love triangle (3)
late night.
After taking Narsha, I returned to the office.
Normally, he would have headed straight home, but he still had business with Frederick, so he was killing time in the office.
Using the night sky as a blackboard, he recalled the situation at the time.
-However, it must be a Hearthstone that can be used in the Imperial Palace.
-It’s impossible. You must know better than anyone that it is against the law of the Empire.
-······
-Even if you give me billions of dollars, I won’t be able to fulfill that request. When you’re done talking, just leave.
Frederick flatly refused. However, unlike words, numbers floated in the air with magical energy.
[ 23:30 ]
He pointed at it with a glance.
As it is a sensitive subject, it was meant to be discussed in a space that was magically blocked off. Dark wizards appear one after another in the academy, and as a result, the Ministry of Magic and the Immortal Knights are deployed. Above all else, you should be concerned about security.
-All right. I guess my thoughts were short.
So, he had been waiting for Frederick until now.
The current time is 23:10.
There are still 20 minutes left until the appointment time. It was a time when I was sitting at my desk and killing time.
Jiing-
A purple light leaked from the newly supplied crystal ball. A shooting-type screen floated in the air like a hologram.
The text arrived through the crystal ball.
“…?”
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the content. I was surprised to see the sender again.
[ Narsha: cock ]
······What is this?
Why did he send such a bizarre text message this late at night?
It was very embarrassing. It was embarrassing and even embarrassing. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out the intention of sending this.
What is certain is that it will not be a simple joke.
Even if his relationship with Narsha had improved, he wasn’t close enough to engage in lewd pranks like this.
Besides, he wasn’t the type to joke around like that.
“then······”
It was necessary to analyze from a more diversified point of view.
It might not be a simple text, but some kind of signal.
SOS sent in case of emergency, or passwords to verify each other’s identity before sharing confidential information.
Maybe there’s a story I don’t know about.
We had to keep all possible possibilities open. Like the Crystal Ball Yas partnership with Luna, there could be secrets hidden that I didn’t expect.
So, I had to answer this.
The password must always match.
Guessing from the flow, if this is an appropriate answer…
“As expected, that is all.”
I wrote the answer carefully, letter by letter.
Bo…
It was then.
The light hovered around the crystal ball and texts poured out.
[Narsha: I asked if you were sleeping. ]
[Narsha: I was asking if you were sleeping! Do you die if you make a strange misunderstanding? ]
[Narsha: Hey!! why don’t you reply ]
“It was just a typo.”
I quickly deleted the answer I had written. I almost made an irreparable mistake.
Narsha must have been quite taken aback, too, as soon as a voice came out of the crystal ball.
-hey! Again, you sent the wrong one. I sent you the wrong one! are you listening
“yes.”
-But why don’t you answer me?
“I just saw you.”
-That, is that so…?
As if he was embarrassed to have made a fuss by himself, his voice soon subsided.
-I-ssi… I again…
“By the way, what did you call me at this time?”
-uh? Oh, that’s… You said you’d go at 8 for the time being.
“It did.”
-But, that’s why…
Narsha lengthened her horse’s tail. He seemed to know roughly what he wanted to say.
Eight o’clock must be too early for her, a workaholic.
I spoke first on behalf of the hesitant Narsha.
“It doesn’t matter if I go late.”
-Gee, really…?
“then. I’m taking you there to help, not to notice.”
To be precise, it was to gain favor with Narsha.
And being considerate of the other person is the most important part of gaining goodwill.
It was a concession that only benefited me.
Besides, there was nothing good about interfering with Narsha’s healing research.
Narsha is a unique researcher in the field of healing. The decrease in her research time was a huge loss for the academy and the empire.
You can’t miss the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone by earning points from Narsha and contributing to the development of healing science.
Narsha said in a bewildered voice.
-If you do, I’d be grateful.
“Is it 12 noon tomorrow?”
-uh? yes.
“Okay. see you then.”
-That, yes.
He ended the conversation softly.
I wanted to be condescending, but I had to wake up because the time I had promised with Frederick had run out.
I left the office and walked down a dark hallway.
again – again –
The sound of footsteps breaking the silence of the night.
Eventually, we arrived in front of the president’s office on the 8th floor. Unlike when I visited during the day, I felt a subtle magical power. I closed my eyes and focused on the sensation.
The true identity was hidden as much as possible, but the flow of magical power was clearly felt.
Frederick’s unique characteristic that he had experienced several times before, 「Spacing」.
I opened my eyes and looked at the floor of the president’s office.
just as expected. [Spacing] was manifested right in front of me. After [Magical Insight] was upgraded to the next level, I was able to sense the flow of magical power that I had never felt before.
“The method remains the same.”
I prepared my heart and stepped on it.
fault-!
At the same time, the son-in-law twisted and was sucked into a certain space.
As if entering a black hole, a subspace where nothing but darkness exists.
“There are a lot of eyes at the academy.”
Frederick was standing right in front of him.
“They say they need hearthstones that can be used in the imperial palace… I can make them for you if you want. But before that, I need to hear the reason.”
Frederick looked at me with an overbearing look. It was more majestic than ever.
I didn’t answer. He just stared at Frederick in silence.
“·······”
“Are you planning on starting a rebellion?”
A hearthstone that can be used in the imperial palace.
That meant that he could sneak out of the imperial palace and, conversely, sneak in. In a word, it was possible to assassinate the emperor.
The imperial palace is the safest place in the empire, and the only place where space movement magic is restricted.
It is said that all space movement magic, including hearthstone, is impossible, but Frederick, who created the barrier, would surely know the loophole.
That’s why he called me here.
Invasion of the imperial palace would mean rebellion.
Before I could answer anything, Frederick added.
“Or, are you looking at other events that I don’t know about?”
“…!”
My face, which had been expressionless all along, cracked. I tried to keep my cool as much as possible. However, Frederick did not miss the momentary shaking pupils.
“Looks like the latter. You don’t have to worry. I already know that you are not a prophet.”
A fact proven by the emperor’s visit to the academy.
However, Frederick said it with pride, as if he knew the truth behind it.
“This world created by magic follows the order, as if someone had decided it. And you seem to know all about it. I handled most of the recent cases alone.”
Pupils as deep as the deep sea looked at me carefully. It was a calm gaze that made me feel afraid of tranquility.
“I won’t ask any more. Let me answer this one. Is it to prevent another incident?”
“·····That’s right.”
“Okay. I guess it will take about a week. But since this is a risky request, I have a favor to ask of you.”
As Frederick said, the ‘hearthstone that can be used even in the imperial palace’ was a dangerous item.
This is because not only those who own it, but also those who participated in its production are executed for high treason.
If that’s the reason for making hearthstones while reducing the risk.
“Dedicate yourselves to the Academy.”
Frederick’s eyes were filled with strangeness.
“Even if I die.”
“····All right.”
After a single answer, subspace and Frederick disappeared. Everything was blown into powder and returned to reality.
A dark hallway where the moonlight through the windows dimly shines.
Left alone in it, I was enveloped in incomprehensible thoughts.
＊＊＊
By the time the night sky brightens in the rising morning sun.
“Kyaaak!·······”
Jeniel woke up having a seizure. My whole body was wet with cold sweat, and I was relieved only after realizing that it was a dream through the rain.
“Ha ha… ha…”
I had the same nightmare as yesterday.
Insomnia and anxiety repeated for the second day.
Despite receiving psychological treatment, the symptoms worsened. I didn’t get 3 hours of sleep today.
Going to work in a state of mental and physical exhaustion was like dying.
I wanted to take a vacation for about a week, but I couldn’t because the magic tower seminar was right around the corner. If you take a vacation, no one will criticize you. Rather, some researchers even recommended rest.
But I didn’t want to give up.
Everyone is doing their best, but I wanted to do my best until the end. I didn’t want to be a nuisance to the team members who prepared together.
“I have to go out…”
That was when I was about to get up to go to work.
smart-
A knock rang in the bedroom. It was a servant.
– Mr. Jeniel. A guest has arrived.
A visitor from early morning.
I thought I knew who it was. It must be Bona Mana Karios.
“I’m not feeling well, so tell me to come next time.”
-That… that’s Karios-sama. I have something to tell you before we leave-
“know.”
-yes?
“No, just send it back.
-Ah, yes. Okay.
The sound of an attendant moving away was heard outside the door.
Jeniel didn’t mind and went to the bathroom. Taking a warm shower, I remembered what happened yesterday.
shoot ah-
Jeniel’s brow furrowed.
Thinking about it again, it makes me cringe.
Karios’ entrance test was suddenly brought forward.
It was an important gateway in my career, so I could fully understand.
The problem was the previous action.
Even though her fiancé was in danger of dying, she did not show her face once. When he said that he personally visited the office, he had to leave for four days because of the entrance exam.
It’s not ‘it’s okay’, it’s not ‘I was worried’, it’s not like you’re talking about work right away.
The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it was.
Looking back, Karios has always been this way. Jeniel was not the 1st (work) or the 2nd (acquaintance), but the 3rd.
I am sick of this ill-treatment now.
“done. You shouldn’t think about it.”
After getting ready to leave, Jeniel headed to the academy. The academy was still under the control of Ministry of Magic agents, and after checking their identity, they entered the Mage Tower.
The Mage Tower was very busy with the seminar with only a few days left and the 2nd half performance report to be held right next month. Jeniel also hurried to the meeting room.
“Oops.”
I made a sharp turn in the hallway and headed for my private lab. It was to bring documents to refer to at the meeting.
I couldn’t sleep, so I didn’t have a clue.
“Haam-”
Yawning like a cat, Jeniel opened the door to the lab. I took a handful of papers on my desk and went back to the conference room.
again – again –
The footsteps were busy.
Because I stopped by the lab, time was delayed.
again – again –
Almost there.
At this rate, it seemed like they would arrive just before the meeting.
The moment I passed the central hallway, climbed the stairs, and turned the corner where the meeting room was.
Took-!
It collided with something that appeared on the other side.
It wasn’t a big shock, but I was so surprised that I missed the documents. Excellent water – Fallen papers tumbled across the floor.
Jeniel rubbed his forehead and raised his head.
“Aww… I’m sorry- Huh…?”
Jeniel’s eyes widened. I stared at it as if I had seen a celebrity.
The one in her deep eyes was none other than Leonard.
A friend of 20 years, and we saw each other yesterday.
But today was a little strange.
For some reason, I felt an unknown sense of difference in Leonard, who was wearing a suit.
Sharp yet reliable suit fit.
Quite different from when wearing the robe.
Sensuality flowed from his tight clothes, and the familiar yet unfamiliar atmosphere strangely stimulated the heart.
As if he didn’t know that fact, Leonard treated him as usual.
He handed over the soft hand that had put Jeniel to sleep.
“Are you okay …?”