26 – Doubt becomes certainty
The repercussions of the Wizard’s Forest incident were great.
In particular, rather than the cadets, the fire immediately fell on the feet of the faculty members, and an urgent call-up order was issued.
As everyone in the academy was mobilized, including those famous for their heavy hips, the president, Olberus, let out a sigh of deep concern.
“This news is absolutely true.”
As he glanced over the report, the wrinkles on Olberus’ face grew even thicker, and the air around him suddenly became heavy.
Because it was such a serious matter.
“Yes. President.”
When Professor Wilhelm, who accompanied the Wizard’s Forest at the time, answered as a representative, the eyes of the audience darkened even more.
Nothing else in the report caught the eye of those gathered here.
It was just that one word, ‘follower’, which was hugely embedded and filling up my field of vision.
“No evidence was found at the scene, and the only thing I can trust is the testimony of one cadet….”
Olberus salivated as he briefly reviewed the contents of the report.
There were traces of magical power, but tracking was impossible, and because of that, the identities of the enemies could not be revealed.
The other three cadets on the scene also had no idea who the enemy was.
However, in the meantime, there is only one person who has had a conversation with which he can deduce the enemy’s identity, and he says that ‘the enemies called themselves followers.’
‘There are too many parts that feel different.’
Olberus stroked his white beard and leaned against his back with a thoughtful look on his face.
Just looking at it, there is nothing very strange about it.
Since ancient times, followers have been hiding behind the scenes, but there have been many times when they have shown a desire to spread the word about the existence they worship as much as possible.
There seemed to be quite a bit of pride in calling oneself a follower.
If they say that they committed similar actions this time, there is a part that can be understood to some extent.
However, there was something strange about Olberus.
‘Then why did he try so hard not to leave a trace?’
Except for the slight remnants of magical power, they did not leave behind the fact that they existed.
It was to the extent that he erased all the evidence, such as pieces of cloth from his clothes, that had been created during the battle.
However, only one cadet was informed that they were followers.
In other words, there is no consistency in behavior.
“President. It wouldn’t be difficult to conclude this based on the testimony of just one cadet.”
“That’s right. Although it is said that they kept quiet about their existence, there are too many facts that are lacking in this report alone.”
Some professors continued their remonstrations toward Olberus, who was in the midst of contemplation.
Of course, I am not wrong.
Originally, there was no physical evidence, and even the testimonies of those who were with him were mixed, so it might be absurd to listen to one cadet’s words.
However, there is a reason why not everyone can take this time lightly.
“That’s right. Professor Rubel. However, in that case, we can only assume that this cadet was originally aware of the existence of his followers.”
“It is….”
The middle-aged male professor, who stood up at Olberus’ sharp point, was unable to add to his words.
Yes.
Officially, its followers are known to have been annihilated in that Great War 30 years ago.
Of course, there are those who know the inside story and say that they haven’t been destroyed yet, and that they may be spreading the seeds of evil again somewhere.
However, that is literally only for those involved.
It means that it is impossible for a student of an academy to reach that information unless there is a special point of contact.
At least, if you have a lot of opportunities to hear stories from various places, you might be able to predict the possibility, but this cadet is just a commoner even from birth.
‘Besides, the inside story is too detailed. This is a level that cannot be explained unless you hear it from your followers.’
After rereading the testimonies of Beldinauer cadets, which were written in full detail, Olberus shook his head as if his heart was already refreshed.
If nothing was mentioned other than the word follower, the credibility of the testimony would have been questionable.
However, this report contained details that an outsider could never know, such as the reason why the followers tried to take Astesia’s blessing.
In this case, the possibilities are one of two.
Either this cadet mates with a follower.
Or, what is written in this report is true.
Among them, Olberus decided to favor the latter.
There was a possibility of leaving one more open, but I decided to ignore it, leaving it open.
It must be too hasty to say that in front of the faculty right now.
“First of all, I will inform everyone who participated in the Great War at the time about this news. There won’t be anything wrong with being vigilant in advance.”
Olberus is one of the three surviving heroes among the five most active heroes in the Great War at the time.
Thanks to this, he has a connection with most of the people who participated in the Great War, so he is the best person to deliver this urgent news.
“What are you going to do with the cadets?”
Soon after, Anetra, the head of the Faculty of Magic, asked a question for final confirmation, and the audience fell into a heavy silence.
At this, Olberus resolutely drew a line in a way that seemed like he had nothing to worry about.
“Silently. Those children are the buds we need to protect, not the ones we need to raise on the battlefield.”
Faculty members nodded firmly.
Just when I wanted the story to end like that.
Professor Vanessa, who always stands by Olberus’s side, cautiously approached him and recited a message into his ear.
“By the way, President, the daughter of the Crozel family asked for a meeting because she wanted to ask something personally about this situation….”
“… ….”
Of course, the Crozel family.
At least, thinking that it would be more comfortable for the princess to ask for an interview, Olberus let out a heavy sigh.
Somehow, I thought that today would be a very long day.
* * * *
The Crozel family is a ducal family that rules over a huge territory in the northwest of the Arcadia Empire.
It is also a prestigious samurai who has been called the Imperial Sword since ancient times, and it is also the family where 【Red Sword】Balzac Fonter Crozel, a great hero who survived the Great War 30 years ago, is the current head of the family.
The middle name ‘Fonter’ is also a kind of title given directly by the emperor to the existing best sword of the empire, so you can judge the man Balzac’s skills just by that name.
And because of this reputation of Balzac himself, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the respect given to members of that family is right below the imperial family, so even nobles who are said to be a bit snoring often bow down.
‘It must be the daughter of the family.’
The person Olberus must meet from now on is the second daughter of the Crozel family.
As soon as he recognized that fact, he already felt a tightness in his chest.
She has decided to bury this fact about the Amman Academy cadets, but if she asks the question from there as Elisha Crocello, who is not an academy cadet, it’s quite difficult to condone it.
Besides, just because she keeps her mouth shut about the story she passed on to her father, thinking that she can keep it hidden forever is tantamount to closing her eyes and screaming.
Smart.
While Olberus was in the middle of his troubles.
Someone knocked on the door of President Yang’s office, saying that he would not give it a chance.
Realizing that the number of people allowed to enter was limited, Olberus took it lightly and expressed his intention to grant permission.
“Please come in.”
Originally, he wouldn’t have to show respect to a person who was a cadet, but he raised his voice for now because it depends on what status he visited the president’s office.
Although it is a customary practice that status outside the academy is useless, the president, Olberus, knew better than anyone else that it was somewhat ineffective.
This must be why the class system is so complicated.
“Excuse me. President.”
Shortly after, Elisha, a neat blond woman who entered the president’s office, greeted her first and stared at him with her calm eyes.
However, as an old man who has lived close to a hundred years, even if he tried to hide his cancer, his emotions inside were clearly visible.
Feeling that he was trying to refrain from asking even though there were many things he wanted to ask right now, Olberus let out a faint laugh, saying that he couldn’t lie about his age.
“Yes, I heard the story beforehand. Please sit where you are comfortable.”
“Yes. You may want to speak less than that. This is definitely an academy, and even with a personal status, you can’t be treated with respect by someone who was your father’s colleague.”
Just because you have the position of president of the academy or the reputation of being a member of the Five Great Heroes, you cannot surpass your social status.
Since it is only a matter of being treated with respect for its position itself, if you consider it as a class social status, Olberus was right under her as the successor of the ducal family.
However, this was a very uncomfortable courtesy for Elisha.
Because of the years she has lived, her achievements, and her position, Olberus far surpasses her.
Still, it seems that only her background as the Crotzel family allows her to stand above her, and for her it was, in effect, her ostentation.
They say they respect each other and respect each other, but they didn’t even like that, so Elisha boldly demanded the exclusion of honorific titles.
From noble mtl dot com
“… Then let it be I hear you were curious about the Wizard’s Forest incident?”
“Yes. Of course, I’m not asking you to tell me all the inside stories. I think the academy has its own reasons for not being able to announce it to the cadets.”
“I see. Thank you for your understanding.”
For Olberus, who was at a loss as to where to start talking, the answer was like the first rain of a drought.
Satisfied with this, Olberus served tea himself and approached the sofa where Elisha was sitting.
His right-hand man, Vanessa, left work early, so it was inevitable for today.
“Looking at the look in your eyes, I can tell you have a clue about something, and you want to check it out.”
Elisha hurriedly shook her hands at Olberus’s words as he placed her teacup in front of her.
It may not be wrong, but it was a bit of a joke.
“It’s not to the extent that it’s a corner for straw. I just have one doubt.”
“Tell me.”
Dalgrak.
Lifting up the teacup and taking a sip of fragrant black tea, Elisha’s hand trembled gently.
Because it occurred to me that if this guess was true, then all of her hypotheses might be correct.
Whoa.
It was only after taking a long sip of her breath that Elisha could face the old man sitting across from her.
Before long, her voice, even more subdued than before, flowed out from between her parted lips.
“… Could this have anything to do with the Followers?”
It was as if time had frozen.
Like her, Olberus, who was about to tip her teacup, stopped tall, and her heavy silence fell.
Sensing the emerald eyes staring straight at him, Olberus hesitated to utter his words.
Hurup.
She tilted her teacup silently and looked down at the table.
Somehow feeling that a cold Northwest wind is blowing in this room where even the windows are tightly closed.
In response to her silent answer, Elisha also sipped her tea one after another and shook her head in agreement.
To some extent, it was an expected and wishful thought.