After the self-destruction terrorism at the Imperial University, a lot has changed.
Of course, the Magic Day terror incident had a significant impact, but since it ended in an attempted attack, it didn’t become a major issue. However, this incident struck at the heart of the Empire, making its severity on a different dimension altogether.
First, everyone entering and exiting the Imperial University had their movements tracked.
Every reason for entering or leaving, which route they took, and where they visited or returned from was scrutinized.
Security was beefed up to the point where noble students were seriously protesting.
Thanks to that, Emilia was completely cut off from the Intelligence Agency.
With the Imperial Police and the Investigation Department monitoring communications tightly, any suspicious communication magic performed in the mansion would immediately raise suspicion.
Of course, I wasn’t being monitored or tracked.
I was involved in the investigation team for this incident.
“Reporters are going to swarm. When they come, absolutely don’t say a word. Just tell them it’s confidential and brush them off. If they stick around, threaten them by asking if they’re obstructing the Imperial University Investigation Department’s duties.”
“What if they keep following us?”
“In that case, you can subdue them with force and hand them over to the Imperial Police. Just don’t kill them.”
“······.”
Sergey’s measures were to prevent an ordinary student like me from blabbering.
Of course, I wouldn’t spill easily, but reporters can be quite persistent.
They would probably want information by any illegal means, and an easy target like me, a student, would be desirable.
At that time, they placed me within the Investigation Department, which had power equivalent to the Imperial Police to easily deal with the reporters.
Thanks to that, while all other students were being tracked, I could freely enter and exit the Imperial University.
Since Emilia was isolated from the outside, I had a place to visit.
“I’m sure it was here.”
The institution’s Old Town.
Having arrived at the edge of the slum, I stepped into the alleyway.
Of course, I had discarded my school uniform and disguised myself in shabby clothes out of fear of being recognized.
‘Recently, the flow from the original story has been changing rapidly.’
I never expected the fanatics to attack the Imperial University.
The self-destruction terrorism even less so.
It wasn’t part of the original story in the first place.
The reason for my failure in predictions was simple.
I was too ignorant of the underbelly of this world.
Of course, I was far more informed than an average person, but compared to locals, it was nothing.
While I controlled the flow from the light side, unknown chaos was brewing in the shadows, creating a butterfly effect that had come to light sooner than I anticipated.
While it might feel a bit late, I had to begin managing the underbelly soon.
Of course, complete control was impossible.
Even the imperial family had given up on that.
I could only spread my reach just enough to foresee the future.
For that, I needed to get in touch with about three individuals.
Right now, I was headed to find one of them, Hertlocker.
*Knock, knock······*
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
“······.”
Silence hung on the other side of the door.
I felt something was off.
*Bang!*
“Dammit.”
Kicking the door open revealed a small room.
The windows were wide open, and tattered curtains fluttered.
I must have made my presence known.
“*Hah…*”
I sighed deeply and began preparing a spell.
Fire System Spell.
It had enough firepower to incinerate this room completely.
At that moment, with a *swish* sound, something flew in through the window.
“Wait! Respond to the conversation!”
“······.”
It was Hertlocker.
He slammed his head against the wall from the speed he couldn’t overcome and spoke hastily.
He seemed rather desperate.
Did he hide some valuables in this room?
That wasn’t my concern.
“Why did you run?”
“You’re suspecting us right now. That wasn’t us. Of course, there wouldn’t be a criminal in this world who’d admit it, but we really didn’t do it. Even if we commit terrorism, wouldn’t we do it in an insane way charging in through the front?”
“Who said it was you? Just because you felt guilty······.”
“What? Aren’t you suspicious of us?”
“No. You stupid idiot.”
“······.”
I glared at Hertlocker, who was making a disgruntled face.
If this guy charged at me, what were my chances?
From that speed earlier, he was significantly faster than before.
I’d barely be able to overpower him if I used ‘Selection and Concentration’ on Agility.
Chances were minimal.
If Hertlocker decided to, my life was always at risk.
This wasn’t the same Hertlocker I mocked in the sewers.
Yet, there was only one reason he wouldn’t attack me.
“How’s Emilia doing these days?”
Because he had Emilia hostage.
Though she herself didn’t know, a bomb spell was supposedly implanted in her heart.
Of course, it was a precarious balancing act.
The moment this lie is exposed, I’d be shredded by that monster.
But as long as I didn’t fall off the wire, I had to utilize this to the fullest.
“She’s doing well. But why are you asking me instead of her?”
“Well, it’s because I currently have no way to meet Emilia. The security around the Imperial University is too tight.”
“You know about the incident that made this situation, right?”
“I don’t know as much as you, but I know a bit······.”
“Here’s an additional request, Hertlocker. Track their movements.”
“Huh? I need to know who they are first to track them. Are you telling me to find that out? Don’t make me laugh, Schlus Hainkel. How is the Intelligence Agency supposed to catch what the Imperial Police can’t-”
“Pass on some names of theirs.”
“······!”
I tossed a piece of paper onto the floor.
It was a list of some members from that insane fanatic sect.
I had picked out reliable names, so I wasn’t worried about it being wrong.
“They’re worshippers of Majin. This list contains that believers.”
“No… If you know this, shouldn’t you rush to the investigation right now?”
“It’s not that simple. The commonality among them is that they’re all not the upper ranks of their sect. The moment we touch them, the sect will cut their tails and disappear into the shadows even more.”
“So now you’re telling me-”
“Yes. Quietly infiltrate the sect and extract information.”
“······.”
Hertlocker’s expression soured.
It was essentially asking him to be a double agent.
But he wouldn’t have much of a choice.
Because Emilia was in my grasp.
Besides, since it’d be a while until he could meet Emilia, there was no risk of being discovered about the truth of the bomb spell in her heart.
“Cheer up. I saved you from the Investigation Department trying to blame the Intelligence Agency for everything and wipe them out completely.”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
“Didn’t you find it strange? Didn’t you notice how lax the counter-intelligence was?”
“······.”
“Think about who helped you out. You can decide who to attack afterwards.”
“Schlus Hainkel······. What the hell are you plotting?”
Hertlocker asked, grinding his teeth.
What am I plotting, huh?
Such a typical question to ask.
I had no choice but to answer honestly.
Hertlocker was also a master at reading expressions like Emilia, so any lie would get sniffed out.
“For the peace of the continent.”
“What······.”
Hertlocker’s expression became bizarre.
.
.
.
‘For the peace of the continent?’
Hertlocker scoffed.
Even examining Schlus’s face, there wasn’t a hint of dishonesty.
Is he skilled at lying?
Or did he genuinely believe what he said?
‘Is he just a crazy person······?’
Hertlocker realized he had misjudged Schlus Hainkel.
He wasn’t someone operating for an organization behind the scenes.
He genuinely believed he was working for world peace, the absolute lunatic.
Only then did Hertlocker begin to understand why Schlus had never shown greed for honor or wealth.
A madman who believes he is justice would find such worldly things unappealing.
“So, just what are you doing for… the peace of the continent?”
“I’m working hard to subdue the underbelly that threatens that peace.”
The moment Schlus’s empty eyes turned toward him, Hertlocker swallowed.
Looking at him again, his eyes seemed deranged.
“I’ll tell you this specifically. The underbelly is that fanatic sect.”
Schlus pulled a chair, crossed his legs, and started examining the books on the desk while making some absurd claims.
A sect that had just gone insane couldn’t possibly be that underbelly!
That couldn’t be!
No matter how tightly wrapped in a veil they were, the Imperial Police and the Investigation Department would certainly find them and wipe them out entirely.
It was hard to believe the Empire, the continent would fall due to such a fanatic sect.
“They’re gradually expanding their influence and will ultimately overturn the entire continent. This isn’t the time for the Empire and the Kingdom to fight. To make them realize that, Hertlocker, your role is crucial. You now understand how to make the Empire’s blade not face the Kingdom, right?”
“You mean to pledge allegiance to you.”
“Pledge loyalty to your king, you idiot. Just do your best in your assigned tasks. You and I are saving the continent. Got it?”
“······.”
‘What a madman.’
Hertlocker felt pure fear for the first time in a long while.
*
“Don’t move. I warned you.”
*Thud…*
I closed the door and walked out of Hertlocker’s place.
Today, something about Hertlocker felt off.
He seemed to be terribly frightened.
After getting thoroughly beaten a few times, had he finally reached the point where he was afraid just to see my face?
If that’s the case, I’d be thankful.
Moreover, today I had passed on information about the sect to Hertlocker.
Although he may seem rough, deep down he had a strong sense of justice, so if I made him believe it was for the continent’s peace, he would have trusted me more.
Of course, I didn’t mention that the mastermind was Majin.
If I told him that humans and Majin were at war, he would have seen me as a madman.
And I got information about Mary, which I had previously requested from Hertlocker.
It was just basic information, but from it, I was able to find out the name of Mary’s son.
Pellang’s Ale.
That was his name.
With a name in hand, it might be easier to find him now.
I thought about hiring an agency for this investigation.
“Huh?”
At that moment, a signal from a communication spell flowed in.
This was probably a frequency used by the Investigation Department.
I immediately decoded the code and attempted to listen in.
-Request for support. Emergency situation at the Imperial University. Issue a Level 3 Danger warning. Also, declare the return of Professor Sergey von Freust.
A Level 3 Danger warning?
The highest level, indicating the lives of Imperial University students were at stake.
Could it be······
[Quest: Eliminate the Untier.]
[Difficulty: ★★★★★]
[Reward: 20 shop coins]
‘Damn it.’
I immediately started running toward the Imperial University.
