47 – Becoming the Mysterious Person of the Academy
5 days left until the first class.
————-
It was a morning of rain, thunder, and strong wind.
Niole Restman opened his eyes in bed. It wasn’t because of a nightmare or any loud noises around. His eyes just naturally opened. A rare occurrence.
Despite the early hour, he felt no fatigue at all. Instead, he was more energetic and clear-headed than ever. It felt like he had slept deeply for at least ten hours.
The dorm room was bathed in a deep and melancholic shade of blue. Glancing around, he saw a red-haired girl lying on the bed across from his. She was chewing on something, absentmindedly twirling her slightly tangled bangs.
This was a double room in the Academy dormitory, and the girl across from him was Niole’s roommate.
Although it had been only a day since they met and exchanged greetings, Niole already knew that his roommate was a good person with an advanced sense. The fact that she was a commoner didn’t matter. Restman the fallen writer had long since lost any interest in such distinctions.
Outside the window, a refreshing downpour was pouring down.
Occasionally, the window would shake slightly when the wind blew, but there was no rattling sound. Thanks to the protective magic surrounding the outer walls of the Academy dormitory.
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Suddenly, Niole changed into his outdoor clothes. He felt like he couldn’t fall back asleep in his restless state, and he didn’t want to disturb his roommate’s sleep. He planned to explore the Academy or, if time allowed, jog until sunrise.
Niole’s gaze fell on the small whiteboard leaning against the bed.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Ah. Oh.
Niole took a deep breath, opened his mouth, and expelled air through his vocal cords. However, only the sound of the wind brushing past was heard; no language came out.
He couldn’t speak.
That’s why the whiteboard was essential. The whiteboard and pen were his vocal cords. Only by writing down what he wanted to say on the white board could he communicate with others.
But… it should be fine now. It’s early in the morning, raining, and there’s no one else to meet.
Niohre thought so and turned around, carefully opened the door and left the dormitory. It seemed that the time would be just right if he went around the academy grounds clockwise and then counterclockwise.
He recalled the map of the academy in his head.
(▲ Academy Map)
(▲ Route Niohre recalled in his head)
Perfect. Let’s go.
Niohre said to himself and started running in the rain.
————-
It was refreshing.
The rain that seemed to wash away the world. The sound echoing in his ears. The sensation of the heat generated from within the body being relieved by the rain. Everything was good.
The only uncomfortable thing was that he had to firmly secure his chest with a pressure bandage.
Every time he ran, his center of gravity shook excessively. He thought it might be a training to balance the body, but it was more comfortable to have nothing than to have it after all.
Splash, splash.
Niohre kept running even when there was a puddle in front of him. Water splashed everywhere. She laughed with joy, but instead of ‘hahahahaha!’ it was more like ‘huh⋯⋯uh⋯⋯’. Still, it was okay.
Niohre wanted to purely enjoy this moment. Moving the body, gaining strength as he moved, and then being able to move the body even more freely. A cycle of improvement.
Every time a raindrop splashed, Niohre’s figure was reflected. Short hair cut around the shoulders, brown hair, a round-eyed appearance, and a pattern faintly revealing a presence in the pupils.
After running for about 20 minutes, he was halfway past the lecture facility area.
Kurrrang!
Lightning struck. And a suspicious voice of someone was carried by the wind.
“⋯⋯Yabam⋯ It has to be this way⋯, ⋯⋯Master.”
“⋯⋯⋯, ⋯⋯⋯Without anyone noticing⋯ ⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Two people were conversing while digging the ground.
Niole stopped running and held his breath. Then, he stealthily crawled up a nearby tree, hiding his body. The atmosphere seemed as if being caught was not an option.
At this late hour, why would they be digging the ground persistently even in the pouring rain? Niole swallowed a bit nervously with a mix of curiosity, peering down.
Flash. Kurur!
One of them was a wizard with a hood flipped over. The distance was considerable, and the rain made the visibility unclear. Facial features appeared blurry, resembling shadows. Only the fact that the person was a man could be deduced from the voice.
The other one was a woman dressed in a suit. Her sensuous and agile figure was vividly revealed beneath the tightly fitting suit. It seemed more fitting for a ballroom than digging the ground late at night. A strange mismatch of a wizard and a beauty.
A pile of dirt was visible around them. With each stroke of the shovel, the dirt cascaded down into the pit. It was the opposite. They weren’t digging the ground; they were burying something.
Thud. Thud.
The pit was gradually filled.
Due to the distance and darkness, it was challenging to see what they were burying. The height of the climbed tree made it difficult to peek inside the pit. Niole widened his eyes and focused. A ghost story he had heard somewhere echoed in his mind.
The Academy vehemently denies class disparities as much as possible. Therefore, in the Academy, nobles and commoners are equal⋯⋯ or so they say. However, adherence to that principle was rare. Ultimately, the world one had to survive in was outside the Academy. You could only be wary of the gaze of those who wielded power.
And so.
Rumors circulate easily about high-status individuals bribing to eliminate students they dislike, claiming the student died quietly, disguised as a disappearance or accident.
Flash!
Lightning struck. The world briefly lit up. In that moment, Niole saw the wizard’s ominously glowing red eyes⋯⋯ and inside the pit, though not certain, something resembling human eye pupils.
Niole forcibly sealed his own mouth.
“⋯⋯⋯. Your entire body⋯⋯⋯⋯. ⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯Has it not⋯⋯⋯⋯. ⋯⋯changed. ⋯⋯Can you see⋯⋯.”
“In my eyes⋯⋯⋯.”
They spoke while looking down into the pit.
What happened to the entire body? What exactly do they see? Is it a gruesome sight where things that shouldn’t be revealed are exposed? The person inside the pit.
No…
It must be a misunderstanding. A misperception. If they really killed someone and buried them, they could just go out of the northern gate and hide in the forest. The monsters dwelling in the woods would cleanly dispose of the corpse overnight. There was no need to bury it on campus.
Let’s go back like nothing happened and fall asleep. It’s probably nothing. Neore continued to reassure herself, descended from the tree, and tried to return to the dormitory.
–Owner…, that only…, what if…
Until a gloomy voice echoed from the pit.
As soon as the magician waved his hand, the voice quickly ceased. They must have done something. People, they were people. They were burying a living person. Neore was certain. She shuddered. Why, though…
A calm and indifferent voice sounded weakly. After covering the pit, they finished with a tap of their feet. The nonchalant tone stirred various emotions in Neore.
“Yes, …I wrote it. …I didn’t like it.”
“No wonder… couldn’t see it.”
What did they write with that resulted in death? Was it a peculiar weapon mentioned enough to warrant attention? If they didn’t like it, was it a grudge? What does it mean not to see it? Does it signify disappearance?
The two finished their work, dragging the shovel on the ground as they walked into the darkness. The traces of their presence were erased by the pouring rain. No one would know what happened here. If Neore remained silent.
…
Neore bit her lip.
She needed her academy diploma. Involvement in such a suspicious incident was not ideal. For her safety, perhaps it would be better to close her eyes and sleep in the quilt as if nothing happened. But.
But… they might be dark magicians who infiltrated the academy. If that’s the case, this could be a prelude to terrorism, and the school needs to be informed. Despite their conspicuous appearance, maybe…
More than anything else, before that… indiscriminate killing. She didn’t want to forgive it.
Neore waited for a long time, getting soaked in the rain on the tree. The raindrops were no longer refreshing. Her thoughts became more complex. First, she needs to find out.
Who they are. Who they eliminated.
A considerable amount of time passed, and Neore headed towards the dormitory as if escaping.
Holding the cursed sword, Pingballez grumbled.
“Must it be like this on a night like this, insane wizard?”
“Pingballez, it’s tonight precisely because we won’t be noticed, and we can do it secretly.”
In the early morning, with rain pouring like a waterfall, there wouldn’t be anyone lurking outside. This was the time to keep the Hidden Phis concealed. Buried in broad daylight, if someone discovered who hid it, the romance would be ruined.
“The rain is coming down. I’m drenched all over. Did my shirt not become semi-transparent? You can even see the bra.”
“I can’t see it with my eyes.”
Glanced briefly. About half of it was a conditioned reflex. Beneath the snug shirt, there were only two flesh-colored melons. The straps on the shoulders were not visible.
“Are you my new master? To wake me, you should be praised!”
In the midst of burying, whether the trigger worked or not, the cursed sword spat out a line stored in memory. I flicked my finger to activate a week-long power-saving mode.
The construction was complete.
Well buried. I pressed with my foot and patted it. Now, at the right time, I just had to scatter the “treasure map” indicating the location of the cursed sword hidden by the dark wizard who had infiltrated the academy before fleeing and dying.
With the end of construction, Pingballez confidently revealed his fashion.
“Yes, I used an invisible sword. I didn’t want to do laundry for my favorite underwear, you know.”
It meant he wasn’t wearing anything.
“No wonder the line didn’t show above the suit pants.”
————-
Morning broke.
The Red Tower wizard Selvier stretched languidly. It was a refreshing morning. Only a few more days, and it would be the start of school. Learning from renowned professors one had only heard stories about, aiming for higher heights, that was the opportunity gained.
To become stronger, more famous, and perhaps a disciple of the Red Tower.
When becoming a disciple of the Red Tower, they would use the “wish voucher” that the Red Tower master gives to ask for the return of their childhood friend.
He didn’t worry about the life and death of his childhood friend. He had been clever from a young age, always resembling a hero from a story who seemed invincible no matter where he went. Surely, he must be living well somewhere.
Perhaps he was living as a wizard, just like himself.
Feeling that the day of reunion was approaching, his heart pounded. Selvier resolved to live earnestly today as well and cheerfully greeted his roommate.
“Niore, what’s with that strange expression on your face?”
“…”
Certainly, until yesterday, the roommate who was excitedly discussing what lectures they would take at the academy for about five hours, just like himself, had turned into a zombie overnight.
[Good morning.]
Niore wrote the morning greeting on the whiteboard. Perhaps due to his mood, the handwriting was sluggish and distorted. Selvier recalled the most serious situation he could think of.
“Did I snore loudly last night…?”
[No, um, I have something I want to ask.]
“Yes, yes…”
[Do you know anyone who looks like this?]
Doodles.
The sketch of the duo that Niore drew was a familiar sight. The newly appointed professor with a purple robe and his secretary. They claimed they weren’t a couple, but SM couple. Despite trying to forget, they were unforgettable people because of their impressive actions.
“Yes, the professor who recently took office and his secretary. A purple robe magician. They are a bit…quite strange people, but not bad. I’ve received help from them in my hometown… Why is your expression like that?!”
After contemplating for a while, Niore explained the whole incident. It was a story of going out for a walk at night and finding someone burying a person. Selvier listened quietly and chuckled softly.
“It must be a misunderstanding, Niore. We haven’t known each other for a long time, but maybe they were just playing some useless prank?”
[By the way, Selvier, about being under hypnosis…]
“If you’re really worried, why not check it out?”
Niore grabbed the whiteboard with both hands for a primitive hypnosis test.
“No, I’m not asking you to confirm whether I’m under hypnosis or not⋯⋯! I’m asking if you asked. It must have been some trivial toy. Since we’re busy with course registrations and all in the morning, you could have checked it at night if you had time, right?”
Niole hesitated but gathered courage and nodded.
————-
That night, Niole once again found that place.
The pit had been dug by someone, and inside, traces of blood remained.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯!!”