Chapter 13 – I Seriously Doubt the Hero’s Intelligence
“This is strange.”
Mumbling is a common sight for the hero, Kim Yuseong.
“This is strange. Cecilia wouldn’t do that…If only a bit… If I were there just a little longer… Cecilia…Cecilia wouldn’t do that…”
He seems to be seriously contemplating with a grave expression, but hesitates to elaborate.
It’s tiresome for those around to constantly endure incomprehensible mutterings.
Rebecca would have been quite irritated, were it not for the fact that he was the designated hero. But, in a voice tinged with feign familiarity, Rebecca began to speak to him.
“Hero, I actually have something to tell you.”
“Ah, Rebecca. I’m sorry. I got lost in thought. What is it? Is it about Cecilia?”
“Yes. But, I’m hesitant to speak on it because it’s mere speculation…”
“That’s okay. Your words tend to be accurate. I trust you, Rebecca.”
“Hero…..”
That’s why it’s easier to manipulate situations to one’s liking.
Rebecca slightly twisted her mouth and facial muscles to portray a gloomy expression.
She prolonged her tone expertly, inducing sympathy the moment she attracted Kim Yuseong’s attention,
“Cecilia is distancing herself from me lately…I feel so hurt.”
“Distancing herself… it wasn’t just me who felt that.”
“You too, Hero?”
“Today, I saw her having lunch on the crowded streets in front of the school. With the professors of this school, not us. I felt so bad, I thought I’d bring her along, but she rather avoided me.”
“I felt so upset, I had a conversation with her last time. But then, she threatened me while bringing up that professor. I was so frightened and shocked… Sob!”
“…Rebecca. Sigh! This is all my fault for not paying attention to Cecilia in time.”
“No! We did our best for Cecilia, Hero! There’s no need for you to blame yourself…!”
“…………Thank you.”
“Sniffle! So, so…I was wondering if perhaps…if perhaps Cecilia was being forcefully manipulated by Professor Nefar. If Cecilia, under a mental spell, does not recognize us…tears come to my eyes…!”
“Mental magic…?”
“Yes! Not long ago, I subtly probed into Cecilia! No clue whether she was in her right senses, but Cecilia…with a face flush from shame…said she was being horribly treated, begged for help! She confessed to me! Sigh… Poor Cecilia.”
“I see. So that’s why she avoided my touch then, hid behind the professor! That was a message for me! Damn it! I didn’t realize it then…!…Cecilia…expectedly…of course! That was it! Argh!”
Rattle…! Kim Yoo-sung fiercely bit his teeth and smashed his chair.
“I cannot forgive this!!!!!!!!!!”
His youthful voice was heavy, as if droplets of blood were falling.
The hero, swayed by the illogic so simple that it would make one wonder about his intelligence.
Now, if someone cleverly changes the direction of Kim Yoo-sung’s shallow anger, everything will likely go as planned.
Rebecca subtly suggested to him.
“…Hero, taking care of Professor Nepherna might be necessary, but I believe the more urgent matter is to rescue Cecilia, who is being victimized by an unspeakably wicked man.”
“You’re right. I concur…Cecilia. First, I have to rescue poor Cecilia. Mental magic? Perhaps I can counteract with the power of the holy sword.”
At Kim Yoo-sung’s question, Rebecca swallowed her deep laughter and replied.
“We in our clan can resolve this. We are already prepared. Hero…please bring Cecilia to the place I mention. We will handle the rest.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t worry. Everything will work out. Let’s save Cecilia and condemn Professor Nepherna.”
“To torture a girl with mental magic…A professor from the Imperial Academy is unspeakably disgusting and mean.”
“Going by their actions, there’s no difference from the Bloodline.”
“………!”
Kim Yoo-sung bulged his eyes. The wounds of the last expedition. The individuals who killed two warriors of the holy sword, crushed the 6th holy sword party that guarded the rear, and barely left him alive, inflicting humiliation.
The word ‘Bloodline’ was nothing less than revulsion for Kim Yoo-sung.
***
It was a night lit by the moon.
I don’t know what the official name for the shape of the moon hanging brightly on the window is, but I ended up gazing at it for a while, seated by my bed.
When my heart is troubled, I often find myself looking at the moon.
If I think about how the sky here is also connected to the sky in my hometown, it can ease my mind.
I wonder if my mother at home, and the teacher who has faded in my memories, are looking at the same moon right now.
Suddenly, the pendant touching my chest stings.
The pendant that Professor Nefertna gave me.
The edgy decoration often hurts my skin due to its sharp design.
It’s probably because I forcibly tuck a pendant that should be worn outside my clothes.
It was quite difficult to bury it vertically in my chest.
It’s not difficult to take it out again, but it was embarrassing and flushing to ostentatiously wear something that Professor Nefrtana gave me.
The professor who risked herself to save me in the perilous snowfield.
The professor who is a bit quirky but remarkably strong.
The professor who reminds me of my childhood teacher, she is so warm.
‘Teacher…
I think I found a good professor at this school.’ It was really, really tough, but I think I can regain some strength.
There are some kind people here.
The incredibly beautiful Professor Freya who always smiles, and a girl of my age named Undine who helped me in my trouble.
“Do you think so, Teacher…?” Knock, knock.
The sharp knock made me tense.
It’s late at night.
If someone has come to find me, it probably isn’t for a pleasant reason.
Despite my hackles being up, I manage to stand tall.
My hearing, which becomes infinitely sharp at night, allows me to guess the identities of those outside the door.
Two people.
Both breath sounds are familiar.
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First, I try calming my racing heartbeat with deep breaths.
“Hello, Cecilia.”
When I opened the door, there were familiar faces.
They were party members I had seen for a long time, so I didn’t feel any unfamiliarity, but for some reason, I was seized by an inexplicable anxiety and fear, causing me to hesitate.
It was an instinctive action.
“Rebecca, and…Sir Yong? This is…a women’s dorm…uh…uh…”
Rebecca burst into the room without any hesitation.
She covered my mouth and nose with the handkerchief she was holding.
“Rebe…uh…! Can’t…breathe!”
Rebecca’s touch forcefully restrained my body.
I desperately resisted, but Rebecca’s strength seemed to be infused with magic. I felt as though my wrists were about to break under the weight and pressure, like being crushed by an iron bar.
I stifled a scream. Tears welled up in my eyes from the pain.
The knight who approached afterwards, with his emotionless eyes, only looked down at me without any intention of stopping Rebecca. Even though I reached out for help, he didn’t respond.
The knight said the following.
“It’s okay. We’ll save you. Don’t worry. You don’t have to be in pain anymore. I heard the sad fact that you were tainted by that professor. I will save you. Let me release the mental magic that has captured you. So trust us.”
“Uh…! Uh-uh!!”
***
I pushed the stack of papers high onto a corner of the desk. The ink spilled and made a mess, but I just clicked my tongue lightly.
I never intended to read them from the beginning. They were objects that had been rolling around on the desk instead of decorations for about six months.
Knock knock.
Suddenly, I heard a knock on the window and turned my gaze.
The beak of the dark crow was faintly shining. I met the gaze of the crow sitting on the railing without any movement, and involuntarily let out a shallow sigh, opening my mouth.
“Undine, Ignis.”
“You called, sir.”
The air shimmered, and Ignis, the flickering of flames, and Undine, vanishing like a melting foam, settled on the ground.
Undine, who lightly pushed up her braided hair, spoke to me in an unusual anxious tone.
“Master, the 6th Holy Sword and Rebecca have made a move.”
“I see. I have received the signal from Ignis.”
“Then……”
“…This has become troublesome. I wanted to finish this off with words.”
“The lowly race dared to ignore our warning. Please cut down insects that deserve to die for upsetting you, master.”
The icily cooled voice of Undine deeply seeps in.
I knew about her hatred toward the empire. Not wanting to trigger her, I turned to Ignis instead of replying.
“Ignis.”
“Yes, following your orders I have been monitoring the warriors of the 6th Holy Sword.”
“A warlock huh. You couldn’t have sent them too far.”
“…I confirmed that they are heading towards the snowfield.”
“Their intention? To take Cecilia back?”
“……It seems that way from the Warrior’s side, but it looks like the second daughter of the Clorand family is trying to use this to kill her.”
Even as Ignis bowed his head, he stole a glance at the sister who was standing beside him. The moment I mentioned Cecilia, Undine had quickly darkened.
Unable to simply observe any longer, Ignis carefully asked me,
“……You seem to care quite a bit about that fox tribe girl.”
“If you have any complaints, that’s also good.”
“I spoke out of turn.”
“Yes.”
“If that girl falls into danger, how far are you willing to tolerate it?… If the Clorand Family interferes, clearing out whoever is there as necessary might also be one method…”
“An idiot with a misguided illusion, yet chosen as the Warrior by the Holy Sword, crossing over from another world. Even if they made the wrong choice, the Holy Sword won’t just ignore it. Well, I’m just saying this, but I’m thinking that way anyway.”
I furrowed my brows as I swallowed my words.
“Ignis, thoroughly search the nearby snowfield. Notify me immediately if anything happens.”
“Yes.”
“And Undine. Try to trace back if there are even slight traces of magic in Cecilia’s room.”
“Yes.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
“As per your command.”
“As per your lordship’s command.”
The siblings disappeared swiftly into thin air, their brief responses leaving only a faint afterglow behind.
I put on my cloak that was hung over the chair and silently turned the doorknob.
As I opened the door, there was already someone leaning against the wall in the hallway, waiting for me.
“Freya.”
“Going to the Director’s office? I’ll accompany you.”
“……Okay.”