It was so pretty! I heard Meiji came up with the idea for the flower shape?”

“I was just coming up with an idea. I’m not good at fire magic.”

As it is called the Holy of Holies of Magic, Summer Turge has a close relationship with the Sorcery Society. It was not difficult to find out the news even at such a late hour.

“How was it?”

“There were many students who said they saw senior Baeller leave.”

“Then the circumstances are clear.”

While Kanin was trying to figure out what was going on inside, I looked for Baeller in the garden near the front door. It would have been better to sneak out to slow down the pursuit even a little.

In the meantime, he took care of me.

My conscience is stabbed and it hurts. Anyway, except for me, everyone is nice.

“It’s usually not a big deal. I don’t think it’s good to hide it.”

“I agree. However, students may get confused, so let’s deliver it only to the main building. If Baeller is determined and erases the traces, there will be no way to find them.”

It is not easy to chase after Baeller even if you start tracking right now. He’s a 5-star wind-type mage.

“You… … . after. You keep putting a heavy burden on your back.”

“it’s okay. That’s not to say I’m not responsible. If I hadn’t been in and out often, the manager would have checked the facts more carefully.”

“is it.”

Kanin laughed bitterly.

There’s nothing wrong with Rockstrin.

Even during the night raid and during the class A kidnapping case.

Trusting and entrusting it to the first-year freshman is probably because he lacks confidence.

“First of all, you should tell this fact directly to Wirain. I will go after him right away.”

“All right.”

You should slowly build up the tension.

The first moment alone with Summerturge’s dean, Ulain Mage Bruntelli.

That unrivaled sense of intimidation has been seen in several events. Professors who are said to be famous in the academic world also have a reason to lower their tails in front of Wirain.

“uh… … Rockstrin student? Right?”

Enter through the front door of the main building and take a few steps inside. It was when I was catching my breath near the dean’s office.

It was the voice of Professor Katrina, who was conducting a treasure hunt. It was dark with all the lights off, but how did they know my face?

“Hello, Professor Katrina.”

“Huh, for some reason, my face was shining. What happened to the main building?”

“I have business in the dean’s office. Are you not inside?”

“yes… … ? It’s there, but it’s a little bit of a visit at a time like this. Wouldn’t it be nice to come back later?”

“There is something that Meiji Kanin told me to deliver urgently.”

The event to meet Professor Catrena in front of the dean’s office was scheduled.

There are aristocratic factions among professors, and most of them are aristocrats, so the ratio is considerable.

Professor Catrena is the representative of the aristocratic professors, and after a brief quarrel with the main character, the story unfolds in which Wirain lets her in.

Afterwards, they hear the news that Baeller Rongrte, the head of the aristocratic faction, stole the magic core and fled, and Katrena proposes to hide it.

There is a choice here.

1. Reject Catrena’s offer, revealing that Baeller Rongrte is the culprit behind the theft of the magic core.

: In this case, Katrina and the aristocratic professors will become hostile, and you will not be able to properly receive help from the aristocratic professors in later episodes. I also hate Baeller himself.

It is an option with a low probability of failure, instead of having no corner to benefit from.

2. Accept Kathrena’s offer and hide the fact that Baeller Rongrd is the culprit.

: In this case, he becomes friendly with Katrina, and in later episodes, aristocratic professors support the protagonist. Above all, they form a relationship of absolute trust with the surviving Baeler Rongrt.

Instead, because they do not know that the target is Baeller, tracking is delayed, and the probability of survival of Baeller is also reduced.

Originally, there is no such thing as a correct answer.

This is because no matter which one you choose, each has its pros and cons, but the story is different now.

For Rockstrin, the first choice penalty is almost non-existent. Professor Catrena doesn’t particularly hate me either, rather, the more aristocratic the professors are, the more friendly they are. It’s just a little bit of hatred.

I was thinking of rejecting Katarena’s offer.

“Meiji Kanin… … ?”

Unsurprisingly, Katrina obediently got out of the way right away.

“Dean, may I come in?”

In addition to this, he even opened the door himself, fearing that I would feel burdened. can you be so comfortable?

“What is it?”

“A student came. He said he has an urgent business.”

“… … Be careful.”

Tsk, I heard a clicking sound for a moment. I heard the rustling of fabric several times, and then permission was granted to come in.

Wirain was neatly dressed in livery, buried in a pile of paperwork. It probably won’t be too different from what Frid must have witnessed.

But one thing is different.

“Rockstrin… … Was it?”

I wonder if he was thinking of admonishing me?

The rude student, who came after 10 p.m., had a complicated expression, probably because it was me.

“There was a message from Professor Kanin.”

“You should come by yourself. He said he was authoritative, but he himself is making the students do chores.”

“The matter is urgent.”

“Tell me.”

Wirain pushed aside the paper he was reading.

Even though his voice was tired, he was overflowing with charisma. The dark blue hair and the eyes that gave a particularly ferocious impression were particularly impressive.

I said straight forward.

“The magic core has been stolen.”

“The time.”

“I found it 20 minutes ago, and the last time I checked it was in place was around 4pm.”

“The culprit.”

“It is presumed to be Baeller Rongrd, who wrote the last entry and exit log. I left campus an hour ago.”

“ha.”

Wilein covered his face with a calm face. Even if it seems like a weak reaction at first glance, it means that they recognized that it was a very serious situation.

“yes? Yeah? No, Rockstrin students. what are you talking about now… … .”

Prompt and accurate delivery of information without unnecessary delay.

Professor Katrina, who could not keep up with the pace of this conversation alone, hurriedly spoke up.

“Katrena.”

“Yes, dean.”

“Stay out.”

“yes… … .”

Wirain was relentless in this area. In the end, only me and Wirain were left in the dean’s office.

That’s why it was called single.

“Do you have any guesses?”

Here, the main character has no choice but to answer ‘no’.

In fact, hearing that Baeller is a ‘fake’ is only after he returns alive. It’s normal to not know at this point.

But the current me, Rockstrin, knows. This difference is huge.

“Yes.”

First of all, tell the truth to Wirain.

At the beginning of the sixth episode, Dean Yurain is the only weapon available to the player. Earning his trust is important.

“How much do you know about him?”

“I heard it from myself. He is fake.”

“More details?”

“They said he wasn’t actually of the imperial lineage, that he was forced to learn magic, that his grades were manipulated, and that a child with the same situation as himself had recently joined the imperial family.”

“… … I know everything. He didn’t look that friendly.”

“Did the dean know all this?”

“The imperial family’s circumstances are intertwined with grades, so they generally know about it, but there was no way to know about their motives. It will be a good reference.”

Wirain closed her eyes for a moment, lost in thought. The shadow cast over his face was not easily erased.

“Rockstrin.”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t stop him.”

“Yes.”

“It would have delayed time.”

I knew it, but I didn’t stop it.

I deliberately waited an hour to find Kanin in order to give Baeller time to escape. Indeed, Wirain pointed out the facts with frightening accuracy.

“Your hasty sympathy posed a great threat to the Empire. Right now, within seconds, there is even a chance that this empire will be wiped off the map.”

“Is that so?”

“Are you aware?”

“I think I did the right thing.”

“Hmm.”

If you have knowledge, move with confidence as well. This is what Wirain had said to Frid just a few hours ago.

And at some point, the complexion of Wirain returned to a calm look, as if it had never been.

“Even the dean thinks that something like that won’t happen, doesn’t it?”

“… … You’ve wasted my time uncharacteristically. It is as it is said.”

Wiraine shook her head.

The pressure interview was over. In any case, Roxtrin is tested in many ways.

Perfect and sophisticated, Baeller Rongrte’s magic has a great advantage in stealth.

Chasing a wizard is about tracking the traces of magic, but chasing Baeller with magic is a near-impossible task. At least Kanin can pursue him because he uses earth magic to track physical traces.

Not to mention the others.

“In this situation, we have no choice but to borrow a hand from a student.”

“I am.”

“I hope you will understand.”

matter is serious.

I can’t just entrust a job to someone who lacks qualifications just because I lack hands, so Wirain simply tested me.

“The fact that the mana core is gone cannot be hidden even from the professors. But I can’t trust them all.”

The security warehouse is located in the faculty research building.

If all the people who use the building are prominent figures in the magical world, they will naturally notice when a huge mass of magic power, the size of a magic core, disappears.

As Wirain said, at that time, all professors will naturally know that the mana core has disappeared.

To avoid confusion, students will not be notified, but through some light-mouthed professors, it enters the ears of those who have been aiming for the magic core.

The ‘enemy’ of the sixth episode will start moving from then on.

“The magic core is definitely targeted.”

“Why?”

“Because any wizard can use it. There were two raids even when they were moved from the imperial family to Summer Turge.”

It means that even though there was a guardian wizard as an escort, there were people who rushed at it regardless of fire.

As Kanin said, the magical energy stored inside the magic core reaches half the size of the continent in terms of magical energy in the air.

However, despite having such enormous power, it is simple to use.

To put it simply, it would be a semi-permanent energy storage, but it is dangerous for another reason.

“Above all, the fact that the magic core itself can be composed of magic is the most dangerous.”

“Is it a method that was once considered for use in our estate eight years ago?”

“I was planning to create a huge [firestorm] using the magic core as a medium, but it was dismissed as dangerous.”

The reason was that magic had to be cast by fully utilizing the enormous mana of the mana core, and that in itself was not usually difficult, and that allies could also come within range.

“Is there any possibility that Professor Kanin will find Baeller-senpai?”

“impossible. Mage-sama knows that well, so I’ll just guess the direction and return.”

“Then there is only one thing we can do.”

“I have no choice but to persuade Baeller and bring him before the imperial family knows it. I have to go stop the court wizard right now.”

First of all, we have to prevent it from being known to the Imperial Court Wizard who will arrive tomorrow morning.

When that happens, Summer Turge loses a lot of trust. From the following year, it is necessary to decide the state affairs of the empire beyond Summer Turge, but failing to exert influence there is fatal.

Fortunately, at first, Dean Yurain drags the time. In the meantime, what I, as a player, have to do.

“Is Professor Katrena trustworthy?”

“The ability is not up to expectations, but you can definitely trust it.”

“That’s it. It moves slowly.”

set a trap

All information must be controlled according to plan and intentionally leaked to create an ideal situation.

The main task of the sixth episode is to reverse-track and kill the ‘enemy’ pursuing Baeller.

“Can you?”

“It seems like a meaningless question.”

“… … Tsk. It looks like you’re holding an answer sheet. Then please.”

flutter!

Wearing a dark blue cloak that matched my hair color, Wirain jumped through the wide window and disappeared.

do not answer

“I am holding it.”

The expiration date is probably… … .

I think it’s about a month away