Opera Theater Murder Case (5)

A strange chill ran down his back. Even though he was wearing the summer garden cape, his hands and feet grew cold. But Dione applauded the singer’s performance, and Isiel watched the audience sincerely, only imitating the appearance of clapping. The theater was filled with excitement, but Kleio didn’t feel any of it as he pretended to applaud.

‘The assassins had red eyes too. Even then, the message came up distorted when I tried to read it.’

Those with red eyes and red ether were clearly in some other realm. He had seen the singer’s eyes covered in the mask and under the shadow of his hat by raising his Perception, but now it looked plain brown. Even once the curtain came down, the audience chanted Geheim’s name. Kleio turned to Isiel.

“Did you notice anything strange about that singer Geheim during the last aria?”

“…From the singer?”

Isiel raised her head to gaze at the actor who had returned to the stage to receive the bouquets. She didn’t seem to notice anything strange, but then Behemoth’s tail bristled.

“Meow, meoooow! (I saw it! His eyes flashed red!)”

Kleio’s eyes were filled with emotion.

‘Behemoth, as always, you… Still, the price of the drink you had…’

Now that he had a second confirmation, he could rely on what he was. Something was definitely off about that singer!

.

.

.

Eight children had gathered in the theater’s staff lounge, long after the audience, actors, and staff had left.

“Is your opinion that Geheim Ginger is the suspect?”

“For now.”

“On what grounds?”

“At the end of the performance, his eyes flashed red.”

“Isiel, did you see the same thing?”

Isiel gently patted Behemoth as she responded.

“No, I didn’t. But, Kleio Asel’s opinion is worth listening to. He is more capable of sensing ether than me.”

“…If you say so, I’ll conduct an inquiry.”

Fran’s expression was still dubious.

“What, you don’t think that the actor could be the culprit?”

“I don’t have a personal relationship with him, but according to the theater’s union members, he is a polite person who donates a large portion of the performance profits to the theater.”

Nebo cut in at that moment.

“Fran’s right. When I was backstage, I heard a bit about the actors from the kids who run errands in the neighborhood. They say he never tries to touch the girls. He has the most personality among the actors, and he even gives out gifts in the waiting room. It’s not common for actors to speak respectfully to kids.”

“Then, I understand it is difficult to doubt…”

“Meoow, meow (To think I would see a place where a philanthropist was a strange one.)”

Behemoth, slapping his tail on the floor, let out his disbelief. Kleio thought it was fortunate that no one could understand this cat. Anyway, with the story as it was, Kleio’s position was weak as he had no evidence.

‘I can’t say that my cat validated it.’

Finally, having contemplated it, Fran came to a conclusion.

“Don’t worry; I will check your testimony. No exceptions will be made.”

Fortunately, Fran seemed to have no intention of letting the person go just because of preexisting notions. Besides, other than that, no suspicious people had been found. As such, the first day’s surveillance ended. Everyone broke up in the lobby and returned to school. Nebo booked it out of there the fastest, so Kleio followed Fran around the stairway to the north side.

“What is it, Kleio Asel?”

“Well, take this.”

Kleio produced the revolver and bullet box he had hidden in the picnic basket.

“It’s a revolver with bullets made of mana stone silver. You’re not a swordsman, and you don’t use attack magic. Since we’re chasing a criminal with an ether level of 5, you should have something like this.”

Seeing the gun, Fran’s skeptical expression turned to one of doubt.

“How did you know I can handle guns?”

In the last manuscript, Fran had been a sharpshooter. His physical strength was better than it seemed, and he had intense concentration, so his shooting skills were frightening. Additionally…

“The last time I went to your room, I noticed a revolver hidden in a dictionary.”

“…!!!”

“If you didn’t know how to use such a weapon, you can learn now. You’ll do well. Rosa’s assistant, Mr. Calvin, could teach you.”

“I’ve no reason to receive anything like this from you. Stop and get out.”

“No, why not? You’re the head of the opera theater murder investigation.”

“Are you kidding yourself?”

Fran’s short temper had remained even after he had survived death. As Fran pushed him away and began to climb the stairs, Kleio grabbed the handrail to block his course.

“I’m not making fun of you; I’m acting with reasonable judgment. If the person doing all this investigation gets hurt, it will be an issue. It’ll be difficult to track things down if another murder happens. So, protect yourself.”

“What bullshit; you saw I already have the means to protect myself. So, did you think I was running around the back streets of Lundane after curfew and risking myself?”

With Perception, Kleio noticed the revolver in Fran’s jacket and was able to snag it as Fran moved to reveal it. It was an old-fashioned firearm of a type he had never touched in the previous world. However, he could recognize how well-groomed it was.

“If your opponent was normal, that would be enough. But the person you’re chasing isn’t.”

“Kleio Asel! It’s not a toy; quickly give it back!”

“I know.”

Kleio placed the revolver on top of the box he held and handed it over to Fran.

“The new gun is a Court 4 model, so your bullets will be compatible. It’s okay to use the mana stone silver bullets. The etheric conduct will be maintained even if it leaves your hand so it can deal with those with etheric sensitivity.”

Anyone with etheric sensitivity couldn’t be dealt with using normal weapons that they didn’t use either.

‘Fran doesn’t have the skill of a swordsman. I need to reduce the chances he’ll die.’

“Why are you offering me this help? You’ll get nothing from me.”

“Already, you’ve given me a lot in the winter palace. I asked you not to say it, but that fact won’t disappear.”

“It’s all your work, I…!”

“Okay, so this is also entirely for me. If you die, who can explain the unfair death of Mr. Bartleby’s child? Who can alleviate the suffering of those neglected by the police and media?”

Even in the dark corridor, he could see Fran biting at his lip.

“What do you know… about that…?”

“Sure, I don’t know anything. So you, who does know, has to stay alive.”

Finally, Fran accepted the box. Kleio didn’t look back as he headed to his dorm room, though he was worried Fran might change his mind.

‘That was harder than giving medicine to a street cat.’

But it was a necessary defense. The other day, when he heard that Fran barely had the money to make those glasses, he decided to look into Fran’s surroundings a little. The count’s eldest son was a wizard, so it was strange he had so little money. As it turned out, Count Hyde-Wight was offering no financial assistance other than tuition to his son. Fran’s appearance was partly due to his temperament, but also because of his father cutting off support. It was a tactic to make him let go of the People’s Flag, but Fran was someone who would never give in to such pressure.

‘The gun was expensive, but it’s spare change compared to that patent fee I received.’

At least now, Fran wouldn’t die in vain.

‘Fran… He has a certain personality. He won’t forget what he received, but why does he have to create debts where they aren’t needed?’

***

Since then, there had been three more opera performances. Even on days without performances, Arthur and his friends took turns to look around the theater and search for clues. They watched the opera as such for ten days, but no more victims appeared. Considering it, if you combined all the swordsmen and wizards of level 5 or higher that were registered in the entirety of Albion, it was less than 200. It seemed unlikely that an undocumented person with such a high level of ether sensitivity would be walking around. So said Cel, as she examined the map with a serious expression. The number of red dots on the map was the exact same as ten days ago. Fran had been diligently checking the morgues, but no more victims were found.

“It’s good if people don’t die, but should we look somewhere else?”

Lippi also chimed in.

“This opera is so popular, so many students came to see it. It wouldn’t stand out so much even if we go around~.”

“I sent a telegram to the morgue workers in the bordering states around Lundane, asking for a call if a strange body came in. The killer seriously damages the body in order to hide the bloodless.”

Kleio admired Fran’s ability to think ahead.

“But there was no reply. I even sent the telegram in the name of Mr. Amrit from the Public Notices Association.”

Fran didn’t seem to notice, but his words also contained other information.

‘He’s made a lot of enemies, but also a lot of friends. Well, his words are persuasive, and he is sincere.’

Isiel brought their meeting to a conclusion.

“As long as the performance continues, let’s remain on the lookout. If the problem occurs in another area, wouldn’t it be okay to take other measures from then on?”

“Yes. Now that we’ve started, let’s work hard until the end of this performance.”

The gloominess was lifted thanks to Isiel and Cel.

***

After finishing his classics homework, Kleio set his pen down. Albion’s writing adhered to grammatical rules and customs, evaluating one’s ability to use classic works as important gracefully. And, in that writing style, Kleio’s ability was zero.

‘I can barely do this in Korean. I took two nights and three days to write a new press release. But quoting Albion’s classics at the right place and time is impossible.’

The classics teacher, Gavin Bard, gave up all expectations of this habitually sick student who was only good with magic, too shocked by Kleio’s ignorance. From the prose poems of Homar Riordan, which even a seven-year-old could recite, to the poetry of the Count Hyde-Wight, Kleio knew no literary works. No matter how many corrections he made, there were no signs of improvement, so Professor Gavin became generous.

‘Yes, how can a person excel in everything? He submits sincerely always, so give him a basic score.’

Kleio also had his own excuse. After coming to this world, he had to focus on acquiring the most necessary information right away, so the field of his reading had to be specific. The magic books, the auction rule guides, the casebooks on land leasing, the list of mana stones, information of the knights of Albion (which he stole a peek of in Zebedee’s laboratory)… He didn’t read a single book that could cultivate his literary knowledge.

‘I hadn’t even heard of the best-selling -The Lord of the Highlands-, but I wonder if I could afford to look into hundreds of years old prose poems.’

However, it was Kleio’s true intent to read as much literature as he wanted soon.

‘All while sleeping and petting a cat.’

Kleio patted Behemoth with that thought, a question occurring to him.

“I can’t remember what happened at the theater the other day. Can you think of anything related to it?”

“You mean about the red-eyed masked singer?”

Kleio nodded.

“Yes, yes.”

“Yes. Still, there was something that came to my mind this morning…”

“There was…?”

“I can’t remember because I haven’t been drinking alcohol.”