Chapter 23: The Eye of the Storm Part 1

Peace.

At last, peace!

…is what I’d like to say, but there was still something left to confirm.

The traitor within Class F has been dealt with.

Kult’s plan was crushed.

Everything went well.

However, I still haven’t seen Kult’s response.

He didn’t make any move.

He should’ve taken some kind of action when Melana moved,

But aside from granting Jeff power, he did nothing.

Even if I had perfectly exploited his weakness,

He should’ve at least had some kind of countermeasure.

Yes, there’s a big difference between “couldn’t” and “didn’t”.

To put it simply,

“Oh, welcome, Mr. Johan. I was wondering when you’d arrive.”

“……”

Kult let me off the hook.

Thanks to that, everything ended rather neatly,

And all the countermeasures I had prepared turned out to be useless.

I’m not disappointed. Peace is the most important thing, after all.

“What’s your game?”

“A game? That’s hurtful.”

Kult smiled softly and turned his head toward the window.

It seemed meaningless for someone who couldn’t even see,

But the gesture still came off as sacred.

Even now, his image management was on point.

“If anyone had a hidden agenda, it was you, Mr. Johan. You provoked a poor student and pushed her into despair, didn’t you?”

“How is that my fault?”

It was something bound to explode eventually.

And I definitely gave her a chance to turn back.

Melana was the one who threw that chance away,

And Jeff chose to walk the thorny path by taking it.

And if we’re saying that, then Kult was also my accomplice.

No—forget it.

Pointing fingers would get us nowhere.

We were both villains in the end.

It seemed best to ask about what was on his mind now.

“So what will happen to Jeff? Are you just going to leave him alone?”

“Well, who knows? I don’t really care either way, but I don’t intend to control what the other followers think.”

“Isn’t Eden full of people who’d jump into fire at your command?”

“That’s right.”

“…Then why did you save him in the first place?”

It meant that even if he could have saved him, he hadn’t intended to.

“I happen to like people who stick to their convictions even at the cost of their lives. That’s why I wanted to give him a chance.”

“Then wouldn’t it be proper to help him all the way through?”

“That wouldn’t do. I helped him this time, yes, but since he doesn’t share my ideals, I can’t know when or how he might become an enemy.”

This guy was human.

And because he was human, he was full of contradictions.

As I’d said many times before, that was what made him terrifying.

He committed crazy acts with perfect composure while maintaining his humanity.

He was more dangerous than the ones who were just crazy.

“But thanks to him, I achieved what I was aiming for, so maybe I should grant him a bit of a reprieve?”

“…Huh?”

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Was I not the objective? Or did he succeed at something else? But if that were the case, there’d be no need to say “thanks to him”—

Unless Jeff had helped Kult’s plan in some way.

“You’re the one who told Jeff about all this, aren’t you, Mr. Johan?”

“……”

“You’re the one who let him know I might be willing to help him. There aren’t many people who know I’m the leader of Eden.”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

I admitted it without resistance. I had been too deeply involved to dodge the question.

This had been a kind of deal.

An unspoken agreement that existed between Kult and me.

The moment he gave Jeff the blessing, Kult had accepted that deal.

“Mr. Johan, you seem to have a tendency to overestimate me. So, let me ask. Have you ever thought something like this?”

Kult tapped his fingers on the desk for a moment.

He seemed to be choosing his words.

“That I might know everything about you.”

“…Damn.”

I covered my mouth.

I’d made a mistake. Kult was definitely a monster, but I had overestimated him too much.

“How did you know I was someone who might help Jeff?”

I had made my plans based on the information I had.

Information about the future I knew. And beyond that…

“What kind of person do you think I am?”

It was a question about a self-image that even Kult himself hadn’t fully established.

“Am I a good person who can’t turn a blind eye when faced with injustice? Or am I a monster who blindly charges forward to achieve his goals? Humans are such complicated beings, but you acted as if you were certain about what kind of person I am.”

“……”

Kult spoke his answer.

Yes, I did know what kind of person Kult was. I understood, more or less, not just the actions he took, but the thoughts behind them.

Things I couldn’t have known just by seeing scenes from the future.

I had even tried to make use of the sincerity he had never revealed on the surface.

And Kult had willingly played along.

Through that, I had taken a step closer to the biggest secret I was hiding.

“Even I don’t know what kind of person I am, but you threw options at me like you did know. You acted like it was a given like you were sure about something I myself still wrestle with.”

Joy.

Kult smiled brightly, like someone who had just discovered the answer to a long-troubling question.

“You’re not affiliated with the Oracle, are you! You know things she doesn’t!”

The monster who always smiled gently and masked himself in front of his followers was now revealing his true feelings before me.

“Something different… in a way, something even greater.”

I had let my guard down.

I had stepped in too deep.

I’d been caught knowing things I never should have learned.

“Thanks to you, I gained some useful information. I appreciate it, Mr. Johan.”

“What exactly are you planning to do?”

“Be happy. I haven’t decided yet. Whether to treat you as an enemy or to welcome you as an ally.”

The monster who once declared he would crack open my mind had, by now, changed his mind. Neither enemy nor ally.

“For now, I think I’ll spend a bit more time pondering your secrets.”

“Ha! What wonderful news.”

What the hell was this lunatic talking about?

A chill ran down my entire body.

Or… wait? Was this actually good news?

The monster who once said he’d split open my skull to see what was inside was now saying he’d investigate me instead.

In a way, couldn’t that be considered much more restrained?

Ha! As if that could be true. No matter how hard I tried to think positively, this wasn’t it.

If anything, it was going to be even more horrifying…not better.

“So, let me give you one word of advice. Be careful. I’m not the only one who’s figured things out about you.”

“…You didn’t need to tell me that. I already know.”

I knew exactly what Kult meant.

If there had been one variable I hadn’t accounted for in this plan, it was the other chain Melana possessed.

No matter how I looked at it, Melana wasn’t worth that kind of investment.

The only explanation was that someone above had provided support for this assault.

But there was only one person who could hand down an object that formed the foundation of the chain known as the Under Chain.

“So, the great sage got suspicious of me, huh?”

“Ha, you don’t seem to be afraid of the Great Sage. Most people fear him even more than they fear me.”

“Well, out of the countless monsters I’ve come to know, I do think he’s the most pathetic.”

“Monsters, huh… Then who do you think is the worst of them all?”

“The Emperor.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

There was a strange sense of camaraderie.

It was unsettling. How could a person seem so different just by changing their stance?

And what the hell was wrong with me, nodding along so naturally?

I needed to stay on guard.

There had been too many lunatics around me lately. It was starting to mess with my own head.

***

After finishing my uneasy conversation with Kult, I finally felt it settle in.

“Ha… that was long.”

I was free.

All the enemies within had been dealt with, and Kult, the last remaining one, would be leaving the Cradle next week. There was no one left in the Cradle who could target me anymore.

Now, as long as I stayed inside for the next three years, I’d be safe.

Starting now, I could spend every day lazily…

“…But of course, I can’t.”

There was something I had to do.

Starting today, I had to begin making medicine to cure Ariel’s illness.

I’d made a promise. I couldn’t just pretend I hadn’t.

Besides, this was a matter of life and death. I couldn’t take it lightly.

Once I started, I had to give it my all. Otherwise, I knew I’d regret it.

It was a path where even giving it my all might not lead to any results.

But I didn’t want to be left with any regrets. If possible, I wanted to succeed.

That was why I immediately set off toward my destination.

“I never thought I’d come back here.”

The Cradle might have been built as a military facility, but at its core, it was still a school.

Because of that, it had various forms of infrastructure in place, including clubs.

Throughout the past year—

I had spent nearly all of my time here.

I had returned to the place I was most familiar with.

The Alchemy Workshop—Ars Magna.

Like the hospital, it was one of the infrastructures inside the Cradle, and it could also be used for club activities.

Looking at it now, even this place brought back memories.

“There was a time I basically lived here just to make one medicine.”

After I’d completed the potion that could save my younger brother Chris, I had quit, so I wasn’t sure how they viewed me now.

Would they see me as a traitor?

I had received help from everyone, then ran off the moment my research was complete.

“Hoo…”

I felt nervous.

I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d felt this kind of tension. It was one unrelated to physical danger.

I stood in front of the Ars Magna clubroom for a long while, hesitating, before slowly pulling on the doorknob.

“Huh?”

The first thing I saw upon entering was someone sprawled out on the couch like a wreck.

Oh wow—on closer inspection, it was Professor Georg, the teacher in charge of the alchemy club.

“Is that you, Johan?”

“…It’s been a while, Professor.”

“Your face… looks much better now.”

“I’ve finally gotten some rest.”

“I see. So the reason you feel different is probably because the dark circles are gone.”

It wasn’t like there was some special story behind it or anything. His impression of me had really changed just because the dark circles were gone.

And it made sense. This place produced more healing potions than anything else.

To tame these insane killing machines, a lot of potions were needed.

In a way, you could say this place was busier than a hospital.

“Ugh! Sorry to ask this the moment we see each other again, but Johan, could you make me a cup of coffee?”

“It’s in the usual spot, right?”

“Yeah.”

Professor Georg started ordering me around without warning. I didn’t particularly mind.

I remembered how he had poured his body and soul into saving the students and how he’d helped with my research whenever he could.

I don’t know if I can truly call him a mentor… but that’s how I saw him.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

He took the coffee I made and looked at me with his weary face.

His eyes were deep and murky like the abyss, and just looking into them gave me chills.

If I hadn’t escaped from here, I probably would’ve had the same eyes.

“What the… are you Johan?”

“Yes.”

Maybe his mind was slipping. He’d already greeted me earlier, but now he looked surprised.

Unfortunately, it seemed he hadn’t been in his right mind.

“What did you come here for?”

“…I came to make some medicine in the alchemy workshop. What else would I be here for?”

“Medicine? What kind?”

“Well…”

“Ah, never mind. I’ll probably figure it out once I see what you’re doing anyway. Suit yourself.”

I gave a small nod and immediately looked for a suitable empty seat.

As I wandered between desks cluttered with all sorts of potions, I suddenly came to a stop.

“Did you leave this just as it was?”

“Yeah, I figured you’d come back someday. Oh, and I made sure to maintain the equipment regularly, so it should be fine.”

“Why would you…”

A swell of gratitude rose in me.

I held back the tears welling up and shook my head.

And at that moment, I spotted another seat.

Just like the one I used, it still carried the lingering presence of its former owner.

“Teacher.”

“Huaaaahm… Huh? Oh, what is it?”

“Is this by any chance Senior Jabir’s seat?”

“Yeah, I see you two were close. You recognized it right away.”

“Why did you leave it like this?”

When I saw that my old seat had been left untouched, I simply thought he was a kind teacher.

But this was different.

This was…

“Senior Jabir is already…”

“Gone? What, are you about to spout some sentimental nonsense?”

This was clinging to the past. Just the inability to let go of someone who’d already left.

Understandable, though…. Jabir, the president of the alchemy club, had already…

“He graduated… Please, it’s time to let him go.”

“……”

How long are you planning to hold onto feelings for someone who clearly doesn’t want to be here anymore?

It was honestly creepy.

“Yeah, Jabir graduated. But, Johan, there’s something you don’t know.”

Professor Georg picked up his coffee cup. His face was still hollow and worn, and his lab coat dragged behind him as he moved.

He shuffled all the way to the door before speaking again.

“There’s a university in the Cradle. And above that, even a graduate program.”

“…Don’t be ridiculous. He told me himself. Once he graduated, he wouldn’t even glance back in this direction.”

And seriously, who in their right mind would pursue higher education in a school that has become this much of a wreck in just one year?

Senior Jabir was smart. He wouldn’t make that kind of choice.

“Ahahahahaha!”

But Georg laughed loudly, like some mad scientist who had finally broke.

“Jabir said the same thing at first. That it was absurd.”

“What did you just say…?”

Jabir ‘also’?

So Jabir wasn’t the only one?

Who else did he drag into this pit of despair?

No—no, I’m missing something here.

Yeah… I figured you’d come back one day.

I felt a wave of disgust, like insects crawling all over my skin.

“…Teacher. Let me ask you again. Why did you leave my seat untouched?”

“Haha… Our workshop needs sharp minds like yours.”

Click!

Professor Georg who was now standing at the door, locked the workshop.

I immediately took up a combat stance.

This was a state of emergency.