128. Daily Shelf Life, 5 Days
Nina, a Tier 1 thief, says that if she decides to hide herself, even the professors won’t be able to find her.
It doesn’t end with a simple setting. It is also the story of the character performance of Unknown Saga.
To put it simply, in order to discover a thief using level 1 , You need a detection skill of level 1 or higher as well.
And to discover a thief using level 2 , You need a level 2 or higher detection skill as well. A level 1 detection skill cannot find a level 2 .
In that way, the detection skill level needs to be supported to a certain extent to find the hidden enemy.
Nina’s stealth skill level is abnormally high.
Therefore, no student can see through Nina, who has gone into hiding.
Of course, if you nurture certain characters ‘in a way that invests heavily in raising the detection skill’, you might be able to discover Nina.
To put it the other way around, it is a story that you have to take such an extreme nurturing method. In other words, it is only a theoretical story, and if you actually develop a character in that way, it will not have enough firepower or utility. It must be a walking ward.
I, too, cannot see through Nina’s concealment through the usual methods.
The reason I can always recognize Nina’s stealth is because Nina is a game character after all.
The stealth of a thief is not a skill that makes you invisible, but rather a skill that is close to hiding your presence.
That’s why, if you know that the thief is there and make eye contact with her, the thief’s stealth skill will naturally be released.
In other words, by detecting Nina’s stealth, you don’t find out that she is there,
Because they know that Nina is there first, this is how her stealth is discovered.
‘And I remember all of Nina’s behavior patterns.’
Nina has a very mechanical personality, and on top of that, her relationships with people aren’t that great either.
Because of this, her range of action is very narrow, and the places where Nina, who has taken her stealth, move are also fixed in several places.
About half of the patterns are concentrated in her library.
So, if you observe such places carefully, it is not uncommon for Nina to meet her eyes and break her hiding place.
“…You’re studying today as well.”
Nina says, unable to hide her awkwardness.
She tries to keep her expressionless expression as normal as possible, but there is a subtle hint of embarrassment on her face. It must have been difficult for her to maintain her composure after her own secret was exposed.
Nina can’t meet my eyes.
I turn my gaze slightly and look towards Marie again.
“Marie, give Nina one of her drinks.”
“Ugh, yes…!”
“……? Why are you giving it to me?”
When Marie holds out her drink, Nina is immediately alert. That’s who she is. She’d react that way to anyone who suddenly did her favor.
Fortunately, I had a cause.
“I heard that monsters occurred not too long ago. And I also heard from the guide that you were a witness.”
“…From the leadership?”
“Finally, the professor in charge was Professor Catherine, an advisor to the leadership team. I overheard a conversation between the leadership team members and Professor Catherine.”
Of course it is a lie. I haven’t been to see Professor Catherine lately.
But Nina will never catch this lie.
Because there is no way that Nina, who is an Asaine, has a relationship with the leading member.
“I see. Ariel Beheritt, do you want information?”
“Yes. I have a story that worries me.”
“A story that interests you?”
“I heard at first glance that there was a Jaca Ancilla.”
Marie widens her eyes from the side. As if that’s really true.
Nina looks at me with quiet eyes.
“Yes, there was.”
“Our party has business with Jaca Ancilla. But I heard she’s not coming to class lately.”
“I’ve heard about that to some extent. At that time, Jay Carr and Silla-sama looked quite healthy than she looked, but it’s the first time I’ve heard that she hasn’t come to class since then.”
Strangely, Nina covers her mouth. She’s the kind of quirk Nina does when she’s lost in her thoughts.
Looking at Nina like that, I say.
“I wish I could tell you the situation at that time.”
The first incident of Chapter 2 takes place outside the player’s line of sight.
Secretly yet quietly.
Every few days, at night, the unseen demon appears, and in the morning the demon is discovered as a corpse.
Since Lucius and the others are sleeping in the dormitory at that time, it is impossible to determine what happened,
If a player who feels strange goes outside the dormitory to investigate at night, there is no profit. Rather, as if avoiding the player, the place where the beast’s body was found changes little by little.
Therefore, information about him must be obtained from other NPCs.
[Victor] “I’ll check in the morning. These days, the number of wild animals on the floating island is decreasing.”
[Victor] “A new type of monster has recently appeared on the floating island, so I think it has something to do with it. Don’t leave the dormitory after the sun goes down.”
[Tyllen] “…It is true that our research institute took over the corpse of the new monster from the leadership team.”
[Tyllen] “So what are you curious about? If it’s a beast’s corpse, we can’t show it… Because Professor Milas is personally managing it.”
[Tyllen] “You’d better not go around at night either.”
[Dormitory Maid A] “Recently, more and more students have lost their pets.”
[Dormitory Maid B] “Students don’t always bring pets. I think they were looking for opportunities to leave their pets alone in their room.”
[Dormitory Maid C] “Did someone break in and take out the pet?”
[Dormitory Maid A] “That’s out the window on purpose.”
[Dormitory Maid B] “Out of the window… There were many lost pets that couldn’t open the window…”
[Dormitory Maid A] “That’s what’s strange.”
[Dormitory Maid C] “Anyway, the students are blaming our maids these days, so I need to figure out what happened quickly. Or come up with a countermeasure…”
[Nina] “What are you doing in the library, Mr. Lucius?”
[Nina] “Did you come to my room in the middle of the night? For what business?”
[Nina] “That’s why I spend most of my nights walking…”
[Nina] “It looks like you dealt with several demon beasts by yourself. By the time I arrived, Jaca Ancilla had already defeated all the beasts, so I didn’t have to do anything special.”
From noble mtl dot com
“I can’t figure out the route of infection.”
Professor Milas looks puzzled.
In front of his eyes is a large experiment table,
On top of that lies the dismembered corpse of the Witchbeast.
“…You said you were infected with a virus. But even Professor Milas couldn’t figure out the route of infection?”
“I don’t know if it’s a virus infection. It should be seen as a form closer to some kind of mutation.”
Professor Milas answers Tylen’s question.
“There are usually two types of infection. A blood-borne infection or a respiratory infection. In either case, there should be no trace, but there is none.”
In the case of infection through the blood, trauma must remain. However, since the beast’s corpse has no obvious trauma or signs of infection, it is not infection through blood.
The same goes for the respiratory system. Infectious substances should remain in the lungs, but there is no such trace.
“It’s not biological magic either. There’s no trace of magic being used at all. …Can Ariel guess something?”
Professor Milas looks at me with eyes that don’t expect much.
I shook my head at that.
“I don’t know much about biomagic because I haven’t learned it yet.”
“That’s right. I’m asking a stupid question. Sorry to waste your time, Ariel.”
“No. Then may I leave?”
“Yes, of course. Thank you for moving the beasts’ corpses, Student Ariel.”
Leaving the lab, greeted by Professor Milas.
Right before closing the door, Professor Milas touched the corpse of the Witchbeast with a look of considerable distress.
I know the whole story, but there is no need to explain it to Professor Milas.
You’ll find out in five days anyway.
“Ariel, I’m ready.”
When I came out of the lab, Claire was waiting for me.
I nod and follow Claire.
Did you walk like that for about 10 minutes?
Even among the buildings in the research building, three people can be seen gathered in a fairly secluded place.
One person is Marie.
The other is Ron.
And the last one is Muri.
“You are here, Gongzanari.”
“I made you wait. I’ll start right away.”
“Huh? Let’s start? Isn’t it just a gift?”
Hearing my words, Ron glared at her in puzzlement.
Ignoring Ron, I slipped the box I was holding to Marie.
Upon receiving my box, Marie nodded her head,
It walks towards Muri with a slightly unsteady step.
“…….”
Then Marie opens the wooden box without saying anything.
In the box, the Catalyst I made is neatly placed,
Myuri carefully examines the Catalyst.
“Hey, I made it with great care. It’s quite a good product.”
“…….”
“Okay. Go ahead.”
Mu Li nods her head, and Marie closes the box.
I took the box back from Marie and handed it to Ron this time.
“Let’s apologize for what happened before. Tell him you’re sorry for taking your words seriously.”
Saying that, I made a fist with my right hand and gently placed it on the left side of my chest.
Ron is looking at me with a dumbfounded expression.
“…Hmm? What, what is that posture…”
“It’s the etiquette of a nobleman, Ron. Princess Beheritt is expressing the utmost apology as a nobleman.”
Myuri gave a further explanation.
I am the one with the highest rank in this position.
As a Young master, the fact that I handed over the box directly without borrowing someone else’s hand means that I put down my pride to that extent.
Raising a fist on the left chest is a unique manner of aristocrats in this country to risk their heart.
As a Young master, I expressed the formality as much as I could.
‘Claire doesn’t seem to like it.’
Claire’s expression, watching this scene from a little distance, is not very bright.
Claire is an aristocrat to the core, so it must be a shame to express this much to a commoner. If it were Claire, even if she died, she wouldn’t do such a thing.
“Well, Prince Behirit doesn’t seem to mind anything.”
Muri said as if spitting out.
I frown at the words that seem to have stabbed me to the core.
“What are you talking about? It sounds like you’re talking about people like a sociopath.”
“Ah~, I didn’t mean that. It’s just that I didn’t feel sorry for Tia from the bottom of my heart.”
“However you imagine the human mind is your freedom, but if you did the best you could, wouldn’t that be enough?”
I sneakily pulled out an envelope from my pocket.
And put the letter in Ron’s box.
“I don’t know what you commoners might think, but the formality is important. Whether or not I sincerely feel sorry for Tia, the fact that I apologized in the end is what matters.”
“Is it because Princess Beheritt is a high-ranking noble?”
“Status doesn’t matter. All human beings, whether nobles or commoners, live in formal relationships.”
In order to avoid useless quarrels, each person kills bad feelings.
In order not to create a tiring situation, everyone just knows but pretends not to have seen it.
In the end, as long as they don’t cross the line, each of them lives within their own fence.
“So this is kind of a proposal. Whether Tia still hates me or not, I don’t care. It’s not about forgetting the past. It’s just about keeping things together and not creating trouble.”
“Is that Beherit Gongzanari’s method of reconciliation?”
“Yes. All you asked for was to reconcile and improve the relationship, not to be friends with Tia.”
Tia doesn’t need to be convinced about this. No matter what Tia thinks, I just have to convince Murrie.
And Muri only wants Tia, the ‘descendant of a forgotten hero’, not to fall into a dangerous situation.
So all I have to do is declare that I am not Tia’s enemy, and that I will not turn Tia against her.
“I understand. Princess Beheritt really doesn’t feel sorry for Tia.”
“…….”
“But with Tia… No, it seems like he really wants to have a moderate relationship with Lucius’s party. Catalyst also makes handicrafts himself, and gives away what he painstakingly made as a gift. Ordinary people like this. Don’t bother.”
Muri muttered as she looked at the box Ron was holding.
“Didn’t Gongzanari Beheritt hate Tia from the start?”
And then I asked.
I didn’t say anything.
I couldn’t say anything exactly.
I felt that I had been seen through in an instant.
I had to manage my expression somehow at those words that seemed to strike me off guard. If you react even a little bit, I will give you information.
In a state where I can’t even distinguish whether it’s good or bad to let me know what I think of Lucius and the others,
Since everything is unclear, I quickly decided that it was right to hide my feelings for now,
Anyway, focus your eyes properly and look at Muri for now.
“You risked her life to save Tia when she was in danger, right? Then, what did Princess Beheritt say during the placement test… Did you do it on purpose to be hated?”
“That’s a question not worth answering. It’s the dumbest question I’ve ever heard.”
I said so.
The question of whether you did it to be hated on purpose.
If I say YES, my true feelings will be revealed, so I will not be able to achieve my original goal of being hated.
If you say NO, you may be questioned if you are giving such an answer on purpose to be hated even now.
So that question is a kind of payment.
Then, the only option left is to not answer.
“If you don’t answer me, I’ll have no choice but to think on my own. And if my imagination is correct, Prince Beheritt is neither my enemy nor Lucius’ enemy.”
Then, Myuri took it out of her bag.
Book 1 of the Witch’s Book.
“Perhaps Gongjanari Beheritt will become our ally.”