Chapter 25: The Eye of the Storm Part 3

The research had begun.

Contrary to the way he had first appeared, Professor Georg carried out his duties as a professor quite well, and I absorbed his knowledge and advice while recklessly pouring money into the project.

Day 1.

After squeezing every last bit of brainpower, I had practically collapsed into sleep by the time I returned to the dormitory.

And the next day.

I woke up earlier than usual. It wasn’t because I was a naturally diligent person.

“Ugh, I don’t want to go out.”

My head throbbed.

The fatigue still clung to me.

But I had to go face an interrogation by the Headmistress, Olga Hermod, before today’s class began.

Actually, shouldn’t she be the one apologizing to me?

Wasn’t it because she hadn’t believed me when I said there might be a traitor in Class F that things had escalated this far?

On top of that, she was the one who failed to recognize Kult’s sinister intentions and let him into the Cradle.

I visited the Headmistress’s office while harboring such resentment, and, as always, Olga Hermod greeted me with a stern expression.

“You look tired.”

“I’ve been devoting myself to my studies.”

“Then can I expect good grades next semester?”

I simply shrugged my shoulders.

That was enough small talk.

“Let’s get to the point. Isn’t this about the recent incident?”

If it had happened outside the Academy, it might’ve been different, but this time, it had happened inside the Cradle.

The scale was small and the number of victims was few, but terrorism was still terrorism.

Olga Hermod politely set down a cup of coffee in front of me.

Seeing someone her age do something like that made me feel quite uncomfortable.

Of course, depending on how things went afterward, age wouldn’t matter at all.

Just try and mess with me. I’d show her what real hell looked like.

“Yes, but before we begin, an apology is in order. I sincerely apologize for the distress caused by the recent management failure, Johan.”

It was an appropriate response.

I could’ve raised my voice with veins bulging in my neck and shouted in anger, but Olga Hermod did have her own unavoidable circumstances.

The Cradle had already been broken from the start. The existing security system was practically useless, and the current state of affairs was a bizarre patchwork held together by human effort.

The idea that Olga Hermod was managing and overseeing this vast academy all by herself had always been unrealistic.

“I understand.”

Until a proper security system could be put in place, she had no choice but to protect the Cradle alone.

The current situation was held up entirely by the Archmage’s reputation and her goodwill.

The fact that she had managed to hold off external threats so effectively already made her deserving of the title “monster”.

“It would’ve been nice if you had listened to me just a little more back then.”

So I kept my complaint to that. Just a small remark.

If she had taken me seriously when I said the Under Chain was targeting me, it wouldn’t have come to this mess.

“That’s a little unfair. I didn’t ignore your words at the time.”

“……?”

What was this? A justification? After apologizing for everything else, now she wanted to defend this?

Was she really trying to pick a fight with me now with veins bulging and all?

“I did take your words seriously, and I arranged for your surroundings to be protected. I implemented minimal countermeasures. However…”

Olga Hermod narrowed her eyes and glared at me.

“For someone who claimed to feel uneasy, you’ve been seen spending a lot of time with that student lately…”

She meant Yuna.

It hadn’t been long since I confided my concerns to Olga Hermod when I discovered Yuna’s true identity and stopped speaking to her.

“And in the end, weren’t the Under Chain’s spies Melana and Jeff?”

“…….”

I never told Olga Hermod about those two.

At the time, I was overwhelmed in many ways and too busy trying to confirm Yuna’s identity.

I thought again about how my situation must have looked from the outside.

“……Please ignore what I said earlier.”

Damn it, I felt like I was going to be sick.

Even objectively, my actions weren’t much different from a teenager harassing a girl he liked.

“What was it we talked about again?”

The practiced kindness in her tone only made it sting more.

“Well then, let’s get to the point. Could you explain in detail what happened that night?”

I told her everything that had happened.

It was the same account I had given to Lobelia. The fact that Melana had used the chains and that Jeff had helped her. The overall picture lined up.

Just a difference in order and perspective, that’s all.

After hearing my long-winded lie to the end, Olga Hermod set down her teacup and crossed her arms.

If I managed to fool Lobelia, could I really fool an Archmage too?

No, I shouldn’t be thinking like that.

In the end, with both Ariel and me staying silent, all anyone else could do was speculate.

“I see. So that’s why Student Ariel is acting that way toward Student Johan……”

“Huh?”

What was that? Something felt off.

Wasn’t her perspective a little strange?

“I understand that being young, it’s hard to keep your blood from boiling over. But please be mindful not to hurt the hearts of more delicate students.”

“What are you talking about?”

Are you out of your mind?

“Oh, nothing yet. It’s just… given the situation… I truly hope it doesn’t come to that, but if things were to develop into a love triangle, someone could end up deeply hurt…”

“Are you actually crazy?”

“Ahem, ahem… That was a slip of the tongue.”

“Good grief.”

Seriously, good grief.

What the hell is this crazy old woman thinking?

Was she that determined to force me into some page of youthful drama?

“……If we’re done talking, may I go?”

“Ah, I’ve kept you far too long. Yes, you may go.”

If I talked to her any longer, I felt like I’d lose my grip on reality.

Why is it that I always end up entangled with the most dangerous people imaginable…

It was downright dreadful.

“And I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again, so please…. enjoy your school life to the fullest.”

“…….”

And yet, it didn’t feel all that bad.

Maybe… no, definitely.

Olga Hermod was the only one in this place who still saw the worn-down students of this cradle as children in need of protection.

***

Class time.

I slept.

Not unusual. It wasn’t like I ever really paid attention in class anyway.

I had poured all my energy into making medicine to cure Ariel’s illness, so I was too exhausted to help it.

After a deep nap, I opened my eyes to find Yuna standing in front of me.

“What time is it, Yuna?”

“School just ended.”

“Phew, perfect timing. Thanks for waking me up.”

“Then how about becoming my disciple?”

“If being your disciple is that cheap, I’ll pass.”

“Then… um… what should I say to lure you in?”

Lure me in?

I’m just saying no.

I got up from my seat and stretched lightly.

Skipping everything from first period through lunch must’ve taken its toll.

My arms were numb, and my back ached.

Still, I couldn’t believe no one said anything even though I’d been sleeping so blatantly for that long…

Maybe the “noble” tag attached to me in Class F makes people hesitate to interfere.

I felt bad, so next time I’ll at least pretend to be dozing off instead of outright sleeping.

“Let’s see… I should probably go check now.”

“Where are you going today? To the alchemy workshop to experiment?”

“You really know my every move, don’t you?”

“Puhihi! It’s just basic manners.”

Basic manners for a stalker, maybe?

Well, it was my fault for expecting common sense from Yuna in the first place.

“Today, I’m going to check on Kult. More precisely, I need to see for myself that bastard leaving the cradle.”

Thanks to him, I still couldn’t sleep at night with my legs stretched out.

I just couldn’t relax when I didn’t know what he was planning.

He was a potential threat.

One that was hard to predict in how he would strike.

“You’re insanely paranoid!”

“It’s not paranoia. Call it the rational thinking of a normal person, will you?”

Who wouldn’t feel uneasy knowing a terrorist was near their home? At the very least, no one could sleep peacefully until they heard news that the terrorist had moved far away.

“But Johan, isn’t there something you need to do first?”

“Me? I’ve never really had anything like a schedule.”

“You need to eat!”

“…You’re not wrong.”

Only then, after Yuna pointed it out, did I realize I was hungry.

Well, I hadn’t even had lunch and went straight to sleep, so it made sense.

“Then how about we go to the café near the front gate and grab something to eat while keeping watch?”

“Let’s do that!”

Yuna replied with a bright smile.

But seriously, why was she so eager to eat with me? It felt kind of overwhelming.

***

The place I chose was a café in a two-story building where I could look down at the front gate.

I was now sitting by the window, watching the gate.

Yuna who had acted like she wanted to eat with me disappeared halfway through.

What the heck? Why did that annoy me?

When she said she was coming along, it was irritating. But now that she vanished after we arrived, it felt like I’d been stood up.

Just as I was waiting for Kult to leave, feeling somewhat annoyed—

“You don’t look too happy.”

“…Seriously.”

Kult sat down across from me.

Damn it, he had figured out my behavior pattern. Just from that brief meeting and conversation, he seemed to have figured out what kind of person I was.

I had meant to just wait for him to leave, but now it looked like I’d have to go another round of verbal sparring with him.

“Didn’t we already finish our conversation last time?”

“Can’t we at least have a light conversation? This time, I came not just with a request… but a warning.”

“……”

Whatever it is, I had no intention of listening to a word this bastard says.

Besides, I wasn’t planning to leave the Cradle until graduation, so warning or not, I couldn’t care less.

“You do know I’m here this time in the role of a psychological counselor, right?”

“Yeah, and thanks to that crap, look at the state I’m in.”

If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have gotten involved in Ariel’s illness and wouldn’t be pulling all-nighters running experiments.

Thanks to you, I still feel like I’m dying.

No matter how much I sleep, I have so many thoughts that my head feels like it’s going to burst.

“Has it been extended or something?”

“If it had, I wouldn’t have needed to come warn you.”

Kult smiled brightly.

This bastard…. he says he’s here to give a warning and he’s smiling?

“Anyway, I did put in some effort. Even if I had my reasons, considering the influence on high society, I did my best to carry out the counseling.”

“So, did you manage to treat any of those lunatics?”

“That’s already too late. Unless a miracle happens, anyway. Still, don’t you think my words offered at least a bit of comfort?”

If it was Kult, he could’ve pulled off a full cure. But he was saying he only made a reasonable effort, within the limits of common sense.

If what he says is true, then there were probably quite a few who found some comfort.

One way or another, Kult was a prophet blessed by the gods.

“So now, the Headmistress seems to think this invitation was a success.”

Inviting Kult to counsel the students seemed to have had a positive effect.

Then what would Olga Hermod, the proper adult who actually cares about the students, think of all this?

“I hear she’s planning to invite more famous people besides me. I’m a bit worried some lunatic like Deus Ex Machina might slip through.”

“This is crazy.”

It wasn’t just the possibility of terrorists slipping in from the outside that posed a problem.

The opposite was also true.

Those deeply entangled with the main story—

The eyes of the storm.

When such named individuals entered the Cradle, the storms connected to them could easily follow.

The reason all kinds of terrorist organizations weren’t attacking the Cradle yet came down to cost and benefit.

They were holding back because the losses would outweigh any gains they might achieve.

However, there were always those in the world who cared nothing for consequences or for the people around them if it meant achieving revenge.

And in an age of war and chaos,

There tended to be more than enough of those people to go around.

“Well then, I think my friend is looking for me, so I’ll excuse myself first. Mr. Johan, I hope we can talk again under better circumstances.”

“……”

I said nothing.

Even so, Kult smiled brightly, then left the café and approached Dietrich, who had been lingering by the front gate.

As soon as their eyes met, the two of them grinned like mischievous boys.

“…Even a guy like that has friends.”

Why didn’t I?

***

Upon returning to the marquisate, Kult Hereticus first compiled a list of people who would succeed him.

The ones Olga Hermod had contacted.

The ones even the Imperial Court was keeping an eye on.

Among them were agitators and those burdened with many enemies.

After thorough examination and investigation, Kult finally identified the outsider who would enter the Cradle as his successor.

The moment he saw the name, Kult almost burst out laughing.

“Brother, what are you looking at?”

“Hmm? Ah, Helena? Is it okay for you to be walking around today?”

“Yes, I’m feeling well today.”

Kult who had been reading through the documents smiled at the girl who had opened his door and was now poking her head in.

The daughter Marquis Hereticus had been willing to risk everything to save.

Kult had cured her mysterious fever with what could only be called a divine miracle, and in return, he had gained the backing of the Hereticus marquisate.

“Can I see too?”

“Of course, Helena.”

She was a lovely child.

Even Kult thought so.

He sat Helena on his lap. Her snow-white hair fluttered as she smiled as brightly as sunlight.

So much so that anyone who saw them might have mistaken them for real siblings.

“What is this?”

“Hmm… You know I just got back from the Cradle, right? I was reviewing what happened there.”

Kult explained in terms Helena could understand who the person he was looking at now really was.

“Saintess… Tillis? What does it mean to be a saintess?”

“Well… it’s a bit hard to explain since it’s such a religious word. But I’d say the reason she’s called a saintess is a little different from the dictionary definition.”

Kult scoffed inwardly.

A saintess? What a joke.

The woman named Tillis didn’t follow any religion, nor had she done anything particularly saintly.

She had wandered through slums doing volunteer work, sure…. but nothing extraordinary.

There was only one reason she was called a saintess.

“She’s the last remaining High Elf in the world.”

It was simply because she belonged to a race, and had a look, that matched the title.

***

A woman in a wide robe with her hood pulled low stepped into the Cradle.

Those passing by frowned at her suspicious appearance and kept their distance, but it didn’t take long for that perception to shift.

“Ah!”

Someone let out an unconscious gasp as the woman swept back her hood.

Shimmering silver hair.

Eyes the color of fresh spring leaves.

And pointed ears.

The gentle smile on her lips made anyone who saw it smile in return.

“So this is the Cradle.”

A visitor had come to the Cradle.

The saintess Tillis clasped her hands together in awe.

“A place so full of the spirits’ energy!”

The eye of the storm had entered the Cradle.